Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 105 of 1503)

      Clausen won’t part with No. 2 jersey to appease Newton

      May 3, 2011 /
      Quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn University stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Suddenly, I have more respect for Jimmy Clausen.

      A couple of days ago, a news (and I use that word loosely here) story broke that first overall pick Cam Newton wants to wear No. 2 in the pros, just as he did at Auburn. The problem is that number already belongs to Clausen, who told the media on Tuesday that he wasn’t willing to give it up.

      “It’s mine right now,” Clausen told the Charlotte Observer. “We’ll see what happens.”

      Apparently Clausen hinted that he’s willing to give up the number if Newton was willing to pay for it. Considering Newton will receive a huge signing bonus once the lockout ends, a number of people in Clausen’s shoes would probably do the same thing.

      Hey rookie, if you want the number, pony up for it.

      Based on what I’ve read, it doesn’t sound like Newton demanded Clausen to give up the number like some are suggesting. He was probably asked if he wanted to wear No. 2 in the pros and he answered yes. He may have not even known that Clausen wore that number last year.

      But if this does become an issue, you have to wonder if that scathing report that Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki wrote back in March is starting to come to fruition.

      External Sports, NFL

      2011 NFL Draft Recap: Observations, Reactions & Opinions

      May 2, 2011 /
      Quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn University poses after being selected as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL football Draft in New York, April 28, 2011. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Don’t listen to observers when they say there’s no sense in handing out grades following the NFL draft. I agree with the notion that it generally takes three years before anyone can properly evaluate a team’s draft, but why should that stop anyone from making observations? After all, when a major trade breaks in one of the main four sports, do we say, “Damn, I really want to break down this trade but we’ll have to wait three to four years before we do because we won’t know how things will play out!” Of course not – we analyze the deal ad nauseam, share our opinions and then either bask in the news or cry ourselves to sleep. That’s one of the many things that makes sports great.

      With that in mind, here are 32 quick-hit observations (one for each team) from the 2011 NFL Draft. I don’t like to hand out grades because a) everyone does them and b) they’re just not fun for me. But I did something like this after the 2009 draft and I figured it would be cool to do something similar this year. Feel free to tell me how wrong I am in the comments section or please, share your own opinions on another wild NFL draft.

      1. Even the biggest Cam Newton supporters have to admit that the young man will be a major project for Carolina. He could wind up being in the Hall of Fame some day after leading the Panthers to three Super Bowls, but it’s going to take some time. He ran the spread option at Auburn – the kid will need a few years to learn and grow in a pro-style offense.

      2. I love Von Miller the prospect but I don’t love Von Miller the prospect in Denver’s 4-3 defensive front. I wonder if one day we’ll look back at the Broncos’ selection at No. 2 and say: “They should have went with Marcell Dareus.”

      3. Speaking of Dareus, how well did the Bills make out at No. 3? They needed to get more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and now they have someone who they can plug in on Day 1 and watch him compete. They must have been ecstatic when he fell past Denver.

      4. Andy Dalton isn’t a spectacular prospect but he’s a fit for Jay Gruden’s offense and hey, he wants to play for the Bengals (something that cannot be said about Carson Palmer). And I have a feeling A.J. Green will make people forget about Chad Ochocinco (and quite frankly, all of his attention-seeking ways).

      5. The Cardinals had to be disappointed that Von Miller didn’t fall to them at No. 5 but Patrick Peterson isn’t a bad consolation prize. Ryan Williams in the second round was a bit of a head-scratchier though. I like Williams, but is he a fit in an already crowded backfield? Two value picks that I really liked: Sam Acho and Quan Sturdivant. Acho fills Arizona’s need for a pass-rusher and Sturdivant was considered one of the top inside LBs available in the draft.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Report: Eagles have offer on the table from unknown team for Kevin Kolb

      May 2, 2011 /
      Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter of their NFL football game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 2, 2011. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      In his latest “Monday Morning Quarterback,” SI.com’s Peter King reiterated that the Eagles have an offer of a first-round pick in the 2012 draft from an unknown team for quarterback Kevin Kolb. But because of the ongoing labor dispute, Kolb is being held hostage by the unfortunate circumstances.

      That “unknown team” may be the Arizona Cardinals, who reportedly had a deal in place for Kolb before the draft. The Cardinals decided not to draft a signal caller last week, so the thought is that they’re waiting for the labor dispute to end in order to make a run at Kolb (who has already said that he wouldn’t mind playing in the desert).

      But the Dolphins and Seahawks also failed to address their quarterback needs in the draft, so maybe they’re gearing up to make a run at Kolb as well. Like all deals, whichever team can make the Eagles the best offer will have Kolb under center next season. The 26-year-old is a fit for any one of those teams and assuming the Eagles are willing to trade him, whoever lands him will likely sign him to a new contract. (He’s owed $1.392 million in 2011 but is a free agent in 2012.)

      The good thing for the Cardinals, Seahawks and Dolphins is that Kolb’s trade market shrunk last weekend. The Titans (Jake Locker), Jaguars (Blaine Gabbert), Vikings (Christian Ponder), 49ers (Colin Kaepernick) and Bengals (Andy Dalton) all addressed their needs at quarterback in either the first or second round, so the odds just rose for Arizona, Seattle and Miami in terms of landing Kolb later this offseason. (Assuming there even is a “later this offseason.”)

      External Sports, NFL

      Christian Ponder will have opportunity to start for Vikings in 2011

      May 2, 2011 /
      Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier leads his team against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on November 28, 2010. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

      Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has made it clear to the media in Minnesota that first round pick Christian Ponder will have every opportunity to win the starting quarterback job this year.

      “That would be the ideal situation – we’ve got our Matt Ryan, we’ve got our [Joe] Flacco,” Frazier told ESPN 1500 Twin Cities. “But because of the uncertainty of the offseason, it’s just hard to determine exactly how you want to approach it.”

      Translation: If we don’t wind up trading for Donovan McNabb, then the rook will probably start for us next season. (Because hey, who else would start? Patrick Ramsey? Hahahaha…ahhhhhh.)

      After taking Ponder in the first round last Thursday, it seems unlikely that the Vikings would trade for McNabb, but you never know. What they could wind up doing is waiting to see if Washington releases McNabb and then pursuing him on a one-year deal. That way Ponder could sit and learn Bill Musgrave’s offense for a year before taking over in 2012. The only problem with that line of thinking is that you assume McNabb would be fine only taking a one-year deal so that he could groom his eventual replacement.

      While I was just as surprised as anyone when the Vikings selected Ponder in the first round last week, I do think he’s a perfect fit for Minnesota’s offense. Musgrave has been heralded for his work with young quarterbacks and he’ll have the opportunity to show what he can do with Ponder, who was arguably the best West Coast Offense prospect in last weekend’s draft. Musgrave obviously did a great job grooming Ryan in Atlanta and it’s not like Ponder wouldn’t have talent around him if he wound up starting as a rookie. As Frazier pointed out, we’ll just have to wait and see how the rest of the offseason plays out to see if Ponder will have the opportunity to start in ’11.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Tim Tebow to start next year for the Broncos?

      May 2, 2011 /
      Denver Broncos rookie QB Tim Tebow watches the defense play against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on December 19, 2010. Tebow ran for 78 yards and a TD in the Broncos 39-23 loss to the Raiders. UPI/Terry Schmitt

      While he did state that the youngster would compete with Kyle Orton this offseason, Broncos VP John Elway reiterated that he wants Tim Tebow to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2011.

      “I think where we are as an organization, we are going with Tim,” Elway said, this coming after he described himself as being Tebow’s “biggest fan” before the draft last week.

      Tebow appreciated Elway’s comments.

      “To have John Elway say positive things about you is just amazing. He’s played the game at the highest level possible, and I’m excited because he’s going to be a great asset for me.”

      Elway has told Tebow that in order for the Broncos to become Super Bowl champions, the former Heisman winner will have to perfect his throwing motion, improve his accuracy and prove he can win from the pocket. While Elway does believe that Tebow can accomplish these things, he doesn’t want to set a timetable for when it will happen.

      I had my reservations about the Broncos trading back into the first round last year in order to take Tebow. But the kid is a natural winner and a football player through and through. The Broncos don’t ever have to worry about Tebow going the JaMarcus Russell route and not working at his craft. I don’t know Tebow personally but I can envision him on a field somewhere right now throwing to receivers and committing every mistake to memory so that he doesn’t make them again. He’s a tireless worker.

      Of course, just because he’s willing to put in the time doesn’t mean he’ll make stides in order to lead the Broncos to the promise land. But at least he knows he has the organization’s support, which is huge for a young quarterback. Now it’s up to Denver’s new coaching staff to do everything in its power to put Tebow in the right position to succeed.

      External Sports, NFL

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