Author: ddillon.tsn

In 2008, his first season as general manager of the Falcons, Thomas Dimitroff was voted the Sporting News’ NFL Executive of the Year by his peers in the league. Last year, the Falcons finished with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. The Falcons look like a team on the rise under Dimitroff, who recently talked to Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon about how he and the team are evolving.

SN: As you watched the division rival Saints play their way to a Super Bowl championship last season, did you ever think to yourself, "Why not us?"

TD: Any time that you’re striving to get better and you see the improvement and the evolution of a young football team, you begin to think, "Hey, we can compete, and we can be a regular contender for the playoffs and more." That’s something that drives us every day in the building. It drives the players; it drives the coaches.

SN: After having back-to-back winning seasons for the first time, what’s the next rung on the ladder for the Falcons?

TD: The next rung on the ladder is to truly move toward being a perennial contender for the playoffs and to feel very confident going into each game that we can compete at all levels throughout the NFL. That’s very important. We have a number of sequential and rather private goals in our organization—we try not to talk about them publicly—but one generally speaking is to really, truly see that we are evolving into a team that is a perennial playoff contender.

SN: What is your comfort level with the direction the team?

TD: We are quite comfortable with the direction, the leadership, the enthusiasm. The focus on this team, to me, is very impressive. I know I speak for myself and coach (Mike) Smith.

SN: The team slogan for 2010 is "Rise Up." What does that mean?

TD: Again, it’s about taking it to another level and having the team believe in their abilities and believe that they have the ability and the confidence to rise up and compete at a high level.

SN: What is your evaluation of quarterback Matt Ryan after two seasons?

TD: Matt Ryan is developing very well in my mind. He has worked very hard in the offseason to study what he deems as his issues, whether it was his decision making at times, whether it was his footwork, or whatever it was. … Something you may have read recently, he studied a lot of the upper-echelon quarterbacks in this league and I think that was very beneficial for him as well.

SN: True or false: As Ryan goes, so go the Falcons?

TD: I am a firm believer, like a lot of people in this league, that you go as your quarterback goes. Not to put it all on one individual, because it is a team game, but it is very important for your quarterback to perform at a very high and consistent level to be successful in this league. If that answers your question, I guess you’d have to say true.

SN: In what ways are you a better G.M. today than you were a year ago?

TD: I believe I’m grasping more than just player personnel now. I’m beginning to learn some of the other aspects of this league, whether it is rules, compliance, player relations, contract negotiations, salary cap. There are a number of aspects that I wasn’t that fully immersed in as I have been of late. It’s been beneficial, and I feel like I’ve grown in those areas.

SN: Best lesson you learned in New England from Bill Belichick?

TD: The indisputable role understanding. It’s about the basic tenets of the team concept. Everybody do their job to the best of their ability; don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Make sure you’re focused on what your job is. If we all do that, we all have a chance to be successful. And I say that with fervor. I learned a great deal from him, and that was one thing that really sticks out in my mind.

SN: What’s the most difficult decision you have had to make as a G.M.?

TD: I would suggest the idea of acquiring free agents for substantial amounts of money and having to look the owner in the eye and say this is exactly the right move to make with tens of millions of dollars on the line. That’s probably the most challenging type of decision, because I really aim to be fiscally responsible with Arthur Blank’s money and the organization’s salary cap situation.

SN: You first interviewed for the job with Blank via web cam. Do you now hold discussions with him face to face?

TD: I’m not sure if our IT department has re-hooked Arthur to the web came since our interview. We have very regular and very communicative conversations. I enjoy our conversations at a league level as well as from his business perspective, which can be very insightful from his days as co-founder of H.D. (Home Depot). We have some great conversations as far as business approach and philosophy.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com. Sporting News correspondent Geoff Mosher contributed to this story.

Kevin Kolb will try to step into Donovan McNabb’s shoes.

It may not hold the magnitude of Babe Dahlgren taking over for Lou Gehrig after the Iron Horse’s consecutive games streak ended at 2,130, but it’s a pretty big deal in Philadelphia, bub.

Kevin Kolb is in, and Donovan McNabb is out as the Eagles quarterback. An unproven player entering his fourth season is replacing the face of a franchise who was a six-time Pro Bowl pick during his 11 seasons as Philly’s QB.

The anticipation for Kolb, who will turn 26 in August, has been building since the Eagles took him with the 37th pick in the 2007 draft. Although he’s not considered as athletic as McNabb, he has won the faith of the Eagles’ organization, which this spring traded McNabb to the NFC East rival Redskins and rewarded Kolb with a one-year extension on a contract that will now pay him a guaranteed $12.26 million over the next two years.

This will be one of the most scrutinized changes in the 2010 season. And there’s really only one way Kolb can quiet the skeptics.

"His crossover, being able to fill shoes for a guy like Donovan, that’s going to be extremely tough," Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver said. "The best thing you can do in his position in taking over for a guy who’s a living legend in a city where he’s been for 10 or more years is to make your own legend."

Here are four other "replacement" players who have big shoes to fill this season:

Panthers DE Charles Johnson (for Julius Peppers). After playing a reserve role for the last three years, Johnson is stepping in for a five-time Pro Bowl player who left for Chicago as a free agent during the offseason.

Johnson could be one of three new starters on a D-line that also lost Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu in the offseason. Johnson had 10 sacks in the last two seasons. Now, he must become a consistent run stopper.

"Charles has gotten stronger and has seen what it takes to be a successful player in the NFL," Panthers coach John Fox said.

Mike Wallace takes over for Santonio Holmes.

Steelers WR Mike Wallace (for Santonio Holmes). As a rookie last year, Wallace caught 39 passes for 756 yards and six touchdowns, and his 19.4 yards per catch average led the league.

Wallace, who primarily played behind Hines Ward last year, is faster and slightly bigger than Holmes. As a starter, he now will be challenged by better defenders, but the Steelers seem confident he can replace Holmes.

"I did see Mike Wallace live with my own eyes, and I think they really like Mike Wallace," said ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, who was at the Steelers’ training camp last year. "He is a down-the-field threat."

Giants MLB Jonathan Goff (for Antonio Pierce). Although he hasn’t claimed the starting role yet, he is first in a line that includes rookie Phillip Dillard, Gerris Wilkinson and Chase Blackburn. Goff took the majority of first-team snaps during offseason workouts.

"I saw him take command of the huddle," new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. "I saw the guys respect him when he walked in the huddle and made a call. I thought he fundamentally did some things extremely well for us. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought he had a good knowledge of what we were trying to do and how we were trying to accomplish it, and he asked good questions. I thought he had a step up in that category over the young rookie (Dillard) and some of the younger guys."

Cardinals WR Steve Breaston (for Anquan Boldin). As Arizona’s No. 3 wideout‹and punt returner — for three years, Breaston has compiled some impressive numbers. Over the last two seasons, he has caught 132 passes for six touchdowns, and in 2008 he was one of three 1,000-yard receivers — along with Larry Fitzgerald and Boldin — for the Cardinals.

With Boldin now in Baltimore, Breaston is expected to start opposite Larry Fitzgerald. Despite the loss of Boldin, coach Ken Whisenhunt believes the wide receivers can still put up impressive numbers.

"They’ve been productive — especially Steve having over 1,000 yards two seasons ago, so we’re just seeing more of the same thing that we’re used to," Whisenhunt said during organized team activities. "That’s part of the reason why we felt comfortable enough that we could consider trading Anquan.

We felt like Steve and Early (Doucet) could step up and do that job. And I haven’t seen anything out here that would lead me to think otherwise."

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com. Sporting News correspondent Geoff Mosher contributed to this story.

ST. LOUIS — That Rams defensive end Chris Long owns a pair of six-month-old English bulldogs — Rambo and Chubbs, who can’t last five minutes without getting some attention — seems about right.

Chris Long has more sacks than any of the seven defensive ends drafted in the first two rounds in ’08.

Tenacity is one of the characteristics of a bulldog. And Long is nothing if not tenacious.

The former Virginia lineman lines up and comes at you on every snap. In his first two NFL seasons, he has recorded 113 tackles, nine sacks and 31 quarterback pressures.

"If he were a late first-round pick or a second-round pick, then I think you’d be very happy with where he is," Seahawks vice president of football operations Will Lewis said.

But the Rams made Long the No. 2-overall pick in 2008, and with that selection came a lot of expectations. Big-time plays routinely. Double-digit sacks in a season. Pro Bowl berths.

None of that has occurred, which doesn’t mean Rams officials are unhappy with Long — they’re not — but has left some skeptics wondering if Long is another in a procession of high Rams picks to disappoint. Long admits it has been a challenging road, both individually and as a team. The Rams have won only three games in his two NFL seasons.

Asked which word best describes his first two seasons, Long replied: "Hectic. Frustrating and hectic. It’s just been hard to get into a rhythm or a flow, but I feel finally that time is kind of coming."

Since coming to St. Louis, Long has made the transition from a 3-4 defense in college to a 4-3 scheme, has had three head coaches (including interim head coach Jim Haslett) and has played in two different defenses.

But the statute of limitations is running out on the explanations. It’s time for Long to have a breakout season — and it could happen in ’10.

"I know some guys come in and make a big splash right away and maybe don’t get better or reach that level again," Long said. "I felt like I was solid for a rookie in my first year, and I’ve just continued to slowly get better. I’ve made a couple big jumps here and there, but I’d really like to make that really big jump this next year — and I think that will happen."

The light went on for Long midway through the ’09 season, during the Rams’ bye week. Until then, he felt like he had been playing under a yellow caution flag, wanting to avoid mistakes instead of playing aggressively. Finally, he thought the heck with that.

"Once I was able to get back to that mentality, my game opened back up," said Long, who recorded a sack in three of the first four games after the bye.

Long still hasn’t carved a reputation as a sackmeister, but he has more sacks than any of the seven defensive ends drafted in the first two rounds in ’08.

"He may not be getting the sacks, but the effort and athleticism show up when he does rush," Lewis said. "He’s got a good motor and he’s relentless and he’s playing hard all the time.

"He’s learning better pass-rush moves and better counter moves, so I think all those things are coming together."

Long is one of several Rams who has worked with a martial arts expert this offseason. The techniques he learned should help him use his hands and hips more effectively to shed blockers.

He also has switched from right end to left end, which he says is his more natural position.

"I feel like I can do both, and I’ll do whatever they ask me to do," he said, "but to be back primarily at the left is kind of exciting for me because I think I can do a lot more over there."

Is this the year Chris Long becomes explosive?

"That should be everybody’s expectation," Lewis said. "When you’re picked that high and you have the ability and athleticism and mindset to get better, if you’ve been coached hard and coached the right way, now it’s just kind of up to you to take off and go to the next level. It’s time to step up and make some plays."

It’s time for the bulldog to start playing like a pit bull.

Ahead of his class

Although Chris Long hasn’t yet lived up to expectations as the No. 2-overall pick in the ’08 draft, most of his statistics are better than the other six defensive ends selected in the first two rounds that year.

Pick Player, team                             Tackles     Sacks QBP  FF
2. Chris Long, Rams                         113         9         31      2
6. Vernon Gholston*, Jets                   19         0         3        0
8. Derrick Harvey*, Jaguars              104         5.5     49       0
28. Lawrence Jackson, Seahawks       61         6.5     17       2
32. Phillip Merling, Dolphins                59         3.5     11       0
50. Calais Campbell, Cardinals            78         7          3       2
52. Quentin Groves*, Jaguars              51         2.5     18       2

(Notes: QBP – QB pressures; FF – Forced fumbles; * – Also has played outside linebacker.)

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

Four second-year players — Colts running back Donald Brown, Lions safety Louis Delmas, Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno and 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree — talk with Sporting News‘ Dennis Dillon about their initial impressions of the NFL in a roundtable discussion.

Michael Crabtree caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season with the 49ers.

What advice would you give a rookie coming into the NFL?

Delmas: "Give 110 percent, no matter if you mess up on a play. When that ball is snapped, run as fast as you can to the ball. And if you catch the ball, run with it as fast as you can."

Moreno: "Learn from and listen to the veterans because they’re going to help you out. They’ve been through the situation you’re going through. Keep your ears open for the things you can get better at."

Crabtree: "Just work hard, stay in that playbook and don’t take any days off. Every day is a work day for you. And every day you can learn something."

What’s the biggest difference about playing your position in the NFL compared to college?

Brown: "Obviously, everybody is bigger, faster and stronger. The defensive linemen are a lot faster in the NFL than they were in college. There are some guys who are 300 pounds, but the way they can move on their feet and get to the ball — some of those guys are pretty impressive."

Moreno: "Basically, how fast it is and how holes open up so quick and you have to hit the hole on instinct."

Crabtree: "In the NFL, it’s discipline. All your routes have to be disciplined. Your depth on a route is probably the biggest difference. You’re running deeper routes, and you’ve got to run faster."

Which one teammate do you look up to most?

Brown: "We have a bunch of All-Pros on our team, not only on the field but off the field. Obviously, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, guys like that who are true Pro Bowl-caliber players but off the field they’re doing just as well — helping out in the community and being true role models."

Delmas: Kyle Vanden Bosch. "We just got him (as a free agent this offseason), but the first day he got here he stepped in as a leader and he’s continued to be one of the best leaders we have right now."

Moreno: "We have a lot of veterans I think people look up to, such as Correll Buckhalter and Brian Dawkins, just because of the way they carry themselves on and off the field. I think everyone looks up to them. They’re looking out for your best interests."

Did you hit the "rookie wall" last year?

Brown: (laughs) "I probably hit it twice. At that point, you take a step back, collect your thoughts and talk to a veteran. The veterans have been through it, too. They can help you through it. The important thing is taking care of your body. When you have a chance to rest, get off your feet and relax; don’t go do other things."

Veteran safety Brian Dawkins is one of the players Knowshon Moreno looks up to.

Delmas: "To me, there’s no such thing as a rookie wall. No matter if you hit it or not, you still have to go out there and play. I might have been tired, but I had good dudes around me who kept me motivated. I think I did a good job as a rookie as far as not breaking down."

Moreno: "There’s no way of avoiding it. It’s just basically keeping your body intact as well as you can, eating the right things and basically playing through it."

What was the strangest or funniest thing an opposing player said to you last year?

Delmas: "I was chit-chatting with (Bengals receiver) Laveranues Coles and he told me, ‘Man, you ain’t got enough years in the league. Get your bank up.’ Meaning get my money before I could even talk to him."

Moreno: "I can’t really hear out there. So much stuff is going on that it goes in one ear and out the other."

Crabtree: (laughs) "(Packers cornerback) Al Harris stared me down the whole game. I guess he was trying to intimidate me. That was kind of funny to me. I was in the huddle, he was staring at me. Coming out, he was staring at me. He was trying to play the whole tough-guy role, but it really didn’t work. I caught my first touchdown on him."

Is there an NFL player at your position you studied or tried to emulate?

Brown: "I watch pretty much every back. You always want to be your own player, but it doesn’t hurt to take little bits and pieces and learn from other running backs and try to make your game that much more complete."

Delmas: "Troy Polamalu. When you look at him, he doesn’t look like a safety when he moves … but because he’s so smart and watches so much film, he puts himself in great position to make plays. And that’s one thing I want to do this year."

Crabtree: "I try to steal something from everybody. Every receiver in the NFL, I try to steal something and put it in my own way."

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

A taste of success in his rookie season doesn’t mean a player has it all figured out. These five high-profile NFL sophomores know what they need to do to be better in 2010.

Colts RB Donald Brown

What he did: Rushed 78 times for 281 yards and three touchdowns playing behind starter Joseph Addai.

Donald Brown, a star back at UConn from 2006-08, skipped his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

What he wants to improve: "Just my knowledge of the game. Being that much more familiar with the offense, being that much more familiar with my opponents and just having my tools sharpened and being ready to go. Making my weaknesses my strengths and making my strengths even greater."

Lions FS Louis Delmas

What he did: Became the first rookie in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown, return a fumble for a touchdown and record a safety.

What he wants to improve: "Communication with the front seven. Last year, once I lined up I kind of got tunnel vision and didn’t always get my teammates in the right position. I’ve got to see the whole field, sideline to sideline."

Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno

What he did: Led all rookies in rushing yards (947), yards from scrimmage (1,160) and touchdowns (nine).

What he wants to improve: "There are a lot of things: My running reads, pass protection, everything. It’s never one thing you can improve on; it’s a lot of things you can get better at — even the things you do well.

49ers WR Michael Crabtree

What he did: Caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns even though he didn’t play until Oct. 25 because of a contract dispute.

What he wants to improve:"Probably my whole overall game. There’s not one aspect of the game you want to get better on. You just want to get better overall and take that next step in your second year and establish yourself as a top-five receiver.

Redskins LB Brian Orakpo

What he did: Tied for the team lead in sacks (11) and made 60 tackles.

What he wants to improve: "I want to harass the quarterback a lot more often than I did in ’09."

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

KANSAS CITY—If the Chiefs are going to be significantly better in 2010—and a team coming off a 4-12 record has much room for improvement—their young players on defense must make big-time contributions.

The Chiefs have invested a lot on defense in recent years. They have selected a defensive player with their No. 1 pick in five of the last six drafts, including each of the last three years, when they had a top-five pick overall. Now, it’s time for those players to step up and be pillars on defense.

Tyson Jackson must improve on a shaky rookie season with the Chiefs.

"They have to be," second-year coach Todd Haley said Monday, shortly after the team’s fourth practice of the offseason. "What I’ve been taught about the key to being a good team year in and year out is developing your young players. You’ve got to draft well, but then you’d better develop your young players. And that’s what I feel like is happening."

The Chiefs’ defense has undergone an evolution. It has changed from a 4-3 scheme under former coach Herm Edwards and coordinator Gunther Cunningham to a 3-4 hybrid last season under Haley to a more traditional 3-4 front under Romeo Crennel—the team’s third defensive coordinator in as many years.

Last season, the Chiefs finished 30th in the league in total defense, 31st in run defense and 29th in points allowed. They recorded 22 sacks—not a great number by league averages but a step up from ’08, when they had just 10 sacks, the fewest by a team in one season in NFL history. And they allowed too many explosive plays by the opponent.

"I’m not talking five or six; I’m talking 20 plays," Haley said. "We had plays on cutbacks that were going for 60 yards and a touchdown. Those are killers."

The Chiefs will improve defensively in 2010 if these five No. 1 draft picks contribute as expected.

DE/NT Glenn Dorsey (2008)

Dorsey struggled from the beginning last year. He came in out of shape and spent much of the season trying to regain his stamina. Skeptics wonder if the former 4-3 tackle is a good fit in a 3-4 scheme, but Haley says Dorsey has a unique skill set that allows him to play end and, sometimes, nose tackle.

Haley’s take: "This year, he didn’t go backwards. He came in way ahead of where he was. I think he’s got the right mindset to become a good player. To me, he has some versatility. If he’s doing the things he has to do, we’ll have him in there and he’ll end up being a contributor. And he has to be a big-time contributor."

DE Tyson Jackson (2009)

His rookie season was a real education for Jackson, who didn’t expect to be challenged as much as he was week after week. He has made gains in the weight room this offseason and should show improvement in ’10. His primary role will be to stop the run and keep blockers off the linebackers.

Haley’s take: "If you’re expecting big-time stats from him, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a lot of the other things that he’ll do that will allow other people to be productive."

OLB Tamba Hali (2006)

Despite making the switch from a 4-3 end to a 3-4 linebacker and sometimes struggling in coverage, Hali led the team with 8 1/2 sacks last season. He excels in rushing the passer and easily would have finished in double digits if he could have brought more quarterbacks to the ground.

Haley’s take: "He was one of our best, if not the best, players on defense last year. He’s worth watching on a down-to-down basis just to see a guy that plays with an unbelievable motor every snap. He’s relentless."

ILB Derrick Johnson (2005)

After starting 58 games in his first four seasons, Johnson made only three starts last season and saw his role reduced mostly to special teams. But he became only the third linebacker in NFL history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in one game—in the season finale at Denver. If Johnson can regain his starting position and display sideline-to-sideline running ability, he should be a good fit in Crennel’s scheme.

Haley’s take: "He’s the type of guy who should be productive in this defense. He’s in a position where he can make a lot of plays if he continues to push and go in the direction he’s going."

S Eric Berry (2010)

The fifth-overall pick last month, Berry was a high-rated player who met one of Kansas City’s biggest needs: A safety who should prevent opponents from turning those 5- or 6-yard gains into 30- or 40-yard plays. It might not be significant, but Berry ran with the first-team defense Monday after being third-stringer last week.

Haley’s take: "If the early indicators are any kind of sign, he should have a chance to come in and be a productive young guy for us."

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.  SN Redskins correspondent John Keim contributed to this story.

When the Steelers resume offseason practices Tuesday, the focus will be on the quarterback position. With Ben Roethlisberger suspended for the first six games of the season (it could be reduced to four games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell), Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon are battling it out to see who will start the season at quarterback. Coach Mike Tomlin talked to Sporting News‘ Dennis Dillon recently about how the situation will unfold.

Coach Mike Tomlin enters his fourth season as the Steelers head coach.

Q: How soon after Roethlisberger’s suspension was announced did you and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians start mapping out a survival plan?
Tomlin: We wouldn’t necessarily approach it from a survivalist mentality. We’re comfortable with the guys we have to work with. We’ve got experience with all of those guys. All those guys have played winning football for us here in the past. Basically, what we’re going to do is spend the remainder of the offseason working with these guys. All these guys are at different phases, if you will, in their careers. We like the group. We’re going to work with those guys. We’re going to make a decision at the end of the offseason about how we’re going to move forward, and then we’re going to do it.

Q: How will competition work during spring practices and training camp?
Tomlin: Setting up reps and giving each guy an opportunity to work with the ones (first-team offense) here in the OTA sessions. Prior to going to training camp, we’re going to make some hard and fast decisions. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a quarterback competition. I’ve never seen one of those three-headed quarterback competitions come out favorably. We’re going to make decisions and move forward and trust our instincts and go.

Q: How soon would you like to determine the starter?
Tomlin: We’ve mapped out a plan of how we’re going to approach this thing, determining a pecking order if you will of the guys by the end of the offseason. We’ll go into training camp with that plan in mind, put it into action and prepare ourselves to play football.

Q: So you’ll know who the starter is going into training camp?
Tomlin: There aren’t enough reps to go around to have a legitimate, three-headed quarterback competition. I’ve never seen one of those things work out well. We’re not going to delve into that. We’re going to work with these guys for the remainder of the offseason, make decisions from my gut instinct and move forward.

Q: Could you make cases why each of the three quarterbacks has a chance to be the starter?
Tomlin: Charlie Batch is a guy who has great experience, has great football intelligence. He requires a minimal number of snaps to be prepared to play. I think that’s a distinguishing characteristic when you talk about Charlie Batch. He doesn’t require a bunch of physical reps to be ready to play above-the-line football.

Byron Leftwich is a guy who knows what it’s about to be a franchise quarterback. He was that guy in Jacksonville; he was drafted very high (seventh overall in 2003) when he came out of school. He walks around the building with that kind of charismatic presence. Not arrogant in any way. He has charismatic leadership. He’s very comfortable in a franchise quarterback’s shoes, if you will.

Dennis Dixon is a talented young man with a tremendous upside. He’s not going to do anything but get better with (more) snaps. Of course, he came from a spread offense and operated quite a bit out of the shotgun. He’s grown by leaps and bounds in terms of playing underneath the center. Mechanically, the play-action game, reading the coverages — he’s just grown in just about every area you can name.

Q: The Steelers certainly are in a unique situation. Have you called any other coaches around the league, asking for advice on how to handle it?
Tomlin: I have not. Chances are other coaches around the league don’t care about my problems. Or they’re glad that I have them.

Q: If the Steelers are unbeaten when Roethlisberger’s suspension ends, would you be wary about disrupting that winning chemistry or would Roethlisberger get the job back immediately?
Tomlin: We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

It’s not easy for a rookie to turn heads at his first minicamp. Contact isn’t allowed, and there are only so many things he can do in a T-shirt and shorts.

Nonetheless, these 11 draft picks were among the rookies who made good first impressions during their NFL indoctrinations.

Despite all of the past controversy surrounding him, new Cowboys WR has received rave reviews so far.

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys (first round). In his first practice, he showed some fatigue. In his final practice, he twisted his ankle. In between, Bryant displayed outstanding hands and athletic ability. He caught just about every pass thrown his way and made at least a couple of spectacular receptions in every practice.

"Dez Bryant is an absolute talent," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips gushed. "You don’t get to be around that many players who come in and look that good that early. In 33 years, I can say that there haven’t been that many that have come in and looked that talented in the first three-day period as he has."

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals (first round). With Reggie Kelly still un-signed and Chase Coffman coming off a rookie season in which he was slowed by an ankle injury, Gresham has a chance to open the 2010 season as Cincinnati’s starting tight end if the Bengals can get him signed and into training camp on time. Although he missed the ’09 season with a knee injury, Gresham was a quick study at minicamp.

"I didn’t think he would be doing so well so quickly," tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes said. "His movement skills, his strength, his balance — all those things stand out to you. Not only is he a talented guy, he also has a little chip on his shoulder when he catches the ball. He’s a very, very competitive person."

Brandon Spikes, ILB, Patriots (second round). The former Florida linebacker has the immediate challenge of adjusting to the Patriots’ 3-4 defense after playing in a 4-3 scheme at Florida. He is expected to contribute right away and should be a standout defender against the run. At minicamp, he assumed the role of signal caller for the rookies on defense.

"I just want to come in and gain the respect of the coaching staff and my teammates," Spikes told the Boston Herald. "Let them know I’m here to contribute, I’m an accountable guy, and I’m going to be there when my number’s called. I just want the guys to know I’m dependable and they can count on me — rookie or not."

Kyle Wilson, CB, Jets (first round). The Jets are building quite a cornerback corps. In the offseason, they have acquired Antonio Cromartie and drafted Wilson out of Boise State to complement shutdown corner Darrelle Revis.

Drafted 43rd overall, Ravens LB Sergio Kindle had 168 tackles and 16 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Longhorns.

Wilson is projected to be the Jets’ nickel back and cover slot receivers. He also may get a chance to return punts. He looked so good at minicamp that defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman reportedly advised the team’s offensive coaches to not challenge Wilson.

Zane Beadles, OT, Broncos (second round). Given that left tackle Ryan Clady (torn patellar tendon) probably won’t be ready until at least the start of the regular season and the team’s uncertainty at guard, Beadles has a chance to find an immediate niche for himself in Denver. Although he primarily is a tackle, the former Utah lineman is versatile enough to be a swing lineman and play inside.

"He’s got a great attitude. We spent a lot of time with him before the draft, and he didn’t disappoint us this weekend with what he was able to do," coach Josh McDaniels said after Denver’s minicamp. "We tried to put a lot on him in two days and he reacted really well, as did the rest of our linemen that we had in this weekend."

Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Falcons (first round). Weatherspoon, who will be asked to learn both outside positions, is about 20 pounds lighter now than his playing weight in his final season at Missouri. Falcons coach Mike Smith thinks Weatherspoon has the speed to cover running backs and tight ends in the passing game.

Sergio Kindle, OLB, Ravens (second round). With Jarret Johnson sidelined (shoulder surgery), Kindle worked with the first team at minicamp. He could start off being used as a pass-rush specialist, like Terrell Suggs was as a rookie in ’03.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills (first round). He showed quickness and an explosive burst through the hole and was elusive dodging traffic once he got into the open field.

Jacques McClendon, G, Colts (fourth round. Coach Jim Caldwell believes McClendon, who can bench-press 645 pounds and has a master’s degree in sports management, can be a force in the middle of the line.

Tyson Alualu, DT (first round) and D’Anthony Smith, DT (third round), Jaguars. Coach Jack Del Rio thinks these two athletic, disruptive tackles will make Jacksonville’s line a more penetrating front up the middle.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

Four rounds and 157 picks remain in this three-day extravaganza known as the 2010 NFL draft, but we’re not going to let that stop us from declaring some early winners and losers. So let’s go to the scoreboard:

Ndamukong Suh should be key piece to Lions’ rebuild.

Winners

1. The Lions. They picked up two key rebuilding blocks in the first round, taking Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh — perhaps the best player in the draft, period — and Cal running back Jahvid Best.

Add those two to the veteran players Detroit has picked up this offseason, such as guard Rob Sims, defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and wide receiver Nate Burleson, and the Lions suddenly look like a team that could be on the rise. Second-year coach Jim Schwartz has something going in the Motor City.

2. Tim Tebow. Many coaches seemed concerned about his throwing mechanics, but Denver’s Josh McDaniels wasn’t one of them. The most overanalyzed player perhaps in the history of the draft, Tebow was the second quarterback off the board as the Broncos took him at No. 25.

With Kyle Orton already in place, the lefthanded Tebow should get the time he needs to develop into an NFL quarterback in Denver.

3. Dez Bryant. The much-maligned wide receiver from Oklahoma State probably couldn’t have landed in a better place than Dallas, which appears poised to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2010. How high are the Cowboys’ expectations for Bryant? High enough to hand him the fabled No. 88 jersey formerly worn by Drew Pearson and Hall of Fame wideout Michael Irvin.

4. The Big 12. Former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford started a conference parade when he was selected by the Rams with the first-overall pick. Four of the next five picks and nine overall in the first round have Big 12 pedigrees.

"It hit me right in the face when I was watching those first five or six picks," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "It goes to show the type of athleticism and athletic ability that’s out there on the field every weekend. It’s a great conference."

5. Football icons. Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees (Saints) and Hall of Fame players Jim Brown (Browns), Dan Marino (Dolphins) and Floyd Little (Broncos) were among the special guests who walked up to the podium at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and announced picks for their former teams in the first two rounds.

Losers

1. Jimmy Clausen. As if it wasn’t frustrating enough to watch his contract hopes sink by the millions when no team selected him in the first round, the former Notre Dame quarterback had to suffer the further indignity of waiting for nearly 90 minutes in the second round until the Panthers took him with the 48th-overall pick.

The draft experience had to be more painful for the former Golden Domer than playing against USC with two torn ligaments in his toe. Teams might have had more questions about Clausen than we thought.

By almost all accounts, Jaguars reached big time for Tyson Alualu.

2. Marshawn Lynch. If the emergence of Fred Jackson (1,062 rushing yards last season) wasn’t a sign that Lynch’s time in Buffalo might be short-lived, the selection of Clemson’s C.J. Spiller with the ninth-overall pick should have been.

Consider Ralph Wilson’s introduction of Spiller Friday to the Buffalo media: "It’s with great honor, C.J., to present you with the No. 1 number because you’re going to be the number one guy that’s going to get us going."

3. The Jaguars. GM Gene Smith can rationalize the selection of Cal defensive tackle Tyson Alualu from now until the start of the 2010 season, but Jacksonville fans aren’t going to buy it. No one — not Mel Kiper, not Mike Mayock, not Russ Lande — projected Alualu to be picked in the first round, much less with the 10th overall selection.

Don’t be surprised if there’s not a run on season tickets in Jacksonville.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

The verdict is in. NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell has suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first six games of the 2010 season and ordered him to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation.

This development will have wide-ranging consequences, even if Goodell decides to reduce the suspension to four games after taking the temperature of Roethlisberger’s progress before the season:

• On Roethlisberger: He was barred from participating in any more offseason activity with the Steelers until he completes the behavioral evaluation. Although Roethlisberger wasn’t charged after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Georgia nightclub on March 5, Goodell found him guilty of violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

This will hurt Roethlisberger in the wallet, too. He stands to lose close to $2.85 million in salary for next season if he misses six games.

• On the Steelers: Without the quarterback that helped lead them to two Super Bowl championships, they could struggle out of the gate. Although their first six games includes only one playoff team from the ’09 season (Baltimore), that early schedule may be more challenging than it looks.

The Steelers open at home against the Falcons, whose third-year quarterback Matt Ryan is one of the league’s rising stars. Their second game is on the road against the Titans, who made a late surge last season after Vince Young was reinstalled at quarterback. And Baltimore, their Week 4 opponent, is a division rival that is always tough.

• On Roethlisberger’s backup: The Steelers already had Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon on their roster before acquiring Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay for a seventh-round draft pick on Tuesday night. Although Batch has started in place of Roethlisberger before and Dixon started a game last year in his second season, Leftwich likely will get the call to start the 2010 season.

Leftwich backed up Roethlisberger in 2008, when he completed 21 of 36 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns in five games. He is familiar with the Steelers offensive system and most of the personnel, and he’s the best candidate to step in as the starter until Roethlisberger returns.

• On Roethlisberger’s advocacy: Although his teammates have outwardly expressed support for their quarterback, they may be starting to get weary of all the off-field distractions. First, there was the motorcycle accident in which Roethlisberger suffered serious injuries. Then, there was a similar assault accusation made against him last year by a woman who worked at a casino in Nevada.

• And what about Steeler Nation? Most Pittsburgh fans put the team first. They aren’t likely to support a player — premier quarterback or not — whose behavior continues to taint the franchise. Don’t be surprised if Big Ben gets a cold reception when he returns, whether it’s five or seven weeks into the season.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.