Would-be UK player Enes Kanter went top shelf in preparing himself for the NBA. He said he had been in Chicago for about six weeks working with Tim Grover, a man known as the "trainer to the pros."
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Watching Dirk Nowitzki shoot the Dallas Mavericks into this year's NBA Finals, it's easy to forget he once flirted with the idea of leading one or more of Kentucky's annual quests for college basketball glory.
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With NFL teams stuck in a state of limbo thanks to the lingering lockout, we are taking a tour around the league and looking at where teams stand as they await the opening of the 2011 league year. Today, we offer our take on where the Patriots stand.
Top three story lines
1. Can the defense improve without any significant offseason additions? An opportunistic defense that compiled a ridiculous plus-28 turnover margin helped New England post a league-best 14-2 record, and that overshadowed the league's 30th-ranked pass defense and the worst "D" on third down. Part of the problem was a lack of a pass rush, but the team didn't address it in the draft. The Pats' sixth-round pick, OLB Markell Carter, is a developmental project, and they're not expected to address the need via free agency. That puts the spotlight on second-year OLB Jermaine Cunningham and DE Ty Warren, who missed all of 2010 with a hip injury. Bill Belichick's schemes are still some of the best in the game, and they helped overcome the injuries and youth on the defense. But the problems came back in the playoff loss to the Jets, and will need to improve if the Patriots want to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2007.
2. What will be Tom Brady and the offense's sequel to 2010? Brady, who won his second MVP award, led a steamrolling offense that peaked during an eight-game win streak to end the season. Brady's success helped heighten the game of the personnel around him. Undrafted, unknown RBs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead had big seasons, and rookie TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez exploded onto the scene. Brady is coming off offseason ankle surgery and will get all his weapons back in 2011. Some believe the lack of a deep threat hinders the Patriots, but the team believes Brandon Tate can be that player. The offense that made good use of tight ends and short-to-intermediate routes in a revelatory 2010 campaign won't be a surprise in ’11, but Brady still will be counted on to repeat the magic.
3. What will the offensive line look like? There is a chance that the O-line we see in Week One is the same we saw in last year's playoff loss, with OLT Matt Light, OLG Logan Mankins, C Dan Koppen, ORG Dan Connolly and ORT Sebastian Vollmer. It's the left side of the line that is in question, though, as Light is set to be a free agent and could test the waters, especially after the Patriots used their first-round pick on a blind-side tackle of the future, Nate Solder. Mankins, who has wanted a lucrative, long-term deal, received the franchise tag. He didn't sign the tender and has had a rocky relationship with the front office. Mankins is one of the best run blockers in the league and Light is a veteran presence who still can protect Brady. If both have to be replaced, it could set the offense back.
2011 free-agency — whenever that happens
Unsigned players: CB Kyle Arrington (2), S Josh Barrett (3), RB Kevin Faulk (12), PK Shayne Graham (10), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (3), OT Matt Light (10), OG Logan Mankins (6, franchised) S Brandon McGowan (6), RB Sammy Morris (11), OL Quinn Ojinnaka (5), S Jarrad Page (5), RB Fred Taylor (13), DE Gerard Warren (10), LB Tracy White (8). [Editor's note: The number after a players' name is his years of service in the league. If the NFL decides to go with free agency under the same rules as used in 2010, then a player would become a restricted free agent after three years and an unrestricted free agent after six years.]
Analysis: The biggest names here protect Brady's blind side, Light and Mankins. It was thought that Light would return for a couple more years to finish his career in Foxborough, something he desires, but the Patriots' decision to draft OT Nate Solder could change things. Mankins received the franchise tender, something he did not want as he still aims for a long-term deal. He is expected to return, however. Green-Ellis, Page and Arrington received restricted free-agent tenders and all should be back. Page's tender offer likely means that McGowan will be playing elsewhere. The Patriots drafted two running backs, signals to Morris and Taylor that their time in New England is complete. Faulk could return, but would have to compete to make the team. The Pats signed Marcus Stroud, who can replace Warren if the team doesn't re-sign him.
2011 rookie class
First-round OT Nate Solder (No. 17 overall) — Solder has raw talent at the position. He is a converted tight end but needs a lot of work and development before he can start on the blind side. He would benefit from spending a year or two behind Light.
Second-round CB Ras-I Dowling (No. 33 overall) — The Patriots have made it a habit of drafting cornerbacks. Dowling's physicality should line up well opposite Devin McCourty down the line. He will compete to play nickel to begin his career.
Second-round RB Shane Vereen (No. 56 overall) — An effective receiver, Vereen is similar to Danny Woodhead and will add a third back into the fold in a backfield that Bill Belichick likes to keep split.
Third-round RB Stevan Ridley (No. 73 overall) — An inside runner, Ridley could be a solid short-yardage back to spell BenJarvus Green-Ellis and replace Sammy Morris.
Third-round QB Ryan Mallett (No. 74 overall) — The surprise pick of the draft, Mallett will work under Tom Brady and will compete with Brian Hoyer to be the team's backup QB. Mallett has a cannon arm but slipped in the draft because of character concerns. He could be the next Matt Cassel and net the team a first-round pick via trade after he develops.
Fifth-round OG Marcus Cannon (No. 138 overall) — Another great value pick, Cannon, a tackle at TCU, will slide inside and play guard when he's ready, which likely will be in 2012 assuming he fully recovers from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Fifth-round TE Lee Smith (No. 159 overall) — Smith is a blocking tight end who eventually could replace Alge Crumpler, who turns 34 in December.
Sixth-round OLB Markell Carter (No. 194 overall) — The only edge rusher the team drafted, Carter will play linebacker for New England and has intriguing tools.
Seventh-round DB Malcolm Williams (No. 219 overall) — Williams will have to make a contribution on special teams to make the squad.
Lockout fallout: How impacted will the Patriots be by the work stoppage?
On scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most significantly impacted), the Patriots rate a 3. With most of the starters returning and only minor coaching changes, the Patriots are in prime position to repeat as AFC East champs. Bill O'Brien was named the offensive coordinator, but he has been calling plays for two years. Bill Belichick also did some rearranging among the defensive coaches. While Matt Light and Logan Mankins could be back, it's unknown until free agency opens whether one or both will return. The lockout also keeps the Patriots from working to improve the defense and get starters Leigh Bodden and Ty Warren back up to speed after they missed all of 2010.
A misdemeanor assault charge against Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth were dismissed on Tuesday after Hayneswotth reached an out-of-court settlement, multiple media outlets reported.
The Associated Press and The Washington Post reported that neither Haynesworth, his lawyer or his accuser would discuss the settlement. The misdemeanor assault charge stemmed from a February incident in which Haynesworth was reportedly alleged to have struck another driver.
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BYU basketball coach Dave Rose has completed his staff with the hiring of former University of Kentucky player Mark Pope as an assistant.
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CHICAGO — Former Arizona star Derrick Williams is projected as perhaps the first or second pick in this year's NBA Draft. With relatively little to prove, he's doing relatively little on the court at the NBA Combine here this week.But would-be Kentucky player Enes Kanter is diving into the ...
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Days after the NFL Coaches Association announced that it was siding with the players in the ongoing labor disputes, the Redskins coaching staff stated that it is backing the owners.
All 17 of Washington's assistant coaches signed a statement confirming their allegiance to the owners.
"We stand united with our ownership, and the brief does not reflect our thoughts on the matter," the statement said. "We, like everyone else, are hopeful that we can return to playing football. We look forward to a new (collective bargaining agreement), and welcoming back our players as soon as possible."
Mike Shanahan, who is also the team's executive vice president and considered part of management, did not sign.
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Days after the NFL Coaches Association announced that it was siding with the players in the ongoing labor disputes, the Redskins coaching staff stated that it is backing the owners.
All 17 of Washington's assistant coaches signed a statement confirming their allegiance to the owners.
"We stand united with our ownership, and the brief does not reflect our thoughts on the matter," the statement said. "We, like everyone else, are hopeful that we can return to playing football. We look forward to a new (collective bargaining agreement), and welcoming back our players as soon as possible."
Mike Shanahan, who is also the team's executive vice president and considered part of management, did not sign.
Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib officially has been indicted on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The indictment only serves as a formal accusation and does not convict Talib of any crime.
"The grand jury was not privy to a number of important facts," Talib's lawyers said in a statement. "We are very confident that once we have the opportunity to present all of the facts, this matter will be resolved in Mr. Talib's favor. Aqib looks forward to putting this matter behind him and returning to the game of football."
Talib is accused of shooting at his sister's boyfriend, Shannon Billings during a March 21 domestic dispute. Billings was not injured during the incident. Talib's mother told police that her son might have fired the gun at Billings.
A hearing and trial have not been scheduled. If convicted, Talib could face between 2-20 years in prison. Talib is out of jail on $25,000 bond.
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The Vikings will prepare first-round pick Christian Ponder as if he will be their starting quarterback whenever the season opens. That obviously could change, depending on whether the Vikings pursue a veteran who could challenge Ponder for a starting job. But based on the way head coach Leslie Frazier is talking, it should shock no one if Ponder is the Week One quarterback when the Vikings face the Chargers — assuming the lockout doesn't drag on too long. "Ideally, I'd like for him to be ready to go when we play San Diego," Frazier said on ESPN 1000 radio. "That would be the ideal situation. We've got our Matt Ryan, we've got our (Joe) Flacco, we've got our (Mark) Sanchez right here. But because of the uncertainty of the offseason, it's just hard to determine exactly how you want to approach it. So, we need a little more clarity on what this offseason's going to be like."
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WR Josh Cribbs told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that a group of Browns players will be gathering at the University of Texas June 9-11 for "Camp Colt," practices that are organized by second-year QB Colt McCoy.
McCoy has hosted two previous camps for Browns players, one at his alma mater in late April and another in mid-May at Baldwin-Wallace College near Cleveland.
All of the teams rookies have been invited, but it is unknown if they will attend or participate. The agent for second-round WR Greg Little told the paper that he will advise Little not to participate in on-field drills if the player attends. Agent Andy Ross said Little has been in frequent contact with McCoy and other offensive players.
In addition to offensive drills and working out together, the players have been watching film of the West Coast offense and participating in off-the-field activities to build camaraderie.
SARASOTA, Fla. — Dick Vitale picked up the telephone four years ago and placed a call to Tennessee. He had a favor to ask of then-Memphis coach John Calipari. "I need your help," Vitale said. "I've got to round up 20 guys to donate fifty thousand dollars each. Gotta do it quick." Not three days later, the V Foundation was $1 million richer.
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CHICAGO — When you've competed against the likes of Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook, the NBA Combine here is not so intimidating.Former Butler guard — and Lexington native — Shelvin Mack found himself in that favorable position. He played against world-class point...
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With NFL teams stuck in a state of limbo thanks to the lingering lockout, we are taking a tour around the league and looking at where teams stand as they await the opening of the 2011 league year. Today, we offer our take on where the Patriots stand.
Top three story lines
1. Can the defense improve without any significant offseason additions? An opportunistic defense that compiled a ridiculous plus-28 turnover margin helped New England post a league-best 14-2 record, and that overshadowed the league's 30th-ranked pass defense and the worst "D" on third down. Part of the problem was a lack of a pass rush, but the team didn't address it in the draft. The Pats' sixth-round pick, OLB Markell Carter, is a developmental project, and they're not expected to address the need via free agency. That puts the spotlight on second-year OLB Jermaine Cunningham and DE Ty Warren, who missed all of 2010 with a hip injury. Bill Belichick's schemes are still some of the best in the game, and they helped overcome the injuries and youth on the defense. But the problems came back in the playoff loss to the Jets, and will need to improve if the Patriots want to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2007.
2. What will be Tom Brady and the offense's sequel to 2010? Brady, who won his second MVP award, led a steamrolling offense that peaked during an eight-game win streak to end the season. Brady's success helped heighten the game of the personnel around him. Undrafted, unknown RBs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead had big seasons, and rookie TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez exploded onto the scene. Brady is coming off offseason ankle surgery and will get all his weapons back in 2011. Some believe the lack of a deep threat hinders the Patriots, but the team believes Brandon Tate can be that player. The offense that made good use of tight ends and short-to-intermediate routes in a revelatory 2010 campaign won't be a surprise in ’11, but Brady still will be counted on to repeat the magic.
3. What will the offensive line look like? There is a chance that the O-line we see in Week One is the same we saw in last year's playoff loss, with OLT Matt Light, OLG Logan Mankins, C Dan Koppen, ORG Dan Connolly and ORT Sebastian Vollmer. It's the left side of the line that is in question, though, as Light is set to be a free agent and could test the waters, especially after the Patriots used their first-round pick on a blind-side tackle of the future, Nate Solder. Mankins, who has wanted a lucrative, long-term deal, received the franchise tag. He didn't sign the tender and has had a rocky relationship with the front office. Mankins is one of the best run blockers in the league and Light is a veteran presence who still can protect Brady. If both have to be replaced, it could set the offense back.
2011 free-agency — whenever that happens
Unsigned players: CB Kyle Arrington (2), S Josh Barrett (3), RB Kevin Faulk (12), PK Shayne Graham (10), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (3), OT Matt Light (10), OG Logan Mankins (6, franchised) S Brandon McGowan (6), RB Sammy Morris (11), OL Quinn Ojinnaka (5), S Jarrad Page (5), RB Fred Taylor (13), DE Gerard Warren (10), LB Tracy White (8). [Editor's note: The number after a players' name is his years of service in the league. If the NFL decides to go with free agency under the same rules as used in 2010, then a player would become a restricted free agent after three years and an unrestricted free agent after six years.]
Analysis: The biggest names here protect Brady's blind side, Light and Mankins. It was thought that Light would return for a couple more years to finish his career in Foxborough, something he desires, but the Patriots' decision to draft OT Nate Solder could change things. Mankins received the franchise tender, something he did not want as he still aims for a long-term deal. He is expected to return, however. Green-Ellis, Page and Arrington received restricted free-agent tenders and all should be back. Page's tender offer likely means that McGowan will be playing elsewhere. The Patriots drafted two running backs, signals to Morris and Taylor that their time in New England is complete. Faulk could return, but would have to compete to make the team. The Pats signed Marcus Stroud, who can replace Warren if the team doesn't re-sign him.
2011 rookie class
First-round OT Nate Solder (No. 17 overall) — Solder has raw talent at the position. He is a converted tight end but needs a lot of work and development before he can start on the blind side. He would benefit from spending a year or two behind Light.
Second-round CB Ras-I Dowling (No. 33 overall) — The Patriots have made it a habit of drafting cornerbacks. Dowling's physicality should line up well opposite Devin McCourty down the line. He will compete to play nickel to begin his career.
Second-round RB Shane Vereen (No. 56 overall) — An effective receiver, Vereen is similar to Danny Woodhead and will add a third back into the fold in a backfield that Bill Belichick likes to keep split.
Third-round RB Stevan Ridley (No. 73 overall) — An inside runner, Ridley could be a solid short-yardage back to spell BenJarvus Green-Ellis and replace Sammy Morris.
Third-round QB Ryan Mallett (No. 74 overall) — The surprise pick of the draft, Mallett will work under Tom Brady and will compete with Brian Hoyer to be the team's backup QB. Mallett has a cannon arm but slipped in the draft because of character concerns. He could be the next Matt Cassel and net the team a first-round pick via trade after he develops.
Fifth-round OG Marcus Cannon (No. 138 overall) — Another great value pick, Cannon, a tackle at TCU, will slide inside and play guard when he's ready, which likely will be in 2012 assuming he fully recovers from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Fifth-round TE Lee Smith (No. 159 overall) — Smith is a blocking tight end who eventually could replace Alge Crumpler, who turns 34 in December.
Sixth-round OLB Markell Carter (No. 194 overall) — The only edge rusher the team drafted, Carter will play linebacker for New England and has intriguing tools.
Seventh-round DB Malcolm Williams (No. 219 overall) — Williams will have to make a contribution on special teams to make the squad.
Lockout fallout: How impacted will the Patriots be by the work stoppage?
On scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most significantly impacted), the Patriots rate a 3. With most of the starters returning and only minor coaching changes, the Patriots are in prime position to repeat as AFC East champs. Bill O'Brien was named the offensive coordinator, but he has been calling plays for two years. Bill Belichick also did some rearranging among the defensive coaches. While Matt Light and Logan Mankins could be back, it's unknown until free agency opens whether one or both will return. The lockout also keeps the Patriots from working to improve the defense and get starters Leigh Bodden and Ty Warren back up to speed after they missed all of 2010.
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The Vikings will prepare first-round pick Christian Ponder as if he will be their starting quarterback whenever the season opens. That obviously could change, depending on whether the Vikings pursue a veteran who could challenge Ponder for a starting job. But based on the way head coach Leslie Frazier is talking, it should shock no one if Ponder is the Week One quarterback when the Vikings face the Chargers — assuming the lockout doesn't drag on too long. "Ideally, I'd like for him to be ready to go when we play San Diego," Frazier said on ESPN 1000 radio. "That would be the ideal situation. We've got our Matt Ryan, we've got our (Joe) Flacco, we've got our (Mark) Sanchez right here. But because of the uncertainty of the offseason, it's just hard to determine exactly how you want to approach it. So, we need a little more clarity on what this offseason's going to be like."
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The caveat of the Jaguars aggressively trading up in the draft to secure their quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert is that the team will have to be active in free agency to address several glaring holes on defense. We hear that GM Gene Smith has targeted 2-4 players, though who specifically, he has kept close to the vest for obvious reasons. Safety, linebacker and defensive end are all areas where upgrades are needed, and a popular name that we are hearing is Chargers FS Eric Weddle. With San Diego signing Bob Sanders before the lockout, the door might have opened for Weddle's departure. He has the range and coverage skills to be a great asset for the Jaguars, who allowed the most yards per pass play in the NFL last season. The club remains high on SS Courtney Greene, who, when healthy, was a tone setter for the run defense last season but remains a liability in pass coverage.
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Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips made it no secret that he needed to see an efficient passing game out of his team this spring.
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Just over a week before their court date with representatives with the players, the NFL filed their reply brief on Thursday evening with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, stating that the lockout should remain in effect.
The 41-page brief states that the decision by U.S. District Court judge Susan Richard Nelson to enjoin the lockout was illegal and that the appellate court should uphold its ruling to grant a stay on the league's decision to lock out the players as they negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In the brief, the league's lawyers argue that the players' disagreements with the owners are not a legal issue, but rather a labor one. In a footnote on page 35, they claim that the NFLPA decertification is just a front and that the players are still operating as a certified union.
"Plaintiffs also argue that 'every single player in the NFL sacrificed numerous rights and protections by terminating their union.' These 'sacrifices' are almost entirely illusory. The NFLPA continues to pursue a grievance on behalf of over 250 players asserting improper conduct with respect to contracts in the 2010 season. It has established trusts to provide the players with legal representation for and to cover the costs of other grievances, and to assist players in applying for retirement benefits."
The league concludes by saying: "This Court should vacate the District Court's grant of a preliminary injunction and remand with instructions to dismiss or stay the action."
The two sides are due in the St. Louis courthouse on June 3 for a hearing on whether to keep the lockout in place.
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Randall Cobb hasn't bought a cheesehead to wear or perfected the Lambeau Leap just yet. But the former University of Kentucky star is thrilled to be going into what he sees as a "perfect fit" with the NFL's Green Bay Packers.
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Former Kentucky running back Derrick Locke finally got drafted, just not by an NFL team. Locke was picked in the ninth round of the United Football League's draft on Tuesday by the Omaha Nighthawks. Locke, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound speedster, wasn't selected in the NFL Draft last week after rushing for 887 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season despite missing four games because of a shoulder injury.
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Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco may add snake wrangling to his list of offseason activities.
Following an interview in which team owner Mike Brown joked that snake wrangling may by Ochocino's next move, the wideout later tweeted that he plans to do exactly that.
"I've partnered with Snake Jungle to go out and become the first black #SnakeWrangler. Thanks to my owner Mike Brown for the great idea," he said.
He later added: "I'm going to be a #SnakeWrangler, I got the awesome idea from my owner, catching a Black Mamba and a King Cobra #EPIC. Does anyone know these snakes I'm gonna catch, Taipan, Blue Krait, Eastern Brown Snake, Rattle Snake and the Death Adder."
Ochocinco has been busy this offseason, as he has already tried out for a professional soccer team and rode a bull.
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Randall Cobb will sit in the draft room in New York's Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night hoping to be the first University of Kentucky player to be chosen in the first round of an NFL Draft since Dewayne Robertson was picked fourth overall by the New York Jets in 2003.
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With NFL teams stuck in a state of limbo thanks to the lingering lockout, we are taking a tour around the league and looking at where teams stand as they await the opening of the 2011 league year. Today, we offer our take on where the Vikings stand.
Top three story lines
1. Who will play quarterback? That's the big question, and we likely know only two of the three names who will be competing once football gets under way: Joe Webb, first-rounder Christian Ponder and, perhaps, a veteran to be named later. Even though the Vikings sent out small signals they at least were intrigued by Rhett Bomar, whom they added to the roster late last season, it's possible, very likely even, that the team explores options in the trade and free-agent markets. Webb remains tartare raw, and Ponder might not be ready by Week One without on offseason to speak of. A veteran, such as Donovan McNabb or Marc Bulger, would make a lot of sense.
2. The defensive line could be a shell of its former self. First off, its most indispensible player, DT Kevin Williams, is likely facing a four-game suspension to start the season. So is Pat Williams, but the Vikings most likely have moved on from the 38-year-old free agent. Also likely to leave is DE Ray Edwards, who could fetch big money somewhere else, possibly Atlanta. That leaves DE Jared Allen as the only starter returning. DEs Brian Robison and Everson Griffen could split time at Edwards' DRE spot, but who will replace Kevin Williams early on? Rookie Christian Ballard has the talent to step in and get his feet wet.
3. The Vikings have been talking about signing RB Adrian Peterson to a long-term deal. The lockout has put those plans on indefinite hold. WR Sidney Rice may or may not be a free agent when the lockout ends, and as of now the team might not be able to afford both. Peterson is the priority as the face of the franchise, but it was painfully obvious how much Rice's absence hurt the offense early last season.
2011 free agency — whenever that happens
Unsigned players: S Husain Abdullah (3), WR Hank Baskett (5), OL Ryan Cook (5), DE Ray Edwards (5), DT Fred Evans (5), S Eric Frampton (4), OLB Chad Greenway (5, franchised), OLB Erin Henderson (3), QB Tarvaris Jackson (5), WR Jaymar Johnson (2), OLB Ben Leber (9), WR Greg Lewis (8), PK Ryan Longwell (14), QB Patrick Ramsey (9), WR Sidney Rice (4), CB Lito Sheppard (9), FB Naufahu Tahi (5), CB Frank Walker (8), S Madieu Williams (7), DT Pat Williams (13), RB Albert Young (2). [Editor's note: The number after a players' name is his years of service in the league. If the NFL decides to go with free agency under the same rules as used in 2010, then a player would become a restricted free agent after three years and an unrestricted free agent after six years.]
Analysis: Chances are good that Rice, a fourth-year free agent, will be under contract as a restricted free agent as the Vikings won't let him go that easily. But keeping him in the long term could be tricky. Edwards has tried to talk his way out of Minnesota as quickly as he can, but there is a chance — if we go by 2010 rules — that he would not be unrestricted. If so, there is a chance he could be traded. The Falcons appear to be the team hottest on his trail. After that, a lot of the players don't appear to be high priorities for the Vikings. They have franchised Greenway and want him back at all costs. But many of the remaining free agents — several of them starters last season — won't return at anything close to big money. The Vikings also are not likely to go out and spend wildly on outside help, but they could bring in a new slew of lower- and middle-tier veterans.
2011 rookie class
First-round QB Christian Ponder (No. 12 overall) — Although fans might not have liked the pick at the time, it would not be shocking if the heady but injury-prone Ponder starts early this season.
Second-round TE Kyle Rudolph (No. 43 overall) — Tight end wasn't the most pressing need imaginable, but the Vikings got a quality receiver and blocker who would have gone higher had he not been hurt as a junior.
Fourth-round DT Christian Ballard (No. 106 overall) — Don't be shocked if this talented but underproducing talent is starting Week One when Kevin Williams is (likely) suspended.
Fifth-round CB Brandon Burton (No. 139 overall) — Has natural cover skills but was beat too often in college and might take a while to develop.
Sixth-round OT DeMarcus Love (No. 168 overall) — Could end up at tackle or guard; has some positional flexibility.
Sixth-round FS Mistral Raymond (No. 170 overall) — Unheralded pick who is limited athletically but will compete at need position and on special teams.
Sixth-round C-OG Brandon Fusco (No. 172 overall) — Small-school scrapper will have to make NFL adjustment, but interior reserve spot is there for the taking.
Sixth-round LB Ross Homan (No. 200 overall) — Will be special-teams warrior but actually has chance to compete at weak-side spot in time.
Seventh-round DE D'Aundre Reed (No. 215 overall) — Athletic rusher who put up decent production in part-time role at Arizona.
Seventh-round WR Stephen Burton (No. 236 overall) — Good-sized possession receiver and returner who must clean up his route running.
Lockout fallout: How impacted will the Vikings be by the work stoppage?
On a scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most significantly impacted), the Vikings rate a 7. It's fair to say that the Vikings' starting quarterback has not taken a snap with the team yet. In all fairness to Joe Webb, who did an admirable job down the stretch, it's not going to be him. So we're either talking about Christian Ponder or a veteran to be named later. After that, the uncertainty of Kevin Williams, Sidney Rice and Adrian Peterson also has made for some tense moments — plus there are some needs to fill on this roster. It's a good thing that Leslie Frazier and a large chunk of his coaching staff got to work with much of the roster last season, or this lockout meter might be pushing 10.
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Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips made it no secret that he needed to see an efficient passing game out of his team this spring.
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Torian Graham, one of UK basketball's top recruiting targets in the class of 2012, committed to N.C. State on Monday.Graham said UK was his No. 1 school as recently as last month, but new N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried made the Raleigh, N.C., native a top priority from his first day on the job. "...
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Fast-break points not from the end of the world:21. Brandon Knight. If the point guard had stayed in school at Kentucky, UK would have been the consensus No. 1 team in the country going into next season. 20. Marquis Teague. With Knight gone to the NBA Draft, the most scrutinized player...
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The Jets have a real interest in adding WR Randy Moss to their receiving corps, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
It's possible that WRs Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith all could become unrestricted free agents when the new league year begins, with the team unlikely to be able to afford to re-sign all three.
The Jets would have "more than a cursory interest in Moss if Holmes or Edwards doesn't return," according to Mehta's sources.
Edwards led the Jets with 101 targets last season, with Holmes finishing third with 96 targets despite missing the first four games of the season. The pair accounted for 37.7 percent of the team's 523 passing attempts.
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Seventeen of the nation's top teenage basketball players will be trying out for the United States' 12-man team entry in the FIBA U19 World Championship tournament scheduled for this summer. None have ties to Kentucky.
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Like several other quarterbacks around the league, Chiefs QB Matt Cassel has been organizing offseason workouts for his teammates during the lockout, gathering players at a local high school. Now in his third season as the team's signalcaller, Cassel appears to becoming more comfortable in his role as the face of not only the offense but also the entire team. We hear his maturation to leader began a year ago, when he missed only one game following an emergency appendectomy. It was also in 2010 that head coach Todd Haley privately challenged Cassel about throws made and plays called. Cassel became more and more comfortable defending his play while also taking it upon himself to be more assertive in the huddle and in meetings, becoming more like his former teammate, Tom Brady. That take-charge attitude has spilled onto the field, even a high school one. The voluntarily workouts have been intense, as the QB wants to go from being a Brady-type leader to putting up Brady-type statistics once the lockout is over.
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Coming off a career 2009 season in which Eagles TE Brent Celek caught 76 passes for 971 yards and eight TDs at the age of 24, it was believed that he might join the elite ranks of receiving tight ends for the next several seasons. But Celek's numbers took a dip last season, by a factor of nearly a half in every case.
One reason was the switch from Donovan McNabb to Michael Vick at quarterback. For years, McNabb befriended his tight ends on the field — before Celek it was Chad Lewis and L.J. Smith — and often used them as reliable chain movers. Once Vick entered the lineup, the passing game became more vertical to the wide receivers, and the short stuff often went to the backs (LeSean McCoy led the team in receptions with 78 last season).
After a bout of the drops early last season, Celek was overlooked in the offense for the most part. Other than a 10-catch game in the Week 16 loss to the Vikings, Celek never had more than four receptions in any other game.
But the recent lockout workouts with Vick, Celek and other Eagles could help get the two in better harmony, and we hear the Eagles have tried to find better ways to keep Celek a viable part of the offense. They like the TE position and think Celek and promising but raw Clay Harbor could form a nice pass-catching duo.
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The University of Kentucky football team had two main objectives this spring: improve its passing game with quarterback Morgan Newton and get the defense acclimated to co-coordinator Rick Minter's new multiple scheme.
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Zeke Chapman, the son of former University of Kentucky star Rex Chapman, has committed to play college basketball at Ball State, according to a Scout.com report attributing the information to sources.
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Free agent RB Garrett Wolfe, who played for the Bears for the past four seasons, was arrested early Sunday morning in Miami; the news was first reported by Pro Football Talk.
Wolfe has been charged with retail theft, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest with violence and disorderly conduct, according to Miami-Dade county booking information.
The running back was mainly a special teams player last season for Chicago, with only four carries in the running game.
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No coaching caution for John Calipari when he envisions the Kentucky team for 2011-12.
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The University of Kentucky football team had two main objectives this spring: improve its passing game with quarterback Morgan Newton and get the defense acclimated to co-coordinator Rick Minter's new multiple scheme.
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Kentucky and Transylvania will play a pre-season men's basketball exhibition game on Nov. 2, Transy Coach Brian Lane confirmed Wednesday.
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Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' decision to move Mario Williams to weak-side linebacker in his new odd front could turn out to be brilliant, the way we hear it. There is little question Williams has the athleticism to make the transition, and his new role will be similar to what he has done all along. In Dallas, Phillips asked Pro Bowl OLB DeMarcus Ware to drop back into coverage approximately 20 percent of the time. Word is Williams will have even less responsibility in coverage, dropping back closer to 10 percent. One league observer recently said he would not be surprised to see Williams erupt next season similar to the way that Packers OLB Clay Matthews did in his first season as Green Bay's rush 'backer. With Williams entering a contract season and the pressure to win at an all-time high in Houston, a big payoff — literally — could be in store for both the Texans and Williams.
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The players' trade association sent out a memo to its constituents on Wednesday, detailing what it believes to be the NFL's plans for a lockout over the past four years.
Pro Football Weekly secured a copy of the document, titled "CBA Chronology 2007 — March 2011: NFL's Path to a Lockout," which outlines the steps the NFL and union have made up until the point in which the owners locked the players out.
The document begins in 2007, when the NFL hired attorney Bob Batterman, who worked for the NHL during that sport's 2004-05 lockout, and runs through the final item, the March 1, 2011 entry in which Judge David Doty ruled in favor of the players' arguments that the league set aside a $4 million "war chest" in future TV revenue.
In between are 52 other chronological items — many of them statements from NFL officials, NFL-NFLPA bargaining sessions, court rulings and positional letters from each side.
Among the more interesting items:
The two sides have disagreed about most of the core issues, at least how they are characterized. But according to this document — even though the players have vehemently argued against an 18-game regular season publicly — the two sides have talked about such a format for nearly four years, dating back to March 2009.
Another interesting facet is that of a "pegged salary cap," which according to this document first was discussed back on June 2, 2010. The pegged cap would be a fixed-rate spending limit in which owners would benefit from rising league revenue intake. The pegged cap concept was discussed several times since then, mentioned nine times in the NFLPA document, through its final mention on Feb. 5 of this year. On that date, one day before this year's Super Bowl, the owners discussed the cap concept but said they wanted to examine it in more detail before promising to respond to the union's proposal on the matter.
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