NFC North
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NFC North
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 06:30 |
Let’s continue our (spontaneous) Draft Wednesday theme by taking a look at ESPN.com’s latest mock draft. (It’s 3.0 for those of you keeping track.) This one combines picks from analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. You need an Insider subscription to view the entire list and accompanying analysis, but I can give you a sneak pick of the three NFC North-related picks.
Detroit Lions (No. 2)
Kiper: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
McShay: Suh
Seifert comment: This assumes St. Louis takes Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford No. 1 overall. What a coup that would be for the Lions.
Green Bay Packers (No. 23)
Kiper: Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga
McShay: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis
Seifert comment: Big discrepancy here. McShay has Bulaga going at No. 6 to Seattle. I myself have absolutely no idea, but it sure sounds like Bulaga’s stock has moved above the No. 23 overall pick. I’m guessing the Packers will pounce if he falls this far.
Minnesota Vikings (No. 30)
Kiper: Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty
McShay: UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price
Seifert comment: At this point, the Vikings will take the best available player. But all things equal, a cornerback ranks higher than defensive tackle on their need list. |
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NFC North
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 03:05 |
Let's catch you up with Gerald McCoy's performance -- or non-performance, as the case may be -- Tuesday at Oklahoma's Pro Day.
According to ESPN.com's David Ubben, McCoy weighed in at 298 pounds but didn't participate in many drills. That includes the bench press, a particular source of disappointment during his performance at the scouting combine last month.
McCoy plans to give the bench press another go at an unofficial second Pro Day on March 25, where Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford is scheduled to throw for NFL coaches and scouts.
If it wasn't apparent before, it should be now: Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh appears to have moved ahead of McCoy in terms of offseason competition. If Detroit has the choice between Suh and McCoy at No. 2 overall next month, it's hard to imagine them not taking Suh.
But if St. Louis takes Suh at No. 1 overall, the Lions might have a tough decision: McCoy or Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Generally, No. 2 is high for a safety. What do you think? |
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NFC North
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 03:05 |
Let's catch you up with Gerald McCoy's performance -- or non-performance, as the case may be -- Tuesday at Oklahoma's Pro Day.
According to ESPN.com's David Ubben, McCoy weighed in at 298 pounds but didn't participate in many drills. That includes the bench press, a particular source of disappointment during his performance at the scouting combine last month.
McCoy plans to give the bench press another go at an unofficial second Pro Day on March 25, where Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford is scheduled to throw for NFL coaches and scouts.
If it wasn't apparent before, it should be now: Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh appears to have moved ahead of McCoy in terms of offseason competition. If Detroit has the choice between Suh and McCoy at No. 2 overall next month, it's hard to imagine them not taking Suh.
But if St. Louis takes Suh at No. 1 overall, the Lions might have a tough decision: McCoy or Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Generally, No. 2 is high for a safety. What do you think? |
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NFC North
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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 23:13 |
As the free agent market rolls on, we have a pretty important legal proceeding taking place in Minnesota. The Williams Wall trial is continuing in Hennepin County (Minnesota) District Court. Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams testified Tuesday and will be cross-examined Wednesday, followed by Pat Williams. Vikings coach Brad Childress is also expected to testify later this week that he was not the source of the media leak that led to the players' four-game suspensions going public.
My sense has been you are primarily interested in whether the players will be suspended, but not as much with the minutia of the case. So I've done my best to let you know we're still a long way from knowing the players' fates. Whoever loses this trial is almost certain to appeal.
If you are interested in the legal side -- and it's a big deal that could impact the drug-testing policies of every professional sports league in the country -- I will continue to point you in the direction of Brian Murphy's daily coverage in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Continuing around the NFC North:
- The Vikings will sign running back LaDainian Tomlinson if an understanding can be reached on playing time and money, reports Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune. I expect the former to be a more difficult discussion than the latter.
- Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew attended Oklahoma's Pro Day in part to watch defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, notes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
- Mayhew has been as active as any NFL general manager over the past 18 months, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
- The Green Bay Press-Gazette offers a colorized photo of the throwback jersey the Packers will use in future games. It's circa 1920.
- The agents for Packers safety Nick Collins are taking a different approach to securing a contract extension, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.
- Cornerback Zack Bowman should be a lock for a starting job in 2010, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
- Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune speaks with Carolina coach John Fox about new Bears defensive end Julius Peppers. Fox: "His tenacity has picked up. He doesn't look for excuses. He doesn't fall into a rut. He finishes."
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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 09:55 |
Well. Not long after we asked our inaugural "Big Question," Minnesota took a step toward answering it. The Vikings scheduled a Thursday visit with running back LaDainian Tomlinson, indicating he is their top choice to replace Chester Taylor as Adrian Peterson's backup/third down back.
We discussed Tomlinson's aptitude for the job in our previous post, but it bears repeating he is an excellent fit for the job so long as Peterson remains healthy over a 16-game season. But there is also a pesky little issue that will have to be cleared up in order for this to work.
You might recall that in September, Tomlinson said he resented an implication from Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown that Peterson was the better player. Here's what Tomlinson said:
"Jim Brown was telling Peterson he's the best runner he'd seen in a long time. I was sitting there reading it thinking, 'Wow.'
"The difference with me is you can put me out on that field and there will be nothing I can't do. I won't have to come off the field. Adrian has to come off sometimes on third down. Running routes, he's still not there yet. Great downhill runner, powerful, fast, all that stuff. . . .
"But anything on that field you want me to do -- throw it, block -- I can do it. That's what I pride myself on is not having any weaknesses. And that's what makes me the best back."
At the time, Minnesota coach Brad Childress responded by supporting Peterson.
"LaDainian is a hell of a back and he's entitled to his opinion," Childress said. "I'm going to tell you, my guy is the best football player in the National Football League and he's the best running back in the National Football League, and I believe that."
A lot has changed since Tomlinson made those statements, and I can't imagine he believes he is the better back after a humbling 2009 season. But to me, the Vikings must determine if Tomlinson is ready to subordinate his pride and accept a role secondary to Peterson. Last season, Taylor carried the ball 94 times, less than a third of Tomlinson's career average.
If Tomlinson is willing to accept that reduction, along with third-down responsibilities, this is a win-win situation for both sides. |
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Vikings Trivia
Who was the last Vikings' player to lead the NFL in field goals?
[ Answer? ]
Rich Karlis, who kicked 31 three-pointers in 1989.
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