NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

On Saturday, May 14, Jockey will be hosting a special launch event at Macy's Herald Square to celebrate the innovative, new Jockey® staycool collection*, along with their new spokesperson, pro quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

Key event activities will include:

-          A series of fashion shows highlighting the new Jockey staycool silhouettes for men and women, showing off the stylish new fashions great for this spring and summer

-          Exclusive meet & greet with Tim Tebow in the Macy's men's department for the first 250 guests

-          Walks through a Jockey staycool tunnel (complete with real-life ice walls) to provide a unique, full-body experience, demonstrating how the staycool product technology works

-          Additional activities both inside Macy's Herald Square and outside on the Boulevard

Macy's Herald Square (34^th and Broadway, New York City)

NOON, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM: Fashion shows outside on Broadway Boulevard

12:30 PM: Informal modeling in Men's on Lower Level & Women's on 6^th Floor

1:00 PM: Tim Tebow Personal Appearance – Men's on Lower Level

Tim Tebow replaced Kyle Orton as a starter in the final three games of the regular season, and has already said he wanted to compete with Orton for the starting role this fall. And Broncos boss John Elway — who previously has said that Orton is the team’s starter — didn’t dismiss that possibility on Tuesday in an appearance on Sirius NFL Radio.

Elway said (via the Denver Post) that it is “hard to tell” if both Tebow and Orton would be on the roster in Week 1 since new coach John Fox and his staff haven’t had a chance to evaluate him on the field. Elway has said he believes in Tebow, a first-round pick in 2010. But he has cautioned that the former Heisman winner may need more seasoning before he’s ready to become a full-time NFL starter.

Panthers leading WR Steve Smith says he hasn’t demanded a trade but has asked the Carolina Panthers to be “in a competitive situation.” Smith contacted Pro Football Weekly on Tuesday so he could clear up reports that he wanted out of Carolina.

“These people that keep writing these articles, none of them have even spoken to me. What I want to do is be classy and not tip my cards, be respectful to the [Panthers] organization,” he told the publication. “It’s not me saying, ‘Yes, I want a trade.’ It’s still a family matter, and when my family feels it’s the appropriate time, our actions will show how we feel.”

Pro Football Weekly had earlier reported that Smith cleaned out his locker at Bank of America Stadium before the NFL lockout began in March and took down all of the decorations in the luxury suite his family used on game days. The earlier Pro Football Weekly report also said Smith asked to be traded before the lockout began.

Smith, however, told Pro Football Weekly on Tuesday that he hasn’t formally requested a trade. “I have not demanded a trade. What I have asked for is to be in a competitive situation,” he told the publication. “I sat down with [general manager] Marty [Hurney] a lot of times prior to the lockout. I am respected as a veteran amongst the players as well as the front office. So there has been dialogue [about my future in Carolina] prior to the lockout.”

Ravens veteran offensive guard Ben Grubbs underwent surgery last week to remove bone spurs in his ankle. According to the Carroll County Times, Grubbs had surgery on the ankle each of the past two years. Grubbs has started 48 consecutive regular-season games. “I’m still rehabbing my ankle,” Grubbs said.

“That’s definitely my top priority. I feel great. I feel a lot better than the last surgery. I played in some pain the last two years. It’s been rough on me. Over the last two years, I accumulated more bone spurs and that was causing me problems. They got rid of those hopefully. I give a lot of props to my doctors. They did a great job.”

Grubbs has has been rehabbing his ankle in Pensacola, Fla. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back to 100 percent,” said Grubbs, a Pro Bowl alternate selection last season who’s entering his fifth season as a starter. “I’m getting ready for an awesome season.”

According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, last night Bengals running back Cedric Benson told the hosts of “Late Hits” on Sirius NFL Radio that it “wouldn’t be healthy” for the Bengals to bring back quarterback Carson Palmer. “To bring him back would be detrimental to the team,” added Benson. “If he’s there and not happy, he’s not going to give us his best.”

As there is no guarantee that Benson will be back in Cincinnati this year, his opinion clearly carries no weight with Marvin Lewis. Palmer, if he can be persuaded to return to the Bengals, would certainly be a better quarterback to start the 2011 season with than rookie Andy Dalton.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Kevin Kolb have reached the ultimate conclusion a trade will happen, just as soon as the NFL Lockout is lifted and teams can trade, and the Eagles have been noted looking for draft picks, but I think otherwise.

When Philadelphia went into the draft, I had visions of Kolb being traded early in the first day to the Arizona Cardinals, and with that first round pick the Eagles would take Patrick Peterson from LSU. The truth on whether the Cardinals and Eagles had ironed out a trade will remain unknown, all thanks to the lockout. Now the draft has passed and the Eagles had thrown some questionable selections in the mix, and really failed to address some needs all at the same time.

I am not hear to criticize Andy Reid and yet another failed Eagles draft, because I believe there is promise in this class. Philadelphia did not do the typical cut and dry draft that we, as fans, have seen in the past. This draft shows one thing from Reid and the Eagles organization, they are building a win-now team.

Click HERE to read the rest

NFL Gridiron Gab Draft expert Abe Munch goes team by team into the 2011 NFL Draft, and breaks down all the picks as well as goes in-depth with Best Selection, Sleeper and a Final Grade. Today we take a look at the NFC South. Click the links below to see the breakdown of the Panthers, Falcons, Bucs and Saints.

Panthers Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft
Falcons Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft
Buccaneers Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft
Saints Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft