After nine seasons in the NFL and three Super Bowl titles, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is about to embark on a new experience.

“It’s not too often that we fly east to play a game,” Brady said Tuesday in a conference call before Sunday’s regular-season NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London. “And to play in Wembley Stadium, it’s as historic a stadium (as there is) in the entire world. I think our team is all very excited for that.”

The NFL is playing at Wembley for the third straight year, and both teams will arrive in the British capital on Friday – only two days before the game.

“It’s a long flight but we’ll be prepared for it,” said Brady, who threw six touchdown passes for the Patriots (4-2) in the 59-0 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. “We’ll have our energy and we’ll be ready to go by the time the ball kicks off.”

The setting for this weekend’s game surely will be different for both the Patriots and the Buccaneers, with thousands of British fans wearing a variety of NFL shirts at the stadium. But it will just be another game for Brady.

“For us, the job’s the same: When the balls kicked off, the rules are the same for us, the field’s the same size,” Brady said. “We’re playing an opponent we study all week.”

Two years ago, the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins also arrived only days before. But last year, the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers spent a week in London getting used to the differences.

“We’ll have a couple days to get acclimated to the time change,” Brady said. “The weather is pretty similar in London as it is here in Boston, so we’re pretty familiar with that. Try to get our rest before the game on both Friday night and all day Saturday, and really come out and play with a lot of excitement and energy on Sunday.”

The Bucs remained winless at 0-6 after losing to the Carolina Panthers 28-21 on Sunday. The Bucs will be the “home” team in London, so the Patriots could win their first road game of the season at the iconic stadium.

“I’ve heard great things about this stadium. It’s an incredible stadium,” Brady said. “I’ve watched a lot of European soccer also, so I’m very familiar with the grounds they play on.”

Brady said he has also watched previous NFL games at Wembley on TV, so he is familiar with the field.

“It’s a soccer field, so I guess it’s pretty flat,” Brady said. “The grass (is) a little bit longer, which hopefully slows down the pass rush of Tampa Bay. That’s what I’m hoping. I always like it when they’re as far away from me as possible.”

The British fans, who generally prefer their game of football to the American version, are expected to fill the stadium for the third straight year.

“This is a game that we’ll be remembering for the next 40 or 50 years of our lives,” Brady said. “So we all want to go out and play as well as we can.”
Sourced via The Miami Herald

Popularity: 4% [?]

Floyd Mayweather Jr. stopped by the New York Jets’ practice facility and came up with a knockout of an idea for his next career move.

“I think I could play in the NFL now,” the six-time champion boxer said with a laugh Thursday. “I’m going to talk to the owner.”

A few particularly long tosses had Mayweather jumping around like a little kid back on the sandlot.

“Did you see those passes?” he shouted. “Did you see how far I threw it?”

Rest easy, Mark Sanchez. Your job is safe.

“You always just imagine guys being really big,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “Then, you realize that that guy can punch you in the face 20 times before you ever even thought about punching him.”

The Jets invited Mayweather to practice, and he and several members of his entourage were there for the last 15 minutes before he spoke to the team.

“This is my first time coming to an NFL training camp,” he said before adding, “I’ve bet enough money on them.”

With the team huddled around him, Mayweather told the Jets to not let their loss last Sunday at New Orleans get them down.

“They’ve made a couple of good trades, and if Braylon Edwards and Sanchez can get good chemistry,” he said, “they’ve got the potential to make it to the Super Bowl.”

Mayweather took photos with players and threw the football around, including tossing a few passes to running back Thomas Jones.

“He’s real cool to just come out and mingle with us for a little bit,” tight end Dustin Keller said. “He’s definitely a confident man and he loves his money, that’s for sure.”

Mayweather’s last fight, a victory over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez in September that improved him to 40-0, generated 1 million pay-per-view buys. He also didn’t miss a chance to throw a playful jab at Sanchez, whom he followed when Sanchez was the quarterback at Southern California.

“Of course, I told Sanchez, ‘I know you rooted for Marquez,’” Mayweather said with a grin. “He just laughed about it.”

Mayweather also flashed some knowledge of Jets history – and an appreciation for the green and white.

“I know Joe Namath has been that guy for years, and I like their colors,” he said. “They’ve got that ‘Money Mayweather‘ green. They’ve got the best colors in the NFL.”

He was especially excited about meeting Ryan, whose brash and loquacious style is right up Mayweather’s alley.

“Yeah, he’s cool!” Mayweather said. “I like that coach, man. He’s the coolest NFL coach I’ve ever met.”

And that’s even with Ryan taking some shots at his size; Mayweather is 5-foot-7 1/2 and less than 150 pounds.

“It was kind of an interesting deal,” Ryan said. “When you look at him, you’re like, ‘Oh, please. I’ll whip that dude.’ Then, he’s like, bam! And, you wake up missing.”

Mayweather has dabbled in reality television, wrestling and has talked about a potential acting career. He’s excited about all that, but is still unsure what his next move in the ring will be.

“I ain’t even thought about it, but I know football,” he said. “Brett Favre looked extremely good on Monday. His offensive line is unbelievable, man. That guy’s a legend.”

After watching an NFL practice, Mayweather wasn’t sure whether boxing or football was tougher, saying that they’re both “very, very brutal contact sports.”

“I was thinking to myself that he doesn’t get hit very often, so what does he know about contact?” a smiling Ryan said. “It was good to see him out there.”
Sourced via washingtonpost.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Ex-Florida Gator Reche Caldwell runs through passing drills at the United Football League ‘combine’ Saturday at Florida Citrus Bowl. (STEPHEN M. DOWELL/ORLANDO SENTINEL) (June 9, 2009)

When the subject of the United Football League surfaces, the only thing most everyone wants to know is if this thing is going to fly.

But if you listen to anyone involved with the UFL, they are quick to erase any doubtful thinking and litter the conversation with optimism ala a Barack Obama campaign speech. UFL officials not only plan to kick this league off in October, but to also do things the right way.

“It’s not going to be some kind of slappy league to the point where we’re just throwing something out here,” said former NFL quarterback Quinn Gray, a former Jacksonville Jaguars backup to Byron Leftwich and most recently David Garrard.

“The commissioner is going to put out the best talent. You’ve got a bunch of former NFL players, a bunch of former NFL coaches, and so it’s going to be a competitive league,”

Gray, 30, a former star at Florida A&M, was on hand Saturday as 52 free agents showed up at the Florida Citrus Bowl for a combine-type workout.

Orlando is one of four franchises in the inaugural season, along with San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York. And unless Michael Vick remains suspended from the NFL and ends up in the UFL, Gray could be the leading candidate as Orlando’s quarterback.

Regionality will play a big part in the league’s placement of players and Gray relishes the idea that he may wind up back in the Citrus Bowl where he took part in some great Florida Classic battles with Bethune-Cookman.

“The city of Orlando, they’ve been yearning for a team for years, regardless of what it is,” Gray said. “They had the Arena team and they’ve got the bowl games and of course the Florida Classic, so Orlando is going to be a great place for this team.

“The more guys from Florida A&M, Florida State, Florida — guys from this area … who are on this Orlando team is just going to bring more fans.”

Former Florida Gator and recent NFL castoff Reche Caldwell was another player working out Saturday.

“I played college here … I played here [Florida] my whole life until I got to the NFL,” said Caldwell, 30, a Tampa native, “so it will definitely be a great opportunity for everybody to come see me play if I get a chance to play here.”
Sourced via orlandosentinel.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

I’m thinking of three guys. One guy has two NFL MVP’s, a Super Bowl ring, and MVP, and is very close to assuring himself in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Another guy helped turn a franchise from a laughing stock to a Super Bowl team, and recently signed a five year extension worth $42.5 million.

Finally, a guy who has played in five Super Bowls, winning his most recent four, and is known as one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history.

Know who I am talking about? Many NFL fans will know the first guy is Kurt Warner, second is Jake Delhomme, and the third is Adam Vinatieri. All of these guys have at one point been near, or at, the top of the NFL in their respective position, and have had tremendous success in the NFL.

What some people may not know, is that these three guys have the NFL Europe league to thank for getting an opportunity to play in the NFL.

Kurt Warner was undrafted out of college, and after three years in the AFL, was given a chance to play in the NFL Europe league. Jake Delhomme actually backed up Kurt Warner when the two played for the Amsterdam Admirals, and was later sent to another team where he would split time with another quarterback (Pat Barnes).

Vinatieri also played for the Admirals (when the league was named the World League of American Football) in 1995, where he was able to hone his place kicking. After a year, the New England Patriots decided to take him on as their kicker.

If not for the NFL Europe, these three guys would have more than likely never received a real chance at playing in the National Football League. The league may not be remembered for developing all-star talent, but it no doubt was better than nothing. Unfortunately, NFL Europe shut down in 2007 after fan support continued to slip year after year.

But there is a sign that Europeans want to see American football. In 2007, tickets to the Saints and Giants game played in London sold out quickly, and there is serious talk about playing a Super Bowl in London in the near future.

So if the fans enjoy football, why was there little fan support for NFL Europe?

The quality of the league was questionable, the marketing was terrible (especially in the U.S.), and many fans say they had much rather see the “real deal,” than fourth and fifth string players from NFL teams. If the NFL were to get serious about offering a quality football league in Europe though, there would be a much better chance of success.

Whatever the case, a developmental league is needed for football. We do have several leagues coming up, such as the UFL and AAFL, but neither of those are associated with the NFL. NFL Europe is directly related to the NFL, which would be much more efficient for teams looking to develop young players.

Since American Football is more popular than ever worldwide, and the Europeans are showing interest in it, it would make sense for the NFL to give NFL Europe one last shot. If that doesn’t succeed, than there would probably be more than enough cities in the U.S.A. willing to accept an NFL Developmental team.

Because without developmental leagues, we could be missing out on the next NFL superstar.
Sourced via bleacherreport.com

Popularity: 7% [?]

Goodell says the NFL and the teams that have played at Wembley over the last two seasons have been blown away by the response of UK NFL fans.

The Commissioner now says that a second regular game could be moved overseas, and could be in London or another UK venue due to the success of the Wembley games.

“The fan reaction we’ve had in London has been extraordinary. We would like to feed that passion,” Goodell said after speaking at the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

“We have a great fan base in the UK. There have been discussions of taking the second game and playing it in another market in the UK. That’s something that we’ll evaluate.

“Whether it’s two consecutive games in the same stadium, we don’t necessarily know. But we have a great foundation.”
Games

The New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins on the way to their Super Bowl success in 2007, while the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers 37-32 in an entertaining game last year.

The New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off at Wembley in October this year, and fans have already gobbled up the majority of the tickets to another sell-out.

Although reports of a possible Super Bowl in London or even a future team based in the UK still appear far fetched, a second regular season game in the UK in 2010 does seem an option.

Plans will be discussed at next week’s league meeting, as the NFL also look at extending the season from 16 to 18 games, which would give more room to include a second overseas game.

Goodell says that teams that have played at Wembley have all thought the process to be a worthwhile exercise.

Experience

“I think the teams have had a great experience that have gone over,” Goodell said.

“We’ve been able to build on that and I think teams recognize it’s an honour and a privilege to go over and play there. And it can be done without impacting the team negatively.”

This year’s game will go down as a home clash to Tampa Bay, meaning they lose a game staged at Raymond James Stadium – but that is the only negative according to Goodell.

“The negative is taking the home game away from the fans,” Goodell said.

“It’s another reason why potentially restructuring the season and changing two preseason (games) into regular-season (games) can be something that we find is beneficial to the fans.”
Sourced via skysports.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Masters is over. The Tiger and Phil show might just be getting started.

Tiger Woods matched the course record with a 30 on the front nine, where he closed with three straight birdies Thursday morning to finish off a seven-under 65 at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Phil Mickelson followed in the afternoon by chipping in for eagle and making a remarkable par save from under a video board for a 67.

Steve Marino and Robert Allenby also opened with 67s. Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, Hunter Mahan, Jeff Maggert and Lucas Glover had 68s.

More golf: John Daly shot a 70 in the first round of the Spanish Open on the European Tour to trail leader Soren Hansen by seven strokes.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic advanced to the Rome Masters quarterfinals with straight-sets wins. Nadal easily handled Robin Soderling of Sweden, 6-1, 6-0. Federer downed the 16th-seeded Radek Stepanek, 6-4, 6-1. Djokovic had a surprisingly easy time with 13th-seeded Tommy Robredo, winning 6-1, 6-1. …

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic outlasted Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, to advance to the Porsche Grand Prix quarterfinals in Stuttgart, Germany. Second-seeded Elena Dementieva beat Agnes Szavay of Hungary, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, and set up a quarterfinal against Marion Bartoli of France.

Auto racing: The Indy Racing League has suspended driver Sean Guthrie and his father, car owner Jim Guthrie, for disregarding directions during a Firestone Indy Lights race last week in Kansas. IRL vice president Tony Cotman said their actions put “everyone at risk” during a yellow caution period and that the suspensions are for an indefinite period. Sean Guthrie finished 18th in the race.

NFL: The New Orleans Saints and the state of Louisiana have announced a new partnership that will continue the club’s commitment to the state through 2025. …

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly re-signed linebacker Freddy Keiaho, an unrestricted free agent. The Indianapolis Star reported that Keiaho’s agent confirmed the signing but would not disclose terms of the deal. …

The Seattle Seahawks and starting outside linebacker Leroy Hill have reached agreement on a multiyear contract. Hill became a free agent after the team dropped its franchise tag on him and Hill refused to sign a tender offer. But the Seahawks said the two sides had agreed to terms.

Sourced via freep.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

ANAHEIM — In the end, the freakish nature of the sport they played helped do them in.

Two Anaheim Ducks goals 83 seconds apart in the second period — each deflected into the Sharks’ net off the stick of one of their own defensemen — ended San Jose’s already diminished playoff hopes Monday night in a 4-1 fight-filled defeat.

Their victory gave the Ducks the series in six games as the Sharks failed in their effort to defy the odds and come back from a 3-1 deficit.

Left wing Milan Michalek’s power-play goal staked the Sharks to a 1-0 lead, but that was the last of 36 shots that got past Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller. The Anaheim goals went to right wings Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne as well as defenseman Francois Beauchemin and center Ryan Getzlaf.

The traditional postgame handshake marked a bitter end to a hockey season that began with great promise after General Manager Doug Wilson brought in veteran players who already had their names on the Stanley Cup and a new coach, Todd McLellan, who sipped from it a year ago when he was an assistant in Detroit.

The combination caught fire in the regular season as the Sharks dominated the NHL for the first two months of the season, then held on to win the Presidents’ Trophy with a league-high 117 points.

But postseason demons could not be conquered as the Sharks dug themselves an 0-2 hole out of which they could not climb, marking the first time since 2001 that the

Sharks lost a first-round matchup.

The teams left no doubt that emotions would be high right from the start as Sharks center Joe Thornton convinced Getzlaf to drop the gloves just two seconds into the first period.

There would be 10 more penalties in the opening 20 minutes and both teams were able to score once on their power plays.

The Sharks got on the board first at 10:19 when defenseman Rob Blake fired a shot from the half-boards and Hiller kicked the rebound right into the slot where Michalek sent it right back toward the net before Hiller could get set.

It was only the second goal this series from the Sharks’ second line of Michalek, Joe Pavelski and Ryan Clowe — something McLellan had made note of earlier in the day.

“They scored 70 goals all year, and they’re at one right now,” McLellan said. “They’re on the hook a little bit, too. They have to take some pressure off the big boys.”

Anaheim evened it up at 12:33 when Getzlaf fired the puck from the blue line and right wing Corey Perry, parked just outside the crease, deflected it with his backhand high into the net over Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov’s right shoulder.

But it was the two second-period goals that proved to be the backbreakers for the Sharks, giving Anaheim a 3-1 lead that San Jose could not overcome.

The first came with Sharks center Torrey Mitchell sitting in the penalty box for hooking. It took Anaheim only nine seconds to get on the board when Selanne shot the puck through the crease from a harsh angle and it deflected off Ehrhoff’s stick past Nabokov at 13:03.

The second Ducks goal of the middle period came off a hard shot from the left point by Anaheim defenseman Francois Beauchemin that deflected off the stick of a dejected Boyle and into the far top corner of his own net at 14:26.

Boyle’s frustration showed at the end of the second period when he picked up boarding and roughing penalties for a hit on Perry. That scrum also escalated into a fight between the 5-foot-11 Pavelski and 6-foot-4 Anaheim defenseman Ryan Whitney.

The chippy play continued into the third period as four more roughing penalties were handed out, but the only scoring came with 2:54 left in the game when the puck went to Getzlaf in the high slot after extended play in the corners and Getzlaf whipped it past Nabokov.

Sourced via mercurynews.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Representatives for the new Dallas Cowboys stadium and the Cotton Bowl have confirmed their interest in hosting the FIFA World Cup matches in 2018 or 2022, the USA Bid Committee said Thursday.

The two venues are among 58 major stadiums up for consideration for the World Cup tournaments. Only 49 major metropolitan areas have venues vying for the host designation.

“We are very pleased by the impressive response, and are certainly gratified by the enthusiasm and thorough understanding everyone has shown for this unique opportunity,” said David Downs, the executive director for the USA Bid Committee. “The benefits to a host nation, and particularly to the venue cities where the matches could be played, are numerous and lasting. Tourism, economic impact, meaningful global exposure and a legacy of being at the center of a FIFA World Cup™ competition await host venues and cities if we are fortunate enough to stage the tournament here in 2018 or 2022.”

In order to be considered, public officials and executives representing the different host nations have to be able to provide a minimum of 12 stadiums capable of supporting 40,000 or more spectators. Stadiums with a minimum capacity of 80,000 are needed to host the Opening Match and Final Match of the World Cup.

Sourced via bizjournals.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

Packers’ BPA

With Ted Thompson’s strategy of taking the best player available, is there a chance if Knowshon Moreno or one of the top WR is there he takes them? — Scott W., Lexington, Kent.

Steuber:
Scott, I can’t see the Packers taking an offensive skill player, especially since they’re switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. However, if the best player on the board at the time is an offensive player like Michael Crabtree, I could see the Packers trading down in the draft and acquiring more draft picks. Look for the Packers to select a 3-4 DE like LSU’s Tyson Jackson, the draft’s top NT, Boston College’s B.J. Raji or a pass-rushing OLB like Texas’ Brian Orakpo or Penn State’s Aaron Maybin.

Bengals’ draft

What weakness should the Bengals address with their first-round pick? Offensive line, anywhere on the defense, or something else? — Joel Smith, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Steuber:
Joel, it’s a toss-up, but I think the best value at No. 6 is at offensive tackle. The Bengals could draft Brian Orakpo, but with Ole Miss OT Michael Oher and talented-but-troubled Alabama star Andre Smith likely being available, one of those two will be the pick.

Will Chiefs move up?

There is talk the Chiefs may want to move up in the draft. Do you think it’s a good idea? Who would they target? — Steve, Kansas City

Steuber:
Steve, I don’t think the Chiefs want to move up at all; they’re positioning themselves nicely to move back. The rise of USC’s Mark Sanchez will benefit the Chiefs, as at least three teams are hot on his trail. I expect the Chiefs to make a blockbuster trade before or during the draft with the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins or New York Jets. The Broncos and Redskins are the most likely.

What’s up in Seattle?

Any chance the Seahawks can trade down at the No. 4 slot, if a team either wants to trade up for one of the QBs or O-linemen? — Jim C., Dana Point, Calif.

Steuber:
Jim, a team that potentially trades up with the Seahawks will only do so if Mark Sanchez is still on the board. It’s possible that a team like the Buffalo Bills will consider moving up to land Baylor OT Jason Smith or Virginia OT Eugene Monroe. But to think they would give up both of their first-round picks, plus a third-rounder to get up to No. 4 is highly unlikely. The reason why the Bills traded Jason Peters was because they didn’t want to give him the money he was seeking; I don’t see them turning around and handing that kind of money over to an unproven player.

Percy Harvin

Why is Percy Harvin not getting the draft love he deserves? He WAS Florida’s running game two years ago, and he is a better receiver than Ted Ginn was, and just as electric. Call me crazy, but I don’t think he slips past No. 8 to Jax. What are your thoughts? — Big J, Parts Unknown

Steuber:
Big J, I agree with you that Percy Harvin is electric, but there are some off-the-field concerns teams have with him. Harvin had a sensational Pro Day where he ran crisp routes, was quick in and out of his cuts and displayed strong hands; he received rave reviews after that performance. But with reports of a failed drug test this offseason and lingering concerns about his attitude and maturity, teams will be shy to hand in a card with his name on it in the first round.

Broncos’ new higher picks

What do you think the likelihood is that the Denver Broncos might trade their newly acquired picks from the Bears either to move up higher in the first round or to acquire a different, more veteran QB? — Ron, Littleton, Col.

Steuber:
Ron, the Broncos are fine with Kyle Orton starting the season at quarterback, but they have a strong interest in moving up on draft day. The Broncos really like Mark Sanchez and have had discussions with the Kansas City Chiefs about the No. 3 pick. The Chiefs will ask for both of the Broncos’ first-round selections (Nos. 12 and 18), plus an additional high-round pick. The Chiefs will ask for more from the Broncos since they’re division rivals. I think there’s enough smoke between these two teams to create some fire on draft day, as unlikely as it sounds.

Vikings … what should the plan be?

The Vikings are in a precarious spot sitting at 22. The top OT will be gone, along with the only DE that would be an impact on Day 1. WR is not as great of an issue as everyone has been saying because Sidney Rice was hampered by knee problems last year and hardly saw the field. So do the Vikings draft CB Vontae Davis or trade down to try and garner C/OT Max Unger to fill the line? — Cody, Bismarck, N.D.

Steuber:
Cody, there will be value at No. 22. The top four offensive tackles will be off the board, but Arizona’s Eben Britton is a perfect fit for the Vikings. He primarily played RT during his college career at Arizona and that’s the most pressing need for the Vikings, who have to find a better option than Ryan Cook. If the Vikings decide not to draft Britton, a cornerback is possible. You mentioned Vontae Davis, but Connecticut’s Darius Butler and Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith are also attractive alternatives. Drafting a wide receiver is another possibility. There will be at least four first-round-worthy WRs on the board for the Vikings: Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks, Florida’s Percy Harvin and Rutgers’ Kenny Britt. With all of that talent assembled around the 22nd pick, trading down is also an option.

Should Cards draft Pat White?

If the Cards trade Anquan Boldin for draft picks and get the opportunity, should they take a chance on Pat White? I think he would be a great pick. He would add a slot receiver, a RB, and a QB in one pick. I feel he would do well under Kurt Warner and would always give the defenses another headache with his option potential. — Howard, North Charleston, S.C.

Steuber:
Howard, remember, the Cardinals drafted Early Doucet in the third round last year, and he has a promising future. He’s a strong route runner, possesses similar attributes to Anquan Boldin and is a smart player. Pat White is an option for many teams and the Cardinals could be in the mix. But I don’t see where he fits. White is a tremendous athlete and can impact the game in many ways, but he’s at least three years away from possibly starting an NFL game at QB and another year or two away from developing into a threat at WR. However, he’s a playmaker, and with the Wildcat formation being in vogue right now, that’s where White’s true value kicks into gear; put him in space and let his athleticism and vision take over.

Who’s the man?

This is a pretty easy question, but could be a hard one. There will be a lot of good talent coming into the NFL this year, but who will be the one player you would bet on being great in ‘09? Running back, quarterback only? A question for my fantasy draft. Thanks. — Roland, Chicago

Steuber:
Roland, that’s a tough question because I think for a rookie to be successful he has to be in the right system. But a guy that I really like is North Carolina WR Hakeem Nicks, who I compare to Reggie Wayne. He will be a late first-round pick and in most cases that’s a good thing, because he will go to an experienced team that has a quality starting quarterback and some veterans from whom he can learn. There are two great destinations for Nicks: the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants. If Nicks were to join one of the Manning brothers — on a Colts team moving forward without Marvin Harrison or the Giants, who released Plaxico Burress — he would be in a perfect situation and would immediately become a starter.

Coffee talk

With the fourth pick in the draft my head is going to explode with trying to think of what would be the safest pick for the Seahawks. Should they go quarterback and plan for the future? Should they draft OT and try to give Matt Hassleback the protection he so desperately needs? Or, if by some chance Aaron Curry drops, should they go defense? Please help! — C2K, Arlington, Wash.

Steuber:
C2K, take a breath and relax. No need to have a panic attack. I think the Seahawks are in a good position. It’s obvious Mark Sanchez is their No. 1 desire, but there’s a chance he’ll be off the board, as a team could trade up with the Chiefs and take him. If Sanchez is off the board, that means one of the top offensive tackles, Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe, will be available. I think Aaron Curry is a possibility, but not drafting Sanchez makes protecting Matt Hasselbeck a much greater concern and one of the OTs the selection.

Detroit Lions

I have long been a Lions fan for many years. Some good years, mostly bad, but nonetheless a loyal fan. Tell me, why wouldn’t Detroit build around a defense-loaded draft this year? They own three of the first 33 picks. Curry, Laurinaitus, etc. I’m not sold on Stafford or Sanchez. The QB depth is deeper next year. Hope Jim Schwartz and the brass make better decisions then Matt Millen did. This is their chance to take some raw defensive talent. If I’m looking in the wrong direction explain, why. GO LIONS! — Cameron Crosser, Eldora, Iowa

Steuber:
Cameron, the Lions have to get a quarterback, whether it’s Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez. Drafting a quarterback is crucial to their future success. I personally think they should draft Sanchez, but it appears that the decision-makers in the organization favor Stafford. I can’t realistically see the Lions drafting Aaron Curry. He’s a really good linebacker and probably one of the safest picks in the draft, but the Lions don’t have a need for an outside linebacker; they already have Ernie Sims and Julian Peterson. With that said, a middle linebacker is a huge need, but Curry primarily played on the strong side in college, and to invest $30 to $40 million on a player who never played that position is a risk.

Now, they could use the 20th or 33rd pick in the draft on a MLB like James Laurinaitis. That’s possible. I agree that the Lions have to improve their defense, but this is going to be a process, not an overnight success story, and the process begins with identifying their quarterback.

Another frustrated Bengals fan

With Andre Smith looking less and less attractive, do you realistically see Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe being available when the Bengals are on the clock? — Metzam, Cincinnati

Steuber:
Metzam, I don’t think Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe will be available at No. 6. Even though you and I agree that Andre Smith should be less attractive to teams after his tumultuous offseason, the talent he possesses will prevail, and it appears that the Bengals are among the teams interested in him. The Bengals have serious issues on the offensive line, and I think their pick will come down to Andre Smith and Michael Oher.

Which team’s pick will shake things up the most?

Which draft pick could cause the biggest domino effect? I’m not talking about a player, I’m looking at the teams. I think the Lions will have a small effect at No. 1. The Seahawks could shake things up depending on who they take. — Nick Skinner, Seattle

Steuber:
Nick, the Kansas City Chiefs hold the key to the top 10, as it’s possible that they trade down with a team that wants Mark Sanchez. If Sanchez is selected in the top three of the draft, you could see players like Aaron Curry, Brian Orakpo and B.J. Raji fall.

SOurced via foxsports.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Detroit Lions last captured the NFL championship in 1957.

A year later, they traded their quarterback, Bobby Layne, who then supposedly said the team would not win for 50 years.

Highland Park High School in Dallas, Layne’s alma mater, last won a state championship in 1957. Until Matthew Stafford matriculated and helped them to another in 2005.

More than 50 years of cursed football have come and gone in Detroit since Layne’s departure. Stafford, the top-rated quarterback in this week’s draft, might well be the Lions’ choice when they open Saturday’s festivities with the No. 1 pick of the first round, their reward for an unprecedented 0-16 season. As of late Wednesday, the Lions and Stafford were still discussing a potential contract.

“It’s weird. It’s crazy. It’s kind of ironic,” said Stafford, who walked past plaques of Layne and another Pro Football Hall of Fame member (and Lion), running back Doak Walker, in Highland Park’s stadium for years.

Stafford, who started for three seasons at the University of Georgia, heads a quarterback class of three possible first-round choices, the others being Southern California’s Mark Sanchez and Kansas State’s Josh Freeman. All three are juniors.

Stafford’s early entrance into the draft, often a negative for quarterbacks in terms of experience, should not be an issue, he says.

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“I played in 39 football games in college. That’s a lot of football games, probably more than some seniors have played in,” he said at the NFL combine in February. “Obviously, I have a lot to learn. It’s a whole different ballgame in the NFL. But I understand what it takes to prepare and get ready to play early, and I do feel like I have a lot of experience.”

Another history lesson

It’s not like the Lions haven’t seen this show before. They’ve drafted franchise quarterbacks … to little end.

In 2002, they made Joey Harrington the No. 3 overall choice. He lasted four seasons, throwing more touchdown passes than interceptions only once, and has since bounced around the NFL like an onside kick.

That’s one reason they are where they are today.

In 1990, they chose Andre Ware seventh overall. He started six games in four years and did not throw a pass in a regular-season game for another team. He’s one reason the Lions were where they were when they chose Harrington.

Theoretically, Ware should have played a good (or decent) 10 to 12 years. At the end of his career, with the club declining after at least a modicum of success, it would be positioned to select his replacement. Ware failed, the Lions failed, Harrington failed and a 0-16 club now asks itself the franchise quarterback question again while Daunte Culpepper, 32 and with his fourth team, is considered the starter.

“Normally, the teams that are going to draft a quarterback, they’re not very good,” San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary says. “There’s a reason they’re drafting early.”

Those very reasons might augur against selecting a player such as Stafford. Maybe it’s better to fix the offensive line and the running game first, at least have some tools in place, as the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens did a year ago when they chose Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, respectively.

Both performed well enough for their teams to flip from losing seasons to the playoffs, and neither had to shoulder the entire load.

“What happened to rookie quarterbacks who have not been as successful,” Singletary says, “(is) they don’t have a running game, they don’t have an offensive line, they don’t have receivers. What you have is a chaotic situation where the quarterback is going to lose confidence and the fans and the coaching staff are going to get down on him.”

That’s certainly Detroit’s past, but maybe not its future. Stafford says he’d be more than happy to help the Lions try to turn things around.

“I love a challenge,” he said at the combine. “No matter where I go, I’m definitely going to come in with the same attitude, try to bring a winning attitude, confidence from the quarterback position that hopefully bleeds into the offense and the entire team.”

But do the Lions love him? New coach Jim Schwartz acknowledges that holding the first overall pick is a huge and expensive gamble and that using it on a junior quarterback might double the stakes. Stafford could command about $40 million in guaranteed money. A year ago, Ryan, the third overall pick, got a six-year contract that guaranteed him nearly $35 million. Ryan and Stafford use the same agent, Tom Condon.

“I’ve compared it a little bit to playing blackjack,” Schwartz says. “You can go play blackjack in Las Vegas and play the $5 table and make a lot of bad decisions and lose $100 and have some fun. If you go play at the $5,000 or $10,000 table, if you make bad decisions, you’re walking home.”

Young at heart

At 21, Stafford feels ready to jump into the NFL after three seasons starting at Georgia. His college coach, Mark Richt, says Stafford has “as much or more potential as anybody I’ve ever coached, especially at the quarterback position. He’s got every tool you could want.”

Yet to NFL eyes, the pie isn’t entirely baked. The NFL likes its quarterbacks to have matured through four years and sometimes five in the college world. Falcons coach Mike Smith can’t talk about Ryan without mentioning he was a fifth-year senior when the club chose him.

“If Matthew Stafford had played his senior year, there would be no concern,” says Mel Kiper Jr., an NFL draft analyst for ESPN. “If he’d stayed another year, he’d be off the charts. The junior issue is out there because of the busts.”

Let’s not say the Oakland Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell is a bust. Not yet. Nor the Tennessee Titans’ Vince Young. Let’s say they’ve struggled. As has San Francisco’s Alex Smith. How about Rex Grossman, cast adrift at last by the Chicago Bears after bouts of inconsistency?

You want busts? Ryan Leaf. Todd Marinovich. Heath Shuler. Underclassmen all.

As Titans coach Jeff Fisher observes: “You look back over the years, the top five, six players I believe are contributing in most cases when they are expected to. The exception would be the young quarterbacks.”

Ted Sundquist was the Denver Broncos general manager when the team drafted Jay Cutler in 2006. He was the third quarterback picked, behind Young and Matt Leinart, now the Arizona Cardinals backup to revitalized Kurt Warner. Sundquist says the paucity of quarterbacks this year creates an updraft that’s carrying Stafford to withering heights.

“I think he’s being pushed to a position where in most other years he would not be considered. It has to do with the position of quarterback. I don’t think Stafford is the first pick in the round,” Sundquist says.

The lack of experience bothers him. The absence of dominance perplexes him.

“Georgia has been a good football team while he was the starter but not a great team. I’ve never really felt him just take a game over,” Sundquist says. “He’s obviously very well-schooled for the process he’s going through now, the combine and workout days. He’s nailing all of that, but that always scares me. It’s almost too good to be true at this point.”

Especially in light of his statistics. Stafford threw 51 touchdown passes against 33 interceptions in his three seasons and completed 57.1% of his attempts, which isn’t overly outstanding. He set a Georgia record in 2008 with his 25 touchdown passes.

His arm strength is impressive. Richt says Stafford’s numbers would have been better had he played behind a more experienced offensive line. Three freshmen and two sophomores made most of the starts there.

“He’s grown so much,” Bulldogs receiver Mohammed Massaquoi says. “He’s a lot more mature. Everyone knows the intangible things he brings to the team, but he’s been a great guy to be with on this team.”

Kiper says Stafford will need time to ripen, that he should not be expected to play and succeed immediately, especially with a team that was winless in 2008. He points out that Stafford won three bowl games and a state high school championship. If Detroit drafts him, it should expect to teach him.

“That’s why those guys in the NFL are paid to coach. Where did we get the idea that this kid is a finished product?” Kiper says.

Richt agrees.

“He’s got to get on a team and learn the system and know exactly what the coaches want from a decision-making point of view and then get repetitions and experience,” Richt says.

Stafford doesn’t argue the point.

“I want to do everything I can to be as ready as possible to play wherever I go. It doesn’t matter. If they don’t feel that I’m ready to go and I have to sit behind a veteran for a while and maybe learn some of the things that I need to learn, then that’s fine,” he told news reporters at the combine. “But I’m going to make it as hard as I can on coaches to try to keep me off the field.”

Sourced via usatoday.com

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