10 NFL Lockout Facts Fans Need to Know

The NFL Lockout. It’s a topic on all the minds of football fans and it’s coming to a critical point where if owners and players cannot come together we will not have a NFL season. While we have heard about the looming issue it may be that some of the key points get lost in the sensational headlines. Here’s a look at 10 NFL Lockout facts that fans need to know.

1. The NFL’s TV money is guaranteed even if no games are played

Earlier this month, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) lost in an attempt to prevent owners from receiving around $4.5 billion in guaranteed TV contracts. The NFL granted their TV partners additional benefits in 2010 in exchange for guaranteed payments in 2011. So to reiterate, even if there are no games, the owners still receive money from their TV contracts and this was all done intentionally in order to gain leverage during collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. Teams will also continue to receive corporate sponsorship money, i.e. stadium naming rights.

2. In a nutshell, the owners want a $1 billion reduction in salary and two more regular season games

What if your boss told you that you had to work an extra hour every day and take an 18% paycut? This is what the owners are pushing for. They want another billion dollars off the top of profits before determining the salary cap for every team and they also want to expand the regular season by two games.

3. The NFLPA has very little leverage in this situation

Since the owners are guaranteed money and not every player in the NFL makes Peyton Manning-type money, the owners hold almost all the leverage.

The players have already proposed a 50-50 money split between owners and players and the owners rejected it.

4. The owners rejected a rookie pay scale

The NFLPA proposed a “Proven Performance Plan” which would have shifted money away from rookies and given it to veterans and former players. The owners wanted no part of it, the owners would prefer a veteran pay scale where pay is rigidly based upon years played and position.

5. Players are seeking extended health benefits

It currently takes three years in the NFL to receive five years of post-career healthcare. So hypothetically, a player is drafted at age 22, leaves the league when he is 25 and therefore will receive no more health benefits from the NFL and its multi-billion dollar enterprise after the age of 30.

6. If there is no 2011 season due to lockout, there will still be a 2012 NFL Draft (April 2012)

Owners would then own those players’ rights and at the same time, teams would not need to give that player a contract or pay them.

7. Owners will not pay for healthcare to any player, past or present, during a lockout

NFL players have made a lot of money over the years, but to take away healthcare is a low-blow. Is it not a moral imperative or obligation that the NFL should help those who gave to the sport? In their eyes, it is not.

8. The players are satisfied and would play under the current agreement

It’s important to remember the owners are locking out the players. The owners, as stated, want an additional $1 billion of the revenue. Despite reports that claim otherwise, the players and owners split revenue 50-50 with very tiny variance from year to year.

9. Owners overstate financial risks of team ownership

As previously stated, NFL owners claim they aren’t making enough money, some claim they are losing money depending on the year. Yet take for example the NFLPA agreeing to reduce the salary cap of the Jets and Giants by $800 million over a 15-year period.

This money was put toward the new stadium and yet gave the players no ownership stake in the organization.

All they can receive from that is additional revenue possibly generated from year-to-year. In essence, current Jets and Giants players agreed to slightly less money in order to potentially have future players earn more money. Even if we assume that the NFL teams and owners are losing money…

10. The owners will not reveal their financial records

First of all, citizens are paying the cost for the vast majority of these new NFL stadiums. Yet the owners are making all sorts of claims on how they are losing money while not revealing any single specific or verified fact about their financials. The Green Bay Packers are a fan-owned team, that’s right, they have no owner and since they are a publicly-owned team, their books are wide-open. They are operating at a profit and in the last two years alone, have made over $30 million in profit. While this is only one team out of 32 teams that we know for certain is making money, why won’t the other teams step up to the plate and show their losses? If things are as bad as they say, transparency would benefit them. Logically, we can therefore presume that their opaque approach means the opposite and they are overstating or fabricating their losses.

Picking Talent At The NFL Combine

Here’s a quick look at the talent at the NFL Combine getting a rundown on the all-important 40-yard dash. It’s important.

The video itself is nothing much as an instructor breaks down the stance for the players. I first expected the player to fall while starting the dash but that’s not that kind of video. Instead look at the right of the video as one player, who I believe is John Moffitt of Wisconsin, getting a little pre-dash snack.

Yuck….

NFL Combine Is Here, Time To Whip It Out

Potential NFL Draft picks are gathering in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Combine to essentially whip it out and measure their talents.  A player must face a battery of tests to determine where they stack up against that years talent which include jumping, running, BBQ-ing, written tests, interviews and timing who can change Rex Ryan’s Depends the fastest.

It’s a rough week for some kids as they get their first taste of the pressure required to get drafted.  Their performance will determine where they play and how much money they will make.

But the most important test in the 40-yard dash. 

No other test is thrown around with such importance as the test of manhood called the 40-yard dash.  Or as I like to call it, the “Al Davis Dash.”

The real trick is not to be the fastest player in the 40. That guy usually gets drafted by Oakland and spends the preseason starching Al Davis’ track suits.  So it’s good advice to probably pull up a bit and come in second if you can.

The media and critics are quick to whip out a guys 40 even if it isn’t’ relevant to his position. You would think that all the bench presses and vertical leaps were just there to keep people busy while players ran the dash.

“Ted, we go this Tight End who can run a 4.8/40.”

“Can he catch?”

“Nope.  Hands like stone. He’s also got asthma and bench presses around 37 pounds. “

“But, that’s a good 40 time.”

“Yeah, what you thinking?  Third rounder?”

“With a 40 like that, we better get him in the second.”

The 40 is vastly overrated,  I’d like to see some more real world tests put into the combine.  Too bad there wasn’t a test to see how much beer a player could drink.  We’ll call it the Ben Roethlisberger test. It appears that St. Louis sent a scout to the combine just for that purpose:

St Louis Rams scout Luke Driscoll was reportedly arrested early Friday morning when police found him urinating on a building in downtown Indianapolis. And it doesn’t end there. According to reports, Driscoll then exposed himself to a female officer.

Looks like Driscoll is at the combine looking for the next Leonard Little.

Running the 40 is so important to a player’s future.  Tank the dash and who knows where you’ll end up.  Take Tom Brady, a prospect out of Michigan.  He had such talent but he ran like a 17 minute 40-yard dash. Not good.  He even showed up at the combine looking like this:

….and now he’s slumming it with super models and lookin’ like this:

If only he had run a good 40 he could have been something instead of resorting to being a male model.

 

 

Pigskin Doctors Weekend Roundup with Cecil Newton

Searching for the Cam Newton Tapes

Scott Moore was on 97.7 FM in Huntsville, Alabama tonight. During his short 9 minute interview Moore states that he heard tapes from Cecil Newton claiming that Auburn was willing to pay $180,000 for Cam.

Cecil goes on to say that he was offered $150,000 dollars from the University of Tennessee

Broncos coach John Fox: ‘Kyle Orton’s our starter’

New Broncos coach John Fox seems open to a quarterback competition … then again, he doesn’t.

“I don’t think we’ll really figure it out until we start competing,” Fox said, before adding, “Kyle Orton’s our starter.”

Rex Ryan Guarantees Super Bowl Title…Again

It didn’t work last year, so why not try again? Back-to-back losses in the AFC championship game may not have been easy on the New York Jets’ coach, but they have done nothing to diminish his confidence.

A.J. Hawk: ‘NFL Combine is a game’

Packers LB A.J. Hawk describes how he approached to the NFL Scouting Combine in 2006.

Bolts 1st Round Draft Possibilities

It is draft season and the NFL combines in Indianapolis open up today. The San Diego Chargers have a number of needs that they can fill in the first round of the draft and mock drafts have the Chargers mainly focused on the defensive side of the ball.

The defensive end position has a lot of options that should be available when their turn comes around at pick number 18. The Bolts are looking to fill in the starter spot where Jacques Cesaire played last season.

Jeremy Shockey Claims He’s Taking a Physical With an Unnamed Team

Former New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey went on ESPN’s NFL Live Wednesday and claimed he will be taking a physical Thursday for a team he did not want to name.

It certainly would not be surprising to learn that Shockey has garnered interest around the league from teams in need of help at tight end, but this is a bit quick. I wouldn’t put it past Shockey to be completely bluffing.

49ers Will Be Wise To Avoid ‘Tagging’

Last year the 49ers placed the franchise tag on defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, who was coming off a very strong 2009 season and wanted a long-term contract.

But given his age, the 49ers tagged him instead and he received a one-year salary of just more than $7 million.

Financial problems weighed heavily on Dave Duerson, $15 million in debt

As friends, coaches and teammates of Dave Duerson, the ex-Bear who committed suicide last week, continue to ask questions about what led him to take his life, more details are coming to light about the financial problems that plagued Duerson in recent years.

Huh? Browns Place Franchise Tag on Kicker Dawson

I know have a good kicker is important but is it worth applying the franchise tag?

The Cleveland Browns think so as this week they used the valuable tag to hold onto kicker Phil Dawson for another year.  He’s a kicker.  Just sign him to a contract.  It’s cheaper than signing a QB and let’s be honest here.  The Browns only have one kicker on their roster worth keeping and he’s the youngest of the bunch.

Maybe the Browns just didn’t have anyone else to use the tag on or maybe Holmgren hazed Dawson in the offseason and pissed him off and he’s ready to bolt to the Bengals or something.  You never know what’s really going on behind the doors of an NFL team and the Browns are a bit nuttier than most. Either way, the two sides couldn’t work out a long term deal so here we are.

I mean, Phil’s a great kicker, clutch, and sadly the best offensive threat on the team but a kicker with your franchise tag? I’m pretty sure this is the first time that has been applied to a kicker.  Dawson is in his 13th year which for any other position means it’s time to cut the guy.  But as a kicker, he’s just hitting his prime years.

Instead of giving Phil a long term contract, which I’d like to point out is pennies compared to a QB or WR, the franchise tag for kickers is expected to be somewhere between $3-3.5 million which is about a 300% pay raise.  Wait? They pay him only a million a year but shoved a ton of money at aging Jake Delhomme to sit on the bench.  Go figure….

Anyway, highlights for a kicker are pretty straight forward.  You either make it or you don’t.  Here’s a clip of Phil making it….kinda

The Browns today designated kicker Phil Dawson as the team’s franchise player for the 2011 season, the club announced.

Dawson, a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, led the Browns in 2010 with 97 points, converting on 23-of-28 field goal attempts and all 28 PATs.

During his career, he has connected on 252-of-303 attempts for an 83.2 field goal percentage, which stands ninth all-time in NFL history. Dawson is the Browns’ all-time leader in field goals and ranks third in club history with 1,063 career points.[via Brownsgab]

NFL Roundup – Saints To Cut Shockey?

Saints to Terminate Jeremy Shockey’s Contract

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According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the Saints plan to terminate TE Jeremy Shockey’s contract.

Shockey was scheduled to make $4.2 million plus a $500K reporting bonus this year. In his three seasons with the Saints, Shockey had 139 receptions for 1,460 yards and 6 touchdowns. In every season, Shockey had to miss games due to an injury.

Shockey has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

Charles Woodson would move to safety for Nnamdi Asomugha

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Good news for Packer Backers. The rumors of landing one of the best defensive players in free agency could be one stop closer to reality. The Green Bay Packers would seem like an odd landing point for free agent Nnamdi Asomugha, as cornerback is not a position of need for the defending champions.

But Charles Woodson likes the idea of having Asomugha as a teammate so much that he told ESPNMilwaukee.com he’d move to safety to make it happen.

Ronde Barber Returns for 15th Buc Season

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Cornerback Ronde Barber, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s, has signed a one-year deal to continue his sublime career with the Buccaneers in 2011.

On Tuesday, the Buccaneers announced that they have re-signed the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback to a one-year deal, extending Barber’s professional career into a 15th season. That’s exceedingly good news for the Buccaneers, who value Barber’s strong play, experience and leadership on a predominantly young roster.

Pro Bowl CB Bailey opts to stay in Denver, signs four-year deal

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Looks like Bronco fans have a reason to cheer as their prized cornerback is coming back for four more years. Champ Bailey fantasized about being wined and dined as the prize of the 2011 free agent class. He dreamed about jetting across the country to be wooed and wowed.

In the end, though, the perennial Pro Bowl cornerback excused the Broncos for pulling a four-year contract offer off the table back in October and decided to stay in Denver even though he might have made more money on the open market.

Don’t Open Emails from AFL’s Tampa Bay Storm Coaches

Of all the ways I can imagine getting fired it would always be for something goofy or stupid like filling the bosses car with foam peanuts or shrink-wrapping an intern to the flagpole. It would never be for sending racist emails or beastiality videos to my workers. I’ve known some people to send stupid and racy jokes via email but not like this.

Sadly there are people out there with no social filters and a few of them work as coaches for the Arena Football Leagues Tampa Bay Storm. Longtime coach Tim Marcum resigned recently suddenly and now we see that he’s a racist pervert. Nasty.

Marcum was replaced by Coach Dave Ewart who truly followed in his old coach’s footsteps.

Marcum left the organization after 15 years following a series of 10 News investigations showing he sent racist and pornographic e-mails and videos from his company computer.

Now, 10 News has learned that new Head Coach Dave Ewart has similar problems. The day Marcum resigned, Ewart tearfully explained that Marcum had been like a father to him. And as for the Storm’s new head coach, it appears to be a case of like father like son. During a deposition for a lawsuit Marcum filed against the former owner of the team, Marcum acknowledged he received hardcore porn from Ewart within the past three years.

Ewart not only received the same kind of e-mails that Marcum did, he also forwarded them – on the day Ewart told reporters it would be business as usual for the Storm and he was excited about it.

It appears to be business as usual with Ewart in charge, as Marcum admits the two exchanged racial and hardcore porn that included women have sex with horses. Marcum thought there was nothing wrong with it as long as it was between him and Ewart.

Ewww……

During Marcum’s deposition, the attorney for the former owner plays a tape with a woman screaming as she is having sex and Marcum admits Ewart sent it to him. Ewart also sent Marcum the e-mail with a video attachment labeled “Horse lovers beware.” [via]

Whiskey.  Tango.  Foxtrot!

Good grief!  News from the small AFL (Arena Football League) filters through the media rather slowly and I admit I had heard some rumblings recently about the Tampa coach resigning but I didn’t pay much attention.  Kinda glad I didn’t now.  You can’t “Un-remember” something like that.

I

2011 NFL MOCK DRAFT

Matt De Lima, our resident Fantasy Expert, takes a look at the (hopefully) upcoming 2011 NFL Draft with another Mock Draft. Be sure to listen to him. This is the guy who almost predicted the Super Bowl. You can also follow Matt on Twitter.

2011 NFL MOCK DRAFT

ROUND ONE

1. Carolina Panthers: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
Fairley can be a game-changer at his position and a disruptive pass rush is the easiest way to improve a struggling defense. Carolina needs a quarterback or wide receiver as well but it seems as though there are no QBs who are worthy of a No. 1 pick. A.J. Green could go here or Da’Quan Bowers.

2. Denver Broncos: DE Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
Since John Fox is the new head coach, Denver will switch back to a 4-3 defense. Fox began his career in Carolina by selecting Julius Peppers with the No. 2 overall pick in 2002. Lightning strikes twice here with the second selection as Bowers is athletically-gifted enough to compare to a young Peppers.

3. Buffalo Bills: OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
New head coach Chan Gailey saw Von Miller and all his hype at the Senior Bowl. If Miller excels at the Combine, Gailey may view him as the safest bet after growing more familiar and comfortable with Miller’s elite pass-rushing talents.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green, Georgia
It appears Bengals owner Mike Brown is bending over backwards to appeal to QB Carson Palmer. He’s fired the offensive coordinator and he may get rid of both T.O. and Chad Ochocinco. This would obviously create a huge need that only Green could possibly fill.

5. Arizona Cardinals: DE/OLB Robert Quinn, North Carolina
Arizona will not draft a quarterback in the first round. The Cards may need offensive line help badly but every single prospect would be a reach. The next big need is a pass rushing outside linebacker. Quinn needs some fine-tuning but he can definitely learn a few things from an aging Joey Porter.

6. Cleveland Browns: WR Julio Jones, Alabama
Cleveland could use upgrades across the defense but adding a receiver for QB Colt McCoy will likely tempt the organization to take Jones. He isn’t a perfect prospect and isn’t as fast as some expect, but he should be a top notch possession receiver.

7. San Francisco 49ers: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
Peterson slips slightly in the draft after both Buffalo and Denver pass on him. San Francisco would be delighted to have Peterson fall in their lap, much like Crabtree did two years ago.

8. Tennessee Titans: DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Every team could use a player like Dareus. He’s big, strong and plays well against both the run or pass in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. The AFC South is full of dynamic offenses so improving a slumping defense should be Tennessee’s top concern.

9. Dallas Cowboys: CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Amukamara is solid, but he’s a bit of a reach here. He isn’t gifted athletically and when people say “pure cover corner”, they generally mean a player is good in coverage but doesn’t make a lot of plays. For a top-ten cornerback, a guy has to be a dynamic game-changer, something Amukamara is not.

10. Washington Redskins: QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
The Redskins are going to pursue a veteran QB but I don’t think they succeed. Washington as an organization has to be one of the least appealing destinations for a free agent with a long history of hype over substance.

11. Houston Texans: DT/DE Cameron Jordan, California
Houston will need to rebuild their front seven as they transition into a 3-4 defense with Wade Phillips in town as a defensive coordinator. Jordan is a great fit as a 3-4 DE with ample size and strength.

12. Minnesota Vikings: QB Cam Newton, Auburn
Newton fits with the overall theme of Minnesota’s offense: athleticism. Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Cam Newton would make for quite an offensive trio.

13. Detroit Lions: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Detroit’s most pressing needs are on defense in the eyes of both fans and analysts. But let’s not discount the fact that Matthew Stafford has been getting injured a lot. The Lions must better protect their prized quarterback. Solder is a huge prospect with loads of upside.

14. St. Louis Rams: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Kerrigan would be best suited slimming down and coming off the edge as a pass rushing outside linebacker. He’s a bit of a tweener at defensive end in a 4-3.

15. Miami Dolphins: RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
The list of team needs for Miami is long. Does the Chad Henne experiment continue? How do they replace free agents Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams? Ingram is the obvious choice here as the first running back selected. His draft projection could drop if he runs poorly at the combine. Ingram’s 40-yard dash numbers seem greatly exaggerated.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars: OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA
Ayers has questions surrounding his work ethic but he’s a dynamic athlete at the position who can rush the passer. Many mock drafters are sending Ryan Kerrigan here so if he’s available, he also makes sense for the Jags.

17. New England Patriots: OT Tyson Smith, USC
New England could use a pass-rushing outside linebacker but with a couple offensive linemen needing to be re-signed they may need depth along the offensive line. It’s futile to predict what New England could do here, but Smith is the best man available for the job at offensive tackle. He will need a year to develop but the Patriots can afford to wait.

18. San Diego Chargers: DT Stephen Paea, Oregon State
Paea could be taken off the board far earlier than this but San Diego would be a great fit for him. He could begin his career at end and possibly move to NT after a year or two of bulking up. The Chargers need to understand they aren’t simply one player away from a Super Bowl and shore up problem positions like DT, SS, ILB and OT.

19. New York Giants: C/G Mike Pouncey, Florida
Pouncey can play anywhere along the interior of the offensive line. This is a slight reach for him but with the injuries and age of the Giants offensive linemen, the position has become a pressing need.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
Watt led the nation in sacks last season at Wisconsin while the Bucs had the second fewest sacks in the NFL. For a team that had such a rich history of getting after the quarterback, those days are now gone. Watt can definitely reignite that history.

21. Kansas City Chiefs: NT Phil Taylor, Baylor
In order to run a 3-4, nose tackle is the keystone position. The Chiefs simply do not have a viable NT. It starts and ends with that one player. Taylor really displayed his talents at the Senior Bowl and went from a potential second rounder to now a potential first rounder.

22. Indianapolis Colts: OT Anthony Castanzo, Boston College
The offensive tackle ratings are going to be all over the place in this draft and Castanzo may be gone by now or he could slip to round two. In any case, he is the most well-rounded prospect at the position. He’s strong and well-equipped to protect Peyton Manning.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
Philadelphia could wait to select an offensive lineman in this year’s draft but why wait on a sure thing? Sherrod is a giant at the position and the Eagles desperately need to better protect Michael Vick.

24. New Orleans Saints: DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
New Orleans is a team without a true glaring need but defensive end is a position that could use depth and an upgrade. Clayborn is a steal this late in the draft after being considered a potential early first-round projection. His production went declined his senior year but he is effective against both the run and pass.

25. Seattle Seahawks: CB Brandon Harris, Miami
Harris is definitely a steal at this point of the draft and projects somewhere in the early teens but cornerback would be a luxury selection for almost any team that early. Seattle needs a cornerback as bad as team in the NFL.

26. Baltimore Ravens: DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
Heyward isn’t a pass rusher. He’s one of those classic no-name 3-4 defensive ends who eats up running backs and spits out reverse pancakes. Ray Lewis lighting a fire under Heyward could go a long way.

27. Atlanta Falcons: WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
Atlanta has needed to address WR2 for quite sometime. In the playoffs, their offense was bottled up due to having limited offensive firepower. Baldwin is a big, athletic receiver who can open up the short receiving game as a possession guy.

28. New England Patriots: DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
Liuget is a good fit as a defensive end in a 3-4. He’s athletic, possesses a good burst, can pass rush and has a lot of potential. Will New England stick around with this many picks in the first two rounds in order to select Liuget? That’s a whole other issue but as they are, he’d be a nice pick-up.

29. Chicago Bears: C/G Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State
Chicago struggled to protect the quarterback all season and that was exploited in the NFC Championship against Green Bay. If the Bears resorted to playing their third-string quarterback in such a high-profile game due to injuries, it’s time for an upgrade in protection. Wisniewski can play anywhere in the interior from day one.

30. New York Jets: DE Aldon Smith, Missouri
Smith has all the potential in the world and that’s why he could potentially go earlier in than this in the draft. But the reality is that he is still young and will need some time to develop. Rex Ryan and Co. have a veteran front seven that needs to be infused with a young pass-rusher.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
How did Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers beat the Steelers? By exploiting Pittsburgh’s pass coverage all day long. The Steelers may resist the natural inclination to fully address this issue in round one but I’m not them. They need help now and Smith could actually be the biggest steal of the first two rounds.

32. Green Bay Packers: OT/G Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Green Bay battled a lot of injuries on defense but the easiest fix is along the offensive line. Carimi may not be a true left tackle, but they don’t him to be which is what makes this a natural fit.

ROUND TWO

1 (33). New England Patriots: WR Leonard Hankerson, Miami
New England seems to make due with any receiver they stick in the starting lineup but Hankerson is a potential WR1 with round two value. He’s a nightmare one on one with the ability to go up and catch anything in sight, especially in the red zone.

2 (34). Buffalo Bills: DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
Buffalo needs to get serious and find the right pieces for the 3-4 defense. Wilkerson is a good fit as a 3-4 DE. The Bills defense shined at times, but they also had lapses, particularly with their pass rush. A brute like Wilkerson would help bolster this inconsistent unit.

3 (35). Cincinnati Bengals: RB Mikel Leshoure, Illinois
Leshoure is one of those backs that is currently under the radar, but there’s a lot to like. The combine is going to be his coming out party, especially if he can run a sub-4.5 40 time.

4 (36). Denver Broncos: DE/OLB Justin Houston, Georgia
Houston is somewhat lost in the shuffle when it comes to the many talented pass-rushing players in this draft class but he’s a very talented guy who is slowly climbing up draft boards. Denver needs to improve their pass rush dramatically as they battled injuries and poor performers all season long.

5 (37). Cleveland Browns: ILB Martez Wilson, Illinois
The Browns’ linebackers are serviceable but ILB Eric Barton will turn 34 this season. Wilson would be a dramatic improvement and provide some great athleticism to an up-and-coming defense.

6 (38). Arizona Cardinals: WR Titus Young, Boise State
Young looked mighty impressive at the Senior Bowl and despite his diminutive frame, he’s a burner who can stretch the field. Arizona’s offense struggled all year but add Young along with Larry Fitzgerald and a veteran QB free agent and this team can contend in a weak NFC West.

7 (39). Tennessee Titans: G Benjamin Ijalana, Villanova
The Titans’ bread and butter? The running game led by RB Chris Johnson. Ijalana is a road grader and one of the best small school prospects this draft has to offer.

8 (40). Dallas Cowboys: G Danny Watkins, Baylor
Watkins is 27 years old and that may end up hurting his increasing draft stock but he’s ready to play right now. Dallas offensive line struggled all year and needs to be fixed.

9 (41). Washington Redskins: DE Allen Bailey, Miami
Albert Haynesworth anyone? The Redskins need to find real answers in their 3-4 defense and Bailey is a big-bodied athletic prospect who is an absolute steal in the second round.

10 (42). Houston Texans: S Rahim Moore, UCLA
Houston’s defense was repeatedly torched by the pass and Moore is easily the best ball-hawking safety prospect in this draft. The Texans may also need an outside linebacker for their new 3-4 defense.

11 (43). Minnesota Vikings: CB Aaron Williams, Texas
Williams is a natural at the position and a very solid player. Minnesota needs youth at the position. Age and injuries have lain waste to the Vikings current corners so an upgrade is needed now, not later.

12 (44). Detroit Lions: CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina
The Lions too desperately need to resolve their cornerback issues to pass on a corner in the first two rounds. Really, they may be better served doing that in round one if possible. In any case, Burney is an immediate improvement and has a knack for making plays on the ball.

13 (45). San Francisco 49ers: QB Jake Locker, Washington
No one knows whether the 49ers will address the QB position this year or next but it should be on the team’s radar. Everyone knows about Alex Smith, there’s nothing to rehash but Locker presents a great value at this stage of the draft.

14 (46). Denver Broncos: CB Curtis Brown, Texas
Most Denver fans would be satisfied if with their first three selections they got a pass-rushing defensive end, a pass-rushing outside linebacker and a cover corner. Brown completes this defensive trifecta that could eventually be looked back on as a big turning point for the franchise.

15 (47). St. Louis Rams: OLB Mason Foster, Washington
Foster makes sense for many teams who are seeking a tackling machine at linebacker. He’s not a flashy prospect, but he plays hard and fast. St. Louis has a better than expected defense and Foster would go a long way for this unit.

16 (48). Oakland Raiders: CB Rashad Carmichael, Virginia Tech
After waiting 48 picks, Oakland definitely needs to address their most pressing concern: cornerback. Nnamdi Asomugha will be a free agent this offseason. Carmichael is the fastest cornerback available at this stage, so, welcome to Oakland.

17 (49). Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
Any number of quarterbacks could be considered at this spot but Ponder is a familiar face to the area and a good prospect with some mobility and a good arm.

18 (50). San Diego Chargers: ILB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
Name a San Diego Chargers inside linebacker. No, not Junior Seau! All kidding aside, ILB Kevin Burnett did have a great season, but they could use an upgrade to go alongside of him. Sturdivant is a very productive linebacker with good speed and can contribute in coverage.

19 (51). Tampa Bay Buccaneers: G/OT Marcus Cannon, TCU
If a defensive end slides down in the draft, Tampa Bay should certainly grab them here. If not, help along the offensive line is key. Protecting Josh Freeman and blocking for LeGarrette Blount are now priority No. 1. Cannon is a safe pick for a team that is close to competing at a playoff level.

20 (52). New York Giants: OLB Bruce Carter, North Carolina
The Giants’ Keith Bulluck isn’t getting any younger. They also lack depth at the position and need to secure their free agents at the position. If they don’t address that here, they may just take the best player available.

21 (53). Indianapolis Colts: G John Moffitt, Wisconsin
Protecting Peyton Manning is very important to this team. This past season showed what can happen if Manning isn’t given much time. Teams were able to get after him more than in previous seasons and it affected the Colts’ offense negatively.

22 (54). Philadelphia Eagles: CB Brandon Burton, Utah
The Eagles have plenty of warm bodies at cornerback but plenty of issues. Asante Samuel tends to miss games every year and Dmitri Patterson is better suited as a nickel back. Burton is an under the radar guy with a lot of talent and physicality despite a lean frame.

23 (55). Kansas City Chiefs: OLB Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
Kansas City needs to lock-up OLB Tamba Hali but even if they don’t, adding another pass-rusher would improve their defense in a big way.

24 (56). New Orleans Saints: DT Drake Nevis, LSU
Defensive tackle is one of the few positions of need for a very good New Orleans team. Local prospect Drake Nevis is a good fit for the Saints’ pass-rush heavy defense.

25 (57). Seattle Seahawks: QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
Matt Hasselbeck is hanging on by a thread and Charlie Whitehurst may not be the answer. Kaepernick has a strong arm, great mobility and a project. Seattle may select a different QB, but they need one nonetheless.

26 (58). Baltimore Ravens: WR Torrey Smith, Maryland
Baltimore needs to get with the program and draft a receiver. Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh have nothing left. Boldin is great but he’s lost a step and needs more room in coverage to play his game. Smith can stretch defenses and has great hands.

27 (59). Atlanta Falcons: TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
Roddy White can’t do it all by himself forever. Atlanta needs a compliment and Tony Gonzalez won’t be around much longer.

28 (60). New England Patriots: RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
Assuming New England hasn’t traded this pick for a first-rounder in 2012 or something ridiculous like they always seem to do, it’s anyone’s guess at this stage. Mock drafters love to assign New England a running back and Williams would be a prospect that analysts would crown the steal of the draft if the Patriots landed him here.

29 (61). San Diego Chargers: G Rodney Hudson, Florida State
The Chargers have a number of free agents they need to re-sign which will ultimately dictate where they go in the draft. Their offensive line needs work no matter what happens and Hudson is a solid and talented interior lineman who can come in and contribute immediately.

30 (62). Chicago Bears: DT Jurrell Casey, USC
Chicago actually benched DT Tommie Harris this season so the position is obviously up for grabs. Casey is a big and powerful prospect who may need a year to improve his fundamentals, but the potential is there.

31 (63). Pittsburgh Steelers: G Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
Pinkston looks great as a run-blocker which is exactly what Pittsburgh needs. He’s also athletic enough to pull along the line and that’s something the Steelers love to do.

32 (64). Green Bay Packers: RB Shane Vereen, California
Vereen isn’t getting much attention yet but he’s very good. Green Bay had a ton of issues at the running back position once Ryan Grant went down and need a better insurance policy. Vereen is quick and can make guys miss as a big-play guy.

Weekend Pigskin Links With Emmy Rossum

Blake Griffin and John Wall Connect on Alley-Oop

Is there anything half as interesting about this year’s NBA All-Star Game as the debut of Blake Griffin? Is anyone actually going to the weekend festivities in Los Angeles for any other reason besides watching him dunk?

Rams release O.J. Atogwe

The St. Louis Rams have decided not to pay an $8 million roster bonus to starting safety Oshiomogho Atogwe and have released him. The roster bonus was due Monday, but the Rams filed paperwork Friday with the National Football League, notifying the league office that Atogwe would not receive the bonus and would be released.

Flyers Coach Punches Own Player In Head

Philly coach Peter Laviolette shows off some great intensity here during a timeout in a game against the Hurricanes. He must be a student of the Mike Keenan Coaching Academy.

Down 0-2 to the ‘Canes in the first period, Laviolette is pumping up his team and makes a punch at one of his players. The punch bounces off Ville Leino’s helmet who just acts like it’s not big deal.

Best Of Emmy Rossum

So we all know who Emmy Rossum is, right? Foxy singer and actress that you could bump into in a bar and not know she was famous. I think that’s what I like about her. She looks more normal than most of your Hollywood hotties.

New York Jets Finally Done With Vernon Gholston?

For some reason I’ve always been kind of obsessed with the story of Vernon Gholston in the NFL. Why? Probably because it has been fun to watch in a schadenfreude kind of way. But mainly because I am a fan of the team that made the biggest draft mistake in NFL history, the San Diego Chargers. So basically I’m always looking for players who approach a Ryan Leaf level of bustdom.

Detroit Lions Found Guilty of Tampering

The Kansas City Chiefs filed a tampering charge against the Detroit Lions and the league has ruled in the Chiefs’ favor. The charges were filed after Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham made comments about his interest in players that were under contract with the Chiefs. Cunningham is very familiar with a number of Chiefs players from his time as the Kansas City defensive coordinator. With the possibility of the Chiefs cutting ties with a couple players Cunningham told the Detroit Free Press that he would be interested in bring in some of those guys without getting into specific names.

The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (narratedby Randall)

Dave Duerson Committed Suicide

When first hours, and then a day had passed since the death of former Bears safety Dave Duerson without an explanation for his death, the rumors began to surface that Duerson had committed suicide. Given the personal problems he’d gone through in his life the last few years — a failed business, a failed marriage — it seemed to make sense.

Reggie Watts has awesome hair….and sweaters

To tell someone about Reggie Watts’ genre-questioning comedy act is difficult. The only real way to understand what Watts is about it simply to experience it. Thankfully, Watts’ friend Conan O’Brien doesn’t mind regularly featuring Watts on the Conan Show.

Colts Cut Sanders, No Surprise

It was inevitable but the time has come for the Colts to let one of the best defensive backs in the game go. Bob Sanders was released by the Indianapolis Colts after an injury-plagued career.

The two-time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was released because Sanders just cannot stay healthy. He signed a 5 year, $37.5 million contract with $20 million guaranteed in 2007 and has played 9 regular-season games since. Not exactly a good return on investment.

To pay Peyton Manning the big contract that he deserves, the Colts decided to clear up some financial room by cutting Sanders who is due  $6 million this year.  If Sanders could have stayed healthy, it’s no doubt he would still be a Colt.  Sanders was one of the best defensive backs to play in the last 20 years and hit harder than most anyone else.

The wild, hard-hitting style of Sanders play may be what caused his short career as numerous injuries seemed to keep Bob on the IR more than on the field.  Just in the last 2 years he has only played 3 games.

But with Sanders cut from the Colts you can bet another team will snap up the player, if he’s healthy enough to play that is.  Sanders is only 30 years old and could easily take the time to heal up for another run in the NFL.  There are a lot of teams out there that wouldn’t mind having Sanders experience and enthusiasm on their bench.  If nothing else, sign him and let him sit most of the year and dust him off for the playoffs.  If’ he’s only going to play 3 games a year, make them count.

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