NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The NFL Draft is now only two days away and there has been one rumor that has been heating up that involves the Eagles. The rumor has been the possibility of Philadelphia trading down out of the first round. This rumor has been fueled by members of the Eagles organization making claims that would seem to point towards a trade-down. Whether or not this rumor is true, here are some possible results of the Eagles draft day decsisons:

Eagles Trade Out of The First- This is what the whole rumor is. This is what has caused a wide-spread panic amongst Eagles' fans. The fact that the Eagles are considering trading out of the first round when they have so many holes to fill does not seem likely. However, if they were to do a trade like that, Philadelphia would be able to score a host of various picks in the later rounds and maybe even receive another player in return.

The issue with this is that the Eagles have a fairly bad pick, but they will still have a number of players available that they could use. The Eagles have done this in the past and it has quite simply failed. Chances: Not Likely

Click HERE to read the Rest

Could the Texans make a perfect trade partner with the Bengals?

PFT has a piece about the Texans' draft strategy heading into Thursday night's first round. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (not the Die Hard guy) thinks the Texans will push to move up from the 11th pick in order to select LB Von Miller or CB Patrick Peterson.

He speculates that the team would be unable to trade up any earlier than five.  However, this sounds like an enticing scenario for the Bengals.  Assuming the Panthers take Cam Newton at number 1, and the Broncos take DT Marcell Dareus at 2, the Bills will either go LB Von Miller or QB Blaine Gabbert at 3.  Assuming they go Miller (as most speculate), then the Bengals could be in the catbird seat with Arizona doubtlessly considering Peterson at five.

The Texans could package their first round pick (11), along with a 3rd rounder and 5th rounder for Cincinnati's pick at 4.  This trade up package was also suggested by a Texans blog here.

Click HERE to read the rest

By Jeremy Fuchs

CASEY MATTHEWS, ILB, OREGON

Triangle Numbers: 6-2, 235, 4.85

Scouting Reports:

Draft Countdown:

Strengths:
• Adequate height and bulk with a very sturdy build
• Above average athleticism and agility with a burst
• Outstanding football IQ, instincts and awareness
• Dependable tackler who will also deliver the bit hit
• Strong, physical and steps up to fill versus the run
• Displays a knack for rushing the passer and blitzing
• Fluid hips and more than holds his own in coverage
• Active with non-stop motor and tenacious in pursuit
• Competitive and hard working w/ amazing bloodlines
• Very productive with a lot of high-quality experience

Weaknesses:
• Not real explosive w/ average speed and quickness
• Is too aggressive and gets out of control at times
• Some trouble disengaging and getting off of blocks
• Poor hands and ball skills and is not a playmaker
• A self-made player who is a bit of an overachiever

Sideline Scouting:

Positives: Great NFL bloodlines, brother of Green Bay standout linebacker Clay Matthews… Solid production in four years at Oregon (245 tackles, four interceptions, eight sacks)… Semifinalist for Butkus Award and Lott Trophy in 2010.

Click HERE to read the rest

Cutler Getting Hitched to TV Star

A source confirms to People that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler proposed over the weekend to Kristin Cavallari during their getaway in Cabo San Lucas.

“He surprised her with a quick trip to Cabo to ask her to marry him,” the source says. Cavallari is the former Laguna Beach star who also appeared on The Hills has been dating the 27 year old Cutler since last fall.

People online also had the “5 Things you Need to Know about the Cutler and Cavallari Romance”

1. They fell in love fast
They only began dating last fall, and their relationship has been primarily long-distance, but by January, Cavallari, 24, admitted Cutler already had her heart. “I’m in love and it’s been great,” she told PEOPLE. “Things are really good.”

Click HERE to read the rest

Haynesworth charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse

It’s another black eye for Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who has been indicted on a charge of misdemeanor sexual abuse by a grand jury in Washington, D.C. The event took place back in February, when Haynesworth was accused of fondling an employee at the W Hotel in Washington.

The complaint comes from a waitress, who claims that she was clearing a table on the hotel’s rooftop lounge, and that her hands were full of glasses when Haynesworth asked to pay his bill using a credit card.

The court document states Haynesworth asked her if it was OK to slip the credit card into her shirt. She said yes, and Haynesworth slipped the credit card down her blouse. The waitress said Haynesworth then grabbed and caressed her breast.

Earlier in February, Haynesworth had been charged with assault in a road range incident. In that case, a man said that the nose tackle got out of his car and punched him in the face on Route 7100 in Fairfax County. If convicted of the sexual abuse, Haynesworth faces up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Former Dolphins tight end and popular South Florida sportscaster Jim Mandich died Tuesday night after a long battle with cancer.

The 62-year-old announced in March of 2010 that he was diagnosed with a tumor on his bile duct and wouldn't return to his talk show on WQAM. The tumor extended from the liver to the small intestine.

Mandich was drafted by the Dolphins in 1970 out of the University of Michigan. He was an All-American for the Wolverines and played eight seasons with the Dolphins. He's a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and announced Dolphins games from 1992-2004 and from 2008-2009.

By Mike Perkins – PatriotsGab.com

That was the simple happiness I elected to embrace for the night, choosing to ignore the fact that this remains an enormously complicated situation. Now, either the players or Judge Nelson have to decide whether to grant the owners a stay.

Immediate thought upon hearing this: what the hell is a stay?

"A stay of proceedings is a stopping or arresting of a judicial proceedings by the direction or order of a court…; (a) a kind of injunction with which a court freezes its proceeding at a particular point, stopping the prosecution of the action altogether, or holding up some phase of it."A stay may imply that the proceedings are suspended to await some action required to be taken by one of the parties as, for example, when a non-resident has been ordered to give security for costs. In certain circumstances, however, a stay may mean discontinuance or permanent suspension of the proceedings." (as defined by Canada's Supreme Court)

Click HERE to read the rest

Hot off the "Twitter-presses" comes this series of Tweets from Jason La Canfora, a senior reporter for the NFL Network and former Redskins beat writer for The Washington Post:

* Spoke Monday about the Redskins interest in trading up to No 2 to land a QB. @KaraHenderson, reporting from Denver today, echoed that and…

* Others reporting similar versions as well. I'm not convinced the Skins can't land Gabbert at 10 but several GMs believe they will move to 2

* Several GMs I've talked to believe Skins will move to 2 to make sure they get Gabbert. I think he'd likely be there at 10

We just got done telling you about the Redskins interest in Gabbert remaining firm, just over 48 hours before the NFL Draft is set to begin (Thursday, April 28th, at 8pm EST). While we outlined potential trades within the middle portion of the top 10 picks, a trade up to #2 overall would take a very ambitious and even more costly package of current & future draft picks, and possibly even some players, to execute.

Click HERE to read the Rest

From Second Round To Top Ten?

Is the Andy Dalton Fan Club jam-packed?

Not yet, there’s still a couple of seats available. 

NFL Films guru Greg Cosell on TCU QB Andy Dalton: Merits no more than a fourth-round draft selection.

“He won’t go there. He’ll go higher,” Cosell stated. “But he doesn’t throw it very well. He doesn’t spin it very well. He’s a guy you’ll have to camouflage. He needs a strong running game to be successful.”  Harsh words for a player that could be selected as high as 8; according to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora.

When a QB like Blaine Gabbert’s stock is falling out of the Top 10, another QB’s stock is rising into the Top 10.  That’s the case with Texas Christian’s Andy Dalton, as the Tennessee Titans have reportedly become intrigued by the possibility of drafting Dalton with their eighth overall pick.  Words thrown around to mention the Horned Frogs’ tosser: “elite prospect” and “less of a risk”. Lofty praise for a fourth-round talent?

Could these rumors be true?  Click HERE to read the rest.

Legendary senior writer jclombardi–fans choices for 1st round in draft.

Our fan poll about the highest Packers need to be chosen in the 1st round of the NFL draft reached preliminary conclusions. The poll (posted below) shows the fans in the Packers nation favor three major needs in the 1st round choice in the NFL draft: (1) Offensive Lineman (48%) (2) Defensive Lineman (23%) and (3) Outside Linebacker (18%). Interestingly, the poll results reflect the top three priorities in the other polls running throughout Packers bloggers. The top need is viewed as offensive lineman, but the fans are divided about whether outside linebacker or defensive lineman is the next top second need. We are impressed, fans, with your knowledge from following the Packers and sports news. Since the poll is still open, fans are requested to continue voting for final results.

Players (linked scouting reports) that mock drafts see as 1st round draft pick: