Every QB Taken In The First Round Could Start On Opening Day

NEW YORK The Carolina Panthers did not select Cam Newton with the first overall choice of the 2011 NFL draft to sit - and he could have plenty of company from rookie quarterbacks being asked to learn on the job this season. There were four quarterbacks selected in the first round Thursday night - the most in a draft since the great quarterback class of 2004 that included Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger. That class has three Super Bowl rings already.

All four of the quarterbacks from the Class of 2011 will have the opportunity to start on opening day. None of the quarterbacks from the Class of 2004 started on opening day.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/04/29/1991258/all-quarterbacks-selected-in-first.html

Carolina Selects Cam Newton At # 1

NEW YORK -- Quarterback Cam Newton was selected with the No. 1 pick by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday as the NFL returned to to some semblance of normalcy with its college draft. Newton's selection marked the third straight draft in which a quarterback was taken with the first pick. The Heisman Trophy winner led Auburn to the national championship in January.

"It was just like a shot went through my body," Newton said, recounting the feeling he had when he heard commissioner Roger Goodell call his name as the top pick.

"It's time to get to work now," Newton added.

Why Da'Quan Bowers is the Biggest Steal of the 2011 NFL Draft

Former Clemson Tigers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers has been the topic of more NFL Draft freefall-causing allegations than anyone since (fill in the blank). Can you name anyone?

Honestly there are few, if any, who began as such a surefire first pick who then have fallen down draft boards to this degree. On December 25, there was very little doubt that Bowers would be the Carolina Panthers' No. 1 pick. Now, three months later, there is probably less than a 10th of a percent chance at the Panthers making Bowers the next Mario Williams.

But why?

CARRY ON

http://www.nationalfootballauthority.com/2011/04/why-daquan-bowers-is-biggest-steal-of.html

Excitement, Uncertainty Encompass Hurney, NFL As Draft Week Begins

There's a different feel to this draft. It's somewhere between indifference and total confusion. Last week, co-hosting the Sirius NFL Radio "Opening Drive'' show with Bob Papa, we had only two callers on hold midway through the show, at 9 a.m. "That's how it's been like almost every morning,'' Papa told me off the air. "Last year before the draft, the lines were jammed every day. Now, not so much.''

It'll be interesting to see if there's the typical draft fever Thursday night at Radio City. Will Roger Goodell get booed? Will he get a cool shoulder from the drafted first-rounders? Maybe ... but in the end this draft will be a very fun story because it's got so much that we won't expect.

"A total chess match,'' said my friend Rick Gosselin, the longtime NFL columnist for the Dallas Morning News, whose first-round projection on the morning of the draft is always the first thing I look for on draft day. "There's no real number-one quality pick, and you've got a screaming need for quarterbacks by so many teams, with no lock franchise quarterback in the draft. I see trades, maybe two teams moving down because they don't want to over-draft quarterbacks, and maybe two other teams trading up from the second round to get quarterbacks low in the first round. It's one of the most unpredictable drafts I remember.''

The draft, as well as what's wafting through Marty Hurney's head this morning, the real story with an important first-round foot, Ryan Mallett shooting himself in his, Bill Parcells parceling out a few draft secrets, a coach and a tornado, another offseason ordeal for Brandon Marshall, and Peter King the Juror. Just another manic Monday.

Carry On

Discussion Thread

The High Cost Of Living The NFL Dream

Football is the false American dream. It is a rags to riches to rags story. It is fathers dreaming of their young boys making it for the thrills, the popularity, the cash. Work ethic gets you there. Hustle gets you there. Teamwork, commitment, toughness. The NFL. The dream.
All those virtues add up. They leave players broken down physically. We've learned recently how they attack the brain, leave players mush-minded. What's emerging now is that also leaves them financially troubled.

NFL players have been locked out for only six weeks in the labor battle with the league. And reports are many players are already taking out short-term, high-interest loans because they're in trouble with money.
I thought the NFL labor troubles were about billionaires vs. millionaires, owners vs. players. Players make so much money that they have the means to wait this thing out.
Wrong. Plenty of them are already out of money, losing time on ultra-short careers. The NFL Players Association acknowledged getting a letter from a splinter group of players not with the highest paydays, wanting a place at the table now. Now!

How can this be? It is the dream. And it's maddening how irresponsible they are with that dream, our dream. In this economy, these guys get that kind of money, only to blow it all?
We hear stories about lottery winners who blow all their money, too. Evander Holyfield had trouble paying his electric bill. Where does all the money go?

Ed Butowsky knows.

CARRY ON
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-04-22/wake-up-call-the-high-cost-of-living-the-nfl-dream








 

The Truth About Spread Offenses

Cam Newton led the country in pass efficiency rating, accounted for 4,327 yards of total offense and scored more touchdowns in 2010 (51) than 82 entire teams in the FBS. Oh yeah, he also won the Heisman Trophy and led the Auburn Tigers to a rather unexpected national title.

Yet, when asked if Newton will excel at the next level, many experts and players believe, despite Newton's success in college, he will not be able to translate his success onto the NFL field.

"Would I take him No. 1? Absolutely not," New York Giants DE Justin Tuck said of Newton, while appearing as a panelist at the MIT Sports Analytics conference in early March. "If he comes into the league doing what he did in college, he won't be in this league for very long."

CARRY ON............

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6355471

Discussion Thread

http://carolinapanthercoalition.com/showthread.php?p=122294#post122294

WR's A.J. Green, Julio Jones Set Themselves Apart Heading Into NFL Draft

A.J. Green and Julio Jones have been linked since their days as prep-school stars in the Deep South.

Both were rated among the top 10 prospects in America as high school seniors. Green was regarded as the best prep receiver in South Carolina history. Sports Illustrated ranked Jones as the nation's No. 1 overall player out of Foley, Ala.

Both starred for three seasons in the rugged Southeastern Conference, Green at Georgia and Jones at Alabama.
And now both are projected as top 10 picks in the NFL draft.
"Me and Julio are just alike," Green said. "We don't get caught up in the hype, and we're just two guys trying to be the best."

Carry On............. http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/04/wide_receivers_aj_green_julio.html

Discussion Thread
http://carolinapanthercoalition.com/showthread.php?p=122208#post122208

A Typical Day For NFL Commissioner Goodell

Roger Goodell wakes up every morning with the weight of the world -- or at least ESPN -- on his shoulders. The NFL -- the lifeblood of America; our annual distraction from economic woe, political quagmire and two wars (or is it three?) -- is on the brink of a season lost to a multibillion-dollar labor dispute, and Goodell's legacy may rest on his ability to break the gridiron gridlock before a single kickoff is missed.
Here now, a rare inside look at a typical day in the life of the NFL commissioner, grappling moment by moment with the fate of Sports Nation:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11108/1140093-139-0.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml

Defying The Odds

A GUSTING BALTIMORE BREEZE whips across Morgan State University's football field on a March afternoon as a placekicker and a punter blast footballs toward the gray clouds.

"Hitting satellites," they call it. The placekicker, Kemar Scarlett, a departing senior who's prepping for the team's pro day later that week, spins kickoffs deep into the end zone 75 yards away. The punter, Nick Adams, a junior with two years of eligibility remaining, booms tight spirals with hang times approaching five seconds.

Both players have NFL dreams and, based on raw ability, NFL potential. During one game in 2009, the long-legged, 6'1" Scarlett hit a school-record 55-yard field goal, and the burly, six-foot Adams launched a school-record 79-yard punt. It was an outstanding day all around, one that helped earn them the nicknames DJ Kick and Big Punter around campus. But among pro hopefuls, Scarlett and Adams stand out for another reason entirely -- the color of their skin.

Full Story.......................

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6336567

Newton's Rise Is Tough To Explain

The Carolina Panthers are looking for a franchise quarterback — or at least they aren’t denying that they are.
The Panthers might have thought they had one in Jimmy Clausen last year, but their public affection for former Auburn University quarterback Cam Newton could suggest otherwise.
Despite some harsh comments from various NFL draft analysts in recent weeks, Newton’s draft value seems to have stabilized — or has it?

Full Story http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Cam-Newton-NFL-draft-rise-is-tough-to-explain-041511

NFL Has Contingency Plan To Delay Super Bowl XLVI

The NFL has a contingency plan to apparently start the regular season two weeks late and still play a complete schedule.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, on a conference call today with Cleveland Browns season-ticket holders, said there is a plan to postpone Super Bowl XLVI one week and make the time between the conference championship games and Super Bowl one week and not the standard two. This is according to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Under this scenario, the NFL could kick off the season Thursday, Sept. 22 at Lambeau Field and still have a full slate of games played. If the NFL started two weeks late, it would mean the preseason schedule was wiped out or dramatically revamped.

The hope here is the two sides can reach an agreement well before the fall. When fans cannot make travel plans to attend games, and when schedules are juggled, that is when there will be a dramatic realization of the damage done to the game.
Super Bowl XLVI will mark the first time the Super Bowl is played in Indianapolis. Of course, that is if the game is played at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Troy WR Jerrel Jernigan Is Visiting The Panthers Today

Troy wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan is visiting the Carolina Panthers today today, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. Jernigan also visited the Atlanta Falcons this week.
This is latest meeting between him and the NFC South club after coach Mike Smith(notes), general manager Thomas Dimitroff, position coaches and personnel directors flew to the Troy campus on a private plane to attend a private workout for him.
They're believed to be extremely high on the slot receiver.

Jernigan visited the Cleveland Browns on Monday.
He has previously visited the Minnesota Vikings and the San Diego Chargers.
Regarded as the top slot wide receiver in the draft, Jernigan boosted his stock with fast times in the 40-yard dash at his campus Pro Day workout with a 4.38 clocking, according to an NFL scouting director.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20110414_troy_wr_jerrel_jernigan_is_visiting_the_panthers_today

NFL Insults Fans With Dramatic Release Of Preseason Schedules

If NFL preseason games are scheduled but no players or fans show up, do the games really happen? Why no, they do not.

The league released its 2011 NFL preseason schedule on Tuesday afternoon. Included are riveting national TV contests like Chicago at New York Giants, Green Bay at Indianapolis and Philadelphia at Pittsburgh. The preseason kicks off, as always, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. This year's game features Chicago vs. St. Louis on Sunday, August 7, live on NBC.

Maybe............

Full Story http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8282643

NFL Teams Are Viewing The Draft As They Did Decades Ago

This NFL offseason is out of kilter for modern times, but back in the day it was the norm.
True NFL veterans remember when the draft wasn’t just the showcase event of the offseason but the only newsworthy event of the offseason.
“You were always pointing toward the draft, because you couldn’t get other players and trades were uncommon,” said Washington coach Mike Shanahan, who entered the NFL in 1984 as the offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos.

“You had the draft, and then your football team was ready. People forget that free agency hasn’t been here all that long.”

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/09/2788734/nfl-teams-are-viewing-the-draft.html

The QB Vaccum / Teams Will Reach For Passers On Draft Day Because They Have To

If you don’t believe that nature abhors a vacuum, try explaining how Alex Smith, Joey Harrington and Cade McNown were chosen as high as they were in the NFL draft.

The perpetual lack of talent at the quarterback position in the NFL creates a vacuum that sucks up anything in its path on draft day. Quarterbacks, more than any other position, are chosen higher than they should be chosen. Either teams fudge on quarterbacks grades consciously or subconsciously to justify decisions, or they ignore their grades and pick quarterbacks ahead of better players at other positions.

Carry On................

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-Quarterback-Vacuum.html

Panthers Need To Follow NFC South Lead

I said last week the Carolina Panthers need to take Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. I also said there are pretty good indications the Panthers are at least giving very serious thought to using the pick on Newton or Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Nothing’s changed in my eyes and my ears tell me nothing’s changed in how the Panthers are thinking.
But as I was working ahead on our weekly Draft Watch post, I realized something that adds even more reason for the Panthers to go ahead and draft a quarterback. I thought about the rest of the NFC South.

What’s the first thing New Orleans coach Sean Payton, Atlanta coach Mike Smith and Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris did when they were hired? The methods varied and they each had some help from their general manager, but Payton, Smith and Morris went out and got a franchise quarterback.

Full Story & Comments Thread

http://carolinapanthercoalition.com/showthread.php?p=121617#post121617

NFL Antitrust Q&A / What's Going In Labor Conflict

An NFL behind-the-scenes look at the owners' and players' strategies, the antitrust lawsuit and what effect it all might have on the season

Unable to decide how to divide $9.3 billion a year in revenue, NFL owners and players ended negotiations on March 11 and the NFLPA decertified, relinquishing its right to represent the players. The next day the owners locked out the players.

The players then filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, requesting an injunction that would keep the league from engaging in a lockout. The hearing for that case is scheduled for Wednesday in front of U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson in Minnesota.
A look at the NFL labor crisis heading into this key hearing:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nfl-antitrust-case-20110403,0,4831322.story

Judge To Rule On NFL Lockout New To Bench, But Seen As Fair And Up To Challenge

MINNEAPOLIS — Susan Richard Nelson wanted to make a difference as an attorney. Do something that mattered.

She mentored disadvantaged students and young female lawyers. She was on a team that took on big tobacco and won. As a magistrate, she earned a reputation for her ability to bring parties together and settle cases.

Now, less than four months into her career as a federal judge, she's responsible for deciding the fate of the NFL's lockout and, perhaps, the 2011 season — a daunting task with big-shot lawyers on both sides and billions of dollars at stake.
Those who know Nelson say her short time on the bench won't matter. They note she has decades of courtroom experience and won't be rattled by the glare this high-profile case will bring.

"There's no question she can handle it," said Michael Ciresi, who worked with Nelson for 16 years and was one of her partners at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi. "As a judge, she's very smart, savvy, respectful ... and she's not afraid to make the tough decisions."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iPokGs2FBFij1SanP531YvN-XH5w?docId=6439740