Category: NFL Draft (Page 40 of 101)

McCoy a perfect 58-of-58 passing on Pro Day

Sam Bradford wasn’t the only one that was impressive during workouts this week, as Texas quarterback Colt McCoyturned some heads Wednesday at his Pro Day.

From NFL.com:

Colt McCoy might not have the strong arm that Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford displayed earlier in the week, but that shouldn’t detract from a fine performance in front of scouts from 30 NFL teams (the Lions and Rams were the only teams not in attendance).

Of the 58 passes that McCoy threw at Texas’ pro day Wednesday, none hit the ground. McCoy connected on every pass to his four receivers — Texas’ Jordan Shipley, ex-Longhorns WR Brian Carter, Bengals WR Quan Cosby and former Rams WR Nate Jones — none of whom dropped a single pass.

McCoy kept all of his workout numbers from last month’s NFL Scouting Combine, and he didn’t do any individual drills. However, the consensus was that he had really good feet and moved around well while throwing the ball.

If I were a GM, I wouldn’t hesitate drafting McCoy in the middle rounds based on the offensive scheme I run. He’s a class act, a hard worker, a good kid and he’s a student of the game. Is he the best quarterback prospect in this year’s draft? No. Are there question marks surrounding his game? Absolutely – starting with the fact that he doesn’t have a strong arm and played out of the shotgun in college.

But while I wouldn’t classify him as a franchise quarterback, McCoy could do very well as a backup or fill in starter at the next level. He’s an athletic player and a very accurate passer. Again, he doesn’t have the strongest arm but he knows where he wants to go with the ball and usually delivers passes on time. He might be an ideal fit for the West Coast Offense and he certainly improved his draft stock with his performance today.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

Dez Bryant lashes out at critics

After being criticized for forgetting his cleats and testing slow in two 40-yard-dash runs yesterday at a private workout for NFL scouts, Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant lashed out in an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday.

From USA Today:

“I’m not the type of person that will try to confront somebody but now I feel like it’s gone too far. It’s gone too far,” Bryant said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I ain’t never got in trouble with nobody. I never said anything. I don’t say anything wrong to nobody. I’m friendly. This here is too far.

“What is this? Y’all don’t want me to go to the NFL or something? It’s going to happen,” Bryant said. “It is going to happen. God blessed me to have this ability to play this game.

“I haven’t did anything wrong to nobody.”

“What do this got to do with me playing football? Even if I did forget my cleats, what do that have to do with me playing football? I don’t think it has anything to do with me playing football.”

I don’t know about anyone else, but if I were about to work out for pro scouts, I would have made sure that I wore my cleats to bed the night before. I would have forgotten to put my underwear on before I forgot my cleats. It’s like a surgeon forgetting his scalpel the day of surgery.

Maybe the criticism has gone too far, but perception is often reality. While he was at Oklahoma State, there were reports that Bryant skipped meetings and classes and even showed up late for games. Then the NCAA suspended him for almost the entire 2009 season because he lied to investigators about his interaction with Deion Sanders. Then, amidst rumors that he was out of shape, he didn’t work out at the Combine or at OSU’s Pro Day and forgot his cleats yesterday for a private workout.

So what does Bryant expect people to think? He has done nothing to change the perception that he’s mature or that he’s willing to change his rep. He needs to slow down, put in the work and then let everything else take care of itself.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

Redskins, Jaguars among teams that could be interested in Jimmy Clausen

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Jaguars and Redskins have each scheduled private workouts in South Bend with Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Washington holds the fourth overall pick in April’s draft, while Jacksonville has the 10th.

It’s no secret that Redskins’ owner Daniel Snyder would rather cut off one of his ears than watch Jason Campbell take another snap under center in Washington, while Jaguars’ head coach Jack Del Rio went as far as to say that David Garrard wasn’t a “Super Bowl-caliber” quarterback in early February. Needless to say, both teams would like to upgrade their quarterback situation sometime in the near future.

What the Redskins do at No. 4 may ultimately depend on what the Rams and Lions do at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. If the Rams draft Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, then Sam Bradford will be available for the Redskins at No. 4. If St. Louis takes Bradford, then Clausen will definitely slip to No. 4. If the Lions pass on offensive tackle Russell Okung at No. 2, then it may come down to Okung and Clausen for the Redskins.

Continue reading »

Is Dez Bryant’s stock dropping?

When most scouts watch film of Dez Bryant’s 2007 or 2008 season, they see an elite receiver worthy of a top 10 pick. But given his 2009 suspension and rumored “diva attitude,” teams are reluctant to take him that high.

Bryant didn’t improve his draft status on Tuesday during his Pro Day workout. He forgot his cleats and reportedly slipped during the forty-yard dash while posting a time of 4.52. He also ran a 4.68 on another attempt, which is obviously on the slow side (that’s putting it mildly) for a receiver that is regarded as an elite prospect. I don’t know what’s worse – his slow times or the fact that he forgets his cleats to such an important day.

The Broncos, who hold the 11th overall pick, have been linked to Bryant in a couple of reports. There’s a notion that once Denver trades Brandon Marshall, they’ll take Bryant in the first round to help fill their need for another playmaking receiver. On the surface, it makes sense.

That said, Bryant certainly didn’t help his draft stock today. He already sat out both the Combine and Oklahoma State’s March 10 Pro Day and pushed back his private workout from March 25 to March 30. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock believes that Bryant is the third best overall prospect in the draft, but there’s no guarantee that he won’t fall in the first round.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

Report: Bradford won’t sign with the Rams before the draft

According to a report by ProFootballTalk.com, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford may refuse to sign a pre-draft contract with the Rams in order to gain more leverage in negotiations.

If Bradford declines to agree to terms before being picked, and if the Rams ultimately don’t select him, Bradford would slide to the Redskins at No. 4, at worst. (He also could end up going second or third, if a team that needs a quarterback moves up.) Operating from the four hole, Bradford likely would then attempt to invoke the so-called “quarterback premium” in the hopes of getting more than the first overall pick, just as Matt Ryan did from the third spot two years ago.

If the Rams pick Bradford without a contract in place, the leverage then flips to the player, with the Rams compelled to get the guy signed in the hopes of justifying the pick and turning around a franchise that seems far longer than a decade removed from a Super Bowl win.

It’s important to keep in mind that PFT.com never cites their sources, so take this report with a grain of salt. They’re hit and miss with their reports, but since I’m dying for anything football-related, I’ll allow myself to get sucked into their vortex for a report like this.

If Bradford wants to start next season, the best thing for him to do is sign a pre-draft contract. That would ensure that he wouldn’t hold out and he would be in camp on time. If he does choose not to sign, then there’s a chance the Rams will pass on him and then he’ll risk losing a little bit of money by falling in the top 5. Either that, or the Rams will still draft him and then a holdout could ensue.

Personally, I would feel fortunate just to be selected with the top overall pick and I would sign a fair deal before the draft. But then again, I’m not in his shoes so I have no idea what other factors he’s dealing with. Either way, it’s safe to say that he’ll go in the top 5 and will be the first quarterback taken in April.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

« Older posts Newer posts »