NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Kyle Vanden Bosch was signed a year ago for his knowledge of Jim Schwartz's defense, his on field talents and the veteran leadership he would provide.  The 2010 season exhibited all three of those traits and the Lions' defensive front rose to one of the top units in the league because of it.

However, the veteran leadership KVB provides extends beyond the white lines of the gridiron.  Vanden Bosch was credited by teammates for showing them how to properly prepare for games both physically and mentally and leading by example.

As we stare labor uncertainty in the face for the first time since 1987, KVB's action have to be tickling the Lions coaching staff pink.  Per the Detroit Free Press, KVB has begun the Unofficial Lions Offseason Strength and Training Program at several Detroit area fitness locations.  Vanden Bosch didn't want the labor unrest to harm the team camaraderie that the Lions worked so hard to establish in 2010, so he organized team workouts to give the guys a way to keep in shape and stay close while the NFL and NFLPA hit the courtrooms.

Some think that doing this plays into the owners' hands and undermine the players by "working for free," but there is every reason to believe that the labor uncertainty will not cancel the 2011 season and when the time does come to suit up, players need to be in shape.  The players need to stay in shape one way or another, does it matter if they do it by themselves or as a group?

All I know, is after years of hearing about conflict and division in the front office, locker room and on the field, the Lions appear to be a team from top to bottom and all moving in the same direction.  When the football world snaps out of bizarro world and returns to normal, the Lions will be that much better for it.

Ross Homan

The Eagles have shown some dedication on drafting defensive support, as they have completed scheduled workouts with two Ohio State linebackers, Brian Rolle and Ross Homan. Both players had excellent careers at Ohio State and have posted some impressive numbers at the combine. Rolle and Homan are not regarded as top tier talent in this years draft, but could be a great alternative at a late round.

Both players led the NFL Draft class respectively in their own categories, Rolle posting a 4.56 40-yard dash which was third best of all linebackers. Then Homan would top all linebackers in the bench press with benching 225 pounds, 32 times. It’s two different player types, speed from Rolle, and Homan with the power at the linebacker postion. Both of these players could provide a huge boost to the Eagles central defense.

It’s tough to imagine Andy Reid taking two defensive players, let alone linebackers, in the same draft, but it’s possible. The fact that a workout was scheduled and completed speaks volumes for how committed the Eagles will be to improving the defense. To make things even better, it’s two players that played together in college and could bolster the Eagles team chemistry. Ohio State has had generally successful players in the NFL, and these two players could be huge draft steals.

Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller has two upcoming visits with teams holding very high picks in the NFL draft, according to sources. The sources said Miller will meet with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as hold a two-day visit with the Cleveland Browns on April 11-12. Miller is widely considered this year’s top linebacker prospect. Miller is also part of the NFLPA’s lawsuit against the league that includes high-profile players Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

There is some speculation about whether Miller could be blackballed by owners and teams, which would hurt his draft stock, but that doesn’t appear to be the case, as Buffalo (No. 3 overall) and Cleveland (No. 6) both hold top picks in the first round. Miller wowed scouts at the NFL combine with his athleticism and recently ran a blazing 4.49 40-yard dash during his pro day at Texas A&M.

Troy wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan has a private workout scheduled on Wednesday with the Falcons, Jernigan wrote in a draft diary for WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama. The 5-9, 185-pound Jernigan was a three-time first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, catching 262 passes for 3,128 yards during his four-year career, finishing as the school and Sun Belt Conference’s all-time leading receiver.

Jernigan’s 5,971 all-purpose yards are also a school and conference record. After running a 4.46-40 at the Combine, Jernigan ran a 4.32 during last week’s Pro Day. Between his production, versatility as a return specialist, and athleticism–38″ vertical leap and 10′8″ broad jump–Jernigan is projected to go in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Jernigan also visited with the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers after his pro day workout.

ESPN Insider Adam Schefter has an interview with NFL Commish Roger Goodell.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Ravens will check out Baylor guard Danny Watkins, as will the Broncos and the Rams. Watkins’ stock is moving up the charts fast, at 6′3, 312 pounds he is a much older rookie at 27, but it doesn’t seem to be scaring teams from taking a long look at him.

The Ravens are one of three teams this week who will work out first-round prospect Danny Watkins, a fast-rising guard-tackle out of Baylor who is one of the more intriguing stories of the draft. Watkins, who spent four years as a firefighter in his hometown in British Columbia, did not play football until he attended Butte College in Oroville, Calif, and he tried out for the school’s football team only after arriving to take classes in the school’s fire academy.

At 6 feet 3, 312 pounds, Watkins started two years at tackle for Baylor but he is projected to play guard in the NFL. One downside on Watkins is he'll be a 27-year-old rookie. Asked about his age, Watkins said, "Well I don’t have arthritis." But Watkins plays with a nasty temperament and is considered durable, he doesn't see too much of a transition from tackle to guard. "I moved inside at the Senior Bowl and if felt pretty good," Watkins said. "Teams ask where I want to play and I tell them wherever you feel I best help the team."

Locked out by the NFL after the players’ union decertified, the Titans’ Players are going to start conducting informal workouts next Monday at a Nashville high school. Obviously, the workouts are voluntary. Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan made that announcement today during a radio interview with WNSR-AM 560’s Darren McFarland and Brad Hopkins.

Finnegan said the Titans are following the example of former Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who’s getting workouts organized in Detroit with the Lions. “That’s what we’re doing now, a bunch of guys, we’re sending emails to one another and texting and calling,” Finnegan said.

"It’ll be closed to the public, but we’ll be out there getting it in. We’ve got to keep on keeping on. “We’ve got to keep working out. We’ve set up a place, a great place to work out, not at the Titans facility, but we’ve just got to be ready whenever it gets worked out."

Aaron Wilson of the National Post reports the Patriots have conducted a private workout with University of Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

A speedy junior, Smith ran the 40-yard dash between 4.37 and 4.41 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder also registered a 41-inch vertical leap, a 10-6 broad jump and bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times.

Smith caught 67 passes for 1,075 yards and 12 touchdowns last season before declaring early for the draft.

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, a regular participant in the NFL labor talks that broke down last week, says the owners’ decision to lock out the players was “difficult but necessary” according to the Associated Press.

Allen made his first comments on the lockout in a letter to Redskins fans posted Tuesday on the team’s website.

“Unfortunately, the union’s abandonment of bargaining and subsequent decertification led to the league’s difficult but necessary step to lock out, something we tried hard to avoid,” Allen wrote. “We remain committed to getting a new deal done and believe that the fastest way to a fair agreement is through mediation and not litigation.

“We share your disappointment with the lack of progress. The offer that the union walked away from was fair and addressed many of the key issues, including a rookie compensation system, enhanced player healthy and safety measures, improved retired player benefits and compromises on the union’s financial demands.”