NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

According to Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times, two former Trojans from the University of Southern California have earned spots on the Seahawks’ roster after trying out during this week’s three-day mini camp.

Wide receiver Mike Williams joins the team after being a college stand out and a bust in the pros.  He was drafted with the 10th overall selection in the 2005 N.F.L. Draft by Detroit and has spent time in Tennessee and Oakland as well.  Williams, listed at six-foot-five and 235 pounds, totalled just 44 catches and a mere two touchdowns in a combined 30 N.F.L regular-season games.

The other addition is fullback Ryan Powdrell.  Powdrell’s been in the pros two years, but hasn’t recorded any regular-season action.

Seattle’s only other fullback on its current roser, per O’Neil, is Owen Schmitt; however, the team’s official Web site still lists Justin Griffith as a member of the team.

If I were the GM of the Lions my number one position I would target in the draft is offensive tackle.  This is not a popular view amongst Lions fans, but neither was drafting Matthew Stafford last year.  So before rushing to judgement, follow the logic.

The Lions made a huge investment in Matthew Stafford last year, and that investment finished the season on injured reserve.  Young quarterbacks require better pass protection than veterans because they don't have enough experience for their reads to be second nature yet.  They take longer to make decisions which is why defenses blitz young quarterbacks so much.  Look at some of the more successful young quarterbacks and they usually have an upper echelon left tackle protecting them.

• Carson Palmer had Levi Jones
• Mark Sanchez has D'Brickashaw Ferguson
• Joe Flacco has Jared Gaither and Michael Oher
• Jay Cutler had Ryan Clady with the Broncos
• Philip Rivers has Marcus McNeill
• Tony Romo had Flozell Adams
• Aaron Rogers has Chad Clifton
• Matt Ryan has Sam Baker

Jeff Backus is a better left tackle than most think, but he is not going to be around for the next 10 years.  Elite left tackles are rarely found outside of the first round, and the recently or soon to be retired Hall of Fame bound left tackles Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden and Walter Jones were all top 10 picks.  The Lions can move Backus to right tackle to compete with Gosder Cherilus and he can back up all of the offensive line positions except center.

The other advantage of having an elite left tackle is it helps out the running game.  Five quarterbacks were drafted in the first round the last two years, three of them had winning records and made the playoffs as rookies  Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez all have elite left tackles and top 10 rushing attacks.  Stafford and Josh Freeman do not have that luxury.

Lastly, here is a well researched look at why drafting a left tackle (specifically Russell Okung) is the best move for the Lions and why offensive tackles are a safer pick than defensive tackles provided by www.walterfootball.com.

There are only two tackles that I would consider with the second overall pick:

1. Russell Okung, Oklahoma State – Great athleticism, size and intangibles he is the best left tackle to come out in the last three years.  He struggles some blocking downfield on screens and in the running game, but that is his only noticeable weakness.  Okung is athletic and technically sound, he is a more natural pass blocker than run blocker.
2. Trent Williams, Oklahoma – Prototypical size, powerful run blocker, high motor and has great upside .  Limited experience as a left tackle, shorter arms than preferred.  Williams is more of a mauler and road grater type.

If the Lions manage to trade down into the middle to late portion of the first round, this is the second tier of tackles.   I have doubts about three of the four tackles that would be on the board.  I rank them as follows:

1. Charles Brown, USC - Brown is a converted tight end with excellent athleticism.  He is probably the second best pass blocker behind Okung, but like Okung is not an elite run blocker yet.  He has limited experience at left tackle, so he is a bit of a projection but has good upside.
2. Bryan Bulaga, Iowa - Technically sound, well coached and has a high motor.  He has short arms and is not an elite athlete.  I see a Jeff Backus clone, safe but doesn't have huge upside.
3. Bruce Campbell, Maryland - Campbell is a freak of nature athletically with great upper body strength and long arms.  He has all the talent in the world but has not lived up to it.  Boom or bust player.
4. Anthony Davis, Rutgers - Good athleticism and prototypical size, but he has immaturity and weight issues.  He needs more technique work and is also a boom or bust type prospect.

The next tier of tackles could start coming off the board in the  second through fourth rounds.  Very few of these players could step in at left tackle on day one and be an improvement over Backus.

1. Jared Veldheer, Hillsdale – Small school player with big time athleticism.  He dominated in practice in the Texas vs. The Nation Bowl and has high character and motor.  He has shorter arms than preferred and it's a big jump in competition from Hillsdale to the NFL.
2. Vladimir Ducasse, Massachusetts – Good athlete with size and big frame.  Very raw in technique due to limited experience playing football.  Has good upside but is a project.
3. Ed Wang, Virginia Tech – Wang is a very raw player who is also a converted tight end.  He is a great athlete but needs technique work and needs to be more aggressive on the field.  Has a high ceiling, but has a ways to go to reach it.
4. Jason Fox, Miami – Fox is a technicianwith a bit of an injury history.  He is very consistent and is a high motor guy, but he doesn't have the athleticism to be an elite left tackle.
5. Kyle Calloway, Iowa – Calloway has a big frame, decent athleticism and great technique.  He was primarily a right tackle in college, but could potentially make the switch to left tackle.
6. Roger Saffold, Indiana – Saffold has better athleticism than the previous two on the list but he struggles too much with speed rushers for my liking.  Maybe with more technique work he can improve, but he has pretty good technique as it is.
7. Selvish Capers, West Virginia – Has the athletic tools to succeed as a left tackle, but limited experience playing in a three point stance and inconsistent footwork are his main weaknesses.  Could end up as a guard.

This is a deep and talented draft, but there are only two prospects with no glaring weaknesses or areas of concern.  This highlights the difficulty of finding an elite left tackle, which is why the Lions should take advantage of the opportunity.  There are 10-15 defensive tackles that will be able to step in and play right away in this draft, there are about six left tackles that can do the same.  It's a much safer pick, much harder to fill and is worth the investment because it helps Stafford realize his potential.

What's the latest

ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are now shifting the Ravens pick from Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, to Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech.  That is an option, however, there other analysts who think that the need of wide receiver has been filled with Anquan Boldin, Dante Stallworth and the re-signing of Derrick Mason. Since wide receiver has been addressed, that leaves the team with more pressing needs at the Tight End, Cornerback and Defensive tackle positions.

3 Positions, 2 Picks, What are the Options?

The ideal scenario for the team would be adding depth at 3 positions, Defensive Tackle, Cornerback and Tight End. Yet, they have only a first and second round pick to help fill their immediate needs. It might be a stretch to think a fifth round player would instantly make an impact.  Unless they trade down or make a trade to obtain more picks, the team will likely have to sign a veteran free agent in one of the areas of need. The Ravens also excel in signing Undrafted Free Agents.

Here's a few of the newest draft projections around the web:

Don Banks, Sports Illustrated

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

"The Ravens' trade for Anquan Boldin means they're looking at either cornerback or tight end in the first round. Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty is intriguing, but Gresham's draft grade might be too high to ignore. And we know, Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome always stays true to his board." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com

www.Usatoday.com

They have a host of writers with picks, here's a few:

Terrence Cody, DT Alabama – Jarett Bell

Devin McCourty, CB, Rutergs – Jim Corbett

Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State – Derek Harper

Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – Nate Davis

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-mock-draft.htm

NFL.com

Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – Bucky Brooks

"The Ravens have an obvious need at tight end, but this team typically takes the best available player on the board regardless of position. Williams would give the Ravens a young defensive tackle to pair with Haloti Ngata in the middle of their defense."

Earl Thomas, S, Texas – Charles Davis,

"Ed Reed continues to be on top of his game, but while Thomas is prepping behind him, he can play in their nickel packages, and some corner, too. He is talented enough."

CBSsports.com, Draft Analstys

Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St. – Rob Rang

"Even with the addition of Anquan Boldin, the Ravens won't hesitate to select a talented receiver should he be the best player available. General manager Ozzie Newsome has developed a reputation for finding superstars in the latter portions of the first round. If he can get over Dez Bryant's questionable professionalism, Newsome might just discover another star. Some veteran scouts have compared Bryant to Randy Moss."

Jared Ordrick, DT, Penn State – Chad Reuter

"The loss of Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan means Odrick would step in right away to help NT Haloti Ngata free up Ray Lewis to do his thing."

Kevin Van Valkenburg, www.Baltimoresun.com

Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, Oklahoma

Kevin Van Valkenburg suggests the Ravens should trade down if possible.

"…I really believe the Ravens would be best served by trading down if it means they can grab another second-round pick and possibly a third…" http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2010/03/van_valkenburgs_mock_draft_part_3_includes_ravens_selection.html

Peter Schrager, Fox Sports

Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

"Though the Ravens addressed their much-needed holes at wide receiver in acquiring both Donte Stallworth and Anquan Boldin, they lost two starting DEs — Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan — in free agency. ….Ray Lewis will take him under his wing and make sure he gets his act together in Baltimore." http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Peter-Schrager-mock-draft-032410Doug Farrar

Wes Bunting, NationalFootballPost.com

Terrance Cody, NT, Alabama

"The Ravens not only had Cody in for a visit, but having already addressed their wide receiver needs this offseason, getting an immovable nose tackle at the end of round one is quite a find."

Matt McGuire, www.Walterfootball.com

Kyle Wilson, CB Boise State

"I think this is Baltimore's dream pick. Corner is one of the top needs and Wilson provides the Ravens with a lot of insurance and talent. They have been banged up quite a bit, and bringing in a young, healthy cornerback is exactly what this defense needs…"

http://www.draftcountdown.com

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

"…The Ravens could also use some help at cornerback so Kyle Wilson of Boise State or Devin McCourty of Rutgers would make sense and don't rule out Penn State's Jared Odrick as an eventual replacement for 35-year-old Trevor Pryce. It might be time to start thinking about successors for tight end Todd Heap and center Matt Birk and it'd be just like the Ravens to steal Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham  or  Florida's Maurkice Pouncey  late  in  round  one."

www.Eastcoastsportsnews.com

WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)

"The Ravens acquired WR Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals to fill one of their needs at the WR position, but Derrick Mason is getting up there in age and the team has the lockeroom to keep Bryant in check…the Ravens also need a DE since they lost Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards in free agency, and still have a big need at CB."

Brian and myself will be tackling a bunch of Jets related questions every week or so.

We hope you enjoy it and encourage any feedback. If you have any questions you would like to have answered please email me at cippinonsports@gmail.com.

With that said let's get it started:

What positions/players will the Jets be looking at early in the draft?

Chris: I see the Jets going defense early in the draft specifically targeting a pass rusher and a defensive end, who can play in a 3-4.  A few players they could be targeting include Jared Odrick, Jerry Hughes, and Sergio Kindle, among many others.

Brian: No doubt in my mind they will be going defense in the draft. We need a reliable DE/DT. Gholston was supposed to be that guy, but we all know what happened with that one.

Do you want the Jets to sign Jason Taylor?

Chris: Some fans may disagree, but I would welcome Jason Taylor to the Jets.  Taylor proved he still has something left in the tank last season and the Jets have put together a team capable of competing for the Super Bowl and Taylor could be the missing piece.

Brian: I'm mixed about this one. He wasn't impressive last year so I don't know what all the fuss is about. 36 and DE doesn't sound intriguing to me. So I would say I'm more leaning towards no.

Who has been the biggest departure this offseason?

Chris: I feel the Jets will miss Jay Feely more than they think.  Nick Folk seemed to have lost his confidence last year and once you lose it as a kicker you rarely regain it.

Brian: Thomas Jones by far, even though I wont really miss him too much. Great team leader, but was losing some steam in the end.

Which acquisition will make the greatest impact next season?

Chris: I have to go with Holmes even though he will miss the first four game of the season.  His presence will open up the offense giving the Jets one of the best trios of receivers in the league in addition to one of the best ground attacks and an young, emerging tight end.

Brian: That's tough. I'd say either Cromartie or Holmes. But then again Tomlinson has a lot to prove as well. If I were to pinpoint one I would say Holmes. I think with his speed and size he should be a viable #1 receiver.

With the addition of Santonio Holmes and with Mark Sanchez entering his second season should Brian Schottenheimer let the chains off Sanchez and open up the passing game?

Chris: Even with Santonio Holmes in the fold and Sanchez entering his second year the Jets need to be careful and not put too much on Sanchez's plate.  They are built to run the ball and play defense and can't get too far away from their identity.

Brian: I was wondering why he didn't let the chains off in the AFC Championship game. so my answer to that is yes, but don't expect it until week 6-7.

Will LaDainian Tomlinson be a difference maker next year?

Chris: I really don't see it.  He could be good for a few carries a game and the occasional goal line situation, but the Jets would be better off giving the ball to Shonn Greene and Leon Washington.

Brian: Honestly, no, and heres why. The focus will be on Greene next year. Tomlinson will be good for the little dump passes for a couple. I think Greene can carry much of the workload.

Are you worried about potential locker room problems with all the big name additions the Jets have made recently?

Chris: Not particularly.  The players with potential problems (Edwards, Cromartie, Holmes) know they need to be on their best behavior because they are all in contract years.

Brian: Not at all. I think once the preseason starts and everyone is used to everyone, Rex will have it in check. I think players really respect what Rex can do and has done. This is a whole new bunch of Jets than we've seen before.

Is there enough touches on offense to make everybody happy?

Chris: No definitely not.  Someone will be left out every game, but I think the players realize that this can be a special team and it's about the team, not themselves.

Brian: Not at all. That's why after this season we'll see who the better man is. Edward or Holmes? It will be fun to watch. In a perfect work they'll be able to keep both, but I highly doubt it.

How would you grade the Jets offseason so far?

Chris: I would give them a B+ for now with the potential for an "A" depending on how the draft goes and if they sign Jason Taylor.  I loved the additions of Holmes and Cromartie, but think the Jets downgraded from Jones and Feely with Tomlinson and Folk.

Brian: An "A". My only suggestion tot them is they really do something with Leon Washington.

A lot was made of the Cowboys 3 headed monster at running back last year.  You had your starter, Marion Barber, Your speed guy, Felix Jones, and your all around combo, Tashard Choice.  In a lot of ways, the three headed monster was the driving force of the offence.  It seemed the Cowboys went as their running game went.  It also seemed like each week a different back emerged.  All in all the Cowboys rushed for 2,103 yards last season, averaging 131.4 yrd/game.  Those stats were good for 7th in the league with a very respectable 4.8 yards per carry.

With the backs that the Cowboys have, it is unlikely that they will be looking to add to the stable through the draft or free agency.  But let's take a closer look:

Starter: Marion Barber

There has been a lot of debate this offseason as to whether Marion Barber should return as the starter next season.  It seems that Marion Barber is more productive coming off the bench.  Barber's best season was in 2007/08 when he came off the bench for Julius Jones.  Barber averaged 4.8 yards-per-carry that year, the highest in his career so far.  Barber has a style that is pounding and it seems that as the year went on his desire to lower the boom on opponents diminished throughout the year.  It may be possible that for Barber to return to his "barbarian" self he needs to be kept fresh throughout the year.  While is average yards per carry went up when he came in off the bench, his number of carries through the season isn't that much different.  Barber had only 10 more carries this past year as a starter which might throw off our theories.  The main issue is whether Barber can maintain that punishing style of play over the long term.  The average lifespan of a back in the NFL is just over 5 years.  With Barber's pounding style you would have to think that he is more vulnerable than the average.  All this being said, there is no doubt that the Cowboys are happy with Barber in their backfield and will continue to look to him as a workhorse, whether he starts the game or not.

Felix Jones

Jones was finally given the chance to play without needing to worry about injuries.  After being held to only 6 games in his rookie season, Jones came out playing in 14 games last year.  He had a break out season as well.  Jones was the perfect compliment to Barber in the backfield.  "The Cat" brought pure speed and athleticism to the position and was able to prove why he was such a good pickup in the 2008 draft.  Felix averaged 5.9 yrd/carry and racked up 685 yards on only 116 carries.  Jones also was a threat out of the backfield on passing situations.  Many argue that Jones should start the game and have Barber come in of the bench.  It is hard to argue with his skill and speed and that might be the way the Cowboys go next year.  Either way, Felix will get his carries and the Cowboys' brass have a huge smile on their faces every time he does.  The only drawback to Jones is his apparent injury concerns.  He has missed games so far in both of his seasons (10 & 2).  The nature of his position is such that it is rare that a running-back goes the whole season without getting hurt.  Jones did prove last year that he can stay moderately healthy.

Tashard Choice

If Jones and Barber weren't enough, the Cowboys have an excellent third piece to their puzzle in 3rd-down back Tashard Choice.  Choice was used primarily on third downs and proved to be an excellent role player.  After Choice burst onto the scene back in 2008 against the Steelers people have wondered what he could do for encore the following season, with both Jones and Barber healthy.  While Choice was used primarily as a third-down back, he did handle the primary role in the "Razorback" formation (Cowboys' Wildcat).  His average per/carry climbed last season to 5.5, an increase from his rookie season.  Choice is the perfect blend between Jones and Barber.  He is best used as a change up back and is very good out of the backfield on passing situations.  Choice in entering into a contract year and will be looking for more playing time or he might jump ship to a team that can get him more touches.  It isn't hard to argue that Choice is more deserving of playing time, but it is hard to see how that can happen with two really good backs in front of him.

Draft Needs:

The Cowboys seem pretty set at the position, for this year at least.  Here are some potential draft picks that might be on the board for the Cowboys.  This isn't a particularly deep draft for running-backs but there are a few gems:

1. C.J. Spiller (Clemson) – It is unlikely that Spiller will be around at pick 27 for the Boys, but he is probably the most talented back in the draft.  Spiller is an elusive speed back, similar to Felix Jones.  He lacks size though, but makes up for it in explosiveness.  Expect Spiller to go in the top half.

2. Charles Scott (LSU) – Scott is also unlikely to be available for the Cowboys.  Scott is only 5?11 but weighs 230 pounds.  He is a down hill runner who can blow people up.  He is a bruiser with a little speed.  The downside is he isn't very good out of the backfield.

Backs the Cowboys will have a shot to get around the third or fourth round where they are likely to pick one are:

1. LeGarrette Blount (Oregon) – at 6?1, 248, Blount is a big back.  He lacks elite speed but is quite fast for a big man.  He is projected to be around a 3rd or 4th round pick and could be someone attractive to the Cowboys.  Blount was suspended for most of the season after punching a Boise State player after their first game.  Blount does have talent and could be a steal in the draft.

2. Anthony Dixon (Miss. St.) – Dixon is another big back that has some good power and decent speed.  Dixon carries tacklers for extra yardage and can punish defensive backs with his hits.  He does well at making himself a small target and deliver some good shots to defenders.  Like Blount, Dixon does have some character issues.  He was arrested for a DUI and teams will surely take note of that.

Other notables: Jahvid Best (Cal, 1st or 2nd Rnd), Toby Gerhart (Standford, 2nd/3rd), Stafon Johnson (USC, 4th/5th)

With the draft a week away (!), it's time for our third mock. We will have at least one more before the actual draft. Our first mock is here. Our second one is here. And our NFL Mock is here.

WITH THE 15TH PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

ROLANDO MCCLAIN, ILB, ALABAMA

I've said it many times: McClain is the best player at the position that the Giants need the most help in. For me, it's a no-brainer. The only debate, in my mind, is whether or not to take CJ Spiller, if he's there. If it comes down between Spiller and McClain, it will be a very good choice. But, I think Spiller will be gone (either to Cleveland at 7, Jacksonville at 10, Miami at 12, San Fran at 13, or Seattle at 14). McClain can start right away, and be an impact player for years to come. His prospect profile is here.

WITH THE 46TH PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

JAHVID BEST, RB, CAL

It will be difficult for Best to slide to 46, but I've seen it happen in numerous mocks. Best is a game-changer. He can make plays out of the backfield, in space, in the return game. He adds a dynamic to the Giants offense that they don't have. Best is a first round talent, but concerns about his size (or lack thereof) and his durability will let him slide. Best, if selected, will quickly become one of Eli's favorite targets. He can do so much. He'll never be a feature back, and he'll never be in for short yardage situations, but Best can take the ball to the house at any time. The Giants don't have anyone like that. Combine him with the young talent at wide receiver, and an already explosive offense just got more explosive. His prospect profile is here.

WITH THE 76TH PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

CAM THOMAS, DT, UNC

Like Best, I'm not entirely sure that Thomas will be there in the third round. Mike Mayock has him in the 2nd, while former scout Daniel Jeremiah has him in the third. I've become increasingly intrigued with Thomas, because he's a tremendous run stopper. The Giants need a big body in the middle, and Thomas, at 6-4, 330, is that guy. He'll never be a great pass rusher, but with Jay Alford coming back from injury, Thomas doesn't have to rush the passer. On running downs, try running against Thomas and Chris Canty (6-7, 300). It will be very hard. His prospect profile is here. And, follow him on Twitter here.

WITH THE 115TH PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

CIRON BLACK, OT/OG, LSU

Ciron Black is a college left tackle, who projects to be a right tackle/guard in the NFL. The best part about him is his versatility. He can play right tackle, both guard positions, and fill in in a pinch at left tackle. He probably won't be a starter, but he'll be a very valuable backup. His Draft Countdown scouting report is here.

WITH THE 147TH PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

KEVIN THOMAS, CB, USC

Kevin Thomas is a very talented, but fragile cornerback. Tall (6-0) and athletic, he fits the Jerry Reese mold for corners. But, because of various injuries, he only played two full seasons, with one as a starter. He has a lot of potential and upside, but because of injuries, has yet to fulfill that. I think he could be good as a nickel or dime corner. He's pretty fluid and physical, and will be able to stay with quicker receivers. Of course, he has to stay healthy, and that's the risk. His Draft Countdown scouting report is here.

WITH THE 184TH PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

HARRY COLEMAN, S, LSU

Harry Coleman is a classic LB/S tweener. Too slow to be a safety, too small to be a linebacker. So, why is he here? Because he's a tremendous special teams player, and a violent hitter. He reminds me a bit of CC Brown, but with the newfound depth at safety, he won't be asked to start and cover players. That was CC's problem. Coleman won't have to do that. He can play linebacker in pass situations, and safety in run situations, while being a special teams demon. His Draft Countdown scouting report is here.

WITH THE 221ND PICK IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT…

ZOLTAN MESKO, P, MICHIGAN

I know, I know, a punter is probably unnecessary. But the Jints have to start preparing for LAF (Life After Feagles) and Mesko is the best punter in the draft. Draft him, let him learn from Feagles, and make him the starter in 2011. Besides, his name is ZOLTAN! How cool is that?

So there you go, my mock for the Giants. Your thoughts?

Believeland needs to be back in full force starting today. The Cleveland Browns are 8 days away from the draft that is going to turn this organization around. We have Holmgren,Heckert,and Mangini in place to help turn this around and it can happen sooner then expected.

The Browns have talent on the roster with some of the additions through free agency and trades. We have a very exciting draft coming up and a lot very smart people to help us get to the top. The Browns also have a plan in place and as fans we need to be supportive with all the moves that are made in this year draft and off season, even if that means drafting QB Jimmy Clausen from Notre Dame. 

QB’s Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are going to work out at the QB position with there being potentially having three throwers on the field at the same time with WR/QB Josh Cribbs.

The defense is deep at the linebacker position with 10 LB’s in April, and there might be more. The Browns have a playmaker in Cribbs that enable them to have great field possession to start every possession. We are the Mighty Cleveland Browns!!! Destination Super Bowl!!!!

Below is the transcript of Art Rooney II speaking to the assembled media today in Pittsburgh on a variety of issues, which of course includes not imposing a suspension on their QB – for now. Here is what Art had to say:

As you know, on Tuesday Ben met with Commissioner (Roger) Goodell in New York. Since then I have talked with the Commissioner about his review of this matter. As far as the timing of any disciplinary action, the Commissioner has told me he would like to take at least a couple of weeks for further review of this matter. So, I don't expect we will be announcing any final decisions until the week after the draft, at the earliest.

Next, I want to say that I have informed the Commissioner that the Pittsburgh Steelers are prepared to take disciplinary action at this point. However, I want to make clear that any discipline will be agreed to and coordinated between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Commissioner. In other words, there will only be one disciplinary action.

Let me say at this point, we believe each of our players not only has a responsibility to live up to the highest standards on the field, but also to live up to equally high standards off the field. Receiving the support of Pittsburgh Steelers fans all over the world is something that must be earned.

I have made it clear to Ben that his conduct in this incident did not live up to our standards. We have made it very clear to Ben that there will be consequences for his actions, and Ben has indicated to us he is willing to accept those consequences.

As you may be aware, Ben has rejoined the team in participating in our offseason conditioning program. We allowed Ben to do this after we were convinced that he was sincerely contrite for his actions, as well having Ben's assurance that he is firmly committed to working hard every day to regain the trust and respect of this organization and Steelers fans.

After imposing an appropriate level of discipline and outlining the steps we feel will be necessary to be successful as a player and a person, we intend to allow Ben the opportunity to prove to us he is the teammate and citizen we all believe he is capable of being. And we hope the entire Steelers community will allow Ben the opportunity to prove to them that he deserves their trust and their respect.

Next, I would like to say a few words about the Santonio Holmes trade to the New York Jets. Trading a player or releasing a player is never an easy decision. We have to take into account a number of factors. First and foremost, we must evaluate if that player is truly committed to trying to live up to the standards we expect. And on occasion, when a player makes a mistake, we have to evaluate whether the player is committed to taking the required steps to improve in the future.

As you can imagine, to keep our commitment to our fans to consistently put the best possible team on the field, we must also evaluate a player's likely contribution, both in short term and the long term. Clearly Santonio is a very talented football player. But his multiple violations of League policies, and the additional off-the-field problems led us to conclude that it would be in the best interest of our organization to part ways. I wish Santonio all the best, and I hope he is able to do what is necessary to be successful both on and off the field.

Q. Will you impose the disciplinary action on Ben now, and what will it be.

A. No, as I said, there will only be one disciplinary action, and it will be coordinated with the Commissioner. Until we get to the point where we have agreed with the Commissioner what that action will be, that's when it will be imposed.

Q. Were you concerned with the Steelers image through the course of all of this?

A. First and foremost, when we take these actions based on player conduct, in each case we have to evaluate what the player's conduct is and his ability to contribute in the future. In terms of the team's image, certainly I feel as though we have taken a hit, but an image is built over a long period of time. I certainly think there is a lot of goodwill left with the Steelers' image, and that's something we will try to continue to build on as we go forward.

Q. There has been a lot of speculation about trading Ben. Is there any truth to the reports that you're discussing a trade?

A. We don't talk about trades in advance. That's been a consistent policy, and that's the way we'll proceed. The only thing I'll add is that at this point we have not discussed a trade with any other club.

Q. Is it unusual to work with the League and come up with one course of discipline?

A. I would not say that's uncommon. I think in most cases where there's a disciplinary situation, there's a lot of communication between the team and the League.

Q. Did you communicate with the League regarding the Santonio Holmes incident in 2008?

A. We had a conversation with the League about Santonio, and other players, yes.

Q. Do you feel it should fall more to the Steelers to administer the punishment, as opposed to the League doing it?

A. I think we'd probably prefer to do it that way, but the truth of the matter is we are dealing with a player who has a contract, we are dealing with a situation where there is a collective bargaining agreement and a players association that may or may not have input in it. So there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle that probably prevent us from moving ahead on our own at this point.

Q. When you say discipline, do you mean suspension or something else?

A. I'd rather not get into the specifics at this point. It is something where I really would not like to preempt the Commissioner and what he is thinking, so Id' prefer to just leave it at that at this point.

Q. Did you say you talked to him before he was allowed to go back to practice?

A. Yes. We did. We felt like we wanted to make sure we had Ben's commitment that he was going to take steps to do the kinds of things he has to do to become a successful player and a successful person.

Q. You believe Ben is contrite? Is there something he had to do or say in order for you to believe that?

A. We have had multiple conversations, both myself and others in the organization, and we have had some very frank conversations. I think the key at this point is to make sure everybody understands that we look at this as sort of an ongoing journey, and that Ben is going to have to continue to demonstrate to us the commitment that he has talked about so far is also evident in his actions going forward.

Q. Does one of the steps involve counseling and/or rehab?

A. It could, but then again that is something we will have to discuss with the Commissioner.

Q. How bad of a hit do you think Ben's image took?

A. It's a situation where he is going to have to work hard through all of this to rehabilitate his image. There is no question that it has taken a hit, and we've told him it is going to be a long journey back and he is going to have to be up to meeting the challenge.

Q. Before the Georgia incident, did you ever have a conversation with Ben regarding his off-the-field conduct?

A. I can't remember having any lengthy conversations with Ben that would be different from conversations we have had with our players in general regarding off-the-field conduct.

Q. Did what the district attorney in Georgia said in that news conference change your opinion at all?

A. I think we all learned some things in that press conference, but again, there were a lot of things discussed in the press conference that weren't really fact but were conjecture almost. So I'm not going to say that my mind was made up from watching the press conference. I think we had concerns even before that. The main message in the press conference as far as we were concerned is that Ben was not going to be charged, so we moved from there.

Q. Can you talk about your emotions through all of this?

A. It has been a difficult situation. We have been very concerned about how our fans viewed the situation, and I think we understand that all of us in the organization have a lot of work to do in order to win the fans' trust back

Q. Would you say you gave Ben the benefit of the doubt?

A. No, I am not sure I would say that. I think that we're moving through a process here where we believe discipline is appropriate, and we're discussing that with the Commissioner. We've discussed it with Ben and his representatives. So it's a situation where we are giving Ben an opportunity to regain the trust and respect that he wants to have, and to regain the opportunity to be a successful football player for us. That's where we are.

Q. Can you talk about the cumulative affect of the Reno case and this one?

A. I am not going to speak to the other incident other than to say we're concerned about how all this might affect Ben. The incident in Georgia is the incident that we're pretty much focused on at this point, and we're dealing with the aftermath of that.

Q. Does first incident factor into the decision you make?

A. Well, again, Ben has not been charged with anything there, so it's a different circumstance. I don't think that incident factors in greatly into this situation.

Q. Regarding the Santonio Holmes trade, how does this affect the team on the field in the short term?

A. Santonio was a good player, a very productive player for us, so we will certainly miss him. It's like any other situation when a player moves on, whether it's through a trade or free agency. We have to make the adjustments and move forward as best we can. We think we have good players on the roster who can step up and do the job.

Q. You only got a fifth-round pick in the trade. Was it more important to get a high pick or to make a statement?

A. We would have taken a higher pick if somebody would have offered it to us. It was what it was. It was what the market was at the time. We decided that we wanted to move on with it.

Q. Did Ben's situation have anything to do with Santonio being traded?

A. No. We had to evaluate Santonio's situation on its own merits, and it was really just a coincidence that the two situations happened at the same time.

Q. How difficult has it been to deal with this situation?

A. It's a difficult situation. But to be honest with you, I have had my share to deal with over the last few years. So you just do the best you can, and you try to move forward as best you can.

Q. Is it fair to say you now have a zero-tolerance policy with Ben?

A. Again, we have to evaluate a player given all the circumstances that present themselves when they present themselves. I don't want to get into hypotheticals about what we might do next. The most important thing is that Ben stays committed to doing what he has to do to uphold his end of the bargain at this point.