NFL Draft Coverage 2011
 

Within hours of the NFL telling teams they could begin to open their facilities to players, the Detroit Lions scheduled their first organized team activities of 2011. The NFL agency X-A-M Sports, which represents at least one Lions player, spread the word on Twitter that Lions players have been told to report for a team…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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On second thought, Pats aren?t trading up for Cameron Jordan
 

How about this for some Worldwide Leader-on-Worldwide Leader crime? ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported earlier today that the New England Patriots are trying to trade up to No. 9 with the Dallas Cowboys, the Pats targeting Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan. According to both Michael Smith of ESPN and Adam Schefter of ESPN, the trade isn’t…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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De Smith hints that draft will be attacked
 

At a time when the NFLPA* is insisting that lawyer Jeffrey Kessler doesn’t want to take away the NFL’s version of Christmas, it remains to be seen whether NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith truly digs it. In an interview with Jeremy Schaap of ESPN, Smith did nothing to credibly dispel the notion that the draft…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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DeMaurice Smith: ?This is a great day for this country?
 

For a few hours on a rainy draft day afternoon in Manhattan, the epicenter of the football world was in the W Hotel. Once we got past the glass waterfalls in the lobby and the house music in the elevator, we witnessed a sense of triumph among the NFLPA* leaders and NFL veterans in attendance.…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Andy Dalton could be this year?s surprise top-10 pick
 

Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars surprised everyone by taking defensive tackle Tyson Alualu with the 10th pick in the draft. So who could raise eyebrows this year? Keep an eye on TCU quarterback Andy Dalton.* Peter King of SI.com already has reported that Dalton (and Jake Locker) will be top-2o picks.* For Dalton, the zone…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Mort: 99.9 percent chance that Cam Newton will be the top pick
 

With fewer than three hours to go until the 2011 draft commences, the specific plans of the Carolina Panthers are unknown. But Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that there’s a 99.9 percent chance that the Panthers will use the first pick in the draft on quarterback Cam Newton. It makes sense.* The Panthers needs a…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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NFLPA* on the future of the draft: ?Jeffrey Kessler is not going to ruin Christmas?
 

In this upside down NFL, we know one thing for certain: There will be a draft for the next three nights. The future of the NFL Draft is a little less certain. * I attended the NFLPA* draft event Thursday afternoon in Times Square and asked NFLPA* spokesman George Atallah about the future of the…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Jay Glazer says Falcons are serious about trade up
 

SI.com’s Peter King reported Wednesday that the Atlanta Falcons were contemplating a trade up for one of the draft’s top two wide receivers — A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones from Alabama. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution*has attempted to downplay the rumor, but FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer is now essentially reporting the same thing as King.…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Boxing suspension for Tom Zbikowski rescinded
 

Tom Zbikowski is back in the good graces of boxing. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Chickasaw Nation Boxing Commission has rescinded the 45-day suspension of Zbikowski, the Ravens safety who tested positive for marijuana after his fight Saturday night. The Commission has accepted a second negative test submitted by Zbikowski at an independent lab…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Vikings expect seven quarterbacks in first 42 picks
 

The Minnesota Vikings think a run on quarterbacks is coming tonight and tomorrow night. According to ESPN, the Vikings’ brain trust has conducted 15 different two-round mock drafts, trying to consider every possibility for how the draft could go. And to the extent that they can accurately determine how other teams will act, the Vikings…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Mort: Patriots trying to trade up for Cameron Jordan
 

Plenty of trades are expected on the draft’s first day, and no team has more ammunition than the New England Patriots. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Patriots are trying to put it to use. Mort reports that the Patriots are involved in trade talks with the Cowboys. Bill Belichick’s target is California defensive end…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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The full PFT Live mock draft
 

From last Monday through Wednesday, a portion of ProFootballTalk Live was dedicated to a mock draft.* (Not the PFT mock draft, which can be blamed on Silva, but the PFT Live mock draft.) Now that it’s over, we’ve spliced the whole thing into one continuous stream of semi-consciousness. Your challenge will be to remain conscious…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Aiello discusses NFL?s position pending further court rulings
 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell canceled his appearance of Thursday’s ProFootballTalk Live, given that he otherwise was dealing with the aftermath of a pair of rulings from Judge Susan Nelson, both of which have plunged the NFL into a cavern of uncertainty and/or perched the league on a contempt-of-court highwire. But NFL spokesman Greg Aiello did…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Report: At least one team eliminates Da?Quan Bowers from board
 

NFL Network’s Albert Breer is pulling impressive double duty today, keeping everyone up to date on lockout-related developments via his Twitter account, as well as dropping notable nuggets about the NFL draft. The biggest draft story Breer has broken*involves Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. According to Breer, Bowers has been completely eliminated from at least…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Nolan Nawrocki puts Cam Newton No. 1 in his mock draft
 

One of the biggest stories of draft season was Pro Football Weekly*draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki’s brutal scouting report on Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Nawrocki accused Newton of possessing a “fake smile” and “enormous ego,” and being “disingenuous,” “scripted,” and “immature.” Nawrocki, who relentlessly criticized Newton’s character despite having never met the player, insisted that Carolina…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Cardinals may ?already have understanding? with Bulger
 

The Cardinals’ apparent intent to pass on Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert at No. 5 in the draft has fueled the belief that Arizona plans to sign a stopgap, free agent quarterback to be its starter in 2011. While some have speculated about the Cardinals potentially pursuing Donovan McNabb, clued-in Arizona writers believe Marc Bulger is…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Gosselin predicts five quarterbacks in top 12
 

We aren’t in the habit of posting other people’s mock drafts on PFT, but Rick “Goose” Gosselin isn’t any mock drafter. *The longtime Dallas Morning News*reporter routinely puts out the most well-researched and accurate mock drafts in the business. That’s why his mock drafts are read around the league, and some of his predictions for…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Waiting game on as NFL files for stay pending appeal
 

Although the NFL is telling teams to open their facilities tomorrow morning, at the moment the league is waiting to see how the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit will rule on the NFL’s request for a stay pending appeal of Judge Susan Nelson’s order lifting the lockout. The NFL has filed a…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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NFL general manager guarantees Locker, Dalton go top 20
 

Nationally recognized mock drafter Rick Gosselin has Washington quarterback Jake Locker going eighth overall to the Titans, and TCU quarterback Andy Dalton twelfth overall to the Vikings in his final prediction for the 2011 NFL draft. So, by now, this news probably shouldn’t surprise anyone: “I guarantee Andy Dalton and Jake Locker will go in…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Peter King says Texans GM Smith is ?loathe? to trade up
 

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle*was adamant this week that the Texans want to trade up in the draft, specifically targeting LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson and Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller. Miller looks increasingly out of reach, as ESPN’s Todd McShay, Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, CBS Sports’ Rob Rang, and NFL…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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NFL declares victory in StarCaps case
 

With the NFL draft starting today and team facilities opening tomorrow, there’s another piece of important NFL news that might get lost in the shuffle: The league is declaring victory in the case of the players who sued after they were suspended for taking a banned substance in the over-the-counter substance StarCaps. “The Minnesota Supreme…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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NFL teams plan to open facilities Friday morning
 

NFL teams are turning players away from team facilities this morning. But they won’t do that tomorrow, barring an appeals court giving the league an immediate stay of Judge Susan Nelson’s order ending the lockout. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said on today’s PFT Live that, unless something happens with the appeals court this afternoon, players…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Source: Kaepernick is No. 1 QB on Raiders? draft board
 

Twelve days ago, a league source told PFT that one unnamed AFC West team*informed Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick that he is the No. 1 quarterback on their draft board. PFT has tracked down the team. Per a league source, it’s the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders hosted Kaepernick for an official, team-facility visit on April 12. Thursday…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Ryan Leaf looks back on the draft: I should have stayed in school
 

Every year at NFL draft time, Ryan Leaf’s name comes up as the example of the greatest bust the league has ever seen. Today Leaf said on the Dan Patrick Show that when he looks back on his draft experience, his greatest regret is that he decided to leave Washington State after his junior year.…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Draft Day PFT Live, featuring update from NFL
 

As Florio mentioned earlier, Commissioner Roger Goodell is a little too busy Thursday to join PFT Live. We still may have a little breaking news from the NFL Thursday on **NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says he will join the show to help explain the league’s position following Judge Susan Nelson’s decision Wednesday night denying the…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Mike Shanahan: Trading up isn?t likely
 

There have been a lot of whispers linking the Redskins with a move up from the 10th overall pick in the first round to get themselves a quarterback. Mike Shanahan addressed those rumors on Wednesday and threw a fair amount of cold water on them. At a pre-draft meeting with reporters, Shanahan indicated that the…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Buffalo quarterback buzz picks up
 

It’s draft day, which means we are about to start hearing self-serving draft rumors at a fast and furious pace. It beats labor talk, right? With a lot of folks believing Cam Newton will go first and a defensive player second (Von Miller or Marcell Dareus), speculation is picking up over what Buffalo will do…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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The ?who do you support?? poll, take two
 

Over the weekend, in response to comments from Browns cornerback Joe Haden that fans are “definitely” in the corner of the players, we decided to take the temperature of PFT Planet. The results were stunning.* Only 22 percent of those who responded supported the players.* The rest supported the owners, or neither. A reader has…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Players believe 2011 league year has begun
 

The league apparently has decided to wait for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to rule on the NFL’s request for a stay pending appeal of the order lifting the lockout.* The players believe that the league has no reason to delay starting the 2011 league year. “Last night, Judge Nelson issued…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Goodell cancels PFT Live interview
 

We’re not shocked but we’re nevertheless disappointed to learn that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell won’t be joining ProFootballTalk Live today, which also happens to be one of the craziest days in league history. We got the word moment ago from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, who explained that Goodell’s attention is occupied with the aftermath of…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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ProFootballTalk
 

Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph is tentatively expected to be a late first- to early second-round selection, although his draft stock is hard to gauge. Due to hamstring surgery,*Rudolph didn’t work out until the Irish’s April 7 Pro Day. He generated little media buzz during the Senior Bowl, Combine, and heart of the Pro…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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Schefter: ?90%? chance the Broncos take Von Miller
 

When we first heard the Broncos building was starting to move towards Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller on Wednesday night, we thought it was just another pre-draft smokescreen. If it’s really just a smokescreen, they’ve blinded basically every national reporter. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is the latest to jump aboard the Miller-to-Denver bandwagon, hearing there is…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?hos...lk&ref=&feed=1

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