Sporting News staff reports
The attorney for Roger Clemens tells the New York Daily News an indictment remains a possibility in Clemens’ federal perjury case.
"I’ve always thought it was possible," the attorney, Rusty Hardin, says. "Obviously they’re still moving forward. (Federal prosecutors are) calling people in the grand jury, all of which would be a standard thing."
A grand jury in Washington, D.C., continues to hear testimony in the case. Prosecutors allege Clemens lied under oath when he told Congress he never used steroids or human growth hormone.
The Daily News also reports that part of the feds’ probe focused on the sexual nature of Clemens’ extramarital relationship with singer Mindy McCready. During their questioning of McCready, they wanted to know whether Clemens suffered from erectile dysfunction, which is a possible sign of steroids use.
Fox News reports a sex tape featuring McCready includes her saying she and Clemens had an affair and that Clemens had ED. McCready is trying to prevent the tape from being released by an adult film company that obtained the video.
Hardin tells the Daily News he has no knowledge of the tape’s existence and won’t comment on it. "I think responding to trash only gets you in the garbage can," Hardin says. "So we’re not going to do it."
Clemens’ legal issues also include an ongoing defamation suit against Brian McNamee, his former trainer. McNamee told federal investigators he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 to 2001.
Sporting News staff reports
The attorney for Roger Clemens tells the New York Daily News an indictment remains a possibility in Clemens’ federal perjury case.
"I’ve always thought it was possible," the attorney, Rusty Hardin, says. "Obviously they’re still moving forward. (Federal prosecutors are) calling people in the grand jury, all of which would be a standard thing."
A grand jury in Washington, D.C., continues to hear testimony in the case. Prosecutors allege Clemens lied under oath when he told Congress he never used steroids or human growth hormone.
The Daily News also reports that part of the feds’ probe focused on the sexual nature of Clemens’ extramarital relationship with singer Mindy McCready. During their questioning of McCready, they wanted to know whether Clemens suffered from erectile dysfunction, which is a possible sign of steroids use.
Fox News reports a sex tape featuring McCready includes her saying she and Clemens had an affair and that Clemens had ED. McCready is trying to prevent the tape from being released by an adult film company that obtained the video.
Hardin tells the Daily News he has no knowledge of the tape’s existence and won’t comment on it. "I think responding to trash only gets you in the garbage can," Hardin says. "So we’re not going to do it."
Clemens’ legal issues also include an ongoing defamation suit against Brian McNamee, his former trainer. McNamee told federal investigators he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 to 2001.
Sporting News staff reports
Negotiations on a long-term contract for Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo have stalled, MLB.com reports.
The site reports the Indians would like to sign Choo to a five-year contract with an option for a sixth year, but Choo and his agent, Scott Boras, have not expressed much interest in such a deal.
"It’s up to Boras and the Indians to figure that out," Choo told MLB.com on Tuesday. "That’s not my job. My job is to worry about the team."
Boras declined to comment to MLB.com about the negotiations.
Cleveland renewed Choo’s contract this spring, at slightly more than the major league minimum of $400,000. Choo will be eligible for arbitration next year.
Choo, 27, batted .300 with 20 home runs, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases last year in his first full big-league season.
Sporting News staff reports
Negotiations on a long-term contract for Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo have stalled, MLB.com reports.
The site reports the Indians would like to sign Choo to a five-year contract with an option for a sixth year, but Choo and his agent, Scott Boras, have not expressed much interest in such a deal.
"It’s up to Boras and the Indians to figure that out," Choo told MLB.com on Tuesday. "That’s not my job. My job is to worry about the team."
Boras declined to comment to MLB.com about the negotiations.
Cleveland renewed Choo’s contract this spring, at slightly more than the major league minimum of $400,000. Choo will be eligible for arbitration next year.
Choo, 27, batted .300 with 20 home runs, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases last year in his first full big-league season.
The San Diego Chargers lost to the Jets in the divisional playoffs last season. Want to know what Chargers’ Shaun Phillips is doing to prepare for next season? Send your question for Phillips, along with your name and hometown to at kbradley@sportingnews.com, and we’ll have Phillips answer five of the best ones in a future issue of Sporting News magazine.
The San Diego Chargers lost to the Jets in the divisional playoffs last season. Want to know what Chargers’ Shaun Phillips is doing to prepare for next season? Send your question for Phillips, along with your name and hometown to at kbradley@sportingnews.com, and we’ll have Phillips answer five of the best ones in a future issue of Sporting News magazine.
If you don’t agree that the best races will be in the American League, consider the numbers. Ten of 14 teams enter the season with a legitimate chance of reaching the postseason. In the NL, the Phillies and Cardinals are such clear favorites that the West could end up being the only close call.
Ranking the division races:
By leaving the Angels for the M’s, Chone Figgins may help change the dynamic in the AL West.
1. AL West
What’s to like: All four teams should contend in what shapes up as the majors’ deepest division. The three-time defending champion Angels lost four key players, including No. 1 starter John Lackey, while the Mariners, Rangers and Athletics all added potential aces in Cliff Lee, Rich Harden and Ben Sheets. Adding intrigue: The Angels’ blueprint is being copied as their three rivals put greater focus on defense and pitching. Seattle, in fact, snatched Angels catalyst Chone Figgins to pump up its offense.
"Everyone’s talking about three teams and discrediting Oakland, but they’re going to be a good defensive club with a very good pitching staff," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "You can make a legitimate case for any of the four teams."
Don’t be surprised if: Every team finishes .500. The A’s won 75 games last season — and that was after finishing on a seven-game losing streak.
Be surprised if: The Angels win fewer than 92 games. They have won at least that many in five of the past six seasons, the exception being an 89-win season in 2006.
2. AL East
What’s to like: The bullies have reloaded for another edition of the greatest rivalry in American sports. Game 1 of 18 will be Sunday night at Fenway Park. Whether the Yankees and Red Sox actually have improved remains to be determined. Boston sacrificed Jason Bay’s power for Mike Cameron’s defense, but that doesn’t mean it is better. New York is counting on the younger and more athletic Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner to replace postseason heroes Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. And don’t forget about the Rays. They could be the fourth-best team in the majors but only third-best in their own division.
Don’t be surprised if: The Yankees, Red Sox and Rays finish with 90 wins. Tampa Bay is too talented to finish 19 games behind the Yankees like it did last season.
Be surprised if: The Orioles aren’t the most improved team in the division. With a solid lineup and improved rotation, Baltimore should improve its win total into the 70s after finishing 64-98 in 2009.
With a healthy Grady Sizemore, the Indians may surprise.
3. AL Central
What’s to like: Picking a winner among the Twins, Tigers and White Sox is as tricky as figuring out who will close for Minnesota in place of the injured Joe Nathan.
Don’t be surprised if: The Indians are better than expected. Veterans Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook all are healthy and showing their old forms.
Be surprised if: A playoff isn’t needed to determine the division champ. There has been one the past two seasons.
4. NL West
What’s to like: This is the only division in which Sporting News is predicting a new champion from 2009. Thank you, Rockies. But if Colorado doesn’t have Huston Street healthy for most of the season, the Dodgers have the talent to make it three consecutive titles under Joe Torre.
Don’t be surprised if: The Giants remain stuck in third place because of a lack of offense. They needed Matt Holliday but settled for Mark DeRosa, Aubrey Huff and the return of Bengie Molina.
Be surprised if: The Diamondbacks finish last. Their rotation isn’t as thin as the Padres’ offense is lacking.
Dust Baker is on the hot seat in Cincinnati.
5. NL Central
What’s to like: If you don’t enjoy watching the game’s best player (Albert Pujols) or the game’s best 1-2 rotation punch (Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright), there always are the Cubs. Watching them come up short is as much a part of Chicago summers as the August air show.
Don’t be surprised if: This is Dusty Baker’s last season managing in Cincinnati. The Reds have become a trendy pick to contend. If they don’t, general manager Walt Jocketty might not extend Baker’s contract.
Be surprised if: The Pirates finish with a winning record. They are trying to avoid their 18th consecutive losing season.
6. NL East
What’s to like: The Phillies are making a run at history. A division crown would be their fourth in a row, a feat they never have accomplished. They also are gunning to become the first NL team to win three consecutive pennants since the Cardinals in the early-1940s. If Brad Lidge returns to his 2008 form, this shouldn’t be much of a race.
Don’t be surprised if: The Braves win the wild card, a reachable goal in Bobby Cox’s final season.
Be surprised if: The Nationals lose 100 games for a third straight season. Stephen Strasburg and Chien-Ming Wang will join the rotation at some point.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
If you don’t agree that the best races will be in the American League, consider the numbers. Ten of 14 teams enter the season with a legitimate chance of reaching the postseason. In the NL, the Phillies and Cardinals are such clear favorites that the West could end up being the only close call.
Ranking the division races:
By leaving the Angels for the M’s, Chone Figgins may help change the dynamic in the AL West.
1. AL West
What’s to like: All four teams should contend in what shapes up as the majors’ deepest division. The three-time defending champion Angels lost four key players, including No. 1 starter John Lackey, while the Mariners, Rangers and Athletics all added potential aces in Cliff Lee, Rich Harden and Ben Sheets. Adding intrigue: The Angels’ blueprint is being copied as their three rivals put greater focus on defense and pitching. Seattle, in fact, snatched Angels catalyst Chone Figgins to pump up its offense.
"Everyone’s talking about three teams and discrediting Oakland, but they’re going to be a good defensive club with a very good pitching staff," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "You can make a legitimate case for any of the four teams."
Don’t be surprised if: Every team finishes .500. The A’s won 75 games last season — and that was after finishing on a seven-game losing streak.
Be surprised if: The Angels win fewer than 92 games. They have won at least that many in five of the past six seasons, the exception being an 89-win season in 2006.
2. AL East
What’s to like: The bullies have reloaded for another edition of the greatest rivalry in American sports. Game 1 of 18 will be Sunday night at Fenway Park. Whether the Yankees and Red Sox actually have improved remains to be determined. Boston sacrificed Jason Bay’s power for Mike Cameron’s defense, but that doesn’t mean it is better. New York is counting on the younger and more athletic Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner to replace postseason heroes Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. And don’t forget about the Rays. They could be the fourth-best team in the majors but only third-best in their own division.
Don’t be surprised if: The Yankees, Red Sox and Rays finish with 90 wins. Tampa Bay is too talented to finish 19 games behind the Yankees like it did last season.
Be surprised if: The Orioles aren’t the most improved team in the division. With a solid lineup and improved rotation, Baltimore should improve its win total into the 70s after finishing 64-98 in 2009.
With a healthy Grady Sizemore, the Indians may surprise.
3. AL Central
What’s to like: Picking a winner among the Twins, Tigers and White Sox is as tricky as figuring out who will close for Minnesota in place of the injured Joe Nathan.
Don’t be surprised if: The Indians are better than expected. Veterans Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook all are healthy and showing their old forms.
Be surprised if: A playoff isn’t needed to determine the division champ. There has been one the past two seasons.
4. NL West
What’s to like: This is the only division in which Sporting News is predicting a new champion from 2009. Thank you, Rockies. But if Colorado doesn’t have Huston Street healthy for most of the season, the Dodgers have the talent to make it three consecutive titles under Joe Torre.
Don’t be surprised if: The Giants remain stuck in third place because of a lack of offense. They needed Matt Holliday but settled for Mark DeRosa, Aubrey Huff and the return of Bengie Molina.
Be surprised if: The Diamondbacks finish last. Their rotation isn’t as thin as the Padres’ offense is lacking.
Dust Baker is on the hot seat in Cincinnati.
5. NL Central
What’s to like: If you don’t enjoy watching the game’s best player (Albert Pujols) or the game’s best 1-2 rotation punch (Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright), there always are the Cubs. Watching them come up short is as much a part of Chicago summers as the August air show.
Don’t be surprised if: This is Dusty Baker’s last season managing in Cincinnati. The Reds have become a trendy pick to contend. If they don’t, general manager Walt Jocketty might not extend Baker’s contract.
Be surprised if: The Pirates finish with a winning record. They are trying to avoid their 18th consecutive losing season.
6. NL East
What’s to like: The Phillies are making a run at history. A division crown would be their fourth in a row, a feat they never have accomplished. They also are gunning to become the first NL team to win three consecutive pennants since the Cardinals in the early-1940s. If Brad Lidge returns to his 2008 form, this shouldn’t be much of a race.
Don’t be surprised if: The Braves win the wild card, a reachable goal in Bobby Cox’s final season.
Be surprised if: The Nationals lose 100 games for a third straight season. Stephen Strasburg and Chien-Ming Wang will join the rotation at some point.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant hasn’t played competitive football since Sept. 19 and sure looked like it Tuesday in a workout for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy, 49ers coach Mike Singletary and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll were among the NFL personnel people who made the trip to Lufkin, Texas, for an up-close viewing of Bryant’s first public workout since being suspended by the NCAA last season.
Bryant showed flashes of greatness but certainly didn’t "wow" anyone Tuesday.
He ran sharp routes, just like he did on game film, and did a good job of catching passes in most drills. He did struggle on routes with his back to the quarterback, where he had to turn quickly and catch passes just as he made his break.
In Combine-like drills, he did show explosive athleticism. He recorded an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump and a 38-inch vertical jump.
Bryant, however, showed only average speed. He ran the 40-yard dash with a slight breeze in the mid 4.5-second range and then against the wind in mid 4.6-second range. Scouts said the huge variance in times had more to with Bryant’s choppy and inconsistent starts than any wind.
More concerning is the fact Bryant seemed unprepared to properly run the short shuttle, long shuttle and 3-cone drills. He had to re-run several of the drills and never once ran hard to the finish, frustrating all in attendance. His hip movements looked tight, and he struggled to change directions quickly. He also quit the 225-pound bench press after 14 reps, even though he obviously could’ve done more.
Overall, Bryant’s disappointing day likely will lead to him falling on a number of team’s draft boards because personnel men now must question his work ethic. He had six months to prepare for this workout and still failed to shine.
Bryant once could’ve been the first receiver drafted. His only hope now to regain some lost draft stock is in private workouts for teams, hoping he can make that one team forget this disappointing performance.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande evaluates college players for Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room and GM Jr. Scouting LLC.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant hasn’t played competitive football since Sept. 19 and sure looked like it Tuesday in a workout for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy, 49ers coach Mike Singletary and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll were among the NFL personnel people who made the trip to Lufkin, Texas, for an up-close viewing of Bryant’s first public workout since being suspended by the NCAA last season.
Bryant showed flashes of greatness but certainly didn’t "wow" anyone Tuesday.
He ran sharp routes, just like he did on game film, and did a good job of catching passes in most drills. He did struggle on routes with his back to the quarterback, where he had to turn quickly and catch passes just as he made his break.
In Combine-like drills, he did show explosive athleticism. He recorded an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump and a 38-inch vertical jump.
Bryant, however, showed only average speed. He ran the 40-yard dash with a slight breeze in the mid 4.5-second range and then against the wind in mid 4.6-second range. Scouts said the huge variance in times had more to with Bryant’s choppy and inconsistent starts than any wind.
More concerning is the fact Bryant seemed unprepared to properly run the short shuttle, long shuttle and 3-cone drills. He had to re-run several of the drills and never once ran hard to the finish, frustrating all in attendance. His hip movements looked tight, and he struggled to change directions quickly. He also quit the 225-pound bench press after 14 reps, even though he obviously could’ve done more.
Overall, Bryant’s disappointing day likely will lead to him falling on a number of team’s draft boards because personnel men now must question his work ethic. He had six months to prepare for this workout and still failed to shine.
Bryant once could’ve been the first receiver drafted. His only hope now to regain some lost draft stock is in private workouts for teams, hoping he can make that one team forget this disappointing performance.
Former NFL scout Russ Lande evaluates college players for Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room and GM Jr. Scouting LLC.
Sporting News staff reports
Contract negotiations between the Red Sox and ace Josh Beckett have progressed enough that a deal could be reached in the next week or two, according to ESPN.
According to the report, the Red Sox have offered the righthander a guaranteed four-year deal comparable to the contract they gave free agent righthander John Lackey this past offseason. However, ESPN reported the Red Sox won’t guarantee a fifth season in talks with Beckett.
Beckett, the team’s opening night starter Sunday against the Yankees, is in the final season of the contract he signed in 2007.
Beckett, 30, went 17-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts last season and is 65-34 with a 4.05 ERA in four seasons with Boston. In eight postseason starts with the Red Sox, Beckett is 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA.
Sporting News staff reports
Contract negotiations between the Red Sox and ace Josh Beckett have progressed enough that a deal could be reached in the next week or two, according to ESPN.
According to the report, the Red Sox have offered the righthander a guaranteed four-year deal comparable to the contract they gave free agent righthander John Lackey this past offseason. However, ESPN reported the Red Sox won’t guarantee a fifth season in talks with Beckett.
Beckett, the team’s opening night starter Sunday against the Yankees, is in the final season of the contract he signed in 2007.
Beckett, 30, went 17-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts last season and is 65-34 with a 4.05 ERA in four seasons with Boston. In eight postseason starts with the Red Sox, Beckett is 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA.
Dave Curtis, Sporting News
Corey Wootton may have some versatility when it comes to playing in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme in the NFL.
On Northwestern’s football website, defensive end Corey Wootton calls dealing with injuries his most humbling experience. He now says the ankle, knee and quadriceps problems that plagued him the last year-and-a-half have healed, and he proved it Monday to 29 NFL scouts with a strong performance at the school’s pro day. Wootton spoke with Sporting News‘ Dave Curtis and other reporters after his workout.
Q: How nerve-wracking was this day for you?
A: A little bit. I didn’t participate in the Combine. I didn’t do our last pro day. So I think it was all on the line today. And I think I did a pretty good job. I wish I could have run a little better, but you know, I was looking forward today and did a pretty good job. (Note: Wootton said he was hoping to run in the 4.8-range; Northwestern officials later released that the average of his two 40-yard dashes was 4.92 seconds.)
Q: Have scouts told you what round you should be drafted in?
A: Not really. We just talk about schemes and where they think I would fit, but nothing about round predictions.
Q: Where do you fit?
A: Well, some teams want me to line up over the tackle and play an end in a 3-4 scheme. They know I can be a 4-3 end. Some people think I can be a rush linebacker in a 3-4, a standup player. So I was doing some DB drills out there today. But there are three different possibilities for me.
Q: How much linebacker stuff have you ever done?
A: We’ve done stuff like that here, dropping (into coverage) from down in a stance. It’s something I like to do.
Q: When you’re getting ready to run a 40-yard dash, what goes through your head?
A: Just thinking, ‘Get out,’ and try to run as fast as I can. And hope for the best.
Q: Is a second-round pick realistic for you?
A: I’m hoping for it. You always hope for the best. You hope for the first round and that I impressed some people enough to do that. But you never know on draft day. You can go higher than expected, lower than expected. You just have to hope for the best.
Q: What kind of feedback did you get Monday?
A: They felt like I did a good job without the knee brace because I played with a brace all season. They thought my change of direction was good. And I’m still improving the strength in my legs and trying to get that right. I felt about 90 percent today. So I’ve got 10 percent to go. I’m just looking forward to getting that back.
Q: What are your plans for draft day, April 22?
A: I’ll be on the couch with my parents in New Jersey. Just hanging out.
Q: How odd has it to be poked and prodded the way you have? I think I saw one guy out there stretching you out.
A: I expected that. They’re going to make a million-dollar investment in you, so they want to know everything about you, your flexibility and your injuries. I would do the same if I was a head coach or a G.M.
Q: What did you show those people today?
A: I showed them I’m a lot healthier than I was during the season. I showed I could move around well without the brace and had good change-of-direction. They know I have a little bit left, and I’ll have it back by next season.
Q: Given your history, what kind of health concerns do you have going forward?
A: I don’t feel I have any. It’s just the strength of the leg. My knee is structurally fine. My ankle is fine. It’s just getting back that strength, and I believe I’ll be ready for next season.
Q: Do you fight a mental block about getting hurt again?
A: No. I’m past that point. It’s just the strength, and once I get that back I’ll be an even better player than I was when I was healthy two years ago.
Q: Any second thoughts about how you handled the past few months and not playing in the Senior Bowl or running at the Combine?
A: Not at all. The Senior Bowl, I thought a good decision for me to stick to workouts and get my leg strength up. That’s what I need to do to get better. The Combine, I wasn’t ready to run because I tweaked my quad. I warmed up, but I felt like I was going to pull it. So I thought it was best to wait until today.
Q: When you explain that reasoning to scouts, how do they respond?
A: They were understanding. They know what I’ve been through. They’re amazed I even played this season.
Dave Curtis, Sporting News
Corey Wootton may have some versatility when it comes to playing in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme in the NFL.
On Northwestern’s football website, defensive end Corey Wootton calls dealing with injuries his most humbling experience. He now says the ankle, knee and quadriceps problems that plagued him the last year-and-a-half have healed, and he proved it Monday to 29 NFL scouts with a strong performance at the school’s pro day. Wootton spoke with Sporting News‘ Dave Curtis and other reporters after his workout.
Q: How nerve-wracking was this day for you?
A: A little bit. I didn’t participate in the Combine. I didn’t do our last pro day. So I think it was all on the line today. And I think I did a pretty good job. I wish I could have run a little better, but you know, I was looking forward today and did a pretty good job. (Note: Wootton said he was hoping to run in the 4.8-range; Northwestern officials later released that the average of his two 40-yard dashes was 4.92 seconds.)
Q: Have scouts told you what round you should be drafted in?
A: Not really. We just talk about schemes and where they think I would fit, but nothing about round predictions.
Q: Where do you fit?
A: Well, some teams want me to line up over the tackle and play an end in a 3-4 scheme. They know I can be a 4-3 end. Some people think I can be a rush linebacker in a 3-4, a standup player. So I was doing some DB drills out there today. But there are three different possibilities for me.
Q: How much linebacker stuff have you ever done?
A: We’ve done stuff like that here, dropping (into coverage) from down in a stance. It’s something I like to do.
Q: When you’re getting ready to run a 40-yard dash, what goes through your head?
A: Just thinking, ‘Get out,’ and try to run as fast as I can. And hope for the best.
Q: Is a second-round pick realistic for you?
A: I’m hoping for it. You always hope for the best. You hope for the first round and that I impressed some people enough to do that. But you never know on draft day. You can go higher than expected, lower than expected. You just have to hope for the best.
Q: What kind of feedback did you get Monday?
A: They felt like I did a good job without the knee brace because I played with a brace all season. They thought my change of direction was good. And I’m still improving the strength in my legs and trying to get that right. I felt about 90 percent today. So I’ve got 10 percent to go. I’m just looking forward to getting that back.
Q: What are your plans for draft day, April 22?
A: I’ll be on the couch with my parents in New Jersey. Just hanging out.
Q: How odd has it to be poked and prodded the way you have? I think I saw one guy out there stretching you out.
A: I expected that. They’re going to make a million-dollar investment in you, so they want to know everything about you, your flexibility and your injuries. I would do the same if I was a head coach or a G.M.
Q: What did you show those people today?
A: I showed them I’m a lot healthier than I was during the season. I showed I could move around well without the brace and had good change-of-direction. They know I have a little bit left, and I’ll have it back by next season.
Q: Given your history, what kind of health concerns do you have going forward?
A: I don’t feel I have any. It’s just the strength of the leg. My knee is structurally fine. My ankle is fine. It’s just getting back that strength, and I believe I’ll be ready for next season.
Q: Do you fight a mental block about getting hurt again?
A: No. I’m past that point. It’s just the strength, and once I get that back I’ll be an even better player than I was when I was healthy two years ago.
Q: Any second thoughts about how you handled the past few months and not playing in the Senior Bowl or running at the Combine?
A: Not at all. The Senior Bowl, I thought a good decision for me to stick to workouts and get my leg strength up. That’s what I need to do to get better. The Combine, I wasn’t ready to run because I tweaked my quad. I warmed up, but I felt like I was going to pull it. So I thought it was best to wait until today.
Q: When you explain that reasoning to scouts, how do they respond?
A: They were understanding. They know what I’ve been through. They’re amazed I even played this season.
The only free agents the Marlins signed during the offseason received minor league contracts. Most of them, including Mike Lamb and Hector Luna, didn’t even play in the majors last season. Oh well, business as usual in South Florida.
But you should have learned by now, you don’t count out the Marlins. Besides their knack for finding bargains, they have one of the game’s best young rosters, which includes NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez, ace Josh Johnson and N.L. rookie of the year Chris Coghlan.
"Our goal is to always make the playoffs," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I never look at the money thing. I always look at the player. Our people do a terrific job of getting good players."
Three questions
1. Who will man the corners?
Gonzalez said recently that if the season opened now, the Marlins would start Jorge Cantu at third base and Gaby Sanchez or Logan Morrison at first. But there is a month of exhibition games to be played, and they will determine who plays where on April 5 when the Marlins open at the Mets.
In addition to the competition at first, rookie third baseman Jorge Jimenez will get a look. Acquired via the Astros in the Rule 5 draft, Jimenez has the advantage of being a lefthanded hitter on a team lacking lefthanded hitters. If Sanchez and Morrison falter and Jimenez hits, he could end up at third with Cantu returning to first. There also is a chance the club could add a veteran, though pickings are becoming slim. (UPDATE: The Marlins sent Jimenez back to the Red Sox.)
The Marlins expect young Cameron Maybin to win the job in center field.
2. Has Cameron Maybin’s time arrived?
One of the game’s top prospects since being drafted 10th overall by Detroit in 2005, the 22-year-old enters spring training with the center field his job to lose. He got an opportunity at the start of 2009 but struck out 31 times in his first 84 at-bats and was sent to Class AAA.
Maybin made good use of his time in the minors and displayed improved discipline and pitch recognition in a September call-up. "When we sent him to Triple-A last year, he worked on his swing," Gonzalez said. "First thing you noticed (when he returned), he wasn’t swinging at the pitches at the dirt. He showed us that he had made some improvements."
3. Will the rotation be a strength?
This is certain: The Marlins’ rotation will be young (27-year-old Ricky Nolasco is the senior member) and tall (only 6-foot Anibal Sanchez measures in at less than 6-2 among the main candidates) and will include the same cast as last season. But there is no guarantee it will meet expectations. Excluding Johnson, six Marlins made at least 10 starts last season and, among them, only Sanchez (3.87) posted a sub-4.30 ERA.
Gonzalez said Johnson, Sanchez and Nolasco have secured places in the rotation, but at least five others have a shot at the fourth and fifth spots. Gonzalez added that a season of pitching in a playoff race should pay off in 2010. "Every game was a meaningful game for our starters," Gonzalez says. "I said last year, at worst case, staying in the race like we did would be great experience for the guys. There’s no other way to experience that than doing it."
Projected lineup
1. LF Chris Coghlan. Led MLB in runs (54) and batting average (.372) after break.
2. CF Cameron Maybin. .319 average at AAA, .293 after call-up.
3. SS Hanley Ramirez. Leads NL in runs, hits since ’07.
4. 2B Dan Uggla. Averaged 31 HRs, 90 RBIs since ’07.
5. 3B Jorge Cantu. Only MLB player with 100 RBIs but fewer than 20 HRs.
6. RF Cody Ross. Just 34 BBs in 604 PAs in ’09.
7. C John Baker. Fourth-best OPS (.776) among N.L. catchers.
8. 1B Gaby Sanchez. .302/.392/.485 in 5 minor league seasons.
Projected rotation
Josh Johnson anchors the Florida rotation, but he needs more help.
1. RHP Josh Johnson. 209 IP in ’09; 103 IP from 2007-08.
2. RHP Ricky Nolasco. ERA shot from 3.52 to 5.06.
3. RHP Anibal Sanchez. Shoulder always a concern.
4. LHP Sean West. 4.79 ERA as rookie. (UPDATE: The Marlins optioned West to the minors.)
5. RHP Chris Volstad. Not a lock after posting 5.21 ERA.
Projected closer
RHP Leo Nunez. First-time closer was 26-of-33 in save chances.
Grades
Offense: A. Led by Ramirez, the Marlins ranked among the NL’s top five in runs, batting average and on-base percentage in 2009. Their lineup featured three players with 20-plus homers and returns virtually intact. Maybin’s development and the situation at first base are keys to further improvement.
Pitching C. The rotation is young and deep and features plenty of good arms, but it still ranked 10th in the NL with a 4.57 ERA. It is time for someone other than Johnson to emerge. The signing of Mike MacDougal, who was 20-for-21 in save chances after being traded to Washington last season, boosts an already solid bullpen. (UPDATE: The Marlins released MacDougal, who later re-signed with the Nationals.)
Bench: B. Emilio Bonifacio is as fast as anyone in the NL. and can play six positions. Wes Helms provides veteran stability and is a dangerous pinch hitter (17-for-49, .347). Jimenez could stick as a lefthanded bat off the bench. (UPDATE: The Marlins returned Jimenez to the Red Sox.)
Manager: B. The Marlins are known for overachieving, in no small part because Gonzalez knows how to put his players in position to succeed. He has had two winning seasons in his first three years with Florida, despite a payroll that annually ranks near the bottom.
Sporting News prediction: Questions about the Marlins’ rotation — coupled with improvement/better health from the Mets and a tough Braves staff — should knock Florida down a couple notches.
Coming Wednesday: Braves preview.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
The only free agents the Marlins signed during the offseason received minor league contracts. Most of them, including Mike Lamb and Hector Luna, didn’t even play in the majors last season. Oh well, business as usual in South Florida.
But you should have learned by now, you don’t count out the Marlins. Besides their knack for finding bargains, they have one of the game’s best young rosters, which includes NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez, ace Josh Johnson and N.L. rookie of the year Chris Coghlan.
"Our goal is to always make the playoffs," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I never look at the money thing. I always look at the player. Our people do a terrific job of getting good players."
Three questions
1. Who will man the corners?
Gonzalez said recently that if the season opened now, the Marlins would start Jorge Cantu at third base and Gaby Sanchez or Logan Morrison at first. But there is a month of exhibition games to be played, and they will determine who plays where on April 5 when the Marlins open at the Mets.
In addition to the competition at first, rookie third baseman Jorge Jimenez will get a look. Acquired via the Astros in the Rule 5 draft, Jimenez has the advantage of being a lefthanded hitter on a team lacking lefthanded hitters. If Sanchez and Morrison falter and Jimenez hits, he could end up at third with Cantu returning to first. There also is a chance the club could add a veteran, though pickings are becoming slim. (UPDATE: The Marlins sent Jimenez back to the Red Sox.)
The Marlins expect young Cameron Maybin to win the job in center field.
2. Has Cameron Maybin’s time arrived?
One of the game’s top prospects since being drafted 10th overall by Detroit in 2005, the 22-year-old enters spring training with the center field his job to lose. He got an opportunity at the start of 2009 but struck out 31 times in his first 84 at-bats and was sent to Class AAA.
Maybin made good use of his time in the minors and displayed improved discipline and pitch recognition in a September call-up. "When we sent him to Triple-A last year, he worked on his swing," Gonzalez said. "First thing you noticed (when he returned), he wasn’t swinging at the pitches at the dirt. He showed us that he had made some improvements."
3. Will the rotation be a strength?
This is certain: The Marlins’ rotation will be young (27-year-old Ricky Nolasco is the senior member) and tall (only 6-foot Anibal Sanchez measures in at less than 6-2 among the main candidates) and will include the same cast as last season. But there is no guarantee it will meet expectations. Excluding Johnson, six Marlins made at least 10 starts last season and, among them, only Sanchez (3.87) posted a sub-4.30 ERA.
Gonzalez said Johnson, Sanchez and Nolasco have secured places in the rotation, but at least five others have a shot at the fourth and fifth spots. Gonzalez added that a season of pitching in a playoff race should pay off in 2010. "Every game was a meaningful game for our starters," Gonzalez says. "I said last year, at worst case, staying in the race like we did would be great experience for the guys. There’s no other way to experience that than doing it."
Projected lineup
1. LF Chris Coghlan. Led MLB in runs (54) and batting average (.372) after break.
2. CF Cameron Maybin. .319 average at AAA, .293 after call-up.
3. SS Hanley Ramirez. Leads NL in runs, hits since ’07.
4. 2B Dan Uggla. Averaged 31 HRs, 90 RBIs since ’07.
5. 3B Jorge Cantu. Only MLB player with 100 RBIs but fewer than 20 HRs.
6. RF Cody Ross. Just 34 BBs in 604 PAs in ’09.
7. C John Baker. Fourth-best OPS (.776) among N.L. catchers.
8. 1B Gaby Sanchez. .302/.392/.485 in 5 minor league seasons.
Projected rotation
Josh Johnson anchors the Florida rotation, but he needs more help.
1. RHP Josh Johnson. 209 IP in ’09; 103 IP from 2007-08.
2. RHP Ricky Nolasco. ERA shot from 3.52 to 5.06.
3. RHP Anibal Sanchez. Shoulder always a concern.
4. LHP Sean West. 4.79 ERA as rookie. (UPDATE: The Marlins optioned West to the minors.)
5. RHP Chris Volstad. Not a lock after posting 5.21 ERA.
Projected closer
RHP Leo Nunez. First-time closer was 26-of-33 in save chances.
Grades
Offense: A. Led by Ramirez, the Marlins ranked among the NL’s top five in runs, batting average and on-base percentage in 2009. Their lineup featured three players with 20-plus homers and returns virtually intact. Maybin’s development and the situation at first base are keys to further improvement.
Pitching C. The rotation is young and deep and features plenty of good arms, but it still ranked 10th in the NL with a 4.57 ERA. It is time for someone other than Johnson to emerge. The signing of Mike MacDougal, who was 20-for-21 in save chances after being traded to Washington last season, boosts an already solid bullpen. (UPDATE: The Marlins released MacDougal, who later re-signed with the Nationals.)
Bench: B. Emilio Bonifacio is as fast as anyone in the NL. and can play six positions. Wes Helms provides veteran stability and is a dangerous pinch hitter (17-for-49, .347). Jimenez could stick as a lefthanded bat off the bench. (UPDATE: The Marlins returned Jimenez to the Red Sox.)
Manager: B. The Marlins are known for overachieving, in no small part because Gonzalez knows how to put his players in position to succeed. He has had two winning seasons in his first three years with Florida, despite a payroll that annually ranks near the bottom.
Sporting News prediction: Questions about the Marlins’ rotation — coupled with improvement/better health from the Mets and a tough Braves staff — should knock Florida down a couple notches.
Coming Wednesday: Braves preview.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
There is one thing the Blue Jays don’t have to worry about this season: high expectations. When they traded ace Roy Halladay, they pretty much gave up on what already were slim chances of contending. Toronto enters spring training with a reduced payroll, a rotation to be determined, an unsettled situation at closer, uncertainty at the corner outfield spots and questions about whether its highest-paid player, Vernon Wells, can bounce back. It isn’t a good formula to compete in the AL East.
Three questions
Can Veron Wells regain the form that made him a 2006 All-Star?
1. Who will take over for Halladay?
No one, of course. Halladay arguably has been the game’s best starter over the past decade. The Jays now don’t have a pitcher who has thrown 200 innings in a season. Subtract Halladay’s 2.79 ERA, and Toronto’s rotation had a 5.28 ERA in 2009.
The Jays are opting for quantity over quality, having invited more than 30 pitchers to major league camp. Seemingly half will be given a chance to start (the Jays used 12 starters last season). Plus, Shaun Marcum is healthy after missing all of ’09 and the Jays traded for two other candidates, Brandon Morrow and Dana Eveland.
Only lefthander Ricky Romero is guaranteed a rotation spot, but pitching coach Bruce Walton is excited about Morrow. "He has electric stuff and he’s a fierce competitor," Walton said. "I think he just needs to find out who he is — what his game style is — and he’s just going to take off."
2. Can Wells get well?
Wells emerged as one of the game’s top center fielders in 2006, when he made the All-Star team, hit .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs, won a Gold Glove and signed a huge extension. But in the three seasons since, he has regressed. Big time. Last season was a low point: a .260/.311/.400 stat line with 15 homers and 66 RBIs (both career lows).
What happened? At 31, Wells isn’t too old. Wrist, leg and shoulder injuries, however, have aged him. Wells played 158 games last season but was bothered by a sore left wrist that required offseason surgery. Compounding his struggles: He isn’t being paid like an over-the-hill veteran. The Jays owe him $107 million over the next five seasons, and though they were able to shed Halladay’s and Alex Rios’ big salaries, they likely are stuck with Wells’.
3. So, what’s to like?
New general manager Alex Anthopoulos has impressed his colleagues with his plan to boost the size of Toronto’s scouting department. But that strategy won’t pay off for a while. Likewise, it likely will take a year or two for top prospects Brett Wallace and Kyle Drabek, both acquired in the offseason, to make an impact.
For this season, the Jays will feature a lineup that includes two of the league’s top sluggers, second baseman Aaron Hill (36 homers, 108 RBIs) and DH Adam Lind (35 homers, 114 RBIs). Though Travis Snider struggled as a rookie, he is only 22 and the Jays are hoping he can lock down a starting outfield job during spring training. Finally, the Jays believe Romero can continue to develop into a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Projected lineup
1. RF Jose Bautista. Career-best .349 OBP in ’09.
2. 2B Aaron Hill. Career-high 36 HRs in comeback season.
3. DH Adam Lind. Slugger might hit cleanup if Wells slumps.
4. CF Vernon Wells. .214 AVG, .348 SLG at home.
5. 1B Lyle Overbay. .838 OPS was his best since ’06.
6. 3B Edwin Encarnacion. .240 AVG with Jays, .209 with Reds.
7. C John Buck. Has career .298 OBP.
8. LF Travis Snider. ’09 struggles led to Class AAA demotion.
9. SS Alex Gonzalez. Hit .284 with Red Sox, .210 with Reds.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Ricky Romero. 178 IP, 4.30 ERA in rookie season.
2. RHP Shaun Marcum. Missed ’09 after Tommy John surgery.
3. RHP Brandon Morrow. 3.68 ERA in 10 starts with Seattle.
4. LHP Brian Tallet. 5.41 ERA in 25 starts in ’09.
5. RHP Scott Richmond. Sore shoulder led to 5.52 ERA. (UPDATE: Richmond will begin the season on the disabled list.)
Projected closer
RHP Kevin Gregg. Has edge over Jason Frasor, Scott Downs. (UPDATE: Frasor won the job.)
Grades
Offense. B. Hill and Lind formed one of the most productive duos in the AL last year. They should get more help this season because Wells reportedly is healthy, Snider is a year older and Lyle Overbay is in a contract year.
Pitching. C. There is no shortage of good arms among the rotation candidates, but there is a huge lack of experience. And growing up in the AL East isn’t easy. One problem with having three closer candidates: It typically means each has an issue that prevents him from being the main guy.
Bench. C. John McDonald remains one of the game’s best utility players, and Randy Ruiz showed good power in limited opportunities. The addition of speedster Joey Gathright could boost a thin outfield, and the catcher depth is even thinner as a career backup enters spring training as the starer. (UPDATE: The Jays released Gathright last week.)
Manager. C. Cito Gaston won two World Series with the Jays in the early 1990s, but his old-school approach didn’t play well in 2009. As Gaston enters his final season in the dugout, the Jays could rally around him or they could mail it in and wait for the next guy.
Sporting News prediction: Their rotation lacks experience, their offense lacks a true leadoff hitter and their payroll lacks the oomph needed to hang with the big boys in the AL East. It will be a surprise if the Jays finish anywhere but last.
Coming Friday: Orioles preview.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
There is one thing the Blue Jays don’t have to worry about this season: high expectations. When they traded ace Roy Halladay, they pretty much gave up on what already were slim chances of contending. Toronto enters spring training with a reduced payroll, a rotation to be determined, an unsettled situation at closer, uncertainty at the corner outfield spots and questions about whether its highest-paid player, Vernon Wells, can bounce back. It isn’t a good formula to compete in the AL East.
Three questions
Can Veron Wells regain the form that made him a 2006 All-Star?
1. Who will take over for Halladay?
No one, of course. Halladay arguably has been the game’s best starter over the past decade. The Jays now don’t have a pitcher who has thrown 200 innings in a season. Subtract Halladay’s 2.79 ERA, and Toronto’s rotation had a 5.28 ERA in 2009.
The Jays are opting for quantity over quality, having invited more than 30 pitchers to major league camp. Seemingly half will be given a chance to start (the Jays used 12 starters last season). Plus, Shaun Marcum is healthy after missing all of ’09 and the Jays traded for two other candidates, Brandon Morrow and Dana Eveland.
Only lefthander Ricky Romero is guaranteed a rotation spot, but pitching coach Bruce Walton is excited about Morrow. "He has electric stuff and he’s a fierce competitor," Walton said. "I think he just needs to find out who he is — what his game style is — and he’s just going to take off."
2. Can Wells get well?
Wells emerged as one of the game’s top center fielders in 2006, when he made the All-Star team, hit .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs, won a Gold Glove and signed a huge extension. But in the three seasons since, he has regressed. Big time. Last season was a low point: a .260/.311/.400 stat line with 15 homers and 66 RBIs (both career lows).
What happened? At 31, Wells isn’t too old. Wrist, leg and shoulder injuries, however, have aged him. Wells played 158 games last season but was bothered by a sore left wrist that required offseason surgery. Compounding his struggles: He isn’t being paid like an over-the-hill veteran. The Jays owe him $107 million over the next five seasons, and though they were able to shed Halladay’s and Alex Rios’ big salaries, they likely are stuck with Wells’.
3. So, what’s to like?
New general manager Alex Anthopoulos has impressed his colleagues with his plan to boost the size of Toronto’s scouting department. But that strategy won’t pay off for a while. Likewise, it likely will take a year or two for top prospects Brett Wallace and Kyle Drabek, both acquired in the offseason, to make an impact.
For this season, the Jays will feature a lineup that includes two of the league’s top sluggers, second baseman Aaron Hill (36 homers, 108 RBIs) and DH Adam Lind (35 homers, 114 RBIs). Though Travis Snider struggled as a rookie, he is only 22 and the Jays are hoping he can lock down a starting outfield job during spring training. Finally, the Jays believe Romero can continue to develop into a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Projected lineup
1. RF Jose Bautista. Career-best .349 OBP in ’09.
2. 2B Aaron Hill. Career-high 36 HRs in comeback season.
3. DH Adam Lind. Slugger might hit cleanup if Wells slumps.
4. CF Vernon Wells. .214 AVG, .348 SLG at home.
5. 1B Lyle Overbay. .838 OPS was his best since ’06.
6. 3B Edwin Encarnacion. .240 AVG with Jays, .209 with Reds.
7. C John Buck. Has career .298 OBP.
8. LF Travis Snider. ’09 struggles led to Class AAA demotion.
9. SS Alex Gonzalez. Hit .284 with Red Sox, .210 with Reds.
Projected rotation
1. LHP Ricky Romero. 178 IP, 4.30 ERA in rookie season.
2. RHP Shaun Marcum. Missed ’09 after Tommy John surgery.
3. RHP Brandon Morrow. 3.68 ERA in 10 starts with Seattle.
4. LHP Brian Tallet. 5.41 ERA in 25 starts in ’09.
5. RHP Scott Richmond. Sore shoulder led to 5.52 ERA. (UPDATE: Richmond will begin the season on the disabled list.)
Projected closer
RHP Kevin Gregg. Has edge over Jason Frasor, Scott Downs. (UPDATE: Frasor won the job.)
Grades
Offense. B. Hill and Lind formed one of the most productive duos in the AL last year. They should get more help this season because Wells reportedly is healthy, Snider is a year older and Lyle Overbay is in a contract year.
Pitching. C. There is no shortage of good arms among the rotation candidates, but there is a huge lack of experience. And growing up in the AL East isn’t easy. One problem with having three closer candidates: It typically means each has an issue that prevents him from being the main guy.
Bench. C. John McDonald remains one of the game’s best utility players, and Randy Ruiz showed good power in limited opportunities. The addition of speedster Joey Gathright could boost a thin outfield, and the catcher depth is even thinner as a career backup enters spring training as the starer. (UPDATE: The Jays released Gathright last week.)
Manager. C. Cito Gaston won two World Series with the Jays in the early 1990s, but his old-school approach didn’t play well in 2009. As Gaston enters his final season in the dugout, the Jays could rally around him or they could mail it in and wait for the next guy.
Sporting News prediction: Their rotation lacks experience, their offense lacks a true leadoff hitter and their payroll lacks the oomph needed to hang with the big boys in the AL East. It will be a surprise if the Jays finish anywhere but last.
Coming Friday: Orioles preview.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
On Northwestern’s football Web site, defensive end Corey Wootton calls dealing with injuries his most humbling experience. He now says the ankle, knee and quadriceps problems that plagued him the last year-and-a-half have healed, and he proved it Monday to 29 NFL scouts with a strong performance at the school’s pro day. Wootton spoke with Sporting News‘ Dave Curtis and other reporters after his workout.
Question: How nerve-wracking was this day for you?
Corey Wootton: A little bit. I didn’t participate in the Combine. I didn’t do our last pro day. So I think it was all on the line today. And I think I did a pretty good job. I wish I could have run a little better, but you know, I was looking forward today and did a pretty good job. (Note: Wootton said he was hoping to run in the 4.8-range; Northwestern officials later released that the average of his two 40-yard dashes was 4.92 seconds.)
Q: Have scouts told you what round you should be drafted in?
CW: Not really. We just talk about schemes and where they think I would fit, but nothing about round predictions.
Q: Where do you fit?
CW: Well, some teams want me to line up over the tackle and play an end in a 3-4 scheme. They know I can be a 4-3 end. Some people think I can be a rush linebacker in a 3-4, a standup player. So I was doing some DB drills out there today. But there are three different possibilities for me.
Q: How much linebacker stuff have you ever done?
CW: We’ve done stuff like that here, dropping (into coverage) from down in a stance. It’s something I like to do.
Q: When you’re getting ready to run a 40-yard dash, what goes through your head?
CW: Just thinking, ‘Get out,’ and try to run as fast as I can. And hope for the best.
Q: Is a second-round pick realistic for you?
CW: I’m hoping for it. You always hope for the best. You hope for the first round and that I impressed some people enough to do that. But you never know on draft day. You can go higher than expected, lower than expected. You just have to hope for the best.
Q: What kind of feedback did you get Monday?
CW: They felt like I did a good job without the knee brace because I played with a brace all season. They thought my change of direction was good. And I’m still improving the strength in my legs and trying to get that right. I felt about 90 percent today. So I’ve got 10 percent to go. I’m just looking forward to getting that back.
Q: What are your plans for draft day, April 22?
CW: I’ll be on the couch with my parents in New Jersey. Just hanging out.
Q: How odd has it to be poked and prodded the way you have? I think I saw one guy out there stretching you out.
CW: I expected that. They’re going to make a million-dollar investment in you, so they want to know everything about you, your flexibility and your injuries. I would do the same if I was a head coach or a G.M.
Q: What did you show those people today?
CW: I showed them I’m a lot healthier than I was during the season. I showed I could move around well without the brace and had good change-of-direction. They know I have a little bit left, and I’ll have it back by next season.
Q: Given your history, what kind of health concerns do you have going forward?
CW: I don’t feel I have any. It’s just the strength of the leg. My knee is structurally fine. My ankle is fine. It’s just getting back that strength, and I believe I’ll be ready for next season.
Q: Do you fight a mental block about getting hurt again?
CW: No. I’m past that point. It’s just the strength, and once I get that back I’ll be an even better player than I was when I was healthy two years ago.
Q: Any second thoughts about how you handled the past few months and not playing in the Senior Bowl or running at the Combine?
CW: Not at all. The Senior Bowl, I thought a good decision for me to stick to workouts and get my leg strength up. That’s what I need to do to get better. The Combine, I wasn’t ready to run because I tweaked my quad. I warmed up, but I felt like I was going to pull it. So I thought it was best to wait until today.
Q: When you explain that reasoning to scouts, how do they respond?
CW: They were understanding. They know what I’ve been through. They’re amazed I even played this season.
This story appears in March 30’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
On Northwestern’s football Web site, defensive end Corey Wootton calls dealing with injuries his most humbling experience. He now says the ankle, knee and quadriceps problems that plagued him the last year-and-a-half have healed, and he proved it Monday to 29 NFL scouts with a strong performance at the school’s pro day. Wootton spoke with Sporting News‘ Dave Curtis and other reporters after his workout.
Question: How nerve-wracking was this day for you?
Corey Wootton: A little bit. I didn’t participate in the Combine. I didn’t do our last pro day. So I think it was all on the line today. And I think I did a pretty good job. I wish I could have run a little better, but you know, I was looking forward today and did a pretty good job. (Note: Wootton said he was hoping to run in the 4.8-range; Northwestern officials later released that the average of his two 40-yard dashes was 4.92 seconds.)
Q: Have scouts told you what round you should be drafted in?
CW: Not really. We just talk about schemes and where they think I would fit, but nothing about round predictions.
Q: Where do you fit?
CW: Well, some teams want me to line up over the tackle and play an end in a 3-4 scheme. They know I can be a 4-3 end. Some people think I can be a rush linebacker in a 3-4, a standup player. So I was doing some DB drills out there today. But there are three different possibilities for me.
Q: How much linebacker stuff have you ever done?
CW: We’ve done stuff like that here, dropping (into coverage) from down in a stance. It’s something I like to do.
Q: When you’re getting ready to run a 40-yard dash, what goes through your head?
CW: Just thinking, ‘Get out,’ and try to run as fast as I can. And hope for the best.
Q: Is a second-round pick realistic for you?
CW: I’m hoping for it. You always hope for the best. You hope for the first round and that I impressed some people enough to do that. But you never know on draft day. You can go higher than expected, lower than expected. You just have to hope for the best.
Q: What kind of feedback did you get Monday?
CW: They felt like I did a good job without the knee brace because I played with a brace all season. They thought my change of direction was good. And I’m still improving the strength in my legs and trying to get that right. I felt about 90 percent today. So I’ve got 10 percent to go. I’m just looking forward to getting that back.
Q: What are your plans for draft day, April 22?
CW: I’ll be on the couch with my parents in New Jersey. Just hanging out.
Q: How odd has it to be poked and prodded the way you have? I think I saw one guy out there stretching you out.
CW: I expected that. They’re going to make a million-dollar investment in you, so they want to know everything about you, your flexibility and your injuries. I would do the same if I was a head coach or a G.M.
Q: What did you show those people today?
CW: I showed them I’m a lot healthier than I was during the season. I showed I could move around well without the brace and had good change-of-direction. They know I have a little bit left, and I’ll have it back by next season.
Q: Given your history, what kind of health concerns do you have going forward?
CW: I don’t feel I have any. It’s just the strength of the leg. My knee is structurally fine. My ankle is fine. It’s just getting back that strength, and I believe I’ll be ready for next season.
Q: Do you fight a mental block about getting hurt again?
CW: No. I’m past that point. It’s just the strength, and once I get that back I’ll be an even better player than I was when I was healthy two years ago.
Q: Any second thoughts about how you handled the past few months and not playing in the Senior Bowl or running at the Combine?
CW: Not at all. The Senior Bowl, I thought a good decision for me to stick to workouts and get my leg strength up. That’s what I need to do to get better. The Combine, I wasn’t ready to run because I tweaked my quad. I warmed up, but I felt like I was going to pull it. So I thought it was best to wait until today.
Q: When you explain that reasoning to scouts, how do they respond?
CW: They were understanding. They know what I’ve been through. They’re amazed I even played this season.
This story appears in March 30’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
