GABBERT IMPRESSES AT PRO DAY, TRESSELL GETS 5 GAMES, MAYBE MORE & "SLAVERY" COMMENT JUST ANOTHER DOUBLE STANDARD
The largest crowd of NFL-types so far this pre-draft season, 125 in all, showed up for pro day at the University of Missouri. They came to see quarterback Blaine Gabbert, DE/OLB Aldon Smith & center Tim Barnes. All three had outstanding workouts, especially Gabbert. He completed 44 of 49 passes during the 25-minute workout. Two incompletions were overthrows, one was behind a receiver & two were drops. Gabbert didn't even get to use his usual receivers from Mizzou. Because there is no CBA right now, he was forced to use two receivers from Central Missouri State(JaMorris Warren) & Lindenwood College(Jamere Holland). Holland dazzled scouts not only with his route running & catching ability, he ran a blazing 4.33 forty. Gabbert took every snap from under center after taking every snap as the Tigers' QB in the shotgun from the spread formation. They were particularly impressed with his footwork, drops & roll-outs. Gabbert can move & is able to throw accurately while on the run. Mike Mayock, of The NFL Network & Don Banks of SI.com, both thought Gabbert solidified his ranking as the best quarterback in next month's draft. "He's the first quarterback off the board" Mayock said, "if I'm the Carolina Panthers, his name is on the card when it's their turn in round one." Banks thought Gabbert was much more smooth that Cam Newton was last week at Auburn's pro day "he looked more polished, more confident & his spiral was consistently tight & on target." Mayock thought Gabbert's drill demonstrated better passing mechanics than Matt Ryan did two years ago. He had dinner with the Bills coaching staff Wednesday evening & tonight, the Minnesota Vikings wanted to observe his table manners.
Aldon Smith stood on his combine measurables but completed all the linebacker & defensive ends drills with ease. Two AFC defensive coordinators said he was a lock to be drafted in the top-15. Jets' coach Rex Ryan was on hand, specifically to watch Smith. Unless the Jets trade-up, I don't think there's anyway they'll get a chance to draft him. NFL personnel people love Smith's 84" wingspan & his ability to chase down backs from behind. He plays faster than he times & tho still somewhat raw, Smith has a huge upside.
Tim Barnes wasn't invited to the combine but he impressed those in attendance Thursday. He measured 6' 3", exactly 300-pounds, ran a 5.13 forty, jumped 31" in the vertical, pumped up 28 reps in the bench press & did all the snapping in Gabbert's drill.The 2-time All Big-12 center should be drafted sometime on Day 3. Barnes is tough, very smart & has an extremely high F.B.I.(football intelligence). Cornerback Kevin Rutland improved his combine forty from 4.53 to 4.43, a full tenth. He has good size & isn't afraid to help out in run support. He'll join Barnes being drafted on Day 3.
Gabbert impressed in another way, he scored the second highest total on the Wonderlic Test, a 42. He trailed only Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, a Rhodes Scholar candidate, who scored 43. Cam Newton finished with a 21.
In other pro day news, a prospect I'm very interested in, Cecil Shorts of Division III powerhouse Mount Union, made quite an impact with scouts on Thursday. He could have moved himself up into round three of the draft. The wide receiver caught a staggering 62 touchdown receptions during his 4-years at Mount Union. Shorts rocked the scouts in attendance when he ran 4.38 in the rain with a 1.48 10-yard split(first ten yards). That split is faster than anyone at the combine. The guy can get up to full speed very quickly. Colts' wide receiver Pierre Garcon also played for Mount Union. The Raiders have won ten Division III National Championships since 1993.
Another small school talent I told you about last week, nose tackle Blaine Sumner of Colorado School of Mines, broke the bench press record he held jointly with Oregon State nose tackle Stephen Paea, at 49 reps of 225-pounds. Sumner tied the record last week & scouts invited him to try again at the Air Force Academy on Thursday. He pumped that bar 52 times. Actually, he did it 55 times, but three of his reps were disqualified. The 338-pound refrigerator with feet, will get drafted sometime on Day 3.
Another thing I mentioned last week was my disappointment that Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones & Mike Brown of the Bengals were joining Kansas City's Clark Hunt & John Mara of the Giants in the face-to-face meetings with the NFLPA. I've always thought everything about Jerry Jones was about Jerry Jones. Apparently I wasn't far off as there are a number of accounts from that day accusing Jones of basically sabotaging the day's meeting. At one point he stood up, made a gesture with his hands signifying a key in a lock & he walked over & stood in the corner for nearly 30-minutes. He took turns giving different players & NFLPA people the "skunk eye."
The NCAA refused to reduce the 5-game suspensions of the 5 Ohio State players involved in "Tattoo-Gate." They will miss the first 5 games of the 2011 season. All five are starters including quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Since their suspension wasn't reduced, head coach Jim Tressell announced he was increasing his suspension from 2-games to the same 5 his players would be missing. I think he's hoping since he took the additional 3-game suspension without being prompted by the NCAA, they'll go along & not add any additional punishment. We'll see.
I told you the other day that Vikings All-Pro running back gave his thoughts on life in the NFL, "it's like modern day slavery you know?" That quote was not taken out of context, he said it twice, once to Yahoo Sports & once to a New York radio station. I told you Peterson was making over $5 million a year as an NFL slave. I was wrong & I want to correct my mistake. He made $5.14 million last season, but is scheduled to make $10.27 million in 2011 since signing a contract extension. I was talking to my Vegas buddy Joe Z. yesterday & as always, he had a great analogy. Joe said "if I made $100,000 a year, I'd have to work 103-years to equal what Peterson makes in base salary in just one season." I'm thinking the slavery comparison really doesn't hold water, I don't remember reading about any free agency in slavery. If he didn't like what the Vikings were paying him, he could become a free agent & sign with the highest bidder. One other thing about Peterson's remark, which is incredibly insensitive & insulting, what if Peyton Manning had said this instead of Peterson? Jeez, Al Sharpton & Jessie Jackson would've been all over television calling Manning insensitive & possibly even racist. It's the ole double standard. It was a ridiculous statement, one that shouldn't be repeated by other union members, it does nothing to advance their position with fans.
Aldon Smith stood on his combine measurables but completed all the linebacker & defensive ends drills with ease. Two AFC defensive coordinators said he was a lock to be drafted in the top-15. Jets' coach Rex Ryan was on hand, specifically to watch Smith. Unless the Jets trade-up, I don't think there's anyway they'll get a chance to draft him. NFL personnel people love Smith's 84" wingspan & his ability to chase down backs from behind. He plays faster than he times & tho still somewhat raw, Smith has a huge upside.
Tim Barnes wasn't invited to the combine but he impressed those in attendance Thursday. He measured 6' 3", exactly 300-pounds, ran a 5.13 forty, jumped 31" in the vertical, pumped up 28 reps in the bench press & did all the snapping in Gabbert's drill.The 2-time All Big-12 center should be drafted sometime on Day 3. Barnes is tough, very smart & has an extremely high F.B.I.(football intelligence). Cornerback Kevin Rutland improved his combine forty from 4.53 to 4.43, a full tenth. He has good size & isn't afraid to help out in run support. He'll join Barnes being drafted on Day 3.
Gabbert impressed in another way, he scored the second highest total on the Wonderlic Test, a 42. He trailed only Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, a Rhodes Scholar candidate, who scored 43. Cam Newton finished with a 21.
In other pro day news, a prospect I'm very interested in, Cecil Shorts of Division III powerhouse Mount Union, made quite an impact with scouts on Thursday. He could have moved himself up into round three of the draft. The wide receiver caught a staggering 62 touchdown receptions during his 4-years at Mount Union. Shorts rocked the scouts in attendance when he ran 4.38 in the rain with a 1.48 10-yard split(first ten yards). That split is faster than anyone at the combine. The guy can get up to full speed very quickly. Colts' wide receiver Pierre Garcon also played for Mount Union. The Raiders have won ten Division III National Championships since 1993.
Another small school talent I told you about last week, nose tackle Blaine Sumner of Colorado School of Mines, broke the bench press record he held jointly with Oregon State nose tackle Stephen Paea, at 49 reps of 225-pounds. Sumner tied the record last week & scouts invited him to try again at the Air Force Academy on Thursday. He pumped that bar 52 times. Actually, he did it 55 times, but three of his reps were disqualified. The 338-pound refrigerator with feet, will get drafted sometime on Day 3.
Another thing I mentioned last week was my disappointment that Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones & Mike Brown of the Bengals were joining Kansas City's Clark Hunt & John Mara of the Giants in the face-to-face meetings with the NFLPA. I've always thought everything about Jerry Jones was about Jerry Jones. Apparently I wasn't far off as there are a number of accounts from that day accusing Jones of basically sabotaging the day's meeting. At one point he stood up, made a gesture with his hands signifying a key in a lock & he walked over & stood in the corner for nearly 30-minutes. He took turns giving different players & NFLPA people the "skunk eye."
The NCAA refused to reduce the 5-game suspensions of the 5 Ohio State players involved in "Tattoo-Gate." They will miss the first 5 games of the 2011 season. All five are starters including quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Since their suspension wasn't reduced, head coach Jim Tressell announced he was increasing his suspension from 2-games to the same 5 his players would be missing. I think he's hoping since he took the additional 3-game suspension without being prompted by the NCAA, they'll go along & not add any additional punishment. We'll see.
I told you the other day that Vikings All-Pro running back gave his thoughts on life in the NFL, "it's like modern day slavery you know?" That quote was not taken out of context, he said it twice, once to Yahoo Sports & once to a New York radio station. I told you Peterson was making over $5 million a year as an NFL slave. I was wrong & I want to correct my mistake. He made $5.14 million last season, but is scheduled to make $10.27 million in 2011 since signing a contract extension. I was talking to my Vegas buddy Joe Z. yesterday & as always, he had a great analogy. Joe said "if I made $100,000 a year, I'd have to work 103-years to equal what Peterson makes in base salary in just one season." I'm thinking the slavery comparison really doesn't hold water, I don't remember reading about any free agency in slavery. If he didn't like what the Vikings were paying him, he could become a free agent & sign with the highest bidder. One other thing about Peterson's remark, which is incredibly insensitive & insulting, what if Peyton Manning had said this instead of Peterson? Jeez, Al Sharpton & Jessie Jackson would've been all over television calling Manning insensitive & possibly even racist. It's the ole double standard. It was a ridiculous statement, one that shouldn't be repeated by other union members, it does nothing to advance their position with fans.
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