Category: NFL (Page 138 of 1282)

      Panthers to take a pass on Cam Newton?

      April 23, 2011 /
      Auburn Tigers quarterback Cam Newton (L) is tackled by Oregon Ducks Kenny Rowe during the second quarter of the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 10, 2011. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Rotoworld.com shares some interesting news about the Panthers and whether or not they may pass on Auburn quarterback Cam Newton:

      Former high-ranking Panthers executive Tony Softli predicts that Carolina will pass on Cam Newton and take Alabama DT Marcell Dareus with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

      “They need defensive linemen. They have for awhile,” says Softli, who also has a history with the Rams. “I really think they’re gonna pass on Cam Newton. … I really believe it’s gonna be the defensive tackle.” While we still take everything with a grain of salt, it’s important to note that Softli’s info has been solid this offseason. He was the first to point out Adrian Clayborn’s Erb Palsy condition, and among the first to explicitly report on Ryan Mallett’s drug use at Arkansas.

      At this point, we can’t rule out anything as it pertains to the draft and who could be selected where. Since the combine, the majority of draft observers have had Newton mocked to the Panthers with the first overall pick – including myself. I don’t see the Panthers taking a defensive tackle at No. 1 overall, but Softli has more insight into the situation than I do so maybe he’s on to something.

      Truth be told, defensive line is a bigger need for Carolina than quarterback. And if they’re not sold on Newton or Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, then why invest all that money into a player that you’re not completely in love with? (Especially when said player is a quarterback?)

      Still though, despite this report I would have to believe that the Panthers will take Newton with the first pick next Thursday. They need to find an impact player with that pick and that’s not to say that Dareus can’t be that type of contributor at some point in his career. But there is no other position on the field that creates as much of an impact as quarterback. And if the Panthers think that Newton can be “the guy,” then there’s no reason not to take him.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Brandon Marshall stabbed by his wife in domestic dispute

      April 23, 2011 /
      Miami Dolphins Brandon Marshall (C), celebrates his touchdown against the New York Jets during third quarter NFL football action in Miami, Florida September 26, 2010. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

      Dolphins’ receiver Brandon Marshall was stabbed in the stomach by his wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, on Saturday and immediately went into intensive care. His wife has been arrested and charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

      Marshall’s agent Kennard McGuire issued a statement on the situation saying: “This is a very difficult time for Brandon and family, thankfully he will make a full recovery,” McGuire said. “We simply ask that his privacy is respected.”

      The 27-year-old apparently needed surgery to repair the wound, but no vital organs were pierced.

      Marshall and his wife are no strangers to domestic violence. Just over two years ago, he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in Atlanta after allegedly getting into a fight with Michi, who was his fiancé at the time. The chargers were dropped the next day, however.

      In a bad twist of irony, I interviewed Marshall right after he turned 27 in March and he expressed excitement that for the first time in several years, he was having a healthy offseason. He told me it was great not to have to recover from any surgeries and that he can concentrate on preparing for the football season instead of preparing for rehab.

      While he likely won’t have to go through rehab, he’ll once again have to recover from another offseason surgery following his stabbing. Further details, including what provoked Nogami-Marshall to stab her husband, are not known at this time.

      Update: Michi Nogami-Marshall has admitted to stabbing Brandon in the abdomen with a kitchen knife, but says her actions were in self-defense. Marshall originally told police that he had slipped and fell on a vase, but apparently the officers weren’t buying the story and took Nogami-Marshall into custody anyway. (Strange, I slip and fall on vases all the time – hard to believe that officers didn’t buy Marshall’s story.)

      External Sports, NFL

      2011 NFL Draft: AFC Team-by-Team Draft Needs

      April 22, 2011 /

      A couple of months ago I did division-by-division draft needs for every team. But now that we’re less than a week away from Roger Goodell taking the stage at Radio City Music Hall, I’ve decided to put together an updated post together on all 32 teams. So below you’ll find team-by-team needs for the AFC, as well as a quick summary for each division. (NFC team needs are coming soon.)

      AFC East

      New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick directs his team against the New York Jets during the third quarter of their AFC Divisional NFL playoff football game in Foxborough, January 16, 2011. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Bills: QB, CB, OT, DE, OLB, TE, S
      Dolphins: RB, C, OG, QB
      Patriots: OT, OG, OLB, RB, DE
      Jets: WR, DE, OLB, OG

      Quick & Dirty Summary: While quarterback is definitely a need for the Bills, they’re more likely to go with the best defensive player on the board at No. 3, which could mean LSU’s Patrick Peterson is headed for upstate New York…There’s a good chance that both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have played their final downs in Miami, so landing a running back in one of the first three rounds almost seems imperative for the Dolphins…With two first round picks, the Patriots could address their lines on both sides of the ball, but knowing Bill Belichick he won’t stand pat and will look to acquire more picks by trading one of those two selections…The Jets have huge decisions to make at receiver, where Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are both free agents. It’s doubtful that Rex Ryan will address the receiver position in Round 1, but you can never tell what’s up his sleeve.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      More positive news on Da’Quan Bowers’ knee

      April 22, 2011 /

      For nearly a month, most of the reports on defensive end prospect Da’Quan Bowers and his surgically repaired knee were negative.

      First came the report that his draft stock was falling. Then there was one that his knee surgery was more serious than Bowers claimed. Then came the rumors that he failed at least two physicals, that he was being removed from multiple teams’ draft boards and finally, that he may need microfracture surgery.

      Oh, and he also turned in a less-than-spectacular effort at Clemson’s Pro Day.

      But finally, with less than a week to go before the first round of the draft, we have some positive news surrounding Bowers’ health.

      Lions’ GM Martin Mayhew and Browns’ GM Tom Heckert both said this week that team doctors have cleared Bowers’ knee. Neither GM went into detail, but there’s now reason to believe that the reports on Bowers over the past month have been overblown.

      “Our doctors have looked at him 100 times,” Heckert said. “He went to the recheck, so we’ve done our due diligence. I don’t want to get into all the medical stuff, but we think his knee is going to be all right.”

      Granted, both Mayhew and Heckert could be misleading the media and, in turn, other teams as well. If you’re a GM and you know you’re not going to draft someone, make sure you have nothing but positive things to say about that prospect. You want other teams thinking that you’re going to snag a player that they want so there’s at least a possibility that you can trade and potentially acquire more picks.

      But hey, that said: here’s hoping Bowers’ knee is fine and he’s still a top-10, or at least a top-15 selection. He’s a great prospect and could wind up being a steal depending on where he’s taken.

      News, NFL, NFL Draft

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