Category: NFL (Page 476 of 1282)

      NFL to change overtime format for playoffs?

      March 1, 2010 /

      The NFL is considering a change of its overtime format for future playoff games.

      From ESPN.com:

      Under the new format, both teams would get the ball at least once unless the first team to get the ball scores a touchdown, Greg Aiello said. If the first team to get the ball makes a field goal and the other team ties the game, action would continue until a team scores again.

      The debate about the rules gained steam after the NFC championship game, when New Orleans beat Minnesota 31-28 in overtime and Brett Favre’s Vikings never got the ball in the extra period. Under the proposed rule, Minnesota would have gotten another possession because the Vikings didn’t allow a touchdown.

      John Paulsen and I recently debated what the best way would be to revamp the NFL overtime system, which you can check out here. He likes the idea of a blind auction, which would certainly be fair for both sides and add more intrigue than the coin toss. I wrote that I would be all for it as long as the process didn’t turn into a game show at midfield.

      That said, I’m also fine with a coin toss. Is it thrilling? No. Is it fair that one team can win without the other team even touching the ball? Probably not. But it’s simple and it’s tradition. The game is the thrilling part – I don’t need anything more elaborate than a coin toss to determine which team gets the ball first. And if more defenses rose to the challenge and stopped their opponent from scoring (which is the whole point of a defense in the first place) on the first possession in the extra quarter, then we might not be having this debate at all.

      If the NFL wants to change its overtime format, then I won’t be appalled or angry. But just make a decision and be done with it, because this is beginning to be a tired topic. I have a bigger issue with the fact that it took Brett Favre not getting a possession in last year’s NFC title game for the league to sit down and talk about a rule change. Why doesn’t the NFL just change its name to the Brett Favre League and be done with it. The “BFL” it is.


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      NFL

      Are the Browns targeting Joe Haden?

      March 1, 2010 /

      Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that Florida cornerback Joe Haden could be a perfect complement to Eric Wright in the Browns’ secondary. ESPN’s Mel Kiper agrees.

      ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Browns will take Haden in his current mock draft, compiled before the Combine.

      “Joe Haden makes the most sense, in terms of value,” Kiper said on a conference call. “We don’t know if he’s going to be Darrelle Revis [of the Jets] or [Oakland’s] Nnamdi Asomugha. They’re the two best cover corners in the NFL right now. They didn’t [get drafted] in the top 10. But Haden will.

      “Haden has potential to be an elite corner. He’s a complete corner, effective on the blitz, outstanding in coverage.”
      “I haven’t done a lot of work on him yet, but obviously he’s highly regarded, so we’ll look seriously at him,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said at the Combine.

      Browns General Manager Tom Heckert has studied him enough to be impressed.

      “He’s a heckuva football player,” said Heckert. “He’s one of the top corners, if not the top corner in the draft. He’s played at a big-time program and they won a lot of games. He’s going to go early.”

      Some people absolutely love Haden and say that he’s the safest pick in the top 10. Others, like the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, believe he’s a borderline top-ten pick and that there’s some concern about Haden’s forty time. (Haden ran a 4.34 in high school, but Mayock says that he might only run a 4.52 or 4.55.)

      That said, there’s no question that Haden is the top corner in this year’s draft and reminds me of Darrelle Revis. He racked up a ton of experience playing against top competition while at Florida and he has the ability to be a shutdown corner if he can develop. While having a good forty is important for defensive backs, it’s not everything and I doubt that teams would pass on him just because he ran a slower time (although if molasses beats him, then there could be a problem).

      He seems like a perfect fit for the Browns.


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      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

      Cromartie to be traded to Lions soon?

      March 1, 2010 /

      Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee wrote on his Twitter page that Antonio Cromartie “has almost certainly played his last game for the Chargers” and also notes that the cornerback could be traded to the Lions soon.

      It’s been rumored for a little over a week now that the Bolts would want a running back in return for Cromartie, which would make the Lions an odd fit seeing as how they don’t have any outside of Kevin Smith. And Smith isn’t going anywhere, so it’ll be interesting to see what the Lions would give up in return for the 25-year-old cornerback.

      Cromartie isn’t a fit for the zone scheme, which is what the Chargers used most of last year. The Lions use more press coverage under defensive coordinator Gunter Cunningham, which would allow Cromartie to use his strengths more by getting his hands on receivers early. But what the compensation would be for Cromartie is the question. He’s also only signed through 2010, so the Lions might try to work out a long-term deal before they acquire him.

      Another issue that has come under question is Cromartie’s character. He’s only 25-years old, but has at least seven children with six different women in five states. He hasn’t played as well over the past couple of years for the Chargers to put up with his baggage, so the Lions (or any other team for that matter) might get the corner on the cheap.

      We’ll see if this story develops.


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      NFL

      Teams concerned about Bryant’s behavior?

      February 28, 2010 /

      Yahoo Sports’ Jason Cole writes that teams might be concerned about NFL draft prospect Dez Bryant given his behavior while at Oklahoma State.

      Three sources with direct knowledge of Bryant from his days in college, where he missed the final 10 games last season because of lying to NCAA investigators, said Bryant’s antics were “consistently irresponsible.”

      “I wouldn’t draft that kid unless I had someone to wake him up in the morning to get to meetings, someone to wake him up for practice and someone to wake him up for games,” one source said.

      A second source said Bryant’s reputation was earned because he was consistently late to team activities. That included showing up late for games.

      “We’re not just talking about being a little late for warmups, but like being late for the actual game,” a source said with a chuckle. “When you start to hear some of the stories of there, you go, ‘He did what?’ ”

      If I were a NFL GM, coach or owner, I’d have a hard time paying a player millions of dollars when he couldn’t handle responsibility in college. I understand we’re talking about kids in their young 20s and a lot of players do mature when they get to the pros. But what makes anyone think that Bryant will act appropriately after he gets paid?

      That said, he is a great talent and there are plenty of coaches in the NFL that know how to work with a player that needs a kick in the rear. Organizations like the Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Eagles and Packers have proven that with a good support system, most players can develop into responsible men off the field.

      There was plenty of bad press about Michael Crabtree and his diva attitude last year and after his contract situation was settled, he turned out to be a solid rookie. I’m willing to bet that Mike Singletary had a lot to do with that and I’m sure Bryant will get the wake up call he apparently needs if he winds up with a good organization.


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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Clausen expects to be healthy for pro day

      February 28, 2010 /

      Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen expects to be ready to work out for his pro day on April 9 after having surgery to repair a toe injury. This goes against what the NFL Network’s Charley Casserly reported yesterday when he said that Clausen is unlikely to get a full workout in before April’s draft.

      From the Chicago Tribune:

      “I went through (the medical) process yesterday,” Clausen said. “It took quite a bit of time. They said it looks really good and it’s healing. They told me to take my time and not push it too much.

      “That is what I am shooting for (to do everything at his pro day) and that is what the doctor told me.”

      Clausen says he injured the toe against Michigan State on September 19 and played the rest of the season taking painkillers.

      It’s interesting that three of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft – Clausen, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy – are all dealing with injury concerns. While teams will definitely want to see him throw, Clausen is in good shape because his injury is foot-related and not arm-related like Bradford and McCoy’s. Clausen should be fine by OTAs.

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      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

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