NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest |  |
- MORE NEWS: Marshall Traded to Miami
- UPDATE: Marshall Traded to Miami
- BREAKING NEWS: Brandon Marshall TRADED to Miami
- Commissioner Roger Goodell sits down with Steelers troubled QB Ben Roethlisberger
- Bradford vs. Clausen – Who would you take?
- Pressure on RB Wells to have a big second season in the desert
- All signs point to Stan Kroenke being the next Rams owner
- Eagles youth movement excited for the future
- Draft predictions for the AFC North
- Dolphins coach Sparano to meet with Jason Taylor before he makes his next move
| MORE NEWS: Marshall Traded to Miami Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:59 AM PDT ESPN’s Adam Schefter was just on the network’s television version of Mike and Mike and reported that Marshall is headed to Miami TODAY for his physical. From his report earlier today, Schefter wrote the trade between the Broncos and the Dolphins hinges on a passed physical and the league’s office processing the trade’s paperwork. |
| UPDATE: Marshall Traded to Miami Posted: 14 Apr 2010 05:02 AM PDT It’s interesting how quickly news can get disseminated. About a half hour ago, news broken by ESPN reported that Brandon Marshall was traded to the Miami Dolphins. About a half hour later, we have more information for you regarding the deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is the one that broke the news, originally ESPN reported that the network and not someone specifically associated with it, had the news. Per Schefter, the deal is thought to include a second-round selection from Miami in next year’s Draft and that everything hinges on a passed physical and the league processing the paperwork. Should Marshall pass the physical, Schefter writes that the big-play receiver is expected to sign “what will be one of the most lucrative wide receiver deals in NFL history.” As always, make sure to check back here at NFLGridironGab.com and over at DolphinsGab.com for all the latest news and analysis on the Marshall trade. |
| BREAKING NEWS: Brandon Marshall TRADED to Miami Posted: 14 Apr 2010 04:43 AM PDT According to a report on ESPN, Brandon Marshall has been traded to the Miami Dolphins. In return, the Dolphins will ship their second-round selection in this month’s N.F.L. Draft and a second rounder in next year’s Draft. Make sure to continually check back here at NFLGridironGab.com and over at DolphinsGab.com throughout the day for the latest coverage and analysis on the Marshall to Miami deal. |
| Commissioner Roger Goodell sits down with Steelers troubled QB Ben Roethlisberger Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:17 PM PDT
Reports say that the meeting lasted several hours, and the QB, wearing a nifty suit, came out of the sit down saying that it was a “very productive meeting.” Take that for what it’s worth. Roethlisberger also told reporters before getting into his car, “it’s a very serious matter, one we take serious.” Not quite sure what the heck he’s talking about, as he’s the one that got himself into this mess to begin with. Maybe he was able to convince Goodell that he’s really not that bad of a guy and doesn’t deserve to be suspended. Then again, maybe not. If Goodell doesn’t lay the hammer down on the QB, and I find it hard to believe that a suspension of at least one-game isn’t coming, then look for the Steelers to sit him down. I wouldn’t doubt if Goodell imposes a one-game suspension, then the team follows suit and does the same, forcing him to miss the first two games of the 2010 season. The Steelers have already said they have spoken to the league on the matter, and at some point they are going to decide if they haven’t already what they are going to do to finally try and get the message across to their franchise QB that this behavior is simply not going to be allowed by the club. |
| Bradford vs. Clausen – Who would you take? Posted: 13 Apr 2010 05:53 PM PDT
With the 2010 NFL Draft now less than two weeks away the consensus opinion is that the Rams will be drafting former Oklahoma quarterback and former Heisman winner, Sam Bradford. Bradford looks set to become the franchise QB that Billy Devaney will be placing his job security in, as if he fails with this selection, he looks likely to be shown the door after several disappointing seasons in charge of the franchise. It is also hard to forget the stigma of Devaney's last first round QB selection, Ryan Leaf, a highly publicised flop, which also serves to cloud our opinion of his judgement. But the burning question is not whether Bradford is a better choice with the first overall pick than Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, but whether the signal-caller with the average arm-strength and publicised fragility is a better choice than hyperbole hero, Jimmy Clausen. Sam Bradford's name was mentioned in the same breath as 2009 #1 pick, Matthew Stafford, but he decided to return to the Sooners for one more shot at that elusive National Title. This proved to be a bad decision as he injured his throwing shoulder in week one, before re-injuring it again in an October comeback ruling him out for the year. Bradford had made his name as a highly accurate passer (67.6%, 88TDs – 16INTs), but now his previously average and now re-built arm strength hangs over him as a major question mark. The naysayers will also point to Bradford's inexperience in a pro-style offense as a further reason that Bradford will struggle at the next level. Despite these much vocalised concerns, ask 90% of draftniks and Sam Bradford will be wearing blue & gold on April 22nd. Why? Bradford was never reputed to have a cannon arm and his game is built upon his confidence and accuracy. The intelligent, productive passer has been passed fully fit by world-renown surgeons and his game compared to Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. Do not forget that his attributes are perfectly suited for Pat Shurmur's West Coast Offense and when answering his critics at his Pro-Day he completed 62/63 which left analysts raving about his other-worldly precision. Throw in Bradford's prototypical physique and unquestioned intangibles and you begin to understand the whole picture.
If first impressions are to be believed Jimmy Clausen is an over-hyped frat-boy with a middling record of success. An average physique and unspectacular arm, it was only in his final season that he really lit it up in college. When he was punched on a night out outside a local bar the media showed him no sympathy and portrayed him as of deserving of his black eyes. So how is it even possible that Clausen can be seen as a legitimate contender to be #1 overall? It is because Jimmy Clausen has ice in his veins. It is not always easy being in the limelight and since a very young age Clausen has been marked out for success. There have always been expectations and Clausen's ability to continually achieve them is testament to his excellent football IQ and on-field ability. These intangibles and ability to perform under constant pressure are just part of the reason that he is seen as the most NFL-ready quarterback in the '10 class. The other is his three years of experience in a Charlie Weiss pro-style offence with snaps under centre and reading multiple coverages, something Bradford doesn't have. His profile is not dissimilar to Bradford in the fact he possesses a medium powered arm but excellent accuracy, well matched for Shurmur's WCO. Clausen is also blessed with top-notch accuracy which saw him complete 68% (28TDs – 4INTs) in his last season at Notre Dame as he notably matured under our eyes, before hitting 57/59 at his Pro Day. Cases can certainly made for both prospects, for and against. Bradford's scored a very respectable 36 on the Wonderlic test and did run play-action passes in college which goes some way to allay fears that he cannot handle a NFL playbook. However, one thing we can't know is whether his body can withstand an NFL-sized pounding week in week out. That's not to suggest his arm isn't repaired, but rather that his body simply hasn't got the durability to last a full NFL season. As for Clausen, his negatives appear to be more about perception rather than talent. I'd suggest his supposed 'air of entitlement' is as more of a result of his stubborn success in the face of omnipresent expectation than it is in any real personality trait. So who is going have the better NFL career? Experts are always using comparisons when discussing QB prospects and recently Sam Bradford has been compared to Eli Manning with the caveat that he may refuse to sign for the Rams if they select him with the first overall pick. I'd like to suggest that in fact Eli Manning is a better comparison for Jimmy Clausen. Eli may not be the most athletically gifted QB, or have the biggest arm, but he has an ice-cool nerve and 4th quarter comeback prowess. Expectations for him have always been huge being the son of Archie and brother of Peyton. He also plays in hotbed of football with a hungry media waiting to pounce on any mistake. Sound familiar to a certain prospect from Notre Dame? The hit rate (bust rate!) for QBs in the top half of the first round is roughly 50/50, which means it's highly likely one of Bradford and Clausen will be a flop. If I were going to place a $40m bet on one of them to lead the Rams out of adversity, I'd bet on Clausen. |
| Pressure on RB Wells to have a big second season in the desert Posted: 13 Apr 2010 01:46 PM PDT
Coach Whisenhunt definitely appears to be a reasonable person and he certainly knows that he can't push Leinart with air-it-out play-calling the way he did with Warner. As a result, the bulk of the pressure to carry the offense really isn't on Leinart. The new starter, rather, will probably need to find ways not to lose games more often than he will need to find ways to win them. In other words, the Cardinals will only need solid play from Leinart, not exceptional play. I believe the weight of Warner's retirement will fall on Beanie Wells, which seems promising. Wells had a great rookie campaign. First, he put to rest the lingering doubts about his physicality and durability; his brutal stiff-arm and ability to finish runs aggressively were on display all season. In addition, 544 of his 793 yards were gained after contact. Further, Wells avoided/broke 24 tackles while only carrying the ball 176 times (league lead was 50 on 315 carries by Adrian Peterson). Only Ronnie Brown and Michael Turner broke/avoided more tackles with less than 200 carries. Wells added a viable third and short presence in a backfield that desperately needed someone that could fall forward for at least three yards when needed; Wells does that. Also, Beanie has big play potential, which he exhibited on a 42-yard run against the Packers in the Wild Card round. Finally, he gives the Cardinals hope for a productive and balanced offense in 2010. Wells, however, did have some fumbling issues (4 fumbles) this past season, he should get that straightened out. Also, Wells needs considerable work on his pass blocking. There's time; it's easy to forget that he was only a rookie. All signs indicate that Wells is working harder than he ever has in his already impressive though young career. Wells has recently stated "I want to be one of the top backs in the NFL this year." If Wells accomplishes that goal, Leinart should feel much less pressure. |
| All signs point to Stan Kroenke being the next Rams owner Posted: 13 Apr 2010 01:30 PM PDT
With the surprising announcement that Stan Kroenke exercised his right to purchase 100% of the Rams, one thing came to mind – Kroenke would not make this bid without knowing that he is going to be accepted. Stan Kroenke knows he will be the next owner of the Rams. Stan Kroenke is an amazingly savvy businessman who has been in the NFL business in the background for years. He knows the other owners. While the Rams current owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriquez have been attempting to sell the team, Kroenke has been representing the Rams at the owners meetings and with the league. In other words, Stan Kroenke knows what he's doing. He is not the sort of person who will just put his name out in the news just for publicity. He's comfortable to stay in the background. Mike Sando of the NFC West blog on ESPN is thinking along the same wavelength.
So, I guess, allow me to be the first to welcome Stan Kroenke as the next owner of our St. Louis Rams. |
| Eagles youth movement excited for the future Posted: 13 Apr 2010 12:53 PM PDT
Recently, Eagles young and extremely talented wide receiver DeSean Jackson commented on the matter. When asked about the change going on Jackson said "Not to say when McNabb was here it wasn't fun. We were always able to have fun. It just feels like some new energy is coming around and guys are pumped up." You have got to like the fact that the players are excited to play under Kevin Kolb. It's definitely a big change for them, so I'm glad everyone is embracing it. If there is a smooth transition at quarterback, the Eagles high octane offense won't miss a beat. It's actually pretty scary. If you think of the years that LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin had as rookies and the fact that they should only get better, it's almost hard to imagine. Then throw Jackson, Brent Celek, Leonard Weaver, Jason Avant, Mike Bell, and hopefully a healthy Cornelius Ingram into the mix and look out. The troops are rallying behind Kevin Kolb, so the pressure is on. If he can get a healthy line in front of him, Kolb has no reason to not be successful. Are you excited to see what Kolb can do with all the young weapons he has on offense? |
| Draft predictions for the AFC North Posted: 13 Apr 2010 12:50 PM PDT
Here's a look into the AFC North draft predictions, including some notable free agent signings. Will any of the AFC North teams choices in the draft affect the Ravens pick? Possibly, yes. Pittsburgh, selecting at 18 in the first round may be in need of a Cornerback and could be looking at Kyle Wilson, Boise State. The Ravens, selecting at 25, might be interested in Wilson as well. As for Cincinnati, consensus has the team picking Safety Taylor Mays, USC. Yet, some analysts are thinking they may have an eye on Tight End Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma. The Ravens are also looking at Gresham as a possibility. When it comes down to draft day, we'll see if these factors come into play. Here's a look into the AFC North draft predictions, including some notable free agent signings: Cleveland Browns: Draft: First round, 7th selection Needs: Safety, Cornerback, Quarterback, Running back Notable Signings: LB Scott Fuita, TE Benjamin Watson, QB Jake Delhomme, Acquisitions through trades: QB Seneca Wallace, CB Sheldon Brown, LB Chris Gocong
Draft Projections: Most of the mock drafts have Cleveland picking Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee. With the seventh pick in the draft, they will have many great choices. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - Bucky Brooks, NFL.com, Pete Prisco, CBS.com C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson – Sean Leahy, USA today.com Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - Jarrett Bell, USAtoday.com Joe Haden, CB, Florida – Derek Harper, NFLDraftScout.com Eric Berry, S, Tennessee – Walterfootball.com (Other possibilities: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Dez Bryant, WR) Pittsburgh Steelers: Draft: First round, 18th Selection Needs: Offensive Line, Cornerback, Safety, Running back Notable Signings: S Will Allen, WR Arnez Battle, LB Larry Foote, WR Antwaan Randle EL (Resigned S Ryan Clark) Draft projections: Most experts are leaning towards an offensive lineman with a few going with Cornerback. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State - Pat Kirwin & Bucky Brooks, NFL.com Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida – Chad Rueter, CBSsports.com Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho – Peter Schrager, msn.Foxsports.com Joe Haden, CB , Florida – Rob Rang, CBSsports.com Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers – Jarrett Bell, USAtoday.com Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama -Walterfootball.com (Other Possibilities: Kyle Wison, CB & Mike Iupati, G)
Cincinnati Bengals: Draft: First round, 21st selection Needs: Safety, Tight End, Defensive End Notable signings: WR Antonio Bryant (Re-signed OG Bobbie Williams, C Ryan Cook) Draft projections: While Taylor Mays is the overall favorite for many projections, there are some other possibilities for Cincinnati. Jason Pierre-Paul. DE, South Florida – Pat Kirwin, NFL.com Earl Thomas, S, Texas – Bucky Brooks, NFL.com Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma – Rob Rang, CBSsports.com Taylor Mays, S, USC - Chad Rueter, CBSsports.com Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma - Pete O'Brian, USAtoday.com Taylor Mays, S, USC – (Other possible: Brian Price, DT) Walterfootball.com Baltimore Ravens: Draft: First round, 25th selection Needs: Tight End, Defensive tackle, Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Safety Notable signings: WR Anquan Boldin, WR Dante Stallworth, DE Corey Redding (Re-signed: WR Derrick Mason, TE Edgar Jones,) Draft Projections: The mock drafts are split, many say Jermaine Gresham, TE while the others are going with a Defensive tackle or Cornerback. In a few days we'll bring you a detailed list of the latest mock draft predictions for the Ravens. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma – Peter Schrager, msn.Foxsports.com, Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State - Pete Prisco, CBSsports.com, Walterfootball.com Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida – Bucky Brooks, NFL.com Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers - Jarrett Bell, USAtoday.com |
| Dolphins coach Sparano to meet with Jason Taylor before he makes his next move Posted: 13 Apr 2010 12:47 PM PDT According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano would like to meet with Dolphins free agent Jason Taylor, before he makes his decision on whether or not he will join the rival New York Jets, who have shown interest in him lately. Although Sparano would like to meet with JT, and have reportedly made plans to do so, JT has made no plans to hold any visits with Sparano, largely in part because he has heard nothing about this meeting. This does of course not mean that Taylor will not be meeting with Sparano, but it does leave the possibility that JT may leave Sparano out to dry. Sparano would like one last chance to try and sell JT on the fact that he should wait until the draft is over to get his contract from the Fins. It might pay off for JT, as he gets to stay down in Miami, where his home is, and the Dolphins have the flexibility to offer Taylor more money than the Jets do. This visit could be the deciding factor in whether Taylor stays a Miami legend, or ventures into enemy territory. |
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