(This is the 8th Installment of the "Pro Draft Report" presented by Football Reporters Online)
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer-Southeast Region-Football Reporters Online
1. Stanley Havili FB USC 6'0" 227 lbs. 40 Time: 4.64 Sr.
Havili is not your hard runner but can be very effective. He shows some patience and follows his blockers. He is quick and can make the cuts necessary. Has balance and power to get between the tackles. When he gets to the edge he can get you yards. He has good field vision and has the knack of making the tackler miss. Good in the open field with the ability to make the sharp cut to avoid a tackler. He can also do some blocking in the passing game. He picks up the blitzing player and plays strong. He will not blow you away with his power overall but will hold on to the ball. Has good hands out of the backfield and will run good routes. Needs to work on his open field blocking and decision making. Gets hurt now and then but often plays through the pain. Can improve on his straight burst to through the line after the snap. Takes to lunging too much at times which is a reason he does not hold his block as long as he should. Projected Round: 2
2. Charles Clay FB Tulsa 6'3" 245 lbs. 40 Time: 4.69 Sr.
Clay is strong and the type of back that will drag his tackler and still get the yards needed. He is versatile and has played the H-back spot. He works well using his head fakes and some jukes. Can block one man at a time not more than that. Uses his arms well too. Has a good base and will protect his quarterback. Will work in an offense where the quarterback likes to use his FB often. Has played special teams which will be a requirement on the next level. Has tendency to run too high and give defenders too much to hit. Needs to have better field vision and awareness. Needs to become a better route runner and not take so long to get open. Does not put ball on outside hand like he should when carrying the ball. He must work on sustaining his block longer when getting to the second level. Has a tendency to get injured and be inconsistent. Projected Round: 3
3. Owen Marecic FB Stanford 6'0" 246 lbs. 40 Time: 4.80
Marecic is a big strong guy. Loves to hit and be hit hard. Has very good technique and a fair football IQ. He is effective in pass rush blocking and has good knee bend. Can catch the ball out of the backfield with his good hands. Get the yards after the catch and can pop a would be tackler good. Will work out good in short yardage situations. Very competitive player that will earn the respect of his peers in the future. Does not possess the speed and quickness needed to sustain himself game in and game out. needs to work on run blocking skills and he won't blow you away carrying the ball. He needs to work on his field vision, awareness and reading the defense. He will be a project at best and may get a better look if he were to try his hand at linebacker. Projected Round: 4
4. Shaun Chapas FB Georgia 6'2" 247 lbs 40 Time: 4.87 Sr.
Chapas is like a throwback who is tough and stays with his man till the end. Good lead blocker when he uses his feet properly. He will hit you hard and is good on pass protection. Has good awareness and and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Gets to the second level and hits the linebacker hard. He will need to work on his technique and blocking. He will not overwhelm his opponent so he will need to bulk up and get stronger. Has a problem recognizing where his assignment is. He needs to get into better position to catch the ball. Misses his block due to lack of mobility. He will never be a factor in the running game so he will have a lot of special teams work. Projected Round: 5
5. Henry Hynoski FB Pittsburgh 6'0" 257 lbs. 40 Time: 5.06 Jr.
Hynoski is a very aggressive player with the knack to block one man and hit another too. He has the power to drive his defender back. He has shown that he has that ability to reach away from him to make the catch. Very good football IQ. Long arms will help sustain his block. Has the athleticism and will block in the run game. Looks to benefit as a lead blocker with his frame. He will help in pass protection too. Does not have the speed and quickness needed for the position. This limits his ability to be a difference maker in the run game. Will not get you yards after the catch in the passing game. Needs work on field vision and recognition of the play around him. Can play too high and does not have good knee bend. Footwork is really suspect at best. He needs to finish the play and not quit when defender gets the best of him. Projected Round: 5
6. Anthony Sherman FB Connecticut 5'11" 239 lbs. 40 Time: 4.70 Sr.
Sherman has a good build for his position. He gets good leverage in run and pass blocking. Good at making the block and then creating space for his running mate. Has a good base and works the point of attack. He is not the most versatile back and needs a a lot of work. His footwork is below average and he needs to learn to use his hands. He will not make any kind of impact on any offense as a ball carrier. Struggles in the passing game once he catches the ball. Does not have the ability to make tacklers miss in the open field. Does not have the field vision to change a play or see the oncoming hit. The fact that he not very versatile will make it hard to stay with an NFL team. He may fit in at special teams, but even that is a reach. Projected Round: 6
7. Robert Hughes FB Notre Dame 5'11" 245 lbs 40 Time: 4.72 Sr.
Hughes is very strong and has good size for fullback. He will put in the work and it shows on the field. There is no questioning his heart and effort. He has soft hands as a receiver and is good at blocking on special teams. He will study his craft hard and will earn the respect of players. He does not have the speed or agility to make it on a team.. The fact is he lacks the pop to be a lead blocker. He is not very athletic and needs to greatly improve his footwork. He is not very effective in the passing and running game at blocking. Will not wow anyone at the next level and may have to settle for being on the practice squad. His lack of overall talent will hurt his chances. Projected Round: 7
8. Ryan Taylor FB North Carolina 6'3" 250 lbs. 40 Time: 4.76 Sr.
Taylor has the speed to get off the snap of the ball quickly. Has good hand work on the defender and possess good lateral movement. Able to sustain his block and hold back his defender. Very good at sealing off man and loves to attack the play. He can pull a bit and has good football awareness. Though he can sustain a block, he will have trouble keeping a stronger man down. He appears to need work on his field vision and reading the defense. Does not have the anchor necessary to make in the long haul. Needs work on his balance and staying off the ground so much. Does not have a lot of experience in the passing game. His leverage was good in college but there will be questions at the next level. Projected Round: 7
9. Brett Morse FB Iowa 6'2" 235 lbs. 40 Time: 4.89 Sr.
Morse s a big kid that plays physical. He has the right size for his position and and has good football smarts. Very competitive player that will play every week if he makes a team and sticks. He can provided a punishing lead block. Plays until the whistle and gives maximum effort. Always stays with his block in the passing and running game. Plays too stiff and straight up giving defenders more of a target. Does not have the best speed and needs work catching the football. Will not get you many yards after the catch and his field vision is average at best. Is weak at pass protection and cannot pick up the blitz too good. It is going to be hard for him to make a team as a fullback and it may be just as hard to make special teams. This kid is a prospect at best, but he will give it his all. Projected Round: FA
10. Kenny Younger FB Virginia Tech 5'11" 228 lbs. 40 Time: 4.80 Sr.
Younger is very flexible and agile. He has the ability to get that lead block and contain his man. Will provide that block at the second level and is a decent cut-blocker. Can get to the edge and seal off his man. He has average hands in the receiving game and can greatly improve on that. His size will not help keep a job in the NFL. He has not produced much in the run game during his collegiate career. On top of that he had only four receptions to further hinder his chances. He missed a season due to a knee injury and that will be looked at too. Has played some at defensive end and tight end but that won't help him. Overall, Younger will have to go above and beyond and commit like never before to have a chance to even make a practice squad. Projected Round: FA
11. Patrick DiMarco FB North Carolina 6'1" 240 lbs. 40 Time: 4.75 Sr.
DiMarco is one tough cookie like one of the old school players. He is considered one of the best isolation blockers on college football. He has great technique and a good football IQ. He is not big enough or fast enough to make a difference. It will be hard for him to stick on a team. Projected Round: FA
12. Jon Hoese FB Minnesota 6'2" 236 lbs. 40 Time: 4.90 Sr.
Hoese is a tough nose player that has good size for a fullback. He gives maximum effort and finishes his blocks. Is not the most athletic or flexible player. Will try to make it as a special team player where he did a lot of work in college. Projected Round: FA
13. Ben Guidulgi FB Cincinnati 6'1" 232 lbs. 40 Time: 4.77 Sr.
Guidulgi has the size and good hands for a fullback. May give a team good production in the passing game. Does not posses the necessary speed and versatility. Needs a lot of work on blocking skills and special teams to make it.
14. Lucas Cox FB Georgia Tech 5'11" 243 lbs. 40 Time: 4.80 Sr.
Cox is a big strong player that plays physical. Good lead blocker as well. Will need to work on the fundamentals like footwork, hand placement and awareness. Projected Round: FA
15. Kevin Cooper FB Tennessee 6'0" 242 lbs. 40 Time: 4.76 Sr.
Cooper has good football vision. Excels at lead blocking and hard work. Needs to learn how to be more of a factor in the offense. Work on pass catching. Projected Round: FA
16. Brian Maddox FB South Carolina 5'10" 230 lbs. 40 Time: 4.56 Sr.
Maddox is a versatile back that can be effective in the running and passing game. He has a knack for getting the ball into the end zone. Must bulk up to sustain day-to-day grind of the NFL. Projected Round: FA
17. Marcus Sims FB North Alabama 6'0" 235 lbs. 40 Time: 4.50 Sr.
Sims is a very good blocker and is effective in the running game. Will need to work very hard at everything to keep a job on Sunday's. Projected Round: FA
18. Matt Dunham FB Florida State 6'1" 258 lbs. 40 Time: 4.74 Sr.
Dunham is a big guy that can provide a pop off the ball. Does not have a lot of experience at his position, so he has lots of studying to do. Projected Round: FA
19. Dan Dierking FB Purdue 5'9" 195 lbs. 40 Time: 4.54 Sr.
Dierking has been pretty good in the passing and running game. His size will hurt him so he will need to add weight and muscle. Projected Round:FA
20. Bryant Ward FB Oklahoma St. 5'11" 241 lbs. 40 Time: 4.95 Sr.
Ward is a good solid lead blocker with size. Has athleticism and loves to play the power game. Needs to work on filed vision and awareness. Projected Round: FA
21. Dean Rogers FB UC Davis 6'1" 242 lbs. 40 Time: 4.97 Sr.
22. Ryan Mahaffey FB Northern Iowa 6'2" 256 lbs. 40 Time: 4.87 Sr.
23. Mark Moundros FB Michigan 6'1" 234 lbs. 40 Time: 4.87 Sr.
24. Moncell Allen FB Kentucky 5'6" 237 lbs. 40 Time: 4.98 Sr.
25. Patrick Hanrahan FB Mississippi St. 5'11" 235 lbs. 40 Time: 4.92 Sr.
26. Johdrick Morris FB Southern Mississippi 6'3" 218 lbs. 40 Time: 4.81 Sr.
27. James McCluskey Boston College FB 6'2" 252 lbs. 40 Time: 4.78 Sr.
28. Jake Hutton FB Idaho St. 6'0" 228 lbs. 40 Time: 4.76 Sr.
29. Corday Clark FB McNeese St. 6'1" 234 lbs. 40 Time: 4.72 Sr.
30. Vai Tafuna FB Weber St. 6'1" 240 lbs. 40 Time: 4.87 Sr.
Showing posts with label football NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football NFL. Show all posts
2011 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings
(This is the 7th Installment of the "Pro Draft Report" present by Football Reporters Online)
By Dan Benton-CEO Giants 101.com
1. Kyle Rudolph-TE-6’6-259 lbs.-Notre Dame-Cincinnati, OH-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 1st Round
Rudolph gets off the line exceptionally well for his size and has shown great hands. He’s known to be a great teammate, and has all of the intangibles. He will need to work on his route running as he tends to round out patterns. He also doesn’t break as many tackles as he should for his size, and runs a little too upright. He’s likely to be a mid-to-late first round selection, and could potentially become one of the better all-around tight end’s in the NFL in a short amount of time.
2. Luke Stocker-TE-6’5-258 lbs.-Tennessee-Berea, KY-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.68; Cone – 7.03) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Stocker has tremendous hands, and can adjust well to poorly thrown balls thanks in large part to good body control. He runs north-south when he has the ball, and lowers his shoulder upon impact. His size makes him difficult to bring down. He does tend to stop and turn to catch passes, as opposed to hauling them in on the move. Stops momentum. Could be a solid run blocker if he were to hit the gym, but will enter the NFL as a bit of a project in that area. His route running could also use some improvement.
3. Lance Kendricks-TE-6’3-243 lbs.-Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.65; Cone – 6.94) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Kendricks is a unique blend of speed and size. He’s very athletic, has solid hands and makes good adjustments to the ball in the air. His route running is quite crisp, although he could become a bit more consistent. He is a good blocker, but lacks the frame to be dominant at the next level. He struggles to make defenders miss in the open field. He’s a bit of a work in progress, but could potentially be a starting NFL tight end in a couple of years.
4. D.J. Williams-TE-6’2-245 lbs.-Arkansas-Little Rock, AR-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.59; Cone – 7.29) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Williams does a good job at getting separation and is quick off the line when he’s not being pressed. He has very good north-south speed, and makes very good cuts. He runs route well, and is agile enough to fake out defenders. He’s a hard worker and team leader. He lacks size and gets out-matched when blocking. His balance is also frequently caused into question. One-dimensional.
5. Rob Housler-TE-6’5-248 lbs.-Florida Atlantic- Converse, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.46; Cone – 6.90) Draft Projection: 3rd – 4th Round
Housler is the prototypical size for an NFL tight end, and has the soft hands to match it. He has good balance, runs good routes and may be the fastest tight end in the draft. He’s a mature, hardworking team player. He lacks the strength to be an every-down NFL player and gets beaten by more powerful and physical defenders while blocking. He tends to get jammed at the line or caught up in traffic.
6. Virgil Green-TE-6’3-249 lbs.-Nevada-Tulare, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.54; Cone – 6.90) Draft Projection: Draft Projection: 4th Round
Green has catapulted up draft boards with a good Combine, and has shown flashes of brilliant natural athleticism. He has very good hands, good speed and decent size for a tight end. He’s still extremely raw, very inconsistent with his route running and a very poor blocker. He lacks aggressiveness and may be looked at as an “H-Back” at the next level. The building blocks are there, and if put together properly, Green could be very solid.
7. Jordan Cameron-TE-6’5-254 lbs.-Southern California-Newbury Park, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.53; Cone – 6.82) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Cameron has good straight-line speed, a nice burst off the line and an ability to shed defenders. He’s got long arm and soft hands. He’s got a no-fear soft of attitude, and is extremely aggressive on the field. A position switch from wide receiver and little playing time prior to that has really limited Cameron’s development. Has done very little work on his blocking skill, and would need to bulk up in order to compete with larger players in the NFL. His route running remains suspect.
8. Andre Smith-TE-6’5-269 lbs.-Virginia Tech-Savannah, GA-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 4th – 5th Round
Smith has very good size, a lot of experience and may be one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft. He has a good base, good footwork and does a great job sealing the edge. He can run block and pass block, which will be unique combination for teams are evaluating tight ends. He’s rarely used as a receiver, lacks speed and will not be used as an offensive threat at the next level. On occasion, he will result to a poor blocking technique, but that should be easily corrected by coaches in the NFL.
9. Julius Thomas-TE-6’5-246 lbs.-Portland State-Stockton, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.64; Cone – 6.96) Draft Projection: 5th Round
Thomas looked very natural during the NFL combine and got the attention of many scouts. He showed soft hands, the ability to catch the ball away from his body and displayed good speed for a man of his size. He’s extremely athletic and a natural on the field. He does lack experience and has a lot of learning to do. He’s a poor route runner, lack awareness and has to develop many football instincts before he reaches his ceiling. He’s a basketball player turned football player and that has set him back a few years.
10. Mike McNeill-TE-6’4-232 lbs.-Nebraska-Kirkwood, MO-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th – 6th Round
McNeill is a reliable receiver with good hands and deceptive speed. He does a good job catching and securing the ball before turning upfield, and has turned into a solid redzone threat. He’s been known to pick apart zone coverage’s, but is able to haul in a pass in traffic as well. He lack elusiveness in the open field and gets jammed by larger linebackers. He’s a below-average blocker who would need to bulk up to survive in the NFL. He also has a history of injury (toe, shoulder and ribs) which may raise some red flags.
11. Lee Smith-TE-6’6-269 lbs.-Marshall-Powell, TN-Combine Numbers (40T – 5.01; Cone – 7.13) Draft Projection: 7th Round
Smith was the tallest tight end to attend the NFL Combine. Obviously, he’s got great size for a tight end, is a very solid target in the redzone and has good hands. He’s also a good blocker with power. He does lack good speed and struggles to gain separation. He lacks experience and has had some minor off the field issues in the past.
12. Charlie Grantt-TE-6’4-255 lbs.-Michigan State-Farmington Hills, MI-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.89; Cone – 7.15) Draft Projection: 7th Round
Grantt is a very intelligent football player. He catches the ball at its highest point and has become moderately reliable in the passing game. He’s a very good blocker and does an excellent job sealing the edges. He can be a little sluggish, lacks constant concentration and needs to make several adjustments as a receiver.
13. Zack Pianalto-TE-6’3-256 lbs.-North Carolina-Springdale, AR-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.87; Cone – 6.85) Draft Projection: FA
Pianalto is a very good route runner who plays specifically well against zone coverages. He’s capable of making difficult catches in traffic and was North Carolina’s leading receiver in 2010 prior to an injury shutting him down for the final seven games. He isn’t the fasted, has some problems when blocking and has a long history of injuries.
14. Weslye Saunders-TE-6’5-270 lbs.-South Carolina-Curham, NC-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Saunders is quite athletic, has deceptive speed and good size. He high points the ball and gives defenders a lot of trouble when trying to bring him down. Very good balance and lower body strength. He’s somewhat inconsistent, lacks discipline and has some serious character concerns. May not be taking this career seriously.
14. Schuylar Oordt-TE-6’6-261 lbs.-Northern Iowa-Waterloo, IA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.67; Cone - 6.83) Draft Projection: FA
Oordt has good size and good speed. He gets off the line quickly and shown a good ability to find holes in coverage. He’s tough and doesn’t fear hauling in a pass over the middle. He needs to learn to catch the balls with his hands as opposed to his body, and really need to improve as a blocker. He also needs to increase his lower body strength.
15. Cameron Graham-TE-6’3-244 lbs.-Louisville-Inglewood, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 5.11; Cone – 7.19) Draft Projection: FA
Graham is a very good receiver with soft hands. He adjusts well to the ball and is a powerful runner. He has an incredible stiff-arm and plays with an attitude. He’s very slow and lacks elusiveness. He’s not going to outrun anyone and lacks athleticism to become a true weapon in the NFL.
16. Kyle Adams-TE-6’5-257 lbs.-Purdue-Austin, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.83; Cone – N/A) Draft Projection: FA
Adams is very quick and reaches stop speed in the blink of an eye. He possesses good balance, flexibility and the athleticism to adjust. He’s a good character guy who gets the best out of those around him. Lacks the strength to be a force while blocking, and has displayed very poor technique. Missed the entire 2008 season due to a knee injury.
17. Allen Reisner-TE-6’2-248 lbs.-Iowa-Marion, IA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.97; Cone - 7.31) Draft Projection: FA
Reisner is a very good receiver who broke out in 2010. He has big hands, catches the ball away from his body and has tremendous awareness. He’s a well-rounded player, but may be looked at as an H-back in the NFL. He lacks the strength to compete with powerful NFL defenders and his ceiling may be near.
18. Konrad Reuland-TE-6’5-258 lbs.-Standofrd-Mission Viejo, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone - DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Reuland is a tall, built receiver who used his body to put distant between the ball and defenders. He’s a solid blocker who’s been known to create big lanes for his running backs. He will struggle to gain separation in the NFL, and lacks the overall athleticism to go up and grab an overthrown pass. His blocking ability will most certainly land him a roster spot eventually.
19. Stephen Skelton-TE-6’5-247 lbs.-Fordham-El Paso, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Skelton has a very high football IQ and athleticism runs in his family. He’s a dependable receiver who runs good routes and has reliable hands. For his height, he could use to put on some weight in muscle. He’s an average blocker at best. The tools to make him a useful tight end are certainly there, but it will take some work.
20. Daniel Hardy-TE-6’4-249 lbs.-Idaho-Anchorage, AK-Combine Numbers (40T – N/A; Cone – N/A) Draft Projection: FA
Hardy has tremendous hands, runs good routes and makes the difficult catch. He could use to gain some bulk, lacks elite speed and needs to improve as a blocker.
21. Richard Gordon-TE-6’4-265 lbs.-Miami-Miami, FL-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Gordon is athletic with deceptive speed. Has excellent body control and balance, and is a very good in-line blocker. Needs to improve his routes and has little experience as a receiver.
22. Preston Dial-TE-6’2-238 lbs.-Alabama-Mobile, AL-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Dial has a good first step, possesses good balance and is well coordinated. He lacks size, runs upright and gets beat at the point of attack. Must add bulk.
23. Jeffrey Anderson-TE-6’3-264 lbs.-UAB-Selma, AL-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Anderson has improved as a receiver every year in college. He has good hands, run hard and has good lower body strength. Will struggle going up and wrestling a ball away from defenders.
24. Joe Torchia-TE-6’6-260 lbs.-Virginia-Cold Spring, NY-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Torchia has good body control, engages in blocks quickly and gets good leverage. He isn’t a receiving threat and will likely only be a reserve tight end in the NFL.
25. Brad Taylor-TE-6’3-241 lbs.-Baylor-Madisonville, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Taylor has decent speed and a lot of heart. Shined as a receiver in 2007, but has yet to recapture that glory. He lacks both strength and size.
26. Andrew Kennedy-TE-6’3-243lbs.- Columbia-Westport, CT. No Combine-Draft Projection-FA
After establishing himself as the premier TE in the Ivy in 2009 he continued to impress. In ’10 he was the first Lions player to be named to the Walter Camp FCS team in 6 years (50-616-9TD’s) and completed his career with 102 catches for 1,187 yards and 15 TD’s. Kennedy is more then deserving of a shot somewhere at the next level. Could be converted to FB.
27. Brett Brackett-TE-6’6-248 lbs.-Penn State-Lawrenceville, NJ-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Brackett could be a sleeper. He is very tall, has long arms and does a great job boxing out defenders. He’s also very raw and may need to convert to wide receiver in the NFL.
28. Mike Higgins-TE-6’5-242 lbs.-Nebraska at Omaha-Pickrell, NE-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Higgins is large and very athletic. He has long arms and plucks the ball out of the arm. He isn’t exceptionally fast and lacks the lower body strength he’d need to compete as a blocker in the NFL.
29. Eric Peitz-TE-6’4-258 lbs.-Colorado State-Yankton, SD- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Peitz has good size and good strength. He has good lateral quickness and is a solid run blocker. He struggles as a receiver and will likely catch on as a goal-line tight end in the NFL.
30. Greg Smith-TE-6’4-245 lbs.-Texas-Montgomery, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Smith is athletic with soft and reliable hands. He doesn’t have top-notch speed and will struggle to separate from defenders in the NFL.
31. Ben Thayer-TE-6’4-240 lbs.-Eastern Michigan-Kalamazoo, MI- Combine Numbers** (40T – 4.85; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 7th Rd.
32. Ben Cleveland-TE-6’3-246 lbs.-Arkansas-Springdale, AR- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
33. Will Yeatman-TE-6’6-273 lbs.-Maryland-San Diego, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
34. Mike Ragone-TE-6’4-245 lbs.-Notre Dame-Cherry Hill, NJ- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
35. Alston Umuolo-TE-6’4-250 lbs.-San Diego State-Phoenix, AZ- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
36. Collin Franklin-TE-6’5-252 lbs.-Iowa State-Simi Valley, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
37. Martell Webb-TE-6’4-256 lbs.-Michigan-Pontiac, MI- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
38. Evan Frosch-TE-6’3-264 lbs.-TCU-Midland, TX- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
39. Ed Barham-TE-6’3-260 lbs.-North Carolina-Dendron, VA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
40. Larry Donnell-TE-6’6-257 lbs.-Grambling-Ozark, AL- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
41. Jeff Lindsay-TE-6’3-235 lbs.-Purdue-Macomb, MI- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
42. London Landry-TE-6’3-235 lbs.-South Dakota-Lancaster, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
43. A.J. Simmons-TE-6’4-262 lbs.-Arizona-Oakland, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
44. Kyle Nelson-TE-6’3-240 lbs.-New Mexico State-Waco, TX- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
45. Vaughn Charlton-TE-6’4-254 lbs.-Temple-Landenberg, PA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
46. Jonny Moore-TE-6’4-240 lbs.-Texas at El Paso-San Antonio, TX- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
47. Ifeanyi Momah-TE-6’6-240 lbs.-Boston College-Elwood, NY- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
48. Chris Blohm-TE-6’4-262 lbs.-Yale-San Francisco, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
49. Tommy Gallarda-TE-6’5-250 lbs.-Boise State-Brea, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
50. Colin Cochart-TE-6’4-255 lbs.-South Dakota State-Kewaunee, WI- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
** From the BSN Combine ,Akron,OH 4/10/11
By Dan Benton-CEO Giants 101.com
1. Kyle Rudolph-TE-6’6-259 lbs.-Notre Dame-Cincinnati, OH-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 1st Round
Rudolph gets off the line exceptionally well for his size and has shown great hands. He’s known to be a great teammate, and has all of the intangibles. He will need to work on his route running as he tends to round out patterns. He also doesn’t break as many tackles as he should for his size, and runs a little too upright. He’s likely to be a mid-to-late first round selection, and could potentially become one of the better all-around tight end’s in the NFL in a short amount of time.
2. Luke Stocker-TE-6’5-258 lbs.-Tennessee-Berea, KY-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.68; Cone – 7.03) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Stocker has tremendous hands, and can adjust well to poorly thrown balls thanks in large part to good body control. He runs north-south when he has the ball, and lowers his shoulder upon impact. His size makes him difficult to bring down. He does tend to stop and turn to catch passes, as opposed to hauling them in on the move. Stops momentum. Could be a solid run blocker if he were to hit the gym, but will enter the NFL as a bit of a project in that area. His route running could also use some improvement.
3. Lance Kendricks-TE-6’3-243 lbs.-Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.65; Cone – 6.94) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Kendricks is a unique blend of speed and size. He’s very athletic, has solid hands and makes good adjustments to the ball in the air. His route running is quite crisp, although he could become a bit more consistent. He is a good blocker, but lacks the frame to be dominant at the next level. He struggles to make defenders miss in the open field. He’s a bit of a work in progress, but could potentially be a starting NFL tight end in a couple of years.
4. D.J. Williams-TE-6’2-245 lbs.-Arkansas-Little Rock, AR-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.59; Cone – 7.29) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Williams does a good job at getting separation and is quick off the line when he’s not being pressed. He has very good north-south speed, and makes very good cuts. He runs route well, and is agile enough to fake out defenders. He’s a hard worker and team leader. He lacks size and gets out-matched when blocking. His balance is also frequently caused into question. One-dimensional.
5. Rob Housler-TE-6’5-248 lbs.-Florida Atlantic- Converse, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.46; Cone – 6.90) Draft Projection: 3rd – 4th Round
Housler is the prototypical size for an NFL tight end, and has the soft hands to match it. He has good balance, runs good routes and may be the fastest tight end in the draft. He’s a mature, hardworking team player. He lacks the strength to be an every-down NFL player and gets beaten by more powerful and physical defenders while blocking. He tends to get jammed at the line or caught up in traffic.
6. Virgil Green-TE-6’3-249 lbs.-Nevada-Tulare, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.54; Cone – 6.90) Draft Projection: Draft Projection: 4th Round
Green has catapulted up draft boards with a good Combine, and has shown flashes of brilliant natural athleticism. He has very good hands, good speed and decent size for a tight end. He’s still extremely raw, very inconsistent with his route running and a very poor blocker. He lacks aggressiveness and may be looked at as an “H-Back” at the next level. The building blocks are there, and if put together properly, Green could be very solid.
7. Jordan Cameron-TE-6’5-254 lbs.-Southern California-Newbury Park, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.53; Cone – 6.82) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Cameron has good straight-line speed, a nice burst off the line and an ability to shed defenders. He’s got long arm and soft hands. He’s got a no-fear soft of attitude, and is extremely aggressive on the field. A position switch from wide receiver and little playing time prior to that has really limited Cameron’s development. Has done very little work on his blocking skill, and would need to bulk up in order to compete with larger players in the NFL. His route running remains suspect.
8. Andre Smith-TE-6’5-269 lbs.-Virginia Tech-Savannah, GA-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 4th – 5th Round
Smith has very good size, a lot of experience and may be one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft. He has a good base, good footwork and does a great job sealing the edge. He can run block and pass block, which will be unique combination for teams are evaluating tight ends. He’s rarely used as a receiver, lacks speed and will not be used as an offensive threat at the next level. On occasion, he will result to a poor blocking technique, but that should be easily corrected by coaches in the NFL.
9. Julius Thomas-TE-6’5-246 lbs.-Portland State-Stockton, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.64; Cone – 6.96) Draft Projection: 5th Round
Thomas looked very natural during the NFL combine and got the attention of many scouts. He showed soft hands, the ability to catch the ball away from his body and displayed good speed for a man of his size. He’s extremely athletic and a natural on the field. He does lack experience and has a lot of learning to do. He’s a poor route runner, lack awareness and has to develop many football instincts before he reaches his ceiling. He’s a basketball player turned football player and that has set him back a few years.
10. Mike McNeill-TE-6’4-232 lbs.-Nebraska-Kirkwood, MO-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th – 6th Round
McNeill is a reliable receiver with good hands and deceptive speed. He does a good job catching and securing the ball before turning upfield, and has turned into a solid redzone threat. He’s been known to pick apart zone coverage’s, but is able to haul in a pass in traffic as well. He lack elusiveness in the open field and gets jammed by larger linebackers. He’s a below-average blocker who would need to bulk up to survive in the NFL. He also has a history of injury (toe, shoulder and ribs) which may raise some red flags.
11. Lee Smith-TE-6’6-269 lbs.-Marshall-Powell, TN-Combine Numbers (40T – 5.01; Cone – 7.13) Draft Projection: 7th Round
Smith was the tallest tight end to attend the NFL Combine. Obviously, he’s got great size for a tight end, is a very solid target in the redzone and has good hands. He’s also a good blocker with power. He does lack good speed and struggles to gain separation. He lacks experience and has had some minor off the field issues in the past.
12. Charlie Grantt-TE-6’4-255 lbs.-Michigan State-Farmington Hills, MI-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.89; Cone – 7.15) Draft Projection: 7th Round
Grantt is a very intelligent football player. He catches the ball at its highest point and has become moderately reliable in the passing game. He’s a very good blocker and does an excellent job sealing the edges. He can be a little sluggish, lacks constant concentration and needs to make several adjustments as a receiver.
13. Zack Pianalto-TE-6’3-256 lbs.-North Carolina-Springdale, AR-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.87; Cone – 6.85) Draft Projection: FA
Pianalto is a very good route runner who plays specifically well against zone coverages. He’s capable of making difficult catches in traffic and was North Carolina’s leading receiver in 2010 prior to an injury shutting him down for the final seven games. He isn’t the fasted, has some problems when blocking and has a long history of injuries.
14. Weslye Saunders-TE-6’5-270 lbs.-South Carolina-Curham, NC-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Saunders is quite athletic, has deceptive speed and good size. He high points the ball and gives defenders a lot of trouble when trying to bring him down. Very good balance and lower body strength. He’s somewhat inconsistent, lacks discipline and has some serious character concerns. May not be taking this career seriously.
14. Schuylar Oordt-TE-6’6-261 lbs.-Northern Iowa-Waterloo, IA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.67; Cone - 6.83) Draft Projection: FA
Oordt has good size and good speed. He gets off the line quickly and shown a good ability to find holes in coverage. He’s tough and doesn’t fear hauling in a pass over the middle. He needs to learn to catch the balls with his hands as opposed to his body, and really need to improve as a blocker. He also needs to increase his lower body strength.
15. Cameron Graham-TE-6’3-244 lbs.-Louisville-Inglewood, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – 5.11; Cone – 7.19) Draft Projection: FA
Graham is a very good receiver with soft hands. He adjusts well to the ball and is a powerful runner. He has an incredible stiff-arm and plays with an attitude. He’s very slow and lacks elusiveness. He’s not going to outrun anyone and lacks athleticism to become a true weapon in the NFL.
16. Kyle Adams-TE-6’5-257 lbs.-Purdue-Austin, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.83; Cone – N/A) Draft Projection: FA
Adams is very quick and reaches stop speed in the blink of an eye. He possesses good balance, flexibility and the athleticism to adjust. He’s a good character guy who gets the best out of those around him. Lacks the strength to be a force while blocking, and has displayed very poor technique. Missed the entire 2008 season due to a knee injury.
17. Allen Reisner-TE-6’2-248 lbs.-Iowa-Marion, IA-Combine Numbers (40T – 4.97; Cone - 7.31) Draft Projection: FA
Reisner is a very good receiver who broke out in 2010. He has big hands, catches the ball away from his body and has tremendous awareness. He’s a well-rounded player, but may be looked at as an H-back in the NFL. He lacks the strength to compete with powerful NFL defenders and his ceiling may be near.
18. Konrad Reuland-TE-6’5-258 lbs.-Standofrd-Mission Viejo, CA-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone - DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Reuland is a tall, built receiver who used his body to put distant between the ball and defenders. He’s a solid blocker who’s been known to create big lanes for his running backs. He will struggle to gain separation in the NFL, and lacks the overall athleticism to go up and grab an overthrown pass. His blocking ability will most certainly land him a roster spot eventually.
19. Stephen Skelton-TE-6’5-247 lbs.-Fordham-El Paso, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Skelton has a very high football IQ and athleticism runs in his family. He’s a dependable receiver who runs good routes and has reliable hands. For his height, he could use to put on some weight in muscle. He’s an average blocker at best. The tools to make him a useful tight end are certainly there, but it will take some work.
20. Daniel Hardy-TE-6’4-249 lbs.-Idaho-Anchorage, AK-Combine Numbers (40T – N/A; Cone – N/A) Draft Projection: FA
Hardy has tremendous hands, runs good routes and makes the difficult catch. He could use to gain some bulk, lacks elite speed and needs to improve as a blocker.
21. Richard Gordon-TE-6’4-265 lbs.-Miami-Miami, FL-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Gordon is athletic with deceptive speed. Has excellent body control and balance, and is a very good in-line blocker. Needs to improve his routes and has little experience as a receiver.
22. Preston Dial-TE-6’2-238 lbs.-Alabama-Mobile, AL-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Dial has a good first step, possesses good balance and is well coordinated. He lacks size, runs upright and gets beat at the point of attack. Must add bulk.
23. Jeffrey Anderson-TE-6’3-264 lbs.-UAB-Selma, AL-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Anderson has improved as a receiver every year in college. He has good hands, run hard and has good lower body strength. Will struggle going up and wrestling a ball away from defenders.
24. Joe Torchia-TE-6’6-260 lbs.-Virginia-Cold Spring, NY-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Torchia has good body control, engages in blocks quickly and gets good leverage. He isn’t a receiving threat and will likely only be a reserve tight end in the NFL.
25. Brad Taylor-TE-6’3-241 lbs.-Baylor-Madisonville, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Taylor has decent speed and a lot of heart. Shined as a receiver in 2007, but has yet to recapture that glory. He lacks both strength and size.
26. Andrew Kennedy-TE-6’3-243lbs.- Columbia-Westport, CT. No Combine-Draft Projection-FA
After establishing himself as the premier TE in the Ivy in 2009 he continued to impress. In ’10 he was the first Lions player to be named to the Walter Camp FCS team in 6 years (50-616-9TD’s) and completed his career with 102 catches for 1,187 yards and 15 TD’s. Kennedy is more then deserving of a shot somewhere at the next level. Could be converted to FB.
27. Brett Brackett-TE-6’6-248 lbs.-Penn State-Lawrenceville, NJ-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Brackett could be a sleeper. He is very tall, has long arms and does a great job boxing out defenders. He’s also very raw and may need to convert to wide receiver in the NFL.
28. Mike Higgins-TE-6’5-242 lbs.-Nebraska at Omaha-Pickrell, NE-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Higgins is large and very athletic. He has long arms and plucks the ball out of the arm. He isn’t exceptionally fast and lacks the lower body strength he’d need to compete as a blocker in the NFL.
29. Eric Peitz-TE-6’4-258 lbs.-Colorado State-Yankton, SD- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Peitz has good size and good strength. He has good lateral quickness and is a solid run blocker. He struggles as a receiver and will likely catch on as a goal-line tight end in the NFL.
30. Greg Smith-TE-6’4-245 lbs.-Texas-Montgomery, TX-Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
Smith is athletic with soft and reliable hands. He doesn’t have top-notch speed and will struggle to separate from defenders in the NFL.
31. Ben Thayer-TE-6’4-240 lbs.-Eastern Michigan-Kalamazoo, MI- Combine Numbers** (40T – 4.85; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 7th Rd.
32. Ben Cleveland-TE-6’3-246 lbs.-Arkansas-Springdale, AR- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
33. Will Yeatman-TE-6’6-273 lbs.-Maryland-San Diego, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
34. Mike Ragone-TE-6’4-245 lbs.-Notre Dame-Cherry Hill, NJ- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
35. Alston Umuolo-TE-6’4-250 lbs.-San Diego State-Phoenix, AZ- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
36. Collin Franklin-TE-6’5-252 lbs.-Iowa State-Simi Valley, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
37. Martell Webb-TE-6’4-256 lbs.-Michigan-Pontiac, MI- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
38. Evan Frosch-TE-6’3-264 lbs.-TCU-Midland, TX- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
39. Ed Barham-TE-6’3-260 lbs.-North Carolina-Dendron, VA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
40. Larry Donnell-TE-6’6-257 lbs.-Grambling-Ozark, AL- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
41. Jeff Lindsay-TE-6’3-235 lbs.-Purdue-Macomb, MI- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
42. London Landry-TE-6’3-235 lbs.-South Dakota-Lancaster, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
43. A.J. Simmons-TE-6’4-262 lbs.-Arizona-Oakland, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
44. Kyle Nelson-TE-6’3-240 lbs.-New Mexico State-Waco, TX- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
45. Vaughn Charlton-TE-6’4-254 lbs.-Temple-Landenberg, PA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
46. Jonny Moore-TE-6’4-240 lbs.-Texas at El Paso-San Antonio, TX- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
47. Ifeanyi Momah-TE-6’6-240 lbs.-Boston College-Elwood, NY- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
48. Chris Blohm-TE-6’4-262 lbs.-Yale-San Francisco, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
49. Tommy Gallarda-TE-6’5-250 lbs.-Boise State-Brea, CA- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
50. Colin Cochart-TE-6’4-255 lbs.-South Dakota State-Kewaunee, WI- Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: FA
** From the BSN Combine ,Akron,OH 4/10/11
Training for"NFL" Football
(This article is the 6th Installment of the "Pro Draft Report" By Football Reporters Online)
Training for "NFL" football?
By Eric Dolan-Beyond Sports Network Partner & Parisi Speed School Owner/Trainer
Before getting into the “training for football” thing, it is important to look at why we care so much about football. We have coaches, trainers, scouts and journalists along with former coaches, trainers, scouts and journalists being dubbed as “experts” in football. Everybody has an opinion and everybody justifies their opinion using film, stats, athletic feats, and so on. At the end of the day, we are all fans and we all claim to evaluate without bias and to base our opinion on how some particular player looks on the field of play. This claim is basically a lie. Let’s face it, how the guy plays is only part of the equation. There is the difficult task of trying to figure out “how his game translates to the NFL.” While I am a believer in actually watching the man play being the most important step, it is true that schemes are different and different players fit different schemes.
There are guys better suited to play in the CFL, for example, than in the NFL. I don’t believe every CFL player is inferior, but I do believe the required skill sets are certainly different. You have different rules, a different field, and different schemes. So, trying to figure out who fits what scheme and who may be able to play in a system they never played in before, and who may have trouble with the “mental side” of the game, and who may be too fragile emotionally to play in a big market, etc, are all things that basic film study may not easily translate.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Then there are the numbers. The stats. Yes, the stats that so many people claim they don’t look at. Anybody can play with numbers and make them work to their own advantage. Lies, damned lies, and statistics. We hate stats. Stats are for baseball, not football, right? Wrong. Stats are what we train for. I’m talking numbers across the board. Tackles, sacks, interceptions, receptions, yards and touchdowns are some of the numbers we look at, but there are more than these. There are numbers like how many feet of water some random unknown safety can jump out of and still land on his feet. How many back flips did Jason Pierre-Paul do again? Then there is the ultimate set of numbers known as the Combine. What gets lost in these numbers is that the Combine actually consists of several variables including football drills, interviews, written tests and so on. What we are interested in, though, are the numbers. We want to know height, weight, forty time and vertical jump more than anything else. If we can get shuttle, broad jump, and three cone times; well, that’s just icing on the cake. How big are his hands? So, we train for this – not making our hands bigger, but the other stuff. We train to put on Vernon Davis and Mike Mamula displays of athleticism. This training and these numbers move millions of dollars in and out of the hands of future professional athletes before they ever sign a contract. A dominant, SEC, 3-year starter, and widely respected inside linebacker is a first rounder on everybody’s board. Oops. He ran a 4.97 forty. Umm, second rounder because of his production and despite his struggles with long linear speed.
The truth is, we have to train to become a better athlete in order to perform on the field, and we have to train to test well when the time comes. Some believe that testing and playing do not correspond. I do not completely agree with this. Testing may not always directly correspond, but there will be aspects that do and good, hard training is good for an athlete no matter how you slice it. Let’s take a look at Mark Ingram this year. Most feel he is the best running back in the draft. Some weren’t thrilled with his forty time because it was basically average. He caught a little slack for this. What few pointed out was that he had an exceptional “ten yard” dash to start the run. He obviously trained and trained hard on that run, but focused on the initial ten yards. Now we should ask ourselves whether we want a RB with a blazing forty or one who goes from zero to top speed in the shortest time and distance – a blazing 10 yarder. How many RB’s have to go fast in under 10 yards, stop and do it again versus how many run straight for 40 yards on any single play. Keep in mind there are different ways to time these players as well. Hand timing with a stopwatch will give the fastest times. Electronic timing will give the slowest, but most accurate. The NFL Combine uses a hand start, electronic finish which lands somewhere in the middle.
The other big tests are the 20-yard (5-10-5) shuttle and the three cone (L-drill) which are measures of agility and change of direction. The 5-10-5 also shows short lateral speed; and the vertical jump and the broad jump, which show different levels of explosiveness. The 60-yard shuttle is another popular drill that also indicates levels of stamina. I hear varying opinions on the importance of this drill. There is no doubt that we will never run an exact 20-yard shuttle, counting our steps, on the football field. We will also never do a standing broad jump on the football field. I’m fairly certain a 60-yard shuttle has never been attempted during a game either. Of course, if I told you that I could train you in these areas and I would promise you to get faster, more explosion, have more agility, quickness and stamina; would that make you a better ball player? It certainly can’t hurt.
A football player must first become an athlete. Training should start with this premise. We should absolutely move into sport-specific and testing-specific training within an appropriate time prior to taking the field or participating in a combine, but we need the basic fundamentals of athleticism before we can reach full potential in the more specific areas. We must eventually master football though. There is a great story about an NFL personnel guy and a coach arguing over a player and the coach finally admits he took the guy because of his great athleticism. The personnel guy responds with “You want great athletes, go to the Olympics, but the problem is half of them are women. I’ll get you great football players if that’s what you’re looking for.”
I love that story and it is absolutely true that a great athlete does not make a great football player. Of course, most great football players are indeed great athletes and have trained as such. When we get into sport specific training mode, strength, flexibility and injury prevention tend to get lost at times and these are the most important aspects of our training. Players should always perform an active and dynamic warm-up before training. I’m not talking about static stretching and a quick jog around the backstop. Stretch a cold rubber band out and let me know what happens. I’m talking about a good warm-up that actively assists in flexibility and strength. A good warm-up will not only loosen you up, but you will break a little sweat. A good warm-up increases your core temperature, activates your central nervous system and gets your muscles in competition mode.
Focus on technique. This is where combine-specific training really comes into play. You want more speed, power, and explosion – you need to generate more force production. Strong legs will do that. Technique will make the difference. The challenge with technique is that it’s a re-learning experience. This is why combine training takes such a long time to master. We all taught ourselves how to run when we were two years old. We also taught ourselves how to jump. Nobody learns how to efficiently run and jump with the least amount of wasted movement and best techniques to maximize force production until they are much older than two. This is a complete change in mental and neural makeup. One must completely change how their body acts and responds until it actually becomes the way their body acts and responds. This change in make-up goes for test training as well. You will actually hear players counting their steps, for example, when practicing their shuttles. Everything has to be on point and perfect. There is no quick fix to training for a combine or pro-day. Players pay monetarily, physically, emotionally and huge in time commitments to train for strength, flexibility, injury prevention, technique and, of course, statistics because they stand to gain and lose a lot more based on a tenth of a second.
Eric is a recent addition to the contributors List at the FRO. He is the Director of Scouting & Training at our co-operators BEYOND SPORTS NETWORK (www.beyondsportsnetwork.com) and a Parisi School Owner/Operator In Maryland.
Training for "NFL" football?
By Eric Dolan-Beyond Sports Network Partner & Parisi Speed School Owner/Trainer
Before getting into the “training for football” thing, it is important to look at why we care so much about football. We have coaches, trainers, scouts and journalists along with former coaches, trainers, scouts and journalists being dubbed as “experts” in football. Everybody has an opinion and everybody justifies their opinion using film, stats, athletic feats, and so on. At the end of the day, we are all fans and we all claim to evaluate without bias and to base our opinion on how some particular player looks on the field of play. This claim is basically a lie. Let’s face it, how the guy plays is only part of the equation. There is the difficult task of trying to figure out “how his game translates to the NFL.” While I am a believer in actually watching the man play being the most important step, it is true that schemes are different and different players fit different schemes.
There are guys better suited to play in the CFL, for example, than in the NFL. I don’t believe every CFL player is inferior, but I do believe the required skill sets are certainly different. You have different rules, a different field, and different schemes. So, trying to figure out who fits what scheme and who may be able to play in a system they never played in before, and who may have trouble with the “mental side” of the game, and who may be too fragile emotionally to play in a big market, etc, are all things that basic film study may not easily translate.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Then there are the numbers. The stats. Yes, the stats that so many people claim they don’t look at. Anybody can play with numbers and make them work to their own advantage. Lies, damned lies, and statistics. We hate stats. Stats are for baseball, not football, right? Wrong. Stats are what we train for. I’m talking numbers across the board. Tackles, sacks, interceptions, receptions, yards and touchdowns are some of the numbers we look at, but there are more than these. There are numbers like how many feet of water some random unknown safety can jump out of and still land on his feet. How many back flips did Jason Pierre-Paul do again? Then there is the ultimate set of numbers known as the Combine. What gets lost in these numbers is that the Combine actually consists of several variables including football drills, interviews, written tests and so on. What we are interested in, though, are the numbers. We want to know height, weight, forty time and vertical jump more than anything else. If we can get shuttle, broad jump, and three cone times; well, that’s just icing on the cake. How big are his hands? So, we train for this – not making our hands bigger, but the other stuff. We train to put on Vernon Davis and Mike Mamula displays of athleticism. This training and these numbers move millions of dollars in and out of the hands of future professional athletes before they ever sign a contract. A dominant, SEC, 3-year starter, and widely respected inside linebacker is a first rounder on everybody’s board. Oops. He ran a 4.97 forty. Umm, second rounder because of his production and despite his struggles with long linear speed.
The truth is, we have to train to become a better athlete in order to perform on the field, and we have to train to test well when the time comes. Some believe that testing and playing do not correspond. I do not completely agree with this. Testing may not always directly correspond, but there will be aspects that do and good, hard training is good for an athlete no matter how you slice it. Let’s take a look at Mark Ingram this year. Most feel he is the best running back in the draft. Some weren’t thrilled with his forty time because it was basically average. He caught a little slack for this. What few pointed out was that he had an exceptional “ten yard” dash to start the run. He obviously trained and trained hard on that run, but focused on the initial ten yards. Now we should ask ourselves whether we want a RB with a blazing forty or one who goes from zero to top speed in the shortest time and distance – a blazing 10 yarder. How many RB’s have to go fast in under 10 yards, stop and do it again versus how many run straight for 40 yards on any single play. Keep in mind there are different ways to time these players as well. Hand timing with a stopwatch will give the fastest times. Electronic timing will give the slowest, but most accurate. The NFL Combine uses a hand start, electronic finish which lands somewhere in the middle.
The other big tests are the 20-yard (5-10-5) shuttle and the three cone (L-drill) which are measures of agility and change of direction. The 5-10-5 also shows short lateral speed; and the vertical jump and the broad jump, which show different levels of explosiveness. The 60-yard shuttle is another popular drill that also indicates levels of stamina. I hear varying opinions on the importance of this drill. There is no doubt that we will never run an exact 20-yard shuttle, counting our steps, on the football field. We will also never do a standing broad jump on the football field. I’m fairly certain a 60-yard shuttle has never been attempted during a game either. Of course, if I told you that I could train you in these areas and I would promise you to get faster, more explosion, have more agility, quickness and stamina; would that make you a better ball player? It certainly can’t hurt.
A football player must first become an athlete. Training should start with this premise. We should absolutely move into sport-specific and testing-specific training within an appropriate time prior to taking the field or participating in a combine, but we need the basic fundamentals of athleticism before we can reach full potential in the more specific areas. We must eventually master football though. There is a great story about an NFL personnel guy and a coach arguing over a player and the coach finally admits he took the guy because of his great athleticism. The personnel guy responds with “You want great athletes, go to the Olympics, but the problem is half of them are women. I’ll get you great football players if that’s what you’re looking for.”
I love that story and it is absolutely true that a great athlete does not make a great football player. Of course, most great football players are indeed great athletes and have trained as such. When we get into sport specific training mode, strength, flexibility and injury prevention tend to get lost at times and these are the most important aspects of our training. Players should always perform an active and dynamic warm-up before training. I’m not talking about static stretching and a quick jog around the backstop. Stretch a cold rubber band out and let me know what happens. I’m talking about a good warm-up that actively assists in flexibility and strength. A good warm-up will not only loosen you up, but you will break a little sweat. A good warm-up increases your core temperature, activates your central nervous system and gets your muscles in competition mode.
Focus on technique. This is where combine-specific training really comes into play. You want more speed, power, and explosion – you need to generate more force production. Strong legs will do that. Technique will make the difference. The challenge with technique is that it’s a re-learning experience. This is why combine training takes such a long time to master. We all taught ourselves how to run when we were two years old. We also taught ourselves how to jump. Nobody learns how to efficiently run and jump with the least amount of wasted movement and best techniques to maximize force production until they are much older than two. This is a complete change in mental and neural makeup. One must completely change how their body acts and responds until it actually becomes the way their body acts and responds. This change in make-up goes for test training as well. You will actually hear players counting their steps, for example, when practicing their shuttles. Everything has to be on point and perfect. There is no quick fix to training for a combine or pro-day. Players pay monetarily, physically, emotionally and huge in time commitments to train for strength, flexibility, injury prevention, technique and, of course, statistics because they stand to gain and lose a lot more based on a tenth of a second.
Eric is a recent addition to the contributors List at the FRO. He is the Director of Scouting & Training at our co-operators BEYOND SPORTS NETWORK (www.beyondsportsnetwork.com) and a Parisi School Owner/Operator In Maryland.
NFL Draft 2011: The Wide Receiver Rankings
(this is the 5th installment of the Pro Draft Report Presented by Football Reporters Online)
The Wide Receivers-By Zachary Powell
1. A.J. Green – WR - 6’3” – 211 lbs. – Georgia
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.48; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 1st Round
Since Green declared for the 2011 Draft, he’s been the consensus number one receiver on the board. While not possessing top-flight speed, Green has been an extremely productive player (166 receptions, 1982 receiving yards, 24 TD’s); despite missing several games to suspension and injury during his three-year career as a Bulldog. His productivity is due to a blend of his excellent height and his crafty route running which allow him to get off the line quickly and his long strides allow him to get separation. Has long-arms and great hands. Exceptional body-control that makes him very tough to defend on the deep ball. Is considered a adequate run-blocker but will have to do a better job at finishing blocks at this level. A.J. does have the tendency to get outmuscled by bigger and more physical DB’s on occasion. He has the frame to add more weight without sacrificing speed. There isn’t much to dislike about Green and he should be the first of this deep receiver class to hear his name called.
2. Julio Jones – WR – 6’4” – 220 lbs. – Alabama
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.39; Cone – 6.66) Draft Projection: 1st Round
In terms of potential, there is none greater than Alabama’s own Julio Jones. Has excellent upside but is considered raw in a number of areas. His size and speed draw comparisons to current All-Pro WR Andre Johnson (Houston Texans). He has shown the ability to go over the middle, take the big hit and hold on to the ball. His biggest assets are his hands, which he uses efficiently in creating separation; he will rarely be jammed at the line of scrimmage. The biggest knock on Jones is his inconsistency. He struggles to locate the ball on deep routes; and has the tendency to get lazy and allow the ball into his frame, which results in a number of easy passes to hit the ground. There are few receivers with his combination of size, talent and effort. Was the 2011 winner of the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellent Award. If Jones can put everything together, he has the potential to be an All-Pro type player.
3. Torrey Smith – WR – 6’0” – 202 lbs. – Maryland
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.43; Cone – 6.72) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Torrey is a late bloomer, who spent the 2007 season as a redshirt. The most impressive quality from Torrey is his big-play ability; he set the ACC single-season kickoff return record with 1,089 yards, including a 99-yard return in the 09’ Humanitarian Bowl. He finished the ’10 season with 67 receptions for 1,055 yards and 12 TD’s, good enough to be placed on the All-ACC team. Smith is a dangerous runner after the catch and is a threat to take any catch to the end zone. He can struggle at getting off the line in press coverage and needs to work on fighting off DB’s. He compares favorably to former teammate Darrius Heyward-Bay, who went 7th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Ended his career with 2,129 all-purpose yards which ranks him 2nd all time in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His value peaks here because of his ability to return kicks and his top-end speed.
4. Jonathan Baldwin – WR – 6’5” – 228 lbs. – Pittsburgh
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.45; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Baldwin, an impressive physical specimen, is a bit of an enigma heading in to the 2010 NFL Draft. Blessed with an incredible combination of size and speed, he has been ranked everywhere from the #2 wideout in his class to the middle-teens. Absolutely elite in ball skills – a natural at catching the ball away from his body; and creates nightmares for smaller DB’s in jump ball situations. Averaged 18.3/per catch in his career at Pitt, speed is not a concern. Rarely is jammed at the line and has the quick burst needed to make quick adjustments in his routes. He does get lazy from time to time in route running. The major concern from scouts on Baldwin is his “diva” reputation. Baldwin publically threw his QB under the bus after a bowl loss and was arrested and charged with assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The charges were later dropped but only add to his reputation as a bit of a problem child.
5. Randall Cobb – WR – 5’11” – 192 lbs. – Kentucky – 4.46
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.46; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Elected an All-American as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press, Cobb can do a little bit of everything. Had a very productive 2010 season at Kentucky, finishing with 955 yards receiving, 401 yards on the ground and 12 total touchdowns; including 3 passing TD’s and a returned punt. Cobb has a knack for finding seems and holes in the zone – he’s quick out of his breaks and uses his body well to create separation from opposing DB’s. He lacks elite size and top-end speed but can get behind coverage from time to time. A very tough receiver who will fight for extra yards and described as relentless as a run blocker. Is susceptible to mental errors on the field and will drop an occasional easy pass. The phrase “jack of all trades but master of none” fits here. He’ll likely settle in to a slot position at the next level, similar to Wes Welker in stature and skills.
6. Leonard Hankerson – WR – 6’1” – 205 lbs. – Miami – 4.43
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.43; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
Leonard Hankerson is a bit of a question mark heading in to this draft. He has the size and speed scouts are looking for at the next level but his slow development at Miami was a bit puzzling. Had only 17 catches for 203 yards in his first two years for the Hurricanes. Finished the ’10 season with 1,156 yards and 13 TD’s. Has a long stride but is slow to build speed; but has enough speed to create some matchup problems in the vertical passing game. Is fearless over the middle and can take a short-to-medium route and find a seem. He is described as “attacking” the ball with his hands and isn’t afraid to mix it up in one-on-one situations; but has poor ability to adjust to underthrown balls. Has frustrated Miami coaches with his tendency to drop easy passes. Runs more upright than you would like and is sometimes lazy in his route running. His ranking this high is strictly based upon his potential; the improvement he’s shown over his time at Miami shows his ability to be coached. He will likely need a year or two to continue his development before his contributions will be felt.
7. Titus Young – WR – 5’11” – 174 lbs. – Boise State – 4.43
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.43; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
Much like Jonathan Baldwin, there are many questions about intangibles that surround Young. Often described as immature, Young was suspended 10 games during the 2008 stemming from off-the-field issues. Scouts thought he would challenge for the title of fastest receiver at the combine but ran a disappointing 4.43 (was recently clocked at his Boise State Pro-Day at 4.35). With his underwhelming size, he has to show that he can get past the secondary. Has lightning quick route running skills and is dangerous in the open-field. Young wears his emotions on his sleeve which is a double-edged sword; will get unnecessary flags thrown his way but also works hard over the middle of the field and isn’t afraid of the big hit. Struggles when jammed at the line of scrimmage and can get rerouted out of his breaks. NFL teams know what they are getting with Titus; a fiery receiver, whose production at Boise cannot be denied. He compares favorably with Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson. If he can display the same type of electricity with the ball as Jackson, someone will be getting a steal in the later parts of the second round/early third round.
8. Jerrel Jernigan – WR – 5’9” – 183 lbs. – Troy – 4.46
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.46; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
There is a lot to like about Jerrel Jernigan. Some will write off him due to him playing at Troy but Jerrel has shown up on the big stage (16 receptions for 145 yards in two games vs. Oklahoma in 2008 and 2010). His 4.46 forty-yard-dash time is not con. He has excellent straight-line speed and can get into the gap in a heartbeat. He is a pure-runner with the ball in his hands and has an array of moves to get opposing defenders off-balance. He could be an ideal fit for teams wanting to install a Wildcat package. The downsides of playing at a small school are questions regarding competition and the type of offense run at Troy; can he handle the complex routes at the NFL level? His size is a concern but Jernigan has worked tirelessly to add weight to his frame. His production at the NCAA level is solid but it remains to be seen if it will translate to the pro game.
9. Tandon Doss – WR – 6’2” – 202 lbs. – Indiana
Combine Numbers (40T - DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Tandon enters our rankings a bit behind the curve. Not able to participate in the Senior Bowl as a junior and declined to participate in the combine drills. Doss led the Big Ten in all-purpose yards and finished fourth nationally. The Indiana prospect is one of the most sure-handed receivers in this class, and perhaps one of the most experienced as a three-year starter for the Hoosiers. He has deceptive top-end speed and maximizes yards after the catch. He’ll never be mistaked for a burner in the NFL, but is the prototypical possession receiver at the next level. The biggest hole in his game is his run blocking; he gives a solid effort but his technique will need to be refined against NFL receivers. There isn’t a consensus on where Doss will end up in the 2010 NFL Draft but his skill set varies from the other receivers this year and could hear his name called early.
10. Greg Little – WR – 6’3” – 210 lbs. – North Carolina
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Questions surround Little’s maturity level but his skill set as a receiver remain unchallenged. His 2010 season ended before it began as he was ruled ineligible for the season for violating NCAA benefits (receiving agent benefits). However, Little’s production level never matched up to his potential; his best season came in 2009 where he had 62 receptions, 724 yards and 5 TD’s. Little’s college nickname was the “Freak” after a game against NC State where he drove CB Jarvis Byrd ten yards off the ball while blocking on an end-around before driving him in to the ground where he eventually had to be helped off the field. His physical skills are off the chart but he drops because of the mental lapses on the field. He doesn’t pay attention to the small details and will take off a play off if he’s not involved. If he can bring it all together, he could be the biggest steal of the entire draft.
11. Edmund Gates – WR – 5’11” – 189 lbs. – Abilene Christian
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.37; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Gates, out of Abilene Christian, while being one of the oldest prospects to come out is also the most unexperienced. Only playing one year of high school football, Gates quit to focus more on a basketball career. After being booted from a Junior College, Gates followed his cousin Bernard Scott (NFL’s Cincinatti Bengals) to ACU. A small, but quick receiver, Gates ran a 4.37 in the forty – tops about receivers at the NFL Combine. Not the sharpest at route running and has adequate ball-skills. Every time he touches the ball, he’s a threat to score. His inexperience leaves a lot to be desired and could take time learning NFL-level routes and reading coverage.
12. Vincent Brown – WR – 5’11” – 184 lbs. – San Diego State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.71; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
San Diego St. was a surprise in 2010, and Vincent Brown was a big reason why. Had a productive 2010 with 69 rec. for 1,352 yards. Brown is a solid route runner…does the little things extremely well that don’t show up in the stat column. Below average speed but makes up for it with his agility and his bursts out of cuts to separate from defenders. Brown is described as a “violent” run blocker; San Diego St. has pulled him to block the backside from time to time. He’s going to have to work hard to fix the mental errors and continue to grow.
13. Dwayne Harris – WR – 5’10” – 200 lbs. – East Carolina
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – 6.77) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
2010 Conference USA player of the year; also first team all-conference selection as a punt returned. Set ECU’s single-season records with 1,123 rec. yards and 101 receptions. Projected as a slot receiver at the next level, runs solid routes and does a nice job at getting in and out of breaks. A tough receiver; does most of his damage over the middle of the field. Lacks elite-level speed to be considered a deep threat but does have good strength to fight for extra yards after contact. Stock draft after the Senior Bowl – Harris lacked explosiveness and described as having “stone hands.” His toughness will allow him to catch on but he’ll have to work on his ability to attack the ball with his hands and now allow the mental lapses which have raised questions about his long-term status in the NFL.
14. Niles Paul – WR – 6’1” – 225 lbs. – Nebraska
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.59; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Nebraska wideout Paul has the physical tools to become a very good NFL prospect but his checkered past has caused him to drop on many boards. Paul finished 2010 with 39 catches for 516 yards and just one touchdown (he missed two games due to injury; didn’t touch the ball in two others). Scouts love his combination of size and strength; he’s a load to bring down in the open field. He’s got a tremendous vertical leap (36-inch). The knock on Paul is the aforementioned past (arrested twice for alchohal related offenses) and his inconsistency. Drops a lot of balls he shouldn’t (focus; and has small hands for a receiver at 8-inches). With a bit of coaching, Paul has the potential to develop in to a starter at the NFL level.
15. Gregory Salas – WR – 6’1” – 206 lbs. – Hawaii – 4.57
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.57; Cone – 6.65) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Enjoyed one of the most productive careers in NCAA history (285 cat., 4,345 receiving yards and 26 TDs). His size, strength, experience and soft hands give him tremendous value as a receiver at the NFL level. He struggled with drops at the Senior Bowl but his tape at Hawaii shows this is a strength. Release needs work and can be pushed off his route, but when allowed to get top end strength, he can make you pay. He does not have the explosiveness to break away from receivers at the next level.
16. Terrence Toliver – WR – 6’4” – 211 lbs. – Louisiana State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.52; Cone – 6.48) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Toliver has the height to make scouts drool. A fairly unproductive player at LSU; just 85 career receptions. His length allows for long strides and smooth acceleration; has deceptive straight-line speed. Has strong hands, large wingspan ad hand-eye coordination to make the tough grab. Doesn’t always see the ball in to his hands allowing for some easy drops that frustrate coaches. Has some character issues – was arrested and charged with tampering with a police officer, disturbing the peace and public intoxication.
17. Cecil Shorts – WR – 6’0” – 200 lbs. – Mount Union – 4.53
Combine Numbers (40T – 4.53; Cone – 6.50) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Shorts is attempting to follow in the footsteps of former Purple Raider receiver Pierre Garcon (now playing for the Indianapolis Colts). Cecil began his career as a QB, but showed his all-purpose ability as a redshirt freshman (rushing for 209 yards and catching 12 passes for 289 yards). A jack of all trades but showed tremendous value as a receiver. Can line up anywhere but is most effective out of the slot; and runs every route in the tree effectively. Inconsistent using his hands in front of him; ball is frequently jarred loose. A bit lazy on routes he’s not directly involved in. Will have to show his production wasn’t the result of being the superior player athletically at the DIII level.
18. Jeremy Kerley – WR – 5’10” – 188 lbs. – Texas Christian
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 4th Round
The 2010 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year. Just one of two players to rank in the top 20 for punt returns (12.9 yards) and kick returns (27.7 yards) in 2010. Has quick feet and ability to separate from receivers set him apart from other receivers at the Senior Bowl. He lacks the size scouts covet and will have to show he isn’t a product of the spread system at Texas Christian. His value is probably as a specialist which works in his favor as teams are using roster spots for return men and decoys in the receiving game.
19. Tyrod Taylor – WR – 6’1” – 216 lbs. – Virginia Tech – 4.51
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – 6.78) Draft Projection: 5th Round
Even after breaking most of Tech’s QB records, Taylor projects as a receiver at the next level. Blessed with tremendous arm strength and jaw-breaking mobility, he does project a bit on the short side as a quarterback. Has great speed and can really make defenders miss with his elusiveness and quick hips. Will work out exclusively as a quarterback in pro days and could be used as a wildcat option at the NFL level. Questions about his ability to catch the ball and run routes will have to be answered but based upon his athletic ability alone, someone will take a chance on him as a receiver somewhere in the 2010 draft.
20. Austin Pettis – WR – 6’2” – 205 lbs. – Boise State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – 6.68) Draft Projection: 5th Round
Pettis leaves Boise State as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (229) and touchdown receptions (39). Steady and productive over his career; finished the year with 71 catches and 951 yards and 10 TDs for a Bronco offense that finished second in the nation in scoring offense. Good hands but not great. Comes out of his breaks with good speed; exceptional route runner. He’s a tall target at 6’2” but ran a pedestrian 4.56 and has to show that he can go vertical. Shines on the big stage and isn’t afraid of the spotlight. Could be a steal in the 5th round.
21. Darvin Adams – WR – 6’3” – 185 lbs. – Auburn
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.52; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th Round
22. Ronald Johnson – WR- 5’11” – 186 lbs. – Southern California
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th Round
23. Denarius Moore – WR – 6’0” – 191 lbs. – Tennessee
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.45; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th Round
24. Dane Sanzenbacher – WR – 5’11” – 182 lbs. – Ohio State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.45; Cone – 6.46) Draft Projection: 6th Round
25. Lester Jean – 6’3” – 211 lbs. – Florida Atlantic
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.59; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 6th Round
26. Aldrick Robinson – WR – 5’10” – 182 lbs. – Southern Methodist
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – 6.65) Draft Projection: 6th Round
27. Orenthal Murdock – WR – 5’11” – 195 lbs. – Fort Hays State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.55; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 6th-7th Round
28. Jockee Sanders – WR – 5’6” – 174 lbs. – West Virginia
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 7th Round
29. Mark Dell – WR – 6’0” – 193 lbs. – Michigan State
Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 7th Round
30. Terrance Turner – WR – 6’2” – 221 lbs. – Indiana
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – 6.77) Draft Projection: 7th Round
31. Armon Binns – WR -- 6’2” – 211 lbs. – Cincinnati
32. Kealoha Pilares – WR – 5’10” – 215 lbs. – Hawaii
33. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos – 5’11” – 204 lbs. – Iowa
34. Terrell Zachery – 5’11” – 208 lbs. – Auburn
35. James Kirkendoll – 5’11” – 182 lbs. – Texas
36. DeAndre Brown – 6’6” – 239 lbs. – Southern Mississippi
37. Tori Gurley – 6’5” – 230 lbs. – South Carolina
38. James Cleveland – 6’0” – 197 lbs. – Houston
39. Courtney Smith – 6’4” – 220 lbs. – South Alabama
40. Jeffrey Maehl – 6’1” – 181 lbs. – Oregon
41. Jamel Hamler – 6’2” – 195 lbs. – Fresno State
42. Ryan Whalen – 6’1” – 204 lbs. – Stanford
43. Keith Smith – 6’3” – 224 lbs. – Purdue
44. Graham Zug – 6’2” – 182 lbs. – Penn State
45. Markeith Summers – 6’3” – 201 lbs. – Mississippi
46. Jarvis Williams – 6’4” – 218 – North Carolina State
47. Carl Moore -- 6’2 ½” – 222 lbs. – Florida
48. Owen Spencer – 6’2” – 191 lbs. – North Carolina State
49. Marshall Williams – 6’1” – 188 lbs. – Wake Forest
50. Videl Hazelton – 6’2” – 210 – Cincinnati
51. John Chiles – 6’2” – 217 lbs. -- Texas
52. Kristopher Adams – 6’3” – 194 lbs. – UTEP
53. David Gilreath – 5’9” – 172 lbs. – Wisconsin
54. Detron Lewis – 5’11” – 211 lbs. – Texas Tech
55. Terrence McCrae – 6’2 – 195 lbs. – Ohio
56. Xavier Dye – 6’4” – 210 lbs. – Clemson
57. Armand Robinson -- 6’0” – 203 lbs. – Miami (Ohio)
58. Brandon Caleb – 6’0” – 192 lbs. – Oklahoma
59. Kyle Jefferson – 6’3” – 184 lbs. – Wisconsin
60. Trae Johnson – 5’11” – 187 lbs. – Tulsa
61. Gerald Jones – 5’10” – 196 lbs. – Tennessee
62. Jimmy Young – 6’0”—204 lbs. – Texas Christian
63. Austin Kelly – 6’2” – 205 lbs. – Duke
64. Jeremy LeFrance – 6’0” – 196 lbs. – Akron
65. Cortez Smith – 6’2” – 183 lbs. -- Purdue
Honor Roll:
Joe Horn-5’11”-180lbs.- Ashland University-As a GILAC conference (D-II) superstar, Joe has earned many plaudits during his career, and is drawing interest from several NFL teams. In his final game, Joe had 8 TD’s (yes 8), 6 Receiving and 2 Returns….
The Wide Receivers-By Zachary Powell
1. A.J. Green – WR - 6’3” – 211 lbs. – Georgia
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.48; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 1st Round
Since Green declared for the 2011 Draft, he’s been the consensus number one receiver on the board. While not possessing top-flight speed, Green has been an extremely productive player (166 receptions, 1982 receiving yards, 24 TD’s); despite missing several games to suspension and injury during his three-year career as a Bulldog. His productivity is due to a blend of his excellent height and his crafty route running which allow him to get off the line quickly and his long strides allow him to get separation. Has long-arms and great hands. Exceptional body-control that makes him very tough to defend on the deep ball. Is considered a adequate run-blocker but will have to do a better job at finishing blocks at this level. A.J. does have the tendency to get outmuscled by bigger and more physical DB’s on occasion. He has the frame to add more weight without sacrificing speed. There isn’t much to dislike about Green and he should be the first of this deep receiver class to hear his name called.
2. Julio Jones – WR – 6’4” – 220 lbs. – Alabama
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.39; Cone – 6.66) Draft Projection: 1st Round
In terms of potential, there is none greater than Alabama’s own Julio Jones. Has excellent upside but is considered raw in a number of areas. His size and speed draw comparisons to current All-Pro WR Andre Johnson (Houston Texans). He has shown the ability to go over the middle, take the big hit and hold on to the ball. His biggest assets are his hands, which he uses efficiently in creating separation; he will rarely be jammed at the line of scrimmage. The biggest knock on Jones is his inconsistency. He struggles to locate the ball on deep routes; and has the tendency to get lazy and allow the ball into his frame, which results in a number of easy passes to hit the ground. There are few receivers with his combination of size, talent and effort. Was the 2011 winner of the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellent Award. If Jones can put everything together, he has the potential to be an All-Pro type player.
3. Torrey Smith – WR – 6’0” – 202 lbs. – Maryland
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.43; Cone – 6.72) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Torrey is a late bloomer, who spent the 2007 season as a redshirt. The most impressive quality from Torrey is his big-play ability; he set the ACC single-season kickoff return record with 1,089 yards, including a 99-yard return in the 09’ Humanitarian Bowl. He finished the ’10 season with 67 receptions for 1,055 yards and 12 TD’s, good enough to be placed on the All-ACC team. Smith is a dangerous runner after the catch and is a threat to take any catch to the end zone. He can struggle at getting off the line in press coverage and needs to work on fighting off DB’s. He compares favorably to former teammate Darrius Heyward-Bay, who went 7th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Ended his career with 2,129 all-purpose yards which ranks him 2nd all time in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His value peaks here because of his ability to return kicks and his top-end speed.
4. Jonathan Baldwin – WR – 6’5” – 228 lbs. – Pittsburgh
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.45; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Baldwin, an impressive physical specimen, is a bit of an enigma heading in to the 2010 NFL Draft. Blessed with an incredible combination of size and speed, he has been ranked everywhere from the #2 wideout in his class to the middle-teens. Absolutely elite in ball skills – a natural at catching the ball away from his body; and creates nightmares for smaller DB’s in jump ball situations. Averaged 18.3/per catch in his career at Pitt, speed is not a concern. Rarely is jammed at the line and has the quick burst needed to make quick adjustments in his routes. He does get lazy from time to time in route running. The major concern from scouts on Baldwin is his “diva” reputation. Baldwin publically threw his QB under the bus after a bowl loss and was arrested and charged with assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The charges were later dropped but only add to his reputation as a bit of a problem child.
5. Randall Cobb – WR – 5’11” – 192 lbs. – Kentucky – 4.46
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.46; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd Round
Elected an All-American as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press, Cobb can do a little bit of everything. Had a very productive 2010 season at Kentucky, finishing with 955 yards receiving, 401 yards on the ground and 12 total touchdowns; including 3 passing TD’s and a returned punt. Cobb has a knack for finding seems and holes in the zone – he’s quick out of his breaks and uses his body well to create separation from opposing DB’s. He lacks elite size and top-end speed but can get behind coverage from time to time. A very tough receiver who will fight for extra yards and described as relentless as a run blocker. Is susceptible to mental errors on the field and will drop an occasional easy pass. The phrase “jack of all trades but master of none” fits here. He’ll likely settle in to a slot position at the next level, similar to Wes Welker in stature and skills.
6. Leonard Hankerson – WR – 6’1” – 205 lbs. – Miami – 4.43
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.43; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
Leonard Hankerson is a bit of a question mark heading in to this draft. He has the size and speed scouts are looking for at the next level but his slow development at Miami was a bit puzzling. Had only 17 catches for 203 yards in his first two years for the Hurricanes. Finished the ’10 season with 1,156 yards and 13 TD’s. Has a long stride but is slow to build speed; but has enough speed to create some matchup problems in the vertical passing game. Is fearless over the middle and can take a short-to-medium route and find a seem. He is described as “attacking” the ball with his hands and isn’t afraid to mix it up in one-on-one situations; but has poor ability to adjust to underthrown balls. Has frustrated Miami coaches with his tendency to drop easy passes. Runs more upright than you would like and is sometimes lazy in his route running. His ranking this high is strictly based upon his potential; the improvement he’s shown over his time at Miami shows his ability to be coached. He will likely need a year or two to continue his development before his contributions will be felt.
7. Titus Young – WR – 5’11” – 174 lbs. – Boise State – 4.43
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.43; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
Much like Jonathan Baldwin, there are many questions about intangibles that surround Young. Often described as immature, Young was suspended 10 games during the 2008 stemming from off-the-field issues. Scouts thought he would challenge for the title of fastest receiver at the combine but ran a disappointing 4.43 (was recently clocked at his Boise State Pro-Day at 4.35). With his underwhelming size, he has to show that he can get past the secondary. Has lightning quick route running skills and is dangerous in the open-field. Young wears his emotions on his sleeve which is a double-edged sword; will get unnecessary flags thrown his way but also works hard over the middle of the field and isn’t afraid of the big hit. Struggles when jammed at the line of scrimmage and can get rerouted out of his breaks. NFL teams know what they are getting with Titus; a fiery receiver, whose production at Boise cannot be denied. He compares favorably with Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson. If he can display the same type of electricity with the ball as Jackson, someone will be getting a steal in the later parts of the second round/early third round.
8. Jerrel Jernigan – WR – 5’9” – 183 lbs. – Troy – 4.46
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.46; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
There is a lot to like about Jerrel Jernigan. Some will write off him due to him playing at Troy but Jerrel has shown up on the big stage (16 receptions for 145 yards in two games vs. Oklahoma in 2008 and 2010). His 4.46 forty-yard-dash time is not con. He has excellent straight-line speed and can get into the gap in a heartbeat. He is a pure-runner with the ball in his hands and has an array of moves to get opposing defenders off-balance. He could be an ideal fit for teams wanting to install a Wildcat package. The downsides of playing at a small school are questions regarding competition and the type of offense run at Troy; can he handle the complex routes at the NFL level? His size is a concern but Jernigan has worked tirelessly to add weight to his frame. His production at the NCAA level is solid but it remains to be seen if it will translate to the pro game.
9. Tandon Doss – WR – 6’2” – 202 lbs. – Indiana
Combine Numbers (40T - DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Tandon enters our rankings a bit behind the curve. Not able to participate in the Senior Bowl as a junior and declined to participate in the combine drills. Doss led the Big Ten in all-purpose yards and finished fourth nationally. The Indiana prospect is one of the most sure-handed receivers in this class, and perhaps one of the most experienced as a three-year starter for the Hoosiers. He has deceptive top-end speed and maximizes yards after the catch. He’ll never be mistaked for a burner in the NFL, but is the prototypical possession receiver at the next level. The biggest hole in his game is his run blocking; he gives a solid effort but his technique will need to be refined against NFL receivers. There isn’t a consensus on where Doss will end up in the 2010 NFL Draft but his skill set varies from the other receivers this year and could hear his name called early.
10. Greg Little – WR – 6’3” – 210 lbs. – North Carolina
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd Round
Questions surround Little’s maturity level but his skill set as a receiver remain unchallenged. His 2010 season ended before it began as he was ruled ineligible for the season for violating NCAA benefits (receiving agent benefits). However, Little’s production level never matched up to his potential; his best season came in 2009 where he had 62 receptions, 724 yards and 5 TD’s. Little’s college nickname was the “Freak” after a game against NC State where he drove CB Jarvis Byrd ten yards off the ball while blocking on an end-around before driving him in to the ground where he eventually had to be helped off the field. His physical skills are off the chart but he drops because of the mental lapses on the field. He doesn’t pay attention to the small details and will take off a play off if he’s not involved. If he can bring it all together, he could be the biggest steal of the entire draft.
11. Edmund Gates – WR – 5’11” – 189 lbs. – Abilene Christian
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.37; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Gates, out of Abilene Christian, while being one of the oldest prospects to come out is also the most unexperienced. Only playing one year of high school football, Gates quit to focus more on a basketball career. After being booted from a Junior College, Gates followed his cousin Bernard Scott (NFL’s Cincinatti Bengals) to ACU. A small, but quick receiver, Gates ran a 4.37 in the forty – tops about receivers at the NFL Combine. Not the sharpest at route running and has adequate ball-skills. Every time he touches the ball, he’s a threat to score. His inexperience leaves a lot to be desired and could take time learning NFL-level routes and reading coverage.
12. Vincent Brown – WR – 5’11” – 184 lbs. – San Diego State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.71; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
San Diego St. was a surprise in 2010, and Vincent Brown was a big reason why. Had a productive 2010 with 69 rec. for 1,352 yards. Brown is a solid route runner…does the little things extremely well that don’t show up in the stat column. Below average speed but makes up for it with his agility and his bursts out of cuts to separate from defenders. Brown is described as a “violent” run blocker; San Diego St. has pulled him to block the backside from time to time. He’s going to have to work hard to fix the mental errors and continue to grow.
13. Dwayne Harris – WR – 5’10” – 200 lbs. – East Carolina
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – 6.77) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
2010 Conference USA player of the year; also first team all-conference selection as a punt returned. Set ECU’s single-season records with 1,123 rec. yards and 101 receptions. Projected as a slot receiver at the next level, runs solid routes and does a nice job at getting in and out of breaks. A tough receiver; does most of his damage over the middle of the field. Lacks elite-level speed to be considered a deep threat but does have good strength to fight for extra yards after contact. Stock draft after the Senior Bowl – Harris lacked explosiveness and described as having “stone hands.” His toughness will allow him to catch on but he’ll have to work on his ability to attack the ball with his hands and now allow the mental lapses which have raised questions about his long-term status in the NFL.
14. Niles Paul – WR – 6’1” – 225 lbs. – Nebraska
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.59; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Nebraska wideout Paul has the physical tools to become a very good NFL prospect but his checkered past has caused him to drop on many boards. Paul finished 2010 with 39 catches for 516 yards and just one touchdown (he missed two games due to injury; didn’t touch the ball in two others). Scouts love his combination of size and strength; he’s a load to bring down in the open field. He’s got a tremendous vertical leap (36-inch). The knock on Paul is the aforementioned past (arrested twice for alchohal related offenses) and his inconsistency. Drops a lot of balls he shouldn’t (focus; and has small hands for a receiver at 8-inches). With a bit of coaching, Paul has the potential to develop in to a starter at the NFL level.
15. Gregory Salas – WR – 6’1” – 206 lbs. – Hawaii – 4.57
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.57; Cone – 6.65) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Enjoyed one of the most productive careers in NCAA history (285 cat., 4,345 receiving yards and 26 TDs). His size, strength, experience and soft hands give him tremendous value as a receiver at the NFL level. He struggled with drops at the Senior Bowl but his tape at Hawaii shows this is a strength. Release needs work and can be pushed off his route, but when allowed to get top end strength, he can make you pay. He does not have the explosiveness to break away from receivers at the next level.
16. Terrence Toliver – WR – 6’4” – 211 lbs. – Louisiana State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.52; Cone – 6.48) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Toliver has the height to make scouts drool. A fairly unproductive player at LSU; just 85 career receptions. His length allows for long strides and smooth acceleration; has deceptive straight-line speed. Has strong hands, large wingspan ad hand-eye coordination to make the tough grab. Doesn’t always see the ball in to his hands allowing for some easy drops that frustrate coaches. Has some character issues – was arrested and charged with tampering with a police officer, disturbing the peace and public intoxication.
17. Cecil Shorts – WR – 6’0” – 200 lbs. – Mount Union – 4.53
Combine Numbers (40T – 4.53; Cone – 6.50) Draft Projection: 4th Round
Shorts is attempting to follow in the footsteps of former Purple Raider receiver Pierre Garcon (now playing for the Indianapolis Colts). Cecil began his career as a QB, but showed his all-purpose ability as a redshirt freshman (rushing for 209 yards and catching 12 passes for 289 yards). A jack of all trades but showed tremendous value as a receiver. Can line up anywhere but is most effective out of the slot; and runs every route in the tree effectively. Inconsistent using his hands in front of him; ball is frequently jarred loose. A bit lazy on routes he’s not directly involved in. Will have to show his production wasn’t the result of being the superior player athletically at the DIII level.
18. Jeremy Kerley – WR – 5’10” – 188 lbs. – Texas Christian
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 4th Round
The 2010 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year. Just one of two players to rank in the top 20 for punt returns (12.9 yards) and kick returns (27.7 yards) in 2010. Has quick feet and ability to separate from receivers set him apart from other receivers at the Senior Bowl. He lacks the size scouts covet and will have to show he isn’t a product of the spread system at Texas Christian. His value is probably as a specialist which works in his favor as teams are using roster spots for return men and decoys in the receiving game.
19. Tyrod Taylor – WR – 6’1” – 216 lbs. – Virginia Tech – 4.51
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – 6.78) Draft Projection: 5th Round
Even after breaking most of Tech’s QB records, Taylor projects as a receiver at the next level. Blessed with tremendous arm strength and jaw-breaking mobility, he does project a bit on the short side as a quarterback. Has great speed and can really make defenders miss with his elusiveness and quick hips. Will work out exclusively as a quarterback in pro days and could be used as a wildcat option at the NFL level. Questions about his ability to catch the ball and run routes will have to be answered but based upon his athletic ability alone, someone will take a chance on him as a receiver somewhere in the 2010 draft.
20. Austin Pettis – WR – 6’2” – 205 lbs. – Boise State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.56; Cone – 6.68) Draft Projection: 5th Round
Pettis leaves Boise State as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (229) and touchdown receptions (39). Steady and productive over his career; finished the year with 71 catches and 951 yards and 10 TDs for a Bronco offense that finished second in the nation in scoring offense. Good hands but not great. Comes out of his breaks with good speed; exceptional route runner. He’s a tall target at 6’2” but ran a pedestrian 4.56 and has to show that he can go vertical. Shines on the big stage and isn’t afraid of the spotlight. Could be a steal in the 5th round.
21. Darvin Adams – WR – 6’3” – 185 lbs. – Auburn
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.52; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th Round
22. Ronald Johnson – WR- 5’11” – 186 lbs. – Southern California
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th Round
23. Denarius Moore – WR – 6’0” – 191 lbs. – Tennessee
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.45; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 5th Round
24. Dane Sanzenbacher – WR – 5’11” – 182 lbs. – Ohio State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.45; Cone – 6.46) Draft Projection: 6th Round
25. Lester Jean – 6’3” – 211 lbs. – Florida Atlantic
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.59; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 6th Round
26. Aldrick Robinson – WR – 5’10” – 182 lbs. – Southern Methodist
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – 6.65) Draft Projection: 6th Round
27. Orenthal Murdock – WR – 5’11” – 195 lbs. – Fort Hays State
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.55; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 6th-7th Round
28. Jockee Sanders – WR – 5’6” – 174 lbs. – West Virginia
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 7th Round
29. Mark Dell – WR – 6’0” – 193 lbs. – Michigan State
Combine Numbers (40T – DNP; Cone – DNP) Draft Projection: 7th Round
30. Terrance Turner – WR – 6’2” – 221 lbs. – Indiana
Combine Numbers (40T - 4.51; Cone – 6.77) Draft Projection: 7th Round
31. Armon Binns – WR -- 6’2” – 211 lbs. – Cincinnati
32. Kealoha Pilares – WR – 5’10” – 215 lbs. – Hawaii
33. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos – 5’11” – 204 lbs. – Iowa
34. Terrell Zachery – 5’11” – 208 lbs. – Auburn
35. James Kirkendoll – 5’11” – 182 lbs. – Texas
36. DeAndre Brown – 6’6” – 239 lbs. – Southern Mississippi
37. Tori Gurley – 6’5” – 230 lbs. – South Carolina
38. James Cleveland – 6’0” – 197 lbs. – Houston
39. Courtney Smith – 6’4” – 220 lbs. – South Alabama
40. Jeffrey Maehl – 6’1” – 181 lbs. – Oregon
41. Jamel Hamler – 6’2” – 195 lbs. – Fresno State
42. Ryan Whalen – 6’1” – 204 lbs. – Stanford
43. Keith Smith – 6’3” – 224 lbs. – Purdue
44. Graham Zug – 6’2” – 182 lbs. – Penn State
45. Markeith Summers – 6’3” – 201 lbs. – Mississippi
46. Jarvis Williams – 6’4” – 218 – North Carolina State
47. Carl Moore -- 6’2 ½” – 222 lbs. – Florida
48. Owen Spencer – 6’2” – 191 lbs. – North Carolina State
49. Marshall Williams – 6’1” – 188 lbs. – Wake Forest
50. Videl Hazelton – 6’2” – 210 – Cincinnati
51. John Chiles – 6’2” – 217 lbs. -- Texas
52. Kristopher Adams – 6’3” – 194 lbs. – UTEP
53. David Gilreath – 5’9” – 172 lbs. – Wisconsin
54. Detron Lewis – 5’11” – 211 lbs. – Texas Tech
55. Terrence McCrae – 6’2 – 195 lbs. – Ohio
56. Xavier Dye – 6’4” – 210 lbs. – Clemson
57. Armand Robinson -- 6’0” – 203 lbs. – Miami (Ohio)
58. Brandon Caleb – 6’0” – 192 lbs. – Oklahoma
59. Kyle Jefferson – 6’3” – 184 lbs. – Wisconsin
60. Trae Johnson – 5’11” – 187 lbs. – Tulsa
61. Gerald Jones – 5’10” – 196 lbs. – Tennessee
62. Jimmy Young – 6’0”—204 lbs. – Texas Christian
63. Austin Kelly – 6’2” – 205 lbs. – Duke
64. Jeremy LeFrance – 6’0” – 196 lbs. – Akron
65. Cortez Smith – 6’2” – 183 lbs. -- Purdue
Honor Roll:
Joe Horn-5’11”-180lbs.- Ashland University-As a GILAC conference (D-II) superstar, Joe has earned many plaudits during his career, and is drawing interest from several NFL teams. In his final game, Joe had 8 TD’s (yes 8), 6 Receiving and 2 Returns….
Picking Second is SOMETIMES A GOOD THING at the NFL Draft
(this is Part two of the "Pro Draft Report" presented by Football Reporters and reposted with permission)
AFC EAST
BUFFALO BILLS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Thurman Thomas RB 1988 Oklahoma State
IN CONSIDERATION: Darryl Talley LB 1983 West Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Gene Bradley QB 1980 Arkansas State
MIAMI DOLPHINS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Dwight Stevenson C 1980 Alabama
IN CONSIDERATION: Sam Madison DB 1997 Louisville
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Eddie Blake DT 1992 Auburn
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Andre Tippett LB 1982 Iowa
IN CONSIDERATION: Lawyer Milloy DB 1996 Washington
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Darryl Wilson WR 1983 Tennessee
NEW YORK JETS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Justin Miller DB 2005 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Jim Sweeney C 1984 Pittsburgh
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Ralph Clayton WR 1980 Michigan
This division had the most 2nd round Hall of Famers (Stevenson, Tippett and Thomas) in the NFL. The Dolphins second choice, Sam Madison over the likes of WR Mark Duper may scratch a few heads. Former Jet Justin Miller dazzled as a kick returner in 2006 making the Pro Bowl but as of this writing is no longer an active player.
AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Ray Rice RB 2008 Rutgers
IN CONSIDERATION: Jamie Sharper LB 1997 Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Dan Cody DE 2005 Oklahoma
CINCINNATI BENGALS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chad Ochocinco WR 2001 Oregon State
IN CONSIDERATION: Boomer Esiason QB 1984 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Kenny Irons RB 2007 Auburn
CLEVELAND BROWNS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Dean Perry DT 1988 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Webster Slaughter WR 1986 San Diego State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Cleveland Crosby DE 1980 Arizona
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Dermontti Dawson C 1988 Kentucky
IN CONSIDERATION: Chad Brown LB 1993 Colorado
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: John Meyer T 1982 Arizona State
Surprisingly the mouth that roars (Ochocinco) must be considered the best 2nd rounder by the Bengals by virtue of his pro bowl appearances over another popular former Bengal Boomer Esiason. Although over shadowed by his older brother (The Fridge William Perry) the Browns Michael Dean Perry was a very good DT and a multiple pro bowl choice at his position.
AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: DeMeco Ryans LB 2006 Alabama
IN CONSIDERATION: Chester Pitts T 2002 San Diego State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Ben Tate RB 2010 Alabama
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Ray Donaldson C 1980 Georgia
IN CONSIDERATION: Bob Sanders DB 2004 Iowa
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Tim Foley T 1981 Notre Dame
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Maurice Jones-Drew RB 2006 UCLA
IN CONSIDERATION: Tony Brackens DE 1996 Texas
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Cordell Taylor DB 1998 Hampton
TENNESSEE TITANS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Roos T 2005 Eastern Washington
IN CONSIDERATION: Samari Rolle DB 1998 Florida State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Quinton Jones DB 1988 Pittsburgh
As NFL fans know both Houston and Jacksonville have not been in the league for 30 years but both have done well with their 2nd round picks. Maurice Jones-Drew is the best offensive weapon for the Jags and one of the top RB in the NFL. Former Indy Bob Sanders is one of the best at his position when healthy but he’s now a Charger. Injuries in 2010 limited the play of the Texans Ryans who is a Pro Bowler at his linebacker slot.
AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Rulon Jones DE 1980 Utah State
IN CONSIDERATION: Clinton Portis RB 2002 Miami
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Paul Toriessi DE 2001 Marshall
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Joe Delaney RB 1981 Northeast State
IN CONSIDERATION: Christian Okoye RB 1987 Azusa Pacific
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mike Elkins QB 1989 Wake Forrest
OAKLAND RAIDERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Howie Long 1981 Villanova
IN CONSIDERATION: Sean Jones DE 1984 Northeastern
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Leon Bender DT 1998 Washington State
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Drew Brees QB 2001 Purdue
IN CONSIDERATION: Natrone Means RB 1993 North Carolina
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Lou Brock DB 1987 USC
Actually San Diego made a nice comeback after the Ryan Leaf fiasco because in 2001 before the 2nd round choice of Drew Brees they picked LaDainian Tomlinson with their 1st pick. Two future HOF picks at that. Fox television Howie Long is of course a Pro Football Hall of Famer. At the beginning of this article I stated anyone who makes the ultimate sacrifice will ALWAYS be considered a great choice. Such was the case of the Chiefs’ Joe Delaney who on June 29th 1983 gave his life trying to save others. Posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by Ronald Reagan, Joe Delaney had a lifetime of helping others. Anyone who knew him personally would attest to this fact. On the day when his life ended he saw three children in the water in danger and although he did not swim very well he did not hesitate to attempt to make a difference. Nearly thirty years have passed and his simple act of bravery still touches my heart. And I hope it will touch yours as well.
AFC EAST
BUFFALO BILLS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Thurman Thomas RB 1988 Oklahoma State
IN CONSIDERATION: Darryl Talley LB 1983 West Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Gene Bradley QB 1980 Arkansas State
MIAMI DOLPHINS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Dwight Stevenson C 1980 Alabama
IN CONSIDERATION: Sam Madison DB 1997 Louisville
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Eddie Blake DT 1992 Auburn
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Andre Tippett LB 1982 Iowa
IN CONSIDERATION: Lawyer Milloy DB 1996 Washington
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Darryl Wilson WR 1983 Tennessee
NEW YORK JETS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Justin Miller DB 2005 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Jim Sweeney C 1984 Pittsburgh
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Ralph Clayton WR 1980 Michigan
This division had the most 2nd round Hall of Famers (Stevenson, Tippett and Thomas) in the NFL. The Dolphins second choice, Sam Madison over the likes of WR Mark Duper may scratch a few heads. Former Jet Justin Miller dazzled as a kick returner in 2006 making the Pro Bowl but as of this writing is no longer an active player.
AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Ray Rice RB 2008 Rutgers
IN CONSIDERATION: Jamie Sharper LB 1997 Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Dan Cody DE 2005 Oklahoma
CINCINNATI BENGALS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chad Ochocinco WR 2001 Oregon State
IN CONSIDERATION: Boomer Esiason QB 1984 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Kenny Irons RB 2007 Auburn
CLEVELAND BROWNS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Dean Perry DT 1988 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Webster Slaughter WR 1986 San Diego State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Cleveland Crosby DE 1980 Arizona
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Dermontti Dawson C 1988 Kentucky
IN CONSIDERATION: Chad Brown LB 1993 Colorado
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: John Meyer T 1982 Arizona State
Surprisingly the mouth that roars (Ochocinco) must be considered the best 2nd rounder by the Bengals by virtue of his pro bowl appearances over another popular former Bengal Boomer Esiason. Although over shadowed by his older brother (The Fridge William Perry) the Browns Michael Dean Perry was a very good DT and a multiple pro bowl choice at his position.
AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: DeMeco Ryans LB 2006 Alabama
IN CONSIDERATION: Chester Pitts T 2002 San Diego State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Ben Tate RB 2010 Alabama
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Ray Donaldson C 1980 Georgia
IN CONSIDERATION: Bob Sanders DB 2004 Iowa
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Tim Foley T 1981 Notre Dame
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Maurice Jones-Drew RB 2006 UCLA
IN CONSIDERATION: Tony Brackens DE 1996 Texas
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Cordell Taylor DB 1998 Hampton
TENNESSEE TITANS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Roos T 2005 Eastern Washington
IN CONSIDERATION: Samari Rolle DB 1998 Florida State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Quinton Jones DB 1988 Pittsburgh
As NFL fans know both Houston and Jacksonville have not been in the league for 30 years but both have done well with their 2nd round picks. Maurice Jones-Drew is the best offensive weapon for the Jags and one of the top RB in the NFL. Former Indy Bob Sanders is one of the best at his position when healthy but he’s now a Charger. Injuries in 2010 limited the play of the Texans Ryans who is a Pro Bowler at his linebacker slot.
AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Rulon Jones DE 1980 Utah State
IN CONSIDERATION: Clinton Portis RB 2002 Miami
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Paul Toriessi DE 2001 Marshall
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Joe Delaney RB 1981 Northeast State
IN CONSIDERATION: Christian Okoye RB 1987 Azusa Pacific
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mike Elkins QB 1989 Wake Forrest
OAKLAND RAIDERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Howie Long 1981 Villanova
IN CONSIDERATION: Sean Jones DE 1984 Northeastern
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Leon Bender DT 1998 Washington State
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Drew Brees QB 2001 Purdue
IN CONSIDERATION: Natrone Means RB 1993 North Carolina
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Lou Brock DB 1987 USC
Actually San Diego made a nice comeback after the Ryan Leaf fiasco because in 2001 before the 2nd round choice of Drew Brees they picked LaDainian Tomlinson with their 1st pick. Two future HOF picks at that. Fox television Howie Long is of course a Pro Football Hall of Famer. At the beginning of this article I stated anyone who makes the ultimate sacrifice will ALWAYS be considered a great choice. Such was the case of the Chiefs’ Joe Delaney who on June 29th 1983 gave his life trying to save others. Posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by Ronald Reagan, Joe Delaney had a lifetime of helping others. Anyone who knew him personally would attest to this fact. On the day when his life ended he saw three children in the water in danger and although he did not swim very well he did not hesitate to attempt to make a difference. Nearly thirty years have passed and his simple act of bravery still touches my heart. And I hope it will touch yours as well.
Will the Chiefs Be on the NFL warpath in 2011?
Will the Chiefs Be on the NFL warpath in 2011?
By Mark Kern-Interning Contributor-Football Reporters Online
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a season that very few people outside of the locker room saw coming. The chiefs went 10-6 and won the AFC West and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Even though the playoff game against the Ravens did not go as they had hoped, last year was definitely a success. However, the Chiefs know that they are going to have to work even harder to equal that success and there are many reasons to believe that they will.
Their offense started to really click at the end of the year and start putting up some very good numbers. Matt Cassel rebounded from a so-so year and had a break out season, as did his favorite receiving target Dwayne Bowe, who led the NFL in receiving touchdowns. , However, the man that makes this offense go is Jamal Charles. The running back lead the league with a near record breaking 6.39 yards per carry average. With rookies Dexter McCluster and Tony Moaeki exceeding expectations, the offense is definitely on the right path to a post season run. In this draft, offensively, look for the Chiefs to obtain some more offensive line help, and a wide receiver to compliment Dwayne Bowe and McCluster in the slot. Do not be surprised if they package a deal and move up to grab a player early on during day two.
On the defensive end, this team made strides all over the field. Tamba Hali became the force that he was a few years ago, amassing 15 sacks last year, trailing only Demarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys for the league lead. Linebacker Derrick Johnson started to show off the Pro Bowl Caliber talent that many experts had seen when he was drafted. And in the secondary, they found their leader as rookie Eric Berry was everything they wanted and more. He will man the secondary for years, and he is only going to get better. On the defensive side of the ball, look for them to draft a linebacker or a defensive tackle.
Overall, this team over-achieved last year. They were not expected to be very good and they surprised and came to play every week and competed hard. This draft is going to be another big step for them in their goal of becoming a super bowl contender. Three names to look for to be drafted by the Chiefs are UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, Wisconsin offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, or Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor.
By Mark Kern-Interning Contributor-Football Reporters Online
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a season that very few people outside of the locker room saw coming. The chiefs went 10-6 and won the AFC West and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Even though the playoff game against the Ravens did not go as they had hoped, last year was definitely a success. However, the Chiefs know that they are going to have to work even harder to equal that success and there are many reasons to believe that they will.
Their offense started to really click at the end of the year and start putting up some very good numbers. Matt Cassel rebounded from a so-so year and had a break out season, as did his favorite receiving target Dwayne Bowe, who led the NFL in receiving touchdowns. , However, the man that makes this offense go is Jamal Charles. The running back lead the league with a near record breaking 6.39 yards per carry average. With rookies Dexter McCluster and Tony Moaeki exceeding expectations, the offense is definitely on the right path to a post season run. In this draft, offensively, look for the Chiefs to obtain some more offensive line help, and a wide receiver to compliment Dwayne Bowe and McCluster in the slot. Do not be surprised if they package a deal and move up to grab a player early on during day two.
On the defensive end, this team made strides all over the field. Tamba Hali became the force that he was a few years ago, amassing 15 sacks last year, trailing only Demarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys for the league lead. Linebacker Derrick Johnson started to show off the Pro Bowl Caliber talent that many experts had seen when he was drafted. And in the secondary, they found their leader as rookie Eric Berry was everything they wanted and more. He will man the secondary for years, and he is only going to get better. On the defensive side of the ball, look for them to draft a linebacker or a defensive tackle.
Overall, this team over-achieved last year. They were not expected to be very good and they surprised and came to play every week and competed hard. This draft is going to be another big step for them in their goal of becoming a super bowl contender. Three names to look for to be drafted by the Chiefs are UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, Wisconsin offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, or Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor.
PICKING SECOND IS SOMETIMES A GOOD THING at the NFL Draft
Photos: Barber & Strahan were probably two of the "Greatest Ever"second round selections...Tiki Barber Photo by David Shankbone via Wikipedia-Strahan(shown "schooling" a Youngster) By Victor Pagan for Football Reporters)
(Eds. Note: this is the first installment of Football Reporters Online's "Pro Draft Report" for 2011, reposted here with permission. It will run every Day until the Draft on April 28th
PICKING SECOND IS SOMETIMES A GOOD THING
By Don Stokes Senior Writer Mid-West Football Reporters Online
I can truly relate to being second. I was born the second of two boys. I got the hand-me downs clothes and shoes from my one year older brother. So I can really understand to being number two. No with the upcoming 2011 NFL draft just weeks away every team is crossing their collective fingers that they make the best 1st round choice. As every football executive knows making the wrong 1st rounder can put your franchise in a serious tailspin which can take many years to recover.
Ask the San Diego Chargers who chose QB Ryan Leaf with their 1st round pick in 1998. Or the more recent 1st round flop JaMarcus Russell by the Oakland Raiders in 2007. While no team has been totally picture perfect with their 1st picks this piece is not about that. But what of the second round pick? For this is about the 2nd round choices that some NFL executives have made and for some have ultimately lost their good reputations (or jobs) over. I have taken the time and looked for 30 years of data to choose the best and the worst of each NFL teams 2nd round picks.
First let’s go over my criteria:
A) These 2nd round picks are a 30 year (1980 thru 2010) period. For some teams like Carolina, Jacksonville, Baltimore and Houston their NFL existence is a shorter time span.
B) The player MUST have contributed for that team in some manner which he was the choice (ex. In 1991 with their 2nd pick Atlanta chose QB Brett Favre, a future hall of famer but didn’t contribute much for the Falcons during his brief stay with them)
C) A Pro Football Hall of famer tops any all-pro choice (see my example later)
D) A pro bowler tops a player who had a solid career (ex. seasoned veteran).
E) Playing in the NFL is extremely difficult so if you managed to have played at least 20 NFL games during your career you are not considered the worst pick for that or any team.
F) Regardless of injury and you played NO games in your career but you were a 2nd round pick of that club you WILL be considered the best of the worst.
E) Finally, if you made the ultimate sacrifice you will be considered the best 2nd round choice of that team.
With that in mind some of these choices were very challenging. For some teams (Cowboys, Dolphins and Patriots) they had many players to pick from while others (Redskins, Chiefs and Jets) the pickings were slim at best. Some of my choices you may disagree with but here they are:
NFC EAST
DALLAS COWBOYS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Larry Allen G 1994 Somona State
IN CONSIDERATION: Steve Wisniewski G 1989 Penn State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Shane Hannah 1995 G Michigan State
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Brian Dawkins DB 1996 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Randall Cunningham QB 1985 UNLV
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mike Bellamy WR 1990 Illinois
NEW YORK GIANTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Strahan DE 1993 Texas Southern
IN CONSIDERATION: Tiki Barber RB 1997 Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Joe Montgomery RB 1999 Ohio State
WASHINGTON REDSKINS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chip Lohmiller PK 1988 Minnesota
IN CONSIDERATION: Tre’ Johnson G 1994 Temple
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Bob Slater DT 1984 Oklahoma
It’s interesting that the Redskins best 2nd round choice during the past 30 has been a place kicker. Lohmiller was the only 2nd rounder for Washington who developed into a Pro Bowl player. Although both had great careers choosing Michael Strahan (A SB win) over Tiki Barber wasn’t as difficult is it appears. Philadelphia with the 2nd round Brian Dawkins was a tough choice over Randall Cunningham.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Mike Singletary LB 1981 Baylor
IN CONSIDERATION: Devin Hester DB 2006 Miami
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Dan Bazuin DE 2007 Central Michigan
DETROIT LIONS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chris Spielmann 1987 LB Ohio State
IN CONSIDERATION: Jason Hanson K 1992 Washington State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: John Ford WR 1989 Virginia
GREEN BAY PACKERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Le Roy Butler DB 1990 Florida State
IN CONSIDERATION: Darren Sharper DB 1997 William and Mary
WORSE 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mark D’ Onofrio 1992 LB Penn State
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1980-2010
BEST 2nd ROUND PICK: Sidney Rice WR 2007 South Carolina
IN CONSIDERATION: EJ Henderson LB 2003 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: James Manley DT 1996 Vanderbilt
Singletary was a no brainer over Devin Hester since one is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one is not (yet). The choice of Le Roy Butler over Darren Sharper was a bit more difficult. It’s interesting that the Vikings two best 2nd rounders were drafted within the last 10 years.
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Alge Crumpler TE 2001 North Carolina
IN CONSIDERATION: Scott Case DB 1984 Oklahoma
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Nathan Davis DE 1997 Indiana
CAROLINA PANTHERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Muhsin Mohammed WR 1996 Michigan State
IN CONSIDERATION: Kris Jenkins DT 2001 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Eric Shelton RB 2005 Alabama
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Rickey Jackson LB 1981 Pittsburgh
IN CONSIDERATION: Roman Harper SS 2006 Alabama
WORST 2ND ROUND PICK: Reggie Freeman LB 1993 Florida State
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Mike Alstott RB 1996 Purdue
IN CONSIDERATION: James Wilder RB 1981 Missouri
WORST 2ND ROUND PICK Dexter Jackson WR 2006 Appalachian State
The Buccaneers running backs Mike Alstott and James Wilder both had outstanding careers for Tampa. Mohammed, who recently retired had a solid NFL. The Saints Ricky Jackson, of course is a Pro Football HOF so that was an easy choice.
NFC WEST
ARIZONA CARDINALS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Aeneas Williams DB 1991 Saginaw Valley State
IN CONSIDERATION: Tim McDonald DB 1987 USC
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Tony Jeffery RB 1988 TCU
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 1980-1994
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Roger Craig RB 1983 Nebraska
IN CONSIDERATION: Ricky Watters RB 1991 Notre Dame
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Israel Ifeanyi DE 1996 USC
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Kevin Mawae C 1994 LSU
IN CONSIDERATION: Lofa Tatupu LB 2005 USC
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Andre Hinds T 1980 Stanford
ST.LOUIS RAMS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Isaac Bruce WR 1994 Memphis
IN CONSIDERATION: Henry Elliard WR 1983 Fresno State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Jesse James C 1995 Mississippi State
With St. Louis this was my toughest decision, Isaac Bruce vs. Henry Elliard. Both had great careers with the Rams as wide outs. But the nod went to Bruce (a Super Bowl title) who could be voted in the Hall before Henry Elliard. The 49ers RB’s Roger Craig against Ricky Watters wasn’t that tough. Both had solid careers but three Super Bowl rings (Craig) to one (Watters) was the deciding factor.
NFL Fans Remember The Past, Easier Than Thinking About The Future
By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter-Football Reporters Online.com
With no talk about free agency, contract negotiations, or off season workouts, there is not much football talk going on. All people can do right now is discuss the draft in a few weeks and make their predictions. It reminds me of the book/movie "All Quiet On The Western Front".
Every football fan looks forward to going to the games. Not just to see their favorite team, but to be with friends and family. It is a time to relax, have fun, and have experiences that will turn into memories. I am sure a lot of people are reflecting on some now, hoping there will be a season this year. If not, they will reflect on seasons past and the fun they had. For many Jet s fans, the memories are all we have the past 40 years.
Many of us reflect on previous seasons. Games we attended with our father, brother, mother, sister, grandfather, uncle, or other family members who may not be with us anymore. It did not matter how bad the game was, one would always find something good to remember about the day. Even if it was a bad game, there was something about it that made it a positive experience. Many talk about how much they hated Shea Stadium and Giants Stadium. But they will always mention how much fun those times were in those bad situations.
If you are like me, you recall games you attended with someone who passed away. I always think about my dad when I think about the Jets. Every time I went to a game without him and sat in Section 226 Row 8, Seats 7 and 8 in Giants Stadium, I would think about him. Walking around the new stadium while filming, I would thin about him and wonder what he would think about the new structure built for the financially elite. Sometimes I would talk aloud to him, as if he was walking next to me.
A funny story my dad would always tell me was about the time he was headed to the AFL Championship game between the Jets and Oakland Raiders. He was speeding and was pulled over. He was sitting in a line of a dozen cars that were pulled over, dead last behind them all. He was running late and wanted to be there by kick off. He calls an officer over and explains he knows he was speeding and deserves the ticket. He then explains to the officer why he was speeding and shows him the tickets to the game. The officer tells him to hold on and be patient. Less than five minutes later, the officer returns with the ticket and tells my father to leave. He left before the other cars pulled over did.
He was the type that would have looked at the new stadium in amazement. Amazed at all the technology that was put into it and laugh when I would have to explain the reasons why. He was the type that just liked to watch the game, not much else. He would follow the changes in the game, but laugh and smile at the tech advances that are interwoven into it. He would have been 76 today. Still feels like yesterday. Every time the football season begins I think of all those games we went to. I know some others who feel the same as I do.
While filming in the parking lot at Giants Stadium in 2008, I came across Tommy Wilson. Such a dedicated Jets fan he owned the license plates "JETS" & "12 JETS". I later find out Jets owner Woody Johnson offered to buy the "JETS" plate from him. Always wearing his #12 Joe Namath jersey and always at the games, his personality and presence felt like my father's. I guess that is why his story touches me even more than others I met while filming.
Tommy was honored in 2002 by the NFL and Visa Pro Football Hall for Fans. He wrote the winning essay as to why he should be the fan to represent the Jets in the Hall of Fans. He held 10 season tickets for close to 40 years. His restaurants was named after the lot he tailgated in, Lot 12A. A true "Super" Fan in my book.
There is more I can say about Tommy but do not want to give away his entire story. I went back to get a follow up in September of 2009 and he pushed it to another game. When I emailed him about it in early November of 2009, his wife Mary Lou informed me he passed away in early October. I was deeply saddened to hear the news. He had purchased several PSL's too. Tommy lived and breathed the Jets, helped to pay for the new stadium, is in the Hall of Fans for the Jets, but yet was just another fan to the Jets organization.
I met up with his widow Mary Lou and her son Tommy Jr this past October. Mary Lou thought about giving up the seats after he passed but knew Tommy would not have wanted that. Last year was a hard season but this year was different. Once again, many people who used to tailgate with them at 13A were not there. Some did not get PSL’s, others did not have the right parking permits, while others feel it is not the same without Tommy. For the remainder of tailgating last year, it was very somber without Tommy. He was the nucleus that held that tailgate together. Tommy Jr. got a tattoo to remember his father, even though his father did not like tattoos.
Mary Lou and Tommy Jr. always reflect on their memories about Tommy. It makes them smile and feel good about being a Jet fan. Even with next season uncertain, they still reflect and always will. Tommy was one of those fans that made you feel good when he talked. I guess he holds a place in my heart because he reminded me of my own father. There is a strange connection to fans from a certain era in football. An era where it was about the game, not the politics.
Everyone knows the kind of fans I refer to. The ones where they smile when they talk about past seasons. When memories were about actions on the field, not battles in courts off the field. Older generations of fans seem to have this glow in their eyes. Where you do not mind listening to their stories. The kind where you can sit with a beer and listen for hours if you need a reason to smile.
Right now fans need a reason to smile. They need a reason to believe a season will happen this year. Many look forward to those home games, not just to tailgate, but to create memories with friends and family. 50% of ticket money was already due, PSL payment in several months. Do the Jets think the season will happen? But when a season looks like it may not happen, there is nothing to look forward to.
As it stands, all we can do is think ahead to a season that may or may not happen. We can reflect about the games we have all been to before. Many will talk about the past two seasons as they ended in trips to the AFC Championship game. Looking forward to a season where a Super Bowl could be in the Jets grasp for the first time n over 40 years. But all we can do is sit back and wait.
There may be no season. Then all we can do is reflect on the 2011 season that never was. How we all waited for players and owners to come to an agreement to end a lockout. Where the courts made the decision instead of the NFL. In 1987 at least there were some games played. Who knows what will happen this year. Ahh, the memories
(Eds. Note: I know exactly how David feels. I had the same relationship with my Dad regarding Football. I often wonder if he were still with us what he would think of the internet and what we were doing these days..B.C.)
With no talk about free agency, contract negotiations, or off season workouts, there is not much football talk going on. All people can do right now is discuss the draft in a few weeks and make their predictions. It reminds me of the book/movie "All Quiet On The Western Front".
Every football fan looks forward to going to the games. Not just to see their favorite team, but to be with friends and family. It is a time to relax, have fun, and have experiences that will turn into memories. I am sure a lot of people are reflecting on some now, hoping there will be a season this year. If not, they will reflect on seasons past and the fun they had. For many Jet s fans, the memories are all we have the past 40 years.
Many of us reflect on previous seasons. Games we attended with our father, brother, mother, sister, grandfather, uncle, or other family members who may not be with us anymore. It did not matter how bad the game was, one would always find something good to remember about the day. Even if it was a bad game, there was something about it that made it a positive experience. Many talk about how much they hated Shea Stadium and Giants Stadium. But they will always mention how much fun those times were in those bad situations.
If you are like me, you recall games you attended with someone who passed away. I always think about my dad when I think about the Jets. Every time I went to a game without him and sat in Section 226 Row 8, Seats 7 and 8 in Giants Stadium, I would think about him. Walking around the new stadium while filming, I would thin about him and wonder what he would think about the new structure built for the financially elite. Sometimes I would talk aloud to him, as if he was walking next to me.
A funny story my dad would always tell me was about the time he was headed to the AFL Championship game between the Jets and Oakland Raiders. He was speeding and was pulled over. He was sitting in a line of a dozen cars that were pulled over, dead last behind them all. He was running late and wanted to be there by kick off. He calls an officer over and explains he knows he was speeding and deserves the ticket. He then explains to the officer why he was speeding and shows him the tickets to the game. The officer tells him to hold on and be patient. Less than five minutes later, the officer returns with the ticket and tells my father to leave. He left before the other cars pulled over did.
He was the type that would have looked at the new stadium in amazement. Amazed at all the technology that was put into it and laugh when I would have to explain the reasons why. He was the type that just liked to watch the game, not much else. He would follow the changes in the game, but laugh and smile at the tech advances that are interwoven into it. He would have been 76 today. Still feels like yesterday. Every time the football season begins I think of all those games we went to. I know some others who feel the same as I do.
While filming in the parking lot at Giants Stadium in 2008, I came across Tommy Wilson. Such a dedicated Jets fan he owned the license plates "JETS" & "12 JETS". I later find out Jets owner Woody Johnson offered to buy the "JETS" plate from him. Always wearing his #12 Joe Namath jersey and always at the games, his personality and presence felt like my father's. I guess that is why his story touches me even more than others I met while filming.
Tommy was honored in 2002 by the NFL and Visa Pro Football Hall for Fans. He wrote the winning essay as to why he should be the fan to represent the Jets in the Hall of Fans. He held 10 season tickets for close to 40 years. His restaurants was named after the lot he tailgated in, Lot 12A. A true "Super" Fan in my book.
There is more I can say about Tommy but do not want to give away his entire story. I went back to get a follow up in September of 2009 and he pushed it to another game. When I emailed him about it in early November of 2009, his wife Mary Lou informed me he passed away in early October. I was deeply saddened to hear the news. He had purchased several PSL's too. Tommy lived and breathed the Jets, helped to pay for the new stadium, is in the Hall of Fans for the Jets, but yet was just another fan to the Jets organization.
I met up with his widow Mary Lou and her son Tommy Jr this past October. Mary Lou thought about giving up the seats after he passed but knew Tommy would not have wanted that. Last year was a hard season but this year was different. Once again, many people who used to tailgate with them at 13A were not there. Some did not get PSL’s, others did not have the right parking permits, while others feel it is not the same without Tommy. For the remainder of tailgating last year, it was very somber without Tommy. He was the nucleus that held that tailgate together. Tommy Jr. got a tattoo to remember his father, even though his father did not like tattoos.
Mary Lou and Tommy Jr. always reflect on their memories about Tommy. It makes them smile and feel good about being a Jet fan. Even with next season uncertain, they still reflect and always will. Tommy was one of those fans that made you feel good when he talked. I guess he holds a place in my heart because he reminded me of my own father. There is a strange connection to fans from a certain era in football. An era where it was about the game, not the politics.
Everyone knows the kind of fans I refer to. The ones where they smile when they talk about past seasons. When memories were about actions on the field, not battles in courts off the field. Older generations of fans seem to have this glow in their eyes. Where you do not mind listening to their stories. The kind where you can sit with a beer and listen for hours if you need a reason to smile.
Right now fans need a reason to smile. They need a reason to believe a season will happen this year. Many look forward to those home games, not just to tailgate, but to create memories with friends and family. 50% of ticket money was already due, PSL payment in several months. Do the Jets think the season will happen? But when a season looks like it may not happen, there is nothing to look forward to.
As it stands, all we can do is think ahead to a season that may or may not happen. We can reflect about the games we have all been to before. Many will talk about the past two seasons as they ended in trips to the AFC Championship game. Looking forward to a season where a Super Bowl could be in the Jets grasp for the first time n over 40 years. But all we can do is sit back and wait.
There may be no season. Then all we can do is reflect on the 2011 season that never was. How we all waited for players and owners to come to an agreement to end a lockout. Where the courts made the decision instead of the NFL. In 1987 at least there were some games played. Who knows what will happen this year. Ahh, the memories
(Eds. Note: I know exactly how David feels. I had the same relationship with my Dad regarding Football. I often wonder if he were still with us what he would think of the internet and what we were doing these days..B.C.)
Some Things & Other Things the “not quite yet Spring time” in the NFL Edition
By Dr. Bill Chachkes Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online
I hear It’s “Always Sunny” in Philly, but that doesn’t keep Eagles Owner Jeff Lurie or Team President Joe Banner from lying right through their teeth when they talk about the costs associated with running the Linc. Raise your hand if you have ever been to the Linc….I have. It’s a nice place to watch a game, both in the seats and in the Pressbox. Can anyone really justify a 7digit “misc. expenses” tab for a stadium? I hope that doesn’t count food costs for the media. All Mr. Lurie could manage for us that day was Turkey or Ham sandwiches…Even though I’m not a fan of Pork product, I have no plans to shoot them from my helicopter like one politician suggests we do to immigrants. Lurie should produce movies about politicians who get elected and then go against the people who elected them, then he could see how he’s going against the fans of the team he owns. Most Philly fans Love Mike VICK, but that has to still be some that miss Donovan McNabb…
Do the NFL owners want to do the same thing to it’s players? If the owners really wanted to “come back to the table” and get a deal done with the players, they wouldn’t be waiting for the April 6th Court date before Judge Richardson. I like Mr. Goodell as a person, he’s always been nice to me, but he didn’t really think his letter to the players would be taken seriously when the owners for the most part prove time and time again how they can’t be trusted?
We are beginning to hear a lot of news from the “Camps” of players awaiting to be drafted next month about “who’s gonna kill it” at their pro day or how many NFL teams have invited me for a work out. What these guys have not realized yet is that the NFL that they are waiting to be selected into is going to be much different then they were hoping for. It’s going to have a rookie wage scale, and none of these guys will be “instant” millionaires like I have my “Instant Oatmeal” twice weekly….No, those days are gone. Hope you weren’t planning on paying off all your babies mommas with your signing bonus.
Football needs a “breath of fresh air”, and that just what the UFL’s Hartford Colonials did this week by hiring Jerry Glanville as their new Head Coach & GM. Not that Chris Palmer’s pressers were boring (he is a nice man too), But clearly as evidenced by the phone conference he gave to some of us media types yesterday he’s ready to ‘Shake it up” at “the Rent” this season. I look forward to being at a few of those post game press conferences…I’m even going to e-mail him my list of “dead” people he should leave tickets for…now that the statue of limitations has run out on The Doors’ Jim Morrison for the 1969 arrest in New Haven, Maybe he’ll be up for a Colonials game….but seriously, people are finally starting to take the UFL seriously(even though I did from day one, I was one of the people at the first UFL press conference…) and people should see it for what it is: competitive football. Maybe Coach Belichick could learn something about charismatic behavior from Coach Glanville….I heard he already got into a “Tweet-Fight” with Newsday’s Bob Glauber, with the Coach inviting him up to a game…Bob, if your reading this and you show up to the game and I’m there, I’d be glad to introduce you around…You’ll get to see that pro football goes beyond the NFL…
I’m so Tired of these” Rumor” football sites who just publish stories to get their traffic numbers up. Do you guys actually go out and hunt these stories down? Or do you come up with this “junk” while your in the “reading” room?
So Ohio State Head coach Jim Tressel wants to stand with his players and be suspended 5 games because “Maybe he didn’t do enough” to instill the right behavior in his players. I’m ok with his feelings, but these kids still should have sat out that bowl game….
Thanks to former Vikings DE and Retired Players Association President Carl Eller for joining us on the show last Thursday night. He was very pointed in his remarks about current players who take for granted what they have…
I heard about this great organization founded by a High School running back in Ohio who wants to help H.S. athletes who are severely injured while playing sports. Just google “rush for a cause” and find them on Facebook…
Finally, I’m headed down to our nation’s capital to speak to the sports management program students at Catholic University tomorrow. The Wed. & Thur. shows will be broadcast from The University (Wed. Night), and The Glory Days Sports grill in Broadlands, Va.(Thur. Night). Saturday we will be scouting and interviewing the athletes at the First BSN football combine of the season. Starting tonight, The Tuesday PFNYC show will be weekly again, until just after the draft…
This former soldier asks you to please pray for the people of Japan, and support our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airman, and Coast Guardsman who defend our religious and political freedoms every day.
I hear It’s “Always Sunny” in Philly, but that doesn’t keep Eagles Owner Jeff Lurie or Team President Joe Banner from lying right through their teeth when they talk about the costs associated with running the Linc. Raise your hand if you have ever been to the Linc….I have. It’s a nice place to watch a game, both in the seats and in the Pressbox. Can anyone really justify a 7digit “misc. expenses” tab for a stadium? I hope that doesn’t count food costs for the media. All Mr. Lurie could manage for us that day was Turkey or Ham sandwiches…Even though I’m not a fan of Pork product, I have no plans to shoot them from my helicopter like one politician suggests we do to immigrants. Lurie should produce movies about politicians who get elected and then go against the people who elected them, then he could see how he’s going against the fans of the team he owns. Most Philly fans Love Mike VICK, but that has to still be some that miss Donovan McNabb…
Do the NFL owners want to do the same thing to it’s players? If the owners really wanted to “come back to the table” and get a deal done with the players, they wouldn’t be waiting for the April 6th Court date before Judge Richardson. I like Mr. Goodell as a person, he’s always been nice to me, but he didn’t really think his letter to the players would be taken seriously when the owners for the most part prove time and time again how they can’t be trusted?
We are beginning to hear a lot of news from the “Camps” of players awaiting to be drafted next month about “who’s gonna kill it” at their pro day or how many NFL teams have invited me for a work out. What these guys have not realized yet is that the NFL that they are waiting to be selected into is going to be much different then they were hoping for. It’s going to have a rookie wage scale, and none of these guys will be “instant” millionaires like I have my “Instant Oatmeal” twice weekly….No, those days are gone. Hope you weren’t planning on paying off all your babies mommas with your signing bonus.
Football needs a “breath of fresh air”, and that just what the UFL’s Hartford Colonials did this week by hiring Jerry Glanville as their new Head Coach & GM. Not that Chris Palmer’s pressers were boring (he is a nice man too), But clearly as evidenced by the phone conference he gave to some of us media types yesterday he’s ready to ‘Shake it up” at “the Rent” this season. I look forward to being at a few of those post game press conferences…I’m even going to e-mail him my list of “dead” people he should leave tickets for…now that the statue of limitations has run out on The Doors’ Jim Morrison for the 1969 arrest in New Haven, Maybe he’ll be up for a Colonials game….but seriously, people are finally starting to take the UFL seriously(even though I did from day one, I was one of the people at the first UFL press conference…) and people should see it for what it is: competitive football. Maybe Coach Belichick could learn something about charismatic behavior from Coach Glanville….I heard he already got into a “Tweet-Fight” with Newsday’s Bob Glauber, with the Coach inviting him up to a game…Bob, if your reading this and you show up to the game and I’m there, I’d be glad to introduce you around…You’ll get to see that pro football goes beyond the NFL…
I’m so Tired of these” Rumor” football sites who just publish stories to get their traffic numbers up. Do you guys actually go out and hunt these stories down? Or do you come up with this “junk” while your in the “reading” room?
So Ohio State Head coach Jim Tressel wants to stand with his players and be suspended 5 games because “Maybe he didn’t do enough” to instill the right behavior in his players. I’m ok with his feelings, but these kids still should have sat out that bowl game….
Thanks to former Vikings DE and Retired Players Association President Carl Eller for joining us on the show last Thursday night. He was very pointed in his remarks about current players who take for granted what they have…
I heard about this great organization founded by a High School running back in Ohio who wants to help H.S. athletes who are severely injured while playing sports. Just google “rush for a cause” and find them on Facebook…
Finally, I’m headed down to our nation’s capital to speak to the sports management program students at Catholic University tomorrow. The Wed. & Thur. shows will be broadcast from The University (Wed. Night), and The Glory Days Sports grill in Broadlands, Va.(Thur. Night). Saturday we will be scouting and interviewing the athletes at the First BSN football combine of the season. Starting tonight, The Tuesday PFNYC show will be weekly again, until just after the draft…
This former soldier asks you to please pray for the people of Japan, and support our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airman, and Coast Guardsman who defend our religious and political freedoms every day.
Lockout Underscores Owners’ Lack of Respect for NFL Fans
By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer-Football Reporters Online
The clock finally struck midnight on Friday night, and now, while talk of March Madness and Cinderellas are in full swing, the 2011 NFL season is in realistic jeopardy of turning into a pumpkin.
One week after the original March 4th deadline for ironing out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement was extended, NFL owners officially closed up shop and locked out their players, effectively shutting down the league (other then next month’s NFL draft) until further notice.
Sadly, it’s those who are most responsible for the insanely huge amounts of money that NFL owners and players are quibbling over – NFL fans – who will suffer the most unless the upcoming season is saved.
Duping their loyal fans, NFL owners have taken a page (and then some) from a 1989 film about another sport, the classic baseball movie, “Field of Dreams.”
Most of us know the story. Kevin Costner’s character Ray Kinsella hears the whispers… “If you build it, they will come.”
That’s exactly what NFL owners did with over-the-top, extravagant new stadiums.
Except, they went one step further, with the unfortunate notion that in the NFL, “If you build it, they will come… and when they do, you can try to shake every last dollar you can out of not only the fans who show up, but from the players the fans will pay exorbitant amounts to come see.”
And, that’s all while putting the financial burden of building those shiny new stadiums largely upon those same fans.
Yes, that is the sad state of affairs in today’s NFL for the average NFL fan.
Not only do fans, as taxpayers, shoulder much of the cost of new stadiums like Jerry Jones’ Cowboys Stadium (often dubbed the “Dallas Palace”), or the Giants’ and Jets’ New Meadowlands stadium (each having come with price tags in excess of $1.6 billion), but those same fans are asked to pay thousands of dollars in Personal Seat Licences just to have the right to buy tickets to watch games in them.
If that wasn’t enough, now loyal remaining season ticketholders who weren’t priced out (by PSL’s) of buying tickets to see their favorite teams play, can’t even do that, because of the unyielding collective ego and greed on the part of NFL owners.
That’s not to say that the NFL’s current labor issues are all one-sided. Every dispute has both opposing parties which are usually at least somewhat at fault.
However, it’s the players who really just want to give the fans what they want – to play football -- under the current CBA specifications that the owners agreed to themselves, years ago. That agreement was fine for NFL owners until that no longer became convenient in the face of the owners trying to squeeze every last dollar out of both the NFL Players’ Association and NFL fans.
The simple fact is, the owners can’t fully be trusted.
Only now, after the NFLPA has been forced to decertify and involve the threat of a possible court injunction, are NFL owners beginning to open their books to any extent at all (and even at that, they won’t be opened far enough to justify the extra $1 billion and greater portion of shared revenues along with an increase to an 18-game regular season schedule that NFL owners are seeking).
But, the reason for the mistrust of NFL owners goes beyond that, back to the stadium issue.
Under the guise of “parternership” to win public support, NFL owners have secured more than $4.4 billion in taxpayer money for 21 new or renovated stadiums (nearly two-thirds of the league’s stadiums) since 1995.
The reality is that of the $2 billion teams claim they are investing in stadiums, about $1 billion comes from NFL loans and PSL’s, two sources where the dollars come either exclusively, or at least mostly, from fans.
A particular case like the Chicago Bears’ Soldier Field renovation shows what the NFL’s “parternship” with the public for financing new NFL stadiums really means.
The Bears pledged to pay $200 million of Soldier Field’s $632 million renovation, but when all was said and done, thanks again, to partially fan-financed NFL loans and to fan-paid PSL’s, the final cost to Bears’ ownership for the renovation was less than $30 million.
It’s no different around the league. Over the next 30 years, taxpayers in NFL cities will pay more than $2 billion in interest payments on bonds that were used to raise public money for NFL stadiums.
And, thanks to a deal worked out with the U.S. government, while fans are helping to finance NFL stadium through paying their own taxes, NFL owners collect PSL money on a tax-exempt basis.
The bottom line is that the players just want to play. But, NFL owners want yet more money despite having already asked for billions from NFL fans to help finance new stadiums that ironically are supposed to be fan-friendly. Yet, despite all of the state-of-the-art amenities, how “fan-friendly” can it really be when those same fans are also being asked for thousands of additional dollars per seat in the form of PSL’s?
And, how much more can possibly be asked of NFL fans, who simply want their sport back in time for Week 1 of the regular season in September (or for that matter, in time for the upcoming NFL draft and training camps)?
Adding further insult to injury was the most recent Super Bowl, in February, with yet another irony. So desperate was Jones and the NFL to cram as many fans as possible into the new Cowboys Stadium as a result of further greed (to make more money) and ego on the part of Jones (to set the Super Bowl attendance record), that temporary seating wasn’t installed in time, thereby shutting out many fans who paid about $800 each per ticket (in additional to travel expenses to the Dallas area).
While the NFL more than rectified the situation financially, those fans missed seeing the game live and became the latest casualty of the NFL putting everything else about its game before the fans who support it.
Fans, as taxpayers and now as PSL buyers, have been conditioned to paying for stadiums for millionaires to play in and keep an exclusive NFL family owners in the business of remaining as billionaires, all while the average taxpayer and hardcore NFL fan can’t afford a seat in those very stadiums.
When you look at it that way, it’s amazing that it’s not the fans who haven’t decided to stop paying or to stop showing up, and haven’t locked out the owners and players.
Ultimately, we all love the game too much for that to happen.
But, after all the fans have given to the NFL, it’s time for the NFL and its owners to give something back.
For once, NFL owners (and even players) need to realize that they would have been nothing without their fans.
And for once, they need to let their fans come first, and make sure that it’s not the fans who are the next to be locked out.
The clock finally struck midnight on Friday night, and now, while talk of March Madness and Cinderellas are in full swing, the 2011 NFL season is in realistic jeopardy of turning into a pumpkin.
One week after the original March 4th deadline for ironing out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement was extended, NFL owners officially closed up shop and locked out their players, effectively shutting down the league (other then next month’s NFL draft) until further notice.
Sadly, it’s those who are most responsible for the insanely huge amounts of money that NFL owners and players are quibbling over – NFL fans – who will suffer the most unless the upcoming season is saved.
Duping their loyal fans, NFL owners have taken a page (and then some) from a 1989 film about another sport, the classic baseball movie, “Field of Dreams.”
Most of us know the story. Kevin Costner’s character Ray Kinsella hears the whispers… “If you build it, they will come.”
That’s exactly what NFL owners did with over-the-top, extravagant new stadiums.
Except, they went one step further, with the unfortunate notion that in the NFL, “If you build it, they will come… and when they do, you can try to shake every last dollar you can out of not only the fans who show up, but from the players the fans will pay exorbitant amounts to come see.”
And, that’s all while putting the financial burden of building those shiny new stadiums largely upon those same fans.
Yes, that is the sad state of affairs in today’s NFL for the average NFL fan.
Not only do fans, as taxpayers, shoulder much of the cost of new stadiums like Jerry Jones’ Cowboys Stadium (often dubbed the “Dallas Palace”), or the Giants’ and Jets’ New Meadowlands stadium (each having come with price tags in excess of $1.6 billion), but those same fans are asked to pay thousands of dollars in Personal Seat Licences just to have the right to buy tickets to watch games in them.
If that wasn’t enough, now loyal remaining season ticketholders who weren’t priced out (by PSL’s) of buying tickets to see their favorite teams play, can’t even do that, because of the unyielding collective ego and greed on the part of NFL owners.
That’s not to say that the NFL’s current labor issues are all one-sided. Every dispute has both opposing parties which are usually at least somewhat at fault.
However, it’s the players who really just want to give the fans what they want – to play football -- under the current CBA specifications that the owners agreed to themselves, years ago. That agreement was fine for NFL owners until that no longer became convenient in the face of the owners trying to squeeze every last dollar out of both the NFL Players’ Association and NFL fans.
The simple fact is, the owners can’t fully be trusted.
Only now, after the NFLPA has been forced to decertify and involve the threat of a possible court injunction, are NFL owners beginning to open their books to any extent at all (and even at that, they won’t be opened far enough to justify the extra $1 billion and greater portion of shared revenues along with an increase to an 18-game regular season schedule that NFL owners are seeking).
But, the reason for the mistrust of NFL owners goes beyond that, back to the stadium issue.
Under the guise of “parternership” to win public support, NFL owners have secured more than $4.4 billion in taxpayer money for 21 new or renovated stadiums (nearly two-thirds of the league’s stadiums) since 1995.
The reality is that of the $2 billion teams claim they are investing in stadiums, about $1 billion comes from NFL loans and PSL’s, two sources where the dollars come either exclusively, or at least mostly, from fans.
A particular case like the Chicago Bears’ Soldier Field renovation shows what the NFL’s “parternship” with the public for financing new NFL stadiums really means.
The Bears pledged to pay $200 million of Soldier Field’s $632 million renovation, but when all was said and done, thanks again, to partially fan-financed NFL loans and to fan-paid PSL’s, the final cost to Bears’ ownership for the renovation was less than $30 million.
It’s no different around the league. Over the next 30 years, taxpayers in NFL cities will pay more than $2 billion in interest payments on bonds that were used to raise public money for NFL stadiums.
And, thanks to a deal worked out with the U.S. government, while fans are helping to finance NFL stadium through paying their own taxes, NFL owners collect PSL money on a tax-exempt basis.
The bottom line is that the players just want to play. But, NFL owners want yet more money despite having already asked for billions from NFL fans to help finance new stadiums that ironically are supposed to be fan-friendly. Yet, despite all of the state-of-the-art amenities, how “fan-friendly” can it really be when those same fans are also being asked for thousands of additional dollars per seat in the form of PSL’s?
And, how much more can possibly be asked of NFL fans, who simply want their sport back in time for Week 1 of the regular season in September (or for that matter, in time for the upcoming NFL draft and training camps)?
Adding further insult to injury was the most recent Super Bowl, in February, with yet another irony. So desperate was Jones and the NFL to cram as many fans as possible into the new Cowboys Stadium as a result of further greed (to make more money) and ego on the part of Jones (to set the Super Bowl attendance record), that temporary seating wasn’t installed in time, thereby shutting out many fans who paid about $800 each per ticket (in additional to travel expenses to the Dallas area).
While the NFL more than rectified the situation financially, those fans missed seeing the game live and became the latest casualty of the NFL putting everything else about its game before the fans who support it.
Fans, as taxpayers and now as PSL buyers, have been conditioned to paying for stadiums for millionaires to play in and keep an exclusive NFL family owners in the business of remaining as billionaires, all while the average taxpayer and hardcore NFL fan can’t afford a seat in those very stadiums.
When you look at it that way, it’s amazing that it’s not the fans who haven’t decided to stop paying or to stop showing up, and haven’t locked out the owners and players.
Ultimately, we all love the game too much for that to happen.
But, after all the fans have given to the NFL, it’s time for the NFL and its owners to give something back.
For once, NFL owners (and even players) need to realize that they would have been nothing without their fans.
And for once, they need to let their fans come first, and make sure that it’s not the fans who are the next to be locked out.
Which "NFL" Gang is Greedier? the Owners or the Players?
By David Levy-Fan Experience reporter-Football Reporters Online
When I set out to film this documentary(Gang Greed) in August of 2008, my goal to tell the fans side. To let the fans speak about what it means to be a Jets fan. How the new PSL's were going to affect their status as a season ticket holder. Were they going to invest in them or stop going to games altogether. Now, it seams, no one may be going to any games in 2011.
National Football League team owners locked out the league’s players Saturday, shutting down professional football for the first time in 24 years and plunging the nation’s most popular and prosperous sport into a time of uncertainty.
The owners acted after labor talks with the players’ union collapsed Friday afternoon and players decertified the NFL Players Association, moving the bitter dispute into the courts and ending an era of NFL labor peace that had lasted since players went on strike in 1987.
Decertifying the NFL Players Association enabled the players to file antitrust litigation against the owners, which they did late Friday, with superstar quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees among the 10 named plaintiffs. Lawyers for the players also announced that they are seeking an injunction to lift the lockout.
Some still wonder if all of this was worth the headache. Not just for the players and owners, but the fans as well. Both the Jets and Giants issued apologies to the fans for the lockout. The players feel they did what they could but were left with no other choice.
The team owners will complain they are losing money. I am sure they will have no issues paying their bills though. The income is a loss for their business, not them personally. Some younger players will feel the crunch if they are not playing. Many veteran players have investments and other business ventures that will help them get by. But in the end, they will all be on the losing end.
Does anyone really win when this happens? When the last lockout occurred in 1987, who won that battle? The players went on strike while the owners went out and hired "scabs" to play out the season. Will the team owners do the same thing this year? Probably not. They all want to get this rectified before training camp begins. The fans would like it done sooner.
For season ticket holders, they would like to know sooner than later. Many are pleased only 50% is due and not the whole bill. It gives some longer to get that money together. But knowing a season will happen is better knowing now rather than three weeks into a season. We are on the outside looking in, wondering if a sport many of us enjoy will even happen this year.
Last week Judge David S. Doty ruled that the NFL violated the collective bargaining agreement with its players by renegotiating $4.078 billion in television rights fees for team owners to tap during a lockout even if no games are played in 2011. Why should the owners be entitled to money if there is no season? Should the players get paid if they do not play?
Both sides have their issues. Many players feel the union walked away from a deal that sounded good and met their needs, despite the negative media attention towards the NFL and its owners. According to that statement the NFL released the latest proposal’s details included:
1. The NFL proposed that the two sides split the economic differences between them, increasing their proposed cap for 2011 "significantly" and accepting the NFLPA's proposed cap number for 2014, which was $161 million per team.
2. The NFL proposed an entry level compensation system that was based on the union's "rookie cap" instead of a wage scale that the clubs originally proposed. In this proposal, the players drafted from rounds 2-7 would be paid the same amount of money, or even more money, than they are paid now. The savings that would come from the first-round picks would be reallocated to help veteran players and benefits.
3. After a player is injured, the NFL would guarantee that they would pay up to $1 milllion of that player's salary for the contract year. This is the first time that the owners have offered a standard multi-year injury guarantee.
4. The following changes would be made immediately to promote player safety:
Reduce the off-season program by five weeks, reducing OTAs from 14 weeks to 10 and limiting on-field practice time and contact.
They would limit full-contact practices in the preseason and regular season
They would increase the number of off days for players
5. The NFL proposed that any change from a 16-game season to an 18-game season would only be made if the two sides agreed on the change. The 2011 and 2012 seasons would be 16-game seasons.
6. The NFL team owners would boost retirement benefits for more than 2,000 former players by nearly 60 percent by funding retirees benefits $82 million in 2011 and 2012.
7. The owners offered current players the opportunity to stay in their current medical plans for the rest of their lives.
8. The owners would allow third-party arbitrators in the NFL's drug and steroid programs.
9. The owners would improve the Mackey plan (designed for players suffering from dementia and other brain-related problems), disability plan and their degree completion bonus program.
10. The owners proposed a per-club cash minimum spend of 90 percent of the salary cap over three seasons.
Now that you know the particulars of the deal, do you still agree with the NFLPA's decision to decertify and go to court with the NFL?
Yes, the negotiations have been messy and well-publicized but progress was made before the recent burning of bridges. After having half the month of March in extensions of negotiations, both sides were reportedly off by $185 million on how much owners should get up from each season for certain operating expense before splitting up the rest of the revenues with players. That’s a far less amount than the $1 billion difference that separated the two sides earlier in discussions.
A recent poll by ProFootballTalk.com asked fans to place blame on who is responsible for the lockout and 27,000 have said that the player’s are to blame, barely. Just over 38% say the players are to blame, while 24.8% blame the owners and 36.7% blame both.
Many say this is the billionaires vs the millionaires. Two sides who get paid well, fighting to be paid more. If you own a professional football team, one would think you already had enough. Some of that may go to team operations and other bills to be paid, but many know where the bottom line ends. Players put their bodies on the line and should see a little more compensation. Let's see Woody Johnson or the Mara or Tisch families out there to battle for that extra compensation. I think not.
So while the league and the union continue to bicker like a divorced couple fighting over bank accounts, the fans are the ones who are truly hurting from this dispute, like a child overhearing their parents argument.
When I set out to film this documentary(Gang Greed) in August of 2008, my goal to tell the fans side. To let the fans speak about what it means to be a Jets fan. How the new PSL's were going to affect their status as a season ticket holder. Were they going to invest in them or stop going to games altogether. Now, it seams, no one may be going to any games in 2011.
National Football League team owners locked out the league’s players Saturday, shutting down professional football for the first time in 24 years and plunging the nation’s most popular and prosperous sport into a time of uncertainty.
The owners acted after labor talks with the players’ union collapsed Friday afternoon and players decertified the NFL Players Association, moving the bitter dispute into the courts and ending an era of NFL labor peace that had lasted since players went on strike in 1987.
Decertifying the NFL Players Association enabled the players to file antitrust litigation against the owners, which they did late Friday, with superstar quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees among the 10 named plaintiffs. Lawyers for the players also announced that they are seeking an injunction to lift the lockout.
Some still wonder if all of this was worth the headache. Not just for the players and owners, but the fans as well. Both the Jets and Giants issued apologies to the fans for the lockout. The players feel they did what they could but were left with no other choice.
The team owners will complain they are losing money. I am sure they will have no issues paying their bills though. The income is a loss for their business, not them personally. Some younger players will feel the crunch if they are not playing. Many veteran players have investments and other business ventures that will help them get by. But in the end, they will all be on the losing end.
Does anyone really win when this happens? When the last lockout occurred in 1987, who won that battle? The players went on strike while the owners went out and hired "scabs" to play out the season. Will the team owners do the same thing this year? Probably not. They all want to get this rectified before training camp begins. The fans would like it done sooner.
For season ticket holders, they would like to know sooner than later. Many are pleased only 50% is due and not the whole bill. It gives some longer to get that money together. But knowing a season will happen is better knowing now rather than three weeks into a season. We are on the outside looking in, wondering if a sport many of us enjoy will even happen this year.
Last week Judge David S. Doty ruled that the NFL violated the collective bargaining agreement with its players by renegotiating $4.078 billion in television rights fees for team owners to tap during a lockout even if no games are played in 2011. Why should the owners be entitled to money if there is no season? Should the players get paid if they do not play?
Both sides have their issues. Many players feel the union walked away from a deal that sounded good and met their needs, despite the negative media attention towards the NFL and its owners. According to that statement the NFL released the latest proposal’s details included:
1. The NFL proposed that the two sides split the economic differences between them, increasing their proposed cap for 2011 "significantly" and accepting the NFLPA's proposed cap number for 2014, which was $161 million per team.
2. The NFL proposed an entry level compensation system that was based on the union's "rookie cap" instead of a wage scale that the clubs originally proposed. In this proposal, the players drafted from rounds 2-7 would be paid the same amount of money, or even more money, than they are paid now. The savings that would come from the first-round picks would be reallocated to help veteran players and benefits.
3. After a player is injured, the NFL would guarantee that they would pay up to $1 milllion of that player's salary for the contract year. This is the first time that the owners have offered a standard multi-year injury guarantee.
4. The following changes would be made immediately to promote player safety:
Reduce the off-season program by five weeks, reducing OTAs from 14 weeks to 10 and limiting on-field practice time and contact.
They would limit full-contact practices in the preseason and regular season
They would increase the number of off days for players
5. The NFL proposed that any change from a 16-game season to an 18-game season would only be made if the two sides agreed on the change. The 2011 and 2012 seasons would be 16-game seasons.
6. The NFL team owners would boost retirement benefits for more than 2,000 former players by nearly 60 percent by funding retirees benefits $82 million in 2011 and 2012.
7. The owners offered current players the opportunity to stay in their current medical plans for the rest of their lives.
8. The owners would allow third-party arbitrators in the NFL's drug and steroid programs.
9. The owners would improve the Mackey plan (designed for players suffering from dementia and other brain-related problems), disability plan and their degree completion bonus program.
10. The owners proposed a per-club cash minimum spend of 90 percent of the salary cap over three seasons.
Now that you know the particulars of the deal, do you still agree with the NFLPA's decision to decertify and go to court with the NFL?
Yes, the negotiations have been messy and well-publicized but progress was made before the recent burning of bridges. After having half the month of March in extensions of negotiations, both sides were reportedly off by $185 million on how much owners should get up from each season for certain operating expense before splitting up the rest of the revenues with players. That’s a far less amount than the $1 billion difference that separated the two sides earlier in discussions.
A recent poll by ProFootballTalk.com asked fans to place blame on who is responsible for the lockout and 27,000 have said that the player’s are to blame, barely. Just over 38% say the players are to blame, while 24.8% blame the owners and 36.7% blame both.
Many say this is the billionaires vs the millionaires. Two sides who get paid well, fighting to be paid more. If you own a professional football team, one would think you already had enough. Some of that may go to team operations and other bills to be paid, but many know where the bottom line ends. Players put their bodies on the line and should see a little more compensation. Let's see Woody Johnson or the Mara or Tisch families out there to battle for that extra compensation. I think not.
So while the league and the union continue to bicker like a divorced couple fighting over bank accounts, the fans are the ones who are truly hurting from this dispute, like a child overhearing their parents argument.
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