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Athlete Profile: Everette Brown

As a society, we’re always trying out the next new thing; well, not so much “new” as a combination of the old stuff we already like. They don’t always work out (Mustardayonnaise? Sparks Malt Beverage?), but we can get a great hybrid off the line every once in the while.

Most people get a look at Everette Brown’s size and speed and see what could be the first true defensive end/ linebacker to make it in the NFL. Take something more than a glance at the man, and you’ll see a hybrid of a different kind: a top-tier athlete who graduated early and still found time to do endless volunteer work. That kind of work ethic is going to be what makes him something special in the pros, and it’s that same thing that has gotten him this far already.

So where did he start out? Well, Brown was born in the small town of Stantonsburg, NC, and went to Beddingfield High School. While there, Brown started compiling some serious numbers and by his senior year he was the top defensive lineman in North Carolina, the third weakside defensive end in the country, and was ranked 78th in the nation overall. His senior year alone, Brown has 16 sacks and 120 tackles. But rather than rest on the bench, Brown iron-manned it as a tight end, catching 40 passes for 770 yards with 10 touchdowns.

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Lions to trade No. 1 overall pick?

Lions’ GM Martin Mayhew says he’s open to trading the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.

Martin MayhewWhen asked specifically about Jay Cutler and if Mayhew would consider trading the top pick for the unhappy Broncos quarterback, he didn’t shoot down the idea.

“We’re open to all options with that pick,” Mayhew said during a break at the NFL Annual Meeting.

“Obviously, it has value to us, and if it has value to somebody else, then we can talk about that.”

On Sunday, Lions president Tom Lewand told Tom Kowalski of Booth Newspapers in Lansing, Mich., that the team was looking forward to discussions with “agents of players we’re interested in.” Speculation elsewhere has identified the Lions’ leading candidate as Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith.

Before Lion fans start doing back flips about the possibility of trading out of the No. 1 slot in hopes to acquire more draft picks and essentially get better value for their selections, trading out of the top spot isn’t like shopping for toilet paper. It’s just not that easy – especially when there isn’t an elite prospect that multiple teams are after. (I know Aaron Curry is a stud, but he’s still not a prospect that multiple teams are going to trip over in trying to trade for the No. 1 pick.)

The last time the No. 1 overall pick was successfully traded was in 2001 when the Chargers dealt the top selection to the Falcons for the 5th overall pick, a third round pick and a second round pick in 2002. But Atlanta wanted Michael Vick and didn’t know if he would slide to No. 5 if they waited. Guys like Curry, Matthew Stafford, Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe aren’t going to garner that kind of attention, so I would imagine that the Lions will still be drafting out of that slot come next month.

Wife of Pirates’ player implicated in infant abduction

In one of the more bizarre stories of the week, Pirates’ 20-year old outfielder Jose Tabata’s wife was questioned Tuesday on charges of taking an infant and could be charged with false imprisonment.

Amalia Tabata Pereira, 43, allegedly abducted the infant Monday afternoon and reportedly turned the child in to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon. The girl is safe, police said.

“I was shocked to be told today that my wife has been arrested for kidnapping,” Tabata said in a statement. “I am hurt, frustrated and confused by her actions. I have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials in any way that I can. Until I have all of the facts, I cannot comment any further.”

The suspect married the 20-year-old Pirates Minor League outfielder in January 2008, according to Hillsborough County records. Tabata came to the Pirates last summer from the Yankees in the Xavier Nady trade. He is currently in Minor League camp in Bradenton, Fla.

The baby, Sandra Cruz-Francisco, was taken from her mother, Rosa Sirilo-Francisco, at about 3 p.m. on Monday by a woman her family simply knew as “Janet,” Plant City police told The AP.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Sirilo-Francisco took the baby to the Plant City Health Department for a checkup and met “Janet,” who claimed to be an immigration official and told the mother that immigration officers were waiting at her home to deport her and the baby’s father to Mexico. “Janet” said she would help the parents, but she needed to take the baby.

The Tribune reports that the two women then drove the baby to a farm where the baby’s father works, where “Janet” relayed the same story to him. Soon after, the mother gave “Janet” the baby. This story has yet to be confirmed by Plant City police, according to The AP.

This is one hell of a story and while I have many questions, my first is – what is a 20-year old doing marrying a 43-year old? Freaking strange.

Shaun Rogers reports to offseason program

Even though he stated at one point this offseason that he would like the Browns to release him, nose tackle Shaun Rogers reported to Cleveland’s workout program after skipping the first week of conditioning.

Shaun RogersBrowns nose tackle Shaun Rogers is participating in the Browns off-season program this week after skipping last week’s opening sessions while he resolved his differences with coach Eric Mangini.

Rogers is seen shaking hands with another teammate before starting his workout. The video comes a day after Browns General Manager George Kokinis said at the NFL owner’s meetings that Rogers and Mangini had a “good conversation.” He also said, “The communication is ongoing now and I think that’s being cleaned up.”

Kokinis said Rogers intended to fulfill “his contractual obligations,” and that “whatever weight” he wanted to play at was fine with Kokinis because he dominated last season.

Rogers, who made his third Pro Bowl last season, had been miffed about two perceived snubs by Mangini and a mandate to show up for the off-season program in shape. He asked the Browns to release him and not pay him his $6 million bonus due last week, but the Browns made it clear they had no intentions of doing so. Apparently, the matter has been resolved or is well on its way to being settled.

This is real good news for the Browns and it looks like a potential disaster has been avoided (at least for now). Rogers was an absolute stud last year and could do very well in Mangini’s 3-4 defense. Mangini needs him on the field and so do the Browns.

2009 MLB Preview: #13 St. Louis Cardinals

Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The biggest move the Cardinals made this offseason was acquiring former Padres’ shortstop Khalil Greene, who the club hopes will bring a little pop to the lineup. St. Louis also added pitchers Trever Miller and Dennys Reyes, the latter of which posted a 2.23 ERA in 46 1/3 innings last season in Minnesota.

Top Prospect: Colby Rasmus, OF
Rasmus isn’t just the Cardinals’ top prospect – he’s one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Although St. Louis is expected to go with Chris Duncan as their starting left fielder, Rasmus’ potential is going to force him onto the field in 2009. The 22-year old isn’t expected to produce a high average right away, but he flashes good power and speed, while his defense is above average as well. Rasmus is a stud prospect and could become a household name in the next couple years.

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