2010 NFL Draft

They weren't first rounders, but these six could be rookie impact players
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April 30
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 columnist Wes Bunting
"In what was considered one of the deepest drafts in years, the National Football Post takes a look at some potential impact-caliber prospects from round two: RB Montario Hardesty, Cleveland Browns Not only was Hardesty one of my favorite picks of the draft, I honestly think he has as good a shot as any being offensive rookie of the year in 2010. I made the case in March that I considered him the better overall running back prospect compared to Fresno State's Ryan Mathews, and although both players will be productive rookies, I think Hardesty's game is better tailored to the next level. In addition to running with power and toughness inside, he showcases the body control/balance to make"
Bucs' Dominik: McCoy the pick, even at No. 1
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April 28
Tampa Tribune
 
"General manager Mark Dominik indicated Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have selected Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy even if Tampa Bay had owned the No 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. The Bucs took McCoy at No. 3, one pick after the Lions chose Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. "Our main focus was making sure (Oklahoma quarterback) Sam Bradford went No. 1," Dominik said during a national radio interview with Jim Rome. "We knew we were in great shape with Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh, but we were excited about McCoy because he's the entire package. He's a great fit for the 3-technique. We thought he was the best 3-technique on the board." With their second pick,"
Birds pass on offenive linemen, confident in filling needs from roster
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April 26
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"The biggest surprise of the Eagles' draft was that for only the third time in a dozen years, Andy Reid left the war room without an offensive lineman. Fans and media observers had thought there was a chance the Birds might take a center/guard in the first round, given Jamaal Jackson's offseason ACL repair and Stacy Andrews' shaky play last season. Turned out, when general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Reid kept saying they thought they were fine at center, with backup Nick Cole, untested 2008 draftee Mike McGlynn, 2009 undrafted free agent Dallas Reynolds and former Penn State center A.Q. Shipley, Roseman and Reid really meant it. "We've got some young guys that fit in there, and"
Likes, dislikes over Redskins draft
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April 25
Washington Examiner
 
"A few things I liked and disliked about the Redskins draft weekend: What I liked: 1. The emphasis on the offensive line. in the previous 10 years of the Dan Snyder regime, the Redskins had selected eight offensive lineman. Shockingly, their line grew old and injured and they couldn't sustain any sort of momentum. But Washington took three linemen among its six picks, one of whom should start immediately (Trent Williams). You can quibble about whether or not they should have taken Williams or Russell Okung, but you can't argue with their direction. I wasn't a big fan of Selvish Capers after the Senior Bowl, but as a seventh-round choice? Good pick. 2. The trade of Jason Campbell. Let him go"
The former Oregon running back is now a San Francisco 49er
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April 25
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"To some people, one of the many surprises that took place during the 2010 NFL draft was the freefall of former Oregon Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount. In a year that saw 14 running backs selected during the seven-round draft, the 6'0", 241-pound Blount was one of the players who never heard his name called. Part of that may have to do with the 4.81 40-yard-dash he ran at February's combine in Indianapolis. Another reason for Blount's fall (and I'm guessing it may be this) could have been the barroom-style brawl he incited at Boise State's Bronco Field on September 3, 2009 after he punched Byron Hout in the face moments after the Ducks lost 19-8 in the season-opener. Whatever the"
Grading the NFL Draft: Only six teams earn a B or better, Giants, Jets not among them
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April 25
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"AFC EAST Jets - Coach Rex Ryan got his cornerback in Piscataway native Kyle Wilson to solidify the back end of his blitz-happy scheme. But who's going to rush the quarterback? Thirty-five-year-old Jason Taylor? Jets reinforce aging O-line with UMass' Vladimir Ducasse, who could replace Alan Faneca, and trade up to grab RB Joe McKnight to replace the departed Leon Washington (Seattle). Grade: B- Bills - News Bills GM Buddy Nix pulled a fast one by selecting Clemson RB C.J. Spiller at No. 9 overall but the joke is on him. RBs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are the strength of the team. Buffalo's O-line is a disaster area. After taking Spiller, Bills continue to ignore offensive line by"
Giants finally draft a middle linebacker in fourth round Nebraska's Phillip Dillard
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April 25
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"After going elsewhere in the first three rounds, Jerry Reese said he'd draft a middle linebacker if they would find a "good" one. In the fourth round, the Giants' general manager apparently found his man: Nebraska's Phillip Dillard. "I'm ecstatic," Dillard said on a conference call with reporters. "When that name went across the screen, I knew what their needs were and after going there for my visit, I was like, 'Wow, everything just fell into place.' It's amazing." The 6-foot, 245-pound Dillard enters the NFL having been through more adversity than the average prospect. And in his case, he appears to have persevered and grown stronger. The tough times for Dillard began with a torn ACL in"
Lions trade seventh-round pick for Eagles' sixth-round pick in 2011
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April 25
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Lions traded their second seventh-round pick (220 overall) in this year's NFL draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for a sixth-round pick in 2011. The Eagles used the choice toJamar Chaney, a 6-1, 244-pound linebacker from Mississippi State. Detroit still has one more pick - 255th overall, which is the final pick in the draft. Because it was a compensatory selection that the NFL awarded to the team for players lost to free agency, the Lions cannot trade the pick."
Lions grab defensive end Willie Young with team's first pick in seventh round
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April 25
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Lions have taken North Carolina State defensive end Willie Young with the No. 6 pick in the final round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Young, a 6-foot-5, 251-pounder, is projected to be a pass-rush specialist in the NFL after registering 20.5 sacks at N.C. State -- sixth in school history. "I'm excited. It's an opportunity," Young told the Detroit Lions. "I know that I've never sold myself short of anything." Young -- the No. 213 overall pick -- also had 45 tackles for losses, second all-time at the school behind Mario Williams, the first pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Young -- selected 213th overall -- said he wasn't disapointed to be drafted in the final round. "I'm not"
Developmental tackle like Jason Fox was a 'need' for Lions
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April 25
Michigan Live
 
"With the Detroit Lions taking University of Miami tackle Jason Fox in the fourth round of the draft, they certainly have high expectations for him, but they're going to let his talent dictate his finally landing place on the offensive line. At the start of his rookie season, he'll rotate at both tackle positions and Detroit offensive line coach George Yarno said he's also athletic enough to play guard. Just getting a developmental player in camp, though, was important for the Lions' growth on the offensive line. "You need young offensive linemen to develop in your program as you go along,'' Yarno said. "There are five positions and stability is nice but you also have to have depth and"
Detroit Lionswideout Tim Toone with Mr. Irrelevant pick
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April 25
Michigan Live
 
"The Lions selected Weber State wide receiver and kick returner Tim Toone as this year's Mr. Irrelevant with their 255th overall and last pick in the draft. Toone, an FCS first-team All-American his senior year, caught 83 passes for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games last year. He reportedly made official visits last week to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins headquarters. "He's got legitimate speed, which is one thing you've got to have," Weber State coach Ron McBride told the Standard-Examiner. "His return ability is important, what he does on special teams will be a big factor and his discipline and his route running are huge." In 2009, he was the NCAA Division I FCS"
Philadelphia Eagles add numbers and depth in rounds 4 and 5 of NFL draft
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April 25
LehighValleyLive.com
 
"In the fourth round of the NFL draft today the Philadelphia Eagles used all four of their choices, disdaining trades in the fourth round. In order, they selected Kentucky defensive back Trevard Lindley, Oklahoma linebacker Keenan Clayton, Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka and Missouri State tight end Clay Harbor. In the fifth round, the Eagles picked up Clemson DE Ricky Sapp and then traded down with their second selection, which they used toFlorida WR Riley Cooper. Lindley, at 6-0, 183, is a bit of an Asante Samuel clone -- good to the ball, good on coverage, less so tackling, less physical than some defensive backs. Clayton, 6-1, 229, is a big, tough run-stopping linebacker, used to"
Philadelphia Eagles take RB Charles Scott in sixth round of NFL draft
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April 25
LehighValleyLive.com
 
"The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up the NFL draft Saturday with four picks in the final two rounds. They added a running back to their roster in the sixth round, Charles Scott of LSU, taken with the 200th pick overall. In the seventh round, the Eagles sent their 2011 sixth-round choice to Detroit to move up to the 220th pick andinside linebacker Jamar Chaney of Mississippi State. With their own picks at 243 and 244 overall, the Eagles took Georgia defensive tackle Jeff Owens and Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman."
Green Bay Packers comfortable drafting for depth rather than need
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April 25
Green Bay Press Gazette
 
"The Green Bay Packers insist they'll get their share of immediate help from the 2010 draft. But if they do, it won't come at outside linebacker, where they lost Aaron Kampman to free agency. And it won't come at cornerback, where Al Harris is trying to return from knee-reconstruction surgery at age 35. So while General Manager Ted Thompson used the 2010 draft to build both his offensive and defensive lines by using four of his seven selections at those positions, he did nothing at either outside linebacker and cornerback, which were among his most pressing needs. Not that he could address everything in one draft. There's never enough quality picks to do that. But if the Packers are to"
Minnesota Vikings don't take QB, but Chicago Bears do
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April 25
Green Bay Press Gazette
 
"Minnesota still is awaiting word on whether quarterback Brett Favre will return for a second season. But while Favre ponders his future, the Vikings took UAB quarterback Joe Webb in the sixth round of the NFL draft on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Webb was a two-year starter at UAB and is a weapon with his arm and feet. He passed for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 each of the last two seasons. Webb likely won't be a factor for the Vikings this season whether Favre returns or not. He's expected to play receiver in the NFL. But Minnesota will count on contributions from both of its second-round picks, Virginia cornerback Chris Cook and Stanford running back Toby"
Day Three draft picks for Rams include receiver, two tight ends
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April 25
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
 
"The Rams began the third day of the NFL Draft Saturday by landing a wide receiver, Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati, with the first pick in the fourth round and added a pair of tight ends among their picks later in the day. Trying to find more targets for new quarterback Sam Bradford, the Rams selected tight end Mike Hoomanawanui from Illinois with the first pick in the fifth round. The Rams had an extra fifth round pick, obtained from the Redskins, but traded that pick -- number 135 overall -- to Atlanta in exchange for the Falcons' fifth-round pick, number 149 overall, and an extra pick in the sixth round, the 20th pick in that round, number 189 overall. With the 149th pick, the Rams added"
Intrique still surrounds Tebow and Bryant
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April 25
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
 columnist Howard Balzer
"Prior to this year's draft, it was clear where the intrigue was. Ask most anyone about the most intriguing players entering the draft, and the universal answer was probably Tim Tebow and Dez Bryant. They were two studies in contrasts. The gifted receiver that should have been a top-five selection but for his persistent battles with responsibility, and the intangible-laden quarterback that had trouble taking snaps and throwing a football at the Senior Bowl. Bryant is the receiver who was suspended by the NCAA for lying about contact he had with former NFL player and NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders, has reportedly been persistently late for team activities and then brought six pairs of"
Gators find home in New England
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April 25
Florida Today
 
"Apparently Bill Belichick wants to win the 2011 BCS national championship. Or he really likes the Florida program. New England drafted a trio of Gator players in the NFL Draft -- starting Friday night with defensive end Jermaine Cunningham and linebacker Brandon Spikes in the second round, followed by fourth-round pick Aaron Hernandez, the Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end in 2009, on Saturday morning. It's the first time since 2003 that an NFL team has selected a trio of Gators in the same draft. In 2003, the Bears selected the foursome of quarterback Rex Grossman (first round), safety Todd Johnson and defensive tackle Ian Scott (both in the fourth round) and defensive"
Where's the hope now that Buffalo Bills passed on a quarterback?
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April 25
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
 columnist Leo Roth
"General manager Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey were very happy with the way their first draft with the Buffalo Bills unfolded over the past three days. Not as happy as Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm, of course. Buffalo's three incumbent veteran quarterbacks let out a collective sigh of relief that traveled farther than most of their passes do after management passed on all the big names in one of the more intriguing college quarterback classes in years. A rookie who would have instantly become the favorite in the hearts and minds of fans whose Jim Kelly and Doug Flutie jerseys are now tattered and far too tight. Nix and Gailey are good football men. But now that it's set"
Nugent lands with Bengals after tough year
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April 25
Dayton Daily News
 
"On the current NFL draft weekend, Mike Nugent thought back to the April 2005 afternoon when his professional career began. "I was just at home with my family," Nugent said Friday, April 23, just hours after he had signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. "When you go through the combine, you make sure everyone has every possible number to call you, and then you wait." For Nugent, that wait wasn't long. The Centerville High School product who left Ohio State with 22 school records as a kicker, became a second-round draft pick when the New York Jets chose him No. 47 overall. That selection began an NFL career that has lasted five seasons with three teams and has now landed Nugent with"
PanthersWR LaFell in third round
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April 25
Gaston Gazette
 
"The Carolina Panthers continued to bolster their offense on Friday night, addressing their biggest position of need by selecting wide receiver Brandon LaFell from LSU in the third round. LaFell caught 25 touchdown passes for the Tigers, the second most in school history. Over the past two seasons, LaFell caught 120 passes for 1,712 yards with 19 touchdown passes, including five receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown in a Capital One bowl loss to Penn State. LaFell is expected to step in and compete for a starting job right away as the No. 2 receiver opposite Steve Smith. LaFell is a big receiver that has a huge upside but still needs to refine his game if he wants to excel at"
Panthers add two WRs to the mix, including Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards
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April 25
Gaston Gazette
 
"Wide receiver Steve Smith wanted help, and on Friday night he got it. After drafting wideout Brandon LaFell from LSU 78th overall, the Carolina Panthers pulled off a shocker, trading back into the bottom of the third round to take local Appalachian State product Armanti Edwards, a move that will surely be popular here in the Carolinas. While Edwards played quarterback for the Mountaineers, the Panthers view him as a wide receiver and a return man, according to general manager Marty Hurney. To get Edwards, the ever-aggressive Hurney gave up the Panthers second-round draft pick in 2011 to New England. It was clear the Panthers became enamored with Edwards' athletic ability and"
New Panthers QB Clausen: "My goal is to be the starter from day one"
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April 25
Gaston Gazette
 
"A smiling Marty Hurney couldn't hold back his enthusiasm as he walked into the media room Friday night disbelieving what had just happened. The always aggressive Hurney spent most of the day trying to trade up in the second round - beginning with the St. Louis Rams, who owned the first pick at No. 33 - in an effort to get Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. But the cost of doing business was simply more than the Panthers could afford. As it turned out, the Panthers didn't need to move up. As the luck of the Irish would have it, Clausen fell to them. "Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make, and that was the case tonight," Hurney said. "We were very fortunate (Clausen)"
Browns pay primary attention to secondary
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April 25
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"When all was said and done late Saturday afternoon and the three-day bonanza that was the 2010 NFL Draft finally wrapped up, the Browns took inventory of all they accomplished. Foremost among their many needs, the Browns paid special attention to shoring up its defense, particularly in the secondary. The Browns selected three defensive backs in the first five rounds, taking first-rounder Joe Haden (seventh overall) from Florida, second-rounder T.J. Ward (38th overall) from Oregon and, on Saturday in the fifth round, Nebraska's Larry Asante with the 160th overall pick. ''It's definitely a position where we had to add depth,'' coach Eric Mangini said Friday. ''We used a lot of guys in a lot"
Holmgren's coaching would help QB McCoy
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April 25
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"General Manager Tom Heckert calls him Coach. Colt McCoy calls him Coach. Talking heads on ESPN call him Coach. After Mike Holmgren's 17 years at the helm in the NFL and six more as an assistant, nothing else feels right. But Friday night, the Browns president again tried to slam the brakes on the connotation that term of endearment carries. ''I want to make this very clear: Brian Daboll is the offensive coordinator, Eric Mangini is the head coach,'' Holmgren said. ''I am around to cheerlead and to encourage and help in any way I can. But I am not coaching the football team. I am not.'' It was not the first time Holmgren has made such an emphatic statement. In fact, he's bordering on a ''He"
Browns Draft Notebook: Geathers is grateful for chance to play By Michael Beaven
Comment
April 25
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Browns' final selection in the 2010 draft enters the NFL not lacking in confidence. Clifton Geathers proclaimed himself a ''freaky guy'' and said he could be the ''best person probably in the league'' if he fulfills the potential that intrigued the Browns into investing a sixth-round pick in the 6-foot-7, 302-pound defensive end from South Carolina. ''I don't think I'm at the top of my game yet. I think with a little coaching and a little polishing, like I said, I'll be the best person probably in the league,'' Geathers said. Geathers joins the Browns with a criminal record. He was arrested in August 2009 and was suspended one game for his involvement in a fight outside a nightclub"
Before nabbing McCoy, Browns work hard to secure Sam Bradford
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April 25
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Browns are more than happy that Colt McCoy fell into their laps in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday. Even with all their other needs, the Browns are indeed a team in search of a quarterback for the future. But before McCoy became that player, Browns President Mike Holmgren described how the Browns tried to maneuver their way from No. 7 in an attempt to snatch Oklahoma's Sam Bradford with the No. 1 pick. ''We liked Sam Bradford,'' Holmgren said. ''We thought he was a wonderful player. We were at his Oklahoma workout and it seemed pretty clear to us that St. Louis would take him.'' But come draft day, there was still no news that the Rams had come to any terms with Bradford, a"
Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in fourth round
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April 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"After a restless night, Ohio State defensive end/linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, a Euclid High grad, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round this morning with the No. 116 overall pick. Brad Cicala, Gibson's agent, said this morning he believed going into the draft Gibson would go in rounds two through four but thought he was more likely to go from the late second round to the middle of the third. So there was some consternation in the Gibson camp when he was still undrafted when the third round ended Friday night. But after making several calls this morning, Cicala felt secure that Gibson wouldn't slide past New Orleans with the last pick in the fourth round, though he was"
Cleveland Browns cite toughness as top attribute of their eight selections in NFL Draft 2010
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April 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Last year, the buzzword of the Browns' draft was "smart." The emphasis made by coach Eric Mangini was on academic achievers. No. 1 pick Alex Mack claimed the Draddy Trophy -- the academic Heisman -- and other draftees earned national or conference academic honors. This year, "tough" is in. Tom Heckert, who took over the draft as the new general manager, used the word to describe almost every one of the eight players the Browns chose over three days. "I enjoy whenever we can describe a player that way," Mangini said Saturday. "It's much better than the alternative, soft. Toughness is a great thing to have." The Browns concluded their draft Saturday by picking: • Safety Larry Asante of"
Mike Holmgren makes it clear: Colt McCoy will 'sit, watch, learn' as a rookie
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April 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Mike Holmgren wasted no time trying to quell Colt McCoy-mania, stressing in his post-draft wrap that the plan is to sit the rookie quarterback in 2010. "Things could change, but I don't expect him to play this year,'" said Holmgren. "We did not draft him necessarily to come in and play this year. Now, the final call will be Eric [Mangini]'s and practice will determine certain things, but we have three quarterbacks already here that we feel very good about. "I think as we mentioned last night, the best thing that might be able to happen to him is that he just sits, watches, learns and make the transition into the pro game. That's my expectation level for him and it would be the same for"
Cleveland Browns take South Carolina Clifton Geathers in sixth round of NFL Draft 2010
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April 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns selected a tall, rangy defensive lineman with their second selection in the sixth round. He's Clifton Geathers of South Carolina and he towers at 6-7 and 299 pounds. Geathers is the brother of Robert Geathers, a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, and the nephew of former NFL defensive tackle Jumpy Geathers. Geathers is seen as a developmental prospect. You've got to figure he could line up in the middle of the field-goal block team."
Cleveland Browns choose Nebraska safety Larry Asante in fifth round of NFL Draft 2010
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April 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns used their first pick in the third day of the draft to further bolster their defensive secondary. They chose Nebraska safety Larry Asante with the 160th overall selection. Asante, 6-0 and 212 pounds, is even more of an "in the box" safety than second-round pick T.J. Ward. Asante's coverage skills probably kept him from being drafted higher. But his kind of hitting ability is coveted in specific roles and on special teams. The Browns have two remaining picks in the sixth round."
Cleveland Browns made South Florida receiver Carlton Mitchell first pick in sixth round of NFL Draft 2010
Comment
April 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns addressed a major weakness on their roster in the sixth round when they selected South Florida receiver Carlton Mitchell. Mitchell, 6-2 7/8 and 215 pounds, was rated the eighth-best receiver in the draft by nfldraftscout.com. He's a physical receiver with the ability to make plays vertically down the field. Despite the size, though, the scouting reports say he doesn't like going over the middle"
Ravens take little-known OT in 6th round
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 
"With their final pick (presumably) in the NFL Draft today, the Ravens selected Ramon Harewood, an offensive tackle from Morehouse College. He was taken in the sixth round, 194th overall. He's huge, 6-foot-6 and weighing as much as 360 pounds, and visited the Ravens for a private workout before the draft. Harewood started getting attention from teams before the draft and was thought by many to be a late, under-the-radar, pick."
Morgan State receiver headed to Green Bay
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 
"Undrafted wide receiver E.J. Morton-Green of Morgan State will travel to Green Bay on Thursday for a free-agent tryout in a Packers' rookie minicamp. The Packers didn't draft a wide receiver this year, but they have signed two free agents. Morton-Green, a native of Cincinnati, also had an offer to attend the Bengals' rookie minicamp this weekend, but decided Green Bay was a "better situation.""
Early read on Kindle: The kid doesn't lack confidence
Comment
April 25
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Mike Preston
"When the Ravens announced that they had taken Texas outside linebacker Sergio Kindle with the No. 43 overall pick in the second round, there wasn't much buzz. And then the Ravens turned Kindle loose on a conference call with reporters for about 15minutes. Oh, my … The kid is a nut, but in a good way. You can feel his energy and passion for the game. He appears to be honest and straightforward, and there is potential for him to be a great trash-talker. Some Ravens fans might be offended because Kindle is too confident, almost cocky at times. But that's how defensive rookies should be. On offense, you want guys with character. On defense, you want guys who are characters. On offense, I like"
Ravens' picks send their stock soaring
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Ravens' most uncharacteristic draft led to the typical results. It started with the Ravens trading out of the first round for the first time in team history. It included the drafting of a player who raised red flags in regard to health and character. And it featured the selection of tight ends in consecutive rounds when the fan base cried out for a cornerback. By the time the Ravens' draft show was complete Saturday, the draft experts were giving them a standing ovation. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. described it as an A-plus draft. Ron Jaworski, the former quarterback-turned-ESPN analyst, said the Ravens are building a "juggernaut." "I thought Baltimore did an excellent job with what they had"
NFL draft is in its prime
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Peter Schmuck
"Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta got an hour's sleep after the first night of the NFL draft. General manager Ozzie Newsome estimated that he slept for about two hours between the first round and the session Friday night during which the Ravens made their first three selections. "I probably was doing more thinking than sleeping," Newsome said, "but my eyes were closed." That was Ozzie's laugh line during Friday's evening news conference, but he wasn't the only guy tossing and turning after Round 1. The three-day format of the new NFL draft, which concluded with four rounds Saturday afternoon after two nights in prime time, obviously changed the draft landscape - and I think"
Ravens go defense early, find offensive help late
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 
"Can the Ravens fix in one draft an offense that primarily passed to the boundary and rarely over the middle or down the field a year ago? They can if you believe in the depth of this year's tight end crop, and if you endorse the creative qualities of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. On consecutive Baltimore picks, in back-to-back rounds, the Ravens took big, pass-catching tight ends in the 2010 NFL draft. They got 6-foot-4, 244-pound Ed Dickson of Oregon in the third round Friday night, and 6-4, 245-pound Dennis Pitta of BYU in the fourth round Saturday morning. They came 34 picks apart. When the Ravens followed that up with a fifth round pick of wide receiver David Reed of Utah, they"
Ravens take Utah WR, Syracuse DT in 5th round
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 
"With their two back-to-back picks in the fifth round, the Ravens drafted Utah wide receiver David Reed (156th) and Syracuse defensive tackle Arthur Jones (157th). Reed, 6-foot and 190 pounds, had 81 receptions for 1,188 yards and five touchdowns in his senior year. He earned first-team all-Mountain West honors. Jones, 6-3 and 270 pounds, had 8 sacks as a sophomore and 6.5 sacks as a junior. He injured his knee during his senior year."
Maryland CB Carroll drafted in 5th round
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April 25
Baltimore Sun
 
"Maryland cornerback Nolan Carroll, who suffered a broken leg in the first game of the season, was drafted in the fifth round (145th overall) by the Miami Dolphins. The senior captain missed the rest of the season, and many observers point to his loss as a reason for the Terps' 2-10 season and shoddy pass defense. Carroll missed the NFL Combine, but was impressive during Maryland's Pro Day in March for NFL scouts. He posted the top marks in the 40-yard dash (4.39), pro agility drill (4.21) and L drill (6.81). Carroll also did 17 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press and had a vertical jump of 37 1/2 inches."
Gilyard selection kicks off big day for locals in NFL Draft
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April 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Mardy Gilyard led off a huge day Saturday for Cincinnati-area football players. Gilyard, a former Cincinnati Bearcat known for his electrifying returns and acrobatic catches at wide receiver, began Saturday as the opening pick of the fourth round of the NFL Draft, taken by the St.?Louis Rams. Following in the fifth round were Kentucky fullback John Conner (Lakota West; to the New York Jets as the 139th overall pick) and Boston College center Matt Tennant (Moeller; to the New Orleans Saints at No.?158). Former UC quarterback Tony Pike went in the sixth round to the Carolina Panthers at No. 204. The loquacious Gilyard gave the St. Louis writers a good taste of who he is during a Saturday"
Versatility a mark of newest men in stripes
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April 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Besides versatility, there is another thing that can be said about the Bengals draft class of 2010 - it definitely has a Big 12 flavor. After drafting Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham in the first round and Texas' Jordan Shipley in the third round the first two days, three of the Bengals' five picks on Saturday came via the Big 12. They took Texas linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy in the fourth round, Kansas receiver Dezmon Briscoe in the sixth and Iowa State offensive lineman Reggie Stephens in the seventh. "It definitely says a lot about the conference. Especially, the last couple years I've been a part of it I played against some great competition," Shipley said on Saturday. "Going against"
For Bengals, it's choose, improve
Comment
April 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Bengals had two priorities this offseason - adding depth and providing more options at receiver for quarterback Carson Palmer. They say they accomplished both over the past three days in the NFL Draft. Of the Bengals' nine selections, three were receivers, two were defensive linemen to bolster an inconsistent pass rush, and the other four addressed depth issues on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. "I really feel like we've been able to improve the football team," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Things kind of ended up breaking our way." This year's top three picks have the potential to make strong contributions. First-round pick Jermaine Gresham fills a void at"
Bengals' picks in the 2010 NFL Draft
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April 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Here are details about the Bengals' nine picks in the 2010 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 21Jermaine Gresham TEHeight/weight: 6-0, 190 School: Oklahoma Overview: The consensus top-ranked tight end. He missed last season due to a preseason knee injury but dominated defenses in 2008 with 66 catches for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to second-team All-America honors by the Associated Press. For his career (42 games/19 starts), Gresham had 111 receptions or 1629 yards (14.68 average) and 26 touchdowns. Where he fits: Will be the favorite to be the starter at tight end. He will give the offense an option that Carson Palmer has not had with a big target over the middle who can stretch the field"
Nix's rebuilding project begins without a big splash
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April 25
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Give Buddy Nix credit for this much: he didn't lie to us. Nix said he would not be swayed by the prevailing wisdom in his first draft as the Bills' general manager. He warned us not to assume a "need" pick with the ninth overall choice. Nix said he was inclined to find his starting quarterback from among his three incumbents. That's how it played out, too. Nix made nine selections over three days and didn't grab a quarterback until the seventh round. Levi Brown, whom the Bills called a "developmental" pick, might turn into the next Tom Brady. But it's evident the Buffalo brain trust felt there wasn't a franchise QB in the draft after Sam Bradford. So in the end, they didn't do much to"
Rams draft class of 2010 at a glance
Comment
April 25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"SAM BRADFORD Round: 1 - Pick: 1 QB - 6-4 - 236 - Oklahoma He'll get a hefty contract, as well as the keys to the offense. Described by one scout as the best quarterback prospect since Troy Aikman, Bradford will wear No. 8 in honor of his fellow Oklahoman. Only question has been recovery from shoulder injury as a senior. RODGER SAFFOLD Round: 2 - Pick: 33 OL - 6-5 - 316 - Indiana Rams coaches will test him at guard and both tackle spots where he will compete with Jason Smith (last year's No. 1) and Alex Barron for a starting spot. Scouting report says he has quick feet and is effective on both run- and pass-blocking but doesn't always finish his blocks."
Finally, a Rams draft that makes sense
Comment
April 25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Bryan Burwell
"It was Saturday morning outside Radio City Music Hall, and there was no longer any need for the sprawling red carpet, the cadre of paparazzi and all the other ostentatious Oscar-like trappings that turned the first round of the NFL draft into a Thursday night, prime-time extravaganza. Things had long since moved deeper into the less spectacular but no less fascinating aspects of pro football's annual spring shopping spree. And by the end of the day, a rather peculiar thing had happened. The Rams made it through draft weekend without a single, befuddling pratfall. In fact, it was just the opposite. General manager Billy Devaney and his suddenly empowered personnel department showed us what"
New Rams tight end grew up in Bloomington
Comment
April 25
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"It only sounds as if the Rams searched hither and yon to find one of their fifth-round picks, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. In reality, he was right in their own backyard. That last name is pronounced ho-oh-muh-now-uh-NEW-ee, "Oh-oh" for short. Though his father, Isy, is of Hawaiian descent, the family of his mother, Anne, hails from Jerseyville, Ill. He grew up in Bloomington, Ill., 45 minutes from his alma mater, Illinois. "Family and friends say they're Rams fans now, no matter what they were before," Hoomanawanui said. "It will be great that my family can see me whenever they want to.""
Packers take Starks in sixth round; Roosevelt to sign with Bills
Comment
April 25
Buffalo News
 
"A missed season may have hurt his draft position but it all ended to the satisfaction of University at Buffalo running back James Starks. The senior from Niagara Falls, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury just before the opener, went to the Green Bay Packers Saturday in the sixth round as the 193rd pick in the National Football League draft. "A couple teams early this morning called me so I thought I was going to leave a little earlier than I did," Starks said during a news conference at UB Saturday afternoon. "But God put me in a great position to go to a great coaching staff, a great team. I'm just grateful for this opportunity and I'm going to make the most of it." Starks was"