NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Ryan Mallett has been one of the most vocal quarterback prospects in this draft class.  In fact, lately he has even been talking more than Cam Newton who, at times, seems incapable of shutting up.

Mallett has gone into full blown "Clausen Mode" as he attempts to use the media, and anyone else that will listen, to downplay the speculation that his alleged character, leadership, and drug use concerns will cause him to plummet on Draft Day.  Comparisons to Ryan Leaf, after all, can be the kiss of death these days.

Mallett recently visited with the Vikings, who seem interested in just about every quarterback prospect out there, and he is saying that he liked what he saw.

"I was really impressed by the organization, and the talks we had were positive," Mallett said. "I enjoyed talking football with them and showing them what I know and what I can do as a quarterback. I feel that's a place where I could thrive."

Mallett is considered to be the best pure passer in this draft but teams are looking into his personality with a microscope and the way things proceed at the end of April will be the best indicator as to what they found.

Bill Polian told the Indianapolis Star that the Indianapolis Colts may find their successor for Peyton Manning in this year's NFL Draft.

"Quarterback's an issue, probably not a front-burner issue, but an issue nonetheless because while Peyton's not at the end of his career, it's approaching faster than it has in the past," Polian said. "I wouldn't rule that out in the right situation."

The Colts have already worked out two quarterbacks: Neveda's Colin Kaepernick and TCU's Andy Dalton.

However, rumors have said, like ESPN, that Indianapolis could be going for a quarterback in the first round! Manning had shown signs of struggle, possibly with age, but when it all goes down: he just didn't have a good supporting cast.

If the Colts were to get a quarterback in the first round, they will most likely get a player like Jake Locker or Christian Ponder at that pick. However, I wouldn't be too fond of this idea. It would be best going for a tackle at this round and then a guy like Kaepernick or Dalton, who are available most likely between rounds 2-4.

However, don't be surprised though with a quarterback. Indianapolis could still get a tackle like Benjamin Ijalana from Villanova.

I guess we'll see what happens. Very interesting here, though, none the less.

Pro Football Weekly hears that another potential free-agent quarterback who might appeal to the 49ers is the Steelers’ Dennis Dixon.

If the free agency rules are retained from the last CBA, Dixon would be a restricted free agent, meaning the Steelers get the right of first refusal and in Dixon’s case, a fifth-round choice if he signs with another team.

Dixon, the former Oregon star, is fully recovered from a severe knee injury he incurred in college. However, if Dixon was really impressive, the Steelers would have protected him more.

Senior writer jclombardi highlights Packers headlines.

Federal judge orders mediation: Judge Susan Nelson appointed Chief Magistrate Judge Boylan to preside mediation between the NFL and the players. The players got what they wanted as mediation will now occur under the umbrella of the federal litigation.

Packers’ starting ROLB competition is wide open: PFW says no one has a clue who will be the starter among current roster players: Frank Zombo, Erik Walden or Brad Jones. "Jones and Walden are more athletic and better at dropping into coverage than Zombo, but Zombo is a lot stouter at the point of attack and looks like he will continue to improve as a pass rusher. Don’t rule out Jones moving inside should Nick Barnett leave–a possibility HC McCarthy mentioned to team insiders at the NFL Scouting Combine."  Also, in previewing the Packers 2011 NFL draft, the Packer may upgrade the position with a choice like Georgia's Justin Houston.

Packers draft needs—priorities: According to Vandermause at the GBPG, the top Packers draft need is the defensive line: “Cullen Jenkins, underrated for his inside rushing ability, figures to depart in unrestricted free agency, and Johnny Jolly will be sent packing due to persistent legal troubles,” wrote Vandermause. “That leaves the Packers short at a key position and facing some nagging questions. How much longer can 11-year veteran Ryan Pickett hold up? Can second-year prospect Mike Neal stay healthy? Will youngsters C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn continue to improve? As luck would have it, this draft is rich in talented defensive linemen.” However, he makes a stronger case for his second top Packers draft need at OLB: "Thompson shocked the world by not drafting an outside linebacker to complement Clay Matthews last year, but don't expect that to happen again. Frank Zombo and Erik Walden came out of nowhere and shouldn't be discounted, and injury-prone Brad Jones has potential. But just imagine how much better the defense could be with a bona fide pass-rushing threat opposite Matthews." Considering the depth at both positions, his third top Packers draft need at offensive line may be the greater immediate need: "If Chad Clifton stays healthy, which is a big if for a soon-to-be 35-year-old left tackle, the Packers could survive for another season. If not, this position becomes extremely thin. Bryan Bulaga can start on either side, but T.J. Lang is largely unproven, and veteran Mark Tauscher's future is in doubt due to injuries." We agree that the top Packers draft priorities are offensive line, outside linebacker, defensive end, wide receiver, and kick returner.

Packers focus upon kick return specialists in draft: The coaching staff was never satisfied with Sam Shields and Jordy Nelson on returns, and both players are in line for bigger roles outside of special teams. The return game is one of the few weak spots on the team. Utah’s Antoine Smithson and Cal’s Jeremy Ross will visit Green Bay in the coming weeks.

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports coach Marvin Lewis is saying all the right things about Auburn QB Cam Newton despite the heat the former Auburn quarterback getting from the national media ever since last season when the story broke his father tried to sell him to Mississippi State. Just in the last week Kiper questioned Newton’s work ethic while Pro Football Weekly said teams are worried about his “fake smile” and sincerity.

Knowing that this is the season for smoke and mirrors, let it be known it was reported this week (but not confirmed by Lewis) that the Bengals worked out Newton on site. But Lewis was enthusiastic about Newton’s improvement since a bad throwing day at the NFL scouting combine.

“He’s a real fine NFL prospect,” said Lewis, who witnessed Newton’s impressive Pro Day last month. “He’s got a great, great personality. Magnetic.”

Lewis smiled when asked about the scrutiny Newton is facing for that personality. He says the “It” factor a franchise quarterback must have is very much in the club’s minds in this process.

“He’s got it. He’s got it. Whoever said that wished they had it,” Lewis said. “It’s really important when you’re talking about evaluating the quarterback position that they have that. That they’re that kind of guy. You’ve got be a guy that is standup, ready to take control kind of guy. Whether you’re talking about the football team, whether you’re talking about the city. Talking about a lot of stuff. The good thing is that all these kids this year have been that.

“In Cam’s case, he’s been ‘it’ three times,” Lewis said of Newton’s collegiate journeys. “He went to Gainesville that way with that kind of fanfare. He went to Blinn Junior College where he had to slink down as low as he could go. He came out of it that way and went to Auburn that way. Now he comes into the NFL. He’s kind of had that ‘it,’ been that kind of guy for awhile.”

“He’s gone through some adversity that’s been created around him,” Lewis said. “Some self-inflicted at times. Probably some inflicted by the environment around him at times. Some made up, probably. But whatever it is, he’s been successful. He shoulders responsibilities and he’s done well with it.”

The Cowboys plan to hold unsupervised team workouts during the lockout, linebacker Keith Brooking told a Dallas radio station.

In a Thursday interview with KESN-FM’s "Galloway & Co.," Brooking said fans "can be assured" the players will be ready for the season even if the lockout eliminates training camp.

"There are guys who have gotten together and are going to continue to get together in groups and work out and do our thing, and there will be some organized stuff going on later down the road," Brooking said. Citing a pact the players made not to publicize the workouts, Brooking declined to give specifics.

Coaches aren’t allowed to have contact with players during the lockout, so it would be the responsibility of veterans like Brooking to oversee the practices. Brooking said it’s important the defensive players be in attendance so they can get a jump on implementing the system of new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

"We have to get the mental aspect of that down," Brooking said of Ryan’s version of the 3-4 defense. "It’s up to us (team leaders) to get with the guys and go over that and try to be as prepared as we can when the time comes (for the season)."

Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports there’s plenty of speculation that the Dolphins are interested in signing free agent running back DeAngelo Williams.

Williams is presently in South Florida and has heard the rumors, and doesn't shy away from admitting his interest in playing for the Dolphins is mutual.

During his interview with WQAM's Kup and Kelly show Williams says what Carolina and the Dolphins do with their quarterback situation will play a factor in his free agent decision.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting via his Twitter page that Judge Susan Nelson told NFL and NFLPA that she will impose forced mediation on them early this week.

NFL wants DC, NFLPA wants Minnesota. Last Thursday, both sides in the NFL labor dispute agreed to federal mediation.

The players embraced the idea to have the negotiations in Minnesota, while the owners expressed interest in having the negotiations take place in Washington DC under George Cohen. Cohen was the mediator who handled the discussions before the lockout began.

The sides tried mediation before, but those talks broke off last month, leading to the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.

The Buccaneers have agreed to a four-year contract extension for General Manager Mark Dominik, who just completed his second year in the position. The team announced the contract extension Monday morning.

Dominik has overhauled the team's roster, making the Buccaneers the youngest team in the NFL. The team earned a 10-6 record in 2010, marking the best single-season turnaround. Team officials say the Buccaneers in 2010 became the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to start 10 different rookies on their way to a winning season.

Dominik, who has been with the organization for 16 years, has overseen the team's last two drafts. Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer says Dominik is "dedicated to delivering the winner our fans deserve."

With the 29th spot in the first round of the NFL draft, it is appearing more and more likely the Bears’ best option will not be picking a player to fill a position in need according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.

It is more likely their best option will be general manager Jerry Angelo will work all angles to make a deal and it’s looking more and more like the Bears will be in no man’s land if they stay put.

There are five potential first-round tackles, so one could slide. The tackles most likely will fall in this order, based on a survey of NFL scouts: Tyron Smith, Nate Solder, Anthony Castonzo Gabe Carimi and Derrick Sherrod.

If Carimi slips, it’s because some teams are concerned about his cockiness. Sherrod could fall a bit because he’s a love-or-hate-him prospect. But more love him than hate him.

If all five are gone, the Bears would have to reach for a tackle at 29, and that would not be prudent.Which brings us to a trade. Personnel director Tim Ruskell has acknowledged that it could be worth considering moving up. And the Bears might have to move up to get an immediate impact player.

But the price might be prohibitive, unless one of their targeted players slides and they merely need to move up a few spots. So barring something unusual, a trade up probably is not in the Bears’ best interests. A trade down, on the other hand, could be exactly what the draft doctor ordered.