The agents for Matt Barkley reportedly have informed NFL teams in a letter that, although the former USC quarterback will attend the scouting combine in Indianapolis this week, he won't be throwing.
Barkley suffered a shoulder injury in November against UCLA and did not play in the Trojans' final two games. He has been rehabilitating under the supervision of Dr. James Andrews, who is based in Alabama, and working out at an IMG training facility.
"Matt has been going through a very disciplined program to get back to 100%," his father, Les, said Monday. "He feels great, but he takes direction from Dr. Andrews."
Les Barkley said his son's intent was to be "absolutely 100% for his pro day" workout at USC on March 27. Barkley is expected to throw to former Trojans receiver Robert Woods.
In recent weeks, Barkley indicated he was on the fence about whether to throw at the combine.
"I don't feel like I have to," he said at the Super Bowl in an interview with ESPN's Colin Cowherd. "We'll see when that time gets closer. It'll probably be more of a game-day decision."
While in Florida to accept an award last week, Barkley called the combine "probably the biggest test of my life," telling the Pensacola News Journal that the two days of physical and mental examinations "is like the SAT times thousands."
Barkley won't be the first to pass on throwing for scouts in Indianapolis in favor of doing so in a more controlled and tailored setting at pro day on his campus. In fact, despite the frustration of teams and the league, the top quarterback prospects frequently choose not to throw.
But Barkley has a great deal to prove, and he's not a shoo-in to be a top-10 pick. This is not a strong quarterback class, and that weighs in his favor. Some draft experts have projected him to go in the second half of the first round, but there are NFL teams who have him rated as a middle-round talent.
Barring a sharp drop in his stock over the next two months, it's hard to imagine Barkley slipping out of the first round. It takes only one quarterback-needy team to believe in him, and the rookie salary structure under the new labor agreement means less money for a first contract and therefore less risk.
Four quarterbacks were taken in the first round in each of the last two drafts, and there have been at least two selected in the opening round of the last 12 drafts.
Matt Barkley won't throw at NFL combine - latimes-com
The N.F.L.’s scouting combine begins Wednesday night in Indianapolis, with the first groups of players — including the offensive linemen, one of the strengths of this class — arriving for the initial round of X-rays and orientation and 15-minute interviews with teams. Even in a nondescript draft class with no surefire first-round quarterbacks, some of the more than 300 players who will be poked, prodded, three-cone drilled and psychologically tested will eventually make an impact in the N.F.L. But across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday will be meetings that will shape the N.F.L. far more immediately.
The annual gathering of officials from the league and the players union will focus on whether to eliminate some of the low blocks that risk injury to the legs of defensive players, suggestions for further adjusting kickoff rules and the league’s decision to have independent neurologists on the sideline to consult on head injuries.
But on Tuesday, in a conference call the union held with reporters, it was clear that any progress on issues — like H.G.H. testing and the wearing of hip and thigh pads — will have to overcome what it said was a significant lack of trust between the players and the league.
“It’s really hard for me to convince my players you can trust Roger or trust the league,” the union president, Domonique Foxworth, said of N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell. “I do think some neutral arbitration is needed.”
Foxworth indicated that the league’s investigation last off-season into a bounty program involving the New Orleans Saints had caused players to not trust league officials, even though the arbitrator that Goodell appointed to hear the appeals of four Saints players — the former commissioner Paul Tagliabue — ultimately vacated the discipline Goodell had imposed on them. Even with that issue settled, the sides are at loggerheads on others. During the conference call, union officials referred to the league mandate for the wearing of hip and thigh pads next season as “Nike pads,” a hint that they believe the push is being encouraged by the uniform supplier. George Atallah, the union’s spokesman, said he believed there were more pressing player safety issues than the mandated wearing of certain pads.
Foxworth said players were willing to undergo H.G.H. testing, but they want the ability to appeal positive tests based on the science of the testing, which the union thinks is not established enough to be trustworthy. When the players and league agreed to H.G.H. testing upon completion of the collective bargaining agreement 18 months ago, the N.F.L. agreed to allow third-party arbitrators for performance-enhancing drug appeals. But the union remains concerned about the players’ ability to challenge the validity of the tests themselves, while the league says that the science of the testing has been validated repeatedly. Foxworth said no progress had been made on H.G.H. testing, even as baseball has agreed to such tests this season.
“H.G.H. testing that doesn’t give our players the opportunity to appeal, that’s just a nonstarter,” Foxworth said.
Minutes after the union’s conference call ended, the league responded.
“Since 2011, the union has spent most of its time backing away from its commitments,” the spokesman Greg Aiello said. “Whether on old litigation, H.G.H. or commissioner discipline, the N.F.L.P.A. has consistently looked backwards. Trust is a two-way street. If the union wants to work together to build a better, safer and even more popular game, we extend our hand in partnership and respect. If the union wants to stir up old grievances and create mistrust, we will simply have to do the best we can to serve the interests on the fans, players and the game.”
The players and league may find more common ground on rules changes that might make the game safer. Members of the competition committee have been meeting with defensive players this week to get their input on what low blocks might be banned this season. Those suggestions will be discussed again with union representatives on Wednesday and then a determination will be made on whether to seek a rules change.
“I would like to eliminate as many as possible,” said the Giants’ president, John Mara, who is a member of the committee. “Some of them are illegal in college, and that game seems to function just fine without them. There is no reason, in my opinion, that we shouldn’t take a hard look at eliminating as many as we could.”
In the past, coaches had said that further restrictions on low blocks would make it difficult to have an effective running game, a contention Mara finds dubious. He was particularly concerned about low blocks that occurred while defensive players were already engaged, and that come from the side or behind them, when they are unable to defend themselves.
Mara said he also expected the committee to discuss more options for the kickoff, which remains one of the game’s most dangerous plays. Mara said he did not envision eliminating kickoffs — at least not this season — but he expected conversations about where players on the return team are allowed to line up, to minimize the running starts that produce the biggest collisions.
The NFL is expected to tighten enforcement against coaches that leave the sidelines and roam onto the playing field.
According to a CBSSports-com report, league officials plan on warning coaches to stay on the sidelines, and if they don't, they're team will be penalized.
"We need to be much more disciplined about where our coaches go in terms of the box," said Ray Anderson, the league's director of football operations, "and venturing out on the field beyond traditional markers is something that is just not appropriate. It can interfere and it can be viewed as intimidating, and we really are going to rein that in."
Speculation about the increased enforcement of the existing rules appears to center around San Francisco 49ers Jim Harbaugh, who reportedly stepped off the sidelines and onto the field numerous times this past season, particularly during the 49ers' playoff run up to the Super Bowl.
That reportedly caused the NFL to look at increasingly enforcing rules already on the books.
"There are borders," Anderson said, "but, very frankly, they're loosely enforced. But they will be more aggressively enforced going forward because we need to rein it in.
"Coaches can be flagged. It's about enforcement and point of emphasis. So coaches who, after appropriate warning, continue to venture out will pay the price with a penalty that potentially could hurt their team."
And if the coaches don't get the message even after penalties?
"They can be fined," Anderson said. "No question."
Adolpho Birch, the N.F.L.’s senior vice president for law and labor policy, suggested Thursday that the players union was holding up an agreement to begin testing for human growth hormone because it was unhappy with other aspects of the 18-month-old collective bargaining agreement, including the commissioner’s authority in disciplinary matters. “I do think there is an effort to go back and revisit a lot of things that were agreed to, negotiated on extensively and agreed to,” Birch said.
Later, he added: “It has been a stall. I don’t know if it’s a tactic. There is absolutely no reason for this to have taken this long and us not have testing implemented. We should have been more than a year into this by now.”
The union and the league agreed to start testing for H.G.H. when the collective bargaining agreement was completed in August 2011. But since then, the sides have been unable to agree on a number of issues, and testing has not begun. In the meantime, Major League Baseball has announced that it will begin testing for H.G.H.
Earlier this week, representatives of the players union said in a conference call that players wanted the right to appeal the science of the test.
Birch said the union had a moving target for agreeing to testing, first wanting to be sure about the accuracy of the testing and then asking for a population study to indicate whether the test was valid for N.F.L. players. The league said it was willing to conduct that study, even though, Birch said, the science showed there was no need or appropriateness for a study for N.F.L. players because other population studies had shown the validity of the test. Now the union is demanding the right to appeal the science of the test.
Birch said the league’s latest offer to the union, submitted before the Super Bowl, included the ability to challenge the science of the test, even though the league believed that undermined a system that both sides would agree to implement. Birch reiterated that the league had long proposed third-party arbitration on drug-test appeals. Birch said that the union responded to that proposal on Wednesday night but that he had not had time to review it yet.
“What we don’t want is to create a tree-line path for someone to be able to utilize the appeals process to stall out the inevitability of discipline,” Birch said. “We don’t want frivolous appeals, we don’t want redundant appeals, and we don’t want appeals to delay the inevitable.”
Birch said he believed members of Congress were committed to pressuring the N.F.L. and the union into completing an agreement.
JETS SAY THEY STILL WANT REVIS While repeatedly saying they wanted Darrelle Revis on the team, Jets General Manager John Idzik and Coach Rex Ryan did not close the door on listening to trade offers for Revis, a cornerback who is recovering from a torn knee ligament.
“We’ve always wanted Darrelle as part of our team,” Idzik said at a news conference Thursday. “That has not changed.”
But he and Ryan were asked repeatedly if Revis was untouchable, and neither would say that. Idzik added that he would always field calls to improve the Jets and that that was not limited to Revis or any other player.
Revis’s future has been the object of speculation since the publication of a CBS Sports report that the Jets would consider trading him, a story that broke on the day Idzik was introduced as general manager. Ryan said he called Revis to tell him the story was inaccurate, but Revis has since said he is not getting any answers.
LEAGUE TO KEEP EYE ON FIELDS The league will be more vigilant about monitoring field conditions in the wake of the sloppy conditions at FedEx Field during the Washington Redskins’ playoff game, in which quarterback Robert Griffin III tore knee ligaments.
Ray Anderson, the league’s senior vice president for football operations, said that league observers would walk the fields before games and that teams would have to certify that they were in compliance with league rules about field conditions. Anderson also said the league could conduct spot checks of fields, even when a game was not going on.
“We could very much tell them that you need to make improvements, you need to resod, and we have the authority to do that,” Anderson said. He added that if there were repeated problems with a field, the league had the authority to tell a team to install artificial turf.
PONDERING PLAYOFF EXPANSION The competition committee discussed the possibility of expanding the playoff field by two teams, and the Giants’ president, John Mara, a member of the committee, said it would be discussed again when the committee convened next in Naples, Fla., before the league’s annual meeting in Arizona in late March.
Mara said that while there was some support for expanding the pool by one team per conference, to 14 total teams, he did not think there was enough support to get the 24 votes from owners necessary for approval.
The expansion of the playoffs would probably be in conjunction with a reduction of the preseason to two games, although a change to the structure of the season seems far-off. Officials said the league was just as likely to go to two preseason games and 16 regular-season games as it was to go to two preseason games and 18 regular-season games — a plan that management had pushed for during negotiations nearly two years ago for the new collective bargaining agreement.
CONQUERING THE CALENDAR In its continuing quest to colonize the parts of the sporting calendar it does not already dominate, the N.F.L. is considering pushing back its off-season events to fill the months without games. The discussion was first reported by ESPN.
The scouting combine, which now takes place less than three weeks after the Super Bowl, would be pushed back a week or two to early March. The opening of free agency, scheduled for March 12 this year, would make the biggest move — into early April, leaving hundreds of player
We've seen plenty of dual-threat quarterbacks and quarterbacks-turned-receivers fail in the NFL.
But Denard Robinson's athleticism and intangibles, combined with a change of heart, will see the Michigan Wolverines star surprise in the pros.
Robinson ran the 40-yard dash in an official 4.43 seconds at the NFL combine on Sunday. It was the 10th-best time among all quarterbacks, receivers and running backs in Indianapolis. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't bad either.
Robinson's first good move was trying out as a receiver. He didn't have the accuracy to be taken seriously as a quarterback in the NFL. His second good move was working his butt off to impress scouts and draft analysts as a receiver on Sunday.
Kareem Copeland of NFL-com wrote:
(NFL Network analyst Mike) Mayock called him smart, tough and quick. Robinson also caught the ball well and didn't have a single drop during the gauntlet drill despite nerve damage that affects his right hand. Pass-catching skills remain the biggest question, but he did well in that area during the workout. We already know Robinson is pretty fast. We also know that he was a leader at Michigan, even when head coach Brady Hoke replaced him with Devin Gardner under center later in his senior season.
Robinson is quick and explosive, and he can be productive in the NFL if he's utilized properly. We've seen NFL teams take chances on raw or incomplete prospects, envisioning said prospects in creative schemes to maximize their value. Robinson fits the mold as a slot receiver, running back/receiver hybrid or a return man.
As long as Robinson can exhibit adequate hands in the pros (like he did on Sunday), he can be effective in the right role. He's not only displayed the athleticism to transition to the next level, but he's also clearly shown the work ethic, notably improving as a receiver since Senior Bowl week in late January.
So what if Robinson likely won't be a complete receiver? He's a late-round, low-risk, high-reward prospect who can be worked into the offense as a legitimate contributor to an NFL team.
As long as teams understand Robinson's limitations and have a game plan moving forward with the 5'10", 199-pound Michigan product, he's a worthy risk who figures to surprise in the pros.
Denard Robinson Combine: Athletic Michigan Star Will Surprise in NFL | Bleacher Report
You know I find really bizarre? That Indianapolis, the home of the NFL Scouting Combine each year, is famous for the city's shrimp cocktails. It's not because the shrimp are caught in the ocean on the Indy borders either. It's because the cocktail sauce is backed with roughly 400 kilotons of horseradish and it will make you cry.
1. Kansas City Chiefs -- Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan -- KC needs a quarterback. But I'm eyeing the Chiefs as the team that snares Alex Smith via trade, and Fisher was better at the combine. I think there's starting to be sea change with respect to where Fisher and Joeckel stand around the NFL, and it will only get tighter as we get closer to April. Andy Reid's not scared to go against the grain either, so he grabs the guy with, potentially, more upside.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU -- The Jaguars are installing a new "Leo" position and they apparently want a speedy, half-linebacker, half-defensive end guy who weighs between 240 and 265 pounds, is fast and generate a pass rush. I think we're done here.
3. Oakland Raiders -- Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida -- A playmaker in the middle of the defensive line who can also get up the field, Floyd's the type of guy who can step in and make a difference for Reggie McKenzie off the bat. They desperately need to start rebuilding on defense.
4. Philadelphia Eagles -- Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon -- Yes it's convenient to project Jordan to his old coach Chip Kelly since Kelly's now running the Eagles. And maybe a defensive tackle -- with the release of Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson -- makes more sense here. I think Kelly gets his guy.
5. Detroit Lions -- Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia -- Beefing up the secondary is the "logical" move, but a team that once looked stacked for the next few years when it came to pass rushers suddenly only has strength in the middle of the line.
6. Cleveland Browns -- Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama -- You know what the only thing better than one studly SEC cornerback is? Two studly SEC cornerbacks. The Browns could use a pass rusher but Milliner and Joe Haden would be a filthy combination (and allow Milliner to step in and grow immediately without having to guard No. 1 NFL wideout talent).
7. Arizona Cardinals -- Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M -- Honestly, if Joeckel falls like this, someone might try to convince the Browns to move down and leap up to No. 6. (It worked out so well for them last time too ...) But if that doesn't happen, the Cards can pounce on a franchise tackle.
8. Buffalo Bills -- Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia -- The Bills need a quarterback and probably never thought they'd get a look at Smith. Strong players at other positions help to push Smith down to Buffalo, where he'd be quite good at running Doug Marrone's fast-paced offense.
9. New York Jets -- Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee -- The Jets need playmakers in the worst possible way. Patterson is raw and doesn't have a ton of experience playing at a high level, but his athleticism is pretty jaw-dropping, and his ability to contribute in different ways could help the Jets offense improve immediately.
10. Tennessee Titans -- Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina -- Thought Warmack's the top guard on most boards, Cooper's got the better full-blown athleticism and is more refined at this point. He also can play multiple positions along the line (he took center reps at the combine and has worked on his snaps) and that versatility makes him a fantastic commodity for Mike Munchak.
11. San Diego Chargers -- Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma -- Mike McCoy knows what blind-side protection can do for a quarterback and, as such, he has to think Philip Rivers needs someone who can stop him from getting hurried. Johnson represents a world of upside and had a monster showing at the combine.
12. Miami Dolphins -- Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama -- Would the Fins like to land a playmaker to help out Ryan Tannehill here? Yes. But I'm banking that they manage to get some weapons in free agency and Warmack's ridiculous value here.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaeers -- Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU -- The Bucs would probably like not having to draft a defensive lineman, but they've had some, um, issues the last few weeks with their guys. Ansah's the definition of upside and his stock is rising quickly.
14. Carolina Panthers -- Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah -- Lotulelei's stock is very much in flux right now with his medicals, but given the noise that popped out at the combine about his heart issues, it's hard to project him in the top 10.
15. New Orleans Saints -- Bjoern Werner, DE, FSU -- The Saints need a ton of help on defense. Werner's not the ideal choice for a team moving to the 3-4, but he played the position for FSU at times and is the most productive guy available here.
16. St. Louis Rams -- Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas -- Jeff Fisher keeps building up his secondary, adding the explosive Vaccaro and quietly turning the Rams defensive backs group into one of the most dangerous in the league.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M -- A poor showing at the combine could cause Moore to plummet down draft boards and the Steelers don't mind as they snag another young pass rusher to start replacing their departed talent.
18. Dallas Cowboys -- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri -- The Boys need someone who can plug up the middle. Richardson serves that purpose quite nicely.
19. New York Giants --D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama -- Fluker's a road grader and the Giants can plug him in on the right side from day one.
20. Indianapolis Colts (mock trade with Chicago Bears) -- Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State -- When the Colts see Rhodes slipping down the board, they give Phil Emery a ring after Fluker goes off the board and the Bears don't have an ideal guy to grab at 20. Indy improves its secondary and Chicago gets to move down out of an uncomfortable spot.
“Where are we?” “Who did we play in the last game?” “What is the date today?” Those are some of the questions N.F.L. players are asked after they are hit in the head during a game. Next season, they are coming to an iPad.
The mandatory postinjury sideline concussion assessment tool, instituted for the 2012 season along with a baseline test done during physicals at the start of preseason, will now be used in app form by all 32 teams, a method that was tried by a handful of teams in a pilot program last season. The hope is that being able to compare the results of a baseline test and a postinjury test side by side in real time will speed diagnosis and help doctors and trainers recognize when a player should be removed from a game. The league also plans to have independent neurological consultants on the sideline during each game to assist the team physician in diagnosing and treating players.
The players union, which had pushed strongly for independent doctors to be on the sideline, said it was encouraged by the technological advance the new test represented, but it still had questions about how much power the independent consultants would have to make decisions about players. The union wants the independent sideline concussion experts to have almost exclusive authority in detecting concussions and administering tests, in part because it believes team doctors are often busy attending to other injured players, while the concussion experts are there for one reason.
“If you’re busy and didn’t see the play, how do you know you need us?” said Dr. Thomas Mayer, the union’s medical director. “This is a big enough issue we need an extra set of eyes, an extra judgment.” The postinjury test is quick — it takes about six to eight minutes — and shares many elements with the baseline test to allow a comparison that might indicate a decline in function. Both include a section on the players’ concussion history and a 24-symptom checklist; players are asked to score themselves on a scale of 1 to 6 in categories like dizziness, confusion, irritability and sleep problems. Both note any abnormal pupil reaction or neck pain. There is a balance test and a concentration test, in which players, who are usually brought to the locker room to be evaluated, are asked to say the months of the year in reverse order, to recite a string of numbers backward and to remember a collection of words three times. Then they are asked to recall them again, without warning, at least five minutes later. The words and sequence of numbers may be changed from test to test, so players cannot memorize them from a previous test to mask concussion symptoms — a fact that has annoyed players, according to Dr. Margot Putukian, the director of athletic medicine at Princeton University Health Services and a member of the N.F.L.’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee.
On the postinjury tests, there is one different element: a series of five questions designed to test orientation and glean how confused a player might be at that moment. They are: Where are we? What quarter is it right now? Who scored last in the practice or game? Did we win the last game? Those questions, known as Maddocks questions, were developed in the 1990s by an Australian doctor who worked with players in Australian rules football.
“What the application does, when you are evaluating the athlete, you actually see — as they are doing their word recall — his baseline,” said Putukian, who added that it was her understanding that team doctors would administer the tests. “He was able to remember 15 out of 15 words, and now he’s having trouble giving you five back right away? Maybe he’s only able to remember two? It gives you real-time information.” The tests are far from perfect tools for diagnosing concussions. Some doctors are concerned the N.F.L. tests are trying to reduce concussion evaluation to ticking items off a checklist, a problem Putukian acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of having doctors familiar with the players evaluate them. Last season, Jets running back Shonn Greene took a hit to his helmet in a game and walked unsteadily back toward the huddle before quarterback Mark Sanchez sent him off. Greene later returned to the game, and the Jets said he had passed concussion tests given in the locker room. Also last season, San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith took a hit that caused blurred vision, but he remained in the game for several plays and completed a touchdown pass before being removed. He was subsequently found to have a concussion. While he was out, the backup Colin Kaepernick took over, and Smith effectively lost his starting job.
“I think we have to be careful,” Putukian said. “The tool, it’s not the be-all, end-all. There are going to be athletes who have concussions that this tool does not pick up. It’s not a perfect test. Nor is there one. We don’t have one that is a perfect test.”
She added: “Athletes may take this and perform this test and do fine on it. But you may know the athlete, athletes will stumble through it — ‘Yeah, we played the Seawhawks’ — you know they are struggling. It’s not bang, bang, bang. They’ll give you the right answers, but they are struggling. If you know that athlete, you say: ‘I know you passed the test, but I know you. You’re not O.K.’ ”
INDIANAPOLIS — Defensive backs completed their workouts Wednesday, closing another NFL scouting combine.
Some draft prospects helped themselves during the combine and some didn't.
Some were clear winners and some clearly have work to do before the April 25-27 draft.
The winners
Wide receivers. As a group they were extraordinarily fast and showed a lot of athleticism. And several showed they are proficient at the most important part of the equation — catching the ball.
West Virgnia's Tavon Austin helped himself the most. He arrived at the scouting combine at 5-foot-8½ and 174 pounds.
"I've been a little guy my whole life," Austin said. "I'm a little guy, but I play big." He left as the buzz guy after a blistering 40-yard dash time (4.34 seconds) and top-tier performance catching the ball. NFL teams left Indianapolis talking about a potential matchup headache their offenses could line up all over the formation.
Jonathan Cooper. The guard from North Carolina could end up being the top offensive lineman on the draft board.
Cooper has an excellent chance to be the first guard selected in the draft's top 10 since former Colorado star Chris Naeole was selected 10th by the Saints in the 1997 draft. Cooper and Alabama's Chance Warmack appear to be top-10 guards.
Playing in the Tar Heels' no-huddle offense, Cooper got down to 285 pounds last season but weighed 312 at the combine. He looked like the best power-athleticism player available at an interior position.
"We just about tripled the number of plays we ran in practice," Cooper said. "I do feel the difference (at 312). I feel the power. I feel I've got a little more butt behind me and I'm ready to be more of a physical player."
Margus Hunt and Ezekiel Ansah. It's a small world after all: Two of the best edge pass rushers on the draft board were born in Estonia and Ghana, respectively.
These are dynamic, athletic projects with enormous upsides. Hunt also was one of the best kick blockers in the nation on special teams.
Those who need work
Johnthan Banks. He came to the scouting combine as one of the top prospects at cornerback, especially because he stands 6-2. But his 4.61 time in the 40-yard dash alarmed some teams. That speed is considered slow for an NFL starter at cornerback.
Banks, from Mississippi State, probably will have a better 40 time at his pro-day workout. But running on an extraordinarily fast track at Lucas Oil Stadium — several cornerbacks had sub-4.4 times during the combine — Banks may have cost himself.
Manti Te'o. His time in the 40 was subpar. The linebacker from Notre Dame was smaller (241 pounds) than many teams thought he would be. And perhaps you heard that he had some off-the-field issues to explain.
Te'o looked better in position drills, and this draft is weak at his position. The Heisman Trophy runner-up has plenty of teams' attention, but he needs to have a good pro-day workout in South Bend, Ind., to climb back up the draft board.
Quarterbacks. None at the combine jumped to the front of this draft class.
Matt Barkley, a four-year starter at Southern California, didn't throw.
Arkansas' Tyler Wilson still has the best chance to rise to the top of this QB class on many teams' draft boards, but West Virginia's Geno Smith flashed 4.5 speed in the 40.
All you need to really know about this quarterback class is that only hours after the completion of the combine, the QB-hungry Chiefs came to terms on a trade for 49ers backup Alex Smith. And the Chiefs have the No. 1 pick.
Read more: NFL combine revealed winners and those with work still to do - The Denver Post NFL combine revealed winners and those with work still to do - The Denver Post
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: Terms of Use - The Denver Post
Follow us: @Denverpost on Twitter | Denverpost on Facebook
Lauren Silberman has scant chance at making the NFL.
Silberman never kicked anything more than a soccer ball in an organized game and she just started practicing long-range field goals.
Even so, the first female kicker scheduled to try out at an NFL regional scouting combine would like to see where her new hobby will take her. In an era where Danica Patrick can contend against men in motor sports, Silberman is about to take a big kick forward for female athletes, even if the odds are clearly stacked against her. The 28-year-old Silberman will kick Sunday at the New York Jets' training facility in Florham Park, N.J.
"I am working hard to prepare but I am also realistic about my chances," she wrote in an email. "I hope my willingness to put myself out there inspires others to seize opportunities and challenges. The support from around the world has been so heartening."
Her goal for the weekend is a true long shot: perfect 60-yard field goals.
Odds are, though, that scouts will want to see her connect on extra points and chip-shot field goals with some consistency before moving on to the heavy kicking.
Silberman will compete against more accomplished or polished college kickers, all hoping to prove they have the leg strength and accuracy worthy of earning an invite to an NFL training camp. St. Louis Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein participated in a regional combine last year before he was drafted and morphed into "Legatron."
Cincinnati Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons said teams look for several things specifically when judging kickers in these situations. The most important is leg strength, followed by accuracy on field goals over 40 yards, and how they did on clutch kicks in college.
"When rating field goals, the deepest we test at the combine is a 50-yard field goal. There's not many attempts over 55 yards. We don't practice kicks much deeper than that -- rarely do we do them," Simmons said. "You can tell after watching a 50-yard field goal how far the ball goes over the crossbar if they can hit from 55. They've got to be able to hit from 55. On kickoffs, they've got to be able to get the ball out of the back of the end zone."
Silberman won't be kicking against the best of the sure-footed prospects, but there will be talent on hand regardless. The regional combines debuted in 2011, and feature players who weren't among the 333 invited to the main combine in Indianapolis. So no first-round picks are likely to show; only potential, hidden, undrafted gems or late-round risks. The league is holding these sessions in 10 cities this offseason, with the most impressive players advancing to a super-regional in April in Dallas. It's sort of the sports version of a TV reality show, where each hit and tackle can wow a scout and move a player on to the next round. Only instead of a recording contract, it's an NFL one.
"It's all up to those guys. If you're talented enough, you're going to get recognized. And if you put up good numbers, the numbers don't lie," said Doug Whaley, assistant general manager/director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills. "That's one of the things about the combine part of this business. It's the least subjective part of the business. And it's really objective, because you're looking at numbers."
Silberman hasn't treated the tryout like a publicity stunt. But Silberman, whose NFL.com bio listed her as a former club soccer player at Wisconsin, seems to understand what she's up against. More likely, she wanted to use the weekend as an opportunity to promote greater diversity in football.
Silberman also can use this opportunity as a steppingstone to other ventures. Public speaking, perhaps, or even some sports marketing.
"The real upside is if she reaches the next level," said Steve Rosner, a partner with 16W Marketing in New Jersey. "Kickers, in general, aren't brands. Very rare. Even someone like Adam Vinatieri, who (has won) Super Bowls, would have to do a little more than kick to capitalize and endorse at the national level. The one thing she has that they don't have is that she's a woman. The uniqueness of her and the possible success she has will differentiate what she has at that position."
While a female has never played in the NFL, if the gender breakthrough did happen, it most likely would be at kicker.
Females have kicked or tried out for a roster spot in the college ranks for years. Just last season, former LSU women's soccer goalkeeper Mo Isom tried out as a Tigers placekicker. In 2003, Katie Hnida became the first woman to kick for an NCAA Division I-A football team, scoring in one game for the University of New Mexico.
Hnida, who later kicked for the Fort Wayne Firehawks of the Continental Indoor Football League, was surprised a player with no true kicking background would be scouted at a combine.
"I thought it would be an athlete who has come through the ranks of playing football for a long time," she said. "It is so different kicking in a live situation, too, dealing with the timing of the snap, having guys rushing at you. That's where you separate the good from the great."
Sean Landeta, a Super Bowl champion and considered one of the NFL's great punters, gave Silberman credit for competing, one way or the other.
"I think it's courageous on her part in trying this, and certainly groundbreaking if she could prove her skills are good enough to play in the NFL," he said. "What a team's policy would be as far entertaining the thought in signing a female, that's still debatable. No one knows that answer. ... I give her points for giving it a shot. She's obviously following her dream."
Forget game-on-the-line playoff pressure, Silberman will instead kick in front of low-level scouts. They, like the players themselves, are trying to move up the ranks.
"In terms of regional combines, we usually send one younger pro and college scout," Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. "And th
Remember when you made fun of Joe Flacco after he said he was the best quarterback in the NFL last April? Like so many times over the past two years, Flacco had the last laugh. Except this time, he's laughing all the way to the bank.
Flacco became the highest-paid player in NFL history when he agreed to a six-year, $120.6 million contract Friday, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Did the Ravens overpay him? Certainly. Should Flacco get paid more than Tom Brady and Peyton Manning? No way. But those questions are really irrelevant when it comes to contracts in the NFL, which is all about timing. When Flacco hoisted up the Lombardi Trophy 26 days ago, he essentially had the Ravens in the palm of his hand as well in terms of leverage. Flacco put the Ravens in a situation where they were forced to do everything in their power to sign the Super Bowl MVP, and he made them pay handsomely to do so.
Don't criticize the Ravens for giving a lottery jackpot to a quarterback who has never been to a Pro Bowl. Instead, you should applaud Flacco for earning it by playing his best when it mattered the most. He really did put his money where his mouth is. Flacco could've played it safe by signing a deal worth $16 million per year before this season. But Flacco gambled on himself and the rest is Super Bowl -- and NFL contract -- history.
He put up Joe Montana-like numbers in the playoffs, throwing 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. He outplayed Brady and Manning this postseason. In four playoff games, Flacco was unquestionably the best quarterback in the league. It was time to reward him.
The Ravens were going to pay Flacco at some point, whether it was the exclusive franchise tag ($19 million) or a long-term deal. And, if the Ravens weren't going to give him, the Browns, Cardinals and Jaguars would've been more than happy to sign that record-setting check. But the Ravens were never going to let go of Flacco. Baltimore knows how hard it is to find a franchise quarterback. The Ravens went through 15 starting quarterbacks in their first 12 years of existence -- from Vinny Testaverde to Troy Smith -- before drafting this big-armed, lanky prospect out of the University of Delaware. Critics of Flacco, and there are still some even after the Super Bowl, mistakenly focus on what Flacco isn't. He isn't consistent. He isn't a 4,000-yard passer in the NFL like Brady, Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. He isn't an on-field general like Manning.
But Flacco is a winner. His nine playoff victories are tied with Brady for the most ever by a quarterback in his first five seasons. His 63 wins since 2008, including the regular season and playoffs, are six more than anyone else during that same span, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Flacco is a strong-armed playmaker. His 40 passes of at least 25 yards in the 2012 regular season only ranked behind Brees (47). In the playoffs, he completed 13-of-26 throws of 21 yards or more, including four that went for touchdowns.
And Flacco is tough. He has never missed a start in his five-year NFL career, a streak of 80 consecutive games (currently third-longest in the NFL).
More than anything, Flacco is hitting the prime of his career at age 28. The Ravens are not just paying Flacco for what he did. They are investing in what he will do for this team. Long defined by defense, the Ravens are transitioning to an offensive team and this deal makes Flacco the centerpiece of that.
The risk, of course, is Flacco failing to live up to the expectations of being the NFL's highest-paid player. Before his torrid playoff run, Flacco finished 19th in completion rate (59.7), 15th in touchdown passes (22), 16th in passing yards per game (239) and 25th in Total QBR (46.8). Last season, he also produced more games under 200 yards passing (six) than over 300 yards (five).
The Ravens, though, are banking on Flacco's history when it comes to challenges. They used to say he couldn't beat Ben Roethlisberger. They doubted whether he could elevate his game in the playoffs. They wondered if he could ever lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Over the past two seasons, Flacco has beaten Roethlisberger twice, has thrown 15 touchdowns and one interception in the playoffs and came within a failed catch by Lee Evans of taking Baltimore to the Super Bowl in consecutive years.
And, months after Flacco was ridiculed for saying he was the best quarterback in the NFL, he delivered a postseason for the ages. Flacco doesn't say much, but he obviously relishes having the last word.
Flacco's deal is a benchmark for other NFL quarterbacks like Rodgers and Matt Ryan. It has more meaning for the Ravens. In a year when the team said goodbye to linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens made an unprecedented commitment to Flacco. This is now Flacco's team, and he certainly earned it.
Joe Flacco earned his history-making deal - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN
Peyton Manning won his seventh NFL 101 Award on Saturday night as AFC offensive player of the year.
The Denver quarterback came back from a neck injury and transitioned to a new team, and had one of his best seasons. He led the Broncos to a 13-3 season and threw for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Other honorees on included: Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson for NFC offensive player of the year; Houston defensive end J.J. Watt for AFC defensive player of the year; San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith for NFC defensive player of the year; Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians of the Colts were co-winners for AFC coach of the year; and Pete Carroll of the Seahawks for NFC coach of the year.
We now know the particulars of Joe Flacco's new contract. As you might expect, it's a very good deal for the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
NFL-com's Albert Breer reported Sunday night that Flacco's six-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens is worth $120.6 million, according to two sources who have seen the contract.
NFL-com's Ian Rapoport and Breer reported the deal also has been finalized, according to Flacco's agent Joe Linta. The one remaining detail the two sides must work out Monday deals with marketing related to the contract. However, the issue is expected to be resolved quickly, Breer reported.
Two numbers in the agreement jump out immediately. The first is the guaranteed money -- $52 million (New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is the benchmark for guaranteed earnings with $60 million from the megadeal he signed last July, including $40 million in the first year). Second, Flacco's salary-cap number in 2013 is $6.8 million. This is obviously a team-friendly figure that will give the Ravens much more flexibility this offseason than previously thought.
Here's a breakdown of Flacco's new contract, the richest in NFL history:
» $29 million signing bonus
» $29 million cap number in Year 4
» $30 million in Year 1
» $51 million through Year 2
» $62 million through Year 3
» $80 million through Year 4
» $100.6 million through Year 5
Option bonuses of $15 million and $7 million are also part of the contract.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh texted the following reaction to Breer: "Just very happy for Joe, his family, and also for Ravens fans. He always been our QB. So to me, this is very fitting." A tweet from linebacker Terrell Suggs to Breer consisted of one word: "AWESOME😡😡😡!!"
Flacco's deal was the product of a perfect storm of circumstances. Had the Ravens decided to lock him up earlier rather than have him play out his contract, they likely would have saved millions. Instead, Flacco got another chance to prove his worth and potential. And that he did.
Joe Flacco's Ravens contract has $52M guaranteed - NFL-com
The Kansas City Chiefs made sure that wide receiver Dwayne Bowe wasn't going anywhere. And they didn't have to use the franchise tag. Albert Breer of NFL-com reported, via a source involved in the deal, that Bowe and the Chiefs reached a new five-year contract on Monday. ESPN first reported the news, and the Chiefs later confirmed that Bowe had signed the new contract Monday.
The regime change in Kansas City ultimately helped keep Bowe in town. Signing Bowe long-term also allowed the Chiefs to use the franchise tag on Branden Albert, a move NFL-com's Ian Rapoport reported shortly after the Bowe news. The Chiefs also reached an agreement with punter Dustin Colquitt.
New coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey made it clear they were fans of Bowe and did not want to lose him. Kansas City boasts a solid group of skill position talent with Bowe, wide receiver Jon Baldwin, running back Jamaal Charles, and Tony Moeaki to pair with incoming quarterback Alex Smith.
Financial terms still are unclear, but it's safe to say Bowe will be one of the highest paid wide receivers in the NFL. Keeping Bowe is another sign that Reid doesn't see this Chiefs job as some great rebuilding project. The Chiefs look like a team that wants to compete in 2013. To do so, they keep one of the best free agents off the market.
Now Reid will find out the answer to a question that former Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli always seemed to wonder about: How will Bowe react to big money?
Dwayne Bowe signs contract with Kansas City Chiefs - NFL-com
Whether or not the New York Jets should trade cornerback Darrelle Revis has recently been debated in friendly corners. While the Jets brass consistently denies the team is shopping Revis, one source told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News it's only a matter of time before a trade happens.
"He's gone," the source said. "This is happening. They're moving him. They can't keep him. They're rebuilding. They're starting fresh."
According to the report published early Wednesday, two or three teams are prepared to make offers for Revis after the league trading period begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. The San Francisco 49ers are one of them, as widely reported in recent days. But Mehta's story says the team the 49ers beat in last season's NFC Championship Game -- the Atlanta Falcons -- might emerge as a possible trade partner too.
The Falcons got $15.9 million under the cap last week by cutting running back Michael Turner, defensive end John Abraham and cornerback Dunta Robinson. It was assumed at the time that the team clipped Robinson in order to bring back cornerback Brent Grimes.
Revis could be another way to go. The price would be high, as the Jets will seek multiple high draft picks, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff hasn't shied away from making blockbuster deals, as he did to draft wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011.
Revis, 27, is entering the final year of his Jets contract. Coming off a serious injury to his anterior cruciate ligament that caused him to miss most of the season, Revis is still considered the NFL's best cornerback, and would command a hefty salary (between $12 million and $16 million per season) in any long-term deal. That kind of money is an issue for any team trading for him, including the Falcons.
The Daily News cites multiple sources in saying that Jets owner Woody Johnson was the one behind the team's decision to deal its best player and rebuild after a 6-10 season.
Atlanta Falcons reportedly interested in Darrelle Revis - NFL-com
Football fans packed the George Watts Hill Alumni Center Wednesday afternoon to listen to one of the more polarizing figures in the game today, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
After referencing the North Carolina basketball team – “I’m told you’ve produced some decent basketball players from time to time,” he joked – Goodell addressed growing concerns in football, including player safety.
“There is a national conversation taking place about football and we welcome it,” Goodell said. “Concussions are a global issue, not just a football issue. Most concussions don’t even occur in competitive sports.”
While discussing current safety concerns in the NFL and at lower levels of the game, Goodell mentioned a prominent figure in efforts to reduce the risk of concussions.
Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, a member of the NFL committee and chairman of the department of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina, has been working with the league over the last decade to develop safer ways to play the game.
Guskiewicz developed the Helmet Impact Telemetry (HIT) system, which allows teams to assess the force and impact of a blow to a player’s head in real time. While the North Carolina football team already uses this technology, it is an advancement the NFL has yet to implement.
“We will be piloting some aspects of [the HIT system] into the NFL,” Goodell said. “We are very confident that the work that Kevin [Guskiewicz] and this University is doing is going to have a huge impact on football and the NFL moving forward.”
Another issue Goodell addressed was players not coming forth with their injuries – concussions or otherwise – which the sport struggles with at every level.
“The single biggest impact in the short term ... is changing the culture of our sport,” Goodell said. “There’s very much a warrior mentality. We have to make sure that it’s OK to raise your hand when you sustain these injuries so that you get the proper treatment.”
Read more here: CHAPEL HILL: NFL commissioner talks player safety | North Carolina | NewsObserver-com
Twelve months ago, the N.F.L. universe was waiting for Peyton Manning to pick his landing spot and for Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to find their first professional homes. It was one of the most transformative off-seasons in recent years. Those, though, happen rarely.
There is no Manning, no Luck, no Griffin available this year — no highly regarded quarterback at all in free agency or the draft — and, as a result, there is not as much sizzle to this N.F.L. shopping season. But when free agency opens Tuesday — after a sanctioned tampering period starting Saturday, in which teams can negotiate with agents but not officially sign players — the market will be flush with quality veterans, albeit no boldface names. That, it turns out, is a lot like the 2013 draft class. Farewell to the drama of clandestine visits with Manning. But the risks of pursuing lesser-known commodities should make this off-season just as intriguing.
The Hunt for N.F.L. Players Is About to Begin - NYTimes-com
Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell never got that Super Bowl ring he wanted, despite making an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX, but he did land in some super trouble. Today, Mitchell pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to charges related to tax fraud. Mitchell was scheduled to go to trial on the charges in a few days; the plea means that he won’t see the inside of the courtroom until his sentencing later this year.
Mitchell, a former star at UCLA, had been a top prospect when he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent four seasons with Andy Reid’s team, and helped the Eagles reach four consecutive NFC East division championships (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004). He was perhaps best remembered – and loved – for his starring role in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game in 2004. I, like most Philadelphians, remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday night. The Eagles were playing Brett Favre’s Green Bay Packers at home at Lincoln Financial Field. It had not been a particularly pretty game for the Eagles but quarterback Donovan McNabb seemed to hit his stride in the fourth quarter. But Andy Reid’s time management – and some questionable play calling – had the Eagles down at the end of the game. With practically no time on the clock, the Eagles had the ball.
The drive started out well. Duce Staley, #22, ran for an apropos 22 yards. Then McNabb threw two incomplete passes and was sacked.
I remember the next part with perfect clarity. A power failure knocked out our cable and sent the entire neighborhood scrambling to our cars. Football fans lined up along the street, shivering in the cold, with radios blaring and car doors open (and in many cases, beers on the rooftops). Otherwise, it was remarkably quiet.
Things didn’t look good. It was 4th and 26. No timeouts remaining. McNabb looked down field, found Mitchell and connected, giving the Eagles a first down. The subsequent field goal sent the game into overtime. The Eagles managed to pull out the win and head to the NFC Championship Game, which we eventually lost. That night, however, we were winners. And Mitchell was a hero.
It’s been years since that catch. And Mitchell has since lost his hero status in Philadelphia. He didn’t get along with Terrell Owens, brought in from the San Francisco Forty-Niners to take the Eagles to the Super Bowl. He didn’t make any new fans when he publicly bragged about his skills, thanking his hands for being “so great” but never actually living up to the hype. Eventually, Mitchell was released by the Eagles in 2005 and went on to a short stint with the Kansas City Chiefs before a knee injury forced him into early retirement.
And now, at the age of 34, he has added felon to his resume. The Internal Revenue Service claims that Mitchell approached another professional athlete, known only as “A.G.” in court records, and advised that one of his co-defendants, Jamie Russ-Walls, had managed to wrangle a tax refund for him of $1 million. Mitchell told A.G. that Russ-Walls could do the same for him and A.G. allegedly paid a “down payment” of $100,000 for the preparation of tax returns (note to normal taxpayers: $100,000? A little steep for a down payment on a form 1040 unless it’s actually written in gold).
At some point, A.G. must have become a little worried because he did not go through with filing the return. Mitchell, however, together with Russ-Walls and her husband, Richard Walls, did file a tax return for A.G. without his permission. The return resulted in a refund worth nearly $2 million. The refund was to be deposited into back accounts for the threesome, with Mitchell pocketing $280,000 for his trouble.
Eventually, the accountant for A.G. grew suspicious and contacted the feds. An investigation followed, resulting in a grand jury indictment in April 2011.
Russ-Walls and Walls have already pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. Russ-Walls received probation but no jail time; Walls was sentenced to just over three years in federal prison. Mitchell is clearly hoping to avoid jail time for his role in the fraud although he faces up to 10 years in prison.
The feds allege that the plan was to recruit more than one professional athlete (you can read the indictment here) though the indictment does not indicate that Mitchell and his co-defendants actually pursued any other parties.
As to the mysterious A.G.? Nobody is talking. The Eagles didn’t have anyone on their rosters for the years 2001 through 2004 with those initials. Curiously, the Kansas City Chiefs roster in 2005 did: Anthony Gonzalez, better known in the NFL as Tony Gonzalez. Though both Mitchell and Gonzalez went to college in California at about the same time, there doesn’t appear to be any other obvious connection. And Gonzalez was in Atlanta when Mitchell was in Florida. Interesting enough.
Out of curiosity, I ran down a few other A.G.s in the NFL without much luck: Andrew Gackhar (LB for the San Diego Chargers), Adam Gettis (G for the Washington Redskins), A.J. Green (WR for the Cincinnati Bengals), Alex Green (RB for the Green Bay Packers) and Anthony Gaitor (DB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) weren’t yet pro in 2009. Antonio Garay (DE for the San Diego Chargers) and Antonio Gates (TE for the San Diego Chargers) don’t appear to have an obvious connection with Mitchell and the only link to Andrew Gardner (OT for the Houston Texans), who started his professional career in 2009 with the Miami Dolphins, is Florida.
We’ll probably never know who A.G. is – and really, it doesn’t matter. He clearly came to his senses at some point and walked away from a scheme that caught up to Mitchell. But we can all take something from this story. The decisions that you can make in a split second – whether at 4th and 26 or sitting across the table from one of those “sounds too good to be true” tax professionals – have the potential change your life forever. Choose wi
With free agency set to kick off on Tuesday, many NFL teams will be excited to add new talent, while other teams will simply be happy seeing certain players off their respective rosters.
Since the 2012 season ended, numerous moves have been made in accordance to the salary cap. The Green Bay Packers cut ties with veteran Charles Woodson for financial reasons, and the Carolina Panthers let go of Chris Gamble to get below the salary cap.
Sometimes letting go of a proven veteran player is a necessity when trying to build a team capable of long-term success.
On the other hand, some roster moves have nothing to do with finances. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has been a headache both on and off the field, and Pittsburgh won't blink in letting him walk as an unrestricted free agent.
Let's take a look at 10 players whose team will be happy they're not on the roster next season, for one reason or another.
Pictures: 10 Players NFL Teams Will Be Happy to See off Their Roster in 2013 | Bleacher Report
Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson visits the "NFL AM" studio today to talk about his team's surprising acquisition of wide receiver Percy Harvin, and Vikings beat writer Dan Wiederer of the Star-Tribune has Minnesota's reaction to losing the controversial star. Tune to NFL Network at 6 a.m. ET.
Here's what else is on tap for Tuesday:
» The 2013 NFL year officially begins at 4 p.m. ET. Stay tuned to NFL Network all day long for the latest news and signings on "Free Agency Frenzy."
» Cornerback Richard Sherman joins "NFL Total Access" tonight at 7 p.m. ET as the Seattle Seahawks are featured on a timely edition of "State of the Franchise."
» Albert Breer explains how permissible tampering set the stage for a fascinating free agency period in 2013.
» NFL Evolution reports that Commissioner Roger Goodell hopes the league's new partnership with General Electric will help research for injuries in all sports.
» Elliot Harrison explores the smartest free-agent signings in NFL history.
» Check out our Offseason Forecast page to see what all 32 NFL clubs need to focus on in 2013.
» Five classic Tom Brady-Peyton Manning showdowns are up for vote by fans. Check out the options, select your favorite, then see if it airs Saturday on NFL Network.
» Check out the fantasy impact of the Anquan Boldin and Percy Harvin trades.
» Happy birthday to New York Giants defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who turns 34 on Tuesday.
NFL free agency begins today; trades rock NFC West - NFL-com
Mike Wallace repeatedly has been linked to the Miami Dolphins, and now the wide receiver officially is headed to South Beach.
NFL-com's Jeff Darlington reported Tuesday on NFL Network that Wallace and the Dolphins have agreed to a contract. A little after 10 p.m. ET, the Dolphins announced that Wallace had signed a deal that a team source told Darlington is worth $60 million over five years. "Just ready to start this next chapter in my life," Wallace wrote in a text message to NFL-com's Albert Breer. "It's an exciting time."
NFL-com's Aditi Kinkhabwala told NFL Network's Rich Eisen earlier Tuesday that Wallace was in Miami, ready to meet with the Dolphins. Kinkhabwala said Wallace would be a Dolphin by the end of the day once team doctors cleared him.
"We are pleased to reach an agreement with Mike Wallace," Ireland said in a statement released by the Dolphins. "He has a unique skill set which we believe will be a welcomed addition to our offense. We are looking forward to his contributions to the team."
Days after locking down Brian Hartline, adding Wallace gives Miami an impressive stable of wideouts. That position was an issue for the team on the heels of Brandon Marshall being shipped to the Chicago Bears last season, but Wallace gives young quarterback Ryan Tannehill the kind of threat that can take the top off a defense.
Mike Wallace signs $60M Miami Dolphins contract - NFL-com
Barkley suffered a shoulder injury in November against UCLA and did not play in the Trojans' final two games. He has been rehabilitating under the supervision of Dr. James Andrews, who is based in Alabama, and working out at an IMG training facility.
"Matt has been going through a very disciplined program to get back to 100%," his father, Les, said Monday. "He feels great, but he takes direction from Dr. Andrews."
Les Barkley said his son's intent was to be "absolutely 100% for his pro day" workout at USC on March 27. Barkley is expected to throw to former Trojans receiver Robert Woods.
In recent weeks, Barkley indicated he was on the fence about whether to throw at the combine.
"I don't feel like I have to," he said at the Super Bowl in an interview with ESPN's Colin Cowherd. "We'll see when that time gets closer. It'll probably be more of a game-day decision."
While in Florida to accept an award last week, Barkley called the combine "probably the biggest test of my life," telling the Pensacola News Journal that the two days of physical and mental examinations "is like the SAT times thousands."
Barkley won't be the first to pass on throwing for scouts in Indianapolis in favor of doing so in a more controlled and tailored setting at pro day on his campus. In fact, despite the frustration of teams and the league, the top quarterback prospects frequently choose not to throw.
But Barkley has a great deal to prove, and he's not a shoo-in to be a top-10 pick. This is not a strong quarterback class, and that weighs in his favor. Some draft experts have projected him to go in the second half of the first round, but there are NFL teams who have him rated as a middle-round talent.
Barring a sharp drop in his stock over the next two months, it's hard to imagine Barkley slipping out of the first round. It takes only one quarterback-needy team to believe in him, and the rookie salary structure under the new labor agreement means less money for a first contract and therefore less risk.
Four quarterbacks were taken in the first round in each of the last two drafts, and there have been at least two selected in the opening round of the last 12 drafts.
Matt Barkley won't throw at NFL combine - latimes-com