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

      March 30, 2010 /

      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.


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      NFL, NFL Draft

      C.J. Spiller to go in the top 10?

      March 30, 2010 /

      Clemson product C.J. Spiller is highly regarded as the best running back prospect in this year’s draft. But even though he carries that moniker, many draft pundits have been reluctant to view him as a top 10 selection.

      That may have changed, however, as ProFootballTalk.com reported yesterday that teams are contemplating moving up into the top 10 in order to draft Spiller. Per the report, there are rumors that the Dolphins or Giants could trade up in order to get their hands on the tremendous athlete.

      Shedding more light on the subject, apparently Spiller has accepted an invitation to New York to attend the first round. The NFL always does extensive research on players before inviting them, so there’s a good chance that Spiller will be taken off the board early.

      If no team trades into the top 10, the Seahawks at No. 6 might be candidates to nab him early.


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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Bosh (kind of) discusses summer plans

      March 29, 2010 /

      Chris Bosh answered questions from the South Florida Sun Sentinel about the chances that he lands in Miami this this summer.

      He knows Wade “a little bit, not a lot,” he said. So scratch the friendship angle.

      “It’s nice here, but there are a lot of nice places,” he said. So scratch the South Florida angle.

      “Winning,” Bosh said when asked what his decision will hinge on. “I’m fortunate enough to have enough money. After seven years in the league, I want to play on a contender.”

      The Miami Herald has more about how well Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh know each other.

      “I know Dwyane a little bit, not a lot,” Bosh said. “We haven’t spent that much time outside of USA Basketball. People always are going to look for some kind of connection. That’s understandable. People are going to try to make things up. There is always going to be speculation. So I’ll let everybody write their stories and keep going about my business.”

      Bosh also said that he expected it to take a while for the big names to make up their minds.

      `I think it’s going to drag out for a while,” Bosh said before Sunday’s game against the Heat. “There are so many possibilities and scenarios, with guys staying with their own teams and trying to get other guys [to sign].

      “You have to look at combinations and possibilities of what could happen. So I don’t expect it to be over too quickly.”

      First off, this sure sounds like a guy who’s leaving town, doesn’t it?

      There’s still a feeling that Toronto could swing a sign-and-trade for Bosh, so that he can sign for an extra season and more money, but that would require enough in the way of assets to get Toronto to bite. Why would Bosh bother to agree to such a scenario when it would only fleece his new team of their draft picks and/or young players? That would hurt his new team’s championship chances, correct?

      The only scenario I can see at the moment is the Lakers. If Bosh wants to play in L.A. with Kobe, the Lakers could send Andrew Bynum to Toronto in return. However, Bynum’s long history of injury is only getting longer.

      I still stand by my prediction that Bosh is going to walk and the Raptors will get nothing in return.


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      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Bucks to benefit even more from Salmons trade

      March 29, 2010 /

      Admittedly, I wasn’t a big believer in Milwaukee’s decision to trade for John Salmons, but after his terrific play has ignited the Bucks’ recent run — 16-4 since the trade, with Salmons leading the teams in scoring 10 times — it doesn’t bother me that the Bulls will have enough cap space this summer to sign a max free agent. Salmons’ positive impact already outweighs whatever might happen this summer.

      I’ve been keeping an eye on the aforementioned Bulls, because as a throw-in to the Salmons trade, the Bucks have the right to swap picks if Chicago picks outside of the top 10. The Bulls have won two straight, and are now sitting at 35-38, just a half game back of the Raptors for the #8 spot in the East. More importantly for the Bucks, Chicago is sitting in the #12 spot in terms of the draft, and outside of the Hornets (34-40), no one is going to slip past them.

      What does this mean? Well, barring a complete meltdown by the Bulls, the Bucks will be able to swap picks, meaning that they’ll move up from their current position (#18) into the #11-#15 range. Per the mock draft at DraftExpress, that’s the difference between Baylor’s Ekpe Udoh and Marshall’s Hassan Whiteside.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Donovan McNabb to be a Raider soon?

      March 29, 2010 /

      ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that “all the ingredients” for a trade are in place between the Eagles and Raiders involving quarterback Donovan McNabb.

      Of all the teams the Eagles have spoken with, the Raiders have been the most willing to meet the Eagles’ asking price. Last week, The Associated Press reported that the Eagles want a pick in the top 42 of the 2010 draft for McNabb. Oakland has a second-round pick that is the 39th overall selection.

      Also, the sources say McNabb’s contract, which has one year and $11.2 million left on it, has scared off other teams. But, the sources say, Oakland is not concerned that McNabb is due a $6.2 million roster bonus on May 5 nor that the quarterback is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2010 season.

      There also are connections between the Raiders and McNabb. Raiders owner Al Davis and McNabb each went to Syracuse, and Oakland’s new offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson, is a distant cousin of McNabb’s.

      I’m a huge supporter of McNabb and I think on the right team, he’s a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. For whatever reason the Eagles have failed to live up to expectations with him under center, but I’m not one of those that believes McNabb deserves most of the blame for their postseason struggles. He’s a good quarterback and while he’s not a miracle worker, he can lift a team with his play.

      That said, this would be another unnecessary move in a history of unnecessary moves by owner Al Davis. The Raiders are several quality pieces away from becoming a playoff contender, so it doesn’t make sense for them to give up a second round pick and $11.2 million to have McNabb on their roster for one year. I could be wrong, but I highly doubt he would sign an extension to stay in Oakland given that his career is winding down. Chances are, he’d jet as soon as his contract expires at the end of the 2010 season.

      I applaud teams that take initiative when it comes to acquiring talent in order to build a competitive roster. But this move makes little sense for the Raiders outside of the fact that they need a quarterback. I’m not suggesting that they would be better off with JaMarcus Russell or Bruce Gradkowski. But I am saying that this would eventually be a fruitless trade for them (outside of maybe selling more tickets) given McNabb’s contract situation and desire to sign with a contender after 2010. Long-term it doesn’t make any sense and the bottom line is that the Raiders just aren’t one Donovan McNabb away from competing.


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      NFL

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