Draft News and More
*Notable rookie performers from Thursday night’s preseason action.
QB Ryan Mallett (NE) 9-14 71 0/1
RB Stevan Ridley (NE) 14/84rush 3/27rec
RB Jonathan Dwyer (PIT) 13/44rush
RB Dion Lewis (PHI) 2/19rush 2/48rec
RB Allen Bradford (TB) 5/17rush 1td
WR Gerald Jones (PHI) 3/36rec 2td
TE Daniel Hardy (TB) 1/21rec
LB Casey Matthews (PHI) 2tack
CB Anthony Gaitor (TB) 3tack
DB Niles Brinkley (PIT) 3tack
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Thursday’s match-up in Pittsburgh marks the second pre-season game for the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, and both starting units will certainly want to impress in this intrastate contest. This isn’t Montana we are talking about; it’s Pennsylvania, a state that prides itself on its rich football history. Heck, George Blanda is from Youngwood, Pennsylvania. Who’s more football than George Blanda?
One of my favorite movie characters is Marcellus Wallace, from Pulp Fiction, and one of my favorite lines in the movie is Wallace’s, “F*&% pride! Pride only hurts, it never helps.” Pride runs deep in the players who suit up in the National Football League. These men are driven to be the best, so when one team is labeled a Dream Team before the season begins, you’d better believe pride becomes a factor, for both teams. <br
“Obviously the best Olympic team we
Already, Brian Te’o said, letters and calls from agents and visitors on behalf of agents have found their way to Laie, Hawaii. Already, the Te’os consulted with Notre Dame compliance officials to manage that. Already, Te’o is a top 20 prospect for the 2012 NFL draft according to one analyst and his parents considered buying an insurance policy for this fall. This is no guarantee Te’o plays his final game for Notre Dame this winter. That depends on Te’o, in many ways. “That’s a big if — and the ‘if’ is, if I play well,” Te’o said. “My whole focus is on this season … on my team. There’s going to be a time for me to think about that. Right now, it’s not the time. … Hopefully, I perform well and I have that option, I become eligible to make that decision. Until then, I’m going to
Already, Brian Te’o said, letters and calls from agents and visitors on behalf of agents have found their way to Laie, Hawaii. Already, the Te’os consulted with Notre Dame compliance officials to manage that. Already, Te’o is a top 20 prospect for the 2012 NFL draft according to one analyst and his parents considered buying an insurance policy for this fall. This is no guarantee Te’o plays his final game for Notre Dame this winter. That depends on Te’o, in many ways. “That’s a big if — and the ‘if’ is, if I play well,” Te’o said. “My whole focus is on this season … on my team. There’s going to be a time for me to think about that. Right now, it’s not the time. … Hopefully, I perform well and I have that option, I become eligible to make that decision. Until then, I’m going to
“The Island of Misfit Toys:” an island sanctuary where defective and unwanted toys are sent. <br
The “Island of Misfit Toys” reminds me of the NFL supplemental draft, a place where players who usually have academic or diplomacy issues that affect their college eligibility for the coming season find themselves. Take a step back and look at the event: no green room with players waiting intently on hearing their name called, no bright lights from the Big Apple and Radio Music City Hall or analysts giving their synopsis of the selected player. The Island of Misfit Draft Picks is where five players have been granted entry and one player, Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, waits on the bubble, to the point where the league actually postponed the draft so an informed decision could be made on his status. The supplemental draft was introduced in 1977 as
“Yeah not the best thing in the world,” was the way Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive end Cam Heyward responded when asked how his singing performance went in front of the veterans as part of his rookie hazing. So is life even for the first pick of the team the 31st pick overall in the 2011 NFL Draft and the rest of the rookie’s in camp.
Not many teams in the National Football League have the luxury of drafting for tomorrow and not for today allowing the players to become young seasoned veterans before they take hold of the starting job.
That point is hammered home in the case for Heyward who will learn off the effective yet aging defensive line of Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton who will enter 2011 with 31 years of combined service
Standing at the podium addressing the media one of the opening lines NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell stated “at least until next year this was the most watched season in the history of the NFL,” maybe wishful thinking on his part as most of the close to 49 minutes taking questions from the media revolved around the Collective Bargaining Agreement that expires on March 4th. In a time where the economy is struggling the NFL seems to be making money hand over fist leaving the question are both sides going to ruin the ‘Golden Goose’ and avoid a work stoppage which the NFL hasn’t seen since league owners put replacements players on standby for $1,000 per game back in 1987.
“I do. I do believe that DeMaurice Smith (NFLPA President) understands that after March 4th, this becomes more difficult to reach and agreement,” said
One of the leading figures covering the NFL Draft Mike Mayock takes time from the summer heat to talk with All Access Football in Latrobe, PA home of Saint Vincent College. This episode of All Access Football hosted by Bo Marchionte.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line starters are approaching the ends of their careers with starters Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel combing for 31 years of NFL experience. In April the Steelers addressed the aging line with ex-Ohio State Buckeye Cam Heyward with the 31st pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. The NFL Draft Bible caught up with Heyward at St. Vincent College home of the Steelers training camp to get some insight on how life is going as a NFL rookie. This episode of All Access Football hosted by Bo Marchionte.
Most of talent in the Pac-12 this season, as in the past, is thought to be on the offensive side of the ball. With the exception of Arizona State junior Vontaze Burfict, there aren’t any defensive players consistently projected near the top of their positions in next year’s draft, but the past has shown the conference typically has multiple defenders selected in the early rounds each year. If that trend is to continue, who will emerge this season?
The true senior is where the answer might be found. To become a fourth-year senior you need to be athletic and talented enough to make an impact as a true freshman, but not so gifted that you can declare for the draft after your junior season. The only real difference between them and red-shirt juniors is typically some inconsistent playing time during their first year on campus…and the reality