Category: NFL (Page 759 of 1282)

      Jay Cutler traded to Bears

      April 2, 2009 /

      Several media outlets are reporting that the Broncos have traded quarterback Jay Cutler to the Bears in exchange for first round picks in 2009 and 2010, a third round pick in 2009 and Kyle Orton. Denver will also give up an undisclosed draft choice in the later rounds.

      It’s amazing how this entire situation unraveled. Two months ago there wasn’t a peep about a potential Cutler trade and now he’s set to become a Bear. One has to wonder whether Cutler wanted out as soon as Denver fired Mike Shanahan and when he saw an opening (i.e. Josh McDaniels’ supposed interest in former Patriots’ quarterback Matt Cassel), he took it and ran with it.

      Even though they gave up a king’s ransom to acquire him, Chicago fans have to be ecstatic. They get a young quarterback with plenty of starting experience and one that has a strong arm to play in poor, late-season weather conditions. The bottom line is that the Bears haven’t had a reliable quarterback in nearly 20 seasons and now they have one who has the potential to succeed. Two first round picks are a steep price, but as I wrote yesterday, GM Jerry Angelo was probably going to blow those picks anyway (Chris Williams instead of Branden Albert, Jerry? Really?!) so Chicago might as well get a franchise-type quarterback instead.

      Another note about the compensation, you have to remember that Cutler is a young quarterback with starting experience and who was sought after by multiple teams. And when you factor in how weak the quarterback class is this year, any team that wanted Cutler was going to have to give up several high draft picks like the Bears eventually did.

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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Packers to trade Aaron Kampman?

      April 2, 2009 /

      YAHOO! Sports.com suggests that the Packers could trade defensive end/outside linebacker Aaron Kampan.

      7. Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman – This is going to be considered heresy by some Packers fans, particularly since Kampman recorded 37 sacks over the past three seasons. However, in switching to the 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Dom Capers, the Packers have put in a system where Kampman is going to be extremely limited. In short, Kampman is a high-motor athlete who operates best when he can attack a right offensive tackle from a three-point stance, using his initial burst and knowledge of hand techniques. When the Packers put Kampman out farther on the edge in a 3-4, his skills will be diminished. Furthermore, he’s never dropped into coverage on a regular basis, so that’s going to be a shock. Unless the Packers find a way to highlight Kampman’s strengths in some other way, he just doesn’t work in this system.

      Considering the Packers have done next to nothing to address their switch to a 3-4, I highly doubt that they would trade Kampman. I agree that he isn’t an ideal fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, but Green Bay GM Ted Thompson has sat on his ass so far in free agency so I doubt Kampman is going anywhere.

      The Packers are thin along the defensive line (they need a true 3-4 defensive end to play opposite Cullen Jenkins) and at linebacker, so it doesn’t make sense for them to create another hole by dealing Kampman.

      NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Report: Draft prospect Raji failed drug test at combine

      April 2, 2009 /

      SI.com is reporting that Boston College defensive tackle prospect B.J. Raji failed a drug test at the NFL scouting combine in February.

      B.J. RajiAccording to the NFL’s drug policy, a positive test for street drugs, which includes marijuana, puts a player into the initial stage of the NFL’s drug program. He’s then subject to random testing and subject to a fine or suspension if he tests positive again.

      How this affects Raji’s draft grade remains to be seen. He missed the 2007 college season with academic issues, returned to Boston College and had a terrific senior campaign, recording eight sacks and 42 tackles, with 16 tackles for loss. He was a dominant force during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl and continued his momentum up draft boards after turning in good combine and pro-day workouts. His performances the past three months have some scouts believing he’ll be taken in the top third of the first round of the April 25 draft.

      One source familiar with the positive drug test assessed Raji’s draft prospects by saying, “It’s a roll of the dice. If Raji stays clean and plays to his potential, you could have a dominant defensive lineman on your team. Then again, it does nobody any good if the kid is on the sidelines serving a suspension for a failed test.”

      As the article notes, Warren Sapp tested positive for drugs before the 1995 draft and obviously he turned out just fine. But this obviously is horrible timing for Raji, whose draft stock couldn’t have been higher following excellent pre-draft workouts. My guess is that he’ll still be selected in the top 15, but this no doubt raises some red flags about his character.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Mark Sanchez excellent at USC Pro Day

      April 2, 2009 /

      Quarterback Mark Sanchez is making a strong case to be selected in the top 10 (or thereabouts) after dazzling at USC’s Pro Day.

      The consensus at USC on Wednesday was that Sanchez had an excellent performance in front of a full house that included NFL scouts and coaches, family and friends, and even a few fans in the stands. He showed balance, solid footwork and most importantly, accuracy on all of his throws.

      He estimated that he threw about 80 passes — a strong number for a pro day workout.
      There were even whispers that Sanchez’s pro day was better than that of Georgia’s Matt Stafford. Again, whispers. But Sanchez was confident and effortless, and did nothing but help himself.

      “I think he showed better arm strength than people generally give him,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “He’s not Stafford, he’s not [Kansas State’s Josh] Freeman; but his arm is every bit as good as Matt Ryan’s. And as Matt Ryan showed this year, when you’re accurate and you show good anticipation, a good arm is good enough. That’s what Matt is, and that’s what Mark Sanchez is. What he showed is consistency.”

      Mayock makes a great point about arm strength. Two years ago everyone marveled at how JaMarcus Russell could throw a 60-yard pass while sitting down. But having that much arm strength doesn’t amount to much if you’re only completing 53.8 percent of your passes, which is what Russell did last year.

      The one big knock on Ryan last year was that he lacked elite arm strength. Yet he proved last year that he can complete all of the NFL throws and he showed great touch on the deep ball. As long as Sanchez can do the same thing, it doesn’t necessarily matter if he doesn’t have the arm strength of Matthew Stafford or Josh Freeman. The key is whether or not Sanchez (or any of the quarterbacks for that matter) have the mental makeup in order to succeed at the next level. Ryan and Joe Flacco did and that’s why they succeeded.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Cutler to be traded to Redskins soon?

      April 2, 2009 /

      Here’s he latest on the Jay Cutler trade situation from ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen:

      • The Redskins are acting with urgency in their pursuit of Cutler but it doesn’t appear the Broncos have interest in Jason Campbell. Consequently, even while the Redskins may be willing to offer two first-rounders for Cutler, they are trying to gauge interest elsewhere for Campbell. If the Broncos do deal with the Redskins, it would give them control of the 12th and 13th picks in the draft.

      • The Lions are interested in Cutler and would be willing to send the Broncos the first pick in the draft. But the Broncos don’t want it. Rather, the Broncos would ask for the Lions’ second first-round pick (No. 20) and possibly their second-rounder (No. 33), or another first-round pick in 2010. The Lions don’t believe they can financially bear the burden of paying for the first pick in this year’s draft, as well as sign Cutler to a contract extension.

      • The Jets and Buccaneers also are involved in talks with the Broncos.

      • The Panthers have some level of interest and are not opposed to including defensive end Julius Peppers in trade discussions. However, even though the Broncos have a need for a player of Peppers’ caliber, they are reluctant because signing Peppers to a new contract, a necessity to complete a trade with Carolina, is cost-prohibitive for the team.

      Mortensen is also reporting that a Cutler trade could happen by as early as Friday of this week, with Washington being the top landing spot for him. According to the Washington Post, the Redskins recently offered quarterback Jason Campbell to an undisclosed team for a second-round pick. But nobody knows if that report is accurate and if it was, who the other team involved was.

      If you’re a gambler, I’ll update the Jay Cutler trade odds for you below:

      Redskins 5/1
      Lions 12/1
      Jets 20/1
      Bucs 20/1
      Panthers 50/1
      Field 8/1

      Feel free to place your bets at any of our non-existent sports books here at The Scores Report.

      NFL

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