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Hillis Needs Help In 2011

Peyton Hillis broke out into Superstardom in 2010 by running over, through and above defenders. Hillis was a bright spot in the Browns 5-11 season and he energized the team and the fans.

One of the problems in the 2010 season, though, was Hillis had no real backup. There was a rotating group of running backs who would trot on the field for a few plays and then never be seen again.

By the end of the season, if Hillis was on the field, he was getting the ball, and every defender knew it. As a result, Hillis got beat up pretty good by Week 17.

Cleveland Browns General Manager Tom Heckert has taken some of the blame for not getting more help for Hillis and the offense, but to say the offensive schemes were lacking to begin with would be to ignore what was a real problem.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

Heckert hopes Montario Hardesty can be a force for the Browns this year and take some of the pressure off of Hillis to do everything, and the Browns drafted Owen Marecic to help open some holes.

Colt McCoy has the playbook and the Browns offense has been having organized workouts during the lockout.

With new Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur in charge of things now, the Browns should have a much more effective offense in 2011.

If Hillis is rotated in and out more, that should reduce the wear and tear on his body and help extend his career and effectiveness through the end of the season.

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Holmgren Not A Fan Of Equal Reps

The argument over whether Colt McCoy will be the permanent starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns moving forward continues to have new twists and turns.

While McCoy has been given the go-ahead to be "the guy" on several levels, Team President Mike Holmgren still is hedging his bets.

In a recent interview on Seattle Radio, Holmgren talked about how McCoy is "the guy" for now because he does not like to jerk people around.

From The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

“He’s going to get a chance to do it. I’m not speaking out of school here I’m not a big fan of all of a sudden the equal reps and all that. That usually confuses a lot of people. Things could change once we get rolling a little bit. I suspect that Colt will do a good job. I’ve talked to Seneca about this before the lockout took place. My experience over the years, the guys just want to know and don’t give them curveballs. Are they competitive? Yes. Does it bother them? I’m sure it does, but for right now this is probably how we’re going to go."

The key question with McCoy is his durability. His winning and accuracy are not in question, nor are his leadership abilities. In today’s NFL, McCoy is undersized, and a hit in the 2010 National Championship Game from Marcell Dareus took more than a year to fully heal.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

If McCoy can absorb the beating an NFL quarterback takes, the Browns have a solid future ahead of them. If McCoy ends up getting injured again this year, missing a significant amount of time, it is not going to matter how accurate he is or how good his leadership skills are.

Hopefully McCoy is up to the challenge and hopefully the offensive line will keep his hits to a minimum.

The Browns need McCoy and so do the fans.

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Buccaneers Cornerback Facing Several Felony Charges

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot on their plate right now, but they will have to deal with the Aqib Talib situation as soon as the lockout is lifted.

Talib faces charges in Texas from an incident where it is alleged he pistol-whipped his sister’s boyfriend and then fired shots at him.  It’s the latest in a series of incidents involving Talib, who consistently finds himself on the wrong side of a legal situation.

Raheem Morris told WHBO Radio on Wednesday the Buccaneers have not yet talked about Talib's future, or if the star defensive player will be cut.

That being said, there is no point in keeping a player, no matter how talented he is, if he is just going to end up in the police blotter week-after-week and end up in jail or suspended. Either way you are not getting production out of him.

Talib has lots of excuses and he gave his side of the story. The bottom line is Talib is one of those guys who gets himself into these kinds of situations.

The Buccaneers had a great draft and they need to think about the future. If the Bucs decide to do nothing, it could hurt them.

Talent only gets you so far, at some point you have to start taking responsibility for your life, because the talent is meaningless if it is sitting in a jail cell.

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Free Agency Rules Like Those In 2010 Not Good For Market

Usually, there are a handful of "big" names who come up for free agency and there is a bidding war creating excitement over where certain players will end up.

That may not be the case in 2011 if the lockout is lifted with no new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The league may just use last year's rules, and this would result in a significant depletion of free agents.

From NFL.com and Jason La Canfora:

And if the 2010 rules remain in place, then Leach, Houston's Pro Bowl fullback, will be among a very select handful of prime free agents in what could be the worst crop since this era of free agency began in the mid 1990s. It makes last year's mundane market seem remarkable by comparison, as this class of roughly 220 players lacks sizzle at key spots like quarterback, offensive tackle, and anyone capable of mustering a consistent pass rush.

La Canfora goes on to name what he feels will be the seven “big” free agents if the 2011 season comes together using the 2010 rules of six years of service instead of the normal four to earn true free agent status.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

The players he names are Nnamdi Asomugha, Thomas Davis, Darren Sproles, Marc Bulger, Anthony Hargrove, Aubrayo  Franklin and Terrell Owens.

Owens played well enough to get another contract in 2011, but with his age and attitude, it remains to be seen if he can get another contract in 2011.

Asomugha is the biggest name on the list, and there is no doubt there will be several interested teams with the Detroit Lions possibly leading that pack.

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Saints Among Several Teams Organizing Workouts

Add Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to the list as another team holding organized workouts without the coaches.

That list includes Dallas, Cleveland and the New York Giants among a few other teams, although some of the players are trying to keep quiet about it.

These workouts are being held at the player's own risk, meaning if they get hurt, the team will not necessarily pick up the cost of healthcare once the lockout is lifted.

From The New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Although several teammates helped organize and coordinate the program, Brees was unequivocally its Big Chief.

He began planning the workouts weeks ago when the likelihood of a lockout progressed from possible to probable. He contacted Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson in March, worked out the details and kept his teammates informed via email.

"This is Drew's baby," right tackle Jon Stinchcomb said.

Make no mistake about it, Brees is a leader and he wants to win another Super Bowl.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

The story estimates Brees’ expenses could run into five figures, which may not be that big of a dent for a guy who signed a $60 million contract in 2006 and figures to sign an even larger one soon.

If the Saints get back to and win the Super Bowl in 2011, it will be considered money well spent.

The players may be just as guilty as the owners in causing the lockout in my opinion, but at least a lot of them are intelligent enough to realize sitting back and relaxing throughout the summer would be a big mistake once football does return.

The teams who get together now and practice will be the teams to watch when the 2011 season opens.

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Rashard Mendenhall Opens Blog Site To Explain Tweets

Rashard Mendenhall may not have thought making a few tweets about Osama Bin Laden and Sept. 11 were a very big deal, but when he came down on the controversial side of things, it quickly became big news.

Mendhenhall tweeted his belief the World Trade Center may have been brought down in part by demolitions and that everyone celebrating Bin Laden's death was questionable to him.

So, in response to the overwhelming negative reaction, Mendenhall took down the demolition theory tweet and opened a blog.

From Clarfication.blogspot.com:

I appreciate those of you who have decided to read this letter and attain a greater understanding of my recent twitter posts. I see how they have gotten misconstrued, and wanted to use this outlet as a way to clear up all things that do not truthfully represent myself, what I stand for personally, and any organization that I am a part of.

I will let the rest of his blog speak for itself, but there are some factual inaccuracies.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

He mentions in his initial Tweet that no one has heard Bin Laden speak for himself, which is about as wrong as anyone has ever been in the history of man.

Bin Laden spoke several times last time I checked news archives.

This is one reason sports figures really should stay out of politics and why I am not delving deeper into it.

This is a sports blog and Mendenhall is a running back. While I used to cover politics (And I have interviewed Attorney General Janet Napolitano, among other journalistic accomplishments), that is not what I do here and I have tried hard to keep the politics surrounding this subject to a minimum.

So I hope to keep politics out of this blog in the future and I hope Mendenhall will realize he is better at running the football than stirring up conspiracy theories or debates over free speech.

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UFL Requests Contract Prior To Drafting Devlin

Pat Devlin was the last "name" quarterback who did not get drafted last weekend, but despite a phone call from the UFL, Devlin remains unsigned and undrafted.

Devlin, from Delaware, was considered a low-round prospect going into the draft.

From ESPN.com:

Delaware QB Pat Devlin was targeted as the top overall selection in the UFL draft, but was required to sign a contract before the selection and chose not to do so, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Devlin will be one of the top undrafted free agents that can sign with NFL teams once the lockout is lifted.

This was a risky move by Devlin. Just about everyone can appreciate his dream to play in the NFL, and there is no doubt he will be courted by several teams once the lockout is lifted, but with the UFL, it was almost guaranteed he would be the starter.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

While the UFL is not the NFL, if Devlin plays well, it is an audition for the NFL. No matter which team signs him in the NFL, he will be riding the bench unless something extraordinary happens.

At least in the UFL he would have a really good chance to start and get some more game experience. The rules of the UFL are not that much different than the NFL, and if he proves he can adapt from the college game to the UFL game, it is another point in his favor.

Overall I do not think this was the smartest move for Devlin, but it was his choice to make. I wish him luck.

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Parker Does Not Think The Redskins Are A Serious Team

In what can be characterized as harsh criticism, Washington Redskins Running Back made some pointed remarks about how the Washington Redskins conduct business.

Parker, formerly a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, noted the difference between playing in Pittsburgh and playing in Washington, D.C.

From CBS in Pittsburgh via ProFootballTalk.com:

"Being in Washington, they don’t care about football.  I didn’t feel good from day one there.  They weren’t about football.  They were about partying. . . . You appreciate Pittsburgh a little bit more after going somewhere else,” Parker said on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh Tuesday.

There is a reason the Pittsburgh Steelers have been to three Super Bowls in the last 10 years and won two of them with two different coaches. That organization does not make any decision that does not involve bettering the team and furthering their goal of winning another Super Bowl.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

When you look at what Pittsburgh does, there do not seem to be any egos involved. When you look at a team like the Redskins, there seem to be a lot of egos involved.

The Redskins go through coaches and players faster than they should. They have not been as bad as the Lions or the Browns in recent years, but they have not been much better.

Parker probably is going to be an ex-Redskin now, but somehow I do not think he will be all that torn up about it.

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Chris Simms Marijuana Trial Continues

Since there are not many other stories related to football going on today, Chris Simms gets much more attention for his Driving While High trial than he ordinarily would have.

Simms was pulled over last year at a sobriety checkpoint where the police allege he looked like a "zombie" and was "slurring his words."

Simms claims friends in the car were smoking marijuana and that he told them to stop prior to being pulled over.

Simms tested negative for alcohol but refused to take a urine test.

 From ProFootballTalk.com:

One day after Chris Simms blamed a friend for the pot smoke in his car when he was pulled over by police, the friend indeed took the blame. Charles Granatell — a former Bryant University quarterback — said Simms in fact wasn’t happy when he smelled pot smoke in the car and hasn’t smoked once in the 12 years they have known each other.

The PFT piece also has the Associated Press mug shot of Simms, and I will let you judge for yourself if he looks high or not.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

I have a bad feeling about this trial when it comes to Simms. This seems to be going in all the wrong directions, but I am not there.

With reports like these coming out of the court room, it seems unlikely Simms will be found "not guilty."

Simms never was the same quarterback after the hit that took his spleen. If Simms is found guilty, it will bring a suspension from the Commissioner’s Office.

Simms’ career seems over at this point, so it is unlikely a suspension is going to help his cause.

The lesson here is never let your friends smoke pot in your car.

UPDATE: Simms has been acquitted. Congratulations to the Simms family and let us never speak of this again.

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Ken Whisenhunt Not Happy With QB Situation

While the Arizona Cardinals did not draft a quarterback in the 2011 NFL Draft, it does not mean Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is happy with his quarterback situation.

The Cardinals had a revolving door at the quarterback position in 2010, partly due to injury and partly due to complete ineptness.

From ProFootballTalk.com:

“After you go 5-11, I’m not comfortable with anybody we had playing that position,” Whisenhunt said via AZCardinals.com.   “You have to weigh your opportunities in the draft against other opportunities. It’s a complete process. It’s not an isolated process.”

Translation: If the Cardinals aren’t going after Kolb, they have another well defined plan to fill the position in 2011.  And it’s not starting (Jon) Skelton.

Skelton was not ready to start last year. That does not mean he will not be able to do it in the future, but trying to start him this year right out of the gate probably is not a good idea.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

Getting a vetran like Kevin Kolb takes a lot of stress out of the situation because now the team has a legitimate starter and Skelton can keep learning and growing.

Of course, Whisenhunt may decide Skelton has peaked and completely overhaul the position because there is no way Derek Anderson stays in Arizona this year. The Cardinals probably will end up cutting Anderson because I have no idea at this point who would even want the guy as a backup.

Anderson has a great arm but nothing between the ears but a terrible attitude.

Once the league year starts, all these questions will be answered. If Kolb ends up in Arizona, it will come as a surprise to no one.

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Putting This Case In The Hands Of Lawyers The Worst Decision

The NFL Lockout already has drug on for more than a month, and neither side appears willing to budge.

The problem is both sides are listening to the lawyers and waiting for court victories to give them an edge instead of telling the lawyers where to go and getting back to the bargaining table.

From the moment the last collective bargaining agreement was signed, it seems the owners anticipated a lockout and then began preparing for it. The players then reacted to that by pursuing decertification as a litigation strategy.

You can argue with that if you want, but it comes down to trust and the owners did not trust the players to bargain in good faith while the players did not trust the owners to give them a good deal.

Every negotiation has a beginning, and that first offer usually is heavily favored to one end. That is why it is called "negotiation."

Both sides made tactical errors leading up to the current situation, and placing blame is something you could spend all day doing.

Now it is in the hands of the courts and football is at the mercy of a few judges.

Make no mistake, if the players get everything they want, football as we know it is over and the sport will suffer. That does not mean the owners are right, it is just looking at the end game each side wants and realizing both sides need to abandon legal strategies and start pursuing an endgame.

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Lions Wanted Patrick Peterson

With the NFL Draft over, details of deals that never happened are starting to come out. One deal that did not go through involved the Detroit Lions.

The Lions, who drafted Nick Fairley at the 13th spot, needed a cornerback. Fairley potentially gives the Lions one of the best defensive lines in the league, but the urge to trade up to get Patrick Peterson is understandable.

From The Detroit Free Press:

According to a person familiar with the talks, the Lions offered the Arizona Cardinals first-, second- and fourth-round choices for the Cardinals' pick, No. 5 overall.

The Cardinals declined the offer and selected Peterson, whom some analysts rated as the draft's top prospect regardless of position.

The Lions have been having some good drafts since the organization tossed Matt Millen, and expect to see the Lions contend in 2011. Even if Fairley is a bust, the Lions have a lot around him, and Ndamukong Suh is the unquestioned leader of that defense at this point.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

A healthy Matthew Stafford coupled with Calvin Johnson and Titus Young mean the passing game should be good, and now the Lions also have Mikel Leshoure to go along with Jahvid Best.

The future looks bright for the Lions, although this deal which never happened now will be brought up for the next year or two, even longer if the Lions do not show improvement.

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Tim Tebow And Von Miller Workout After NFL Draft

A publicity event turned into an opportunity for two teammates to get a good workout in.

The Denver Post reported Miller and Tebow got to know each other after a public speaking engagement just after the draft concluded.

From the DenverPost.com:

"You want to work out?" Tebow asked Miller, as the two posed for pictures before the John Lynch Foundation Salute the Stars scholarship luncheon at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Miller instantly replied that of course he'd like to work out with his new teammate. There was only one hang-up. Miller was wearing a suit, and hadn't brought along any gym clothes.

Tebow, a spokesman for Nike, said he would be able to help his new teammate out.

Tebow continues to do everything right, and Miller is getting his NFL career off to a good start. Tebow, who came under intense scrutiny in the lead-up to the 2010 NFL Draft, has done nothing but the right things in his career on and off the field so far.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

He has taken some borderline controversial stances in regard to his religious beliefs, but nothing that would cause a firestorm of negative press.

With Tebow organizing workouts, working with his wide receivers and welcoming Miller into the fold, how can you not want this guy on your team?

It still is to be determined if he is the franchise quarterback his supporters say he is, but there is no doubt he is a leader on and off the field.

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Dez Bryant Continues To Go His Own Way

The Dallas Cowboys took a risk drafting Dez Bryant in the first round last year because there were multiple red flags concerning character issues.

Those character issues reared their ugly heads as soon as training camp last year and have taken on a life of their own this offseason.

The latest bit of negative news in regard to Bryant is a report he did not show up for a team workout organized by Tony Romo.

From ProFootballTalk.com:

It’s not a huge surprise.  After all, Bryant failed to show up at the team facility last week during the brief respite from the lockout, even though owner Jerry Jones expected to meet with him and trainers hoped to inspect the ankle Bryant broke during his rookie season.

Still, Bryant’s teammates met with him recently, in an apparent effort to coerce some sense into him.  By all appearances, it didn’t work.

There was a report a few months ago Bryant has a "babysitter," a person who is just supposed to make sure Bryant shows up to work on time. This a grown man we are talking about, and he is treated like a child.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

At this point in Bryant's life, it is doubtful anything will change. Everything he has done over the past year suggests his mental state arrested development in early adolescence. There is not much you can do for those people.

Hopefully one day Bryant will wake up, and it is possible Bryant has very good reasons why he has been no-showing everything in the last week, but until proven otherwise, Cowboys fans will continue to be let down by Bryant.

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Despite Lockout, The Trade Rumors Continue For Kevin Kolb

The Philadelphia Eagles may not have been unable to trade Kevin Kolb prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, but expect a good draft haul for 2012.

The Eagles already have hinted Kolb is on the trading block without fully committing to anything, and all anyone is waiting for is the lockout to be lifted.

Adam Schefter made a report on Tuesday suggesting the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals both are interested in obtaining Kolb.

From MyNorthwest.com via ESPN and NFL Live:

"I think that when the lockout is lifted, there's no doubt that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to trade Kevin Kolb. I think at this point in time, it's fairly certain that he's going to wind up in the NFC West. Right now, all signs point to Kevin Kolb somehow finding his way to Arizona, which would make Larry Fitzgerald very happy, which would make the Cardinals an instant contender in the NFC West, and it would make them the team that they were a couple of years ago when Kurt Warner was playing quarterback, rather than last year when they had the quarterback carousel.

The San Francisco 49ers were in this discussion before the draft, but now it appears the 49ers are going to re-sign Alex Smith to a one-year deal and see what they have in Colin Kaepernick.

MUST READ: Power-Ranking All 32 Teams Post Draft

The Cardinals quietly let it be known they were going to get a veteran quarterback to lead the team this year rather than draft a rookie, but that did not stop people like me from telling anyone who would listen.

To be proved right always is a good thing, but the Cardinals still have to execute a deal and then play well.

The Seahawks are a bigger mess because they still have to figure out the Matt Hasselbeck situation as well as deciding if Charlie Whitehurst merits further development time.

With the Cardinals, there is no doubt Derek Anderson is a chapter everyone wants to forget, now it is jut a matter of seeing if Jon Skelton can develop. With a veteran quarterback at the helm, the Cardinals can buy more time for Skelton or possibly Max Hall, neither of whom were ready last year.