NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Some think that the Cards have interest in former Rams and now Ravens QB Marc Bulger. He’s a former teammate of former Cards QB Kurt Warner, who says that he thinks Bulger would be a good fit with the Cardinals offense.

It's expected that Marc Bulger will leave the Ravens after one uneventful season to become a starting quarterback somewhere in the league. A former teammate said Bulger would do well with the Arizona Cardinals. "If the Cardinals want to do what we did when I was there, I think Marc fits the bill extremely well," Kurt Warner told The Fan 1060 in Phoenix. "He is a very accurate passer down the field. He can read defenses. He understands the system they play there and can do those things very well." It is believed Bulger chose being a backup for the Ravens last season over being a starter in Arizona because the Ravens' offer ($3.8 million) was more. It's been reported that Bulger would prefer to stay close to St. Louis, where his wife is a doctor. Tennessee and Cincinnati could be other options for Bulger.

Could the Broncos draft a quarterback with the number two overall pick? This despite taking Tim Tebow in the first round a year ago? The Denver Post today reports that John Elway likes the QB group entering the draft this year, and it seems that the team could forgo one of the better defensive players to draft a franchise QB.

One reason the Broncos continue to look at the next rookie crop of quarterbacks is because John Elway knows quarterbacks. “This group is very talented,” said Elway, the Broncos’ former quarterback who is running their football operations department. “It’s very rare that you have three guys who are at least 6-4, 230 and run a 4.6.” Elway was speaking today at the NFL owners’ meetings about Auburn’s Cam Newton, Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick. All are considered athletic quarterbacks. Back in the day, Elway was described that way, too: An athletic quarterback with a cannon.

“I think sometimes your eyes migrate to the style you played,” Elway said. “You don’t have to be that way. You look at Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, the success they’ve had. But I think it’s getting harder and harder to play that position and not have mobility.” The Broncos’ top three decision makers — Elway, general manager Brian Xanders and head coach John Fox — personally went to watch the pro day workouts of Newton and Gabbert in recent weeks. “Where we are with that second pick, we have to look at everything,” Elway said. “Because by no means do we plan on going back there. So we are literally looking at every position inside the draft.”

KRISTOFER O'DOWD, C, USC

Triangle Numbers: 6-5, 300, 5.2

Scouting Reports:

Draft Countdown:

Strengths:
• Good height and bulk with a relatively large frame
• Intelligent with outstanding instincts and awareness
• Technically sound and understands positioning / angles
• Relatively stout at the point of attack and can anchor
• Uses hands well, showing ability to lock on and sustain
• Mature, tough and competitive with a great work ethic
• Has a lot of experience against top-notch competition

Weaknesses:
• Limited athletically and not a natural knee bender
• Heavy feet to slide and mirror with average range
• Not very strong or powerful and lacks explosiveness
• Tends to get caught reaching and leaning at times
• Doesn't get big push in run game and not a mauler
• Is too inconsistent when it comes to using leverage
• Dealt with injuries and durability is a major concern

Sideline Scouting:

Positives: Versatile, could get some looks at Guard… Heady, good instincts for the position… Explosive… Good pass blocker, quick first step… Quick pass set… Uses his hands well… Good footwork, good lateral movement and slide… Blocks with solid leverage in pass protection… Does a nice job redirecting… Gets in front of stunts and blitzes… Very solid run blocker… Adequate strength at POA, reasonably good anchor when he stays low… Can generate solid power… Plays with a solid base… Very good contact balance… Gets to the second level and seals linebackers okay… Brings his feet along with him… Solid flexibility and body control but not good… Carries his pads well… Plays with good technique… Good mental toughness… Aggressive, gives a good effort… Reminds me of San Francisco's Eric Heitmann.

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On Tuesday at the NFL owner’s meeting in New Orleans, Jets coach Rex Ryan said Shonn Greene will get more work in 2011 than LaDainian Tomlinson. Ryan also said that Joe McKnight will also be worked into the mix, but Greene should be considered the featured back. “Will we take some reps off L.T. this year on first and second down and give them more to Shonn Greene,” Ryan said. “I would say that’s a real possibility.”

The NFL owners today officially approved modified rule changes for kickoffs and instant replay, hurting those teams around the league that have good kick return games.

The two-man wedge remains in place and touchbacks will still go out to the 20-yard line, however, the kickoff starting point will be moved up to the 35-yard line. That of course means there are going to be a lot more touchbacks instead of returns around the league.

Also decided upon was that all scoring plays will be reviewed, and coaches can keep their third instant replay challenge. All field surfaces must remain a league-approved shade of green unless they are given consent from the league office. The reason behind the rule was to preserve uniform appearance of NFL games.

NFL Access analyst, Jon Jansen posed that very question recently and claimed that it was "impossible" for Flacco to truly assume such as role as long as Lewis is still in uniform.

"If Joe is going to be the leader on this team, he cannot do it with Ray on the other side. It just is impossible," Jansen said.

"Ray Lewis is the leader of this team and there's nobody that's going to challenge that."

Fellow analyst, Warren Sapp thinks that Flacco needs to step up now regardless of who else is still there.

Sapp added, "We don't follow people that they all of a sudden anoint leaders. We follow ones that step out in the forefront and say, 'Hey fellas! This way!"

Lewis has been a strong presence since he was drafted with this team in 1996 and he has become the national identity of this franchise.

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Kevin Kolb continues to be the hot backup QB that many think will get moved this offseason according to NFL odds once all the CBA and lockout mess takes care of itself.

It’s been said a number of times that the Niners are one team that has their sights on Kolb, but that may not be the case according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, who say that a trade between the Eagles and 49ers isn’t likely to happen.

The Eagles are listening to trade offers for backup quarterback Kevin Kolb, but based on a report Monday from Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, it appears unlikely Kolb will be shipped to the 49ers if that new CBA happens before the April 28 draft. King, citing a “good source” from the NFL meeting, reports the Eagles have one team willing to offer a first-round draft pick for Kolb.

Now, Eagles coach Andy Reid is looking for a team to make him a better deal. This would seem to rule out the 49ers as the team that has made the trade offer. After all, the 49ers own the No. 7 overall pick and that would seem to be too high of a price for Kolb, who has completed 60.8 percent of his passes while starting seven games in four NFL seasons.