Police in Garland, Texas have issued a felony assault warrant for the arrest of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, according to a report in the St. Petersburg Times. The warrant for the 25 year-old Talib, who had 40 tackles and 6 interceptions in 11 games for the Bucs in 2010, alleges that the 4th-year pro pistol-whipped and fired shots at his sister’s boyfriend during a dispute on March 21. The Ball Says: This is the latest in a string [...]

In a recent online chat Philadelphia Inquirer writer Paul Domowitz intimates that he believes the Eagles are prepared to move forward without free agent strong safety Quintin Mikell, replacing him in the starting lineup with second year pro Kurt Coleman. The former Ohio State standout had 36 tackles and an interception in limited action (including 13 stops in two starts) in 2010. The Ball Says: This is as much beat writer speculation in the CBA-less Dead Zone that is the [...]

Each season NFL Draftniks debate the significance of incoming players who posted low scores on the enigmatic Wonderlic test, and one of this year’s “Draft Dunces” is cornerback Patrick Peterson of LSU, according to a report in the Sacramento Bee. The 6’1″, 222 lb. All-American Junior, who had 42 tackles and 4 interceptions in 2010, scored a 9 of 50 on the Wonderlic, one of four players in single digits. The Ball Says: Wide receivers and cornerbacks are generally among [...]

Texas A&M University linebacker Von Miller, widely considered the top prospect at his position entering the 2011 NFL Draft, was among 10 players named as plaintiffs in an antitrust lawsuit filed Friday as part of the league’s ongoing labor dispute (which has now escalated to a lockout and decertification of the NFLPA), according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The former Aggies star, who had 68 tackles and 11 sacks a year ago, was a standout at the NFL [...]

On the heels of a strong showing at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine the draft stock of University of Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt has risen to the point that ESPN NFL Draft and hair expert Mel Kiper Jr. predicts he’ll be selected sixth overall by the Cleveland Browns in his latest mock, according to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The 6’5″, 290 pound Senior had 62 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception for the [...]

With NFL owners and players negotiating to try to avoid a Lockoutalypse in advance of next month’s draft let’s harken back to the simpler times of last week with a look at some of the winners and losers among individual defensive players at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. STUDS Robert Quinn – DE, North Carolina After suspension cost him the entire 2010 season not many players had as much to prove as Quinn did, and he didn’t disappoint, showing off [...]