Tag: 2009 NFL Draft (Page 9 of 26)

      Report: Harvin, Tate tested positive at combine

      April 22, 2009 /

      A report by FOXSports.com states that Florida wide receiver prospect Percy Harvin and North Carolina wideout Brandon Tate each tested positive for marijuana at February’s NFL combine.

      Percy HarvinBefore the test results became official, Harvin was considered a potential first-round pick after leaving the University of Florida following his junior season. Tate was projected as a first or second rounder after a solid college career at North Carolina.

      Joel Segal, the agent who represents both players, didn’t return messages seeking comment.
      Harvin and Tate were the only high-profile players to flunk their combine drug tests, the sources said. Fewer than a dozen players tested positive for recreational drugs, one source said.

      NFL teams received the drug-test results earlier this week. Players who failed are subject to entry into the NFL’s substance-abuse program.

      Some argue that a little pot smoking is no big deal and quite frankly, it isn’t. But it does speak to these guy’s character that at one of the most important junctures in their lives (i.e. the NFL combine), they decided to smoke dope. Not smart.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Lions still planning on signing No. 1 pick before draft

      April 21, 2009 /

      The Detroit Lions fully plan on signing the No. 1 pick before the NFL draft kicks off on Saturday. Who that No. 1 pick will be is the question.

      Martin MayhewGeneral manager Martin Mayhew said today the Lions are “moving forward on getting something done” and there is a “very good” chance they will sign the No. 1 overall pick before the NFL draft starts Saturday.

      “That was our plan,” Mayhew said at his pre-draft news conference. “We talked about that back at the Combine. That’s very important, and we plan on getting something done prior to making that selection.”

      Mayhew said the list of candidates has “narrowed down pretty dramatically.” But he declined to name the candidates or discuss specifics.

      The Lions have been talking to the agents for Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Baylor left tackle Jason Smith and Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry.

      Negotiations are more complex this year because of new rules relating to the last year of the salary cap. The Lions started preliminary negotiations with candidates in March.

      Mayhew said the Lions could agree to the parameters of a deal with multiple players, but ultimately, they would agree to a deal with one player. He said they would make an announcement shortly after agreeing to terms.

      This is nothing new – the Lions have said all along that they wanted to sign the No. 1 pick before the draft. But what is getting ever more interesting is the fact that this pick remains as much of a financial decision as it does drafting the right player. And if this is a financial decision for the Lions, then Aaron Curry should be their pick.

      Curry is the best prospect in the draft, he would be cheaper than Stafford or Smith and he fills a need for Detroit. The only drawback in taking him No. 1 (besides the massive need at quarterback), is the fact that the Lions already have a decent amount of money wrapped up in their linebacker corps already, with former top 10 pick Ernie Sims and newly acquired Julian Peterson on the roster. Plus, even though scouts believe he can play inside, would Curry’s best position be at middle linebacker? Because that’s where he would play for the Lions.

      But again, if the Lions are really putting a lot of stock into the financial hit that they’re about to take then Curry should be their guy.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Seahawks to take Crabtree at No. 4?

      April 21, 2009 /

      Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News seems to believe that the Seahawks will take either USC quarterback Mark Sanchez or Texas Tech wideout Michael Crabtree with the No. 4 pick in this weekend’s draft.

      Vacchiano also had some other interesting tidbits in his “draft hints” article.

      • LSU DE Tyson Jackson will go in the Top 5. Not might. Will. This qualified as the biggest shocker, to me, since almost every mock draft I looked at pegged Jackson to be a mid- to late first-rounder at best. I thought the Top 5 was pretty locked in, too. But, of course, I shouldn’t have doubted Mr. Brandt. I asked around after the show to see if I could confirm it, and sure enough one NFL source I know did tell me he’s heard the Kansas City Chiefs might take Jackson at No. 3, or trade down and take him a few picks later.

      • The Seattle Seahawks, at No. 4, will likely select either Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree or USC QB Mark Sanchez.

      • The Saints, at No. 14, are looking for a big cornerback, and Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins is a good bet to be their guy.

      • The New England Patriots, at No. 23 will take a linebacker.

      • Oklahoma T Phil Loadholt (6-7, 332) will go in the first round of the draft. His teammate, G Duke Robinson (6-5, 330, and the top-rated guard on most boards), will not.

      These are some interesting thoughts and while I don’t disagree with any of Vacchiano’s tidbits, a lot of these seem to be a stretch. Tyson Jackson will definitely go in the top 5? Phil Loadholt will be a first rounder?

      The most noteworthy item in Vacchiano’s article is that the Seahawks will take either Sanchez or Crabtree at No. 4. Taking Sanchez makes sense for Seattle because Matt Hasselbeck is aging and is coming off an injury-plagued season. Crabtree makes sense because even though the Hawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a huge contract this offseason, Housh is 31 and would benefit from having another playmaker on the opposite side of him. (Crabtree would also arguably be the best player available at that spot.)

      But does Seattle really want to sink that much money into one position? Generally speaking, NFL teams don’t like to do that – especially at the wide receiver position. I’m sticking to my guns in saying that Seattle takes offensive lineman Eugene Monroe at that pick, but I’m not shooting down anything Vacchiano wrote.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Will the Chiefs trade Tony Gonzalez by draft weekend?

      April 21, 2009 /

      mill

      One of the more interesting situations that has been brewing for the past couple months is what the Chiefs are going to do with tight end Tony Gonzalez, who appears to desperately want out of Kansas City.

      Since February of this year, several media publications have speculated that Gonzalez has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be a Chief any longer. Yet every time a new rumor hits the web, Gonzo usually denies the claim within a few days.

      But he failed to report to KC’s voluntary minicamp last Saturday and his absence would seem to indicate that he does want out, or else why wouldn’t he be spending this time getting acquainted with new quarterback Matt Cassel? Gonzo is the consummate pro, so even though the workouts are voluntary, one would think that he would want to spend as much time as possible getting in sync with Cassel.

      New GM Scott Pioli has already stated that he doesn’t feel obligated to trade Gonzalez this offseason, yet he might consider it if the right deal comes along this weekend during the draft. Several teams could use Gonzalez’s services, most notably the Falcons (who have already been linked to Gonzo-internet rumors, although they proved to be false), Bills, Jets, Eagles and Browns.

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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Ravens willing to give up first rounder to acquire Boldin

      April 21, 2009 /

      According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens are reportedly willing to give up their first round pick (No. 26 overall) in order to acquire Cardinals’ wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Arizona is asking for a first and a third, but according to the report, the Ravens would also be willing to give up a second round pick and a veteran player.

      My cohort John Paulsen and I got into a discussion recently about whether or not it would be worth it for the Ravens to give up their first round pick in exchange for Boldin. My first question would be: What position(s) is Baltimore targeting at No. 26? They have an obvious need for wideout with Derek Mason turning 35 in January and it appears that Mark Clayton is already at his ceiling in terms of potential. An argument could be made that they need a safety to replace Jim Leonhard (who signed with the Jets this offseason), as well as defensive end to eventually replace Trevor Pryce.

      But if the Ravens have their sights on drafting a receiver at No. 26, then they should definitely trade for Boldin if they have the opportunity. Granted, it might cost them two draft picks in the process, but Boldin is already proven and even though he turns 29 in October, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and has at least four or five more productive years left in the tank. Plus, recent history has shown that receivers aren’t the safest picks in the first round, which also plays into the argument that the Ravens would be better of trading for a sure thing like Boldin.

      Conversely, if Baltimore is targeting another position in the first (i.e. a defensive starter), then they would probably be better served passing on Boldin and keeping their draft picks. Even though it would be nice for Joe Flacco to have a legit No. 1 receiver like Boldin to throw to, defense comes first. Teams like the Steelers, Patriots and Colts are competitive every year because all of them draft well. Even though Boldin would be a sure thing, the Ravens have to trust Ozzie Newsome’s scouting and rely on him to get an eventual starter at No. 26. The Steelers didn’t win two Super Bowls in the last five years because they traded for sure things. They relied on their scouting and built their roster through the draft.

      NFL, NFL Draft

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