PRO DAY UPDATES San Diego QB Josh Johnson measured 6'3/213 at his Pro Day. Purdue TE Dustin Keller posted a 41" vertical jump and turned in a 3.94 second short shuttle. West Virginia University RB Owen Schmitt ran a 4.72 40-yard dash, a 4.11-second short shuttle, a 6.85-second three-cone drill and an 11.85-second long shuttle. He measured in at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds at his Pro Day.
Mandel's Take: Johnson is fast becoming one of those players who is so underrated that he's overrated. He should go in the third round to a team that can afford to wait a couple of years. Keller is rising and may now be a first round pick. That's saying a lot for a guy who can't block and is way too small to play TE at the NFL level. He's a very large receiver that played TE in college and is going to be an H-back for someone at the pro-level. I'd be bummed if my team spent its first round pick on him. He has almost the same height and weight measurements as Johnny Mitchell did. You remember him, right Ralphie boy? One can only hope that Keller fails to have the same measurement in the mouthing off department. Size is not a problem for Schmitt, the poster boy for the FB position. He's tough, loves contact and has decent hands--what else do you want? I'd much rather draft him in the middle rounds than spend a lot more money on a used-up FB like, say, Tony Richardson.
Mancini's Take: I'm not really concerned with Johnson's height, but rather his throwing. He put up the worst performance among quarterbacks at the NFL Combine by throwing a series a wobbly ducks. JJ is a project at best. Schmitt's 4.72 40 is sufficient for a big, bruising fullback.
JONATHAN STEWART INJURY UPDATE NFL prospect Jonathan Stewart has underwent surgery on his big toe and will miss four to six months. He may still have a shot to be ready in time for the start of training camp. This according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network.
Mancini's Take: Does this knock Stewie out of the first round? He could end up being a steal in round two.
Mandel's Take: Ugh. I'm a big fan, but he can say goodbye to the first round. A lot of dominoes are going to fall now as teams rearrange their boards and wonder who will pick Stewart. Will he be there at #36? If he is, and the Jets pass on him...I'm just saying.
BRUNELL TO BACKUP BREES Mark Brunell has landed in New Orleans, according to the Washington Post. Terms of the deal are yet to be released.
Mancini's Take: Brunell hangs on for another year. He was a terrific quarterback for the Jaguars, but his body can't take the constant pounding it once did. You can do a lot worse than Brunell as your backup.
Mandel's Take: Honestly, if he sees the field, the Saints won't see the playoffs. Is the pool of backups that thin? Yes...yes it is.
DILFER HANDED WALKING PAPERS Trent Dilfer has been released by the 49ers, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. The team is carrying four quarterbacks right now and he was expendable. Coach Nolan commented, "Trent Dilfer is a true professional in every meaning of the word," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "He is one of the most respected players in the league for good reason. Trent has provided great value to our team over the past two years in terms of his leadership, knowledge of the game and play on the field."
Mancini's Take: Professionalism, respect and and twenty five cents will get you the morning paper, but to stick around in the NFL, you need a lot more. Dilfer was never a great talent, but got by with his moxie and smarts. Dilfer will make a terrific broadcaster or coach if he so chooses.
Mandel's Take: What is this, old QB day? I like Dilfer, but not as an active player. He's good on the NFLN and should head to the broadcast booth full-time now...where all QBs go when they're put out to pasture.
LIONS CUT FIRST ROUND BUST Kevin Jones has been released, according to the Detroit Free Press. Coach Marinelli stated (also mentioning Kalimba Edwards release), "As I've said all along, we will always make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our entire football team. As the off-season has evolved from our postseason roster evaluation to the combine to the free agency period, we feel we've made several moves to improve our team. With the off-season program beginning next week and with our draft preparation intensifying, we decided this was the right time to make these two roster moves. While there are always a number of factors that go into this type of decision, we do believe these moves bring clarity to our roster and also eliminate some uncertainty heading into the draft that would have otherwise existed. We sincerely appreciate the contributions that Kevin and Kalimba have made to our football team and we wish them the very best. We appreciate their hard work and professionalism during their time with the Lions."
Mandel's Take: Translation: "We're sick of having a RB who always gets hurt and we're cutting his a**. " Say what you mean, coach! If the Lions don't take Mendenhall in round 1, they'd better hope Jamaal Charles or Felix Jones are available when they pick again at #45. They must draft a quality RB! Sorry Tatum Bell, you're not that guy.
Mancini's Take: The bottom line is Detroit's needs open up cap space and Kevin Jones was expendable due to the fact that he's very fragile, and thus, cannot be counted on despite his skills. Edwards has been a total disappointment. The defensive end never evolved from just being a situational pass rusher. Only 26 sacks over six seasons doesn't quite cut it.
CADILLAC HEADED TO SCRAP HEAP As first reported by the NFL Draft Bible last year, here are quiet concerns within the Tampa Bay organization that running back Cadillac Williams' knee injury might be career-ending. Given the magnitude of the damage, that certainly is a possibility, but no one has resigned themselves to that doomsday scenario yet.
Mandel's Take: The Warrick Dunn signing makes some more sense now. Has a team ever said to a player, "Take the year off to rehab and come back next year?" Well, that's what I'd do. If Williams comes back too fast, he'll be done for sure...why not let him really heal? You're not winning anything this season anyway. Ah, who am I kidding, I'd cut him.
Mancini's Take: Look for Gruden to pick up a running back early in the draft. Graham and Dunn are valuable chess pieces, but Gruden wants a gamebreaker.
DJ HACKETT TRACKER D.J. Hackett has a strong interest in playing for the Carolina Panthers, according to The Charlotte Observer. "His goal is to play for a playoff contender and he thinks the Panthers will be that with their quarterback (Jake Delhomme) healthy again," agent Kevin Robinson said. "And he really thinks Charlotte is a nice area." Hackett, who turned down a contract offer from Washington, is scheduled to meet with Tampa Bay today, and Carolina on Friday.
Mancini's Take: Wow, Hackett, Muhammad and Steve Smith as your top three wide outs. That's a heck of a receiving trio. Carolina has the pieces in place to bounce back in an underwhelming NFC South division.
Mandel's Take: DeAndre James Hackett would be a nice fit in Carolina. I'm certain Steve Smith would love the signing since there's no sign of a real #2 there. Given a choice between Washington, Tampa, and Carolina, I think Hackett would be making the correct decision if the playoffs are a priority.
END OF THE ROAD FOR BROWN The New England Patriots are prepared to part ways with wide receiver Troy Brown, according to The Boston Globe. The organization recently advised Brown that he was not in their immediate plans, and is free to field offers from other teams. Brown (Patriots) said that he will not play for a team that faces the New England Patriots in 2008.
Mancini's Take: I can't picture too many GMs standing in line for Brown's services, so I wouldn't be too selective if I were in his shoes.
Mandel's Take: I guess the cute little gimmick of him playing DB isn't so cute when you lose in the Super Bowl and haven't won in a few seasons, huh? For a million dollars (the 15-year veteran minimum), I wouldn't sign him. Then again, Detroit is out there and the Jets seem to sign everyone, so who knows?
WILSON TO BUCS A DONE DEAL The St. Petersburg Times reports free-agent S Eugene Wilson (Patriots) is reportedly close to a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mandel's Take: The Bucs certainly need help in the secondary, and they have money to spend. Why not?
Mancini's Take: New England has serious holes in their secondary. I can't see them NOT taking at least two defensive backs in the upcoming draft.
