NFL Draft | QB Smith to visit Browns, work out for Jets

Welcome, Guest Login | Register | Contact / Help | My Roto

Latest Headlines

QB Smith to visit Browns, work out for Jets

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports West Virginia QB Geno Smith will visit with the Cleveland Browns and then privately work out for the New York Jets.

Both teams are in need of a quarterback in some sense. The Browns still have last year's first round selection, Brandon Weeden, but he doesn't appear to have sold the staff based on last year's performance. Like Weeden, Smith can throw the ball well vertically, which is a fit for Rob Chudzinski's system. As for the Jets, it's uncertain exactly which direction they'll go in but it wouldn't hurt to draft Smith, who could be an upgrade over the disappointing Mark Sanchez.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Mon, Apr 8, 2013 03:34:00 PM

DB: Abdullah could have Warrick Dunn's career

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler says Nebraska senior RB Ameer Abdullah "has the skill-set to have a Warrick Dunn-type career at the next level."

Abdullah was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a Doak Walker Award semifinalist last season, scampering for 1,690 yards, the highest yardage total at Nebraska since Ahman Green in 1997. "Abdullah has a leaner-than-ideal upper and lower body build, but is much tougher than he looks and lowers his pads at the point of attack," Brugler wrote. "He accelerates quickly and runs with his feet on fire, controlling his momentum well to make sharp cuts and elude in the open field. Abdullah has flexible ankles and runs low to the ground with springs in his calves to make explosive jump cuts without losing speed. He has active feet and sees the field well to make proper reads and pick through the line of scrimmage without any hesitation and always appears two steps ahead." For a more topical comparison, the analyst calls Abdullah "a better Andre Ellington."

Source: CBS Sports

Jul 31 - 7:24 PM

Ex-Bama RB Dee Hart transferring to Colo. St.

Former Alabama redshirt junior RB Dee Hart will transfer to Colorado State, according to Chris Hayes.

Hart reportedly graduated in June, so he will be eligible to play immediately. Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain was a member of Alabama's staff when the school signed Hart back in 2011. Hart's tenure with the Crimson Tide included two serious knee injuries, a brief switch to corner, and an off-field arrest for giving false information and possession of marijuana. He amassed 43 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown with Alabama.

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Jul 31 - 2:43 PM

Aggies DE Stansbury will transfer to Houston

Texas A&M redshirt senior DE Gavin Stansbury will transfer to Houston and is eligible to play immediately.

Stansbury, A&M's defensive MVP last season, was apparently dismissed from the Aggies program on July 21. He was arrested for misdemeanor assault in April. Texas A&M must improve their defense, but multiple starters have been dismissed since the spring. Kevin Sumlin will attempt to upgrade through recruiting.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Jul 31 - 2:10 PM

Mays: Mariota must show dropback improvements

Grantland's Robert Mays believes Oregon redshirt junior QB Marcus Mariota "needs to show improvement as a dropback passer."

When discussing the decision teams will have between Mariota and Jameis Winston, Mays writes "it really depends on what you’re looking for... Mariota is a dual threat, closer to Colin Kaepernick — less polished, but possibly more terrifying." In the past, Oregon quarterbacks have been runners first and lacked awareness in the pocket. We think pocket patience and poise are the most underappreciated aspects to Mariota's game. He wins inside and outside of the pocket.

Source: Grantland

Jul 31 - 1:12 PM

Sooners have yet to file DGB waiver appeal

Oklahoma has yet to file their waiver appeal for junior (or redshirt sophomore) WR Dorial Green-Beckham.

Oklahoma "officials are waiting on one last bit of paperwork from Missouri," Emig writes. "Green-Beckham’s former school has been cooperative with his new one generally, but now must help once more." We doubt DGB will be awarded immediate eligibility, but crazier things have happened. There is a chance the receiver never plays a down for the Sooners if he is forced to sit out the 2014 season. Green-Beckham will be able to practice with the Sooners no matter what.

Source: Guerin Emig on Twitter

Jul 31 - 12:55 PM

OU RB Mixon meets with police investigators

Oklahoma freshman RB Joe Mixon met with police investigators Monday.

Mixon is being investigated by police for allegedly striking a female student. He hasn't yet been charged with a crime. "This past Friday morning Joe Mixon found himself in a situation where he was subjected to both verbal and physical attacks from a very intoxicated and troubled young woman," Kevin Finlay, an attorney representing Mixon, said. "As a result of these physical attacks, Joe instinctually defended himself against further harm." The female student has a very different story. "He punched me one time," she said. "He broke my face in four places ... my nose, my sinuses ... they're broken." The alleged victim plans to sue Mixon and hopes the running back "goes to prison for years."

Source: ESPN.com

Jul 30 - 7:10 PM

Dantonio: We would have won the 2013 playoffs

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said the Spartans would have won the National Championship last year if the playoff system had been in place.

"I thought we would have been national champions, to be perfectly honest with you," Dantonio told reporters at Big Ten media days. "I think we would have had a shot to do that because I think we were playing, coming out of the end of the season -- that stretch coming out of the season -- we were playing great football and we were believing in ourselves." The Spartans, ranked fourth in the final BCS standings after beating Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game, likely would have been selected into the four-team field. But MSU would have had to run through a gauntlet that (presumably) included eventual BCS champion Florida State, SEC champion Auburn and 11-1 Alabama. Stanford ranked fifth in the final BCS standings, with Baylor finishing sixth. MSU's offense could be scary in 2014, but they must replace defensive stalwarts such as Darqueze Dennard, Max Bullough and Denicos Allen.

Source: Detroit News

Jul 30 - 4:45 PM

Cook could break MSU QB draft futility streak

Michigan State junior QB Connor Cook is "very capable" of breaking the Spartans' stretch of not having a top-40 drafted quarterback, according to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler.

MSU hasn't had a QB drafted in the top 40 during the Super Bowl era. "He is a good-sized athlete for the position with enough mobility to handle the high volume of rollouts and bootlegs in the Spartan's pro-style attack," Brugler wrote. "Cook has a quick set up and delivery with an easy release and top-shelf arm strength to make all the throws, displaying an arsenal of frozen ropes. He has functional downfield touch and controls his velocity well with fast eyes to see the field well on the move." Rotoworld projects the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder as a first-rounder in next spring's draft, though Cook needs to continue developing to make good on that projection. "Cook tends to ignore his footwork and lower half mechanics and with 58.7-percent completions, he has room to improve his ball placement, especially downfield," Brugler wrote. "He is too willing to throw off balance before his body and feet are set."

Source: CBS Sports

Jul 29 - 9:38 PM

Senior Bowl notes Mariota eligible for event

Oregon redshirt junior QB Marcus Mariota will be eligible for the 2015 Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl's twitter account proclaimed as much. Mariota is two credits shy of graduating, and is taking golf and yoga to complete his General Science degree this fall. The NFL has seemingly rewarded quarterbacks that attend the Senior Bowl in recent years (EJ Manuel over Geno Smith, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo and Logan Thomas over Zach Mettenberger and AJ McCarron), but it is possible their evals could have been better regardless. The event is the first time for position coaches to get a look at that year's draft prospects.

Source: Senior Bowl on Twitter

Jul 29 - 1:47 PM

Oklahoma State avoids APR practice penalties

The NCAA has changed its ruling on Oklahoma State's APR score, and they will now avoid practice restrictions.

The NCAA had previously said Oklahoma State fell just below the APR limit of 930 to "pass" the penalty area. The school apparently found a football player from the 1990's who went back to school and recently graduated, taking them over the threshold. Oklahoma State has not disclosed the athlete's name.

Source: David Ubben on Twitter

Jul 29 - 1:36 PM

Meyer: WR Diggs is one of CFB's top players

Ohio State HC Urban Meyer believes Maryland junior OW Stefon Diggs is "one of the best players in the country."

"I'm 110 percent," Diggs said when asked about the major leg injury he suffered last year. "They say when you break your leg you get a little taller and a little faster, and I got both, I think." Diggs will be labeled as one of the nation's best playmakers. We loved his long speed, but feel Diggs was a bit straight-linish in his play style.

Source: The Baltimore Sun

Jul 29 - 12:00 PM