The NFL draft is supposed to be a talent equalizer with the weaker teams getting the picks of the litter and the stronger teams getting the later picks.
In theory, the draft should help create a more competitive landscape. In reality, it doesn’t always work out that way. Various factors give some teams more impact than other teams.
In the 75th NFL draft, which begins Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, these five teams could wind up being power brokers:
Seattle Seahawks
Trent Baalke will run his first draft for the 49ers and will have plenty of picks to make.
Their leverage: They have two of the first 14 picks (Nos. 6 and 14). They could trade one of those for multiple picks and get more players.
Their options: Seattle must replace perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones, whose career is probably over, but it might not have to do it with the sixth pick. The tackle position is one of the strongest in this year’s draft—many scouts say there are four or five tackles worthy of being selected in Round 1—so the Seahawks still could get a good one at No. 14.
Their view: "I’m always open to trading down, I really am," first-year G.M. John Schneider, who will work in conjunction with first-year coach Pete Carroll, told reporters recently. "We took pride in that in Green Bay. We will continue to do that."
San Francisco 49ers
Their leverage: They have two of the first 17 picks (Nos. 13 and 17). Like the Seahawks, they could deal one of those picks and stock up with more players.
Their options: The 49ers already have suitors. There are teams interested in trading up to get one of San Francisco’s two first-round picks. Their acquisition of Miami wide receiver/returner Ted Ginn last Friday for a fifth-round pick indicates director of player personnel Trent Baalke, who will be directing a draft for the first time, isn’t shy about making a deal.
The view: "We’re gonna be aggressive when we need to be aggressive and we’re going to be patient when we need to be patient, if that clears things up for you," Baalke, the team’s defacto G.M. said during a pre-draft meeting with reporters. "We’re not gonna sit back and say, ‘OK, everyone else, go pick your players.’ We’re going to get the players we have targeted. I can promise you that."
St. Louis Rams
Their leverage: They have the No. 1 pick in each of the seven rounds. Only the first round will be held Thursday, so it will be like the start of a new draft when Round 2 kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. ET. By then, the Rams will have had plenty of time to entertain trade proposals.
Their options: Unless they get an offer they can’t refuse, the Rams are expected to select Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1-overall pick. But that doesn’t mean they won’t consider trading that pick or one of their other six "No. 1" picks.
Their view: "Of course. But that’s for everybody. Anybody that comes up here, we’re open for more picks," Rams G.M. Billy Devaney said. "Nobody’s going to say, ‘Hell no, we don’t want more picks. We’re staying where we are.’ "
New England Patriots
Their leverage: They have more draft picks (12) than any other team, including four of the first 53 overall.
Their options: The Patriots could use a pass rusher, but don’t be surprised if they trade down from the No. 22-overall pick. They traded down twice in the first round last year, which helped allow them to stockpile so many picks this year.
Their view: "We’ve already received calls relative to our (three) second-round picks, so teams are interested in those for one reason or another, and that isn’t surprising to me," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "There are teams that don’t have them, and there are other teams that are looking at the potential quality of players there."
Philadelphia Eagles
Their leverage: They have almost as many picks (11) as the Patriots, including the 37th-overall pick. Why is that significant? Seattle traded the 37th pick in the ’09 draft to Denver, acquiring the Broncos’ first-round pick this year in return.
Their options: As the longtime executive vice president of football operations, coach Andy Reid wields the power in Philly and is responsible for making all final decisions on personnel. He has made at least one trade in all but one of his previous 11 drafts.
Their view: "We think we have a lot of ammunition, and if the opportunity presents itself we’ll go there," new general manager Howie Roseman said about potential trades. "I don’t think we would have (any problem doing that)."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
The NFL draft is supposed to be a talent equalizer with the weaker teams getting the picks of the litter and the stronger teams getting the later picks.
In theory, the draft should help create a more competitive landscape. In reality, it doesn’t always work out that way. Various factors give some teams more impact than other teams.
In the 75th NFL draft, which begins Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, these five teams could wind up being power brokers:
Seattle Seahawks
Trent Baalke will run his first draft for the 49ers and will have plenty of picks to make.
Their leverage: They have two of the first 14 picks (Nos. 6 and 14). They could trade one of those for multiple picks and get more players.
Their options: Seattle must replace perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones, whose career is probably over, but it might not have to do it with the sixth pick. The tackle position is one of the strongest in this year’s draft—many scouts say there are four or five tackles worthy of being selected in Round 1—so the Seahawks still could get a good one at No. 14.
Their view: "I’m always open to trading down, I really am," first-year G.M. John Schneider, who will work in conjunction with first-year coach Pete Carroll, told reporters recently. "We took pride in that in Green Bay. We will continue to do that."
San Francisco 49ers
Their leverage: They have two of the first 17 picks (Nos. 13 and 17). Like the Seahawks, they could deal one of those picks and stock up with more players.
Their options: The 49ers already have suitors. There are teams interested in trading up to get one of San Francisco’s two first-round picks. Their acquisition of Miami wide receiver/returner Ted Ginn last Friday for a fifth-round pick indicates director of player personnel Trent Baalke, who will be directing a draft for the first time, isn’t shy about making a deal.
The view: "We’re gonna be aggressive when we need to be aggressive and we’re going to be patient when we need to be patient, if that clears things up for you," Baalke, the team’s defacto G.M. said during a pre-draft meeting with reporters. "We’re not gonna sit back and say, ‘OK, everyone else, go pick your players.’ We’re going to get the players we have targeted. I can promise you that."
St. Louis Rams
Their leverage: They have the No. 1 pick in each of the seven rounds. Only the first round will be held Thursday, so it will be like the start of a new draft when Round 2 kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. ET. By then, the Rams will have had plenty of time to entertain trade proposals.
Their options: Unless they get an offer they can’t refuse, the Rams are expected to select Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1-overall pick. But that doesn’t mean they won’t consider trading that pick or one of their other six "No. 1" picks.
Their view: "Of course. But that’s for everybody. Anybody that comes up here, we’re open for more picks," Rams G.M. Billy Devaney said. "Nobody’s going to say, ‘Hell no, we don’t want more picks. We’re staying where we are.’ "
New England Patriots
Their leverage: They have more draft picks (12) than any other team, including four of the first 53 overall.
Their options: The Patriots could use a pass rusher, but don’t be surprised if they trade down from the No. 22-overall pick. They traded down twice in the first round last year, which helped allow them to stockpile so many picks this year.
Their view: "We’ve already received calls relative to our (three) second-round picks, so teams are interested in those for one reason or another, and that isn’t surprising to me," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "There are teams that don’t have them, and there are other teams that are looking at the potential quality of players there."
Philadelphia Eagles
Their leverage: They have almost as many picks (11) as the Patriots, including the 37th-overall pick. Why is that significant? Seattle traded the 37th pick in the ’09 draft to Denver, acquiring the Broncos’ first-round pick this year in return.
Their options: As the longtime executive vice president of football operations, coach Andy Reid wields the power in Philly and is responsible for making all final decisions on personnel. He has made at least one trade in all but one of his previous 11 drafts.
Their view: "We think we have a lot of ammunition, and if the opportunity presents itself we’ll go there," new general manager Howie Roseman said about potential trades. "I don’t think we would have (any problem doing that)."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Santonio Holmes changed the look of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. Without him, the Steelers might have to change the look of their draft board.
Speedy Mike Wallace needs a complement to keep the Steelers’ passing game going.
Before Pittsburgh shipped its Super Bowl 43 MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick late Sunday, you could have made a case that its No. 1 target in next week’s draft would have been an interior offensive lineman, such as Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey; a safety, such as Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays; or a cornerback, such as Joe Haden or Kyle Wilson.
Now, the Steelers might be looking in another direction with the 18th overall pick.
"Now, I think you have to look at (Dez) Bryant or (Demaryius) Thomas or one of these other (wide receivers) in the first round," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.
Putting his character issues aside — and that’s something the Steelers decided they no longer could do — Holmes has developed into one of the NFL’s best wideouts. He is fast, he is a deep threat, and, at 26, he is just moving into his prime. And no one will ever forget his balletic reception of Ben Roethlisberger’s game-winning pass in the Super Bowl 14 months ago.
The Holmes trade takes away more than just big numbers from the Steelers’ offense (he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns last season). It also removes a key component in the passing game. Holmes and Mike Wallace, a speedster who made a big contribution as a rookie last season, gave defenses double trouble.
"When you had Holmes on one side and Wallace on the other," Baldinger said, "either one of them could get behind the defense on any given play."
It might seem strange to see Pittsburgh and passing in the same sentence.
For years, running the ball was the Steelers’ hallmark. But with Bruce Arians as the coordinator and Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the philosophy has changed.
Last season, Pittsburgh attempted 108 more passes than runs (536-428), and only six other teams threw more touchdown passes than the Steelers’ 28. In recent seasons, the Steelers used more four-receiver sets and bunch formations. With Roethlisberger surrounded by playmaking weapons, they caught up to the rest of the NFL.
"If you’ve watched how they’ve evolved under Ben, they’ve become a pass-happy team in what is now a pass-happy NFL," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "It is about throwing the ball."
And the Steelers will continue to throw it. Hines Ward caught a team-high 95 passes for 1,167 yards and six touchdowns in ’09 … but he is 34 and mostly a possession receiver. Wallace had 39 catches for 756 yards and six TDs … but he doesn’t always play as big as his size (6 feet). This offseason, Pittsburgh brought back Antwaan Randle El (50 catches for 530 yards for the Redskins in ’09) … but he no longer is the playmaker he used to be.
Then there is Limas Sweed, who was disappointing — and that’s being generous — in his first two seasons; Arnaz Battle, who rarely distinguished himself during seven seasons in San Francisco; and a handful of young but unproven receivers.
"They have a lot of bodies, some with experience," Baldinger said. "But I don’t see anybody replacing what Santonio Holmes brought to that team."
And that’s why the Steelers may have to change their draft board.
This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
Santonio Holmes changed the look of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. Without him, the Steelers might have to change the look of their draft board.
Speedy Mike Wallace needs a complement to keep the Steelers’ passing game going.
Before Pittsburgh shipped its Super Bowl 43 MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick late Sunday, you could have made a case that its No. 1 target in next week’s draft would have been an interior offensive lineman, such as Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey; a safety, such as Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays; or a cornerback, such as Joe Haden or Kyle Wilson.
Now, the Steelers might be looking in another direction with the 18th overall pick.
"Now, I think you have to look at (Dez) Bryant or (Demaryius) Thomas or one of these other (wide receivers) in the first round," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.
Putting his character issues aside — and that’s something the Steelers decided they no longer could do — Holmes has developed into one of the NFL’s best wideouts. He is fast, he is a deep threat, and, at 26, he is just moving into his prime. And no one will ever forget his balletic reception of Ben Roethlisberger’s game-winning pass in the Super Bowl 14 months ago.
The Holmes trade takes away more than just big numbers from the Steelers’ offense (he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns last season). It also removes a key component in the passing game. Holmes and Mike Wallace, a speedster who made a big contribution as a rookie last season, gave defenses double trouble.
"When you had Holmes on one side and Wallace on the other," Baldinger said, "either one of them could get behind the defense on any given play."
It might seem strange to see Pittsburgh and passing in the same sentence.
For years, running the ball was the Steelers’ hallmark. But with Bruce Arians as the coordinator and Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the philosophy has changed.
Last season, Pittsburgh attempted 108 more passes than runs (536-428), and only six other teams threw more touchdown passes than the Steelers’ 28. In recent seasons, the Steelers used more four-receiver sets and bunch formations. With Roethlisberger surrounded by playmaking weapons, they caught up to the rest of the NFL.
"If you’ve watched how they’ve evolved under Ben, they’ve become a pass-happy team in what is now a pass-happy NFL," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "It is about throwing the ball."
And the Steelers will continue to throw it. Hines Ward caught a team-high 95 passes for 1,167 yards and six touchdowns in ’09 … but he is 34 and mostly a possession receiver. Wallace had 39 catches for 756 yards and six TDs … but he doesn’t always play as big as his size (6 feet). This offseason, Pittsburgh brought back Antwaan Randle El (50 catches for 530 yards for the Redskins in ’09) … but he no longer is the playmaker he used to be.
Then there is Limas Sweed, who was disappointing — and that’s being generous — in his first two seasons; Arnaz Battle, who rarely distinguished himself during seven seasons in San Francisco; and a handful of young but unproven receivers.
"They have a lot of bodies, some with experience," Baldinger said. "But I don’t see anybody replacing what Santonio Holmes brought to that team."
And that’s why the Steelers may have to change their draft board.
This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
When the Steelers opened their offseason program Monday, their left tackle, Max Starks, was 2,000 miles away in Arizona. It had nothing to do with a contract dispute or any other discontent on the part of Starks, who joined his Steelers teammates in Pittsburgh on Thursday. He has been training at the Athletes Performance center in Phoenix since 2004, the year the Steelers drafted him out of Florida.
Max Starks said working out in Phoenix ‘makes it easier for me to focus and get myself in the right mindset.’
Starks talked to Sporting News‘ Dennis Dillon about the advantages of working out at AP, the latest Ben Roethlisberger controversy and Starks’ new role.
Q: Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault of a woman in Georgia. What are your thoughts on his situation?
A: Ben is our quarterback. He’s a friend of mine. I support him in whatever happens. I wasn’t there; I haven’t talked to him about it. But we’ll always be there as teammates and as a team to uplift him. But that’s something he has to go through and deal with.
Q: Does he need to stop putting himself in these situations?
A: When you put people on pedestals, you’re always looking to knock them off those pedestals. That’s just the nature of our society. If it was any regular guy doing this, it wouldn’t be an issue. But because it’s a professional athlete, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the magnitude is that much greater, the scope is that much wider, the margin for error is that much less.
Q: If he gets suspended and you have to start the season without him, how will that affect the team?
A: Ben is a differencemaker and a phenomenal quarterback. Our team will just have to rebound. We have Dennis Dixon and we re-signed Charlie Batch, so we have some good quarterbacks who have stepped in in auxiliary roles before. On any given day, we have 47 guys dressing ready to rock and roll. As long as the core 47 that we put out there is ready to play, we should be OK. And we would anxiously await his arrival.
Q: What do you get from working out here that you don’t get in Pittsburgh?
A: It makes it easier for me to focus and get myself in the right mindset I need to be in before going back (to Pittsburgh) to train and get ready for the season. This is kind of that pseudo Zen type of focusing time for me. It gives me a lot better mental clarity.
Q: Are Steelers coaches OK with you being a few days late to the offseason program? A: When I’m out here, it’s not like I’m playing around or trying to get a couple extra rounds of golf in. They know how focused, serious and committed I am. So when I do come back, I’m ready to roll and I’m chipping in and putting my hand in the pile to get ready.
Q: Is there one thing specifically you’re trying to work on out here?
A: It’s always about performance, how to have better core strength. At the position I play, it’s key to have a lot of core power because you’re going from such a stagnant position— you’re crouched and coiled—to exploding out of that position. That generates from your core strength. I’m always working on balance and technique, and I think they do a great job here of making sure everything balances out.
Q: How disappointing was the ’09 season after winning the Super Bowl the year before?
A: It’s always disappointing when you can’t hold your ground or defend your championship. … This isn’t the first time we’ve done it. It brings us clarity to know that, OK, we can do this, we can get to a Super Bowl. We’ve done it twice. And we’ve also had two hangover seasons to complement it. But we have a very veteran group that’s motivated.
Q: If there’s one thing you want to do differently this year to help the Steelers return to the Super Bowl, what would it be?
A: I’ve never been one to be the rah-rah guy, the team speaker. But now, having reached this level of veteranhood, I think it’s time to put in my 2 cents. I’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot in this league. I can see when things are starting to turn. I’ve tried to play harder in the past to hopefully show my teammates that, hey, just keep your nose to the grindstone, your eyes looking forward and move ahead and it will be all right. I see now that I need to be a more vocal leader on this team and not just let performance speak for itself but also actions and my speech be along that same level.
Q: When do you plan to announce your arrival as a vocal leader?
A: The first opportunity when something needs to be said. As far as stepping up to the plate, if it’s necessary, and when that opportunity comes — which it will, because there’s always adverse times in the season where you’re going to have the fork in the road — I’ll be prepared.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
When the Steelers opened their offseason program Monday, their left tackle, Max Starks, was 2,000 miles away in Arizona. It had nothing to do with a contract dispute or any other discontent on the part of Starks, who joined his Steelers teammates in Pittsburgh on Thursday. He has been training at the Athletes Performance center in Phoenix since 2004, the year the Steelers drafted him out of Florida.
Max Starks said working out in Phoenix ‘makes it easier for me to focus and get myself in the right mindset.’
Starks talked to Sporting News‘ Dennis Dillon about the advantages of working out at AP, the latest Ben Roethlisberger controversy and Starks’ new role.
Q: Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault of a woman in Georgia. What are your thoughts on his situation?
A: Ben is our quarterback. He’s a friend of mine. I support him in whatever happens. I wasn’t there; I haven’t talked to him about it. But we’ll always be there as teammates and as a team to uplift him. But that’s something he has to go through and deal with.
Q: Does he need to stop putting himself in these situations?
A: When you put people on pedestals, you’re always looking to knock them off those pedestals. That’s just the nature of our society. If it was any regular guy doing this, it wouldn’t be an issue. But because it’s a professional athlete, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the magnitude is that much greater, the scope is that much wider, the margin for error is that much less.
Q: If he gets suspended and you have to start the season without him, how will that affect the team?
A: Ben is a differencemaker and a phenomenal quarterback. Our team will just have to rebound. We have Dennis Dixon and we re-signed Charlie Batch, so we have some good quarterbacks who have stepped in in auxiliary roles before. On any given day, we have 47 guys dressing ready to rock and roll. As long as the core 47 that we put out there is ready to play, we should be OK. And we would anxiously await his arrival.
Q: What do you get from working out here that you don’t get in Pittsburgh?
A: It makes it easier for me to focus and get myself in the right mindset I need to be in before going back (to Pittsburgh) to train and get ready for the season. This is kind of that pseudo Zen type of focusing time for me. It gives me a lot better mental clarity.
Q: Are Steelers coaches OK with you being a few days late to the offseason program? A: When I’m out here, it’s not like I’m playing around or trying to get a couple extra rounds of golf in. They know how focused, serious and committed I am. So when I do come back, I’m ready to roll and I’m chipping in and putting my hand in the pile to get ready.
Q: Is there one thing specifically you’re trying to work on out here?
A: It’s always about performance, how to have better core strength. At the position I play, it’s key to have a lot of core power because you’re going from such a stagnant position— you’re crouched and coiled—to exploding out of that position. That generates from your core strength. I’m always working on balance and technique, and I think they do a great job here of making sure everything balances out.
Q: How disappointing was the ’09 season after winning the Super Bowl the year before?
A: It’s always disappointing when you can’t hold your ground or defend your championship. … This isn’t the first time we’ve done it. It brings us clarity to know that, OK, we can do this, we can get to a Super Bowl. We’ve done it twice. And we’ve also had two hangover seasons to complement it. But we have a very veteran group that’s motivated.
Q: If there’s one thing you want to do differently this year to help the Steelers return to the Super Bowl, what would it be?
A: I’ve never been one to be the rah-rah guy, the team speaker. But now, having reached this level of veteranhood, I think it’s time to put in my 2 cents. I’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot in this league. I can see when things are starting to turn. I’ve tried to play harder in the past to hopefully show my teammates that, hey, just keep your nose to the grindstone, your eyes looking forward and move ahead and it will be all right. I see now that I need to be a more vocal leader on this team and not just let performance speak for itself but also actions and my speech be along that same level.
Q: When do you plan to announce your arrival as a vocal leader?
A: The first opportunity when something needs to be said. As far as stepping up to the plate, if it’s necessary, and when that opportunity comes — which it will, because there’s always adverse times in the season where you’re going to have the fork in the road — I’ll be prepared.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
PHOENIX — On the same day Dez Bryant performed at an exclusive workout for NFL coaches and scouts in Lufkin, Texas, one of his rivals for the distinction of being the first wide receiver picked in the 2010 draft ran pass routes for the first time in six weeks.
WR Demaryius Thomas showed first-round ability in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, totaling 1,154 receiving yards in 2009.
Ran would be an overstatement.
Demaryius Thomas jogged gingerly on the FieldTurf outside the Athletes Performance training center here Tuesday as he went through his route tree.
First, a slant. Then a hitch, followed by a quick out and a dig. A comeback, a post and a post-corner completed the repertoire. Thomas ran the routes several times from both sides of the field — visualizing catching the ball each time — under the watchful eyes of John Stemmerman, general manager and performance manager at AP.
"We have 16 days, basically," Stemmerman said. "I don’t want to fast-track you, but I want you to get as many reps as possible."
Thomas is on a mission. The former Georgia Tech wide receiver is preparing himself for a late pro day in Atlanta on Sunday, April 18, just four days before the draft.
"I’ll be the last man standing," he joked.
It’s remarkable that Thomas can jog, much less stand firmly on both feet. On Feb. 16, while training for the NFL Scouting Combine, he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot while running the 3-cone drill here.
Five days later, he underwent surgery.
Dr. Robert Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon for the Carolina Panthers, removed bone marrow from Thomas’ hip and injected it into the area of the fracture, which was repaired with a pin. A few days after that, Thomas flew to Indianapolis for the Combine, hobbling his way around on crutches.
Thomas graduated from a half cast to a walking boot March 4. The next day, he began intense physical therapy at AP. In the beginning, he used a bone stimulator, wore electrodes on his foot when he slept and received massage therapy. Gradually, he began upper-body weight lifting and non-weight bearing cardiovascular exercises on a treadmill and in a pool. The goal all along has been to help Thomas optimize the healing process, keep his calves, quads and glutes from atrophying and focus on proper form and mechanics in an attempt to prevent future injuries to his back or knees.
"This should be just a little hiccup, a speed bump, in his career," said Anna Hartman, an AP athletic trainer who has worked closely with Thomas during his rehab. "My goal is to make sure this is a hiccup for him and not something that creates (other) injuries for him down the road."
On Monday, Thomas did some rudimentary cutting on the field for the first time.
Stemmerman, who was working with him for the first day, looked at Hartman and asked which foot he had broken.
"Watching him, you can’t tell what foot he had surgery on," Hartman said.
After running routes Tuesday morning, Thomas did some resistance and acceleration exercises. The session concluded with Stemmerman, standing 10 yards away, throwing about 50 passes to Thomas, several of which purposely forced Thomas to lean or stretch. Once, he had to jump a foot off the ground to catch one of the throws. "My bad," Stemmerman said. "I didn’t mean for you to get up that high."
Before his injury, Thomas was rated as a first-round pick — remarkable considering Thomas played in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, where running plays were called about 80 percent of the time.
When the Yellow Jackets did throw, Thomas was the primary target. A vertical threat, he had 46 receptions for an ACC-leading 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He averaged a staggering 25.1 yards per catch.
NFL personnel men aren’t as concerned about Thomas’ foot injury — they know he’s well on the road to recovery — as they are his route-running skills. He ran mostly vertical routes in college.
"The bigger questions you have on him aren’t necessarily the physical ones," and AFC college scouting director said. "You don’t see him running a big route tree and that wasn’t a consistent passing offense, so you don’t see him run route after route after route.
"As a player, he’s a talented guy, no doubt. He’s big and he’s fast and he’s physical. I wouldn’t call him a refined route-runner, but not everyone is coming out."
As he lunched on a beef burrito here Tuesday, Thomas was asked where he thought he would be drafted.
"Looking at the mock drafts, it seems like no (wide receiver) is in the top five (picks)," he said. "I feel like I’m a top-10 athlete compared to everyone else. … Just watching the other (receivers) and seeing what they do, I feel like I block the best, I make more plays. I’m more explosive, bigger, maybe the fastest. I can’t say that yet; I haven’t run the 40."
That will come April 18. That’s when the last man standing hopes his eleventh-hour workout for scouts and personnel men will lead to some last-minute changes on NFL draft boards.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
PHOENIX — On the same day Dez Bryant performed at an exclusive workout for NFL coaches and scouts in Lufkin, Texas, one of his rivals for the distinction of being the first wide receiver picked in the 2010 draft ran pass routes for the first time in six weeks.
WR Demaryius Thomas showed first-round ability in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, totaling 1,154 receiving yards in 2009.
Ran would be an overstatement.
Demaryius Thomas jogged gingerly on the FieldTurf outside the Athletes Performance training center here Tuesday as he went through his route tree.
First, a slant. Then a hitch, followed by a quick out and a dig. A comeback, a post and a post-corner completed the repertoire. Thomas ran the routes several times from both sides of the field — visualizing catching the ball each time — under the watchful eyes of John Stemmerman, general manager and performance manager at AP.
"We have 16 days, basically," Stemmerman said. "I don’t want to fast-track you, but I want you to get as many reps as possible."
Thomas is on a mission. The former Georgia Tech wide receiver is preparing himself for a late pro day in Atlanta on Sunday, April 18, just four days before the draft.
"I’ll be the last man standing," he joked.
It’s remarkable that Thomas can jog, much less stand firmly on both feet. On Feb. 16, while training for the NFL Scouting Combine, he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot while running the 3-cone drill here.
Five days later, he underwent surgery.
Dr. Robert Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon for the Carolina Panthers, removed bone marrow from Thomas’ hip and injected it into the area of the fracture, which was repaired with a pin. A few days after that, Thomas flew to Indianapolis for the Combine, hobbling his way around on crutches.
Thomas graduated from a half cast to a walking boot March 4. The next day, he began intense physical therapy at AP. In the beginning, he used a bone stimulator, wore electrodes on his foot when he slept and received massage therapy. Gradually, he began upper-body weight lifting and non-weight bearing cardiovascular exercises on a treadmill and in a pool. The goal all along has been to help Thomas optimize the healing process, keep his calves, quads and glutes from atrophying and focus on proper form and mechanics in an attempt to prevent future injuries to his back or knees.
"This should be just a little hiccup, a speed bump, in his career," said Anna Hartman, an AP athletic trainer who has worked closely with Thomas during his rehab. "My goal is to make sure this is a hiccup for him and not something that creates (other) injuries for him down the road."
On Monday, Thomas did some rudimentary cutting on the field for the first time.
Stemmerman, who was working with him for the first day, looked at Hartman and asked which foot he had broken.
"Watching him, you can’t tell what foot he had surgery on," Hartman said.
After running routes Tuesday morning, Thomas did some resistance and acceleration exercises. The session concluded with Stemmerman, standing 10 yards away, throwing about 50 passes to Thomas, several of which purposely forced Thomas to lean or stretch. Once, he had to jump a foot off the ground to catch one of the throws. "My bad," Stemmerman said. "I didn’t mean for you to get up that high."
Before his injury, Thomas was rated as a first-round pick — remarkable considering Thomas played in a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, where running plays were called about 80 percent of the time.
When the Yellow Jackets did throw, Thomas was the primary target. A vertical threat, he had 46 receptions for an ACC-leading 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He averaged a staggering 25.1 yards per catch.
NFL personnel men aren’t as concerned about Thomas’ foot injury — they know he’s well on the road to recovery — as they are his route-running skills. He ran mostly vertical routes in college.
"The bigger questions you have on him aren’t necessarily the physical ones," and AFC college scouting director said. "You don’t see him running a big route tree and that wasn’t a consistent passing offense, so you don’t see him run route after route after route.
"As a player, he’s a talented guy, no doubt. He’s big and he’s fast and he’s physical. I wouldn’t call him a refined route-runner, but not everyone is coming out."
As he lunched on a beef burrito here Tuesday, Thomas was asked where he thought he would be drafted.
"Looking at the mock drafts, it seems like no (wide receiver) is in the top five (picks)," he said. "I feel like I’m a top-10 athlete compared to everyone else. … Just watching the other (receivers) and seeing what they do, I feel like I block the best, I make more plays. I’m more explosive, bigger, maybe the fastest. I can’t say that yet; I haven’t run the 40."
That will come April 18. That’s when the last man standing hopes his eleventh-hour workout for scouts and personnel men will lead to some last-minute changes on NFL draft boards.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Players have been moving up and down NFL teams’ draft boards for months. The reasons can be related to their all-star game performances, their workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine or the drills at their school’s pro day—or a character or personality nugget a scout might have discovered.
Dan Williams could be good alternative if a team can’t grab one of the top two defensive tackles.
After talking to three college scouting directors for NFL teams, we have identified three players who have risen and three who have fallen since the end of the 2009 season:
Moving up
1. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
Draft grade then: Top of third round or bottom of second.
Draft grade now: In the top 15-25 picks overall.
The skinny: After a good week at the Senior Bowl, Robinson followed up with an impressive Combine and pro day. He is a well-rounded cornerback who has an explosive burst and good coverage skills. Scouts say he has the ability to play press or zone coverage.
The view: "He plays as fast as he needs to play," an AFC college scouting director said, "and I think that’s a good quality to have."
2. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Draft grade then: Middle of second round.
Draft grade now: Late first round.
The skinny: Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy are considered the two elite defensive tackles in this draft. Everyone behind them is fighting for the next spot. Williams, a slow but steady riser in mock drafts but a player NFL teams have been fond of all along, could claim it.
What makes him most appealing is he could play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme or the 3-technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. He is a big guy who can clog the inside and is tough to move. Williams isn’t the most polished pass rusher but can get under a center, collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback.
The view: "He reassured everybody that what they saw on film is factually true," an NFC scouting director said.
3. Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU
Draft grade then: Top of the third round, bottom of the second.
Draft grade now: Top of the second round.
The skinny: This year’s outside linebackers class is considered a weak group, but Washington stands out—mainly because of his athleticism. He has excellent size (at 230 pounds, he’s actually 15 pounds bigger than some scouts thought) and good speed. Even if he only plays on special teams as a rookie, he should be ready to start at linebacker in Year 2.
The view: "He runs to the ball and makes plays all over the place," the NFC scouting director said. "That’s what you’re supposed to do."
Falling down
1. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
Draft grade then: First round.
Draft grade now: Second or third round.
The skinny: LaFell was a highly rated prospect after his junior season, and scouts expected him to perform even better in 2009. Instead, he couldn’t maintain the momentum—his production fell off, and he was inconsistent catching the ball—and he leveled off.
LaFell missed an opportunity to change perceptions about him when an injury prevented him from playing in the Senior Bowl. He also didn’t measure up well against the other wide receivers at the Combine, where he neither ran well nor performed well in drills.
The view: "When you turn on LSU film, you don’t see a player who dominates the competition he’s playing against," the AFC scouting director said. "You want to see that out of a big-time receiver."
2. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Draft grade then: Top-10 pick.
Draft grade now: Top of the second round.
The skinny: Scouts didn’t expect Spikes to run a blazing 40 at Florida’s pro day—and they weren’t disappointed. Speed is not Spikes’ forte. Brian Urlacher, he is not. This is what Spikes is: A big, tough, diagnostic playmaker—and he’ll probably start as a rookie. There’s not a lot of quality at linebacker in this draft class, so Spikes isn’t expected to drop too far.
The view: "The teams that like him are going to like him for what he is—an in-the-box, downhill, strong player who diagnoses quickly," a second AFC scouting director said. "He’s not a fast guy over 40 yards, but he can play quick in the box."
3. Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Draft grade then: Middle of first round.
Draft grade now: Bottom of second round or top of the third.
The skinny: Hardy has talent, all right. He just doesn’t show it often enough. As a junior and senior, he didn’t even start for Ole Miss; instead, he rotated in. Hardy is big and has pass-rush ability, but he doesn’t show it down-in and down-out. He also can be aloof at times, which won’t endear himself to NFL coaches.
The view: "Hardy has all the physical skills in the world," the NFC scouting director said. "But he’s got to do some soul searching and find out if football is important to him."
This story appears in March 26’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Players have been moving up and down NFL teams’ draft boards for months. The reasons can be related to their all-star game performances, their workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine or the drills at their school’s pro day—or a character or personality nugget a scout might have discovered.
Dan Williams could be good alternative if a team can’t grab one of the top two defensive tackles.
After talking to three college scouting directors for NFL teams, we have identified three players who have risen and three who have fallen since the end of the 2009 season:
Moving up
1. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
Draft grade then: Top of third round or bottom of second.
Draft grade now: In the top 15-25 picks overall.
The skinny: After a good week at the Senior Bowl, Robinson followed up with an impressive Combine and pro day. He is a well-rounded cornerback who has an explosive burst and good coverage skills. Scouts say he has the ability to play press or zone coverage.
The view: "He plays as fast as he needs to play," an AFC college scouting director said, "and I think that’s a good quality to have."
2. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Draft grade then: Middle of second round.
Draft grade now: Late first round.
The skinny: Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy are considered the two elite defensive tackles in this draft. Everyone behind them is fighting for the next spot. Williams, a slow but steady riser in mock drafts but a player NFL teams have been fond of all along, could claim it.
What makes him most appealing is he could play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme or the 3-technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. He is a big guy who can clog the inside and is tough to move. Williams isn’t the most polished pass rusher but can get under a center, collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback.
The view: "He reassured everybody that what they saw on film is factually true," an NFC scouting director said.
3. Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU
Draft grade then: Top of the third round, bottom of the second.
Draft grade now: Top of the second round.
The skinny: This year’s outside linebackers class is considered a weak group, but Washington stands out—mainly because of his athleticism. He has excellent size (at 230 pounds, he’s actually 15 pounds bigger than some scouts thought) and good speed. Even if he only plays on special teams as a rookie, he should be ready to start at linebacker in Year 2.
The view: "He runs to the ball and makes plays all over the place," the NFC scouting director said. "That’s what you’re supposed to do."
Falling down
1. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
Draft grade then: First round.
Draft grade now: Second or third round.
The skinny: LaFell was a highly rated prospect after his junior season, and scouts expected him to perform even better in 2009. Instead, he couldn’t maintain the momentum—his production fell off, and he was inconsistent catching the ball—and he leveled off.
LaFell missed an opportunity to change perceptions about him when an injury prevented him from playing in the Senior Bowl. He also didn’t measure up well against the other wide receivers at the Combine, where he neither ran well nor performed well in drills.
The view: "When you turn on LSU film, you don’t see a player who dominates the competition he’s playing against," the AFC scouting director said. "You want to see that out of a big-time receiver."
2. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Draft grade then: Top-10 pick.
Draft grade now: Top of the second round.
The skinny: Scouts didn’t expect Spikes to run a blazing 40 at Florida’s pro day—and they weren’t disappointed. Speed is not Spikes’ forte. Brian Urlacher, he is not. This is what Spikes is: A big, tough, diagnostic playmaker—and he’ll probably start as a rookie. There’s not a lot of quality at linebacker in this draft class, so Spikes isn’t expected to drop too far.
The view: "The teams that like him are going to like him for what he is—an in-the-box, downhill, strong player who diagnoses quickly," a second AFC scouting director said. "He’s not a fast guy over 40 yards, but he can play quick in the box."
3. Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Draft grade then: Middle of first round.
Draft grade now: Bottom of second round or top of the third.
The skinny: Hardy has talent, all right. He just doesn’t show it often enough. As a junior and senior, he didn’t even start for Ole Miss; instead, he rotated in. Hardy is big and has pass-rush ability, but he doesn’t show it down-in and down-out. He also can be aloof at times, which won’t endear himself to NFL coaches.
The view: "Hardy has all the physical skills in the world," the NFC scouting director said. "But he’s got to do some soul searching and find out if football is important to him."
This story appears in March 26’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
They may have been overshadowed by more notable moves — the Bears’ signing of Julius Peppers, the Ravens’ acquisition of Anquan Boldin or the Jets’ addition of LaDainian Tomlinson — but a bunch of quarterbacks have been on the move this offseason.
With Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn both gone, Panthers castoff Jake Delhomme inherits the job as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
Fifteen teams, nearly half the league, have made changes of one sort or another at QB.
These five players are the most intriguing quarterbacks with new addresses:
Jake Delhomme (signed by the Browns)
His past: Carolina’s starter from 2003 until the 12th game last season, Delhomme led the Panthers to their only Super Bowl appearance (after the 2003 season) and was a Pro Bowl pick in ’05. He imploded in a playoff loss to Arizona after the ’08 season, turning the ball over six times (including five interceptions), and had a career-high 18 picks last season before missing the final five games with a broken finger.
His future: Now that both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are gone, the Browns will turn to Delhomme, 35, as their No. 1 quarterback and veteran leader. He can start for two or three years, until president Mike Holmgren develops a young QB.
The take: "Mike Holmgren knows quarterbacks," former Seahawks coach Jim Mora said, "and I’m sure this is part of his master plan to drafting the future QB that leads them out of obscurity."
A.J. Feeley (signed by the Rams)
His past: Although he turns 33 in May, Feeley has played in only 23 regular-season games (15 starts). The highlight of his career was when he helped lead the Eagles to four victories in five starts after both Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer went down with injuries in ’02.
His future: Feeley comes into an unsettled quarterback situation in St. Louis. Neither long-time starter Marc Bulger (still under contract) nor Kyle Boller (unrestricted free agent) is expected back. Feeley could be the starter when the season opens, or a backup and valuable mentor to a young player such as Sam Bradford.
The take: "I see my role as an older quarterback that’s there to help out in any way possible," Feeley said in a conference call with St. Louis reporters.
Derek Anderson (signed by the Cardinals)
His past: Anderson, 26, had a breakout season in ’07 when he was handed the starting job after one week and wound up passing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns. He then bounced in and out of the starting lineup over the next two seasons as the Browns couldn’t decide between him and Brady Quinn.
His future: That breath Matt Leinart feels on his neck is coming from Anderson. A firstround pick in ’06, Leinart has yet to live up to expectations. Now that Kurt Warner has retired, Leinart will have to beat out Anderson for the starting job.
The take: "He doesn’t have great movement in the pocket but, boy, he can spin the ball," former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst Rich Gannon said of Anderson. "He’s perfect for that system and what they do there."
Rex Grossman (signed by the Redskins)
His past: After helping the Bears get to Super Bowl 41, Grossman started only eight games over the next two seasons in Chicago and went to Houston as a free agent after the ’08 season. He has had an up-and-down career with middling statistics (54.0 percent completion average, 33 touchdowns, 36 interceptions), but he is no stranger to starting.
His future: Grossman, 29, replaces Todd Collins as the Redskins’ No. 2 quarterback. But if new coach Mike Shanahan becomes disenchanted with Jason Campbell, he could switch to Grossman, who worked last year in Houston with new Redskins coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
The take: "Once again, Mike knows quarterbacks and he has a guy that can, at the very least, manage a game for him," Mora said.
Shaun Hill (traded to the Lions)
His past: He started 16 games over the last three seasons in San Francisco, where he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for almost 3,500 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
His future: In Detroit, Hill, 30, will back up Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft. But Hill could be a capable starter in a short-term situation. More important, Hill will be a good fit as a mentor to Stafford.
The take: "You’re always concerned about that quarterbacks meeting room and how those players get along — they spend a lot of time together — particularly a young player like Matthew Stafford, who’s still developing," Gannon said. "It’s good to have a veteran behind him who can help him and be another set of eyes. I think they get that with Shaun Hill."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
They may have been overshadowed by more notable moves — the Bears’ signing of Julius Peppers, the Ravens’ acquisition of Anquan Boldin or the Jets’ addition of LaDainian Tomlinson — but a bunch of quarterbacks have been on the move this offseason.
With Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn both gone, Panthers castoff Jake Delhomme inherits the job as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
Fifteen teams, nearly half the league, have made changes of one sort or another at QB.
These five players are the most intriguing quarterbacks with new addresses:
Jake Delhomme (signed by the Browns)
His past: Carolina’s starter from 2003 until the 12th game last season, Delhomme led the Panthers to their only Super Bowl appearance (after the 2003 season) and was a Pro Bowl pick in ’05. He imploded in a playoff loss to Arizona after the ’08 season, turning the ball over six times (including five interceptions), and had a career-high 18 picks last season before missing the final five games with a broken finger.
His future: Now that both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are gone, the Browns will turn to Delhomme, 35, as their No. 1 quarterback and veteran leader. He can start for two or three years, until president Mike Holmgren develops a young QB.
The take: "Mike Holmgren knows quarterbacks," former Seahawks coach Jim Mora said, "and I’m sure this is part of his master plan to drafting the future QB that leads them out of obscurity."
A.J. Feeley (signed by the Rams)
His past: Although he turns 33 in May, Feeley has played in only 23 regular-season games (15 starts). The highlight of his career was when he helped lead the Eagles to four victories in five starts after both Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer went down with injuries in ’02.
His future: Feeley comes into an unsettled quarterback situation in St. Louis. Neither long-time starter Marc Bulger (still under contract) nor Kyle Boller (unrestricted free agent) is expected back. Feeley could be the starter when the season opens, or a backup and valuable mentor to a young player such as Sam Bradford.
The take: "I see my role as an older quarterback that’s there to help out in any way possible," Feeley said in a conference call with St. Louis reporters.
Derek Anderson (signed by the Cardinals)
His past: Anderson, 26, had a breakout season in ’07 when he was handed the starting job after one week and wound up passing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns. He then bounced in and out of the starting lineup over the next two seasons as the Browns couldn’t decide between him and Brady Quinn.
His future: That breath Matt Leinart feels on his neck is coming from Anderson. A firstround pick in ’06, Leinart has yet to live up to expectations. Now that Kurt Warner has retired, Leinart will have to beat out Anderson for the starting job.
The take: "He doesn’t have great movement in the pocket but, boy, he can spin the ball," former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst Rich Gannon said of Anderson. "He’s perfect for that system and what they do there."
Rex Grossman (signed by the Redskins)
His past: After helping the Bears get to Super Bowl 41, Grossman started only eight games over the next two seasons in Chicago and went to Houston as a free agent after the ’08 season. He has had an up-and-down career with middling statistics (54.0 percent completion average, 33 touchdowns, 36 interceptions), but he is no stranger to starting.
His future: Grossman, 29, replaces Todd Collins as the Redskins’ No. 2 quarterback. But if new coach Mike Shanahan becomes disenchanted with Jason Campbell, he could switch to Grossman, who worked last year in Houston with new Redskins coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
The take: "Once again, Mike knows quarterbacks and he has a guy that can, at the very least, manage a game for him," Mora said.
Shaun Hill (traded to the Lions)
His past: He started 16 games over the last three seasons in San Francisco, where he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for almost 3,500 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
His future: In Detroit, Hill, 30, will back up Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft. But Hill could be a capable starter in a short-term situation. More important, Hill will be a good fit as a mentor to Stafford.
The take: "You’re always concerned about that quarterbacks meeting room and how those players get along — they spend a lot of time together — particularly a young player like Matthew Stafford, who’s still developing," Gannon said. "It’s good to have a veteran behind him who can help him and be another set of eyes. I think they get that with Shaun Hill."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Florida cornerback Joe Haden, a potential top 10 pick in the NFL draft, ran a disappointing 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine a couple of weeks ago in Indianapolis. He hopes to redeem himself Wednesday at his pro day in Gainesville, Fla. In a conversation with Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon, Haden talked about his football career.
Sporting News: How eager are you to run at your pro day?
Joe Haden: I can’t wait. My back is finally 100 percent, so I can’t wait to go out there and perform. I’m just anxious and ready to do it.
SN: Since the Combine, what have you been working on?
JH: All I’ve been working on is my 40 starts. That’s basically it. I’ve probably run about a thousand 40s.
SN: You ran a 4.57 40 at the Combine. How disappointed were you?
JH: I haven’t run that (slow) since my freshman year in high school, so I was really disappointed. Down in Florida, all I ran were 4.34s or 4.33s. So I’m looking forward to running in the 4.33 range like I always have.
SN: Why was your time in Indianapolis so slow?
JH: I had a back strain while I was working out before the Combine. I didn’t think it was going to affect my time like that. When I was running, it didn’t feel so good.
SN: A lot of players prepare for the Combine at special training centers all over the country. You stayed home in Fort Washington, Md., and worked out with your dad at his gym. What was that like?
JH: It was great, especially being able to sleep in your own bed at home. I have four younger brothers and just being able to spend time with them was special. And then to work out with my dad‹he’s been training me every since I was a little boy‹and to see my mom. Just to be able to come back home and hang out with all of them was a blessing.
SN: Do you feel like you’re the best cornerback in the draft?
JH: I feel like I’m definitely the best corner. What you get from me is what nobody else can give you at corner‹a strong, hard-nosed player who can lock down one side of the field and isn’t afraid to play man, isn’t afraid to blitz and isn’t afraid to tackle.
SN: You arrived at Florida as a quarterback, then moved to wide receiver and finally ended up at cornerback. How difficult was it to make that switch?
JH: It was definitely difficult, not having played the cornerback position before. But I had some good coaches who taught me what I needed to know. I had the ability to do what I needed to do; I just needed the coaching to know what was going on.
SN: You were the first true freshman at Florida to start at cornerback. What did that mean to you?
JH: I didn’t even know that until after the first game, when my dad texted me and congratulated me. That meant a whole lot to me. When I first got there, I was playing a different position. Just to switch over and start, and then be the first (true freshman) to ever start‹knowing how many great players have played at Florida‹was an honor.
SN: After setting several Maryland high school records for passing, you were recruited as a quarterback by several schools. How different would your career have been if you had played quarterback in college?
JH: It would have been a whole lot different. I don’t think I would be in the situation I am now. I know God put me in the best situation for me, and that was to go to Florida and switch over to corner. If I had been a quarterback, I don’t think I’d have left school early and I don’t think I’d be projected to go in the first round of the draft. I’m 5-10 and three-fourths; I don’t think there’s too many of those (quarterbacks) that go in the first round.
SN: Is there an NFL player who you admire or have tried to emulate?
JH: When I was younger, my favorite player was Michael Vick because I played quarterback. Then when I started playing corner, I started watching all the corners‹Nnamdi Asomugha from the Raiders; Charles Woodson‹he won the Heisman at Michigan as a corner; and Champ Bailey. This year, I was busy watching Darrelle Revis because what he did is definitely how I want to play in the NFL.
SN: What do you like about Revis?
JH: He doesn’t really play with a lot of fanfare. He just takes care of his business. He’s out there on an island, and whenever the ball comes over there he makes a play on it every time.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Florida cornerback Joe Haden, a potential top 10 pick in the NFL draft, ran a disappointing 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine a couple of weeks ago in Indianapolis. He hopes to redeem himself Wednesday at his pro day in Gainesville, Fla. In a conversation with Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon, Haden talked about his football career.
Sporting News: How eager are you to run at your pro day?
Joe Haden: I can’t wait. My back is finally 100 percent, so I can’t wait to go out there and perform. I’m just anxious and ready to do it.
SN: Since the Combine, what have you been working on?
JH: All I’ve been working on is my 40 starts. That’s basically it. I’ve probably run about a thousand 40s.
SN: You ran a 4.57 40 at the Combine. How disappointed were you?
JH: I haven’t run that (slow) since my freshman year in high school, so I was really disappointed. Down in Florida, all I ran were 4.34s or 4.33s. So I’m looking forward to running in the 4.33 range like I always have.
SN: Why was your time in Indianapolis so slow?
JH: I had a back strain while I was working out before the Combine. I didn’t think it was going to affect my time like that. When I was running, it didn’t feel so good.
SN: A lot of players prepare for the Combine at special training centers all over the country. You stayed home in Fort Washington, Md., and worked out with your dad at his gym. What was that like?
JH: It was great, especially being able to sleep in your own bed at home. I have four younger brothers and just being able to spend time with them was special. And then to work out with my dad‹he’s been training me every since I was a little boy‹and to see my mom. Just to be able to come back home and hang out with all of them was a blessing.
SN: Do you feel like you’re the best cornerback in the draft?
JH: I feel like I’m definitely the best corner. What you get from me is what nobody else can give you at corner‹a strong, hard-nosed player who can lock down one side of the field and isn’t afraid to play man, isn’t afraid to blitz and isn’t afraid to tackle.
SN: You arrived at Florida as a quarterback, then moved to wide receiver and finally ended up at cornerback. How difficult was it to make that switch?
JH: It was definitely difficult, not having played the cornerback position before. But I had some good coaches who taught me what I needed to know. I had the ability to do what I needed to do; I just needed the coaching to know what was going on.
SN: You were the first true freshman at Florida to start at cornerback. What did that mean to you?
JH: I didn’t even know that until after the first game, when my dad texted me and congratulated me. That meant a whole lot to me. When I first got there, I was playing a different position. Just to switch over and start, and then be the first (true freshman) to ever start‹knowing how many great players have played at Florida‹was an honor.
SN: After setting several Maryland high school records for passing, you were recruited as a quarterback by several schools. How different would your career have been if you had played quarterback in college?
JH: It would have been a whole lot different. I don’t think I would be in the situation I am now. I know God put me in the best situation for me, and that was to go to Florida and switch over to corner. If I had been a quarterback, I don’t think I’d have left school early and I don’t think I’d be projected to go in the first round of the draft. I’m 5-10 and three-fourths; I don’t think there’s too many of those (quarterbacks) that go in the first round.
SN: Is there an NFL player who you admire or have tried to emulate?
JH: When I was younger, my favorite player was Michael Vick because I played quarterback. Then when I started playing corner, I started watching all the corners‹Nnamdi Asomugha from the Raiders; Charles Woodson‹he won the Heisman at Michigan as a corner; and Champ Bailey. This year, I was busy watching Darrelle Revis because what he did is definitely how I want to play in the NFL.
SN: What do you like about Revis?
JH: He doesn’t really play with a lot of fanfare. He just takes care of his business. He’s out there on an island, and whenever the ball comes over there he makes a play on it every time.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
The ripest fruit doesn’t always grow on your neighbor’s tree. Sometimes it’s best to pick from your own vines.
On the opening day of free agency last week, while the Bears signed former Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers, the Lions corralled former Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Jets traded for San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie, the Colts quietly held a news conference to announce the re-signing of middle linebacker Gary Brackett.
In years past, the Colts have allowed their linebackers to leave. Mike Peterson, David Thornton and Cato June all exited as free agents. This time, Indianapolis took care of its own by locking up Brackett with a five-year contract reportedly worth $33 million, of which $12 million was guaranteed.
The NFL has entered into what it likes to call uncharted waters. This is the first year since 1994 that there is no salary cap, which has made this class of free agents (they must have at least six years’ experience to qualify) mostly average.
So it makes a lot of sense for teams to retain their own core players rather than seek out the company of strangers. Or, as former NFL personnel man Bill Kuharich put it: "The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know."
A scrappy 5-11, 235-pound player in the middle of the Colts’ defense, Brackett has been devilish for opponents. He has totaled more than 100 tackles in each of his five seasons as a starter, including a team-leading 149 in ’07.
"He’s built for their defense—a guy who can diagnose, know where to be and run to the ball," Kuharich said.
Brackett is one of the leaders of an underrated defense that usually is overshadowed by Peyton Manning and the offense. He had 13 tackles in Super Bowl 43 and made one of the biggest plays of the game when he and fellow linebacker Clint Session teamed up to stop Saints running back Pierre Thomas at the 1-yard line on a fourth-and-goal play in the second quarter.
The Colts ended up losing that game, which is one reason Brackett wanted to stay in Indianapolis.
"I really felt that we had some unfinished business," he said at his press conference. "We went to the Super Bowl this year, but didn’t get the job done. I feel like we’re right there, we’re very competitive, and next year I think it is the same thing over again."
The Colts were one of several teams that made smart moves with a stay-at-home signing during the first week of free agency. Here are four others:
Kevin Walter has averaged 59 catches and 770 yards over the past three seasons with the Texans.
• Kevin Walter, WR, Texans (five years/$21.5 million/$8 million bonus). Andre Johnson is Houston’s premier wideout, but the 6-3 Walter is more than a sidekick. In the past three seasons, he has quietly averaged 59 catches and 770 receiving yards while scored 14 touchdowns combined.
"He does a great job running routes, is easy to find over the middle and is a great blocker," former Seahawks coach Jim Mora said.
• Ryan Clark, FS, Steelers (four years/$14 million). Although fellow safety Troy Polamalu gets more attention and lines up in myriad places, Clark provides a strong presence in the deep middle of coordinator Dick LeBeau’s 3-4 defense. Clark is an instinctive player and one of the hardest hitters in the game. Just ask former Ravens running back Willis McGahee, who fumbled after getting smashed by Clark in the AFC championship game a year ago.
"The Steelers are a team that prides itself on its toughness, and this guy is tough," Mora said. "He knows the complexities of the system and allows Polamalu to free-lance."
• Chad Clifton, OT, Packers (three years/$19.8 million/$6.375 million bonus). He’ll turn 34 in June and was nicked up a bit last season, but Clifton was as much of a proven commodity as any of the left tackles that were on the market. He has been a longtime pillar for the Packers at one of the most important positions on offense—and one of the key reasons for the rapid development of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
"In a left tackle market that was lean in depth and front-line starting options among unrestricted free agents, Clifton was one of the better solutions despite his age," an AFC scout said. "He gives the Packers short-term stability at a critical spot."
• Leonard Weaver, FB, Eagles (one year/$1.75 million). He does a lot more than provide a 6-0, 250-pound fireplug in the backfield. Last season, he carried 70 times for 323 yards and two touchdowns—nearly surpassing his rushing totals for his three seasons in Seattle combined—and caught 15 passes for 140 yards and two more TDs.
"He is a different spin on their offense as a fullback who became more involved as the season went along in receiving and running the ball," Kuharich said.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
The ripest fruit doesn’t always grow on your neighbor’s tree. Sometimes it’s best to pick from your own vines.
On the opening day of free agency last week, while the Bears signed former Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers, the Lions corralled former Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Jets traded for San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie, the Colts quietly held a news conference to announce the re-signing of middle linebacker Gary Brackett.
In years past, the Colts have allowed their linebackers to leave. Mike Peterson, David Thornton and Cato June all exited as free agents. This time, Indianapolis took care of its own by locking up Brackett with a five-year contract reportedly worth $33 million, of which $12 million was guaranteed.
The NFL has entered into what it likes to call uncharted waters. This is the first year since 1994 that there is no salary cap, which has made this class of free agents (they must have at least six years’ experience to qualify) mostly average.
So it makes a lot of sense for teams to retain their own core players rather than seek out the company of strangers. Or, as former NFL personnel man Bill Kuharich put it: "The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know."
A scrappy 5-11, 235-pound player in the middle of the Colts’ defense, Brackett has been devilish for opponents. He has totaled more than 100 tackles in each of his five seasons as a starter, including a team-leading 149 in ’07.
"He’s built for their defense—a guy who can diagnose, know where to be and run to the ball," Kuharich said.
Brackett is one of the leaders of an underrated defense that usually is overshadowed by Peyton Manning and the offense. He had 13 tackles in Super Bowl 43 and made one of the biggest plays of the game when he and fellow linebacker Clint Session teamed up to stop Saints running back Pierre Thomas at the 1-yard line on a fourth-and-goal play in the second quarter.
The Colts ended up losing that game, which is one reason Brackett wanted to stay in Indianapolis.
"I really felt that we had some unfinished business," he said at his press conference. "We went to the Super Bowl this year, but didn’t get the job done. I feel like we’re right there, we’re very competitive, and next year I think it is the same thing over again."
The Colts were one of several teams that made smart moves with a stay-at-home signing during the first week of free agency. Here are four others:
Kevin Walter has averaged 59 catches and 770 yards over the past three seasons with the Texans.
• Kevin Walter, WR, Texans (five years/$21.5 million/$8 million bonus). Andre Johnson is Houston’s premier wideout, but the 6-3 Walter is more than a sidekick. In the past three seasons, he has quietly averaged 59 catches and 770 receiving yards while scored 14 touchdowns combined.
"He does a great job running routes, is easy to find over the middle and is a great blocker," former Seahawks coach Jim Mora said.
• Ryan Clark, FS, Steelers (four years/$14 million). Although fellow safety Troy Polamalu gets more attention and lines up in myriad places, Clark provides a strong presence in the deep middle of coordinator Dick LeBeau’s 3-4 defense. Clark is an instinctive player and one of the hardest hitters in the game. Just ask former Ravens running back Willis McGahee, who fumbled after getting smashed by Clark in the AFC championship game a year ago.
"The Steelers are a team that prides itself on its toughness, and this guy is tough," Mora said. "He knows the complexities of the system and allows Polamalu to free-lance."
• Chad Clifton, OT, Packers (three years/$19.8 million/$6.375 million bonus). He’ll turn 34 in June and was nicked up a bit last season, but Clifton was as much of a proven commodity as any of the left tackles that were on the market. He has been a longtime pillar for the Packers at one of the most important positions on offense—and one of the key reasons for the rapid development of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
"In a left tackle market that was lean in depth and front-line starting options among unrestricted free agents, Clifton was one of the better solutions despite his age," an AFC scout said. "He gives the Packers short-term stability at a critical spot."
• Leonard Weaver, FB, Eagles (one year/$1.75 million). He does a lot more than provide a 6-0, 250-pound fireplug in the backfield. Last season, he carried 70 times for 323 yards and two touchdowns—nearly surpassing his rushing totals for his three seasons in Seattle combined—and caught 15 passes for 140 yards and two more TDs.
"He is a different spin on their offense as a fullback who became more involved as the season went along in receiving and running the ball," Kuharich said.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
There’s a reason Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has been walking around with a smile on his face. He just received two belated Christmas presents.
First, the Ravens signed free-agent wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth. Then, they acquired former Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin (and a fifth-round draft pick) for third- and fourth-round draft picks. Then, on Wednesday, Derrick Mason, the team’s No. 1 wide receiver in 2009, re-signed for two more years.
The Ravens’ coaches plan to exploit Boldin’s versatility all over the field.
Baltimore’s wide receiver situation had screamed for an upgrade—Mason was the only consistently productive player at the position last season, and running back Ray Rice led the team in receptions—and Boldin and Stallworth should provide it.
"They’re great additions," Cameron said Wednesday.
In seven seasons with the Cardinals, most of them playing second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin averaged almost 84 catches and 1,074 yards per season. He has 44 touchdowns. He was the NFL’s 11th-leading receiver last season with 84 receptions for 1,024 yards and four touchdowns.
"He’s just a big, physical receiver who has been Pro Bowl productive his whole career," said Cameron, who likes Boldin’s versatility. "He can play the X (split end), he can play the Z (flanker) and he can come down inside and play the slot. We should hit the ground running with Anquan."
The Ravens might have to be more patient with Stallworth, suspended for the 2009 season after he was charged with DUI manslaughter (his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in Miami last April). In seven NFL seasons, Stallworth has caught 296 passes for 4,383 yards (14.8 average) and 32 touchdowns. He is expected to provide a vertical presence for the Ravens’ passing game.
"The one thing he’s always brought to the table is speed," Cameron said. "He (ran) a 4.2-something coming out of college. We clocked him in 4.4 when we worked him out, so the great news is he still can run."
Arizona drafted Boldin in the second round in 2003. There had been a serious discussion about Boldin in the Ravens’ war room that year, but general manager Ozzie Newsome didn’t pull the trigger because he didn’t think Boldin measurable skills met the club’s minimums.
Baltimore says Donte’ Stallworth still has the speed to stretch defenses.
"Not too many times do you get a chance to recover from a mistake, and I think I made a mistake in that draft worrying more about measurables than worrying about the football player," Newsome said at Boldin’s introductory press conference in Baltimore. "And what Anquan is, is a football player."
Now that Boldin and Stallworth have arrived, the next step is for them to start establishing a chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco. Cameron is less concerned about how the two receivers fit into the Ravens’ scheme—"X’s and O’s are X’s and O’s," he said—than he is about them forming bonds with the third-year quarterback.
Cameron hopes to accelerate that process during the offseason program, where Flacco will spend extra time throwing to his two new targets. Before practice. After practice. In the moments of down time during practice.
Flacco and Boldin got a jump-start last Saturday—coincidentally, it was the day of the Boldin trade—when they both attended Kurt Warner’s touch football fundraiser in Arizona. While they were there, Flacco threw some passes to Boldin.
Flacco generally is a man of few words, but he’s just as excited as Cameron is to have Boldin and Stallworth on his side.
"Deep inside," Cameron said, "I know he’s champing at the bit to get to work and start getting ready with these guys."
Although the Ravens ranked ninth in scoring last season, they were only 18th in passing yards. They went 9-7 and qualified for the playoffs as a wild-card team, but once they got into the postseason they were too one-dimensional. In two games, they rushed for 321 yards, including 234 in a wild-card win over New England, but their wideouts caught only eight passes for 112 yards.
Cameron, however, disputed the notion he didn’t have enough weapons in the passing game.
"We didn’t execute the way we could at times, but I never felt handcuffed," he said. "People have been putting all this stuff on our receivers. The bottom line is if we had executed the way we are capable, it probably wouldn’t be as much as a focal point."
If Boldin and Stallworth work out as expected — and Mason continues to be a key contributor at age 36 — much attention will be on the Ravens’ receivers again next season. For what they can do, rather than what they can’t.
Tough to catch
It might not be fair to blame the wide receivers for Baltimore’s aborted appearance in the playoffs—it beat the Patriots in the first round but lost to the Colts the next week—but the Ravens didn’t get much help from their wideouts.
In two playoff games, Ravens wide receivers caught only eight passes for 112 yards. Among the 12 playoff teams, only the Jets had fewer receptions, yards and touchdowns by their wide receivers during the regular season.
| Team |
Rec. |
Yards |
TDs |
| Patriots |
273 |
3,386 |
20 |
| Cardinals |
271 |
3,228 |
21 |
| Colts |
211 |
2,733 |
21 |
| Vikings |
207 |
2,825 |
19 |
| Packers |
193 |
2,934 |
17 |
| Bengals |
182 |
2,284 |
19 |
| Saints |
181 |
2,759 |
22 |
| Eagles |
175 |
2,754 |
16 |
| Cowboys |
170 |
2,755 |
24 |
| Chargers |
153 |
2,376 |
13 |
| Ravens |
149 |
2,081 |
10 |
| Jets |
134 |
1,844 |
9 |
This story appears in March 11’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
There’s a reason Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has been walking around with a smile on his face. He just received two belated Christmas presents.
First, the Ravens signed free-agent wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth. Then, they acquired former Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin (and a fifth-round draft pick) for third- and fourth-round draft picks. Then, on Wednesday, Derrick Mason, the team’s No. 1 wide receiver in 2009, re-signed for two more years.
The Ravens’ coaches plan to exploit Boldin’s versatility all over the field.
Baltimore’s wide receiver situation had screamed for an upgrade—Mason was the only consistently productive player at the position last season, and running back Ray Rice led the team in receptions—and Boldin and Stallworth should provide it.
"They’re great additions," Cameron said Wednesday.
In seven seasons with the Cardinals, most of them playing second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin averaged almost 84 catches and 1,074 yards per season. He has 44 touchdowns. He was the NFL’s 11th-leading receiver last season with 84 receptions for 1,024 yards and four touchdowns.
"He’s just a big, physical receiver who has been Pro Bowl productive his whole career," said Cameron, who likes Boldin’s versatility. "He can play the X (split end), he can play the Z (flanker) and he can come down inside and play the slot. We should hit the ground running with Anquan."
The Ravens might have to be more patient with Stallworth, suspended for the 2009 season after he was charged with DUI manslaughter (his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in Miami last April). In seven NFL seasons, Stallworth has caught 296 passes for 4,383 yards (14.8 average) and 32 touchdowns. He is expected to provide a vertical presence for the Ravens’ passing game.
"The one thing he’s always brought to the table is speed," Cameron said. "He (ran) a 4.2-something coming out of college. We clocked him in 4.4 when we worked him out, so the great news is he still can run."
Arizona drafted Boldin in the second round in 2003. There had been a serious discussion about Boldin in the Ravens’ war room that year, but general manager Ozzie Newsome didn’t pull the trigger because he didn’t think Boldin measurable skills met the club’s minimums.
Baltimore says Donte’ Stallworth still has the speed to stretch defenses.
"Not too many times do you get a chance to recover from a mistake, and I think I made a mistake in that draft worrying more about measurables than worrying about the football player," Newsome said at Boldin’s introductory press conference in Baltimore. "And what Anquan is, is a football player."
Now that Boldin and Stallworth have arrived, the next step is for them to start establishing a chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco. Cameron is less concerned about how the two receivers fit into the Ravens’ scheme—"X’s and O’s are X’s and O’s," he said—than he is about them forming bonds with the third-year quarterback.
Cameron hopes to accelerate that process during the offseason program, where Flacco will spend extra time throwing to his two new targets. Before practice. After practice. In the moments of down time during practice.
Flacco and Boldin got a jump-start last Saturday—coincidentally, it was the day of the Boldin trade—when they both attended Kurt Warner’s touch football fundraiser in Arizona. While they were there, Flacco threw some passes to Boldin.
Flacco generally is a man of few words, but he’s just as excited as Cameron is to have Boldin and Stallworth on his side.
"Deep inside," Cameron said, "I know he’s champing at the bit to get to work and start getting ready with these guys."
Although the Ravens ranked ninth in scoring last season, they were only 18th in passing yards. They went 9-7 and qualified for the playoffs as a wild-card team, but once they got into the postseason they were too one-dimensional. In two games, they rushed for 321 yards, including 234 in a wild-card win over New England, but their wideouts caught only eight passes for 112 yards.
Cameron, however, disputed the notion he didn’t have enough weapons in the passing game.
"We didn’t execute the way we could at times, but I never felt handcuffed," he said. "People have been putting all this stuff on our receivers. The bottom line is if we had executed the way we are capable, it probably wouldn’t be as much as a focal point."
If Boldin and Stallworth work out as expected — and Mason continues to be a key contributor at age 36 — much attention will be on the Ravens’ receivers again next season. For what they can do, rather than what they can’t.
Tough to catch
It might not be fair to blame the wide receivers for Baltimore’s aborted appearance in the playoffs—it beat the Patriots in the first round but lost to the Colts the next week—but the Ravens didn’t get much help from their wideouts.
In two playoff games, Ravens wide receivers caught only eight passes for 112 yards. Among the 12 playoff teams, only the Jets had fewer receptions, yards and touchdowns by their wide receivers during the regular season.
| Team |
Rec. |
Yards |
TDs |
| Patriots |
273 |
3,386 |
20 |
| Cardinals |
271 |
3,228 |
21 |
| Colts |
211 |
2,733 |
21 |
| Vikings |
207 |
2,825 |
19 |
| Packers |
193 |
2,934 |
17 |
| Bengals |
182 |
2,284 |
19 |
| Saints |
181 |
2,759 |
22 |
| Eagles |
175 |
2,754 |
16 |
| Cowboys |
170 |
2,755 |
24 |
| Chargers |
153 |
2,376 |
13 |
| Ravens |
149 |
2,081 |
10 |
| Jets |
134 |
1,844 |
9 |
This story appears in March 11’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
The Bears and Lions made the biggest splashes on the opening day of free agency — storming the market like early-bird shoppers on Black Friday — but several other teams spent money for players they hope will fit their plans.
Players such as defensive ends Julius Peppers (Bears) and Kyle Vanden Bosch (Lions); cornerbacks Dunta Robinson (Falcons) and Antonio Cromartie (Jets); wide receiver Anquan Boldin (Ravens); and linebacker Karlos Dansby (Dolphins) were grabbed off the shelves quickly.
Iyer: Signings cut both ways
The Trenches: Keep track of the latest news
Free-agent rankings: Iyer’s Top 50 | War Room’s Super 99
Lions coach Jim Schwartz, formerly Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, was eager to sign his former player — he was camped out in Vanden Bosch’s driveway when free agency started at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday — even though Vanden Bosch is 31. Schwartz understands that older veterans still can have value.
"Most of the unrestricted players available in free agency are going to be players who are 29, 30, 31 years old," Schwartz told reporters. "You can get mileage out of (such an older player) as long as you have a very specific role in mind for him and he fits in your scheme."
By Sunday night, the shopping had slowed to a trickle. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a second wave. There still are several free agents worth a look (if not a purchase):
Top unrestricted offensive players
1. Thomas Jones, RB. A running back’s career is supposed to start declining at age 30, but Jones had his best season last year—1,402 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. The Jets released him instead of paying him a $3.3 million roster bonus. And Jones is durable, starting 89 of 96 games the last six seasons.
If he’s OK with being a No. 2, Terrell Owens can still help teams.
"This is one of the tough decisions we had to make for our organization," Jets coach Rex Ryan said of Jones’ release. "When I got here, Thomas immediately became one of my guys. He had one of his best years last season; might have been his best."
2. Terrell Owens, WR. He no longer is a big playmaker, but he could be a solid complementary receiver who could gain 1,000 yards and score six to eight touchdowns.
3. Willie Parker, RB. "Fast" Willie is now more like "Medium" Willie. Parker, 29, still has straight-line speed and could contribute on a team with a running backs-by-committee philosophy.
4. Benjamin Watson, TE. He’s an athletic receiver (29 catches, five touchdowns last season for New England) and a solid blocker. Given the key role a tight end has on most teams, Watson has a lot to offer.
5. Antonio Bryant, WR. Even though he battled a knee injury most of last season in Tampa Bay, he still started 11 games, averaged 15.4 yards per reception and scored four touchdowns.
Top unrestricted defensive players
Darren Sharper can fill a need for a ballhawking safety.
1. Darren Sharper, FS. Patrolling center field for the Super Bowl champion Saints, he intercepted nine passes last season. His play tailed off near the end of the season, but he still can have a big presence on defense.
2. Leigh Bodden, CB. Arguably the best corner in the free-agent market after Robinson, Bodden had a solid ’09 season for the Patriots with five interceptions and 18 pass breakups.
3. Ryan Clark, FS. Troy Polamalu overshadowed him in the Steelers’ secondary, but don’t overlook Clark. He’s one of the most instinctive and hardest hitters in the league, and he had 100 unassisted tackles last year.
4. Adewale Ogunleye, DE. Better in a rotation than as an every-down player, Ogunleye is solid against the run and can get a half-dozen sacks a year.
5. Dwan Edwards, DE/DT. He played end in Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme but probably would be a tackle in a 4-3 system. He’s a good run defender who occasionally can pressure the quarterback.
Top restricted players
(require draft-pick compensation)
A familiar face might help persuade Brandon Marshall to come to Seattle.
1. Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos. The Seahawks are making eyes at him. He might be a good fit in Seattle, because Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was one of Denver’s offensive coaches in Marshall’s first three seasons.
2. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers. He’s a big playmaker who has the speed to get downfield and the size to be a mismatch for most defensive backs.
3. O.J. Atogwe, S, Rams. Wherever he is on the field, a turnover seems to follow. In the last three seasons, he has intercepted 15 passes and forced nine fumbles.
4. Antoine Bethea, S, Colts. A key cog in the secondary, Bethea led Indianapolis in tackles (120 total) and interceptions (four) last season.
5. Jahri Evans, G, Saints. Evans is one of the few restricted offensive linemen worth the price. He has been a durable anchor on the Saints’ line, starting all 64 games since he came into the league and was named to the All-Pro team for his work last season.
This story appears in March 8’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
The Bears and Lions made the biggest splashes on the opening day of free agency — storming the market like early-bird shoppers on Black Friday — but several other teams spent money for players they hope will fit their plans.
Players such as defensive ends Julius Peppers (Bears) and Kyle Vanden Bosch (Lions); cornerbacks Dunta Robinson (Falcons) and Antonio Cromartie (Jets); wide receiver Anquan Boldin (Ravens); and linebacker Karlos Dansby (Dolphins) were grabbed off the shelves quickly.
Iyer: Signings cut both ways
The Trenches: Keep track of the latest news
Free-agent rankings: Iyer’s Top 50 | War Room’s Super 99
Lions coach Jim Schwartz, formerly Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, was eager to sign his former player — he was camped out in Vanden Bosch’s driveway when free agency started at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday — even though Vanden Bosch is 31. Schwartz understands that older veterans still can have value.
"Most of the unrestricted players available in free agency are going to be players who are 29, 30, 31 years old," Schwartz told reporters. "You can get mileage out of (such an older player) as long as you have a very specific role in mind for him and he fits in your scheme."
By Sunday night, the shopping had slowed to a trickle. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a second wave. There still are several free agents worth a look (if not a purchase):
Top unrestricted offensive players
1. Thomas Jones, RB. A running back’s career is supposed to start declining at age 30, but Jones had his best season last year—1,402 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. The Jets released him instead of paying him a $3.3 million roster bonus. And Jones is durable, starting 89 of 96 games the last six seasons.
If he’s OK with being a No. 2, Terrell Owens can still help teams.
"This is one of the tough decisions we had to make for our organization," Jets coach Rex Ryan said of Jones’ release. "When I got here, Thomas immediately became one of my guys. He had one of his best years last season; might have been his best."
2. Terrell Owens, WR. He no longer is a big playmaker, but he could be a solid complementary receiver who could gain 1,000 yards and score six to eight touchdowns.
3. Willie Parker, RB. "Fast" Willie is now more like "Medium" Willie. Parker, 29, still has straight-line speed and could contribute on a team with a running backs-by-committee philosophy.
4. Benjamin Watson, TE. He’s an athletic receiver (29 catches, five touchdowns last season for New England) and a solid blocker. Given the key role a tight end has on most teams, Watson has a lot to offer.
5. Antonio Bryant, WR. Even though he battled a knee injury most of last season in Tampa Bay, he still started 11 games, averaged 15.4 yards per reception and scored four touchdowns.
Top unrestricted defensive players
Darren Sharper can fill a need for a ballhawking safety.
1. Darren Sharper, FS. Patrolling center field for the Super Bowl champion Saints, he intercepted nine passes last season. His play tailed off near the end of the season, but he still can have a big presence on defense.
2. Leigh Bodden, CB. Arguably the best corner in the free-agent market after Robinson, Bodden had a solid ’09 season for the Patriots with five interceptions and 18 pass breakups.
3. Ryan Clark, FS. Troy Polamalu overshadowed him in the Steelers’ secondary, but don’t overlook Clark. He’s one of the most instinctive and hardest hitters in the league, and he had 100 unassisted tackles last year.
4. Adewale Ogunleye, DE. Better in a rotation than as an every-down player, Ogunleye is solid against the run and can get a half-dozen sacks a year.
5. Dwan Edwards, DE/DT. He played end in Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme but probably would be a tackle in a 4-3 system. He’s a good run defender who occasionally can pressure the quarterback.
Top restricted players
(require draft-pick compensation)
A familiar face might help persuade Brandon Marshall to come to Seattle.
1. Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos. The Seahawks are making eyes at him. He might be a good fit in Seattle, because Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was one of Denver’s offensive coaches in Marshall’s first three seasons.
2. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers. He’s a big playmaker who has the speed to get downfield and the size to be a mismatch for most defensive backs.
3. O.J. Atogwe, S, Rams. Wherever he is on the field, a turnover seems to follow. In the last three seasons, he has intercepted 15 passes and forced nine fumbles.
4. Antoine Bethea, S, Colts. A key cog in the secondary, Bethea led Indianapolis in tackles (120 total) and interceptions (four) last season.
5. Jahri Evans, G, Saints. Evans is one of the few restricted offensive linemen worth the price. He has been a durable anchor on the Saints’ line, starting all 64 games since he came into the league and was named to the All-Pro team for his work last season.
This story appears in March 8’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
