MANDALAY BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL

Starring Jim Caviezel, Laura Dern, Michael Chiklis and Alexander Ludwig

Thomas Carter Directs True Story about Sport’s Most Legendary Winning Streak

New Orleans, Louisiana (April 22, 2013) – Principal photography begins today in New Orleans on the inspirational high school football movie WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL about a visionary coach who led a struggling football team to unparalleled national record-breaking success by teaching them to stand for something greater than winning. Produced by Mandalay for Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) and its AFFIRM Films division, WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL is slated for a fall 2014 release.

Starring Jim Caviezel, Laura Dern, Michael Chiklis and Alexander Ludwig, the Thomas Carter-helmed screen adaptation of Neil Hayes’ best-selling book of the same name, WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL, which tells the true story of legendary De La Salle High School football Coach Bob Ladouceur (Caviezel) and his assistant coach Terry Eidson (Chiklis), who took the Concord, California Spartans prep team from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak from 1992 to 2003 that shattered all records for consecutive victories in any American sport. Known as “Coach Lad,” Ladouceur had little experience coaching football when he was hired at De La Salle, but through his unyielding focus on character-building, faith, responsibility and commitment, created one of the country’s greatest football dynasties. Dern will portray Ladouceur’s strong and supportive wife, Bev, and Ludwig will play the Spartans’ standout running back, Chris Ryan, as he chases the state scoring record.

Around the League

Justin Blackmon showing that Dez Bryant isn't the only one that can make the Oklahoma State Alumni cringe. 

Geno Smith fires his agent for missing out on the first round.  While many will rip on Geno I think it is was his agent's idea to skip the Senior Bowl is it that crazy to fire him since that likely cost him a first round selection. 

Can someone tell me why it is appears to be a national tragedy according to the media if Tebow doesn't play football anymore?  The guy is NOT an NFL quarterback so unless he wants to be Jim Jensen let him go the way of all those other first round pick bust.   

Am I the only person who thinks this trade by the Buffalo Bills worth the risk?  Seriously roll the dice on Hughes still under his rookie deal and see if you can make him that edge rusher.  

Seriously San Francisco with Nate Montana and Minnesota with Duron Carter ?? These moves are so fake it isn't even funny.   It's like legacy scholarships in college.   At least Mike Golic Jr. signed with a team his dad didn't play for during his time in the NFL. 

Surprise the top player according to Bucky Brooks for the 2014 NFL Draft is not Jadeveon Clowney.   I think the old North Carolina, wide receiver, is probably right.

A Review of the 2013 NFL Draft--NFC

Millions of children grow up dream of becoming a professional athlete. For a select few, those dreams eventually become a reality. For NFL fans, the chance so many dreams fulfilled during the NFL Draft is a great opportunity for all. Here's what happened in the NFC:

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted T. Lane Johnson for the number four overall pick in the draft. Chip Kelly made a splash during his first draft as the Eagles head coach by selecting former USC QB Matt Barkley. While many do not know how this will fit, Kelly may be looking to redesign his offense to fit as an NFL scheme.

The Dallas Cowboys made a nice second round selection by taking TE Gavin Escobar. He has great hands and will give Tony Romo another big- time option and down-field threat. The Cowboys then went on to draft CB B. W. Webb and RB Joseph Randle. They had a respectable draft but all of the pressure will be on Romo for next season.

The St. Louis Rams may have produced one of the best drafts in their franchise's history, as they reeled in some potential game changers across the board. Starting out with a speedy playmaker by the name of Tavon Austin, who will be a threat to take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Then the Rams drafted very wisely by reaching into the rich and proven talent tool from the SEC, as they selected Alec Ogletree, Barrett Jones, and Zac Stacy. Jones and Ogletree should prove to be handfuls in the trenches, since Jones has proven that he can literally play anywhere on the offensive line. The team also filled a hole at the safety position by selecting T.J McDonald in round three. He should be able to see the filed pretty soon.

The Washington Redskins filled obvious needs in their defensive backfield by going after David Amerson and former Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo. They also found a potential gem in the third round by getting a sure-handed TE Jordan Reed, which will greatly assist Robert Griffin III. While this may not be the most exciting class the Redskins have put together, it is certainly one that can push their team to the next level.

The New York Giants selected former Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib in the fourth round, even though he probably won't see the field due to Eli Manning. However, Nassib could be used as great leverage as a future trade if the Giants choose to go that route. The Giants also chose DE Damontre Moore, OL Justin Pugh, and DT Johnathan Hankins. The Giants did not need to do much to improve an already-talented roster, but they did fill some specific needs.

The San Francisco 49ers added a great draft class to an already talented roster that nearly won the Super Bowl last year. They got Marcus Lattimore in the fourth round, a guy who would have been picked in the first round if it were not for reoccurring leg injuries suffered in college. They also added some big-time talent to the defense by adding DE Tank Carradine, highly coveted safety Eric Reid, and big time pass rusher Cory Lemonier. The San Francisco 49ers got an A+ from FeedCrossing, considering this team is going to be great for years to come.

The Arizona Cardinals got some much needed help up front by snaring offensive guard Jonathan Cooper -- and they filled some obvious gaps on the defensive side of the ball. Kevin Minter, Alex Okafor and Tyrann Mathieu should be able to greatly improve that Cardinal defense next year. They also added some offensive sparks to the team as well by adding RB Stephan Taylor and playmaker Andre Ellington. It was a great draft for the Cardinals. Expect them to make some noise pretty soon.

The Seattle Seahawks did not have a first round pick due to the acquisition of Percy Harvin, but they did get some very good talent to add to an already talented roster. RB Christine Michael is a first round talent and has the potential to be great from day one. CB Tharold Simon brings off the field trouble, but a load of talent as well. They also could have potentially landed a gem in the 5th round by getting nose tackle Jesse Williams out of Alabama. This was a solid draft for the Seahawks, considering they will be a favorite going in to next year.

A Review of the 2013 NFL Draft--AFC

The 2013 NFL Draft, held April 25-27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, lacked the same brilliant prospects at skill positions as last year -- but it offered a lot potential for teams looking to bolster their offensive and defensive lines. Here's a look at how AFC teams drafted:

The Kansas City Chiefs held the 1st overall pick and took offensive tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan. Fisher was viewed as the top tackle prospect and should have a very long career in the NFL. The Chiefs other draft picks were Travis Kelce, Knile Davis, Nico Johnson, Sanders Commings, Eric Kush, Braden Wilson, and Mike Catapano.

The Jacksonville Jaguars held the 2nd overall pick in the draft and took offensive tackle Luke Joeckel from Texas A&M. At 6’6” and 306 pounds, Joeckel should be able to provide great protection for quarterback Blaine Gabbert. The Jaguars other draft picks were John Cyprien, Dwayne Gratz, Ace Sanders, Denard Robinson, Josh Evans, Jeremy Harris, and Demetrius McCray.

The Miami Dolphins traded up in the draft and selected defensive end Dion Jordan from Oregon with the 3rd overall pick. Jordan has a rare combination of size and speed, and should be able to provide a consistent edge rush for the Dolphins. Miami's other draft picks were Jamar Taylor, Dallas Thomas, Will Davis, Jelani Jenkins, Dion Sims, Mike Gillislee, Caleb Sturgis, and Don Jones.

The Cleveland Browns held the 6th overall pick and took defensive end Barkevious Mingo from LSU. Mingo should be able to immediately pressure the quarterback and provide a spark for the team. The Browns other draft selections were Leon McFadden, Jamoris Slaughter, Armonty Bryant, and Garrett Gilkey.

The New York Jets held the 9th and 13th overall picks. They took cornerback Dee Milliner from Alabama and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson from Missouri in the first round. These picks were somewhat surprising because of the lack of offensive threats that the Jets currently have on their roster. The Jets other picks were Geno Smith, Brian Winters, Oday Aboushi, William Campbell, and Tommy Bohanon.

The Tennessee Titans took offensive guard Chance Warmack from Alabama with the 10th overall pick. Warmack should be able to open up running lanes for the Titans running backs. The Titans other draft picks were Justin Hunter, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Zaviar Gooden, Brian Schwenke, Lavar Edwards, Khalid Wooten, and Daimion Stafford.

The San Diego Chargers held the 11th overall pick and they took offensive tackle D.J. Fluker from Alabama. Fluker should be able to provide protection for Philip Rivers immediately. The Chargers other draft picks were Manti Te’o, Keenan Allen, Steve Williams, Tourek Williams, and Brad Sorensen.

The Oakland Raiders -- who have had some of the worst drafts imaginable during the past two decades -- took cornerback D.J. Hayden from the University of Houston with the 12th overall pick. This pick was somewhat surprising because many experts considered other cornerbacks to be better than Hayden. (Then again, it's the Raiders so we sort of expect these type of mind-boggling moves.) Hayden had a medical issue last November but managed to make a full recovery. The Raiders other draft picks were Menelik Watson, Sio Moore, Tyler Wilson, Nick Kasa, Latavius Murray, Mychal Rivera, Stacy McGee, Brian Butler, and David Bass. 

The Buffalo Bills selected quarterback EJ Manuel with the 16th overall pick in the draft. Manuel played at Florida State and is a great athlete but some question his accuracy. This pick was seen by many experts as being a reach. The Bills other draft picks were Robert Woods, Kiko Alonso, Marquise Goodwin, Duke Williams, Jonathan Meeks, Dustin Hopkins, and Chris Gragg.

The Pittsburgh Steelers held the 17th overall pick and took outside linebacker Jarvis Jones from Georgia. Jones was drafted to eventually replace James Harrison in the Steelers 3-4 defense. The Steelers also drafted Le’Veon Bell, Markus Wheaton, Shamarko Thomas, Landry Jones, Terry Hawthorne, Justin Brown, Vince Williams, and Nick Williams.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected tight end Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame with the 21st overall pick. Eifert was a standout at Notre Dame and should fit in well with the Bengals other offensive weapons. The Bengals also drafted Giovani Bernard, Margus Hunt, Shawn Williams, Sean Porter, Tanner Hawkinson, Rex Burkhead, Cobi Hamilton, Reid Fragel, and T.J. Johnson.

Quick thoughts of the NFL Draft 1st Round

I'm not a fan of draft grades, in fact I hate them.  There are certain players who will succeed on certain teams, and fail on others.  It is crapshoot, where players who should succeed don't and others who have limited upside become pro bowlers.  I look for teams to draft players for need, or take players who drop, but are clearly talented players.  With that said, here are my thoughts....

Any team that has two first round picks usually receive praise for the job they did.  For Minnesota, great job taking a highly touted tackle, and corner back, to help their immediate needs.  The selection of Patterson looks good, I'm just leery or trading back in the first round, when you already had two selections.  Good job, now they can take today off.

Now I'm not going to pretend I'm a draft expert, where teams employ staff to scout players, but I'm not a big fan of Miami or Detroit taking pass rushers, who haven't produced great stats.  Too high of picks to be taking purely upside, I would have preferred some more production.

NY Jets-- I know you like defense, but you do know the league is geared towards offense.  Seattle and San Fran have great defenses, but both have explosive QBs and running backs.  You need to grab some weapons, I'm assuming round two and three you get some playmakers.  With two first round picks, one of the picks should have went to the offensive, probably even both of them.

I'm actually fine with the bills selection of EJ Manuel.  You need to have strong arm to play in buffalo, he is fast, and at 6'5 and 240, definitely a big QB.  You hear people say he would have been there in round two, if you like him don't take the chance, draft him now.  I don't think he would have lasted until round 3, so a one round early selection doesn't bother me.

Cardinals--nice pick of Jonathon Cooper.  Don't outthink the room, get offensive line help.

Is it me, or does the NFC West make moves to counteract each team.  Rams get an explosive receiver, San Fran gets Eric Reid, a safety to help cover.

Speaking of San Fran, and my friend will probably disagree with my, but Dallas to trade down and get only a third round pick in addition to the first?  Not a great move, should have gotten more for the move.  I do like the pick, good big ten lineman, it would have been a shame that no big ten players went drafted.

Lets see how tonight goes...

First Round Reaction

Kansas City Chiefs:  Eric Fisher OT Central Michigan…Has room to get even better and isn’t the finished product Joeckel is but can’t see anything wrong with this pick.  Only thing that scares me is Andy Reid is less than stellar at developing offensive linemen

Jacksonville Jaguars:  Luke Joeckel  OT  Texas A&M….Big name player who has faced some great talent and done well.  Hopefully the Jaguars new regime gets them on the right track and adding Joeckel is a great start.

Miami Dolphins:  Dion Jordan  OLB  Oregon…Talented player but not sure on this being the top need for Miami.   I am assuming the trade up was because they thought his old college coach would take him.  

Philadelphia Eagles:  Lane Johnson  OT  Oklahoma…Every bit as talented as the top offensive tackles taken before him.  Athletic and a former QB so he understands all aspects of the game and knows the importance of the offensive line, this was a great first selection for the new regime in Philadelphia.

Detroit Lions: Ezekiel Ansah  DE BYU….Has skills but not a ton of football experience.  With the big boys at defensive tackle should find it easier than some to have early success.  I just think too high for him but the Lions staff knows defense.

Cleveland Browns: Barkevious Mingo  DE  LSU….Great pick for new defensive scheme in Cleveland.    Mingo along with the new talent brought in will make the Browns defense considerably better this year.  Cleveland will not be an automatic W this year.

Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Cooper  OG  North Carolina. ...Plenty of experience as a starter for four years and should help keep Carson Palmer a little healthier as he starts his Arizona career. 

St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin   WR  West Virginia…  Fills the Danny Amendola spot and more.  The more he touches the ball the more points the Rams get on the board.

NY Jets: Dee Milliner  CB  Alabama….Love this pick.   Fills the Revis spot and now they can add talent the rest of the draft.

Tennessee Titans:  Chance Warmack  OG  Alabama….Great player and teaming up with the new signings in Tennessee the offensive line should be strength for this team.

 

San Diego Chargers:  D.J Flucker  Alabama…..This team needs to keep Phillip Rivers healthy and Flucker is a day one starter.  Flucker is more than battle tested and immediately becomes a leader on the line.

Oakland Raiders:  DJ Hayden  CB  Houston….Great story but seriously?  Where they afraid he was going to be gone in round one.  Hope Hayden has a great career but this was a reach.

NY Jets: Sheldon Richardson   DT  Missouri…..Nice to continue to improve the defense and wise not to take a quarterback.

Carolina Panthers:  Star Lotulelei….DT   Utah…Steal at this point and should become a day one starter.  Star has everything you would want in a player on and off the field hopefully health concerns are over and he has a nice career.

New Orleans Saints:   Kenny Vaccaro   S  Texas…..Saints needed a QB for their defense and Vaccaro is the top safety on the board.  University of Texas has slipped some but Vaccaro has the skills to play with anyone.

Buffalo Bills:  E.J. Manuel  QB  Florida State….Talented player but not sure this is a great marriage.    If this is a miss Marone will be an NFL assistant again in 2 years.   It should be real interesting to watch this play out in Buffalo.  (EJ Manuel = Tarvaris Jackson)

Pittsburgh Steelers:  Jarvis Jones   OLB  Georgia…..Perfect fit for the Steelers.  Harrison’s replacement.

San Francisco 49’ers:  Eric Reid     S   LSU…..I like this pick as Reid is a hitter and tough.  Harbaugh and the great Vic Fangio will get the best out of him.

NY Giants:  Justin Pugh  OG  Syracuse….Smart player who can play a few positions on the offensive line.  Pugh is an ideal Tom Coughlin player who got great pro coaching from Doug Marrone and should push to get on the field early and stay there for 10 years.

Chicago Bears:  Kyle Long  OG  Oregon….Cutler needs protection but can’t understand this pick at this spot.  This seems to be a very odd pick but the new guys in Chicago.

Cincinnati Bengals:  Tyler Eifert  TE  Notre Dame…Another weapon for Andy Dalton and should make real impact near redzone.

2013 3 Round NFL Mock Draft with trades

Round 1 

1. Kansas City Chiefs- Luke Joeckel (OT) Texas A&M

2. Jacksonville Jaguars- Eric Fisher (OT) Central Michigan

3. Oakland Raiders- Shariff Floyd (DT) Florida

4. Philadelphia Eagles- Star Lotulelei (DT) Utah

5. Detroit Lions- Ezekiel Ansah (DE) BYU

6. Cleveland Browns- Dee Millner (CB) Alabama

7. Arizona Cardinals- Lane Johnson (OT) Oklahoma

8. St Louis Rams from Buffalo Bills- Tavon Austin (WR) West Virginia

Rams trade Buffalo picks #16, #22 and late round pick for #41 and #8

9. New York Jets- Barkevious Mingo (OLB) LSU

10. Tennessee Titans- Chance Warmack (OG) Alabama

11. San Diego Chargers- Jonathan Cooper (OG) UNC

12. Miami Dolphins- Dion Jordan (OLB) Oregon

13. San Francisco 49ers from New York Jets via Tampa Bay- Sheldon Richardson (DL) Missouri

San Francisco trades #31 and #34 overall for #13 acquired in Darelle Revis trade

14. Carolina Panthers- Xavier Rhodes (CB) Florida St

15. New Orleans Saints- Jarvis Jones (OLB) Georgia

16. Buffalo Bills from St Louis. Rams- Ryan Nassib (QB) Syracuse

17. Pittsburgh Steelers- Cordarelle Patterson (WR) Tennessee

18. Dallas Cowboys- Kenny Vaccaro (S) Texas

19. New York Giants- D.J Fluker (OT) Alabama

20. Chicago Bears- Alec Ogletree (OLB) Georgia

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Eddie Lacy (RB) Alabama

22. Buffalo Bills from St. Louis Rams- DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Clemson

23. Minnesota Vikings- Sylvester Williams (DT) UNC

24. Indianapolis Colts- Datone Jones (DE) UCLA

25. Minnesota Vikings- Manti Teo (ILB) Notre Dame

26. Green Bay Packers- Margus Hunt (DE) SMU

27. Houston Texans- Keenan Allen (WR) Cal

28. Denver Broncos- Jamar Taylor (CB) Boise St

29. Philadelphia Eagles from New England Patriots- Geno Smith (QB) West Virginia

30. Atlanta Falcons- Tyler Eifert (TE) Notre Dame

31. Jacksonville Jaguars from New York Jets- Matt Barkley (QB) USC

32. Baltimore Ravens- Matt Elam (S) Florida

Round 2

33. New York Jets from Jax- Robert Woods (WR) USC

34. New York Jets from San Fran- Giovani Bernard (RB) UNC

35. New England Patriots from Philadelphia Eagles- Bjorn Werner (DE) Florida St

36. Detroit Lions- Damontre Moore (DE) Texas A&M

37. Cincinnati Bengals- Des Trufant (CB) Washington

38. Arizona Cardinals- Jonathan Cyprien (S) Florida Int

39. New York Jets- Eric Reid (S) LSU

40. Tennessee Titans- Tank Carradine (DE) FSU

41. St. Louis Rams from Buffalo-David Amerson (DB) NC State

42. Miami Dolphins- D.J Hayden (CB) Houston

43. Tampa Bay Bucs-Zach Ertz (TE) Stanford

44. Carolina Panthers- Menelik Watson (OT) FSU

45. San Diego Chargers- Terron Armstead (OT) Arkansas Pine Bluff

46. St. Louis Rams- Arthur Brown (OLB) Kansas St

47. Dallas Cowboys- Jesse Williams (DT) Alabama

48. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kevin Minter (ILB) LSU

49. N.Y Giants- Jonathan Banks (CB) Miss St

50. Chicago Bears- Justin Pugh (OL Syracuse

51. Washington Redskins- Phillip Thomas (S) Fresno St

52. Minnesota Vikings- Justin Hunter (WR) Tennessee

53. Cincinnati Bengals- Jamie Collins (LB) Southern Miss

54. Miami Dolphins- Joseph Randle (RB) OK State

55. Green Bay Packers- Montee Ball (RB) Wisconsin

56. Seattle Seahawks- Zavier Gooden (OLB) Missouri

57. Houston Texans- John Jenkins (NT) Georgia

58. Denver Broncos- Alex Okafor (DE) Texas

59. New England Patriots- Tyrann Mathieu- (DB) LSU

60. Atlanta Falcons- Sam Montgomery (DE) LSU

61. San Francisco 49ers- Darius Slay (CB) Miss St

62. Baltimore Ravens- Quinton Patton (WR) LaTech

Round 3

63. kansas City Chiefs- Kiko Alfonso (ILB) Oregon

64. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jordan Poyer (CB) Oregon St

65. Detroit Lions- Markus Wheaton (WR) Oregon St

66. Oakland Raiders- Robert Alford (CB) Southeast Louisiana

67. Philadelphia Eagles- Blidi Wreh Wilson (CB) Uconn

68. New England Patriots from Cleveland Browns- Khaseem Green (OLB) Rutgers

Ryan Mallett traded to Browns for 3rd round pick and conditional 2014 pick

69. Arizona Cardinals- E.J Manuel (QB) Florida St

70. Tennessee Titans- Leon McFadden (CB) SD St

71. Buffalo Bills- Sio Moore (OLB) UConn

72. NY Jets- Vance McDonald (TE) Rice

73. Tampa Bay Bucs- Kawann Short (DT) Purdue

74. San Fran from Carolina- Jordan Reed (TE) Florida

75. New Orleans Saints- Kyle Long (OT) Oregon

76. San Diego Chargers- B.W Webb (CB) William and Mary

77. Miami Dolphins- Jordan Mills (OT) LaTech

78. St. Louis Rams- D.J Swearinger (S) South Carolina

79. Pittsburgh Steelers- Le'veon Ball (RB) Mich St

80. Dallas Cowboys- Alvin Bailey (OG Arkansas

81. NY Giants- Devin Taylor (DE) South Carolina

82. Miami Dophins- Brandon McGee (CB) Miami

83. Minnesota Vikings- Logan Ryan (CB) Rutgers

84. Cincinnati Bengals- Baccari Rambo (S) Georgia

85. Washington Redskins- John Bostic (ILB) Florida

86. Indianapolis Colts- Travis Frederick (C) Wisconsin

87. Seattle Seahawks- Jonathan Hankins (DT) Ohio State

88. Green Bay Packers- Barrett Jones (OL) Alabama

89. Houston Texans- Nico Johnson (ILB) Alabama

90. Denver Broncos- Akeem Spencer (DT) Illinois

91. New England Patriots- A.J Klein (ILB) Iowa St

92. Atlanta Falcons- Dwayne Gatz (CB) Uconn

93. San Francisco 49ers- T.J McDonald (S) USC

94. Baltimore Ravens- David Bakhtiari (OT) Colorado95. Houston Texans- Corey Lemonier (OLB) Auburn
96. Kansas City Chiefs- Tyler Bray (QB) Tennessee
97. Tennessee Titans- J.J Wilcox (S) Georgia Southern

Q&A with Boston College--OT--John Wetzel

As I prepared for the 2013 NFL Draft, I made a list of some of the players I hoped to interview this time of year that I felt while not necessarily household names but guys that would have long NFL careers.   One of the first guys on that list was JohnWetzel from Boston College.   If you do your homework you realize that a guy like John is exactly the type of player you pencil into your starting lineup and forget about for 12 years.     Below is a copy of the conversation I had with John as he prepared for the upcoming draft.

Footballdialogue: What is official size and weight?

John Wetzel:  I am 6’7’’ 318 pounds.

FD: What is a normal dinner for a guy your size?

JW: Well tonight I had some wings as an appetizer, some potato soup, a twenty ounce steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and some bread.

FD: What other sports did you play in high school?

JW: I played AAU basketball, volleyball and shot put for track.

FD: I noticed you played defensive line when in high school has that helped you succeed as a left tackle?

JW: Yes, have that experience taught me some the tricks defensive lineman might do to beat an offensive lineman.  It prepares you to know what to look for from the other side of the ball.

FD: How did you come to pick Boston College to continue your career?

JW: Recruiting trip my senior year I really like the campus.   The offensive line and running coach both came to a basketball game of mine and made me the offer.  Just thinking of the great education and experience I would receive at Boston College made the choice obvious.

FD: What advice has Anthony Castonzo given you about making the next step into the NFL?

JW: He helped me a lot with teaching me techniques and working with me for the kick step and punch.  We trained together too this off-season.

FD: What are your thoughts on playing right tackle at the next level?

JW: Right now that probably is the best place for me.   Once I can get that position down and prove I belong if the team wants we can move over to left tackle.

FD: What has been the best memory of your days at Boston College?

JW: Early in my career I would say the bowl games but more recently just being in a packed house every 

week.  The atmosphere of college football especially at Boston College is just a memory I will carry forever.

FD: Who has been the most influential person in your football career?

JW: Three men. My two high school coaches Ron Wabby and Rich Murphy and at Boston College, coach Bollman, who has now moved onto be the offensive coordinator at Michigan State.

FD: Who was the best player you faced in college?

JW: The dynamic duo at Florida State in Bjoern Warner and Cornellius Carradine.

FD: Where was your favorite place to play on the road?

JW: Clemson University was something special for sure.

FD: Who was your favorite player/team growing up?

JW:  I am a student of the game with an old school mentality and loved watch film of Joe Greene.

Updated Mock Draft (Revis Trade Included)

Christmas week is here and below is the update mock since Revis Island move to Tampa Bay. Honestly, we all know there will be trades, reaches, and picks that make people scratch their heads.

1. Kansas City: Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M..Andy Reid learned a lot in Philadelphia and one of the most important was to protect the quarterback. Adding Joeckel to the fold will allow him to check that off the list of things to do in KC.
2. Jacksonville: Sharrif Floyd DT Florida ... Coach Bradley kind of guy and an instant fan favorite in Jacksonville also becomes a disruptive force for the Jags.
3. Oakland: Star Lotulelei DT Utah .. A little earlier than most project but remember Star has been top rated since the fall so the “experts” always look for reasons to drop players.
4. Philadelphia: Dee Milliner CB Alabama.. The secondary is being revamped and adding Milliner moves that along a lot faster.
5. Detroit: Eric Fisher OT Central Michigan.. Keeping Matthew Stafford upright and healthy will determine how far this team goes. Fisher is a great talent and day one starter.
6. Cleveland: Dion Jordan DE Oregon... Team needs a real pass rush presence and Jordan is the top end in the draft.
7. Arizona : Chance Warmack OG Alabama..Carson Palmer staying healthy and getting time will determine the Arizona Cardinals future and adding the “nastiest” guy in the draft will take care of that on many fronts.
8. Buffalo: Geno Smith QB West Virginia... Coach Marrone gets his pick of the QBs to move this franchise along and might as well add the best in the draft.
9. N.Y. Jets: Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU ... Jets needs pass rush and Ansah is a freak talent that can become something special.
10. Tennessee: Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU...Best player on the board and an while they have invested some picks at linebacker Mingo has ability to be really special.
11. San Diego: Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma....This team only goes as far as Phillip Rivers takes them and he needs to be protect. Johnson is not only a great talent but a special athlete.
12. Miami: Bjoern Werner DE Flordia State.. Miami has little depth on the defensive line and Werner is a very good player who should fit in and make an immediate impact very early next season.
13. N.Y. Jets (via Tampa Bay): Xavier Rhodes CB Flordia State...Top talent and heck of a lot cheaper than the mouth...I mean man he is replacing.
14. Carolina: Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina...a beast for the middle of the defense.
15. New Orleans: Kenny Vaccaro FS Texas ....Upgrade and new QB of the secondary.
16. St. Louis: Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee...HR talent and Bradford's new favorite toy.
17. Pittsburgh: Eddie Lacy RB Alabama...Workhorse back this team needs.
18. Dallas: Jonathan Cooper OG North Carolina...Romo can finally put away the roller skates he uses to stay alive.
19. N.Y. Giants: Datone Jones DE UCLA..perfect player for their scheme.
20. Chicago: Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia...great value at this point.
21. Cincinnati: Damontre Moore DE Texas A&M
22. St. Louis (from Washington): Matt Elam SS Florida
23. Minnesota: Tavon Austin WR West Virginia ...Harvin replacement and not nearly the headache..
24. Indianapolis: Kawann Short DT Purdue
25. Minnesota (from Seattle): Johnathan Hankins DT Ohio State
26. Green Bay: Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri
27. Houston: Keenan Allen WR California
28. Denver: Alex Okafor DE Texas
29. New England: Desmond Trufant CB Washington
30. Atlanta: Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame
31. San Francisco: Johnathan Banks CB Mississippi State
32. Baltimore: D.J. Fluker OT Alabama

Round 2

1. Jacksonville: Sam Montgomery DE LSU
2. San Francisco (from Kansas City): Jesse Williams DT Alabama

Q&A with Rutgers Safety--Duron Harmon

Interviewing as many players as I have over the past seven years, you appreciate those players who keep their word no matter and show the dedication to make it to the next level.   Duron Harmon is the type of guy that coaches, fans and media will enjoy and appreciate on their team.   Something tells me while he starred at Rutgers that bigger things are ahead for him at the next level.

Footballdialogue: What is your official size and speed?

Duron Harmon:  6 200 4.51

FD: What other sports did you play in high school?

DH: Basketball

FD: How did you come to play at Rutgers? Did you have other offers?

DH:  I came to Rutgers because it was a place on the rise and they had a great leader in Coach Schiano. He told me when he was recruiting me that this 2009 recruiting class would be a major reason why we would win the big east and in my senior year we finally accomplished that. Also Rutgers is a great academic school and close to home so my family got to come to every home game.

FD: What has been your best memory in college?

DH: Winning the Big East Title.

FD: Who was the toughest player you faced in college?

DH: Teddy Bridgewater

FD: Where was your favorite place to play on the road?

DH:  Arkansas because it was a very hostile environment and we were picked to lose and we went in there and beat them and left 75,000 people stunned.

FD: What are your views on playing special teams?

DH: You need good players to play special teams and I can be that guy. That's where I started playing as a true freshman and I worked my way up to becoming a starter and that will be the plan for me when I start playing in the National Football League.

FD: What kind of student where you at Rutgers?

DH: I majored in Labor Relations and had a minor in Human Resources and I carried a 3.47 GPA

FD: How did your Pro Day go?  Any certain teams show extra interest?

DH: My pro day went really well, but I did strain my left hamstring on my second forty attempt and had to pull up but I still ran a 4.58. As for teams, I would have to say the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens showed me some extra attention.

FD: What are your plans for draft day?

DH: Relax with my family and wait until my name is called and then after that we will probably throw something on the grill and just enjoy the day.

FD: Who was your favorite player or team growing up?

DH:  The Miami Dolphins and Ricky Williams.

FD: Can we follow you on Twitter?

DH: Yes you can @dharm32

Two Round Mock NFL Draft

We are closing in on one of the best football weekends of the year with the NFL Draft right around the corner.   Here is my take on how the first two rounds should and could play out.  Honestly, we all know there will be trades, reaches, and picks that make people scratch their heads.   

1. Kansas City: Luke Joeckel  OT  Texas A&M..Andy Reid learned a lot in Philadelphia and one of the most important was to protect the quarterback.  Adding Joeckel to the fold will allow him to check that off the list of things to do in KC.             
2. Jacksonville: Sharrif Floyd  DT  Florida ...    Coach Bradley kind of guy and an instant fan favorite in Jacksonville also becomes a disruptive force for the Jags.
3. Oakland: Star Lotulelei  DT  Utah ..    A little earlier than most project but remember Star has been top rated since the fall so the “experts” always look for reasons to drop players.                        
4. Philadelphia: Dee Milliner  CB  Alabama.. The secondary is being revamped and adding Milliner moves that along a lot faster.
5. Detroit:  Eric Fisher   OT  Central Michigan.. Keeping Matthew Stafford upright and healthy will determine how far this team goes.  Fisher is a great talent and day one starter.                           
6. Cleveland: Dion Jordan  DE  Oregon... Team needs a real pass rush presence and Jordan is the top end in the draft.             
7. Arizona :  Chance Warmack  OG  Alabama..Carson Palmer staying healthy and getting time will determine the Arizona Cardinals future and adding the “nastiest” guy in the draft will take care of that on many fronts. 
8. Buffalo: Geno Smith    QB  West Virginia... Coach Marrone gets his pick of the QBs to move this franchise along and might as well add the best in the draft.                
9. N.Y. Jets: Ezekiel Ansah   DE  BYU ... Jets needs pass rush and Ansah is a freak talent that can become something special.             
10. Tennessee: Barkevious Mingo  OLB  LSU...Best player on the board and an while they have invested some picks at linebacker Mingo has ability to be really special.             
11. San Diego: Lane Johnson  OT  Oklahoma....This team only goes as far as Phillip Rivers takes them and he needs to be protect.  Johnson is not only a great talent but a special athlete.               
12. Miami: Bjoern Werner  DE  Flordia State.. Miami has little depth on the defensive line and Werner is a very good player who should fit in and make an immediate impact very early next season.               
13. Tampa Bay: Xavier Rhodes  CB  Flordia State       
14. Carolina: Sylvester Williams  DT  North Carolina 
15. New Orleans:  Kenny Vaccaro  FS  Texas               
16. St. Louis: Cordarrelle Patterson   WR  Tennessee                
17. Pittsburgh: Eddie Lacy   RB  Alabama       
18. Dallas:  Jonathan Cooper  OG  North Carolina     
19. N.Y. Giants:  Datone Jones   DE  UCLA    
20. Chicago:  Jarvis Jones  OLB  Georgia        
21. Cincinnati:  Damontre Moore  DE  Texas A&M    
22. St. Louis (from Washington):  Matt Elam  SS  Florida
23. Minnesota:  Tavon Austin  WR   West Virginia     
24. Indianapolis:  Sheldon Richardson   DT  Missouri
25. Minnesota (from Seattle): Johnathan Hankins  DT  Ohio State
26. Green Bay:  Kawann Short   DT  Purdue 
27. Houston: Keenan Allen  WR  California  
28. Denver:  Alex Okafor  DE    Texas              
29. New England:  Desmond Trufant  CB   Washington           
30. Atlanta:  Tyler Eifert   TE   Notre Dame
31. San Francisco: Johnathan Banks  CB  Mississippi State     
32. Baltimore: D.J. Fluker   OT  Alabama        

Round 2

1. Jacksonville:  Sam Montgomery  DE  LSU              
2. San Francisco (from Kansas City):  Jesse Williams  DT  Alabama 

Q&A with Illinois--DT--Akeem Spence

Recently, I had the chance to talk football, NFL draft and life after football with one of the most gregarious players I have had the pleasure to speak with in star defensive tackle, Akeem Spence.

Footballdialogue: What is your official size and weight?

Akeem:  I am 6’0 ½ and 307

FD: What other sports did you play in high school?

Akeem: Track and Field and enjoyed weightlifting.

FD: How did you come to pick Illinois?

Akeeem:  It’s actually funny as they were not on my radar at until I came for a visit.   I then fell in love with the place.  The coaches knew my high school coach and I really enjoyed the weather and the idea of a fresh start.

FD:  What has been your best memory at Illinois?

Akeem:  2010 Texas Bowl vs. Baylor when we got to beat RG3.

FD:  Where was your favorite place to play on the road in the Big Ten?

Akeem:  I loved the crowds at Penn State and Michigan. It was awesome to play in front of that many people.

FD:  If a scout wanted a tape of you at your best what game would you give him?

Akeem: Against Purdue and Wisconsin this year.

FD:  Who was the toughest opponent you faced in college and at Illinois?

Akeem:  Opponent wise no doubt Travis Fredrick from the University of Wisconsin and at Illinois it was Graham Pocic.   It was fun to battle with Graham in practice.

Headlines Around the NFL

DeMarcus Ware weighs in on Tony Romo and the Cowboys moves this off-season.

Regardless of the recent QB moves Geno Smith will go top 10 and maybe as high as two.  I can see him as the new face of the Buffalo Bills but that is just me.

Good player makes a dumb mistake.  I'm betting Daryl Washington learns from this mistake.

You might not know the name but Logan Harrell is the kind of guy everyone should want as a neighbor.

Another union rep, Ryan Clabo, let go this time by the Atlanta Falcons.  If you are curious do a search how many reps have had to find new jobs.

An off the radar move, low risk, high reward by the Giants that could pay huge dividends this season.

Mark my words but a hot QB next year on the trading block will be Kirk Cousins.  Washington will consider trade offers during the off-season next year.

Look out football fans my guys at NFL Draft Bible are back.   Can't be draft season without them.

Wild Wild NFC West

The NFC West is definitely making headlines.  The Seahawks traded Matt Flynn to Oakland, frees up cap space, but leaves them with no backup QB.  Look for Vince Young, Tyler Thigpen, or Matt Leinhart to be given the chance to win the backup job until the front office drafts a young QB with upside.  

Arizona Cardinals trade for Carson Palmer.  Not sure how much he has left, but he is better than John Skeleton, Kevin Kolb, and Ryan Lindley.  The Cards needed a QB to handle the defenses in the west, make them competitive, and not get killed 58-0.  Palmer should make Larry Fitzgerald relevant again.

San Francisco 49ers  just signed Nnamdi Asomugha one year deal.  He might play hard to get that multi year deal.  The Colt McCoy deal was solid for a backup, though I personally think they gave up a little two much for McCoy.

St. Louis Rams signed Jake Long, a great move to help their line.  With as many draft picks as they have, look for them to have a huge impact in the draft rather than free agency or trades.

AFC East Notes and other thoughts

Nice depth addition for the Buffalo Bills.  They've got two solid starters inside but its always good to have quality depth.

Keeping with the theme of defensive line versatility the Dolphins make one of their better signings this off season but it doesn't make the headlines.

Revis is the Jets best player but may open up opportunities to rebuild the whole thing.

The Pats may raid two teams that don't have the cap space to keep up and coming receivers.

The quarterback carousel is quite interesting.  Its like snack time as a kid when everyone hates their snacks so they trade to find something more pleasurable.  The fact is Carson Palmer, Kevin Kolb and Matt Flynn are all jags who'll never have a consistent starting career in the NFL.  These teams should have looked at Matt Moore in Miami who I see as the next Jake Delhomme in my mind.

I'm wondering what the cutoff date will be with teams signing free agents and going into the draft trying to fill with rookies.  Their will be a time after the draft where veterans will sign again if teams don't find value in the picks they have at certain positions.

Palmer to the Cards

Adam Schefter Reports. Carson Palmer is a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

In a deal that amounts to a bag of footballs and an empty Gatorade bottle, the Raiders have traded Carson Palmer the the Arizona Cardinals.

The price? Reportedly a conditional seventh round in 2014. If Palmer does not play 13 games the Raiders get nothing.

I still think it's a good deal. Let's face it, the Raiders were going to cut Palmer anyway at some point. He is not in GM Reggie McKenzie's plans going forward for several reasons.

• His 13 million paycheck for this season is untenable for a rebuilding team.
• He is in his 30's
• He is on the downward side of his skills.
• Reports say he rather be a backup on a contender than start in Oakland.
• His unwillingness to take a pay cut.

So, a seventh is more than they would have gotten if they cut him. At least the Raiders let him go early enough for Palmer to get the off season program underway. With no ticking clock, Reggie could have held on to Palmer until after the draft or longer.

I don't think there is any acrimony (maybe a little). It's a case of two groups going in separate directions. Thus ends the "Greatest trade in the history of the NFL" *

The next question is: Who starts? The WCO QB that Reggie loves (Flynn) or the Athlete with questionable skills (Pryor)


* - According to Hue Jackson

***UPDATE****
According to NFL.com the deal is a 6th this year and conditional 7th next year. Ever better than I thought before.

Some Thoughts on Recent NFL Moves.

Colt McCoy to the San Francisco 49'ers for some draft picks :  Personally I think this is a great move for San Francisco is they get a back up QB with plenty of game experience.  As for Cleveland they do get picks for a guy they likely would have cut but the more important thing is if they can actually find players with those picks.

Matt Flynn to the Oakland Raiders for two draft picks:  At first my initially thought was another questionable move by a once great franchise but then I remembered who is calling the shots in Oakland and where he worked prior. Reggie McKenzie knows Matt Flynn better than all the national media and most of the NFL.   It's worth rolling the dice especially if they get out of the Carson Palmer contract and get a get pick back for him.    

Kevin Kolb signs with the Buffalo Bills:   Of the free agent quarterbacks available the Bills are taking a chance with Kolb.  I have a feeling this move has Matt Moore and Matt Flynn all over it.   By that I mean the Bills take a rookie QB and Kolb probably never sees the field.

Arizona Cardinals cut John Skelton:  Makes sense to me as they clear a spot for Carson Palmer.  Might be a good signing for the Green Bay Packers as a guy with some starting experience would be nice behind Aaron Rodgers.