Buzz about a Final Four block party on South Limestone in Lexington continued to grow Wednesday, even though planners dropped the idea after the city refused to sanction it.The movement started this week on social network sites like Facebook and Twitter. The party was supposed to start about 10:30...
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Former University of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline's criminal record has been expunged, meaning misdemeanor charges from a late-night shouting match last year have been expelled from his record.
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The end of the NFC championship game left the Bears and their fans with the taste of horseradish in their mouth. Not only did they have to watch the arch-rival Packers celebrating a conference title on the Soldier Field turf, they had to listen to criticisms of their quarterback, Jay Cutler, from NFL players around the league and fellow fans. Cutler had to be taken out of that game due to an MCL tear, and the signalcaller's toughness (or lack thereof) became a polarizing subject on radio call-in shows and sports blogs for weeks, splitting up the Windy City the way the baseball season normally does. It seemed half of the population was defending Cutler, the other half was blaming him.
Yet for all the talk about the Bears quarterback, there has been one person who hasn't said a word since January 23: Jay Cutler. Since his postgame press conference that evening, when the QB said he wanted to continue playing in the second half after hurting his knee in the second quarter of the game, he's given as many noteworthy sound bites as Harpo Marx. It's not uncommon for players to go into hiding from the end of their season until the team reconvenes again for the next season, and with the lockout, that time span is longer than usual. Still, both the teammates that backed him, the critics who knocked him and fans on both sides of the argument deserve to hear from Cutler.
What exactly would he say, if he were to speak? Who knows? Maybe Cutler would inform us that his knee rehab is ahead or behind schedule, that he's working on his footwork or trying to improve his passing accuracy. Perhaps he'd share his thoughts on what the NFLPA is doing in the labor negotiations or comment on what he thinks Chicago should do in the draft. Anything would suffice. Even Lovie Smith, when asked at the NFL Scouting Combine if he knows if Cutler is recovered from the knee injury, wasn't exactly sure. "I assume he is," the Bears head coach said.
Instead, the only news about Cutler came from the Hollywood gossip website TMZ.com, which filmed Cutler and his girlfriend walking in Los Angeles four days after the loss to Green Bay. Yes, walking. That caused more fodder for the people who said he wasn't tough, and that Cutler was just faking an injury so he'd have an excuse for his poor performance in the first half of the conference championship. It added to their argument after the QB was filmed standing, without crutches on the Bears sidelines during their fourth-quarter rally against Green Bay. Those on the other side of the discussion pointed to quotes by doctors, who explained that a Grade II MCL sprain doesn't prevent one from standing or walking; it impacts an ability to cut and pivot, essentially making Cutler a statue in the pocket.
If he wants to remain the leader of the Bears for the foreseeable future and have the trust of his teammates, coaches and fans, Cutler needs to speak.
Cutler could go on a radio show and answer some questions about the way the season ended. Talk to the media for promotional purposes. Even posting something on Twitter would be fine (@JayCutler6 has been quiet since Jan. 20, three days prior to the Packers game). After the weeks of other people discussing him, the quarterback could do himself a big favor by making headlines in a positive manner.
Stay silent much longer, and Cutler's toughness won't be the only thing people will question.
This article first appeared in the Pro Football Weekly print edition dated April 2011, which previews the 2011 NFL draft. The print edition breaks down the top five players at each position, including a summary of what the player brings to the table and a projection of where he'll get drafted. We also give you other top 100 picks, Audibles and Combine data for each position. The issue also includes Nolan Nawrocki's mock draft, a profile of Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert and a commentary on the labor situation by publisher Hub Arkush. You can purchase a copy of the NFL draft preview print edition at retail outlets across the country or online at PFWstore.com, where you can buy either a print copy or an electronic (PDF) version.
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Erica Leerhsen Angela Marcello Paz Vega Rebecca Mader Eva Green
After the University of Kentucky men's basketball team won Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, I heard pundits on TV pontificating about the coaching skills of John Calipari. They were saying it was one of the best coaching jobs they had ever seen Calipari perform, taking freshmen and previously underused upperclassmen and transforming them into a team that has defeated opponents who should have stomped them.
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Although Enes Kanter could not play this season, the freshman from Turkey can take a bow for helping Kentucky reach the Final Four.
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NEWARK, N.J. — The hexes keep going by the wayside.
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Former University of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline's criminal record has been expunged, meaning misdemeanor charges from a late-night shouting match last year have been expelled from his record.
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The NFL players trade association, formerly the NFLPA, will meet on Monday to discuss their plans for handling the draft, according to Sports Illustrated's Peter King.
The players are expected to hold an event separate from the NFL's regular draft on April 28 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. It was previously reported that the players would have their own Draft Day event, with veterans shaking the hands of the incoming rookies that have been drafted to their teams. King said that the players would discuss that option, along with others, during the Monday meeting.
The NFL continues to invite top prospects to New York. Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn tweeted that he received an invitation over the weekend, but did not state whether or not he would attend.
The league is extending the invitations directly to the players, and not going through their agents, according to King.
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Analyzing the East Regional championship
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It appears that Dez Bryant's "Mallgate" has come to an end.
The NorthPark Center, an upscale Dallas shopping center, has allowed the Cowboys receiver to return to the mall, dropping their ban.
"Mr. Bryant is welcome to join the millions of valued customers who shop and dine at NorthPark Center," mall spokesman David Margulies told The Dallas Morning News. "NorthPark Center considers last weekend's issues to be closed."
Bryant, the Cowboys' first-round pick in last year's draft, was given a criminal trespassing warning last Saturday for having his pants too low in the mall.
Bryant, who had 561 receiving yards and six touchdowns during his rookie year that was cut short by a fractured ankle, tweeted, "To all my fans I apologize for what's been going on...the situation is behind me...moving forward to this upcoming year."
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Ken Lanci, a Browns fan and self-made millionaire, is suing the NFL and its teams over the current lockout, claiming it violated his contract to buy seats through his personal-seat license.
Lanci's lawsuit asked for damages of more than $25,000 from both the Browns and the league.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press, "NFL clubs all have announced refund policies to protect fans during a work stoppage. The best solution to Mr. Lanci's concern is for the union to return to the bargaining table and complete a labor agreement that will put the game back on the field where it belongs."
Lanci claims his PSL agreement has been breached by the lockout by keeping him from going to games and therefore devaluing his PSL.
The NFL locked out its players after the NFLPA decertified on March 11. A court will hear the players' injunction to stop the lockout on April 6.
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Overview: Traditionally, the 32nd pick in the NFL draft goes to the defending Super Bowl champion, as is the case in 2011 with the Packers holding the pick. Recently, however, it's no sure thing that champs will make the last pick of the first round on Draft Day. The pick has been traded three times in the past nine years, once for a coach (kind of). In its look back at the past 10 No. 32 selections, PFW found that the pick has regularly produced solid contributors.
2010: Saints select Florida State CB Patrick Robinson
Injuries in the Saints' secondary allowed Robinson to see a decent amount of playing time in his rookie campaign. In 11 regular-season games, including four starts, Robinson recorded 25 tackles and defended two passes.
2009: Steelers select Missouri DT Ziggy Hood
Hood came on strong midway through last season, starting in nine of the Steelers' final 10 regular-season contests. He had 10 tackles in the playoffs, including a sack of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl.
2008: Giants select Miami (Fla.) FS Kenny Phillips
Coming back from a knee injury, Phillips started all 16 games for the Giants in 2010. He recorded 77 tackles, five pass deflections and one interception last season, but still sits outside the league's elite safeties.
2007: Colts select Ohio State WR Anthony Gonzalez
Gonzalez has shown flashes when on the field, catching 94 passes for 1,240 yards and seven touchdowns his first two seasons in the league. But he has been unable to stay healthy the past two years, playing in only three games since '08.
2006: Giants select Boston College DE Mathias Kiwanuka
Kiwanuka is a versatile player that has the ability to play linebacker and defensive end. He has great pass-rushing skills and was off to a great start last season, recording four sacks in three games, before a neck injury ended his season.
2005: Patriots select Fresno State OG Logan Mankins
A three-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started 80 consecutive contests prior to '10. The Pats improved their rushing attack following Mankins' return from a holdout, proving why he is among the top guards in the NFL. New England recently used the franchise tag on him.
2004: Patriots select Georgia TE Benjamin Watson
Watson developed into a consistent target for New England. He caught 165-2,086-20 with the team from 2004-09 and had career highs in receptions (68) and receiving yards (763) with the Browns last year.
2003: Raiders select Colorado DE Tyler Brayton
Using a pick they received as compensation when Jon Gruden left for Tampa, the Raiders found a servicable D-lineman in Brayton. He started all 16 games his rookie season and made 175 tackles in Oakland before joining the Panthers in '08.
2002: Redskins select Tulane QB Patrick Ramsey
Ramsey has been a journeyman quarterback for much of his career and continues to float around the league. He started 24 games for Washington from 2002-05, and has been on seven teams since. His career passer rating is 74.9.
2001: Chargers select Purdue QB Drew Brees
The NFL had 31 teams in '01 (the Texans entered the league the following year), meaning the 32nd pick was at the top of the second round. San Diego got a pretty good quarterback in Brees, and he represented the Chargers in the Pro Bowl in 2004. He didn't become a superstar until signing with New Orleans in '06, where he helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV.
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The replacement of the Metrodome roof began on Friday after the roof was damaged by a December snowstorm.
Workers began with three diamond-shaped panels that will be stretched and clamped into place. The process takes about a day for each panel.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission voted on Feb. 10 to replace the entire Teflon roof, as opposed to just the damaged panels, on advice from engineers. The goal is for the roof to be finished by Aug. 1, and work will continue six days a week until it is completed.
The damaged roof forced the Vikings to play two home games away from the Metrodome in 2010. They played the Giants in Ford Field in Detroit and the Bears in TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
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The Buccaneers are being underestimated again. They were the youngest team in the league last year, supposedly too raw and inexperienced and doomed to fail in a top-heavy division dominated by the Falcons and Saints. I predicted the Bucs would finish last in the NFC South and that they were at least a year away from getting back to respectability after a 3-13 finish in 2009.
Tampa Bay defied the odds, though. The Bucs took advantage of a less-than-daunting schedule, won 10 games and nearly made the playoffs.
The new conventional — albeit questionable — wisdom being attached to the Bucs by some league observers is that they are one of the teams that is most vulnerable to getting hurt by a prolonged lockout.
NFL offseason business was put on hold when the owners locked out the players in March. It's not clear when there will be a resolution, but the standoff between the owners and the NFL Players Assocation could linger.
A potentially long layoff will negatively affect Tampa Bay more than some other clubs, as the story goes, because its roster, while more experienced than it was a year ago, is still likely to be the league's youngest whenever play resumes. Furthermore, veteran teams are better at policing themselves when coaches are unable to, per the constraints of the lockout.
The young Bucs are one of the teams that can least afford to miss out on critical time with the coaching staff in OTAs and minicamps that would take place this spring and summer in a normal league year, some say.
It's a far cry from what head coach Raheem Morris was hearing a year ago, when he had far more critics. There were some wondering why Morris, who is also very young compared to his colleagues, and his staff weren't fired after sputtering through the '09 season.
Just when the Bucs have things moving in the right direction, the NFL labor dispute has thrown a wrench into their plans — right?
While we can try to project who is affected most by the lockout, the reality is that the work stoppage isn't good for the development of any NFL team, and I'm getting the feeling that some people just don't understand the Bucs.
They didn't allow age and inexperience to be obtrusive barriers for them last season, and the respect they have for each other and Morris will be powerful as they try to withstand the challenges that this offseason will provide.
We have to acknowledge that the Buccaneers are in a far better position than other clubs when it comes to managing this situation. They don't have to worry about implementing new offensive or defensive schemes or trying to establish chemistry with a new group of players because of major roster turnover.
The Bucs have consistency on the coaching staff, and while they are facing some decisions on several key free agents, they will not be overhauling the roster. I'm skeptical that they will be set back much more than their competitors by this lockout.
Tampa Bay doesn't operate like other teams — one of the youngest players on the team also happens to be one of the most respected by his teammates. QB Josh Freeman, who turned 23 in January, has been the most vocal about organizing player-led workouts for the Bucs in the weeks and months to come.
Just ask Kellen Winslow — one of the older players on the team — if he'll listen when Freeman, heading into his third season, calls him to set up some practice time.
"If I need to say something, I'll say something, and people listen, but I like to stay quiet and lead by example," Winslow recently told PFW. "It's really Josh Freeman's team. From Year One to Year Two, it's been great for him. It's his team, and when he says something, people listen. He's definitely our No. 1 leader."
With Freeman leading the way, something tells me the Bucs are going to surprise people again.
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Former Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson admits it hasn't been easy accepting that his football playing days are over.
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NEWARK, N.J. — Turned out Gene Smith, the athletics director at The Ohio State University, in his appointed duties as chairman of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, did his home school no favors.
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It's become clear in the past month that Randall Cobb made the right decision in skipping his senior season at Kentucky to enter the NFL Draft.Cobb has been one of the fastest-rising players in draft projections since the deadline for underclassmen to apply passed on Jan. 15. During the season...
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Nutter Field House was the site of March Madness with a twist Thursday morning. Representatives of 27 pro teams were on hand for University of Kentucky football's pro day.
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Eagles Hall of Fame linebacker/center Chuck Bednarik was rushed to a hospital Tuesday after experiencing a shortness of breath. Bednarik is in serious condition at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa.
Bednarik, 85, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He was a member of the Eagles' 1949 and 1960 NFL championship teams.
Bednarik's son-in-law, Ken Safarowic, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Bednarik is conscious and as "feisty as ever." He said Bednarik will likely remain hospitalized at least another day.
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Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb were in the Nutter Field House for the University of Kentucky's first spring football practice on Wednesday.
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The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported on its Web site Thursday that the University of Kentucky ran a deficit of $253,396 in Birmingham for the BBVA Compass Bowl against Pittsburgh. That's due in large part to 5,540 unsold tickets, according to the school's bowl expense report.
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Former Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson admits it hasn't been easy accepting that his football playing days are over.
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NEWARK, N.J. — Coaches John Calipari of Kentucky and Thad Matta of Ohio State have talked of starting a regular-season series. So far, they're not close to an agreement.
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The replacement of the Metrodome roof began on Friday after the roof was damaged by a December snowstorm.
Workers began with three diamond-shaped panels that will be stretched and clamped into place. The process takes about a day for each panel.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission voted on Feb. 10 to replace the entire Teflon roof, as opposed to just the damaged panels, on advice from engineers. The goal is for the roof to be finished by Aug. 1, and work will continue six days a week until it is completed.
The damaged roof forced the Vikings to play two home games away from the Metrodome in 2010. They played the Giants in Ford Field in Detroit and the Bears in TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
Sienna Guillory Tricia Vessey Aki Ross Ashley Tappin Carmen Electra
The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported on its Web site Thursday that the University of Kentucky ran a deficit of $253,396 in Birmingham for the BBVA Compass Bowl against Pittsburgh. That's due in large part to 5,540 unsold tickets, according to the school's bowl expense report.
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Amanda Detmer Emma Stone Raquel Alessi Marisa Coughlan Shanna Moakler
A University of Kentucky defensive lineman was charged Sunday with driving on a suspended license. Mark Randall Crawford, 21, was arrested about 5:49 p.m. near the intersection of Euclid and Woodland avenues.
Janet Jackson Georgianna Robertson Reese Witherspoon Jordana Brewster Laetitia Casta
It's become clear in the past month that Randall Cobb made the right decision in skipping his senior season at Kentucky to enter the NFL Draft.Cobb has been one of the fastest-rising players in draft projections since the deadline for underclassmen to apply passed on Jan. 15. During the season...
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The University of Kentucky football team knows fans' expectations will be lessened going into the 2011 season.
Amanda Marcum Leila Arcieri Kate Mara Izabella Scorupco Carla Campbell
TAMPA, Fla. — Three hundred and fifty-seven days later, Kentucky was trapped in the "Mazzulla nightmare" all over again.
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If the Kentucky football season started Saturday, Morgan Newton would be the Wildcats' starting quarterback.
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Marty Schottenheimer was at his home in late February when his phone rang. The former NFL coach had planned on spending his spring playing golf and relaxing with family when the voice on the other end said he had a question. It was United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue, and the question was to gauge if Schottenheimer had interest in returning to football.
After thinking it over with his wife, Pat, Schottenheimer decided he was ready to return. On Wednesday, the 67-year-old was officially named head coach and GM of the Virginia Destroyers.
"It's like anything else, you look at the upside and you look at the downside," Schottenheimer said in a conference call with reporters. "When you do that, the only way to go is up. From a personal standpoint, Pat and I were excited that we're here in Virginia Beach, which is not far from our home in Charlotte. So I didn't really have any trepidation and quite candidly I was amazed at the quality of the facilities, they blew me away."
Schottenheimer has been out of coaching since early 2007, when he was fired by the Chargers following a 14-2 regular season but a loss in the divisional round of the postseason. In his 21 years as an NFL head coach, he posted a regular-season record of 200-126-1, but he was just 5-13 in the postseason and never made a Super Bowl. The 200 wins are sixth-most in NFL history.
Now he joins three other former NFL head coaches — Jim Fassel, Dennis Green and Jerry Glanville — as leaders of UFL teams. The league is entering its third season in 2011 with five teams, and Schottenheimer says he is excited to return to where he belongs: the sideline.
"The interaction between players and coaches, that's always been the biggest part of it for me; the people," Schotteneheimer said when asked what he missed most. "The first year I was out, I didn't really miss it. The second year I was out, well, I missed it a little. Quite candidly, if you had said to me a month ago, 'You going back to coaching?' I'd have said 'Naw, I'm not going to do that.' You know, all of a sudden this opportunity presents itself."
With the NFL in a lockout, the coach felt the UFL could be a quality alternative for football-starved fans. Like every other team in both league, Schottenheimer said his goal is to become familiar with the players that could be added to his team and evaluate the personnel on the roster. It may not be Aarowhead Stadium with the AFC West on the line, but just being back around the game is exciting enough.
"The stadium is not large and they're going to enlarge it, but the practice facilities and the practice fields are good. That's always been a big part of it for me," the coach said. "You put players on a field during the season to practice, you got to make sure it gives them the best opportunity to play on Sunday."
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Former University of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline's criminal record has been expunged, meaning misdemeanor charges from a late-night shouting match last year have been expelled from his record.
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Now that Kentucky's 2011 class is signed, sealed and scheduled to be delivered this summer, Coach Joker Phillips and his staff can put their full focus on the 2012 class.
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Former Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson admits it hasn't been easy accepting that his football playing days are over.
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In Gerad Parker's line of work, air travel is a must.
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Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery told ESPNNewYork.com that he played the 2010 season with a herniated disc and underwent back surgery on Feb. 3.
"It wasn't a good feeling," Cotchery said. "It was pretty painful. I wouldn't want any football player to have to go through that."
Because of the lockout, Cotchery is not allowed inside the Jets' facility, nor can he speak with Jets trainers. He told ESPNNewYork that his rehab is going well and he expects to start running in 3-4 weeks.
Cotchery lost his starting job to Santonio Holmes during the season. The eighth-year veteran had 41 catches for 433 yards and two touchdowns in 2010.
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NFL players are locked out of their team facilities due to the ongoing labor negotiations, but that hasn't stopped some players from meeting up with teammates and getting work done.
The Sacramento Bee reported on Monday that 49ers OLT Joe Staley and DE Justin Smith have organized a gathering of a dozen or so players, mostly linemen and linebackers, regularly since the league locked out the players on March 11.
"We're professional athletes, Staley said to the newspaper. "We get paid to work out and stay in shape."
Across the country, Titans CB Cortland Finnegan, TE Craig Stevens and SS Chris Hope have been working out at a high school in Nashville. According to the Tennessean, the trio hopes that 15 or 20 of their teammates will return in the coming weeks to stay in shape as they await the conclusion of the lockout.
The way we see it
While the 49ers and Titans are mentioned in the newspapers, it's likely that groups of players all across the country are training with teammates as they await a new CBA. But these two teams especially, since both have new head coaches, should be pleased to read that some of their players are training on their own.
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While attending the University of Georgia pro day, Lions QB Matthew Stafford said his surgically repaired shoulder is healing well.
The 2009 No. 1 overall pick had surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder in January. Stafford told NFL.com's Steve Wyche that he is rehabilitating with therapists from Dr. James Andrews' office.
Lions head coach Jim Schwartz told reporters at the owners meeting in New Orleans that the team doesn't anticipate any more difficulties for Stafford. "Everyone is pleased with his rehab," Schwartz said.
Stafford played in just three games in 2010.
"I've heard a lot of people talk about young quarterbacks and the potential of missing offseason workouts and how it sets them back in their development," Schwartz said. "I know enough about Matt to know we're not really talking about that. ... He's dealing with the ability to be on the field, and we have full confidence that he is going to get that behind him."
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Everyone is all smiles. Team Gabbert is rolling deep for son Blaine's big day, his throwing day in front of 125 NFL personnel and six head coaches, and no one seems a bit nervous.
Not father Chuck, who is hobnobbing with anyone who'll tap him on the shoulder and strike up a conversation about his future millionaire son, shaking hands and posing for pictures. "This is just great, so awesome for Blaine," proud Chuck says, beaming. "The beautiful thing is that he is going to be drafted by the team because they really want him. How great is that? That is just awesome." Chuck uses the word "awesome" 10, maybe 12 more times before Blaine throws a single ball.
Not Gabbert's agents — Tom Condon, Ben Dogra and Jim Steiner — who proudly await their client's performance, expecting greatness. Dogra takes a quick scan of the room, which includes Jets head coach Rex Ryan, Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway and his new head coach, John Fox, within a 10-foot radius. "To me it's not how many teams come here, but who comes that matters," Dogra says. So impressed is Gabbert's 10-year-old brother that he walks up and confidently asks Elway for an autograph.
Nervous? Not Terry Shea. Gabbert's QB coach the previous 10 weeks has helped oversee his development from Missouri's shotgun offense to a more pro-friendly, under-center system. Shea had similar tutoring duties with Josh Freeman in 2009 and Sam Bradford last year and thinks Gabbert ranks right up there with the young, elite quarterbacks.
"I see him as the No. 1 pick in the draft," Shea says without hesitation.
Striding onto the surface of the Daniel J. Devine Indoor Facility for the first time in view of the nearly 1,000 onlookers — friends, family, fans, media and, oh yeah, an NFL who's who — Gabbert sheds his No. 5 Indianapolis Combine sweatshirt and has a line of folks waiting to talk to him. He handles each: Shea, with a few final instructions; Missouri's sports-information director giving Gabbert last-minute schedule details; and Central Missouri State WR Jamorris Warren, one of the receivers Gabbert will throw to, who stops for a quick word as school workers get the field cleared for Gabbert's pro-day exhibition.
The eye test was passed long ago. Gabbert has a dream QB physique at nearly 6-5 and 234 pounds, with athleticism (he ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the Combine) and arm strength to spare. Since opting not to throw passes at the Combine in February, NFL executives have waited to see Gabbert do the things he did not at Mizzou with any regularity: take snaps from under center, execute five- and seven-step drops and throw passes at NFL depths.
This is his day. He's ready. He looks ready. Gabbert already has thought about what he'll say to the media — his victory speech, if you will — if, no, when he rips it up during his passing showcase. The words have been chosen as carefully as the passes Gabbert will execute. Precise, scripted ... safe, really. The NFL doesn't mind safe. Making million-dollar investments, especially in this lockout-addled NFL world, means no stone will be left unturned.
Safe is a good thing.
# # #
Quarterbacks should look good at their pro day.
Bradford used his last year to show off his healed shoulder's strength, tacking on a few bonus throws just to end that conversation once and for all. The year prior, Matthew Stafford put on a show for the Lions' brass that clinched him eventually becoming the No. 1 pick. In 2008, Matt Ryan nailed his performance at Boston College, so much so that the Falcons privately wondered whether he even would be there at their No. 3 spot.
Of course they looked good. It's physically gifted passers throwing predetermined routes against air defenses in shorts and T-shirts in climate-controlled environments. Buffalo in December this is not. But it also is crucial not to botch it. Performing poorly in such sterile conditions could be disastrous.
That said, it guarantees nothing to perform well, either. JaMarcus Russell put on one of the greatest throwing displays ever at his pro day. His troubles started when the opposing team opted to take its full allotment of 11 defenders on the field. Alex Smith also shined at his pro day. It's perhaps the best he's ever looked since leaving Utah.
But Gabbert has some forces working against him, too. Because of the NFL lockout, he's allowed to throw only to draft-eligible players, and Mizzou features none. "It would have been great if we could have brought in A.J. Green and Julio Jones to throw to," Chuck Gabbert says, but then proudly lists the career achievements of the four local pass catchers who will catch Blaine's passes today. They played their college at places such as Central Missouri State and William Jewell College, Division II schools, and have worked with Gabbert only for the previous four days. No one seems too concerned.
But then the first tense moment of the day. Central Missouri RB Anthony Stewart, one of the four receivers, pulls a hamstring during his 40-yard dash. Shea is scratching his head. "I might have to make an announcement, maybe pull someone out of the stands," he says.
Instead, they find a replacement and cut Gabbert's 50-throw routine down by one, eliminating the planned wheel route to Stewart. It should be plenty still.
After the 14-throw warm-up, Gabbert huddled with Shea and the receivers. The script called for the first throw to be a 10-yard stick route to the "Z" receiver, a nice way to get loose. He stays short with the next five throws: a flat route, another stick, a slant, a quick out and a hitch. The passes are crisp, if not a bit high on a few.
Gabbert starts to stretch it out. Another slant is followed by a corner route, then a slant-and-go. He throws two 12-yard outs, one to each side, and a seam route. Then two "Bang 8s," one in each direction, and an angle route. He's catching rhythm; the passes are humming now.
While the friends, fans and many media watch Gabbert's arm, the scouts look down. It's the feet they're worried about. They're not stunned that Gabbert is unleashing his hose of an arm and spraying pretty, tight spirals all over the field, even if a few aren't picture-perfect. They have come to see the fruits of Shea's and Gabbert's labor — those drops from center that were as common at Missouri as the appearance of Halley's Comet.
Shea and Gabbert drew up a script that includes more than 20 throws outside the numbers and more than 25 deeper than 15 yards. The drops are mostly of the five- and seven-step-drop variety, with a few sprints, a bootleg, a couple of spins and three shotgun snaps sprinkled in.
It's all there: throwing well on the move, hitting most of his receivers in stride and putting nice touch on the ball. It's how a franchise quarterback should look here. Sure, some throws are a bit off target, though still in the catching radius, but when you see Gabbert rainbow a perfect "go" route and throw a whistling dart on a seam route near the end of his program, you know he has the skills to be great.
He completes 44 of the 49 throws, and it includes four drops. Gabbert has only one clear overthrow, and that was on a five-step "go" route thrown 55 yards in the air.
"The biggest thing was to come out here and show people that I have made that transition to an under-center offense from the shotgun," Gabbert told PFW after the performance. "I think I answered those questions today."
# # #
"I think you guys were more nervous than I was," Gabbert says with a smile to the assembled media.
Gabbert has been ready for this moment because he has been ready for every moment since he decided to be great. This has all been part of the plan. He had a personal QB tutor in high school, he had the God-kissed genes and talent and made himself into an Elite 11 quarterback before his senior season, standing toe to toe with QBs like Andrew Luck, Landry Jones and Kyle Parker.
So why wouldn't he attract this much attention from NFL folks?
"I knew this was going to happen," he says. "You're not going to do something if you're not going to believe in it. All along, I believed I would be in this place. I had that goal set, and I was going to reach it no matter what."
Missouri fans like Gabbert. Love? Well ... they like him a lot. He led them to an 18-8 record in two seasons, which included two bowl games and a win over No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in Columbia. It's what Gabbert says he's most proud of during his time in school.
And he should be. But there always will be a feeling of the unaccomplished with Gabbert at Mizzou. He was good. Very good, even. But there's no question that Gabbert didn't match the college résumé and production of Saints backup QB Chase Daniel, whom Gabbert backed up as a freshman. No one would say that he has come anywhere close to reaching his vast potential yet — not even Gabbert.
"I am still a work in progress," he said. "That's how all quarterbacks should be. They should have that mindset and that goal to come out and be better every day."
Gabbert was off to a scorching start as a sophomore before then-Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh dragged him down from behind, causing an ankle injury that affected him through the rest of the season. Gabbert's toughness never was questioned from that point, but everyone salivated at the prospects of a healthy junior season.
It didn't quite live up to expectations, as Missouri worked with a young receiving corps. He once again got battered by the Cornhuskers, suffering a serious blow to the head in the game but playing on despite Nebraska's relentless pressure.
"He just kept getting up," says Missouri junior WR Wes Kemp. "He showed us so much in that game despite the offense struggling."
Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost, one of Gabbert's biggest supporters, agrees with his quarterback's assessment that his best work lies in front of him.
"He can just continue to just get better and better and better because he's not a finished product," Yost said. "He has a lot of things he can still get better at and improve on. It's not from a lack of trying. It's more just (that he had) two years as a starter."
Gabbert missed most of his senior year of high school with foot and shoulder injuries. He backed up Daniel for a year and forwent his senior year at Mizzou. You wouldn't list experience under his strengths.
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, for one, can't blame Gabbert for coming out early.
"He's done some great things here, but his upside is unbelievable," Pinkel said. "He's got all of it."
He just hasn't done all of it yet, but Pinkel has seen this type of unrefined greatness before. When Gabbert was trying to put the finishing touches on his finest game in Missouri's bowl game against Iowa last season, he instead got just a little too cute. Instead of throwing away a pass on a broken play, Gabbert got greedy and tried to fluff it into his receiver, who was not on the same page. The ball was intercepted, run back for a touchdown, and a four-point Mizzou lead turned into a three-point deficit with under six minutes remaining.
"When I was at Washington with Warren Moon, on fourth down he threw a ball out of bounds. He forgot what down it was," Pinkel said. "Same thing. People say, 'Oh my gosh.' Warren Moon learned from it. Moon was physically and mentally tough. He was a great competitor. Blaine Gabbert has all those same qualities."
Watching Gabbert's pick-six on the sideline against Iowa, Yost was screaming for him to throw it out of bounds. But he also knew he also had seen the best of Gabbert, version 1.0, in that game, in which he completed 41-of-57 passes for 434 yards and four TDs. Gabbert 2.0, the NFL version, could be special.
"You can see that he can do it at the highest level," Yost said. "There's no question in my mind he has the ability to do that. The question is: How fast can he get there and how fast can a team get him there?"
Chuck Gabbert and Gabbert's agents know nothing they do will help Blaine get drafted higher. They know it's up to Blaine at this point. Where he'll go remains a mystery. The way things are shaping up, it's down to Gabbert and Auburn's Cam Newton to be the top quarterback selected. It could be at Nos. 1, 3, 4 or 5, but one of these young men likely will be off the board by the time the fifth draft card is turned in.
Gabbert denied any kind of rivalry with Newton at the Combine, but he did take a nice little zing at his fellow quarterback, who famously referred to himself as an "entertainer and an icon" in a pre-Combine interview.
"My sole focus is on football," Gabbert says. "I'm not here to entertain anybody. I'm here to get the playbook and throw the football."
And there's no reason to worry about his ability to take over a pro offense in time, Shea says.
"He certainly brings a competitive zest and he's going to win over an NFL huddle," Shea says. "His confidence level and his competitiveness are going to be effervescent."
When or where that occurs remains unknown. Chuck says Blaine has no idea where he'll land, but that's not what's important.
"The thing is, we've always told our boys: focus on the things you can control," he says. "You can't control the draft, you can't control referees, how good the other team is. There are a lot of things that are thrown at you, and it's how you react to those that makes you the person that you are."
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The Broncos have a history of giving their head coaches lots of power. Mike Shanahan nearly had complete control over personnel decisions during his tenure and, after the organization stated otherwise, Josh McDaniels ended up with the same control. We hear the addition of John Elway as the executive vice president of football operations has led the Broncos to finally break that trend. With owner Pat Bowlen heavily involved in the labor negotiations and president Joe Ellis focused on the business side, personnel decisions have been left to Elway, general manager Brian Xanders and head coach John Fox. A daily team observer said that the three have been working well together throughout the whole process and that their opinions have meshed nicely. Elway will have the final call on any dispute, which is a different organizational setup than the Broncos have had in a long time.
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One of the items up for discussion at this week at the NFL's owner meetings in New Orleans is a proposed change to the way kickoffs are handled. The league's competition committee has proposed moving kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line and bringing touchbacks up to the 25 to protect the safety of players.
While the vote on that proposal has not taken place, there is at least one person who has made their stance on the potential change public: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Speaking to reporters at the meetings on Monday, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year disagreed with the changes proposed by the committee.
"It's a pretty complicated proposal," Belichick said. "I don't like the idea of eliminating the kickoff from the game. I think it's one of the most exciting plays in football. It looks like the competition committee is trying to eliminate that play. I don't know if that's really good for the game."
When a reporter asked if the committee discussed how moving the kickoff yard-line up would increase safety, Belichick stated he was unsure about its potential outcome.
"The presentation last night, I don't know that it's because of head injuries," Belichick said. "The ones they showed, there weren't very many of them. I don't know, I think you should talk to the competition committee. They are the ones that really proposed the rule. Talk to Rich McKay and whoever else is on the committee and see what they have to say about it. There are a lot of components to it -- four different elements to it. It's kind of a complicated rule."
The way we see it
In 2010, Patriots KR Brandon Tate averaged 25.8 yards per kickoff return, fifth best in the NFL among players with 40 or more chances. Were the NFL's kickoff rules to change, that threat could be eliminated from the New England attack altogether. This may not be the only reason Belichick is opposed to the proposal by the competition committee, but it likely has something to do with it.
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The University of Kentucky received signatures from 26 players (including Darrian Miller, pictured) on national football signing day Wednesday, but it was two the Wildcats did not get that took the shine off an otherwise productive day.
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