Centrists

INDIANAPOLIS — The top two tight ends in this year’s NFL draft can’t wait to play football again. That’s because they were robbed of that opportunity in ’09.

Jermaine Gresham possibly improved his draft stock after working out at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday.

Arizona’s Rob Gronkowski suffered a back injury that required a microdisectomy, a procedure in which the doctor shaved off a disk that was sticking out on his spinal cord. Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham tore cartilage in his right knee during a practice. Neither player played a single snap last season.

"It was very tough watching my guys play and not being able to play with them," Gresham said. "That was the worst thing ever."

Gresham (6-5 1/4, 261) said he participated in all the drills at the Scouting Combine Saturday "because I’ve been away from football for so long." He ran a 4.76 40 — a little slower than some expected but a full second faster than Lions first-round tight end Brandon Pettigrew recorded last year — and completed 20 reps in the 225-pound bench press. Pettigrew had 22 reps at the 2009 Combine.

Rob Gronkowski chose to concentrate on interviewing and showing his imrpoved health at the Combine instead of working out.

By working out here, Gresham may have temporarily pulled ahead in the tight end duel. Gronkowski (6-6 1/4, 264) did not work out, opting to wait until Arizona’s pro day (March 12) or, more likely, his own personal workout in late March in Tucson. Gronkowski said his back is 100 percent but he has been running for only a few weeks.

"I need to get my conditioning back," Gronkowski said. "I feel like every single week my speed is improving, but I feel like I need about two or three more weeks to improve it to the fullest, where it was before my back injury."

Gronkowski, who performed only the bench press here and completed a solid 23 reps, said his main goals at the Combine were to interview well and prove he is healthy. "I believe I passed everything with flying colors," he said, referring to his medical exam.

Although they rank as the top two players at their position, Gronkowski and Gresham both acknowledged they have room for improvement. Gronkowski said his hands are his greatest strength but that he could sharpen his blocking.

"I believe I had some great games blocking, and I believe I had some all-right games blocking," Gronkowski said. "I can definitely work in that area with some technique and overall coaching."

Although he would have been Oklahoma’s top returning receiver last season — he caught 66 passes for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns in ’08 — Gresham believes he needs to be better at catching the ball. Asked to rate his hands on a scale of 1 to 10, he gave himself a 6.

"I need a lot of improvement," he said. "I’ve dropped balls before. That’s something I need to work on. I need to be more consistent."

Asked about the most number of balls he has dropped in a season, he simply said, "Too many." Gresham, who stood on the sideline with his crutches and played the role of cheerleader during games last season, says the time he missed gave him a greater appreciation for the game.

 "Losing the game of football makes you appreciate what it is for you," he said. "It’s a getaway. It’s fun for me. It’s something you love. You don’t want to lose it."

So which tight end is the best?

Gronkowski said, "I believe I rank up in the top three, if not No. 1. I would say I’m a top tight end because I bring a lot to the table. I bring the whole package. I believe I’m ready to step in. I’m ready to take on the big D-ends, ready to go out there and catch some passes."

Asked for reasons he thinks he’s the top tight end, Gresham responded, "I don’t think I’m the best. I’ve got room for improvement. (Gronkowski’s) a great tight end. He’s big, he’s strong."

Gresham and Gronkowski will continue their duel through their pro days. Ultimately, though, it will be the NFL talent evaluators who determine who the best man is.

"It’s up to the G.M.s to do that," Gresham said. "We just play ball. I just want to go out there and prove that I’m healthy and I can play."

Ditto for Gronkowski.

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

Golden Tate, who will run the 40 and go through drills with the other wide receivers today at the Combine, is one of the top-ranked wideouts and played in a pro-style offense under Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. Tate talked about how that helped him, and about other topics with Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon and other reporters in Indianapolis.

Question: What was it like playing for Charlie Weis?

Golden Tate: That’s one of the reasons I accepted a scholarship to Notre Dame. I knew the situation I was going into was that coach Weis was a professional caliber coach, (so) the system’s got to be similar (to the NFL). He came from the Patriots and won championships. So I knew I was going to have a head start when I decided to pursue my dream and play professional football.

Golden Tate had 1,496 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for Notre Dame in 2009.

Q: Why did you decide to come out early?

GT: I spoke with coach Weis before the season, and he told me, "Unless you have around 1,500 yards and around 16 or 17 touchdowns, I would not leave early." I had 1,500 yards (1,496 to be precise) and 15 touchdowns, so I was right there. After the season, before I made any decisions, we sat down and spoke. The pros were better than the cons, we thought. So I made the decision to enter the draft early.

Q: Which NFL receiver do you try to emulate?

GT: Steve Smith (of the Panthers). We have similar size, a similar build. I think I model my game after him. I’m not afraid to go over the middle and catch the ball or throw a block. Also, a newcomer to the game — Percy Harvin. I really liked what Minnesota did with him last year — moving him around in the backfield, reverses, in motion, the Wildcat. Hopefully, a team will see that in me and draft me.

Q: Why did your parents name you Golden?

GT: I don’t know where it came from. I don’t know what they were thinking. I’m actually the third, so there’s other Goldens running around here somewhere. It worked out. I guess you could say it fits me. A lot of people say, Golden Domer. Notre Dame. It was destined.

Q: What part of the on-field drills are you most looking forward to on Sunday?

GT: I’d say the 40. Running straight is my thing. I can do that. So I’m excited to see how my times come out. I think I’m going to run a sub 4.5, a decent time.

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

INDIANAPOLIS — A second group of players — quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs — was measured Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts take a look at some of the players most affected by what happened on the scales.

Questions remain about whether C.J. Spiller has the bulk to hand NFL pounding.

• After being measured at 5-10 5/8, 196 pounds, Clemson RB C.J. Spiller didn’t quell concerns about his lack of size and bulk. Though we have no doubt about his ability to be an impact back in the NFL, his weight of less than 200 pounds will definitely cause some teams to question his ability to be a durable NFL back.

• LSU RB Charles Scott, who missed the end of the 2009 season with a broken collarbone, looked good at 5-11 3/8, 238 pounds.

• SMU RB Shawnbrey McNeal measured in at 5-9 1/8, 194, confirming what scouts had originally thought: He likely will be a third-down back, not a feature back.

• Marshall RB Darius Marshall‘s measurements (5-9 1/4, 190) were almost identical to McNeal’s and confirmed that he likely will be a third-down back.

• Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews (5-11 5/8, 218) had measurements that scouts expected. But they would have loved for him to check in a bit bigger as a potential power back.

• Scouts were happy with Stanford’s Toby Gerhart‘s numbers (6-0, 231), which showed he has the build to be a power back in the NFL. Teams were probably happy that he was only 6 feet because taller backs tend to absorb more punishment.

Unlike Spiller, Toby Gerhart has the size and bulk teams want in a power back.

• Georgia Tech RB Jonathan Dwyer checked in well at 5-11 1/4, 229, easing concerns that he would show up out of shape. If he runs well on Sunday, he could lock up a spot in the top 15.

• Cal RB Jahvid Best measured in at 5-10 1/8, 199. He was a little bigger than expected, but his weight didn’t eliminate concerns that he may not be able to handle a full-time role.

• Georgia Tech WR Demaryius Thomas helped himself by measuring in at 6-3 1/4, 224, with 35.5-inch hands. If he is able to get healthy between now and the draft–he broke his foot last week–he still has a chance to be one of the first receivers selected.

• South Florida WR Carlton Mitchell (6-2 7/8, 215) showed excellent size to complement his impressive work on film. He has the chance to rise up boards as high as the second round.

• Norfolk State’s Chris Bell (6-2 1/8, 211) helped his draft status by checking in at 6-2 1/8, 211. That’s good size for a small-school prospect who was already regarded as athletic and explosive.

Other players were weighed and measured Friday as well. They include Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, Dez Bryant, Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate. For information and analysis on those players, see the latest Combine Dish in SN’s Pro Football War Room.

For more than 200 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated Mock Draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

Dez Bryant is considered to be the top wide receiver on many teams’ draft boards, but his ’09 season was marred when Oklahoma State suspended him on Oct. 7 after he admittedly lied to NCAA officials about the details of a meeting he had with former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders. The NCAA later said the suspension would last a calendar year, and Bryant declared for the draft. He spoke with Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon and other reporters Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Dez Bryant didn’t see much of the field in 2009, but he’s still projected as one of the best receiver prospects.

Q: What do you tell NFL teams about what you did?
Dez Bryant: I just tell them I misled the NCAA about going out to Deion Sanders’ house. I apologized for it and I’m back on track and ready to go.

Q: Will that affect how high you are drafted?
DB: No sir. I don’t think so at all. But it’s not my call.

Q: What’s your biggest regret?
DB: My biggest regret was not telling the truth.

Q: Do you worry that people will think you’re a bad person?
DB: It was a bad mistake. But I’m a great person. I enjoy the opportunity to make people smile. I’m good at making people smile. People that know me, they know it was a mistake. They know I’m a fun type of person and I love to have fun.

Q: Was the NCAA punishment too harsh?
DB: I felt it was kind of harsh, but at the same time, I took it as a man. There’s nothing I can do about it. Just keep going.

Q: Are you looking forward to getting back on the field?
DB: That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m ready to put back on those pads. Do what I do best.

Q: What NFL receiver do you compare yourself to?
DB: I would compare myself to Larry Fitzgerald. As far as going up for the football, attacking the ball.

Q: Will you work out here?
DB: No sir. I’ll go at my pro days. March 10. In Stillwater.

Q: Why aren’t you working out here?
DB: Last week, I tweaked my hamstring a little bit.

Q: What do you want teams to know about you this week?
DB: Dez Bryant’s a great person to be around. He loves the game of football. He can’t wait to get back on the field and do whatever to help the team.

Two years ago, a certain Internet hack wrote this sentence: "If the NFL Players Association will be pressured as part of the next round of Collective Bargaining Agreement talks to take a smaller percentage of the football revenue than the 60-percent chunk that the union now receives, there’s something important the players should request in return. They should ask the league to get rid of the franchise tag."

Today, it’s now clear the players are being squeezed to take a smaller piece of the pie, in the name of the ongoing growth of it. So I’ll reiterate what the unnamed Internet hack said on Feb. 25, 2008 — the players should insist on the disappearance of the franchise tag.

The Patriots designated DT Vince Wilfork as their franchise player, with a tag figure of $7.003 million.

Assuming the league won’t agree to wipe off the books the device for keeping one unrestricted free agent per year from becoming unrestricted, the union should make every effort to scale back its use. Two years ago, I suggested making the franchise tender irrevocable until the start of training camp, prohibiting trades of franchise players, and creating a structure that permits a franchise player to pick a multi-year deal that would provide the kind of long-term security that the year-to-year use of the franchise tag prevents.

Now that I’m two years older and, as evidenced by the additional gray hairs, wiser, I can add some more requests that the union should make.

1. Get rid of the transition tag

In 2006, changes to the labor agreement guaranteed the salary offered to players slapped with the transition tag, which gives only a right to match and no draft-pick compensation to the team using it. As a result, the transition tag has been used sparingly.

So it’s easy to get rid of the transition. The union should ask for it to be dumped, and the league should have no issue with doing so.

It’s the kind of thing that the union can trumpet as real consideration obtained in exchange for reducing the players’ percentage, even if it’s really meaningless.

2. Limit franchise tag to one year

In 2006, the players successfully addressed the year-after-year use of the franchise tag by adding provisions that dramatically increased the salary paid the third time the tag is used.

Still, the current system allows teams to readily use the tag twice, delaying by 24 months the player’s ability to obtain a long-term contract with life-changing guaranteed money.

As a result, the players should press for the franchise tag to be available only once per player. This would give the team plenty of time to work out a long-term deal. If a long-term deal can’t be negotiated, then the player should be permitted to negotiate with any, some, or all of the other 31 teams, too.

3. Base the tender on salary in the current year

The formula for coming up with the franchise tender is fairly simple. For each position, the amount is determined by calculating the average salary of the five highest-paid players from the prior year. For the "exclusive" version of the tag, which prevents the player from talking to any other teams, the player gets a contract worth the average of the five highest-paid players at the position for the current year.

But why should the non-exclusive version of the franchise tag be based on last year’s pay? That approach arguably made sense in 1994, when the year-to-year growth wasn’t as dramatic as it has become. Today, if a team is going to restrict a player, the team should be prepared to pay him in accordance with the highest-paid players in the game now, not a year ago.

As to the exclusive version of the franchise tag, the league should dump it. Only the Raiders ever use it (they did it again this year with Richard Seymour), and no team is going to give up two first-round picks for a franchise player, anyway.

4. Hold firm on the current categories

If the union tries to tinker with the franchise tag, owners could insist on a more specific categorization of the tenders. Because there’s only one tender for all offensive linemen, for example, guards and centers rarely are tagged, since left-tackle money drives the number to an amount that simply isn’t justified for interior offensive linemen.

Ditto for fullbacks, who would get running back tenders, and middle linebackers, whose outside counterparts tend to make more money.

The union should resist those overtures, if they’re made. The current system promotes movement of fullbacks and guards and centers and middle linebackers. For them, it’s the next-best thing to having no franchise tag at all.

5. On defense, develop a ‘defensive quarterback’ category

This year, three nose tackles who play in a 3-4 defense were slapped with the franchise tag: Vince Wilfork of the Patriots, Ryan Pickett of the Packers and Aubrayo Franklin of the 49ers. Each will make $7 million in 2010 under the franchise tender calculation.

A fourth, Casey Hampton of the Steelers, would have been tagged if he hadn’t signed a multi-year deal with a $7 million average.

But an argument can be made that, in a 3-4 defense, the nose tackle is the most important guy on the field. He shouldn’t be lumped into the same category as the defensive tackles in a 4-3 system.

And this leads to a broader point. Every defense has a quarterback — a key player who is the leader of the unit. In Pittsburgh, it’s Troy Polamalu. In Minnesota, it’s Jared Allen. In Denver, it’s Elvis Dumervil.

And so if, as in New England, the key player on defense is also a franchise player, he shouldn’t be tendered a number based on the average salary of the five highest-paid players at the same position, but the five highest-paid players on the defensive side of the ball.

This year, the number would be driven by defensive end Julius Peppers ($16.6 million), Allen ($14.5 million), cornerback Champ Bailey ($13.2 million), linebacker DeMarcus Ware ($11.4 million), and defensive end Dwight Freeney ($11.2 million).

The average? $13.38 million.

Such an approach would require a procedure for determining each team’s key player on defense. That player could be determined each year by a neutral panel of writers, with a combination of objective and subjective factors.

Hey, if it’s good enough to determine the players who are immortalized in the Hall of Fame, it should be good enough to determine whether a guy like Wilfork deserves $7 million or $13.38 million based on what he means to his team.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

INDIANAPOLIS — He’s the best guard in the NFL draft. And he has been working out at tackle. But he would really like to play defense.

Meet Mike Iupati, a 6-5, 331-pound hulk who seemingly could line up at any position on the line on either side of the ball and bust your chops. Really bust ’em.

"I really love defense. That’s my favorite passion of the game," the Idaho offensive lineman said. "I know I’m physical enough to hold up two gaps and take on double-teams. I always pushed my coach to make me a defensive player because I am pretty good at it, but they needed me on offense."

Whichever team drafts Iupati — he’s expected to go in the middle of the first round — will get a player with an easy-going demeanor off the field but with a nasty DNA on it. He smiled frequently and spoke softly during an interview at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday. But listen to his game plan.

"When it comes to football, I like to destroy a lot of people," he said. "It’s fun."

Iupati’s road to the NFL has taken some unusual turns. A native of American Samoa, he came to the U.S. when he was 14 because his parents knew he and his siblings would have a better opportunity in this country. For a year, the family stayed in a garage at his aunt’s house — living from one paycheck to the next.

Iupati played football at Western High School in Anaheim, Calif., but struggled in the classroom — English was his second language — and didn’t meet the NCAA academic requirements. He considered attending Cerritos College, a junior college in Norwalk, Calif., and, in fact, was attending a barbecue there one night when a recruiter from Idaho stopped by and spotted him.

The recruiter offered to make Iupati a Proposition 48 student at Idaho. At first, Iupati resisted because he didn’t want his parents taking out a loan for college. But he finally relented and wound up becoming one of the best offensive linemen in the country (last season, he was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, which went to Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh).

"He’s a really fine person. Kind of an easy-going, gentle giant," and AFC college scouting director told Sporting News. "That’s a guy who could solidify himself (at the Combine). Not that he hasn’t helped himself already."

Iupati, who will have his Combine workout Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, said, "I’m hoping to run a great 40, bench 30 reps (in the 225-pound bench press) and show them how quick I am for how big I am. I know they really like me and respect me, so I want to kind of add icing to the top."

Although he played left guard throughout his career at Idaho, Iupati was moved to right guard in the Senior Bowl. He even played some snaps at right tackle during practice. He believes versatility will only make him more valuable.

That’s one reason Iupati has been working out with Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Jackie Slater in Irvine, Calif. Slater has been focusing on Iupati’s technique at left tackle — just in case an NFL team wants him to play there.

"I think it’s pretty good to be the best guard," Iupati said, " but being versatile will mean a great deal and hopefully move me up the draft boards.

"Whatever team picks me, and wherever they want me to play, I will definitely give them 110 percent and be the best at that position."

Iupati described his family as being "well off" when it lived in Samoa. The family owned a house and some land, his father was the top-paid mechanic at his company, and his mother helped at a relative’s restaurant. Because Iupati appreciates what his father and mother did for him by moving to the U.S., he’s planning on repaying them after he signs his first NFL contract.

"They made a big sacrifice, and I’m thankful for that," he said. "My parents want to go back to Samoa, and I want to take care of their dreams. Having a house built there for them would be the biggest thing I’d want to do for them."

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

Mississippi QB Jevan Snead

His mission: Show he can throw accurately and make good decisions.
The skinny: Snead was a top prospect heading into the ’09 season, but a disappointing performance and some questionable decision-making in games has caused his stock to fall.

An electric talent

Falling star

Treasuring Chester

The full package