Kentucky's run to the Final Four has been filled with close calls. Three games were decided in the closing minute, and UK has outscored its four opponents by a total of 19 points. As might be expected when facing post-season competition, many of UK's individual and team numbers have dropped during...
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PFW draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki held a conference call with the media on Wednesday, answering questions about the upcoming NFL draft. Here is an excerpt of some of Nolan's responses.
Q: Looking at the end of the first round, do you see teams picking in the second round trying to trade back into the first round for quarterbacks, and if so, which quarterbacks do you see being taken at that point?
Nawrocki: I definitely think there's going to be interest late in the first round. We've seen it in the past few years with guys like Jason Campbell and J.P. Losman. Teams that have pressing needs try to come up, especially if they cannot address the position sooner in the draft. I really think there are going to be two quarterbacks that have a chance in the top five. I think (Blaine) Gabbert will come off in the top five and (Cam) Newton in the top 15. After that, I think there are a couple guys who could get considerably overdrafted. (Ricky) Stanzi is a guy from Iowa that I think has a lot of talent, he's just got to find the confidence. As the draft keeps growing closer, I could see him potentially having more interest. Another guy is Andy Dalton from TCU. I think he's more of a career backup in my own opinion. But there are a lot of teams that have taken a greater interest in him. It wouldn't shock me to see him go somewhere in that second round. I don't know that anybody else will get into the back of the first. The other guys are Colin Kaepernick of Nevada and Christian Ponder (of Florida State). To me, Ponder is truly a fourth-round talent. There are questions about his elbow injury. I see him as more of an ideal backup who could come in and start for you in situations where you might need him, but you're never going to be pleased if he's the guy. This class has a lot of holes and question marks. I think Stanzi is a guy that teams will be excited about developing. He's more of a second- to third-round value. To answer your question, even though there's so much need, I think there's going to be greater value late in the first than just the quarterback position.
Q: Can you tell me your opinion on Von Miller? What kind of pass rusher do you expect him to be? Is he a guy that's shown he has more than one move? Are there current players you would compare him to.
Nawrocki: Going back in history, the comparison that some scouts have made has been to Derrick Thomas. I think that's a little bit lofty at this point in his career, just knowing how successful Derrick was. Another comparison has been to John Abraham in Atlanta. When you look at (Miller's) game, I think he's a little bit undersized for the defensive end position. He projects best to the outside linebacker position that he has played. He has a rare burst off the edge, the best first step out of any pass rusher in this draft. Very explosive, you could see that at the Combine, at his pro days and his workouts. He was very quick-twitched; he looked like a rabbit out there moving back and forth. Just so sudden and explosive. He's definitely got to make some improvement as a pass rusher and develop more moves. He's a guy that's going to be able to come in right away, plug in and I think he'll make a quick impact. The way he can come off the ball so low to the ground, bend, trim the corner and leverage the edge, I think it's very rare. He was the top-graded player in the draft by PFW standards this year — we gave him an 8.5. He's a guy that I think you could feel very comfortable just knowing what you're getting off the field — very smart, very sound, very well-rounded all around. You could feel good about that pick. Generally that position doesn't come off quite as early, the rush linebacker position, this year I'd be surprised if he falls out of the top five.
Q: Could you give quick evaluations on the top two receivers and do you still think A.J. Green is the top receiver in this draft?
Nawrocki: I do. I think he's the most difficult to cover. He brings the most — he can go vertical, he can really do anything you want, he can separate and he can work underneath. There are very few shortcomings in his game. The only real concern is how he fared on the Wonderlic test. He scored a 10, which was the lowest score of any receiver at the Combine. I think when it comes down to it, you've got to look at offensive coordinators designing packages that are suitable for a receiver to adjust to as rookies. I think a lot of offensive coordinators tend to make the game too complex. If you've got four reads to make in a route, I think they've need to trim it down to two if he's not getting it right away, and just allow him to thrive. If he's not able to get it right away it's on the coaches, it's not on him. He's just got far too much talent. There haven't been many like him to come out. You've got to look at Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. I think he's definitely in that class and I think he can make that kind of impact, and within a couple years he'll be one of the top five or seven receivers in the game. Julio (Jones) is a little bit different — he's a little more physical, he's a bigger and stronger, he's a little more physical after the catch and as a blocker. He's more suited for a West Coast offense. The big concern you've got to worry about is whether he can stay healthy because he plays so physical and violently. He's been injured a lot throughout his career — hand injuries and foot injuries. I think he just sells himself out so much on the field, you're always going to have to worry about taming him down a little bit, just like Anquan Boldin in Baltimore now. (Jones) plays at such a pace that you've got to worry about the injuries. Both of them are phenomenal talents, top-10 receivers and I think they'll be excellent pros.
Q: How much does the lockout environment change how teams may evaluate or approach this draft, especially in the hazy top 10 where the teams need immediate impact?
Nawrocki: It's definitely a pressing concern. Speaking with one general manager last night, he's looking at trade scenarios simply because there's a belief that this year could be wasted in terms of the development. If you're not able to spend time with players in the summer, in OTAs, get them into your program and get them working, it's going to be Year Two when you see that learning curve, if not Year Three. I think the end result is that you could see more teams that want to move back, trade down and acquire picks for future years — pile up second- and third-round picks, if they could, and find guys that would be able to make a more immediate contribution next year when everything's resolved. If Carolina was a buyer, they could look to trade back. I think Denver could do the same. Straight on down, a lot of those picks in the top 10, I think those guys, like they usually do, they'd like to get out (of the pick). The money should be lower with a rookie salary cap in place. I think there's a greater chance that teams on the back end, in the 20s, could consider coming up because they're not scared off by the slotting of those contracts that we've seen in previous years. I think with the (Michael) Crabtree deal a couple years back, it really extended down to the No. 10 slot and teams were shying away from even being in the top 10. I think now, you'll see teams more willing to get up into the top 10 because they expect the financial demands to be much lower than they have in the years past.
Q: Why did you go so hard on Cam Newton's character? Is it that big of a concern for you? How does that compare to some other guys in the past in terms of the character concerns?
Nawrocki: I think it was over-sensationalized in a slow news period. I don't think the evaluation was any different than any that we've been producing the last 33 years. If you look back last year at Jimmy Clausen, a lot of the same traits were mentioned. I thought he was an egotistical, disingenuous, scripted player with a sense of entitlement. I think that was a big reason why he slipped into the second round. You look back at history and I think you'll find a lot of similar evaluations of players. JaMarcus Russell is another one. When you do the work — we study this stuff year-round, talk to all 32 teams, general managers, head coaches, area scouts, personnel directors, college coaches — anybody that has insight into these players. We're trying to figure out just what kind of kid they are, what kind of commitment are they going to have to the NFL game. With the way money has gone in recent years with how much these players are getting paid in the top 10, you know they're instant millionaires before they ever step on the field in the NFL. I think the importance of character has never been greater than it is now. And I think that's where a lot of teams miss on first-round picks. It's just not being able to properly identify the character. With all the work that we've done on (Newton's) background, with the extensive amount of research and time that went into digging and figuring out what kind of kid he is, I feel very strongly about what was written and I stand by it fully. I think it's no different than anything we've done in previous years.
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The University of Kentucky football team knows fans' expectations will be lessened going into the 2011 season.
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"My road in college football wasn't always the smoothest," Montana QB Justin Roper was saying hours after a bizarre set of circumstances left him working out at Georgia's recent pro day in front of family, media and friends of the Bulldogs' program — but not NFL scouts and coaches.
Roper, who grew up in Buford, Ga. and began his collegiate career at Oregon before transferring, believed he could work out at Georgia's pro day on March 22. The Bulldogs didn't have a draft-eligible passer at the workout, and the school gave him permission to participate at their pro day. Roper's agent, Tom Mills, told PFW he had received permission from the NFL's player-personnel department for Roper to participate. (The NFL declined comment on Mills' version of events.) For a week leading up to the pro day, Roper worked with Georgia WR A.J. Green, likely to be a high first-round pick in April's draft, and Green's teammate, Kris Durham, a friend of Roper's.
However, on the morning of the workout, Roper was informed he couldn't take part in the pro-day drills. The reason? Per NFL rules, a Division I prospect who is attending a pro day at a school at which he did not attend must live within the metropolitan area (as defined by the Rand McNally atlas) of the school. According to those guidelines, Buford is within the metropolitan area of Atlanta, not Athens. Thus, Roper was ineligible to participate in front of NFL personnel, according to the league.
For a time, it was unclear whether Roper would participate or whether a stand-in quarterback such as Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden would throw to Green — whose workout was eagerly anticipated.
In the end, Roper threw to the Georgia wideouts, but not in front of NFL personnel, who had the option to watch inside. However, many elected to leave.
For Roper, it wasn't the ideal outcome, but he's thankful for Green, Durham and Georgia FB Shaun Chapas going to bat for him and insisting he throw. The workout was shown on ESPN3 and was taped, which can't hurt his visibility.
Roper, who is not ranked among PFW's top 30 draft-eligible quarterbacks and was not invited to the Combine, is planning to participate in a scouting combine the Falcons will hold for area prospects on April 14. He has worked with noted QB coach George Whitfield, who has tutored Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton.
The 6-6, 215-pound Roper transferred to Montana for the '09 season after losing his starting job to Jeremiah Masoli. Roper began the '08 season as the starter but suffered a partially torn MCL in a victory at Purdue, opening the door for Masoli.
In his senior season at Montana in 2010, Roper completed 171-of-278 passes for 1,885 yards with 19 TDs and 11 interceptions.
Roper had targeted the Georgia pro day "to be my big chance" to perform in front of NFL personnel. His agent, Mills, said that Roper's most likely path to the league will be as an undrafted free agent.
Roper and Mills both said there could be some value to getting some publicity from the workout snafu. That wasn't the plan, but not everything went as planned at Georgia's pro day.
Save for Roper throwing to Green, of course.
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Things are really, really tight at the tight end position at the University of Kentucky these days.
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The NFL has begun rolling out its invitations to the NFL draft to top prospects. Now the prospects must choose if they will attend the draft at Radio City Music Hall.
According to multiple reports, Texas A&M LB Von Miller received his invitation. Miller is a plaintiff in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the NFL.
NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported that Alabama DL Marcell Dareus and RB Mark Ingram, Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers, Auburn DL Nick Fairley, LSU CB Patrick Peterson and Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara also have received invitations. La Canfora said 20 total players have been invited.
Amukamara confirmed to PFW that he received his invite to the draft.
According to Pro Football Talk, Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert, Georgia WR A.J. Green, Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt and Missouri DE Aldon Smith also have been invited by the league to attend.
USC OT Tyron Smith told NFL Network that he not only received an invite, but also accepted his invitation to the draft, joining Alabama WR Julio Jones and Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn as top prospects who have confirmed their attendance at the draft.
There are reports that some agents are encouraging clients not to attend the draft because of the current NFL lockout. The NFLPA has scheduled a reception for Thursday night, April 28, but it does not conflict with the start of the draft.
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University of Kentucky assistant coach Steve Brown interviewed this week for the defensive coordinator position at UCLA, according to a report on the Los Angeles' Times' Web site Thursday.The report on the newspaper's Fabulous Forum blog by reporter Chris Foster cited a person familiar with the search...
The University of Kentucky hosted several prospects this weekend, with several recruits attending the UK-Florida game on Saturday and then hanging around for Junior Day on Sunday.
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Two potential first-round picks confirmed Tuesday that they will attend the NFL draft held at Radio City Music Hall on April 28.
Alabama WR Julio Jones said on Sirius NFL Radio that he has been invited to the draft and will be intending.
"We decoded that we'd love to go there. You know, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance," Jones said.
Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn announced on his Twitter that he will also be in attendance: "Accepted my invite to the draft this morning! Exciting stuff..."
Due to the NFL lockout, there have been questions on whether or not top prospects will attend the first night of the draft, with talks of a potential boycott. The NFLPA scheduled a private reception on Thursday night, April 28, set to begin at 4 p.m ET and will allow players to attend the draft that begins at 8 p.m. ET.
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A pair of "jorts" hung from a branch over the door at a duplex at 1047 Crescent Ave. in Lexington Monday morning. The "jorts" are in honor of University of Kentucky basketball player Josh Harrellson, who likes to wear denim shorts, also known as "jorts". Charles Bertram | Staff
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The Kentucky football team conducted its first full-pads practice of the spring at the Nutter Training Facility on Saturday, and Coach Joker Phillips thought his team's play matched the cold and blustery conditions outside.
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QB-TE-ATH Cam Newton, #2 (Junior)
Auburn PFW Grade: 5.85
Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 248 | Sp: 4.58 | Arm: 33 3/4 | Hand: 9 7/8
Notes: Also played basketball as a Georgia prep. Began his collegiate career at Florida, where he signed on to play for then-head coach Urban Meyer and the Gators. Appeared in five games as a true freshman in 2007, completing 5-of-10 pass attempts (50 percent) for 40 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Also rushed 16 times for 103 yards (6.4-yard average) and three touchdowns. Was slowed by an ankle injury in '08 — appeared in one contest, but ultimately redshirted (also sustained a minor neck injury in an early November car accident). Was arrested in late November and charged with felony charges of burglary, larceny and intimidating a witness, informant or victim after stealing a laptop computer from a student's dorm room and throwing it out the window when police arrived at Newton's for questioning. Charges were dropped upon his completion of a pretrial diversion program. Reportedly transferred rather than face possible expulsion stemming from three incidents of academic cheating, including two as a sophomore when he put his name on someone else's paper and purchased a paper online, attempting to pass it off as his own work. Landed at Blinn College (Texas) and won the NJCAA national championship in '09 — totaled 204-336-2,833-22-5 (60.1) passing and 108-655-16 (6.1) rushing in 12 games. Had a historic season for the national champion Tigers in '10 — 14-game starter was honored with the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Davey O'Brien Awards after leading the SEC in rushing and total offense by totaling 185-280-2,854-30-7 (66.1) through the air and 264-1,473-20 (5.6) on the ground. Also caught two passes for 42 yards (21.0) and a touchdown. Hurt his back in the BCS championship game. Was declared ineligible for a day leading up to the SEC title game — Newton's father, Cecil, allegedly enlisted an agent "runner" to initiate a pay-for-play bidding war for Cam's commitment. It was reported that Cam's desire was to play for Mississippi State, but he allegedly succumbed to his father's decision (Auburn) based on a six-figure payment. Was ultimately reinstated after the NCAA did not find sufficient evidence to prove Cam or Auburn officials were complicit in Cecil's actions. Had a 25-1 career starting record (including junior college).
Positives: Very well-built with big deltoids and a strapping physique. Excellent arm strength — can make difficult throws off-balance while on the move and air out the deep ball, hitting receivers in stride 50 yards downfield. Throws with velocity. Composed in pressure situations and found ways to come through in the clutch. Big, strong, physical runner. Pounds defenders and can push a pile — almost always falls forward. Smooth-striding, fluid-moving athlete. Highly competitive and productive against top Southeastern Conference competition — rose to the occasion against Alabama and Oregon on the biggest of stages. Very savvy — confident, charming and charismatic and can light up a room. Highly competitive and plays with passion.
Negatives: Played in a simplified, run-first, dive-option read offense with very basic high-low reads. Worked exclusively out of the gun and was very quick to run at the first flash of coverage. Limited field vision — does not process the passing game. Inconsistent throwing mechanics with a flick delivery — generates all of his power from his upper-body strength and too often arms the ball. Streaky passer with spotty accuracy. Makes his receivers work hard and throws into coverage. Does not spin a tight spiral. Very disingenuous — has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup. Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law — does not command respect from teammates and always will struggle to win a locker room. Only a one-year producer. Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness — is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable.
Summary: An extremely talented, dual-threat QB who carried Auburn to a national title, Newton has the arm and athletic talent desired in a rollout, play-action, bootleg vertical passing game and would fit ideally into an offense such as that of the Redskins or Raiders. However, he always will test the rules, be difficult to manage and lacks the intangibles to win the trust of a locker room. Will require a very strong-willed, demanding coach to live up to his potential and avoid the trappings of fame and fortune, but even the greatest taskmaster will not be able to keep away the drama that is still swirling from a stained Heisman Trophy and littered recruiting trail that Newton left in the SEC. Can provide an initial spark, but will quickly be dissected and contained by NFL defensive coordinators, struggle to sustain success and will not prove worthy of an early investment. An overhyped, high-risk, high-reward selection with a glaring bust factor, Newton is sure to be drafted more highly than he should and could foreclose a risk-taking GM's job and taint a locker room.
NFL projection: Top-15 pick.
Pro Football Weekly's 2011 Draft Preview book is now on sale.
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The University of Kentucky football team knows fans' expectations will be lessened going into the 2011 season.
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Less than 24 hours after the University of Kentucky nailed down a spot in the NCAA Final Four, Mayor Jim Gray appointed a 42-member group Monday to study the future of Rupp Arena and Lexington Center.
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To get in shape for a season that might not happen or to play it safe and not risk injury? That is the dilemma players across the NFL are facing in one of the strangest offseasons the league has ever seen.
Usually at this time of year, teams would be getting together for offseason activities to stay sharp and prepare for the upcoming campaign. But with no OTAs scheduled and players not allowed to visit club facilities while the lockout is in full effect, those who bring the nation to its television sets on fall Sundays are trying to find a way to replicate minicamps without breaking any rules. The result? Player-organized workouts free of coaches and team officials.
These programs are something many players around the league have already begun. The Dolphins, for instance, have gathered for workouts led by OT Jake Long and QB Chad Henne. QB Philip Rivers has organized weightlifting and running sessions for the Chargers. And Titans CB Cortland Finnegan has rallied his teammates to train together at a local high school. In the cutthroat NFL, no player wants to risk coming to training camp — whenever that gets under way — out of condition and being handed a pink slip.
Considering the circumstances, however, is this really the smartest move on the players' part? One of the results of the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring is that the players lost their health insurance and are now no longer covered under team policy. If one of them were to get hurt seriously during these sessions, he could be subject to having his pay withheld for the 2011 season.
"If a guy works out right now and suffers an injury, he's not covered by his NFL contract during this lockout. So if you get injured, the team doesn't have to pay your salary next year," agent Drew Rosenhaus told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "It's not a sanctioned activity, so if a guy goes out there and blows his knee, the team can say they've decided not to pay your contract this year. It's very risky."
Given this potential for disaster, many agents are telling their clients not to participate in these activities — and they couldn't be more right. Why should players put their livelihood at stake for owners who have locked them out? In the big picture, they have little to gain by conducting player-only workouts, but they have a whole lot to lose. For guys on teams with new coaches or coordinators, they don't even have a playbook to consult when practicing. And if they go down, their employers are going to have nothing to offer them in terms of consolation.
Sure, it's admirable that players are willing to put quite a bit on the line for the betterment of themselves and their organizations, but especially at this juncture, it just isn't worth it. Practicing with teammates without supervision — in March, mind you — is not smart, period. The odds of someone suffering an injury become much greater when guys are playing football, even casually, without a person in charge who knows what he is doing. That is what will be going on around the country in the months to come, and I wouldn't blame one player for refusing to take part in it.
If players do want to work out on their own this offseason, the most reasonable way to do so would be to attend a facility that specializes in training athletes. Yes, it will be more costly than meeting up at a high school, but these are professional football players we're talking about — they can afford it. These facilities not only provide trainers and coaches to oversee the activities but also have physicians on site in case an injury was to occur. Groups of teammates would be decreasing their risk immensely if they take this approach over doing things on their own.
No matter whose side you are on in this never-ending fight between the players and owners, this much is clear: When the season does begin, you don't want to see your favorite player on the sideline because he hurt himself running around with the guys in the spring. Hopefully players realize the danger they are putting themselves in and wise up before one of them goes down, losing a year's paycheck for an owner who is more interested in money than the good of the game.
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Another team has said it is willing to open the books, if it helps to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Bears president Ted Phillips told the Chicago Sun-Times, "If the league feels, to get a deal done, they need to release (financials), we're on board. I'm actually proud of how we operate our club. We think we do a good job, revenue-wise and expense-wise."
The Broncos have previously said they would also open their books if it means a deal could get done.
The NFL locked out the players on March 11 after the NFLPA decertified, as the two sides have been unable to agree on a new CBA. One of the main issues is how to split $9 billion of revenue. The players have asked for 10 years of financial records from the 32 teams to see proof that the league's profits are down.
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The Broncos have spent a lot of time studying the quarterback prospects in this year's draft, but the way we hear it, the organization is still expected to use its No. 2 overall selection on a defensive player.
Denver struggled on the defensive side of the ball in 2010, finishing last in the league in both yards surrendered per game and quarterback sacks. This year's draft includes one of the deepest pass-rushing defensive linemen groupings in recent memory, which figures to fit the Broncos' needs.
But the organization isn't acting as if it is set on a defensive lineman.
Executive vice president of football operations John Elway, general manager Brian Xanders and head coach John Fox were all present for the pro days of both Auburn QB Cam Newton and Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert and both quarterbacks already have scheduled private meetings in Denver.
Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was in Arkansas for QB Ryan Mallett's pro day, and QB coach Adam Gase has had or will have workouts with Washington QB Jake Locker, Florida State QB Christian Ponder and Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick.
A daily team observer said that the organization is just doing its due diligence by studying these quarterbacks and does not expect the Broncos to select a quarterback with the second pick in the draft.
But having a good grip on how good each of these players is will help the organization assess possible situations in which it can trade down in the draft to acquire more picks or consider the possibility of using its second-round pick, No. 36 overall, on a quarterback.
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The final score wasn't the only thing that didn't look good during the University of Kentucky's trip to the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Jan. 8.
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NEWARK, N.J. — When it was over, DeAndre Liggins leaped atop a table on press row and popped outward the word 'Kentucky' on his blue jersey toward a delirious UK cheering section.
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The replacement of the Metrodome roof began on Friday after the roof was damaged by a December snowstorm.
Workers began with three diamond-shaped panels that will be stretched and clamped into place. The process takes about a day for each panel.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission voted on Feb. 10 to replace the entire Teflon roof, as opposed to just the damaged panels, on advice from engineers. The goal is for the roof to be finished by Aug. 1, and work will continue six days a week until it is completed.
The damaged roof forced the Vikings to play two home games away from the Metrodome in 2010. They played the Giants in Ford Field in Detroit and the Bears in TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
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Eagles OLT Jason Peters was arrested in Shreveport, La. on Saturday for playing loud music, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest, according to multiple reports.
Peters was in Louisiana as a celebrity guest for a concert by rapper Rick Ross on Friday evening. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the tackle was charged following the show after police heard excessively loud music coming from his vehicle in the downtown area of the city. When authorities approached him early Saturday morning, Peters refused to provide identification, leading to the resisting arrest charge.
Peters was released on bond Saturday, according to Shreveport police. The amount was not disclosed.
According to KSLA-12 News in Shreveport, Ross was also arrested following the concert, but in an unrelated incident.
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The University of Kentucky football team knows fans' expectations will be lessened going into the 2011 season.
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The NFL's new kickoff rules have brought about mixed reaction throughout the league, with some teams being adamantly against the changes while others wholly support them. Although they might not be the first club one would expect to be in favor of moving kickoffs up five yards from the 30-yard line to the 35, we hear the Chargers are perfectly fine with the new rule. One reason is that their kicker, Nate Kaeding, has suspect leg strength, averaging just 63.1 yards on kickoffs for his career and only once registering double-digit touchbacks in a season. The Bolts also had some of the all-time worst coverage units in 2010, allowing three kickoffs to be returned for scores. By moving kicks five yards closer to the endzone, opponents almost certainly will have fewer chances to hurt San Diego on special teams. We're told another factor at play here is the expected departure of impact return man Darren Sproles from the team. "I do think it's going to affect the decisions you make on a returner," said head coach Norv Turner at this week's owners meetings. With returners becoming less important under the new rules, it's even more likely that the Chargers will let the free agent walk.
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Comparing UK-UNC by position
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Updated 5:55 ET
Agent Joe Flanagan released a statement to put to rest any concerns about the health of his client, potential top-five pick Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers.
"Recently, inaccurate reports have surfaced regarding our client, Da'Quan Bowers, the health of his knee and the scheduling of his workout. Bottom line: Da'Quan's knee has progressed ahead of schedule, in every regard, since the day he walked out of his procedure. There have been no "setbacks" or "new concerns", and Da'Quan is very much looking forward to his workout on April 1st."
Flanagan then explained what his client has been doing since the NFL Scouting Combine in late February.
"Shortly after the Combine, on our advice and based on input from the teams at the top of the draft, it was decided to push Da'Quan's workout deeper into the pro day schedule, simply to give him more time to train.
"On March 4th, all NFL clubs (and certain media) were notified that Da'Quan would hold his pro day at Clemson on April 1st, the day after North Carolina's pro day, to best accommodate NFL personnel.
"As announced at that time, Da'Quan will indeed work out on Friday, April 1st, at 9:00 a.m. at Clemson University. He will participate in all combine and defensive line tests and drills. He will be meeting and dining with several teams in both the days leading up to and after the workout.
"Starting on April 4th, Da'Quan will begin traveling for visits currently scheduled with 8 teams at the top of the draft. Those teams will visit with Da'Quan and conduct physicals. He will also participate in the medical re-check in Indianapolis, which will lead to updated medical information being provided to all 32 clubs.
"We believe this series of events ... the meetings, dinners, workout, visits, physicals and re-check ... will show that there exists no short- or long-term concern about his knee and also confirm that Da'Quan is the best defensive player in this draft, with as much upside as any prospect in a very long time," Flanagan's statement concluded.
In PFW personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki's latest mock draft, he has Bowers going second overall to the Broncos.
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Former University of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline's criminal record has been expunged, meaning misdemeanor charges from a late-night shouting match last year have been expelled from his record.
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In Gerad Parker's line of work, air travel is a must.
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Giants QB Eli Manning became a father on Thursday, as his wife Abby gave birth to a baby girl, Ava Frances, who according to ESPN weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces.
Team coaches and employees will be allowed to send their quarterback congratulatory messages and gifts, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. During the lockout, players and team employees are not supposed to be in contact with players, but sending presents will not be a violation of the labor rules.
Vacchiano also points out, for those wondering if the Manning passing gene may have been passed along, that little Ava will be eligible for the 2032 NFL Draft.
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Lists about who is cool have become something of the rage in the sports media. GQ seemed to get things rolling with its list of the 25 coolest athletes (Ali. Jordan. Namath.) of all time.
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The NFL's new kickoff rules have brought about mixed reaction throughout the league, with some teams being adamantly against the changes while others wholly support them. Although they might not be the first club one would expect to be in favor of moving kickoffs up five yards from the 30-yard line to the 35, we hear the Chargers are perfectly fine with the new rule. One reason is that their kicker, Nate Kaeding, has suspect leg strength, averaging just 63.1 yards on kickoffs for his career and only once registering double-digit touchbacks in a season. The Bolts also had some of the all-time worst coverage units in 2010, allowing three kickoffs to be returned for scores. By moving kicks five yards closer to the endzone, opponents almost certainly will have fewer chances to hurt San Diego on special teams. We're told another factor at play here is the expected departure of impact return man Darren Sproles from the team. "I do think it's going to affect the decisions you make on a returner," said head coach Norv Turner at this week's owners meetings. With returners becoming less important under the new rules, it's even more likely that the Chargers will let the free agent walk.
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As the A.J. Green-Julio Jones debate rages on, one thing is undeniable: There is some serious receiving talent available at the top of this year's draft. In the 20th installment of the Draft Dose series, we take a look at some of the teams that might be in the market for a receiver this year.
Bengals — Entering the 2010 season, Cincinnati felt it had a dynamite 1-2 combination in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. However, both receivers fell short of the 1,000-yard mark, the team stumbled through a 4-12 season, and QB Carson Palmer has since demanded a trade. Many felt that the freelancing on the part of Ochocinco and Owens frustrated Palmer last year, a season that saw him tie a career high in interceptions with 20. Adding a skilled receiving target could appease Palmer, or at least make the transition smoother for whoever is under center next year in Cincy.
Browns — The Browns haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Braylon Edwards in 2007, and their leading receiver in 2010 was TE Ben Watson, with a paltry 763 receiving yards. Their two leading wide receivers, Mohamed Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey, didn't amass 1,000 yards combined. Clearly, the Browns like what they have at quarterback in '10 third-round pick Colt McCoy, who started eight games as a rookie. But if new head coach Pat Shurmur wants his new West Coast system to flourish, adding a top-tier talent with the sixth overall pick would be a wise decision.
Redskins — Santana Moss had a tremendous year in 2010, hauling in 93 passes for 1,115 yards and six touchdowns. The bad news for the Redskins is that Moss is now a free agent, and it is uncertain whether he will be with the team next season. That would leave rookie revelation Anthony Armstrong as the top target in D.C. Armstrong came out of nowhere to snag 44 passes for 871 yards, but he isn't exactly the kind of player you build an offense around. There is a possibility that Julio Jones will be available when Washington picks at No. 10, and Jones' physicality and impressive size-speed combination might be too tempting for Mike Shanahan to pass up.
Rams — The Rams struck gold with their first-round pick in 2010, selecting Sam Bradford No. 1 overall. Bradford was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year in the NFL after throwing for more than 3,500 yards and 18 touchdowns. However, his receiving corps was often banged up and unreliable, especially in a Week 17 play-in game with the Seahawks when the receivers dropped several passes at inopportune times. They have some serviceable complementary pieces like Danny Amendola and Danario Alexander, but adding a premier talent could take this offense to the next level, especially with Josh McDaniels on board as the new offensive coordinator and another year of seasoning for Bradford. Don't be surprised to see the Rams look to a wide receiver with the No. 14 overall pick.
Chiefs — Dwayne Bowe had a remarkable season in 2010, catching 72 passes for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns en route to his first career Pro Bowl. However, the production from the No. 2 receiver spot was almost nonexistent. Chris Chambers did catch 22 passes for 213 yards, but these are hardly the numbers of a bona fide No. 2 target. The Ravens caught on to this imbalance in their wild-card game with the Chiefs, focusing their efforts on stopping Bowe. They held Bowe without a catch and subsequently shut down the Chiefs' offense, winning 30-7. If this team hopes to advance further in the playoffs, finding a true threat opposite Bowe is a must, making it very possible that the Chiefs will take a receiver in this year's draft.
Ravens — Bringing in Anquan Boldin last offseason represented a significant upgrade to this position. However, while Boldin excels as a possession receiver, Baltimore still lacks that true vertical threat in the passing game. Derrick Mason had another solid season, snagging 61 passes for 802 yards and seven touchdowns, but Mason is 37 years old and entering the final year of his contract. Besides, Mason has never been the type of receiver to stretch the defense down the field. Finding a burner (a la Mike Wallace) to catch up to Joe Flacco's cannon arm would take this offense to the next level. Local product Torrey Smith, from Maryland, should be available when the Ravens are on the clock at pick No. 26, although it might be a bit of a reach to take Smith there. Still, Smith's blazing speed — he posted a 4.43 40-time at the Combine — could prove to be too tempting to pass up.
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Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb were in the Nutter Field House for the University of Kentucky's first spring football practice on Wednesday.But unfortunately for Coach Joker Phillips, the dynamic duo was on the sideline in sweats as observers while they prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.UK has plenty...
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The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported on its Web site Thursday that the University of Kentucky ran a deficit of $253,396 in Birmingham for the BBVA Compass Bowl against Pittsburgh. That's due in large part to 5,540 unsold tickets, according to the school's bowl expense report.
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Honor student. Hard worker. Productive player as a freshman. The qualities that describe Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight also fit his Ohio State counterpart, Aaron Craft.
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If Coach John Calipari plans to use the motivator of "people don't think we can beat No. 1 seed Ohio State," ESPN analysts Jay Bilas and Fran Fraschilla threw logs on that metaphorical fire on Wednesday.
Thumbs up: This UK team was labeled as one that could not finish close games. The Cats were in trouble at halftime. Yet on the biggest stage against an experienced West Virginia team, UK went on a 20-8 run to close it out.
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The University of Kentucky football program landed its first two recruits for its 2012 class when in-state players Josh Harris and Thomas Chapman committed while visiting for UK’s Junior Day this past weekend.UK was the first to offer Harris, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder who stands out at running...
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While Tim Masthay received a lot more recognition for making Green Bay’s special teams much less of a liability in 2010 after finishing the season punting as well as anybody in the NFL, daily team observers believe former Packers whipping boy Jarrett Bush is worthy of equally special praise. Even if Bush had not fortified his status on the Packers’ roster with an unlikely interception to set up a touchdown in the Super Bowl, his emergence as a bona fide special-teams ace appears to have solidified his standing. In addition to dramatically cutting down on special-teams penalties in 2010, Bush excelled in the gunner role, attributing the significant improvement in his kick coverage this past season to a reduced playing weight of 195, seven pounds less than what he played at in 2009.
Making a habit of leading the charge onto the field for opening kickoffs, Bush’s tremendous energy carried over to his teammates more often than not. Bush’s well-documented failure to pick up a loose ball on a fumbled punt in the NFC championship loss to the Giants three years ago now seems like a distant memory, with veteran team sources believing he legitimately has what it takes to become the Packers’ first Pro Bowl special-teamer since Travis Jervey in the mid-'90s.
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Devin Hester stood at his six-yard line, knees bent and shoulders squared, his eyes not focused on the 21 other players on the field but instead the football resting 64 yards away. With a slight rain falling from the South Florida sky, thousands of flashbulbs bursting from the crowd and millions of eyeballs on the then-24-year-old Bears kick returner, Hester was both giddy and calm all at once, ready to start Super Bowl XLI in the city in which he played his college football — Miami.
As the ball arrived off the right foot of Colts PK Adam Vinatieri, Hester side-stepped to his left and caught it at the Chicago eight, his eyes now looking forward at the action unfolding in front of him. He turned to his right, where he briefly saw three white and blue jerseys approaching. Then, before most people could even turn their head to see what was going on, the Bears star stopped, changed his direction ever so slightly to his left and ran through a narrow gap to 70 yards of open field as green as Augusta National. Ten seconds later, he was in the endzone with a smile on his face, six points on the scoreboard for his team and his name in the record book: First touchdown on opening kickoff in Super Bowl history — Devin Hester, Feb. 4, 2007.
Though it has been only a little more than four years since the brilliance of Hester's runback, the memory is soon to be as distant as any of the magnificent returns of Gale Sayers or Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. With NFL owners following the advice of the competition committee and voting to move the spot of kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 by a vote of 26-6, the excitement of the kickoff return will eventually move aside, replaced by the dullness of a touchback. Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, explained why the league voted for the movement.
"The injury rate on kickoffs remains a real concern for us and the players and the coaches' subcommittee," said McKay, who is also the president of the Falcons. "This is a pretty major change."
There's no denying the truth: Several of the most severe football injuries in recent memory took place on kickoffs. Bills TE Kevin Everett dislocated his cervical spine covering a kick in Week One of the 2007 season, and though he is now able to fully use his arms and legs, his playing career is over. Rutgers University DT Eric LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down after delivering a punishing hit on a kickoff on Oct. 16, 2010 and is unsure if he'll ever walk again. Ellis Hobbs of the Eagles was sidelined for the year after he was hit in the neck returning a kickoff in Week 11 last season and is considering retirement at age 27.
Unlike standard offensive plays, where most of the contact is between offensive and defensive linemen who burst out of their stance to hit each other similar to a fender-bender in rush-hour traffic, kickoffs are more comparable to SUVs running lights and hitting helpless vehicles in an intersection. Ten gunners on the kicking team are running as fast as possible down the field, directly into blockers moving at full speed the other direction to create space for a returner running his fastest to get the best possible field position. Hits can come from all directions to any player on the field. While the mantra may be "keep your head on a swivel," that's easier said than done. Both Everett and LeGrand were hurt by making tackles with their head tucked down and their helmets driving right into their opponents' bodies. (Note: Videos not for the squeamish.)
While it is quite admirable for the competition committee to be so concerned about player safety that they would convince the league to adapt such a dramatic rule change, their efforts are misguided here. Eliminating the chance of a career-ending and life-threatening injury is a great idea, but in this case, they are doing that in exchange for one of the core elements of football. Kickoffs are the opening to every game, every half, and many drives in between. They are ways to start rallies with good field position and chances for trailing teams to mount a comeback with onside kicks. Moving the ball up five yards will likely eliminate kick returns altogether, as teams will opt to launch the ball into the endzone for a touchback and gladly place it on the 20 instead of seeing the league's top returners gash them for major yardage. According to Pro Football Focus, only one kicker (Billy Cundiff of the Ravens) averaged kickoffs deeper than the goal line in 2010; under the new rules, that list would have 19 names on it.
If the committee is going to change the spot for kickoffs, then rules eliminating anything dangerous from the sport should be passed as well. Crossing routes for receivers, cornerback blitzes from quarterback's blind side and pulling offensive linemen to block defensive backs will be the next to go based on this precedent.
Better yet, just change the sport to two-hand touch. Then maybe someone from the Colts would have kept Hester out of the endzone.
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It's become clear in the past month that Randall Cobb made the right decision in skipping his senior season at Kentucky to enter the NFL Draft.Cobb has been one of the fastest-rising players in draft projections since the deadline for underclassmen to apply passed on Jan. 15. During the season...
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TAMPA, Fla. — In nine head-to-head meetings, West Virginia Coach Bob Huggins has beaten Kentucky Coach John Calipari eight times. Coincidence? "We've just been lucky, that's all," Huggins said. Players on both teams dismissed the significance of the one-sided record in Huggins' favor.
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Former University of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline's criminal record has been expunged, meaning misdemeanor charges from a late-night shouting match last year have been expelled from his record.
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Among the NBA players DeAndre Liggins considers as a role model is Ron Artest. Does anything else need to be said about Liggins' interest in defensive play and ploy?
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Everyone is all smiles. Team Gabbert is rolling deep for son Blaine's big day, his throwing day in front of 125 NFL personnel and six head coaches, and no one seems a bit nervous.
Not father Chuck, who is hobnobbing with anyone who'll tap him on the shoulder and strike up a conversation about his future millionaire son, shaking hands and posing for pictures. "This is just great, so awesome for Blaine," proud Chuck says, beaming. "The beautiful thing is that he is going to be drafted by the team because they really want him. How great is that? That is just awesome." Chuck uses the word "awesome" 10, maybe 12 more times before Blaine throws a single ball.
Not Gabbert's agents — Tom Condon, Ben Dogra and Jim Steiner — who proudly await their client's performance, expecting greatness. Dogra takes a quick scan of the room, which includes Jets head coach Rex Ryan, Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway and his new head coach, John Fox, within a 10-foot radius. "To me it's not how many teams come here, but who comes that matters," Dogra says. So impressed is Gabbert's 10-year-old brother that he walks up and confidently asks Elway for an autograph.
Nervous? Not Terry Shea. Gabbert's QB coach the previous 10 weeks has helped oversee his development from Missouri's shotgun offense to a more pro-friendly, under-center system. Shea had similar tutoring duties with Josh Freeman in 2009 and Sam Bradford last year and thinks Gabbert ranks right up there with the young, elite quarterbacks.
"I see him as the No. 1 pick in the draft," Shea says without hesitation.
Striding onto the surface of the Daniel J. Devine Indoor Facility for the first time in view of the nearly 1,000 onlookers — friends, family, fans, media and, oh yeah, an NFL who's who — Gabbert sheds his No. 5 Indianapolis Combine sweatshirt and has a line of folks waiting to talk to him. He handles each: Shea, with a few final instructions; Missouri's sports-information director giving Gabbert last-minute schedule details; and Central Missouri State WR Jamorris Warren, one of the receivers Gabbert will throw to, who stops for a quick word as school workers get the field cleared for Gabbert's pro-day exhibition.
The eye test was passed long ago. Gabbert has a dream QB physique at nearly 6-5 and 234 pounds, with athleticism (he ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the Combine) and arm strength to spare. Since opting not to throw passes at the Combine in February, NFL executives have waited to see Gabbert do the things he did not at Mizzou with any regularity: take snaps from under center, execute five- and seven-step drops and throw passes at NFL depths.
This is his day. He's ready. He looks ready. Gabbert already has thought about what he'll say to the media — his victory speech, if you will — if, no, when he rips it up during his passing showcase. The words have been chosen as carefully as the passes Gabbert will execute. Precise, scripted ... safe, really. The NFL doesn't mind safe. Making million-dollar investments, especially in this lockout-addled NFL world, means no stone will be left unturned.
Safe is a good thing.
# # #
Quarterbacks should look good at their pro day.
Bradford used his last year to show off his healed shoulder's strength, tacking on a few bonus throws just to end that conversation once and for all. The year prior, Matthew Stafford put on a show for the Lions' brass that clinched him eventually becoming the No. 1 pick. In 2008, Matt Ryan nailed his performance at Boston College, so much so that the Falcons privately wondered whether he even would be there at their No. 3 spot.
Of course they looked good. It's physically gifted passers throwing predetermined routes against air defenses in shorts and T-shirts in climate-controlled environments. Buffalo in December this is not. But it also is crucial not to botch it. Performing poorly in such sterile conditions could be disastrous.
That said, it guarantees nothing to perform well, either. JaMarcus Russell put on one of the greatest throwing displays ever at his pro day. His troubles started when the opposing team opted to take its full allotment of 11 defenders on the field. Alex Smith also shined at his pro day. It's perhaps the best he's ever looked since leaving Utah.
But Gabbert has some forces working against him, too. Because of the NFL lockout, he's allowed to throw only to draft-eligible players, and Mizzou features none. "It would have been great if we could have brought in A.J. Green and Julio Jones to throw to," Chuck Gabbert says, but then proudly lists the career achievements of the four local pass catchers who will catch Blaine's passes today. They played their college at places such as Central Missouri State and William Jewell College, Division II schools, and have worked with Gabbert only for the previous four days. No one seems too concerned.
But then the first tense moment of the day. Central Missouri RB Anthony Stewart, one of the four receivers, pulls a hamstring during his 40-yard dash. Shea is scratching his head. "I might have to make an announcement, maybe pull someone out of the stands," he says.
Instead, they find a replacement and cut Gabbert's 50-throw routine down by one, eliminating the planned wheel route to Stewart. It should be plenty still.
After the 14-throw warm-up, Gabbert huddled with Shea and the receivers. The script called for the first throw to be a 10-yard stick route to the "Z" receiver, a nice way to get loose. He stays short with the next five throws: a flat route, another stick, a slant, a quick out and a hitch. The passes are crisp, if not a bit high on a few.
Gabbert starts to stretch it out. Another slant is followed by a corner route, then a slant-and-go. He throws two 12-yard outs, one to each side, and a seam route. Then two "Bang 8s," one in each direction, and an angle route. He's catching rhythm; the passes are humming now.
While the friends, fans and many media watch Gabbert's arm, the scouts look down. It's the feet they're worried about. They're not stunned that Gabbert is unleashing his hose of an arm and spraying pretty, tight spirals all over the field, even if a few aren't picture-perfect. They have come to see the fruits of Shea's and Gabbert's labor — those drops from center that were as common at Missouri as the appearance of Halley's Comet.
Shea and Gabbert drew up a script that includes more than 20 throws outside the numbers and more than 25 deeper than 15 yards. The drops are mostly of the five- and seven-step-drop variety, with a few sprints, a bootleg, a couple of spins and three shotgun snaps sprinkled in.
It's all there: throwing well on the move, hitting most of his receivers in stride and putting nice touch on the ball. It's how a franchise quarterback should look here. Sure, some throws are a bit off target, though still in the catching radius, but when you see Gabbert rainbow a perfect "go" route and throw a whistling dart on a seam route near the end of his program, you know he has the skills to be great.
He completes 44 of the 49 throws, and it includes four drops. Gabbert has only one clear overthrow, and that was on a five-step "go" route thrown 55 yards in the air.
"The biggest thing was to come out here and show people that I have made that transition to an under-center offense from the shotgun," Gabbert told PFW after the performance. "I think I answered those questions today."
# # #
"I think you guys were more nervous than I was," Gabbert says with a smile to the assembled media.
Gabbert has been ready for this moment because he has been ready for every moment since he decided to be great. This has all been part of the plan. He had a personal QB tutor in high school, he had the God-kissed genes and talent and made himself into an Elite 11 quarterback before his senior season, standing toe to toe with QBs like Andrew Luck, Landry Jones and Kyle Parker.
So why wouldn't he attract this much attention from NFL folks?
"I knew this was going to happen," he says. "You're not going to do something if you're not going to believe in it. All along, I believed I would be in this place. I had that goal set, and I was going to reach it no matter what."
Missouri fans like Gabbert. Love? Well ... they like him a lot. He led them to an 18-8 record in two seasons, which included two bowl games and a win over No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in Columbia. It's what Gabbert says he's most proud of during his time in school.
And he should be. But there always will be a feeling of the unaccomplished with Gabbert at Mizzou. He was good. Very good, even. But there's no question that Gabbert didn't match the college résumé and production of Saints backup QB Chase Daniel, whom Gabbert backed up as a freshman. No one would say that he has come anywhere close to reaching his vast potential yet — not even Gabbert.
"I am still a work in progress," he said. "That's how all quarterbacks should be. They should have that mindset and that goal to come out and be better every day."
Gabbert was off to a scorching start as a sophomore before then-Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh dragged him down from behind, causing an ankle injury that affected him through the rest of the season. Gabbert's toughness never was questioned from that point, but everyone salivated at the prospects of a healthy junior season.
It didn't quite live up to expectations, as Missouri worked with a young receiving corps. He once again got battered by the Cornhuskers, suffering a serious blow to the head in the game but playing on despite Nebraska's relentless pressure.
"He just kept getting up," says Missouri junior WR Wes Kemp. "He showed us so much in that game despite the offense struggling."
Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost, one of Gabbert's biggest supporters, agrees with his quarterback's assessment that his best work lies in front of him.
"He can just continue to just get better and better and better because he's not a finished product," Yost said. "He has a lot of things he can still get better at and improve on. It's not from a lack of trying. It's more just (that he had) two years as a starter."
Gabbert missed most of his senior year of high school with foot and shoulder injuries. He backed up Daniel for a year and forwent his senior year at Mizzou. You wouldn't list experience under his strengths.
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, for one, can't blame Gabbert for coming out early.
"He's done some great things here, but his upside is unbelievable," Pinkel said. "He's got all of it."
He just hasn't done all of it yet, but Pinkel has seen this type of unrefined greatness before. When Gabbert was trying to put the finishing touches on his finest game in Missouri's bowl game against Iowa last season, he instead got just a little too cute. Instead of throwing away a pass on a broken play, Gabbert got greedy and tried to fluff it into his receiver, who was not on the same page. The ball was intercepted, run back for a touchdown, and a four-point Mizzou lead turned into a three-point deficit with under six minutes remaining.
"When I was at Washington with Warren Moon, on fourth down he threw a ball out of bounds. He forgot what down it was," Pinkel said. "Same thing. People say, 'Oh my gosh.' Warren Moon learned from it. Moon was physically and mentally tough. He was a great competitor. Blaine Gabbert has all those same qualities."
Watching Gabbert's pick-six on the sideline against Iowa, Yost was screaming for him to throw it out of bounds. But he also knew he also had seen the best of Gabbert, version 1.0, in that game, in which he completed 41-of-57 passes for 434 yards and four TDs. Gabbert 2.0, the NFL version, could be special.
"You can see that he can do it at the highest level," Yost said. "There's no question in my mind he has the ability to do that. The question is: How fast can he get there and how fast can a team get him there?"
Chuck Gabbert and Gabbert's agents know nothing they do will help Blaine get drafted higher. They know it's up to Blaine at this point. Where he'll go remains a mystery. The way things are shaping up, it's down to Gabbert and Auburn's Cam Newton to be the top quarterback selected. It could be at Nos. 1, 3, 4 or 5, but one of these young men likely will be off the board by the time the fifth draft card is turned in.
Gabbert denied any kind of rivalry with Newton at the Combine, but he did take a nice little zing at his fellow quarterback, who famously referred to himself as an "entertainer and an icon" in a pre-Combine interview.
"My sole focus is on football," Gabbert says. "I'm not here to entertain anybody. I'm here to get the playbook and throw the football."
And there's no reason to worry about his ability to take over a pro offense in time, Shea says.
"He certainly brings a competitive zest and he's going to win over an NFL huddle," Shea says. "His confidence level and his competitiveness are going to be effervescent."
When or where that occurs remains unknown. Chuck says Blaine has no idea where he'll land, but that's not what's important.
"The thing is, we've always told our boys: focus on the things you can control," he says. "You can't control the draft, you can't control referees, how good the other team is. There are a lot of things that are thrown at you, and it's how you react to those that makes you the person that you are."
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