Rams' Pace looking for healthier year
Two injury-plagued years haven't hurt Orlando Pace's sense of humor. The Rams' former Pro Bowl tackle said on Saturday during the second day of St. Louis' minicamp that he is feeling good and looking forward to training camp. "I'm just getting ready for training camp," said a smiling Pace, who missed three camps earlier in his career when he was designated as a franchise player. "I'm not going to complain about missing some of training camp, but we'll see what the doctors say. [Link]
Rams' top draft pick has good first outing
Chris Long learned pretty quickly that his status as the St. Louis Rams' No. 1 pick in this year's draft does not disqualify him from rookie chores. In his first day as a pro, the 6-foot-3, 279-pound defensive end from the University of Virginia was forced to lug the helmet of veteran defensive tackle La'Roi Glover from the indoor practice facility to the locker room at the beginning and end of the Rams' two-hour workout. "It's one of those things," Long said. "Rookies got to do it. [Link]
Rams' top draft pick Long shows off intensity
Chris Long learned pretty quickly that his status as the St. Louis Rams' No. 1 pick in this year's draft does not disqualify him from rookie chores. In his first day as a pro, the 6-foot-3, 279-pound defensive end from the University of Virginia was forced to lug the helmet of veteran defensive tackle La'Roi Glover from the indoor practice facility to the locker room at the beginning and end of the Rams' two-hour workout. "It's one of those things," Long said. "Rookies got to do it. [Link]
Rams' Pace looking for healthier year (AP)
Two injury-plagued years haven't hurt Orlando Pace's sense of humor. The Rams' former Pro Bowl tackle said on Saturday during the second day of St. Louis' minicamp that he is feeling good and looking forward to training camp. "I'm just getting ready for training camp," said a smiling Pace, who missed three camps earlier in his career when he was designated as a franchise player.
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NFL fates hinge on 7 bounce-back veterans (SportingNews.com)
We have spent the last few months focusing on the NFL draft and free agency. However, many teams are counting on… [Link]
Mixed signals (Yahoo! Sports)
With no tape of the Rams' walkthrough, the NFL and Patriots can downplay what was on the tapes sent Thursday. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents-Defense
With the NFL draft behind us, here's an updated look at the best available free agents from the defensive side of the ball. [Link]
No new Spygate news would be good news for Patriots (SportingNews.com)
The Patriots have to be hoping that the tapes Matt Walsh handed over to the NFL reveal no new evidence against them. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents-Offense
Here's a post-draft look at the best available NFL free agents from the offensive side of the ball. [Link]
Former employee Walsh sends Spygate tapes to NFL
Spygate isn't dead. Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh handed over eight tapes to the NFL in the ongoing investigation into whether the Patriots violated league rules by filming other teams' play-calling signals, The New York Times reported Wednesday. [Link]
Walsh sends NFL 8 tapes that don't include Rams' walkthrough
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh sent the NFL eight videotapes that show New England violated league rules by recording opposing coaches' playcalling signals. [Link]
This NFL offseason has been anything but uneventful
Who says nothing happens in the NFL offseason? Peter Schrager hands out some awards after a seriously hectic couple of months. [Link]
This NFL off-season has been anything but uneventful
Who says nothing happens in the NFL off-season? Peter Schrager hands out some awards after a seriously hectic couple of months. [Link]
News analysis: Ravens QB situation
Move over Kyle Boller, there's a new quarterback in town. [Link]
News analysis: Ravens QB situation
Move over Kyle Boller, there's a new quarterback in town. [Link]
Kurt response to QB dilemma (Yahoo! Sports)
With questions swirling about Matt Leinart's maturity, Kurt Warner wonders why he couldn't lead the Cardinals. [Link]
NFL Draft: 2009 Mock Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft is behind us, but it doesn't mean we can't have a little fun and take a look at the 2009 draft. Scout.com's NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber releases his first 2009 mock draft and includes draft-eligible underclassmen. [Link]
With Martz there is a method to his madness (Yahoo! Sports)
Football fans in general and San Francisco 49ers fans specifically should enjoy watching Martz ply his trade… [Link]
Davis to hire 'capologist' for Raiders? (Yahoo! Sports)
Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis is reorganizing his front office and could bring in a new salary… [Link]
Pressing needs for every NFL team
The draft can't fix everything (see the Jets' and 49ers' QB quandaries). Alex Marvez runs down every team's pressing needs. [Link]
Scout.com NFL Draft Report Card
Only five NFL teams earned an "A" in last weekend's NFL Draft according to former pro scout Tom Marino. Was your favorite team one of them? Or was it one of the handful who earned a failing grade? Check out Marino's grades for all 32 teams in this Scout.com feature. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents-Offense
Here's an updated report of the best available NFL free agents from the offensive side of the football. There are some interesting names still available at the running back position. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents: Defense
With the NFL draft completed, here's an updated report of the best available NFL free agents from the defensive side of the football. [Link]
Top questions heading into mini-camps
Which rookies will thrive? Will Brett Favre return? What are the Bears doing? Our NFL Czar tackles the biggest looming questions. [Link]
Top questions heading into mini-camps
Which rookies will thrive? Will Brett Favre return? What are the Bears doing? Our NFL Czar tackles the biggest looming questions. [Link]
On the Clock: 15 prospects for '09 NFL Draft
With the '08 draft in the books, who's ready for next year? Peter Schrager gives you his draft wrap, complete with names for '09. [Link]
On the Mark: Can they shut up already?
Talk, talk, talk. That's the NFL Draft for you. Mark Kriegel says it used to be about football, but the draftniks have turned it into a joke. [Link]
2009 NFL Draft: Steuber's Big Board
With the 2008 NFL Draft complete, it's never too early to take a look at the top senior prospects that will be available for the 2009 NFL Draft. Scout.com's NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber debuts his Big Board of the Top 19 seniors who will be available in 2009. [Link]
NFL Post-Draft Insider 1.0
Scout.com's NFL insider Adam Caplan gives you the inside skinny in what went behind the selections of eight teams in this post-draft update. Caplan also breaks down how some of drafted players will fit in with their new teams. [Link]
Thompson Heading to Pro Training Camp
Auburn senior defensive lineman will have a chance to play in the National Football League. [Link]
Biggest surprises from 2008 Draft
Jeremy Shockey stayed put, Carolina passed on QBs and Cincy took some high-risk guys. See what else surprised Alex Marvez. [Link]
NFC grades: Redskins, Panthers earn high marks (Yahoo! Sports)
The two teams combined for 19 picks with plenty of potential starters on offense and defense. [Link]
NFL Draft Superlatives
Now that the NFL Draft is behind us, Scout.com's NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber hands out his Draft Superlatives. [Link]
Handing out draft grades for NFC teams
Atlanta got its franchise QB in Matt Ryan. But did the Falcons earn a high grade from our NFL Czar? See how the entire NFC fared. [Link]
No. 2 overall pick comes to St. Louis
Chris Long's marathon victory tour stopped in St. Louis on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Rams took him with the second pick of the NFL draft. It's been a whirlwind for the Virginia defensive end, fast separating himself from his previous life as the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox TV analyst Howie Long. "I haven't slept as a St. Louis Ram," Long said after posing next to a No. 1 jersey along with new owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez. "It's been crazy. [Link]
Burton Taken In 4th Round
Former Wildcats wide receiver selected in 4th Round of NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. [Link]
PRO FOOTBALL; AROUND THE LEAGUE
Tennessee Titans defeat Philadelphia Eagles, 31-13; New England Patriots defeat Green Bay Packers, 35-0; Kansas City Chiefs defeat Oakland Raiders, 17-13; Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Cleveland Browns, 24-20; Buffalo Bills defeat Houston Texans, 24-21; Miami Dolphins defeat Minnesota Vikings, 24-20; Carolina Panthers defeat St Louis Rams, 15-0; Cincinnati Bengals defeat New Orleans Saints, 31-16; Arizona Cardinals defeat Detroit Lions, 17-10; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Washington Redskins, 20-17… [Link]
Falcons move toward future (Yahoo! Sports)
With the selection of Matt Ryan, the Falcons marked a turning point for the program – they hope for the better. [Link]
NFL Draft: Day Two Best Available Prospects
Scout.com NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber lists his top-30 best available prospects on Day Two. [Link]
NFL Draft Dish: Round 1 analysis (SportingNews.com)
A pick-by-pick analysis of the 2008 NFL draft's first round. [Link]
Rams make the right move in selecting Chris Long (SportingNews.com)
The Rams filled a big and immediate need by picking Virginia defensive end Chris Long with No. 2 pick in the 2008 NFL draft. [Link]
NFL Draft Live Blog Round Two
Lots of surprises in round one and lots of trades were completed. However, no players were traded. We could see some veteran players traded on day two for future draft choices. [Link]
2008 NFL Draft pick-by-pick analysis: Round 2
Pick-by-pick analysis: Round 2 Pick Team Player Pos. Height Weight School 32. Dolphins Phillip Merling DE 6-4 282 Clemson Two words scared everyone about Merling: sports hernia. At Top 15? Not worth the risk. Here? An absolute steal. Parcells addresses O-Line and D-Line with Miami's first two picks. No shocks there. 33. Rams Donnie Avery WR 5-11 186 Houston If you polled a hundred draft "experts" before the Draft and asked them who the first wideout off the board would be, absolutely none would have said Avery. He's a speedster, though, and can stretch the field for the Rams. DeSean Jackson keeps slip slidin' away. 34. Redskins Devin Thomas WR 6-2 215 Michigan State Washington's patience pays off, trading back and getting the top wideout on most teams' boards at 34th overall. Thomas has size, a rarity for Redskins wideouts, and can likely play right away. At 6'2, he's a great target for Jason Campbell. 35. Chiefs Brandon Flowers CB 5-10 189 Virginia Tech Brandon Flowers slips to 35, where the Chiefs scoop him up. A star at Virginia Tech, a few subpar workouts turned the cornerback into a second-round selection. DB is a need for K.C. and Flowers makes perfect sense. 36. Packers Jordy Nelson WR 6-2 217 Kansas State I love this pick. Nelson, one of my "sleepers" all pre-draft season, is a giant target with hands of glue. The Kansas State kid caught 122 balls last season, saving his best for the Wildcats' biggest games. Another target for Aaron Rodgers to grow with in Green Bay. 37. Falcons Curtis Lofton LB 6-0 238 Oklahoma The Falcons' linebacker corps are pretty solid: Boley, Brooking and now Lofton. The Big Twelve Defensive Player of the Year may be a bit short for the NFL, but he's a tackle machine. … [Link]
Best prospects remaining after two rounds (Rivals.com)
With the NFL Draft heading to the third round Sunday morning, former North Carolina State safety DaJuan Morgan… [Link]
Round 2: St. Louis Selects WR Donnie Avery
With Selection 2 in Round 2, St. Louis selects WR Donnie Avery, Houston. Learn more about this pick from Scout.com team and draft experts! [Link]
For top prospects, draft day brings great relief
No Brady Quinn this time. The green room emptied fast Saturday, and Alex Marvez got an inside look at the big day for the big names. [Link]
NFL Draft First-Round Selections (AP)
The first-round picks in Saturday NFL draft: 1) Miami Dolphins — JAKE LONG, 6-7, 315, Michigan, OT: Bulldozer of a tackle in the run game who can also be a solid insurance policy for any franchise QB. Has the strength to move the pile and aggressiveness and smarts to clear out second-level blockers. [Link]
Rams go Long, too, taking Virginia defensive end
The St. Louis Rams filled a need so glaring with the second pick of the NFL draft that they quickly anointed Virginia defensive end Chris Long a starter. The Rams' defensive ends totaled 5 1/2 sacks last year and top pass rusher Leonard Little is coming off toe surgery that limited him to one sack in seven games. That made the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Long, an All-American and son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, the logical selection over LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey on Saturday. [Link]
Chris Long goes from No. 2 pick to Rams starter (Rivals.com)
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No. 2 overall pick comes to St. Louis (AP)
Chris Long's marathon victory tour stopped in St. Louis on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Rams took him with the second pick of the NFL draft. It's been a whirlwind for the Virginia defensive end, fast separating himself from his previous life as the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox TV analyst Howie Long.
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