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Moments before Carson Palmer spoke for the first time as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, coach Bruce Arians made it clear where the veteran would fit in. "I'm here to introduce our starting quarterback, and put it to bed," Arians said. "And I'm really happy about it."

Palmer then took the mic, clad in a red Cardinals polo shirt and white cap. He made a point of addressing perceived inaccuracies in the reporting of his departure from the Raiders. Palmer clearly takes issue with the idea that he somehow forced his way out of Oakland.

"I was presented with a contract there and I was advised not to sign that contract with no security, no guarantees," he said. "My agent told me that he would never have me sign that contract. That opportunity led me here to coach Arians."

Palmer said joining the Cardinals was "perfect" for where he was at this stage of his career. He said he had plenty of "tread on (his) tires" at 33.

"I've only got a couple shots left," he said. "I've been in this league for a long time. It's nothing personal, it's not statistical, it's about trying to win a championship."

How much does Arians believe the Cardinals improved their roster with the additions of Palmer and Drew Stanton? He said his quarterback group now is as strong as any team's in the NFL.

It was a hyperbolic statement for sure, but the point still landed. The Cardinals have work to do, but the trade for Palmer means quarterback is no longer at the top of the priority list.

Knowing where they've been, the enthusiasm is understandable.


Carson Palmer in 'perfect' spot with Arizona Cardinals - NFL-com

Tony Romo's new six-year, $108 million contract, which he signed last week, made him the NFL's fifth-highest paid player.

However, according to Uncle Sam's rankings, the Cowboys quarterback is the NFL's highest-salaried player.

Romo plies his craft in Texas, which has no state income tax.

A story on the website, Americans for Tax Reform, says Romo's take-home pay will surpass New Orleans' Drew Brees.

According to the story ... with Romo’s income tax burden being 39.6 percent – the top marginal federal income tax rate in the U.S. – and estimated tax liability of $7.12 million, he still stands to earn $752,000 more than Brees.


Read the story: Why Cowboys' Tony Romo is actually the NFL's highest-paid player | Dallasnews-com - News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW

The NFL is increasingly likely to move to a 'draft' format for the Pro Bowl, according to league sources, and held more internal meetings on the topic this week.

League officials had lengthy talks this week at the league headquarters in New York putting together more details for the Pro Bowl with things continuing to point to a format where selected players are drafted on teams, very likely on a primetime, televised selection show.

The NFLPA proposal, in which team captains and/or other parties pick players for two Pro Bowl teams once fan voting/team selection is complete, was presented to the owners two weeks ago at the league meeting and continues to generate positive momentum, sources said. There are no dissenting voices and league officials met this week to add to the skeleton they have in place for the format change, though more work must be done.

The NFL hopes to have all logistics sorted out shortly after the upcoming draft, sources said, and it may not need to come before an ownership vote, with the league and NFLPA already in unison on this for the most part. Figuring out how to maximize the interest and fan appeal, and also incentivize the event for the players, is paramount.

In 2014, the game will still be played in Hawaii, without a doubt, but decisions on when the draft would take place, where it would take place, how to coordinate all of the remote parties involved are still being sorted out. League officials are dedicating significant time and resources to the matter, sources said, and this format has galvanized all parties to this point.


NFL likely to use 'draft' format for next Pro Bowl - CBSSports-com

Free agent linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said four National Football League (NFL) players were considering coming out as gay, the Baltimore Sun reported today.

Ayanbadejo, who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week after winning the Super Bowl with the team in February, told the paper that the groundwork was being laid to reduce the pressure on such a player.

"I think it will happen sooner than you think," said Ayanbadejo. "We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it.

"There are up to four players being talked to right now and they're trying to be organised so they can come out on the same day together.

"It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out."

There is still not one openly gay player in any of America's major professional sports leagues and nowhere has the issue become hotter than in the NFL, the most macho of pro sports.

"Of course, there would be backlash," the former Raven said in the article. "If they could share the backlash, it would be more positive. "It's cool, it's exciting. We're in talks with a few guys who are considering it.

"The NFL and organisations are already being pro-active and open, if a player does it and if something negative happens. We'll see what happens."

Gay rights

The comments from Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, came shortly after he suggested in an interview with Newsday that his activism for gay rights led to the Ravens' decision to cut him.

Ayanbadejo later tweeted that he was misquoted and the Ravens denied that the player's advocacy for gay rights was a factor in the decision to release him.

In the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver told reporters he would not welcome a homosexual team-mate into the locker room. He later retracted his comments.

On Friday (NZT), the NFL said its investigation into allegations that at least one team inquired about the sexual orientation of a prospective player at this year's scouting combine will not result in any penalties.

The NFL launched a review, after a player who attended the February combine in Indianapolis, said during a radio interview that he was asked about his sexual orientation, which the league says is against the rules.

"Our review has not established any specific violations, but we have made it clear to our clubs what is acceptable when interviewing potential players and other job candidates," the NFL said.


Gay NFL players ready to come out - Ayanbadejo - Other Sports News | TVNZ

Loyola sophomore Damon Hazelton stood on the sideline of the Ravens' practice field on Saturday afternoon, admiring the place where he one day hopes to play.

He positioned himself in front of the far wall of the Under Armour Performance Center, where an image of the Lombardi Trophy towers over the goal posts. Wide receiver Jaison Young (Riverdale Baptist) grabbed Hazelton's cellphone and took his picture.

“I wouldn't mind playing here,” Hazelton said, smiling. “It just makes me want to play even more.” Unfortunately for Hazelton, the odds of making it to the NFL are not in his favor. In fact, only a handful of the 97 high school prospects that scattered the field on Saturday probably will play professionally. And at the NFL Prep 100 Series camp in Baltimore this weekend, that's precisely the point.

This weekend's event, which is one of five nationwide seminars hosted by NFL Player Engagement, is designed to teach some of the nation's best high school prospects that there's more to life than football. It takes a room crowded with lofty expectations and tries to put those professional dreams in perspective.

“The realities are, there's a high likelihood that you're not going to make it,” said Troy Vincent, the senior vice president of NFL Player Engagement and a 15-year NFL veteran. “That's OK. Because you took care of what you needed to take care of off the field, you'll still be able to obtain a job, take care of your family. That's what we try to teach.”

High school players from throughout the region spent Saturday morning at a downtown hotel learning off-the-field skills, including how to build a positive social media presence and stay healthy. Then in the afternoon, the players were bussed to the Ravens' training facility and coached through drills by former players, all of whom played collegiately and graduated from their universities.

Quarterback William Crest (Dunbar), defensive lineman Marvin Flythe (Arundel), wide receiver Morgan Scroggins (Calvert Hall), and Hazelton were among the attendees.

“Today was good,” Crest, a four-star recruit, said. “I met a lot of people, met a lot of coaches, and this experience is wonderful. Not a lot of kids get to have this experience, and I'm glad that I got to experience it.”

Crest is the type of player that the NFL Prep 100 Series targets. He has a rocket arm, a 6-foot-2 frame and offers from Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Ohio State, among others. He has all the physical tools to succeed in college and leap to the NFL.

But Vincent wants to make sure that players like Crest have the off-the-field skills to succeed, too.

“The most important thing is the academic success, making sure that you're preparing yourself to win in life, not on the football field,” Vincent said. “We have to spend just as much time building our character and developing our character, making good decisions, proper use of social media, learning about how to stay healthy off the field — just as much time in those areas as developing our skill set on the field.”

Vincent said Baltimore was a perfect location for the event, not because of the area's reputation as a football hotbed but because of the high dropout rates that often accompany that on-field talent. That's why this weekend's event welcomed freshmen and sophomores as well as juniors.

“If we can stay in front of them and create good habits, keep sowing the seed,” Vincent said. “The sooner we can start injecting that conversation, the better off we are.”

On the field, players were divided into position groups and led through a series of drills with and against one another. Toward the end of the afternoon, they faced off in one-on-one scenarios: wide receivers against defensive backs, running backs against linebackers, and offensive linemen against defensive linemen.

The competition was good, but in many ways it was a footnote. The lessons of the day already had been learned.

“I learned that what you say determines what type of person you are,” Crest said, “and what you put out there determines what type of person you are.”



NFL Prep 100 Series comes to Baltimore with message for young athletes - baltimoresun-com

The N.F.L. will face off in court Tuesday against thousands of retirees in a case that will help determine the league’s role in caring for players with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The issue in front of United States District Court Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia is whether to grant the N.F.L.’s request to dismiss more than 200 cases brought by more than 4,000 former players who accused the league of hiding information about the dangers of head trauma. The players are seeking damages for their injuries.

The league has insisted the cases, filed in the last few years, essentially involved workplace safety issues covered by the collective bargaining agreements that players agreed to. Therefore, the players should plead their cases to arbitrators in grievance procedures, not a judge, the league has said.

The players claim that the league knew that concussions and other trauma could lead to long-term health problems and that it committed fraud by misrepresenting the dangers of repeated hits to the head. The case should be heard in court, where a jury could award damages, not in a grievance procedure, they have said.

The N.F.L. has a good track record arguing that claims brought by former players should be thrown out of court. But this case has several wrinkles because some plaintiffs played when there was no collective bargaining agreement and because the cases claim fraud and misrepresentation, which go beyond the scope of a labor agreement.

With the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars in legal fees and damages, both sides are taking Tuesday’s hearing seriously. Paul Clement, a former United States solicitor general during the George W. Bush administration, will plead the N.F.L.’s case, while David Frederick, who has argued cases at the Supreme Court, will represent the plaintiffs.

“You have a Supreme Court-like showdown at the district court level because everyone knows there is a phenomenal amount at stake,” said Paul D. Anderson, a lawyer who has a blog about the case. “A lot of judges go into oral arguments with their minds made up. But a persuasive presenter could get her to lean one way or the other.”

The N.F.L., said Anderson and other lawyers, has been hurt by the publicity surrounding the cases, which include some filed by wives of former players with advanced dementia who committed suicide. But ultimately what happens in court matters most, Anderson said.

Strictly speaking, Brody, who sits in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will hear arguments on the motion to dismiss the case. But her ruling, which is not expected for several months, could include a variety of outcomes, including everything from dismissing the case completely, which the N.F.L. would cheer, to granting the plaintiffs’ wishes to proceed with discovery and, ultimately, a trial.

There are many possibilities in between. The judge could dismiss the cases brought by players who played when there was a collective bargaining agreement in place but proceed with the cases brought by players who did not. She could expedite cases involving players who are suffering the most under the assumption that they do not have many years left to live. She might also select a few representative cases to allow.

If the judge lets some parts of the case proceed, the N.F.L. could argue that the statute of limitations has passed or that the players knew the risks they faced when they played. The league could also ask the judge to delay any discovery until after an appeals court has ruled.

The N.F.L. may argue that the plaintiffs do not have enough evidence to claim that the league committed fraud. The plaintiffs have pointed to memos and statements from the league’s doctors as evidence of a cover-up.

Regardless of how the judge rules, her decision is almost certain to be appealed. That means it would be years before former stars like John Brodie, Jim McMahon and Jethro Pugh took the stand, if at all.

If the case looks likely to drag on for years, the two sides could settle. The retired players eager for a payout could push their lawyers to reach a deal, while the insurers representing the N.F.L. could do the same because they are covering many of the league’s legal bills.

“I’m sure their insurers are very nervous about the costs spiraling out of control,” said Christopher G. Fusco, who defends clients in class action civil litigation. “I’m sure they’ll want some early shot at mediation.”




www-nytimes-com/2013/04/08/sports/football/nfl-and-retired-players-in-court-over-concussions-and-other-head-trauma-cases-html?_r=0

With the quarterback position finally settled, the Oakland Raiders are continuing to re-tool the rest of the roster. The latest addition is cornerback Mike Jenkins, who signed a one-year deal according to NFL-com's Ian Rapoport. The story was first reported by ESPN.

Jenkins, the 25th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, made the Pro Bowl in 2009 as a member of the Cowboys. His play declined over the last few years, but he's a smart low-cost gamble by Oakland for a team that is desperate for cornerback help.

Rapoport notes that Jenkins passed up a potential multi-year deal with the idea that he could hit the market again next year. Jenkins and fellow Broncos signee Tracy Porter will be trying to revive their careers on one-year deals. They might both wind up starting. Now all they have to do is stop the Denver Broncos offense twice a year.


Mike Jenkins, Oakland Raiders agree to contract - NFL-com

The court case that will decide the NFL’s future began in Philadelphia on Tuesday, kicking off with an hour-long battle over the league’s past.

In a muggy courtroom crammed with former players and their widows—and with hundreds of other attendees watching the live feed from a second courtroom downstairs—U.S. District Judge Anita Brody heard arguments over whether to dismiss the case or allow it to proceed to trial.

Boiling down both sides’ positions

At this point, there’s no question that concussions are linked with long-term health problems; the NFL in 2010 acknowledged as much.

The legal dispute advanced by the players essentially centers on concealment. Namely, what did the NFL know—and when did it know it?

As a result:

The NFL wants to settle with the players through arbitration, suggesting that their grievances are covered through collective bargaining agreements. In theory, this approach would contain the league’s losses.
The players’ lawsuit, which now includes more than 4,000 of the league’s 12,000 former players, argues that the NFL deliberately withheld information about the risks of playing football, even while profiting off of it. That would raise new questions of negligence and fraud that need to be settled at trial, the lawsuit alleges.

The hearing matched two of the nation’s top Supreme Court lawyers, who spent the bulk of the hour, podium to podium, in a gripping matchup over legal precedent. And there was some minor sartorial symbolism, after the air conditioning failed and Brody urged attendees to take off their coats and ties.

Paul Clement, arguing for the NFL, kept his suit jacket on. David Frederick, representing the players, went without.

The charismatic Clement—who argued for the states against Obamacare last year, and has been aptly described by Reason‘s Peter Suderman as a cross between a constitutional law expert and a talk-show host—stressed that the league has shared information about concussions’ risks as new medical science emerged.

Frederick, meanwhile, countered that while the NFL may have established a committee on mild brain injuries in 1994, that committee was a “sham” that ultimately served as a roadblock for players seeking accurate information and care.

Brody is expected to take several months before ruling on whether the case can proceed. (Per the Twitter feed of Paul D. Anderson, one of the nation’s leading experts on concussion law, some observers felt that the tone of today’s hearing was a victory for the players.) And either way, the case is still years away from the Supreme Court, if it makes that far.

After the hearing, Frederick was joined at a nearby hotel for a news conference with several plaintiffs, including three former Philadelphia Eagles: Dorsey Levens, Bill Bergey, and Kevin Turner, who is suffering from ALS.

The NFL “should have known that these repeated blows to the head caused significant neurological injury,” Frederick said. He added that if Brody lets the case come to trial, the players will uncover additional evidence of NFL misconduct through the process of legal discovery.

Clement and his colleagues, meanwhile, held their own press conference outside the courthouse. As one member of the NFL’s legal team spoke, trying to stress the league’s commitment to player safety, distant bells began to toll.


4,000 Ex-Players vs. NFL: Landmark Concussion Case Begins - Forbes

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who successfully appealed a four-game suspension last year after testing positive for Adderall, says the prescription drug is so commonly used among NFL players that the NFL ought to just accept it and take Adderall off the banned list.

Although Sherman argued during his appeal that the NFL’s drug tester made errors in collecting Sherman’s urine sample which nullified the test, he told the Vancouver Sun on Tuesday that the league really shouldn’t be testing for Adderall anyway.

“About half the league takes it [Adderall] and the league has to allow it,” Sherman said. “The league made a mistake in my case. Obviously, I didn’t do anything, but you have to go through a process to prove you didn’t do anything. There are still naysayers out there who don’t believe me. But I accept it. If everybody loves you, it probably means you’re not much of a player.”

Whether people believe Sherman or not, Adderall became one of the most-discussed issues in the NFL last year, as player after player blamed positive performance-enhancing drug tests on it. The NFL never confirms the substance that a player tests positive for, so it’s possible that some of those players were lying because they thought using a common prescription drug like Adderall would go over better with their fans than using other performance-enhancing substances.

NFL players are permitted to use Adderall only if they to through the necessary process to get a therapeutic use exemption, and the NFL says not many players are using substances that would otherwise be banned under such exemptions. So if Sherman is right that half the league is using Adderall, then the NFL’s drug testing procedures are seriously flawed, and the league is only catching a tiny percentage of the users.



Richard Sherman: Half the NFL takes Adderall | ProFootballTalk

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Now that Jermon Bushrod has defected to the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton concedes that concerns about the left tackle position keep him up at night.

The Saints added another tackle, but not of the caliber to end Payton's sleepless nights. Jason Smith agreed to terms with the Saints on a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday. One of the biggest draft busts of the past half-decade, Smith was plagued by concussions early in his St. Louis Rams career after being drafted No. 2 overall out of Baylor in 2009.

When he did make it out of the trainers' room, Smith was a turnstile in pass protection, unable to cut it at left tackle. He was relegated to a backup right tackle/jumbo tight end role with the New York Jets last season after coming over in a trade.

Unproven and oft-injured Charles Brown currently tops the depth chart at left tackle, and the Saints understandably are not sold on him as the starter. "I look at that spot (on the depth chart) like there's a magnet with no name on it," Payton said last month via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "Gray, it's just gray."

Look for the Saints to target a tackle such as Florida State's Menelik Watson early in the 2013 NFL Draft.





Jason Smith, New Orleans Saints reach one-year deal - NFL-com

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Tim Tebow plans to report for the New York Jets' offseason workouts Monday with a "great attitude."

Speaking at his annual charity event in his hometown Friday night, Tebow offered little insight into his feelings about the Jets signing quarterback David Garrard or about the rampant speculation that his time in New York might be ending after one disappointing and unproductive season. "It's nothing I can control, and like I've said ever since I was at Nease High School, I really try not to worry about what I can't control," Tebow said. "Just try to have the best attitude, have the best effort, a great work ethic, and so far, this offseason has been a lot of fun. Been my best yet."

Tebow ran for just 102 yards, completed 6 of 8 passes for 39 yards and scored zero touchdowns for the Jets last season after being acquired in a 2012 trade from the Denver Broncos.

Tebow went from being considered a key part of the Jets' offense to almost non-existent. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano didn't know how to use Tebow effectively, and Tebow wasn't particularly productive when he got his few snaps in the Wildcat-style formation. He made his biggest mark on special teams as the personal punt protector and did all he could to hide his frustration at not playing.

The popular and polarizing player didn't even get a chance when Jets starter Mark Sanchez was benched for the first time in his NFL career. Instead of going with Tebow, the No. 2 quarterback on the Jets' depth chart, coach Rex Ryan went with third-stringer Greg McElroy.

Acquiring Tebow ultimately led to Sparano and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum losing their jobs. And the one failed season clouded Tebow's NFL prospects. No matter what, though, he insists he's a quarterback.

"It's always been my dream, always will be," Tebow said, essentially nixing any thoughts about him switching to tight end, fullback or safety. After the Tim Tebow Foundation Celebrity Gala & Golf Classic at TPC Sawgrass, Tebow will return to New York and join his teammates for offseason conditioning. The Jets' quarterback depth chart certainly is more crowded than ever, with the team bringing in Garrard to compete with Sanchez for the starting job. The Jets also have Tebow, McElroy and Matt Simms on the roster.

"Yeah, I'll be there Monday ready to work out and have a great attitude," Tebow said.

Tebow also downplayed the difficulty of the last few months, which included the signing of Garrard, his uncertain NFL future and even his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars publicly saying they have no interest in signing him even if he is released.

"It's been a great offseason," Tebow said. "I've had a great time."



Tim Tebow to report to N.Y. Jets workouts with 'great attitude' - NFL-com

One sprint put former Hopkins and Northern Iowa player Terrell Sinkfield on the NFL draft radar.

There is video now where none previously existed. And because of that video there is also buzz, a bit of chatter and heightened curiosity.

Feel free to do the YouTube search for Terrell Sinkfield. That 20-second clip midway down the page was posted by Sinkfield himself. That’s the one with more than 367,000 page views.

Directly below that is another clip, offering the same footage from a better angle. That one is attributed to GopherSports-com.

Both videos show a kid with a dream leaving scorch marks on the turf of the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. This is Sinkfield’s 40-yard dash from the University of Minnesota’s March 4 pro day.

One stopwatch reportedly clocked it at 4.19 seconds. Yep, 4.19.

And that time — never mind that it wasn’t official — registered as mind-boggling. So much so that Twitter had an immediate eruption and then major websites such as Yahoo! Sports and ESPN and NFL-com began writing about it and then Sinkfield’s cellphone began blowing up.

“Pretty quickly, it was all eyes on me,” he said. “That initial buzz spread like crazy.”

So who is this Terrell Sinkfield anyway? Well, that’s exactly the question he was hoping people would ask. NFL people, to be specific.

The answer: he’s a Football Championship Subdivision receiver from the University of Northern Iowa. He’s a Hopkins High School alum, an enthusiastic 22-year-old with a smile, a shrug and a dream to hear his name called in the later rounds of next week’s NFL draft.

Chances of that happening are still slim. Sinkfield isn’t blind to that.

Senior season totals of 43 catches and 499 yards while playing in the Missouri Valley Conference don’t exactly forecast NFL success.

But with one sprint, Sinkfield at least blipped onto the radar.

To be clear, the official recorded times for Sinkfield’s 40s that day came in at 4.33, 4.36 and 4.38 seconds. Still, 4.19 is the number people haven’t stopped asking about.

“Will I claim 4.19? Sure,” Sinkfield said. “Why not? If somebody wants to put my name on that, I’ll take it. But I was shooting for fast. And I think whatever the exact number was, I proved that.

“I am fast.”

The desired ripple effect of proving that? That at least a few NFL scouts and front office people were intrigued enough to circle back, throw in tape of Sinkfield at Northern Iowa and see what they might have missed.

Sinkfield hopes they zero in and see, in his words, “that I’m not strictly a speed guy, that I can actually play some football.”

He hopes teams see he has decent size (6-1, 192 pounds) and is versatile enough to work in the slot or outside. He hopes they see a receiver who’s always playing hard and continues improving his route-running. Perhaps they’ll identify a guy with potential — on offense and special teams.
Sinkfield’s training for that pro day dash came under the expert guidance of Mark Ellis, who in 2004 and 2005 was the Vikings’ assistant strength and conditioning coach and later co-founded GameSpeed Sports Academy in Eden Prairie with E.J. Henderson.

Sure, Sinkfield has been lifting, doing position drills and dedicating himself to his craft since his college career ended. But after teaming with Ellis, a quest to master the 40 became a top priority.

Ellis had studied a dozen or so of the fastest 40s ever run at the NFL combine and looked for technical similarities. He determined the best runs were completed in 20 to 22 steps and realized a jump-start seemed to be a major catalyst.

“Literally,” Sinkfield said. “We spent a lot of time working on my start, of fine-tuning a technique to actually jump out of the blocks and steal a step there.”

Without Ellis’ tutelage, Sinkfield still would have been fast. As his agent, Mitch Chargo, notes, “His speed is God-given and it’s world class.” But with Ellis, Sinkfield was able to squeeze every last hundredth of a second out of his 40.

Sinkfield laughs now at the hype that he generated.

He also had an impressive 40.5-inch vertical leap and a freakish 11-foot, 5-inch broad jump. Still, all anyone ever seems to talk about is the 40. Sinkfield knew that going in.

“We call it ‘The Money Maker,’ ” he said. “Honestly. That’s what it boils down to a lot. With everything else, the fastest guys usually get paid the most.” So maybe just maybe, one blazing run will open a door.

Said Chargo: “The goal in January, plain and simple, was to get Terrell into a position where he could showcase what he’s got. That has happened. The devotion Terrell had to his future and his investment in himself has paid off. And with that 40 and with the Internet, it’s enabled him to show really the world what he’s got.”

On April 25-27, Sinkfield will keep his cellphone on and his fingers crossed, hoping his name will be called during the draft. But even if it isn’t, he fully expects to spend the following weekend at the facility of some NFL team, as a rookie minicamp invitee.

Once there he’ll be trying, once again, to turn heads.



Sinkfield's 4.19 dash turns NFL scouts' heads | StarTribune-com

Once called the "heart of the defense" by former head coach Tom O'Brien, North Carolina State safety Earl Wolff will hope his collegiate success translates to the NFL level.

Wolff is a boundary safety who has the size and athleticism necessary to be a late-round gem in this year's draft. He's tough against the run and effective in zone coverage against the pass.

Wolff stood out at the NFL scouting combine, clocking a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and posting a vertical jump of 39 inches. Still, he's unlikely to come off the board before the middle rounds.


Strengths

From a physical standpoint, Wolff has everything teams want from the safety position. He's a willing tackler and aggressive against the run, and he is assignment-sure against the pass.

He's an elite athlete. On top of his 4.40 time in the 40-yard dash and 39" vertical, Wolff posted a broad jump of 11' 2" and clocked a 4.07 in the 20-yard shuttle. His athleticism would suggest he has the necessary range to play in single-high coverage.


Weaknesses

While he managed to intercept six passes in his last three seasons at NC State, Wolff didn't make many "wow" plays. Most of his interceptions were relatively routine.

Tracking the ball in the air isn't his strong suit. He's typically in the right place, but he doesn't generate many turnovers on his own.

Wolff tends to get swallowed up by bigger blockers in the running game.


Tools

Wolff is slightly shorter than the ideal height for a safety, but he's plenty big to be an effective starting safety in the NFL. Combine his 5' 11" 209-pound build with his elite athleticism, and it's easy to see why Wolff passes the eye test for the position.


Character/Intangibles

There are no known concerns regarding Wolff's character. He graduated from NC State in just three and a half years with a degree in sports management, according to GoPack-com.


System

Wolff typically played the safety position in two-deep coverage in NC State's 4-3 defense. He wasn't moved around much within the defensive scheme. He's a boundary safety.


Playing the Ball

Wolff will make the play if it's routine. But he shouldn't be counted upon to do anything out of the ordinary in regards to forcing turnovers. Making plays on the ball is not his strong suit.


Against the Run

He will overpursue at times due to his aggressive nature, but generally, he takes good angles when running down the ball carrier.

Wolff is certainly not afraid of taking on blockers, although he rarely gets the better of those exchanges. Overall, he's an above-average run defender.


Man Coverage

Wolff was very rarely asked to play man coverage at the college level. Occasionally, he'd cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, but asking him to cover a talented wide receiver would not be wise.


Zone Coverage

Despite being a tremendous athlete, Wolff doesn't have great range on the back end of the defense. This lack of range could cause problems if he's ever asked to play single-high coverage and run sideline-to-sideline.

But in two-deep coverage, Wolff does a nice job at recognizing plays early. He also has fluid hips and can make plays on the ball if it's thrown his way.


Tackling

Wolff does a nice job of going low and wrapping up as a tackler. He also forced seven fumbles in his college career.


Future Role/Scheme Versatility

He won't come off the board before the middle rounds, but Wolff has the athletic ability that can't be taught. He's not an extremely versatile player as far as having the ability to line up in different positions and make an impact on the game, but he's good at what he does.

Early in his NFL career, he could be counted upon to play in defensive back-heavy subpackages, but his primary role will be on special teams. Moving forward, he has the physical tools to develop into a solid NFL starter.


Round/Team Fits

(He should be a fourth or fifth-round pick.)

Chicago Bears

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

Pittsburgh Steelers

St. Louis Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Earl Wolff Scouting Report: NFL Outlook for the NC State Safety | Bleacher Report

Josh Brent wasn't at Valley Ranch for the start of voluntary workouts with the Dallas Cowboys. Don't expect to see him any time soon.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said the team has asked the nose tackle to stay away from the Cowboys until his legal situation has more clarity. "The league hasn't had any sanctions on him," Jones said Tuesday on KRLD-FM in Dallas, via ESPN-com. "The more important thing for Josh right now is to focus on the issues at hand for himself, and obviously, he's got some legal issues he's going to be working through, not to mention all the personal issues that are involved with what he was involved with. That's what he's focused on right now."

Brent was arrested on charges of DUI last December following a single-car accident that took the life of Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown Jr. Brent is scheduled to go on trial on Sept. 23 on charges of intoxication manslaughter. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The NFL has yet to impose any penalties on Brent, though Jones added that the NFL will have "a big say" on Brent's 2013 playing status.

"At the end of the day, that's the least (of) our worries," Jones said. "Josh, obviously, he's going through something that's very difficult. His focus right now -- which as it should be, more important than football -- is making sure his life is in order and he's going to have to focus on the challenges in front of him over the coming months (and) years."

This is obviously a big departure in philosophy for the Cowboys, who had Brent on their sidelines during a game last December. The team now moves Brent to the periphery until further notice.


Josh Brent asked to stay away from Dallas Cowboys - NFL-com

On the heels of regulators red-flagging a potential $18 million scam last week, multiple federal agencies are probing investments sold to NFL and NBA players, Yahoo! Sports has learned.

According to multiple sources that spoke to Yahoo! Sports on the condition of anonymity, several professional athletes have either been contacted or been urged to contact investigators from the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Three sources also told Yahoo! Sports that the NFL Players Association has asked a handful of its athletes with investments tied to Jade Management to contact FBI investigators. Jade previously managed finances for dozens of professional athletes, and had investment ties to Success Trade – a firm that came under fire from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last week. Success Trade was ordered to halt fundraising last week after allegedly selling $18 million in fraudulent and unregistered promissory notes to 58 persons, many of whom were NFL and NBA players. Jade Management founder Jinesh "Hodge" Brahmbhatt told Yahoo! Sports his firm had more than 30 athletes who purchased high interest investments that FINRA now says were fraudulent. Some of those investments purportedly generated interest returns between 11 and 26 percent.

In a complaint filed by FINRA and obtained by Yahoo! Sports, regulators allege that multiple athletes involved with Success Trade were introduced to the fraudulent notes by representatives of Jade Management. Success Trade is alleged to have made at least $1.25 million in payments to Jade Management since March 2009.

During an 18-month investigation, Yahoo! Sports identified multiple athletes that purchased promissory notes from Success Trade. Among them were Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Knight, Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and former Chicago Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. Brahmbhatt told Yahoo! Sports late last week that he had more than 30 clients who had purchased around $12 million worth of the fraudulent notes from Success Trade. Sources said those investments ranged anywhere from $50,000 to more than $500,000.

Late last week, Brahmbhatt sent an email to some of those clients indicating he was unsure whether they will get their money back.

"We have told [Success Trade CEO Fuad Ahmed] that what is most important is getting you paid back," Brahmbhatt said in his email to athletes. "We believe that this is what he is trying to do. It is not clear whether he will be able to accomplish this, given the FINRA action and a number of other hurdles."

Brahmbhatt said that while a number of his clients were involved with Success Trade deals, he maintained his company did not improperly benefit from those deals.

"I just hope nobody says, 'the guys at Jade capitalized on this,' " Brahmbhatt said. "Because we never did. Other than the first year we took [$1.25 million] from him … everything we did for him is because we actually liked it."

Brahmbhatt contended that he had no reason to believe Success Trade was acting improperly while drawing investor money, but added that he didn't have full knowledge of the company's financial practices. "We don't have [Success Trade's] books," he said. "People say, 'Man, you're stupid. You should have looked at [Success Trade's] last two or three years of income statements.' But you know what? We didn't. You know why we didn't? Because he never missed a damn payment, and we never really thought about it."

"Since I've been in this business everyone said to me that [Jade Management was] running some kind of a pyramid scheme or a Ponzi scheme but I fought it tooth and [expletive] nail. I was like, 'Nope.' I thought people were just hating on us because … we were doing so well. … I'm [expletive] devastated, man. It's everything I worked for my whole life."

As of last week's release by FINRA, Brahmbhatt was registered in the financial advisors program established by the NFL Player's Association. Union spokesman George Atallah hasn't responded to multiple emails requesting comment on how long Brahmbhatt has been registered in the program or whether his status in the program is currently being reviewed.


Y! SPORTS

Here are the Top 10 matchups to watch this year.



1. San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sunday night, Sept. 15 and Sun., Dec. 8: Four years ago, the only interest in the 49ers and Seahawks was from opponents that wanted their schedule to include those teams. For the networks, this NFC West matchup was a ratings bust. Thanks to coaches Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh, the Seahawks and 49ers have developed the fastest, hottest rivalry in the NFL. The competition between the two coaches started in college when Carroll was at USC and Harbaugh was at Stanford. Once Harbaugh stepped onto the sidelines in San Francisco, he turned the 49ers into a Super Bowl-caliber team.

Carroll has revamped Seattle's roster to his standards and has the Seahawks on a similar level. The competition has carried over during the offseason. The 49ers traded for WR Anquan Boldin. The Seahawks countered with a deal for Percy Harvin. The 49ers signed DT Glenn Dorsey. The Seahawks blostered their D-line with Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel. The 49ers signed CB Nnamdi Asomugha. The Seahawks signed Antoine Winfield.

2. Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sun., Oct. 20 and Thursday night, Nov. 28: The 49ers-Seahawks rivalry might be trending as the hottest, but Ravens-Steelers remains one of the best in the sport. This AFC North matchup will be different this year, though. Ray Lewis has retired and Ed Reed has moved on to Houston. It will also be different without the presence of James Harrison rushing from the outside linebacker position for the Steelers.

Nevertheless, these teams don't like each other. Even though both have lost key starters because of the salary cap, they remain playoff-caliber teams. They also have great quarterbacks. Joe Flacco cashed in a Super Bowl season for a $20.1 million-a-year contract. Ben Roethlisberger had the Steelers on the path to the playoffs last season before injuries caught up to him and left the Steelers on the outside. Expect two physical games during which both sides are willing to get a few fines to level a few extra hits.

3. Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, Thursday night, Sept. 5: The baseball schedule and a fax machine have made this game even more interesting. The Ravens beat the Broncos in the playoffs last year after WR Jacoby Jones got behind Broncos safety Rahim Moore in the final minute for a 70-yard touchdown pass that sent the game into overtime. The Ravens won 38-35. That play robbed Manning of a chance to go to the AFC title game.

The Broncos get a break by opening the season at home against the Ravens. In fact, the Broncos get a lot of breaks. They have the league's easiest schedule based on 2012 winning percentages, and one of their toughest games is at home to open the season. Another break is playing the Ravens in the first week. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is breaking in as many as six new starters on a defense that has to contain Manning.

Adding to the drama is the Elvis Dumervil signing in Baltimore. The Broncos tried to cut Dumervil's salary, but once the agreement was reached, Dumervil's camp didn't fax the contract to the league and team in time. He was cut as a result. The Ravens signed Dumervil with the idea of having him and Terrell Suggs as their pass-rushing threats. What a season opener.

4. Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Sunday night, Nov. 24: When Manning was in Indianapolis, the Manning-Tom Brady game was always one of the main headliners of the season. Manning and Brady may be getting older, but this showdown doesn't get stale. The Patriots are expected to win the AFC East. The Broncos are favored to win the AFC West.

What's great about this year's matchup is that it doesn't appear this is the last chance the two will meet. A year ago, Manning was coming off four neck operations and it wasn't clear whether he could return to the field. Not only did Manning return, but he came away with the AFC's No. 1 seed. John Elway felt good enough about Manning's neck that he locked in two years of guaranteed money for the quarterback at $20 million a year. Brady extended his contract, so the Manning-Brady battles will continue.

Adding to the excitement of this year's game is Wes Welker's move to Denver. The Patriots wanted to drop Welker's salary into the $5 million range despite five seasons in which he caught at least 100 passes. The Broncos had no trouble signing Welker to a $6 million-a-year contract. Welker will be looking to sting his former team. Manning and Brady will continue a classic rivalry.

5. Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints, Sun., Sept. 8 and Thursday night, Nov. 21: Even the absence of Saints coach Sean Payton last season because of the bounty suspension didn't diminish the greatness of this NFC South rivalry. The Saints beat the Falcons 31-27 in the Superdome. The Falcons won their home game against New Orleans 23-13. Payton has returned and should be able to return the Saints to the playoffs.

The Falcons finally won their first playoff game in the Mike Smith-Matt Ryan era and want to make this their Super Bowl year. Since 2008, seven of the 10 games between these teams have been decided by eight points or fewer, and these games are sometimes decided by a field goal. The Saints have held the advantage, but the Falcons feel they have the better team. Expect a home-and-home split, but two great games.

6. San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons, Monday night, Dec. 23: Dealing with a separated shoulder in the final seconds of the NFC title game, Ryan failed to see an open Tony Gonzalez in the end zone and left the Falcons one play away from the Super Bowl. This fall, Ryan gets a chance to finish in this rematch.

It won't be easy. San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick will have more experience and will be more polished at quarterback. The 49ers' defense will still have the confidence of being able to go on the road and win a big game. But the Falcons might be better

That's why we promoting it...

Player . . . Ht . . . Wt . . . 40 time . . . School

Dee Milliner, CB, 6-0, 201, 4.35, Alabama

An underclassman who underwent shoulder surgery in March. Good size, outstanding speed. Amazing quickness moving forward or backward. Instinctive prospect who has terrific closing speed. Will fight for the ball. Sometimes is too aggressive and bites on fakes or gets called for interference. Should go among top six picks.

Xavier Rhodes, CB, 6-2, 210, 4.39, Florida State

Exceptional size and speed should allow him to cover just about every receiver.

Likes to play press coverage and use his long arms to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. Has excellent makeup speed. Plays the run hard. Needs to improve technique and commit fewer penalties. Adjusts to the ball well. Should go in the top half of the first round.

Kenny Vaccaro, FS, 6-0, 214, 4.59, Texas

The top-rated safety can play deep because of his range and instincts, or he can drop down around the line of scrimmage and bang on the tight ends, slot receivers and running backs. Smart player with good size but lacks ideal speed. Plays hard against the run. Sometimes loses focus because he tries to make the big hit. Should go in the middle of the first round.

Desmond Trufant, CB, 6-0, 190, 4.38, Washington

A four-year starter with good size and outstanding speed. Comes from a football family. Understands the position. Very coachable. Splendid athlete who sometimes relies on natural athleticism rather than sound fundamentals. Needs to improve techniques in the NFL. Plays hard against the run. Likes to get physical with receivers. Should go in the bottom half of the first round.

D.J. Hayden, CB, 5-11, 191, 4.33, Houston

No player’s stock is on the rise more than Hayden, who overcame what could have been a career-ending injury in practice to become a possible first-round pick. Decent size, tremendous speed and a comeback story that impresses scouts and coaches. Stays low, bursts out of backpedal, makes quick cuts and stays on his feet. Should excel at man coverage. Could go in the bottom of the first round but might last until the second.

Eric Reid, FS, 6-1, 213, 4.49, LSU

He has the kind of size and speed coaches love at his position. He’s got range and instincts. He works hard. He’s aggressive to the ball. He needs to become more consistent and be careful not to get caught looking in the backfield and becoming the victim of double moves. Should go in the second round.

Jamar Taylor, CB, 5-11, 192, 4.37, Boise State

Tremendous speed to go with an impressive work ethic. Played more off coverage in college and might take time to adjust to press coverage in the NFL. A prospect who’s sound in fundamentals and works hard to improve. Coaches have to check out a leg injury that hampered him at times. Should go in the second round.

Johnathan Cyprien, SS, 6-0, 217, 4.64, Florida International

A small-college prospect who started for four years and impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl practices. Ideal size for a player who likes to play hard all the time and get physical against receivers and runners. Lacks speed to turn and run with receivers but excelled in two-deep coverage in college. Should go in the second round.

Matt Elam, SS, 5-10, 208, 4.43, Florida

A playmaker who excelled in important games. Plays best around the line of scrimmage because he’s strong and physical and likes contact. Played deep when the coaches asked and showed solid coverage ability. Lacks ideal height but makes up for it with attitude and instincts. Could go in the bottom of the first round but could last until the second.

SLEEPER

Robert Alford, 5-11, 188, 4.38, Southeast Louisiana

An aggressive, hard-nosed corner who has all the physical skills but didn’t play against big-time competition. A hard worker who wants to excel. He likes to play press coverage. Stays low on backpedal, turns and runs with amazing quickness. Sticks to receivers, fights for the ball. Adjusts well. Plays hard against the run. Should go in second or third round.

BEST OF THE REST

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, 5-9, 186, LSU; David Amerson, CB, 6-1, 205, North Carolina State; Johnathan Banks, CB, 6-2, 185, Mississippi State; Darius Slay, CB, 6-0, 192, Mississippi State; Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, 6-1, 195, Connecticut; Bacarri Rambo, FS, 6-1, 211, Georgia; Logan Ryan, CB, 5-11, 192, Rutgers; T.J. McDonald, FS, 6-3, 219, USC; Phillip Thomas, FS, 6-1, 208, Fresno State; Shamarko Thomas, SS, 5-9, 213, Syracuse; Leon McFadden, CB, 5-10, 193, San Diego State; Jordan Poyer, CB, 6-0, 191, Oregon State; D.J. Swearinger, FS, 5-11, 208, South Carolina; Shawn Williams, SS, 6-0, 213, Georgia; B.W. Webb, CB, 5-10, 184, William and Mary; J.J. Wilcox, SS, 6-0, 213, Georgia Southern; Dwayne Gratz, CB, 5-11, 201, Connecticut; Brandon McGee, CB, 5-11, 193, Miami; Josh Evans, FS, 6-1, 207, Florida.

QUICK SHOTS

· (bullet) Cornerback D.J. Hayden almost bled to death after suffering a freakish injury to his heart during practice. He’s recovered well enough to become a possible first-round pick.

· (bullet) Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) was kicked off his team last year, entered drug rehab, failed another test and is trying to turn around his life. He could be drafted in the second round but might last until the third.

· (bullet) Cornerback Desmond Truffant, a possible first-round pick, had two brothers playing in the NFL last season – Marcus with the Seattle Seahawks and Isaiah with the New York Jets.

TEXANS NEEDS

In his six drafts, general manager Rick Smith drafted only three safeties, none higher than the fifth round. Glover Quin, who started at safety the last two years, was selected in the fourth round in 2009 as a cornerback, where he started his first two seasons. The Texans need a young safety for Ed Reed to mentor. It’s a deep draft for safeties. Could Smith select a safety as high as the third or fourth round for the first time?



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