The Baltimore Sun reports that University of Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson had the fastest 40 yard dash time of anyone at the position at the 2011 NFL Combine, completing the drill in a blistering 4.49 seconds. The 6’4″, 250 lb. Junior had 111 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception in 2010. The Ball Says: Wilson’s smoking 40 time, solid tackling skills, and versatility (although likely the draft’s top ILB prospect Wilson also played OLB for the Illini) [...]
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As the Cleveland Browns transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, one of the players general manager Tom Heckert sees filling a new role is linebacker Chris Gocong moving to the middle, according to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The 6th year pro had 75 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble in 2010. The Ball Says: The idea of being able to pick up a potential starting MIKE for pennies on the dollar (Gocong is available [...]
Ten-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey has agreed to terms on a four year, $43M contract extension with the Denver Broncos, according to a report in the Denver Post. The 32 year old Bailey, who had 45 tackles, a sack, and 2 interceptions a year ago, will receive $22 million in guaranteed money. The Ball Says: Bailey had suggested interest in playing for a contender in the twilight of his career, but the threat of an impending lockout and considerable [...]
The latest mock of April’s 2011 NFL Draft published by the Orlando Sentinel predicts that with the 16th pick in the first round the Jacksonville Jaguars will select cornerback Jimmy Smith of the University of Colorado. The 6’2″ 205 pound Senior had 68 tackles in 2010. The Ball Says: Several NFL teams are likely salivating over Smith’s combination of size, speed, and athleticism, and although the All Big 12′s standouts stats are far from eye popping (he had only 4 [...]
Free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who started 15 games and had 73 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions for St. Louis in 2010, has been released by the Rams according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 29 year old Atogwe was due an $8 million roster bonus on February 21st. The Ball Says: Atogwe was our IDP Bust of the Year at Defensive Back after a downturn in the big plays essential to his fantasy [...]
The Oakland Raiders have agreed to terms on a two year, $30 million contract extension with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News. The 31 year old Seymour, who had 48 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2010, will reportedly receive $22.5 million in guaranteed money. The Ball Says: $22 million in guarantees seems like a lot of cheddar, especially for a player the wrong side of 30 who missed three games [...]
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that a defensive end may be high on the list of the Vikings draft day priorities, and one of the players that mockniks have potentially headed to the Twin Cities is two-time All Big-Ten standout Adrian Clayborn of Iowa. The 6’4″, 285 lb. Senior had 52 tackles and 4 sacks in 2010. The Ball Says: Clayborn, much like the Hawkeyes as a whole, had something of a disappointing season last year after returning to Iowa even [...]
Linebacker Colin McCarthy of the University of Miami hopes to follow in the footsteps of such Hurricanes standouts as Ray Lewis and Jon Beason by continuing his collegiate success in the NFL, according to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The 6’2″, 240 lb. Senior had 120 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 2010. The Ball Says: Most draft experts have McCarthy pegged as a third or fourth round pick, and his tackle numbers seem [...]
One player whose Draft Stock is on the rise is Florida safety Ahmad Black, who was recently one of 7 former Gators invited to the 2011 NFL Combine, according to a report in the Gainesville Sun. The 5’9″, 190 lb. senior had 109 tackles, 1 sack, and 5 interceptions in 2010. The Ball Says: Black is a sure tackler with terrific instincts who has shown himself a more than capable safety in the tough SEC, but his relatively diminutive size [...]
The Detroit Free Press reports that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been named 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. Suh, who had 66 tackles, 10 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception last season, was also awarded the Pepsi and Sporting News ROY honors. The Ball Says: Suh rightfully dominated the voting just as he dominated opponents during the season, garnering 48 of 50 votes. The former Cornhusker’s NFL future is certainly a bright one [...]
