The Associated Press has named Baltimore Ravens defensive end Terrell Suggs the 2011 National Football League Defensive Player of the Year, according to a report in the Washington Post. The 29 year-old Suggs, who had 70 tackles, 14 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions in 2011, beat out Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen for the award. The Ball Says: Suggs led the AFC and posted a career high in sacks and led the entire National Football League in [...]

Of all the college football players whose 2012 NFL Draft stock took a hit during the past week’s events at the Senior Bowl none saw the free-fall of Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard according to several reports, including one by Wes Stueve. The 5’10″ 205 pounder was the Tatum-Woodson Award winner as the defensive back of the year in the Big 10 in 2011. The Ball Says: Dennard’s trip to Mobile was an absolute nightmare, as he looked slow and was [...]

Numbers in parentheses denote Final Preseason Ranking/2011 Finish. Fantasy football stats based on Default IDP Manor Scoring. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Charles Woodson – CB, Green Bay Packers: (DB9/DB2) After earning an honorable mention in this category in 2010 Woodson takes home Most Valuable Player Honors at his position on the heels of a 2011 season in which he racked up 74 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 interceptions, a forced fumble, and scored a touchdown. A potential move to free safety in [...]

Russ Lande of the Sporting News reports that South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram has enjoyed a very strong week of practices at the Senior Bowl in Mobile Alabama, strengthening the odds that he will be a first round selection in April’s NFL Draft. The 6’2″, 276 pound All-American had 48 tackles, 10 sacks, and two interceptions for the Gamecocks last year. The Ball Says: Lande described Ingram as having a “rare combination of quickness, agility and power closing”, and [...]

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles, who are in dire need of help at linebacker, will be keeping a very close eye on Audie Cole of North Carolina State at this weekend’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Cole, a 2011 All-ACC Honorable Mention, had 108 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles last year. The Ball Says: Cole’s a solid tackler that has shown a nose for the football during his collegiate career, and while he lacks blazing speed [...]

Numbers in parentheses denote Final Preseason Ranking/2011 Finish. Fantasy football stats based on Default IDP Manor Scoring. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER D’Qwell Jackson – MLB, Cleveland Browns (LB20/LB1) After losing most of the last two seasons to injuries Jackson returned in 2011 to the form he showed in 2008, when he led the NFL with 158 tackles. The sixth-year veteran once again posted 158 stops, good for second in the NFL, his 164.5 fantasy points led all players at his position, [...]

The Washington Post reports that University of Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who was projected as a top 10 pick in this April’s draft, was arrested this week and charged with possession of marijuana in Florida. The 6’3″, 192 pound junior had 25 tackles for the National Champions in 2011. The Ball Says: Kirkpatrick’s arrest may cause his stock to drop a bit, but it’s unlikely that he slips past the middle of the first round, especially given the number of [...]

According to a recent report in the Chicago Tribune one of the factors that motivated University of Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who led all FBS schools with 16 sacks, to enter the NFL Draft after his junior season was the chance to help out his family. Mercilus, who also ranked second nationally in tackles for loss and forced a school-record nine fumbles, said “My stock may not be as high coming into next season. This was probably the best [...]

Numbers in parentheses denote Final Preseason Ranking/2011 Finish. Fantasy football stats based on Default IDP Manor Scoring. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Jared Allen – DE, Minnesota Vikings (DL2/DL1) Allen put together yet another sterling statistical season in 2011, logging the second highest tackle total of his eight year career (66) while adding a career-high 22 sacks and chipping in an interception and four forced fumbles. Allen’s 174.5 fantasy points were more than a point per game better than the runner-up at [...]

According to a report in the Washington Post Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, who led the nation with 191 tackles in 2011, will forego his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. The 6’3″ 237 pound Kuechly was an All-Americam last season and the 2011 recipient of the Butkus and Lombardi awards. The Ball Says: Kuechly may not be the most athletic linebacker in this year’s draft class but he’s a solid tackler with excellent football instincts and likely [...]