Speedway

The driver known as "Magnum" has some new ammunition this weekend.
Michael Bennett of Stafford will be coming to the 40th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, presented by Car Quest, with two cars — his familiar No. 64 Late Model and a No. 18 SK Modified he’ll be driving for the first time.
Even though his inventory has expanded, however, his focus has not — Bennett will be concentrating on winning his first Late Model championship.
"I think it’s time," said Bennett, who was one of more than 50 drivers who was at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday to take advantage of the final practice session before this weekend’s Sizzler.
"Driving the SK is going to be fun and I hope to learn a lot. But ultimately, the Late Model is our main focus."
Bennett’s opportunity to drive an SK came about in an unusual fashion. Wendell KilCollins and Randy Palko were going to work on Lou Matteson’s SK this season, but he decided to sell his team.
Palco and KilCollins still wanted to be involved, so they borrowed a chassis and engine from Tim Rowe — the car that Woody Pitkat drove at Stafford for the past several seasons. It’s a car Rowe decided not to race this year.
Bennett was recruited as the driver and will race four times — this weekend’s Sizzler, the two SK extra-distance races and the Fall Final.
"It’s totally different from the Late Model," Bennett said. "I just want to qualify for this weekend’s SK race, keep the car in one piece and keep going forward. I’m not expecting anything like a Top 5. But a Top 10 would be like a victory for me."
He’s only moonlighting with the SK, however. The Late Model remains his full-time ride.
"We’re struggling a bit right now with the tires," Bennett said. "But I always seemed to be better during a race than I am in practice."
This season Bennett hopes that trend continues in two divisions.

On his own
Sean Foster of Ellington feared that he would be spending the 2011 race season as a spectator.
Instead, he has a new title — car owner.
Foster was back driving an SK Modified during Friday’s practice session, but with a big difference. He not only is on the team, he co-owns it, along with his father, Scott Foster Sr.
"We decided to do our own thing this year," Foster said.
The last time Foster owned his own car, he was busy winning a Limited Late model championship. Then he moved up to the SK Modifieds, where he drove for car owner Glen Johnson of Tolland for the past two years.
"Glen decided to take some time off," Foster said. "So I asked my dad if he wanted to own a car with me. At first, I didn’t think he was going to go for it."
Foster, however, already had an SK motor, which mans going the SK route the easiest option, even though it also was the most expensive.
""Once my dad so go ahead, I started to go on-line trying to find a car," Foster said.
He found one in Long Island, N.Y., and then finalized the deal two months ago.
"When we got the car, it was pretty ugly," Foster said. "But we went through it and fixed it up. It looks a lot better now."
But will it travel as fast as it looks? Foster has been known for his aggressive style — will that philosophy change now that he’s a car owner?
"I depends on how the car is going to turn," said Foster, who has Steve McCarthy, one of Stafford’s most successful chassis men, working on the car. "With Steve involved, there’s a good chance it’s going to turn very well."
Things have already turned in Foster’s direction — instead of being without a ride, he and his dad are the ride.

Tutorial payback
When Todd Owen of Somers started his racing career back in 1994 at Riverside Park Speedway, he had a lot of help getting the wheels in motion.
"I couldn’t have done it without the help of my dad and a lot of other people," Owen said.
So when a teenager he knew was looking to launch a career at Stafford Speedway, Owen decided it was an opportunity for him to help someone the way he was helped more than 15 years ago.
The teen, Cody Gneiting, a junior at Somers High, will be making his SK Light debut today at the Spring Sizzler.
Gneiting, 16, has plenty of experience in the quarter-midgets and in the Allison-Legacy series, but now he’s making a huge jump to the half-mile layout at Stafford.
"A lot of people were making promises to him and not delivering," Owen said. "So we decided to do something."
Gneiting is now part of the race team that includes SK Brad Heitala, Chris Matthews and Owen. His car is a former SK Light car that Matthews drove to an SK title in 2006.
Owen, however, is providing Gneiting with a lot more than just a ride — he’s getting hands-on experience in all facets of the sport.
"If he just wants to be a driver, he’s on the wrong team," Owen said. "He also had to do a lot of work on the car."
Owen and Gneiting got the car ready in just six weeks and now he’s ready to go.
Owen’s top piece of advice was simple.
"Just stay out of trouble and get as much seat time as you can," Owen said.

If that advice sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same advice Owen received more than 15 years ago.

Sizzler schedule
This morning the Whelen Modified Tour cars will join the weekly divisions in the Stafford paddock for Day 1 of Sizzler action.
Qualifying will be held for the Tour cars at 1:30 p.m., followed by qualifying heats in all of Stafford’s five weekly divisions. Then features will be held for the SK Lights, Limited Late Models and DARE Stocks.
Sunday’s action begins at 11 a.m. with the Bells and Hoses pit party. Then the SK Modified and Late Model features will take place, followed by the 200-lap Spring Sizzler.

Speedway

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cornerback Cortez Allen of The Citadel was selected in the fourth round of the National Football League draft on Saturday by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Allen, who played in the East-West Shrine All-Star game on January 22, was taken with the 129th selection in the fourth round. He is six-foot-one and weighs in at 197 pounds. In 11 games playing for the Bulldogs last fall, Allen made 22 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, he intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and he also broke up five passes and defended seven.
Allen was a pre-season All Southern Conference pick. He was second on the team with 57 stops (including 36 solo tackles) his junior year. Allen, who concluded his collegiate career with 120 total tackles, 20 pass deflections and two fumble recoveries, is also the first SoCon player taken in the NFL draft. Cornerback Buster Skine of Chattanooga is the second player chosen. He was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 137th pick.
The Tar Heels have six players selected in the draft, so far. Defensive end Robert Quinn was taken by the St. Louis Rams in the first round with the 14th choice. Outside linebacker Bruce Carter goes to Dallas in the second round with the 40th pick; defensive tackle Marvin Austin of the Tar Heels goest to the New York Giants in the second round with the 52nd choice; wide receiver Greg Little was taken by Cleveland in the second round with the 59th pick; strong safety Da'Norris Searcy goest to Buffalo in the fourth round with the 100th pick; and running back Johnny White is taken by Buffalo with the 133rd selection in the fifth round.
Linebacker Nate Irving of North Carolina State goes to Denver with the 67th choice in the third round.
Appalachian State has three possible draft candidates in linebacker D.J. Smith, offensive lineman Daniel Kilgore and defensive back Mark LeGree.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins traded up in the sixth round and selected Charles Clay, a tight end and H-back from Tulsa. Miami traded with Green Bay, and teams swapped sixth- and seventh-round picks. The Dolphins, who selected Clay with the 174th overall selection, have two draft picks remaining, both in the second round.

The Dolphins also selected Abilene Christian speedster Edmond Gates with the 111th overall pick in the fourth round.

The Miami Dolphins traded up in the sixth round and selected Charles Clay, a tight end and H-back from Tulsa. Miami secured the pick, the 174th overall in the sixth round, through a trade with Green Bay.

The Dolphins gave Green Bay the 179th and 218th overall picks and received in return the 174th and 231st picks. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Clay was a versatile offensive weapon for Tulsa, where he was a four-year starter and a team captain during his senior season.

"I provide mismatches amongst the defense and I'm not limited to doing one thing," Clay said.

He ran for 226 yards on 34 carries during his senior season, and caught 43 passes for 526 yards.

His most productive season as a pass-catcher came in 2007 when he was a freshman. He finished that season with 69 receptions for 1,024 yards. Overall, he finished his collegiate career with 189 receptions for 2,544 yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Dolphins were seeking help at tight end and Clay could help to fill that void.

Hoping to add speed to their offense, Miami picked Gates, a receiver who ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 4.37 seconds.

As impressive as the time might sound, Gates wasn't impressed. He said on Saturday that was the slowest 40-yard dash time he'd ever run. The fastest? A 4.21, he said.

"But that was on a track surface," Gates said. "That kind of helps you."

Gates played just one year of high school football and walked on the team at Abilene Christian, a Division II school in Abilene, Texas. He earned small-school All-American honors after he caught 66 passes for 1,182 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season in 2010.

Gates said he would like to return kicks – both punts and kickoffs – in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins

Denver Broncos

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow said he believes the John Elway regime is as committed to him as was former coach Josh McDaniels, who was fired last season before Tebow made the first of his three rookie starts for Denver.
"I believe in them, and they believe in me," Tebow told ESPN Saturday.
Tebow returned to Denver from Florida over the weekend and plans to spend the majority of the remaining offseason working out with teammates including receivers Brandon Lloydand JJabar Gaffney during the lockout.
Elway described himself as being Tebow's "biggest fan" because if he justifies the first-round draft pick McDaniels spent on him, the Broncos can more quickly recover from a disastrous 4-12 season.
Tebow led the Broncos with six rushing touchdowns last season, and Elway describes the young quarterback's mobility and intangible qualities as unique.
Those comments and Elway revealing his plans to be directly involved with Tebow and Denver's other quarterbacks were encouraging, Tebow said.
"To have John Elway say positive things about you is just amazing," Tebow said. "He's played the game at the highest level possible, and I'm excited because he's going to be a great asset for me."
Elway has told Tebow directly that for the Broncos to become Super Bowl champions as they were when Elway retired that the quarterback will have to perfect his throwing motion, improve his accuracy and prove he can win from the pocket. Elway is confident Tebow can reach that point but can't predict when the transformation will occur.
Tebow has emphasized exactly what Elway is advising during his offseason workouts.
"Any quarterback at this level has to be able to do that," Tebow said. "That's nothing new to me. It's what I'm working to do so I can compete and we can win."
Elway said Tebow will compete with veteransKyle Orton and Brady Quinn for the starting job. Tebow's potential was the reason the Broncos used the No. 2 overall draft pick and their other premium draft choices on rebuilding the NFL's worst defense rather than taking a young quarterback.

"I think where we are as an organization, we are going with Tim," Elway said.
Tebow also disagrees that the lockout could destroy his chances of winning the starting job because the Broncos might prefer Orton's experience if training camps and preseason games are lost to the labor issue.
"Other guys might be taking it easy," he said. "So this might be an opportunity for me to outwork people."

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers kick off the final day of the NFL Draft with a pair of fourth round picks.
The Packers traded their first 4th rounder (129th overall) and a 7th rounder (204th overall) to the Denver Broncos for a 5th rounder (141st overall) and 6th rounder (186 overall).
With their compensatory selection (131st overall), the Packers picked New Mexico State cornerback Davon House.
The 6'0", 182 pound House was a 1st team All-WAC selection. Tallied 68 tackles, 13 PBU's and three interceptions as a junior.
Battled through injuries in less productive senior season.
Started several games as a freshman and contributed all four years for the Aggies.

Ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash at recent pro day...Has solid ball skills and the speed to stay with any receiver...Competitive player who wants to cover the best player always...A willing and capable tackler...Excels in man coverage situations.
Breaks down well in space...Works hard and is well muscled...Did not always play against elite competition in college...Needs to prove capable of playing zone coverage in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers

Dallas Cowboys

With the 143rd overall pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected Buffalo cornerback Josh Thomas in the fifth round of the draft. Smith is a very talented player with the potential to develop into a solid starter in the NFL. It took the Cowboys long enough, but they finally added help along the defensive unit. Here is what NFL.com has to say about Thomas:

Thomas has the upside to potentially turn into a starting corner with some improved awareness and overall refinement to his game. At this stage, has the size, coverage skills, and hands to provide quality depth as a backup. Can hold up in man, will press effectively and has the athleticism to stick with and trail receivers. Zone coverage instincts are still developing, but can locate his man and make open field tackles in the flats. Hands are good and can extend away from his body for an interception. Has the right mentality against the run, just needs some more consistency. Thomas is a Day 3 prospect.
With Terrence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick on the roster, Thomas won’t be forced onto the field too early. If he is developed correctly, the Cowboys got themselves excellent value in the mid-rounds.

Dallas Cowboys

Bengals

Finished answering questions in front of all the television cameras, quarterback Andy Dalton stole a private moment with new Bengals teammate Dontay Moch.
Dalton reached into the pocket of his black pants, pulled out his cell phone and handed it to the Nevada linebacker, asking him to snap a photo. Then, Dalton smiled and held up his new tiger-striped jersey, the one with No. 14 across the back.
Some number!
No Bengals quarterback has worn No. 14 since Ken Anderson, who led Cincinnati to its first Super Bowl in the 1981 season. The only other player to get it since then was receiver Maurice Purify, who played five games in the 2009 season. Otherwise, the number has been revered and reserved in Cincinnati.
From the start, Dalton carries a lot on weight his back.
The Bengals chose Dalton in the second round on Friday, and brought him to town a day later to make the rounds and get acquainted with the staff. He also got to do the ceremonial posing for photos with his new jersey. His old number from Texas Christian has new meaning in Cincinnati.
"Kenny Anderson—I don't know a lot about him, but I know he played here for a long time and was very successful," Dalton said. "So it's great to get No. 14. My best friend's wife's dad went to high school with Kenny Anderson and they were friends."
Now, they have a numerical link.
Anderson was a third-round pick from Augustana in 1971, when he played behind Virgil
Carter. He took over the next season and led the franchise to some of its finest moments, back in the days when they won regularly with founder Paul Brown running the show.Dalton's situation is totally different.
He and receiver A.J. Green are the focal points of Cincinnati's replacement draft—choosing players who are expected to take over for moving-on stars. Green, the fourth overall pick, is expected to take over for Chad Ochocinco. Dalton will get a chance to move into Carson Palmer's spot—the franchise quarterback has thrown in the towel on a team with only two winning records in the last 20 years.
Will the Bengals satisfy Palmer's trade request? Will he retire if he's not dealt? Can they reach some compromise, perhaps Palmer staying for a season while Dalton learns the offense? Will the lockout prevent Dalton from learning the offense and playing as a rookie?
Uncertainty abounds.
"Everybody knows about the current situation with Carson Palmer," Dalton said. "As far as I know, it's open (competition). We're trying to figure out who will be the guy, and I'm looking forward to it."
After getting a few photos on his cell phone—he also had Moch take one of him and fiancee Jordan Jones—he walked through the locker room, moving briskly pass Palmer's locker at the far end of the football-shaped room, which still houses his gear.
What next?

Dalton has to try to get in touch with teammates he doesn't know but will soon try to lead. He got a text message from Green after he was picked and a congratulatory phone call from second-year receiver Jordan Shipley. Most of his new teammates on offense spent last week in California working out with quarterback Jordan Palmer, whose status also is unclear now.
The NFL's reinstated lockout means Dalton won't be able to spend time with coaches learning the offense, hurting his chances to start as a rookie. Any workouts with teammates will come at his initiative away from Paul Brown Stadium.
"I'd have to figure out what's going on and where guys are and what they're doing," Dalton said. "But that's definitely an option.
"I'm just ready to get in and get to work. The whole lockout situation—I don't know what's going to happen."
The Bengals spent three of their first four picks on offense, taking guard Clint Boling from Georgia in the fourth round.

Bengals

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings continue making solid picks in the 2011 NFL Draft, as they've grabbed Arkansas offensive lineman DeMarcus Love with one of their four sixth-round selections.

Love, a big guy at 6'4.5" and 315 pounds, has lined up at both tackle positions for the Razorbacks, as well as at guard. He was an All-Conference performer in the Southeastern Conference in 2010, and helped clear the way for the Ryan Mallett-led Arkansas offense that took them to the Sugar Bowl this past season.
Love projects as a guard at the National Football League level, and could have a shot at contributing right away, as incumbent Anthony Herrera had a rough 2010 season before tearing his ACL towards the end of the season. He will likely have to compete with 2009 sixth-round selection Chris DeGeare, but Love's versatility might be a benefit to him in any sort of competition for roster space.
The Vikings have three more sixth round picks as well, so we will have more on them as those picks come in.

Minnesota Vikings

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears achieved their goal of bringing in a developmental quarterback by selecting Idaho's Nathan Enderle in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) on the draft's third day.
"We worked with the coaches on this, we worked him out personally, and feel good about the selection," Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell said. "He's a big guy. He's got a very strong arm. He's a very intelligent man and intelligent quarterback. I saw him two years when I was in Seattle and saw him play against Jake [Locker] in Washington and he really went toe to toe with him."
In 37 starts, Enderle -- 6-foot-4, 234-pounds -- threw for 8,181 yards, 62 touchdowns and 53 interceptions. He impressed Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz during a private workout on the Idaho campus, a workout that ultimately convinced the Bears to burn a draft choice on a quarterback despite other potential needs on the roster.
"It was awesome when [Martz] came out there and you can tell he has so much football knowledge," Enderle said. "He started to tweak with my drop and a few things I was doing physically just while he was out there. He's a really good coach and somebody I'd like to work with.
"I knew it was a possibility [to be drafted by Bears]. I came into it with an open mind not really knowing where I would fall and where I would go to, but I knew they were a possibility and that he liked me when they came out and saw me. So I'm excited about that."
Enderle, a former college teammate of Bears' fullback Eddie Williams, is expected to enter training camp as the club's No. 3 quarterback behind Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie.

"I am comfortable [with Hanie as the No. 2] and obviously the coaches are, so I think that's probably how they go into it," Ruskell said.
This marks the second consecutive year the Bears have drafted a quarterback in the late rounds. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo took Dan LeFevour in the sixth-round in 2010, but cut the quarterback following training camp with the intention of signing LeFevour to the practice squad. The Cincinnati Bengals, however, scooped LeFevour off waivers and added him to their 53-man active roster.

Chicago Bears

Oakland Raiders

Denarius Moore, welcome to the Oakland Raiders. Well, it's official—the Oakland Raiders are now in medal contention for the 4x100 at the London Olympic Games. Denarius Moore, a WR out of Tennessee, ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day. He has decent size at 6' and 194 pounds. He obviously has big play potential, but inconsistent hands.
He has solid ball skills and good timing, and should be a vertical threat from day one. He is raw, and in need of some good coaching. His route repertoire is limited. He may actually be the best value pick the Raiders have made. Some projected his potential will slide him into the third-round. And that is the only way to really justify this pick. The last thing the Raiders need is another WR that is a limited route runner with inconsistent hands. We are definitely in the place in the draft where you take the best player available—no questions asked. If this guy develops it will be a genius pick. If he doesn't it is just another typical and wasted Al Davis speed pick.
I butchered our new Raider's name on the poll and I can't edit the poll. It is Denarius Moore and not Thomas.

Possesses good size for the wide receiver position and displays an impressive initial burst off the line. Reaches top-end speed quickly and has the body control, shiftiness and power to cleanly slip the bump of opposing corners either off the line or down the field and get into his route. Accelerates well for himself when asked to separate down the field as well as once he gains a step and has the ability to track the football vertically. Possesses good straight-line speed for his size and is tough to keep pace with down the field. Exhibits good hand/eye coordination and strong hands when asked to locate and go up and make a play. Consistently is able to come down with the catch while showing the type of strength to hold onto the ball through the play.

Is still developing as a route runner. Is a bit tight in the hips, has a tendency to start to drift into his routes prematurely and isn't real sharp in and out of his breaks. Will begin to advertise his routes early and isn't much more than a vertical route runner at this stage. However, he will work as a blocker on the outside, can run a bit after the catch and grades out well enough to warrant a draft pick and roster spot.

Impression: A vertical route runner who has ability to accelerate away from defenders once he slips press and makes plays down the field. Still needs to add some polish to his game, but he has enough athleticism to work his way onto an NFL roster and fight for playing time as a sub-package/vertical threat down the line.
Injuries are not too much of a red flag for Moore. He got off to a slow start in 2009 due to a foot problem, but he remained mostly healthy for the remainder of his career. Moore does not have great size at 6'0'' and a generous 194 pounds, so he is going to have to develop more explosiveness off the ball since he will never get too physical with opposing cornerbacks. All things considered, look for Moore to go off the board during the third or fourth round of the upcoming draft.

Oakland Raiders

Seattle Seahawks

After a largely successful 2010 NFL Draft, the first for new Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll, the Seahawks second campaign has the team adding more beef to the squad.
With the 25th pick in the 1st Round, the Hawks took Alabama offensive lineman James Carpenter, who some scouts say can start "immediately" at right tackle. Zennie62.com resident NFL draft expert Dr. Bill Chackhes says "He can play any position on the right side, tackle or guard, but has never played to his left. Seattle may want to convert him to left tackle, which may take time."
After Carpenter, the Seattle Seahawks added Wisconsin Guard John Moffitt, who will compete for a starting job at either right or left tackle. Both Moffitt and Carpenter are well over 300 pounds, and represent Coach Carroll's objective of improving the Seahawks's already punishing ground game.

In rounds Four and Five, the Hawks added a linebacker in Mississippi St.'s K.J. Wrights, and then the first skill position player, Georgia Wide Receiver Kris Durham. Defensive Backs Richard Sherman from Stanford and Mark Legree from Appalachian St. and the effective Nevade Wide Receiver Niles Paul round out the Seahawks's picks in Round Five.
On Paul, Dr. Chachkes' friend Russ Landy of GM Junior, a scouting service (who's behind us on the NFL Draft Floor) says "Paul has good potential, but struggles to run routes, and is not a flexible as he could be.
No Quarterback?
Many Seattle Seahawks fans were looking for Coach Carroll to pick a quarterback to start their 2011 NFL Draft efforts. But the message sent appears to be that the organization likes it's current group of signal callers, even as veteran Matt Hasselbeck will not be returning to the team for the 2011 Season.

Seattle Seahawks

Dallas Cowboys

After a disappointing 6-10 season it was obvious that the Dallas Cowboys had more than a few holes to fill on their roster.  Early mock drafts all but guaranteed that the Cowboys would pick Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara.  As the draft approached, Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt became the trendy pick for the Cowboys.  In the weeks leading up to the draft, USC’s OT Tyron Smith was almost the unanimous choice for the Cowboys in numerous mock drafts.
When the Cowboys were on the clock with the 9^th pick, all three players were still available.  At that moment you would think that Jerry Jones, the coaches and the scouts would have been thrilled with their options (which also surprisingly included Auburn DE Nick Fairley).  With Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert still on the board, it seemed that the Cowboys were in a position of power to trade down and still get a player that they coveted, or to pick any of the aforementioned players.
With holes on the defensive line, the secondary and the offensive line, the Cowboys really couldn’t go wrong picking any of these players.
So how did they blow a golden opportunity?  By pulling out a last-minute victory in the meaningless final regular-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles!
Some may argue that the season-ending victory against the Eagles was a positive, but in retrospect it turns out that it may have been their biggest disappointment of the year.
While the victory gave the Cowboys a winning record for the second half of the season, any momentum that it could have possibly created is now gone.  Even if the Cowboys had lost that game, Jason Garrett was still going to be the head coach, and he was still going to put together the same staff.
The meaningless victory over the Eagles dropped the Cowboys down from the 6^th pick to the 9^th pick in the draft.  Three spots may not seem like a big deal, and most years it probably isn’t.  However, this year is not like most years.
The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game after finishing the season with a 13-3 record, but they are not one player away from taking the next step towards NFC dominance.  The Packers dominated the Falcons that day because Aaron Rodgers picked apart their defense, not because they didn’t have enough firepower to score points.
And yet, in what can only be described as a “Herschel Walker moment,” the Falcons inexplicably packaged their 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th round picks this year with their 1^st and 4^th round picks next year to move up in the draft to select Alabama WR Julio Jones.
Their trading partner?  The Cleveland Browns, who happened to be picking 6^thin the draft.  If the Cowboys had just managed to lose one more game, Trader Jerry could have been the one fleecing the Falcons instead of Mike Holmgren.
Some will question Jones’ ability to draft, and say that he was better off picking in the 9^thposition and securing a “blue-chip” player.  But that is nonsense!
Is Tyron Smith a “blue-chip” OT?  Only time will tell the answer to that question.

The better question to consider is…would you rather have Tyron Smith or Anthony Costanzo, an additional 2^nd and 4^th round pick in this draft and an additional 1^st and 4^th round pick in next year’s draft?
Even Jones’ biggest detractors cannot argue that the Cowboys are better off ending last season on a winning note.  That meaningless victory may very well be the difference between building a team to compete for a number of years, and slowly replacing the broken parts of the Cowboys’ roster.
Unless Tyron Smith is the next Anthony Munoz and Anthony Costanzo is the next Tony Mandarich, the Cowboys will someday look back on the 2011 draft and wonder what might have been.

Dallas Cowboys

New England Patriots

The 2011 NFL schedule has come out for the New England Patriots, and it's time to take a look at the best and worst games of the year. As a lifelong Pats fan, I can proudly say that this year's prospects at another Super Bowl run look better than ever. Let's take a look at the three best and worse games of the season.
This is a rematch of last year's playoff game in which the Jets defeated the Patriots 28-21. This game could not come soon enough. Every Patriots fan will want Tom Brady(notes) and company to blow the Jets out. A victory by the Patriots will rid fans everywhere the pain that the Jets caused them after last year's playoff lost.
October 30 at Pittsburgh
Fans everywhere love to give their reasons why Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Ben Roethlisberger(notes), so this game will only go to prove that point further. A game that will probably be close through three quarters, before Tom and the gang will prove once more why they are still the team to beat in the AFC.
December 4 vs Indianapolis
In a game that will have plenty of Game of the Year hype, this one should be a great one. Brady vs Manning - this one will have all of America watching. This game has always been one of the greatest games of the year and will showcase one of the best rivalries in the NFL today.
The Three Worst Games
September 25 at Buffalo
The games against Buffalo haven't been interesting since Jim Kelly was the quarterback for the Bills, so this year is no different. The Pats will come into Buffalo and by the end of the first quarter the game will be over. As a football fan this one will be a joy to watch.
October 2 at Oakland

While Oakland will be an improved team, they will be no match for the Patriots. This game will be another blowout for the Patriots and should be over by the third quarter. With all the sun that's in Oakland, Tom Brady and company should be able to get a good tan in while the second stringers finish out the game.
December 11 at Washington
If all goes right for the Patriots, Mr. Brady goes to Washington will be a great ending to the 2011 NFL season. The game against the Redskins is just a minor stop on the campaign to the Super Bowl. Greatness at the quarterback position hasn't come to Washington for a long time, so everyone who is at the game will marvel at the skill of Tom Brady marching his team to victory in blowout fashion.

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2011 NFL Draft wasn't what anyone expected. The draft was mixed up from the beginning when the Falcons mortgaged their future on Julio Jones and traded five picks to theCleveland Browns. After that, no pick seemed to match what was expected. Many players dropped significantly and some players found themselves with teams they never expected.
The Steelers lucked out by all of this confusion. Sitting at the 31st overall selection the Steelers certainly entertained offers to move back in the 2011 NFL Draft as well as moving up to draft their guy. Instead the Steelers stuck to their guns and waited out the draft.
That patience seems to have payed dividends for the Steelers, as they found Ohio St. stand out Cameron Heyward fall in to their laps. The Steelers will have to keep that patience as Heyward has some quality football players ahead of him on the roster.
Heyward is ecstatic to be a Pittsburgh Steelers. A life long fan of the Back and Gold, Heyward himself was born in Pittsburgh and his mother has always called Pittsburgh home. His father, best known as "Iron Head" Heyward played his college football at the University of Pittsburgh as well.
The Steelers seemed to have found a great addition to a stellar defensive line. The future security of the defensive line was in question, as only one player on the unit is under 30-years-old. The Steelers now have their line's future wrapped up in Cameron Heyward and Ziggy Hood taking each end on the line.
Did the Steelers hurt their chances of returning to the Super Bowl this season, however? No one could argue that the position most in need of an immediate contributor is the cornerback position. The Steelers could have gone and taken "their guy" with Aaron Williams from Texas, but some feel that drafting Williams at 31st would have been a reach.
The Steelers should be able to find a solid cornerback in the second round, but will they have to trade up to do so?
Grading out Heyward is much easier than prediciting the Steelers future, however. So we will start with that.
Heyward was incredibly productive at Ohio St., Heyward could have gone and played at Georgia or Pitt as well but my have benefited greatly from the coaching staff at Ohio St. Heyward is very big for his position, which is a neccesity as a 3-4 defensive end. His speed isn't going to blow anyone out of the water, but his motor will make him look much faster than his 40 time says. Heyward is a Steeler type guy. He is incredibly humble, and family oriented with Pittsburgh roots.
Heyward won't be asked to drop back in coverage, which is very good for him as he can look lost when not in the trenches. Heyward is strong against the run, staying low and using his size. Heyward will continue to get knocked because of his speed, but the Steelers love his motor. He will get after the quarterback using sheer strength to move the offensive line back. Heyward will need to improve on shedding blocks at the NFL level in order if he wants his skill to be on display all three downs.
I give Heyward an A-. He certainly was worth greater value than being the 31st overall, and the Steelers lucked out by getting him. Why does Heyward get the minus attached to his grade? He will take some time to develop for the Steelers system. Improving his pass rushing ability will be what separates him from being a decent defensive end in Pittsburgh, to being held in the same regard as Aaron Smith.

The Steelers' decision to go with the best player available isn't going to impress anyone. Instead of drafting for their most imminent need, the Steelers played it safe. It is hard to argue with the Steelers' draft plans. They have recently sat at the end of the draft and taken the best player available, and had success. Rashard Mendenhall and Ziggy Hood both come to mind. Both players took a year before their skills were seen at the next level, but both have worked out very well.
In each situation, fans would have told you there were more pressing needs. Likely in both years you could argue that offensive line was the position of the greatest need. Instead the Steelers ignored those needs and pulled the trigger. The Steelers' second and third round picks will determine whether the Heyward selection was the smart move or not, until then it is hard to argue with the Steelers draft plans.
The Steelers also get an A- here, although it may be too soon to judge their selections in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Chicago Bears

A miscommunication on a potential first-round trade between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravensforced the Ravens to miss their pick and left the team's front office seething and seeking the Bears' fourth-round draft pick anyway. It all worked out in the end though.
Peter King explains:
Chicago, picking 29th, and Baltimore, at 26, finalized a trade that would have had them switch slots, with the Ravens getting the Bears' fourth-round pick in return. Chicago would take Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi, and the Ravens, if Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith was still on the board, would take Smith at 29. With two minutes left in the Ravens' period, the deal was done. Under NFL rules, each team has to report the trade to NFL draft headquarters at Radio City Music Hall. The Ravens called it in. They assumed Chicago called it in, but due to a miscommunication in the Bears draft room, no one from Chicago ever called the league.
Due to the confusion, time ran out on the Ravens pick and the Kansas City Chiefsjumped into make their pick to select Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. The Ravens, now at No. 27 instead of where they started (No. 26) or where they wanted to be (No. 29), then picked Smith, their intended target. Two picks later, the Bears got Carimi. Each of the franchises involved got the player they wanted, just not in the order it expected to get them or, in the case of the Ravens, with the additional fourth-round pick that would supposed to accompany it.
The team asked the NFL to award the pick despite the lack of official trade. The request was denied.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo took the blame for the mistake. ""It was our fault," he told reporters. "They did everything according to the rules."
His Ravens counterpart, Ozzie Newsome, was pleased he still got Smith. ""There was a potential for us to lose it, yes," he told reporters. "But we got the player, and we're just happy to have him."
When does a trade become official? Is it when the verbal handshake is made over the phone or when both teams call it in to the league office? After the events of Thursday night, it's clear that the answer is the former, thus making the Bears inaction unfortunate (and perhaps ethically dubious), not illegal.

Chicago Bears

Reggie Bush

Now that we've had time to sleep on it, let's not overreact to the Saints' decision to trade back into the first round to grab Alabama Running back Mark Ingram.  The addition of Ingram does nothing more than bolster a very often-injured group of running backs.  It doesn't necessarily spell doom for Reggie Bush.

After the pick of Ingram Coach Sean Payton said, "The selection has no baring, Reggie Bush has a unique skill set that we value."

New Orleans was decimated at the position last season with injuries.  Lynell Hamilton went down in training camp and was lost for the season with a knee injury.  Every running back on the Saints roster missed time last season.  Pierre Thomas suffered an ankle injury in week 3, Reggie Bush broke his leg in week 2.  Chris Ivory battled hamstring issues, keeping him off the field before suffering a foot injury that kept him out of the post-season contest with Seattle.  In the wild-card round loss to the Seahawks, the Saints were down to Deshawn Wynn and Julius Jones at running back.  That's a far cry from Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory.

The move to grab Ingram spells out a few things very clearly to me.  Sean Payton and the Saints don't want to be in a similar situation as they were last season.  Because of the lack of a running game, the passing game really suffered.  In their 2009 Super Bowl Championship season, the Saints were so explosive on offense because of the balance they had in a running back corps with Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell.  New Orleans is trying re-capture that balance in the ground game. 

NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Ingram is the real deal.  "He's an every-down running back, one tough cookie who can run the ball inside, catch passes out of the backfield, and protect Drew in the passing game," Detillier said.

I'm not so sure that this move spells the end for Reggie Bush in a Black & Gold uniform.  The Saints say they want him back, but he is due a very large $11.8 million salary this season.  The price clearly doesn't justify the production that Bush has totaled.  Bush seemed to be a little put out by the selection of Ingram. "It's been fun New Orleans," Bush posted on his twitter page shortly after the selection. 

With the pick of Ingram, the Saints gained a leg up in their attempt to reduce Reggie's salary.  If Bush is not in a Saints uniform this fall, it will be because HE wants out, but not because the Saints don't want him.

Reggie Bush

Hashan Tillakaratne

Sri Lanka's former cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne has claimed that his country had been fixing games since 1992, once again raising the spectre of corruption in the sport.
The left-handed batsman, who played 83 Tests and 200 one-dayers for Sri Lanka during his 15-year career, said he was prepared to back up his allegations by naming some of those involved.
"Match fixing is something which has been in this country over a period of time. This has spread like a cancer today," Tillakaratne was quoted as saying by Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper on Friday.
"According to my knowledge, it happened since 1992.
"There were threats of this issue being exposed at various times. But it was pushed down by giving money to various people.
"If the people who were responsible for that are listening to this, I state this today with great responsibility, I will shortly reveal the names of those responsible," he said.
Tillakaratne, who skippered Sri Lanka between April 2003 and March 2004, stopped short of suggesting the 2011 World Cup final was rigged, although he expressed reservations about the selection of the Sri Lankan team that was beaten by India.
There was no immediate comment from the Sri Lankan cricket board over the allegations.

Tillakaratne is now an opposition politician.

Hashan Tillakaratne

Cam Newton

Whoever picks Cam Newton in the NFL Draft is going to be very happy with the choice.
No, don't go take that to the bank, necessarily. Nobody in any draft is ever a sure thing, not until he actually takes the field. But at this point, hours away from the end of the pointlessly, gratuitously harsh ordeal Newton's critics have put him through, this conclusion seems obvious: People have run out of reasons NOT to take him.
The irrational, borderline-hysterical scrutiny of every corner of his physical and psychological makeup, and of his public, personal and private lives, has unveiled ... nothing that makes him more or less of a risk than any other quarterback who has ever been considered for the first overall pick. He could be the next Peyton Manning, yes; he could also be the next Tim Couch, since he never heard a fraction of the doubt about his capabilities at the NFL level that Newton has heard, yet flopped as thoroughly and spectacularly as any No. 1 pick ever.
OK, maybe not as much as other recent quarterbacks picked No. 1. More on that in a minute.
There's really no other test for Newton to pass now; the next one will come whenever the NFL chooses to no longer pompously ignore a federal court order
-- excuse me, whenever the lockout is lifted and players begin to prepare for next season. Newton's NFL success will now largely be up to his own desire to be great, but no more than it will be up to how well his future employer works with him and builds a team around him.
Few of the ranting skeptics take that into consideration. No matter how ready Newton is, no matter how well he answered every question asked of him, he'll be ruined if some organization screws up its development of him.
Carolina, which holds the first pick, sure is a good candidate to screw it up.
But there still is the high risk of taking him. If Newton is a bust, for any reason, it sets the franchise back immeasurably. Heck, the Panthers are proof of that. This is not the choice they expected to have to make this year, after they spent a second-round pick on Jimmy Clausen a year ago.
Still, consider the high reward ­ and congratulations to the NFL team that has considered that and decides Newton is worth it -- despite a nation of naysayers who want so badly to find reasons why he won't succeed. A nation that too comfortably and casually applies the most transparent of double-standards.
A nation that ponders the usual question of what previous quarterbacks, either top picks or NFL starters, Newton compares most readily to -- and, in perfect knee-jerk fashion, blurts out "Michael Vick'' and "JaMarcus Russell.''
Just for your own amusement, think about everything you know about the playing styles, backgrounds, levels of experience and physical attributes of Vick, Russell and Newton.
Then try to figure out if there is any other small -- superficial -- first-glance, skin-deep resemblance between the three. Take your time.
OK. Enough of that.
Actually, you probably would be more on the mark if you compared Newton to John Elway, who was the first pick when he entered the NFL. Or Ben Roethlisberger, picked in the middle of the first round. Or Brett Favre, passed over completely in the first round. Seriously, it's not that hard to see if you want to look.
Understandably, it's hard right now to see Newton as a finished product.
Quarterbacks who walk in and are ready to start in the NFL are once in a generation. Of course, there is this to consider about Newton's readiness for the job if it's handed to him under these circumstances:
This is a player who started piling up red flags early in his college career at Florida, which under almost any circumstances would make even mediocre programs at the major-college level blanch at the idea of handing such an important position over to him. Yet he took advantage of the best path available to him to keep developing, the junior-college level, where he would be able to play rather than sitting out a transfer year. At that level, he won a national championship.
Then, by all accounts, his father shopped him around for money, an act that threatened to completely nuke his playing prospects and put whatever school signed him on the NCAA's radar. Yet he landed at a big-time program in the best conference in America, stepped right in and led it to an undefeated season. Then he manages not only to maintain his eligibility to play once the NCAA gets word of the allegations against his father, the school also escapes real punishment, and Newton himself doesn't even get implicated.

Then he wins the national championship and, despite a widespread attempt to sabotage the voting, the Heisman Trophy. And after that, even though every attempt was made in several quarters to undermine his ability, his character, his honesty, his intelligence, his motivations for playing and even his dedication -- and please re-read the previous three paragraphs to see what lengths he went through in order to play -- he rose from little better than a second-day pick to a shot at the first pick in the entire draft.
Now. Add that all up. Then subtract the aforementioned skin-deep similarity to Michael Vick and JaMarcus Russell.
Hint: it appears that most NFL teams already have done exactly that. If not, Cam Newton would not be getting the benefit of the doubt from them. They're satisfied with him.

Cam Newton

NFL Draft

NFL Draft

The NFL Draft begins the day before the Royal Wedding, and the Draft is something in which I do hold a lot of interest. The Bears and Buccaneers play in London in September, too. We have this whole British theme going now. So in the spirit of finding common ground with my wife, I thought to myself, "Self? What if the NFL drafted British monarchs? How would that look?" (Yes, I'm bored, and I talk to myself. What of it?!) Here's what I came up with. Consider it my Royal Wedding gift to you, William and Kate.

Carolina Panthers - Queen Elizabeth II. The Panthers were the youngest team in the league on opening weekend in 2010. They could use some experience. Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne for nearly 60 years. Problem solved.

Denver Broncos - Victoria. With her heralded experience in expanding and developing the British Empire during her reign as Queen of the United Kingdom, Victoria is welcomed in Denver with open arms by John Elway and John Fox as they try to return the Broncos franchise to power again.

Buffalo Bills - Aethelred the Unready. Chan Gailey, meet Aethelred. You two are about equally ready.

Cincinnati Bengals - Edward II. During the 20 years of Edward's reign as King of England, the English were summarily stomped on the battlefield, there was a lot of squabbling, Ed was generally deemed incompetent, he was deposed by his own wife, and he was later murdered. He sounds like the complete train wreck that the Bengals organization has mastered acquiring over the years. He'll be rooming with Pacman Jones.

Arizona Cardinals - Edward IV. This Edward was king, was overthrown, and then retook his throne. The Cardinals like his ability to overcome adversity.

Cleveland Browns - William of Orange. You can probably guess why.

San Francisco 49ers - Henry VIII. Since the Bill Walsh / George Seifert era, San Francisco has gone through about as many head coaches as Henry VIII went through wives. I'm a huge fan of Jim Harbaugh. I hope he doesn't get beheaded in the Bay Area.

Tennessee Titans - John (Lackland). If anyone knows what it's like to follow up a legend, it's John. He had to follow in the footsteps of Richard the Lionheart. Maybe he'll have some advice for Mike Munchak.

Dallas Cowboys - George IV. He led an extravagant lifestyle and will fit right in with the Cowboys. Only lack of technology in the early 19th century prevented George from having a 60-yard-long high-definition TV hanging from his ceiling.

Washington Indigenous Americans - Mary I. She was also known as Bloody Mary, for having almost 300 dissenters burned at the stake. Daniel Snyder is currently on that pace with head coaches, newspapers, and anyone else who angers him by using the team's actual name without his blessing. You'll notice that I don't have his blessing.

Houston Texans - George III. You win some (defeated Napoleon), you lose some (the American Revolution). A .500 record is an improvement in Houston. Welcome aboard, George!

Minnesota Vikings - Sven Forkbeard. This is a no-brainer. In addition to his year as King of England, he was King of Denmark and King of Norway, making him a……VIKING!

Detroit Lions - Richard I. Oh come on. You had to see that one coming. Richard the Lionheart? Detroit Lions? Perfect fit. I'm much better at this drafting stuff than Matt Millen was.

St. Louis Rams - Philip II. Known primarily as the King of Spain, he was also King of England for a little over four years. He brought Spain to the height of its power in the late 1500's. As a team on its way up in the league, the Rams expect Philip to do the same for them.

Miami Dolphins - Edward V. He looked promising, given his pedigree, but he disappeared after 78 days, never to be heard from again. Another wasted draft pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Edward I. Edward was also known as Edward Longshanks because of his height, and The Hammer of the Scots because of his ability to instill fear in his enemies. The Jags need a defensive lineman. Edward sounds like the perfect fit.

New England Patriots - Charles II, also known as the Merry Monarch. Because Bill Belichick always looks so grumpy.

San Diego Chargers - James II. Ol' Jimmy made everyone mad while he was in charge; he was arrogant, stubborn and refused to compromise; and he lived out much of his life as a pretender. Does anyone else see the parallel between James and A.J. Smith?

New York Giants - Edward the Elder. He became the King of England in 899, which, coincidentally, was the same year that Tom Coughlin graduated from high school.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Henry the Young King. Raheem Morris is currently the youngest head coach in the NFL. He and Henry will be spending a lot of time playing Xbox together, sneaking dad's Playboys, and doorbell-ditching the neighbors.

Kansas City Chiefs - Oliver Cromwell. Considered a hero by some, he was hated by the Irish and Catholics. I had a really good Charlie Weis joke going here, but then Weis left the Chiefs for the University of Florida. Dang it. Oh well. the Chiefs still draft Cromwell, just so they can remember dear ol' Charlie.

Indianapolis Colts - Edward III. A popular king who waged successful campaigns during the Hundred Years' War, Edward is a welcome addition to the Colts' tradition of likable and successful players and coaches.

Philadelphia Eagles - James I. Andy Reid, the longest tenured coach in the NFL will appreciate James I. James was also known as the Peacemaker King, with which Reid can identify, having had to deal withTerrell Owens(notes)and Donovan McNabb(notes). Like Reid, James also had staying power: he was King of Scotland for all but the first 13 months of his 58 years of life, and he was King of England and King of Ireland for 22 years.

New Orleans Saints - Louis VIII of France. Sure, he's French, but he ruled about half of England for a year or so. He'll fit in nicely in New Orleans—steeped in French influence—with his fleur-de-lis coat of arms. Besides, the whole state is named after him.

Seattle Seahawks - Henry VII. Henry defeated Richard III on the battlefield to assume the crown, and his lengthy tenure restored stability and prosperity to England. The Seahawks could use some of that.

Baltimore Ravens - George Calvert. There's always a shocker in the NFL Draft, and the Ravens raise eyebrows by drafting outside the monarchy. Nevertheless, they see so much promise in him that they model their state flag from his heraldic banner.

Atlanta Falcons - George II. George is drafted to play in the state named after him.

New England Patriots - William I, also known as William the Bastard and William the Conquerer. As a Colts fan, I think both titles are appropriate for William the Belichick.

Chicago Bears - Henry V. Henry had an unassuming start, and then racked up successes on the battlefield. Lovie Smith can relate.

New York Jets - Harold Harefoot. Because, you know, head coach Rex Ryan has a thing for feet.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Henry I. Henry ruled as King of England for over 35 years, and his reign is associated with a time of prosperity. That's exactly what the Steelers organization likes.

Green Bay Packers - Alfred the Great. The reigning Super Bowl champions fittingly draft the only English monarch to still be referred to as "the Great." Alfred is also remembered for beating the Vikings.

No first-round pick: Oakland Raiders - Lady Jane Grey, also known as the Nine Days Queen. Nine days is about twice as long as most of the Raiders' draft picks of late have made any sort of contribution to the team. It's also the average tenure of a Raiders head coach. Lady Jane was executed for high treason. Al Davis isn't exactly real popular around the NFL, either. Jane will fit right in for about a week and a half.

NFL Draft

NFL Draft

Von Miller needed three weeks to decide that he would add his name to the NFL Players Association lawsuit this spring. The Texas A&M linebacker prayed and consulted with family before finally agreeing to be the draft prospect named next to Tom Brady, et al.

"I've been making tough decisions for the longest now," Miller said, "picking which school I wanted to go to, coming back for my senior year, which agents, and deciding to join this lawsuit. They've all been tough decisions and I feel I've handled them well."

Miller's decision may be controversial in a league that prefers its players be on the same page, but it didn't stop him from accepting the NFL's offer to participate at a Play 60 clinic Wednesday morning at Chelsea Piers. He met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the clinic began. They didn't talk about the labor situation.

Goodell reiterated later to reporters that the league was in some limbo waiting for Judge Susan Nelson's ruling lifting the lockout to be confirmed or overturned.

"Some motions were filed this morning and some more motions filed later this afternoon," Goodell said. "I don't think we have any indication of when she's going to rule."

So with the league and the players in a holding pattern, the NFL is hosting players like Miller, who have no idea of whether there will be rookie minicamp, team workouts or even when they will sign their first NFL contract. But Miller didn't want that to detract from enjoying the draft and their trip to the 2011 NFL Draft.

The day before a draft in which he is projected to go in the top 10, Miller just wants to be one of the prospects taking in the scene.

"I want to come here and I want to enjoy myself in New York," Miller said.

Miller said he hasn't felt any negativity this week, and the issue didn't come up with the teams he has met with.

"Honestly it doesn't," Miller said. "It's not really a big deal. I didn't do it for the notoriety, I did it to help out those guys. And I think they all know that I'm not the type of guy to raise trouble. I think they know I did it for a greater purpose and it hasn't been a problem."

The one team Miller hasn't heard from is the Cowboys, and he made no secret that he's love to play for a team he's watched since he was a child. Miller said that as a kid he thought the Dallas star was a requisite logo on an NFL field.

Joining the players suit, which he considered an honor to be asked, has brought Miller closer to players who will soon be his peers. He said he didn't do it for this reason, but he has heard from veterans who expressed their gratitude that he added his name knowing that it could alienate some NFL owners.

Miller admits he felt a little awestruck sitting next to Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel, who he'd heard about for years thanks to a mutual coach.

"When I'm sitting next to him in the courtroom, I'm still a fan," Miller said. "You know I haven't been picked yet."

NFL Draft