NFL Players Head Back to School

More than 100 current and former football players traded the gridiron for the classroom yesterday, as the NFL and NFL Player's Association kicked off an expanded version of their Business Management and Entrepreneurial Training Program at four of the nation’s top business schools.

Players began the first of two three-day programs at Harvard Business School and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, both which will hold follow-up sessions starting April 3. Other players will begin the first session of classes at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the Stanford Graduate School of Business on March 6. Last year's inaugural program featured 66 players at Harvard and Wharton.

At Harvard, 35 players, including Chad Lewis of the Philadelphia Eagles, Tank Williams of the Tennessee Titans, and the recently-retired Eddie George, are immersing themselves in the school's case method by focusing on actual financial problems from the business world.
Professors aren't going easy on their new students -- players in Harvard's program will meet each day for breakfast at 7 a.m. and attend a study group at 8 a.m. The rest of the day is filled with small classes on topics such as investing, fiduciary and investment concerns, finance, marketing, and general management. Each day concludes with a group dinner and another battery of case studies as homework for the following day.



While some of the players had a little trouble adjusting the life back in the classroom last year, Carl Kester, chairman of the finance unit at Harvard Business School, said that the group also put forth the type of effort expected from professionals in any field.

"Last year's players really jumped into the pool real fast," Kester said. "The one thing that struck me is how remarkably disciplined these guys are."

At Wharton's program, much like Harvard's, 35 players will spend the majority of their time on and around campus, eating together and living in campus accommodations. Peter Winicov, senior associate director of communications at Wharton, said this makes for a close-knit student body without any trace of their on-field rivalries.

"By no means were they passive students," Winicov of last year's group. "By the end of the week, they seemed like a typical MBA class."

For its part, Harvard’s program also tackles the inner businessman. A portion of the program called "Managing Yourself" takes an introspective approach to entrepreneurship by subjecting players to a variety of inward-looking evaluation methods, such as the Myers-Briggs personality test.

In the month-long break between sessions, players attending Harvard's program will be encouraged to prepare business ideas they'd like to discuss and flesh out in the second three-day session. Their business ideas will be subject to "focused feedback sessions" with fellow students and faculty advisers.

Although the entrepreneurial spirit already seems to be alive and well in some NFL players -- Kester recalled Dhani Jones of the Philadelphia Eagles seeking advice about his startup bowtie business -- the Harvard program also trains players to avoid some of the pitfalls of their wealth. Players, Kester said, frequently receive outside business offers.

"While we’re training them in business skills, we also want to teach them how to be good investors," Kester said "We try to arm them a little better."

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Top 10 NFL Draft prospects

Here's a thumbnail look at the top 10 prospects in this draft, based on interviews with NFL scouts and coaches at the scouting combine this week:

1. Reggie Bush, RB, USC (6-0, 205)

A junior who's a true game-breaker. That, plus his accomplished receiving talents, have convinced some scouts he's a slightly smaller version of Marshall Faulk. Last season, he averaged 8.7 yards a carry, scored 16 touchdowns and averaged more than 222 all-purpose yards a game. Almost surely will be the first pick.

"That's a slam dunk based on what I've seen," said Baltimore coach Brian Billick. "He's much bigger than I thought. He'd be hard to pass up."

The offensive coordinator for an NFC team likened him to Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, and a high-ranking scout for another team said the only thing the team drafting him has to do is not overuse him because of the punishment he might take in the NFL. "You have to be careful, but he can change a game any time he touches it," the scout said.



2. Matt Leinart, QB, USC (6-4 ¼, 224)

A proven winner with poise, talent, intelligence and great game-management skills. Not as good a prospect as former teammate Carson Palmer but probably will be the first quarterback off the board unless some team can't resist Vince Young's upside. Three-year starter who went 37-2, completed 64.8 percent of his passes and threw 99 touchdowns to only 23 interceptions. Biggest question is arm strength.

"Is he the best at this or this or this? Who's to say?" said one quarterbacks coach. "But there's not a lot of holes in him, so you're going to be very comfortable taking him. Whether he hits or not, it's a crapshoot at quarterback, but you're not going to lose a lot of sleep at night because he doesn't have this or that. He seems pretty good in everything. Maybe not the best, but he doesn't have a lot of holes."

3. Vince Young, QB, Texas (6-4 3/8, 233)

Had scouts whispering late in the season that he could rocket up draft boards if he entered as a junior, then became a sensation with his outstanding performance in carrying Texas over USC in the national championship game. A huge man with outstanding speed who completed 65.2 percent of his passes and threw 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Also rushed for 1,050 yards. Some scouts are concerned about his low throwing delivery and that his propensity to break the pocket and run will lead to injuries. Others consider him an untapped talent who in a few years could be one of the game's elite players if an offense is adjusted for his athletic talent and ability to make throws and run on the edge. Has leadership skills, and many scouts consider him a better prospect than Michael Vick.

"He's further along right now just in that he understands touch and finesse in the passing game," one scout said. "Vick has no clue, Vick's just a thrower. This guy is more of a quarterback that understands taking something off the ball. Vick is quicker, Vick is going to be faster, but this is a much bigger human being."

4. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia (6-6, 297)

The best offensive lineman in the draft, a four-year starter who has the long arms and athletic ability of a prototypical left tackle. Dominated in the Senior Bowl and has graduated from college.

"He's not a power tackle. He's a left tackle through and through," one scout said. "He's got some length to him, he's got really good feet, he can bend. He's very athletic. But he's 300 pounds, and he's never going to be a 330-pound tough guy. He might be a 315-, (3)20-pound finesse tackle."

5. Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State (6-7, 295)

A junior who might be one of the two or three most-gifted players in this draft, and some scouts think he's more talented coming out of college than Carolina's Julius Peppers, the No. 2 pick in 2002 who's become one of the dominant defensive linemen in the game. Didn't play well early in the season but came on the second half and finished with 14½ sacks. Has a rare combination of size and speed, and could move into the top three or four picks with a jaw-dropping workout. Only thing that will bring him down is if background checks reveal red flags.

Scouts and coaches marvel at his talent — "I think he's going to be more instinctive than (Peppers)," one scout said — but some wonder if he's too immature to live up to his ability. "Small-town guy, everything's always been handed to him," another said. "They took care of him in college, he's never really had to overcome anything. Sounds a lot like (former North Carolina State receiver) Koren Robinson."

6. Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (6-2 7/8, 223 pounds)

Has moved up draft boards because of his play in practice at the Senior Bowl, probably will be a top-10 pick. Some teams think he's a better prospect than Leinart and Young, though most appear to consider him just behind those two. Has the gunslinger's swagger and strong arm, as well as almost identical size, that draw some comparisons to Brett Favre. Four-year starter who didn't have much talent around him but made his undermanned team competitive in the tough Southeastern Conference. As a senior, he completed 59.1 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

"His athleticism, he seems to have that kind of quality about him where he can throw a team on his back and do some things," Billick said. "He clearly has the physical abilities." Said a scout: "He's raw as anything from the standpoint of understanding how to play the position. He's always gotten by on just being a competitive guy that has a strong arm. I'm not saying he can't be a good NFL quarterback, but there's too many question marks to take him high, high. People can compare him to Favre all they want. It's not fair. Brett overcame so much stuff, and he's such a leader. People say that because (Cutler) is a gunslinger right now. But his mechanics are way behind."

7. A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State (6-1 1/8, 243)

Not an overwhelming talent, but a top player with size and speed. Has all the qualities — intelligence, instincts, strength, range — a team could look for in a middle linebacker short of Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. Led Ohio State in tackles (121), tackles for a loss (16½) and sacks (9½).

"I like him a lot. It's just where do you take a linebacker?" said one top personnel executive. "He's not special but he's a good football player. He's a safe pick, because whoever takes him, he's going to come in and start year one."

8. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech (6-2 1/8, 216)

A physical cornerback with prototypical size, plus 40-yard dash speed in the low 4.4s or even high 4.3s. Is the best player at a premium position. Has some ball-hawking skills, and intercepted eight passes in his career. Scouts will check his background closely, though, because of temperamental concerns. Was ejected from the Gator Bowl this year for bumping an official, and has been known to bark at coaches.

"He's really talented," one scout said. "The whole key is to get inside his head and see what he's wired like. There's so many question marks about his football intelligence, why he got kicked out of a game, why did he argue with coaches, a bunch of things." Said another scout: "In my opinion, he's the third-most talented football player in the draft behind Bush and Mario Williams, just God-given talent. You can throw Vince Young in there."

9. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (6-4, 338)

Junior who's the top defensive tackle in the draft, a dominant run defender with great size as an anchor and good quickness. Had nine tackles for a loss and three sacks last season, and in his career blocked seven kicks. Blew out his knee in 2003 but came back strong the last two years. "You wonder how instinctive a football player he is," one scout said. "Big, powerful, strong. You just don't know if he understands football."

10. Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland (6-3, 252)

Texas safety Michael Huff and Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway are among the other prospects who could end up top-10 picks, as well. Davis, though, is a junior whose combination of size, running ability and hands makes him a rarity — a potential impact tight end. He'll probably run the 40 in less than 4.5 seconds and averaged 17.1 yards on 51 receptions last season. Only thing he lacks is prototypical height. "I think he's better than Kellen Winslow (Jr.)," one scout said, referring to the tight end Cleveland selected with the No. 6 pick overall in 2004. "This guy can block, too."

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NFL owners, union in urgency mode

The NFL free agency season is scheduled to open just after midnight Thursday, so a sense of urgency finally has arrived to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.

The league and the NFL Players Association negotiated on Monday, with speculation something could be worked out by Thursday. Perhaps as an indication a deal is imminent, NFL owners have scheduled a 4 p.m. conference call on Tuesday to discuss the labor situation.

Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA executive director, has been adamant he will not push back the start of free agency, but if a deal is done or close to being done, it's very possible the start of free agency will be delayed one week to let teams adjust to the new salary cap figures.



It's also conceivable the clock could be stopped so each side can present the deal to its constituents next week for approval. The owners have a meeting scheduled in Dallas a week from Tuesday and the union holds its annual meeting with the players reps in Hawaii on March 10. The union's executive board meets one day earlier.

If there is no deal, then free agency will start with more restrictive rules: Signing bonuses only will be allowed to be pro-rated over four years instead of the usual six and annual salaries can only increase by 30 percent per year. In addition, the salary cap is expected to be set at $95 million. If a new CBA is worked out, the cap could reach $100 million-$104 million.

As of now, without a new CBA, the 2007 season will an uncapped year. Upshaw has said if that happens, the players will never agree to go back to a salary cap. But that comes with concessions: The unrestricted free agency requirement jumps from four years of service to six years, which could reduce the pool of eligible players by 50 percent.

Teams are scrambling to get under the cap, with different plans mapped out depending on where the numbers wind up. The Jets, whose cap number recently was $124 million, are down to $107 million. Curtis Martin provided them with $3.7 million of relief when he took a huge cut, lowering his base salary this season from $6.2 million to $2.5 million. They are looking to take a huge slice out of Chad Pennington's $15 million cap number. The Giants are at $95 million.
If CBA talks break off, then predictions of massive player cuts by several teams to get under the cap could become reality.

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On the board: Ten prospects for Pack to ponder

A thumbnail look at the top 10 prospects in this draft, based on interviews with NFL scouts and coaches at the scouting combine this week:

1. Reggie Bush, RB, USC (6-0, 205): A junior who’s a true game-breaker. That, plus his accomplished receiving talents, have convinced some scouts he’s a slightly smaller version of Marshall Faulk. Last season, he averaged 8.7 yards a carry, scored 16 touchdowns and averaged more than 222 all-purpose yards a game. Almost surely will be the first pick. “That’s a slam dunk based on what I’ve seen,” said Baltimore coach Brian Billick. “He’s much bigger than I thought. He’d be hard to pass up.” The offensive coordinator for an NFC team likened him to Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, and a high-ranking scout for another team said the only thing the team drafting him has to do is not overuse him because of the punishment he might take in the NFL. “You have to be careful, but he can change a game any time he touches it,” the scout said.

2. Matt Leinart, QB, USC (6-4¼, 224): A proven winner with poise, talent, intelligence and great game-management skills. Not as good a prospect as former teammate Carson Palmer but probably will be the first quarterback off the board unless some team can’t resist Vince Young’s upside. Three-year starter who went 37-2, completed 64.8 percent of his passes and threw 99 touchdowns to only 23 interceptions. Biggest question is arm strength. “Is he the best at this or this or this? Who’s to say?” said one quarterbacks coach. “But there’s not a lot of holes in him, so you’re going to be very comfortable taking him. Whether he hits or not, it’s a crapshoot at quarterback, but you’re not going to lose a lot of sleep at night because he doesn’t have this or that. He seems pretty good in everything. Maybe not the best, but he doesn’t have a lot of holes.”

3. Vince Young, QB, Texas (6-43/8, 233): Had scouts whispering late in the season that he could rocket up draft boards if he entered as a junior, then became a sensation with his outstanding performance in carrying Texas over USC in the national championship game. A huge man with outstanding speed who completed 65.2 percent of his passes and threw 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Also rushed for 1,050 yards. Some scouts are concerned about his low throwing delivery and that his propensity to break the pocket and run will lead to injuries. Others consider him an untapped talent who in a few years could be one of the game’s elite players if an offense is adjusted for his athletic talent and ability to make throws and run on the edge. Has leadership skills, and many scouts consider him a better prospect than Michael Vick. “He’s further along right now just in that he understands touch and finesse in the passing game,” one scout said. “Vick has no clue, Vick’s just a thrower. This guy is a more of a quarterback that understands taking something off the ball. Vick is quicker, Vick is going to be faster, but this is a much bigger human being.”

4. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia (6-6, 297): The best offensive lineman in the draft, a four-year starter who has the long arms and athletic ability of a prototypical left tackle. Dominated in the Senior Bowl and has graduated from college. “He’s not a power tackle. He’s a left tackle through and through,” one scout said. “He’s got some length to him, he’s got really good feet, he can bend. He’s very athletic. But he’s 300 pounds, and he’s never going to be a 330-pound tough guy. He might be a 315-, (3)20-pound finesse tackle.”

5. Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State (6-7, 295): A junior who might be one of the two or three most-gifted players in this draft, and some scouts think he’s more talented coming out of college than Carolina’s Julius Peppers, the No. 2 pick in 2002 who’s become one of the dominant defensive linemen in the game. Didn’t play well early in the season but came on the second half and finished with 14½ sacks. Has a rare combination of size and speed, and could move into the top three or four picks with a jaw-dropping workout. Only thing that will bring him down is if background checks reveal red flags. Scouts and coaches marvel at his talent — “I think he’s going to be more instinctive than (Peppers),” one scout said — but some wonder if he’s too immature to live up to his ability. “Small-town guy, everything’s always been handed to him,” another said. “They took care of him in college, he’s never really had to overcome anything. Sounds a lot like (former North Carolina State receiver) Koren Robinson.”

6. Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (6-27/8, 223 pounds): Has moved up draft boards because of his play in practice at the Senior Bowl, probably will be a top-10 pick. Some teams think he’s a better prospect than Leinart and Young, though most appear to consider him just behind those two. Has the gunslinger’s swagger and strong arm, as well as almost identical size, that draw some comparisons to Brett Favre. Four-year starter who didn’t have much talent around him but made his undermanned team competitive in the tough Southeastern Conference. As a senior, he completed 59.1 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. “His athleticism, he seems to have that kind of quality about him where he can throw a team on his back and do some things,” Billick said. “He clearly has the physical abilities.” Said a scout: “He’s raw as anything from the standpoint of understanding how to play the position. He’s always gotten by on just being a competitive guy that has a strong arm. I’m not saying he can’t be a good NFL quarterback, but there’s too many question marks to take him high, high. People can compare him to Favre all they want. It’s not fair. Brett overcame so much stuff, and he’s such a leader. People say that because (Cutler) is a gunslinger right now. But his mechanics are way behind.”

7. A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State (6-1 1/8, 243): Not an overwhelming talent, but a top player with size and speed. Has all the qualities — intelligence, instincts, strength, range — a team could look for in a middle linebacker short of Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. Led Ohio State in tackles (121), tackles for a loss (16½) and sacks (9½). “I like him a lot. It’s just where do you take a linebacker?” said one top personnel executive. “He’s not special but he’s a good football player. He’s a safe pick, because whoever takes him, he’s going to come in and start Year One.”

8. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech (6-21/8, 216): A physical cornerback with prototypical size, plus 40-yard dash speed in the low 4.4s or even high 4.3s. Is the best player at a premium position. Has some ball-hawking skills, and intercepted eight passes in his career. Scouts will check his background closely, though, because of temperamental concerns. Was ejected from the Gator Bowl this year for bumping an official, and has been known to bark at coaches. “He’s really talented,” one scout said. “The whole key is to get inside his head and see what he’s wired like. There’s so many question marks about his football intelligence, why he got kicked out of a game, why did he argue with coaches, a bunch of things.” Said another scout: “In my opinion, he’s the third-most talented football player in the draft behind Bush and Mario Williams, just God-given talent. You can throw Vince Young in there.”

9. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (6-4, 338): Junior who’s the top defensive tackle in the draft, a dominant run defender with great size as an anchor and good quickness. Had nine tackles for a loss and three sacks last season, and in his career blocked seven kicks. Blew out his knee in 2003 but came back strong the last two years. “You wonder how instinctive a football player he is,” one scout said. “Big, powerful, strong. You just don’t know if he understands football.”
10. Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland (6-3, 252): Texas safety Michael Huff and Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway are among the other prospects who could end up top-10 picks, as well. Davis, though, is a junior whose combination of size, running ability and hands makes him a rarity — a potential impact tight end. He’ll probably run the 40 in less than 4.5 seconds and averaged 17.1 yards on 51 receptions last season. Only thing he lacks is prototypical height. “I think he’s better than Kellen Winslow (Jr.),” one scout said, referring to the tight end Cleveland selected with the No. 6 pick overall in 2004. “This guy can block, too.”

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A franchise-turning decision

All first-round NFL draft picks are important, but when a team has a prime, top-five selection, it gets about as good a chance to land a franchise-turning player as it will see.

So when General Manager Ted Thompson makes his pick at No. 5 for the Green Bay Packers on April 29, his decision could be a major step toward the Packers returning to elite status. Or, if he misses on the pick and lands a salary-cap wrecking bust, he could be setting up the Packers for drafting that high a time or two more.

“If you can hit on a franchise player at a key position,” said Floyd Reese, the Tennessee Titans’ general manager, “you’re talking about someone who will be with the franchise for eight, 10, 12 years and win a ton of games for you.”

Recent NFL history, as well as the Packers’ history, however, shows that though the odds for landing a great player go up when selecting in the top five, it’s far from a guarantee a team will land one.

The Packers have picked five times in the top five since the common draft began in 1970 and failed to a stunning degree with those selections. All five players ranged from disappointments to colossal busts: defensive tackle Mike McCoy in 1970; defensive tackle Bruce Clark, who refused to play for the Packers, in 1980; halfback Brent Fullwood in 1987; tackle Tony Mandarich in 1989; and cornerback Terrell Buckley in 1992.

A look at recent NFL drafts paints a more accurate reflection of the odds for landing an outstanding player.

The 20 top-five picks in the drafts from 1999 through 2002 have produced 10 Pro Bowl players. On a more subjective level, they produced seven elite players (tackle Chris Samuels, halfback Jamal Lewis, quarterback Michael Vick, halfback LaDainian Tomlinson, defensive end Julius Peppers, quarterback Donovan McNabb and halfback Edgerrin James); five players who range from decent to good (linebacker LaVar Arrington, defensive end Justin Smith, quarterback David Carr, cornerback Quentin Jammer and halfback Ricky Williams); and eight busts (defensive end Courtney Brown, receiver Peter Warrick, tackle Leonard Davis, defensive tackle Gerard Warren, quarterback Joey Harrington, tackle Mike Williams, quarterback Tim Couch and quarterback Akili Smith.

“Picking as low or as high as we are, depending on which way you look at it, it’s a very important pick for the Packers,” Thompson said this week at the NFL scouting combine. “And we’re convinced at this point there’s going to be a great player, an impact kind of player, at that point. And it’s up to us to find that person and make sure we pick the right guy.”

USC halfback Reggie Bush, the probable No. 1 pick, is the one player virtually assured of not being available when the Packers make their pick. Three quarterbacks could be among the top four selections, and it’s highly likely USC’s Matt Leinart will be gone before the Packers pick, with Texas’ Vince Young also a good bet to go before No. 5. Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler is the other quarterback who could go in the top four.

Though teams’ draft boards will vary substantially even at the top of the first round and will change some before draft weekend in late April, the closest thing to a consensus is Bush, Leinart and Young are among the top six prospects, along with Virginia tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

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=== Report: Colts, Wayne agree to six-year deal ===

The Indianapolis Colts have taken care of one of their major offseason decisions, as the club has reportedly agreed to a six-year contract with wide receiver Reggie Wayne worth approximately $40 million. According to the Indianapolis Star, Wayne's agent David Dunn confirmed that the talented wideout agreed to the deal, which also includes a signing bonus close to $13.5 million, on Wednesday.



Wayne has emerged as one of the league's top wide receivers over the last two seasons. The former first-round pick had 77 receptions for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns during his breakthrough 2004 campaign, then led Indianapolis with a career-best 83 catches for 1,055 yards this past year.

In five NFL seasons, all with the Colts, Wayne has compiled 304 catches for 4,164 yards and 28 scores. Wayne's retainment also likely signals the end of Edgerrin James' tenure with the Colts. Indianapolis has until Thursday to decide whether to designate the All-Pro running back as its franchise player for the second straight year, a move that now appears impossible.

Slapping James with the franchise tag would give him a 2006 salary of almost $11 million and put the Colts well over the cap, meaning the club would have to release several players to keep him. If James is unable to come to terms with Indianapolis by March 3, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

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Young unfazed by passing questions

The only person who doesn't seem perplexed about where Vince Young should be selected in the draft is Vince Young.

Should the former Texas quarterback be the top overall pick? Should he be the No. 2 choice? No. 3? Is there a chance he actually could take a fall out of the top 10?

I won't go as far as to say that Young is indifferent about his draft status. He certainly cares plenty about where he will be chosen because the difference is measured in millions of dollars. No player could honestly say, with a straight face, that it doesn't matter if he is taken first, because it always matters.



It's just that Young isn't fretting about whether he has the arm to match the feet that have done the most to make him a potential top-three pick. Unlike the rest of us, he doesn't see an issue with his throwing motion, which can be best described as sidearm style. Furthermore, he insists that, based on what he has learned while being at the Scouting Combine, NFL teams aren't worried about it, either.

Sitting down with some of the coaches now, hearing the different things they've been saying about my throwing motion, is that there's nothing really wrong with it," Young said. "The media, that's who keeps talking about the throwing motion. There's nothing wrong with the throwing motion."
Certainly, the manner in which he delivers the ball didn't hurt him in the Rose Bowl, which, up to now, is the defining moment of Young's football life. He threw for 267 yards and ran for 200 more, including the winning touchdown, to lead the Longhorns past USC and to the national championship.

Everything changed that night.

All of a sudden, the automatic presumption that Trojans running back Reggie Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner, would be the top choice wasn't so automatic. All of a sudden, the automatic presumption that the other Rose Bowl quarterback, Matt Leinart, was the top quarterback in the draft wasn't so automatic, either.

Young displayed talent so rare, a lot of football observers began to conclude that he might very well have no peers among the rest of the players at his position or in the 2006 college crop in general. He is big (6-foot-5 and 229 pounds) and strong, yet can run as well as many halfbacks -- and probably better than many others.

"That guy is a freaky runner," Leinart said. He meant it as a compliment.

But compliments for the way Young throws the ball haven't come as readily. When you look at scouting assessments of his college career you see terms like: "shows only an adequate arm … must develop better mechanics … sidearm delivery might lead to batted-down passes in the NFL."

Young treats the comments like the enormous pressure that he faced in leading the Longhorns to their winning score in the Rose Bowl. He is unfazed by them. He is so unfazed, it seems, that he isn't even bothering to take part in throwing drills here. He will throw for NFL team representatives at the Longhorns' Pro Day on March 22 on the Texas campus.

It does not look like a case of Young being in denial. The kid truly believes in himself and in what he has done up to this point to be a highly regarded NFL prospect.

Still, it is legitimate to think that some of the throws he has been able to make at the collegiate level won't work in the NFL. Sidearm passes do tend to travel lower. And, working from shotgun formation as he did for most of his time with the Longhorns, he is going to require some training in how to work from under center. He might need basic training than other quarterbacks in taking a snap at the line, dropping back, setting up to throw, or pivoting and making handoffs.
As a run-oriented quarterback, Young also struggles at times with showing enough patience in the pocket and reading coverages.

Of course, all of the flaws, including his throwing motion, are correctable. The right coaching will help, but the way Young sees it, the onus is mostly on him to develop into a successful NFL player.

"It depends on myself," he said. "How much you don't see behind the scenes -- watching film and how much work and how much effort I put into wanting to better myself on the next level. It's all on myself."

The question is, does a team want to invest a top-three pick in a player who requires what could end up being a prolonged learning process in a league where there is so much emphasis on instant results? Maybe so. Plenty of teams have done it before.

But if it came down to choosing between Young and a more polished Leinart, who has extensive background in a pro-style environment at USC, it would stand to reason that a team might go with Leinart.

That's where the guesswork comes in. The Houston Texans, who own the top overall pick, might want to take Young, who would be a popular local choice. However, the Texans don't figure to be in the market for a quarterback because they recently gave a lucrative contract extension to David Carr. Therefore, it is widely assumed they will select Bush.

But perhaps the New Orleans Saints or Tennessee Titans, who pick second and third, respectively, and who each would like to land a quarterback, will make a trade with the Texans to move to the top and select Young or Leinart.

Someone asked Young whether he felt as if he were trying to move ahead of Bush for the No. 1 pick.

"No, not really," he said. "If he's the No. 1 pick, he's the No. 1 pick. All I know is I just want to play football. Whatever team picks you, picks you.

"You still got to go out and play and perform. You still got to do different things to better yourself and your teammates and (earn) respect of your teammates. (Bush) has to do it the same way."

That's a sound, rational approach by quarterback whose extraordinary blend of skills and top-three draft potential have caused a great deal of commotion among the rest of us.

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Jets and Martin Reach Agreement to a Restructured Contract

The New York Jets and running back Curtis Martin, the NFL’s fourth-ranked all-time leading rusher, have mutually agreed today to a restructured contract. As per Club policy terms and length of the contract were undisclosed. The announcement was made by Jets’ General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Jets Waive Six including Fabini, Fiedler & Sowell, Agree Not to Exercise Law’s Contract Option
Martin, who will be entering his 12th NFL season and his ninth with the Jets, is the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history with 14,101 yards on 3,518 carries. The former University of Pittsburgh star joined the team as a restricted free agent in March of 1998. With the Jets, Martin has established Club-records in nearly every rushing category, including: rushing yards (10,302), rushing attempts (2,560), rushing touchdowns (58), 100-yard rushing games (43), and yards from scrimmage (12,741).

"Curtis Martin is a special person and a player destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame," said Tannenbaum. "He has confirmed through his actions that he is always seeking ways to help the New York Jets win football games and to lead the team both verbally and through his extremely high level of play. Curtis places the accomplishments of the team ahead of his personal goals and is willing to sacrifice in all areas of the arena for the New York Jets. He has set aside what may be in his best short-term interest for the immediate and long-term goals of this organization. We are truly fortunate to have Curtis as one of the unquestioned leaders of the organization on the football field and in our community."




"I have known Curtis Martin for the past eight years and have always had the highest regards for him as both an individual and as one of the fiercest and most determined athletes in the game of professional football," said Head Coach Eric Mangini. "Curtis has demonstrated through both his words and his actions how important it is for him to lead the Jets to the highest level in this game. He is a smart, tough, competitive and a hard-working player that has placed football paramount amongst his priorities in life. His actions, through the agreement we reached today, demonstrate what a selfless individual he truly he is."

In 2005 Martin started the first 12 games of the season before a knee injury forced him to the injured reserve list for the final four contests. He led the team in rushing with 735 yards on 220 carries and a tied for the team high in touchdowns with five. He also added 118 yards receiving on 24 receptions, the fifth-most on the team.

Martin had a streak of 119 consecutive regular-season games started for the Jets at the time he was forced to the injured reserve list, the longest streak ever by a running back in Jets’ team history. In addition, Martin started two playoffs games in 1998, one in 2001, two in 2002 and two in 2004, which brought his streak of consecutive starts in combined regular and postseason play to 126 contests. Over the course of his career, Martin has played in 168 regular season games, making 166 starts, and has missed only four games over the course of his career. Martin, with 10 career postseason games played and started, has accumulated 795 yards on 182 carries for a 4.4 average and eight rushing touchdowns, while adding 305 yards and 37 receptions for an 8.2 average.

"I have never been afraid to take a chance on myself," said Martin. "Since I started playing this game I have been taught and learned that this game is a team game and there are a lot of things more important than money. I believe I have always been a person that enjoys meeting challenges head-first. I believe in the New York Jets and the leadership team that we have in place. Mr. Johnson and the New York Jets have been very good to me throughout my career and they have stood behind me and I am sincerely appreciative for the opportunity to play here. Going in to the off-season, I knew there was a chance that we may talk about a restructuring of my contract, and rather than have it be an acrimonious situation, I wanted to resolve the matter quietly and never felt like it had to become an ugly situation. This was not a hard decision because of the belief I have in the leadership of this team and my teammates, and that I have in myself.

I have already begun to prepare for the 2006 season and am anxious to get the bad taste that the season left me with. I feel that it is important to put the goals of the team ahead of individual goals, and I have restructured my contract to allow us the opportunity to be more competitive as we move forward. I feel like my injury let our team down because I wasn’t able to finish the season and my intention is to help get this team to the highest level. It’s a challenge and one I readily accept. I have a chip on my shoulder because last season was not what we wanted. I am looking forward to coming back stronger and healthier in 2006 and am thrilled that it is with the New York Jets."

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Eslinger hopes for shot at NFL

Greg Eslinger has the NCAA hardware, but he said he feels like he did coming out of high school in Bismarck, N.D., in 2002.

A North Dakota player of the year, Eslinger was lightly recruited, but he started all 50 games at the University of Minnesota, capping his career with two prestigious awards. He won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior lineman, and the Dave Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's best center.

But those accolades didn't earn him a trip to the Senior Bowl, one of college football's postseason all-star games.

"I think that was the best thing that could happen to me, because I had a chip on my shoulder and I wanted to prove to myself that I could play Division I college football," Eslinger said of not being recruited much in high school. "This is the same situation. Some teams may have me more under the radar, so I think that's going to help motivate me in the offseason."





Eslinger, in Indianapolis to perform for pro scouts in the NFL combine, said he wasn't surprised and didn't hold any grudges for not being invited to the showcase game for collegiate seniors.
"I definitely wanted to play in the Senior Bowl. Obviously, I want to play with the best and compete with the best," he said. "But I just didn't pull the right cards, I guess, and what's done is done. I'm looking forward right now."

Eslinger has been projected as a mid- to late-round pick. He doesn't care where he's selected as long as he gets a chance to play for an NFL team.

"I just want to play football,'' he said. "That's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid."
Up to this point, Eslinger couldn't have dreamed for any more.

"Coming to the University of Minnesota, I had hoped to maybe start by my fourth, maybe my fifth year. I never expected to walk in there and start as a true freshman. So it's been a wild ride," he said. "I don't think it's truly all set in yet."

Given his experience and quickness, Eslinger said NFL teams that run zone-blocking schemes might be more inclined to draft him.

"I came from a zone offense, so I definitely think they may look me over more than the next guy, just because of our offense," he said.

Eslinger is gearing up for the many intense interviews club officials and coaches will subject him to. The strangest question so far:

"If your house was on fire, and your family is OK, what is the next thing you'd take? I just said photos."

Williams tagged: The Vikings did not place a franchise tag on cornerback Brian Williams. But Williams' agent, Jordan Feagan, was not pleased that the Vikings placed a transition tender on his client.

"I'm not bad-mouthing the Vikings. But flat out, he does not want to go back to the Vikings," Feagan said. "He's ready to move on. He would rather they had not placed the transition tag on him. But I don't think that, at the end of the day, that will be a problem, because he'll receive an offer elsewhere that (the Vikings) won't match."

Feagan said the Vikings haven't approached him about a long-term contract.
In the unlikely event Williams doesn't get any offers, the Vikings would pay him $4.774 million, the average of the top 10 cornerbacks' salaries, next season.

Williams is expected to command a signing bonus in excess of $10 million and an annual average salary of at least $5 million.

Getting acclimated: Former Vikings offensive coordinator Steve Loney said he is adjusting well to the Arizona Cardinals, where he is the offensive line coach.

"It's been an easy move because my wife already has friends down there, and my son is down there," Loney said. "You don't have to get a map to find your way around. So a lot of things have been good."

Briefly: UCLA running back Maurice Drew credited new Vikings running backs coach Eric Bienemy for being a positive influence on his development.
Sean Jensen can be reached at sjensen@pioneerpress.com.

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Seahawks' transition tag goes to Hutchinson

The NFC champion Seattle Seahawks designated All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson as the team's transition player Thursday after the sides were unable to reach a long-term contract.
Hutchinson will receive a one-year contract for the average salary of the top-10 offensive linemen from the 2005 season, $6.39 million. Hutchinson can receive offers from other teams once free agency begins March 3, but Seattle has the right of first refusal on any offers.

Seattle has until March 17 to reach a long-term contract with Hutchinson, or must wait until July to begin negotiations again. Calls to Hutchinson's agent, Tom Condon, were not immediately returned.

This season, Hutchinson and tackle Walter Jones led a Seahawks rushing attack that was second in the league in total offense and third in rushing offense, blocking for NFL rushing leader Shaun Alexander.



Buffalo: Offensive lineman Mike Williams was released, ending a four-year tenure for the former No. 4 draft pick. The move allows the Bills to save more than $3 million in salary cap space for next season.

Carolina: The Panthers protected running back DeShaun Foster from free agency by naming him their transition player. Foster is now guaranteed $5.13 million next season if he doesn't sign a long-term contract.

Minnesota: The Vikings named cornerback Brian Williams their transition player. By league rules, the club must tender Williams a one-year qualifying offer at the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position or 120% of his 2005 salary -- whichever is greater. The figure for a cornerback this season is $4.774 million.

Oakland: The Raiders declined to use the franchise tag on cornerback Charles Woodson (Michigan) for a third straight season, making the Heisman Trophy winner an unrestricted free agent next month.

San Francisco: The 49ers decided to let Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson (MSU) become an unrestricted free agent by not making him their franchise player. The 49ers also released ex-Lions receiver Johnnie Morton.

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Letter To The Fans

I know how passionate the Jets fans are. I have been there with them and I played against them.I am a lot happier being here with them."- New York Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini
This week marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of your Jets. Like you, our entire organization was deeply disappointed by our performance on the field this season, but we are already working hard to ensure that we return to playoff contender level and ultimately win an NFL championship.

As you have no doubt heard, we are pleased to have Eric Mangini as our new head coach, formerly the New England Patriots’ highly regarded defensive coordinator. We spent more than 50 hours over eight days interviewing eight quality candidates, three of them in-house. Eric is no stranger to the Jets and certainly no stranger to the AFC East. In six seasons with the Patriots he has made significant contributions to three Super Bowl teams, he’s been exposed to some of the best coaches in pro football history and his attention to detail has earned him the respect of his players and fellow staff members.



Young, full of energy, and fiercely passionate about the intricacies of football, Eric brings with him a positive vision, a thirst for success and a work ethic that will make all of us proud.
The introduction of Coach Mangini marks the first in a series of steps that we will take during the off-season to address our strengths and weaknesses. In the coming weeks, Coach Mangini will meet with our coaches, players and scouting staff in preparation for the early off season training.

But if there is one thing that Coach Mangini already knows about our team it is that we have the greatest fans in the league. It is the loyalty, passion and unwavering commitment of our fans that is the backbone of our franchise. Although we had a lackluster season due to an unprecedented number of injuries, we have made the playoffs for three of the past five seasons  and with your continued support we won’t just make the playoffs, but win a championship!
Off the field, our new stadium joint venture with the New York Giants is proceeding on schedule and we will be testing new concepts with you over the coming months to make sure that the Jets new home more than meets your expectations.

Finally, in order to better communicate with you, our fans, we have embarked on two exciting new ventures. First, in addition to our partnership with WCBS which will continue to air our award winning shows 24/7 and Generation Jets, we have partnered with the new regional sports channel, SportsNet NY, to form the official television home of the Mets and the Jets. SNY will begin to air in March and will feature new fan programming including Jets Nation and Jets Playbook. SNY will also have extensive draft, training camp and preseason coverage along with pre and post game programming throughout the season. Second, we have embarked on an ambitious multi-year makeover of our website to ensure that we can offer all Jets, all the time over the complete range of 21st century media outlets.

We are busier and more excited than ever and hope you are too.
On behalf of all of us at the Jets, thank you again for being a part of the Jets community.

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Cutler's stock on rise as NFL evaluates draft

A pair of Big Ten programs considered recruiting Jay Cutler four years ago, then dismissed him. The assessment from Illinois and Indiana: not good enough.

Now, the NFL is giving the former Heritage Hills High School and Vanderbilt quarterback a long look. The preliminary outlook: plenty good enough.

"He's got the skills to be one heck of an NFL quarterback,'' said ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.

When the NFL Scouting Combine returns to Indianapolis this week, much of the attention regarding quarterback prospects will focus on USC's Matt Leinart and Texas' Vince Young. No one will be surprised if they join USC running back Reggie Bush as the first three picks in the April 29 draft.

Cutler? He's a poster boy for persistence.After leading Heritage Hills (Lincoln City) to the 2000 Class 3A Indiana title, Cutler was spurned by then-IU coach Cam Cameron."He didn't think Jay could play at IU,'' Bob Clayton, Heritage Hills' coach for nearly three decades, said, his disgust over the snub still apparent.

Cutler thought he had a scholarship lined up with Illinois. The Illini, though, had second thoughts."Yeah,'' Cutler said in a telephone interview from Nashville, Tenn., "they pretty much told me, 'We don't have a scholarship for you. We're going in a different direction.'"You don't see that very often.''About the time Cutler believed his pursuit of a spot with a Division I program had ended, Vanderbilt called.

"Out of the blue,'' he said.Four years later, Cutler's dream of not only reaching the NFL, but being a first-round draft pick, is within reach.Kiper's latest mock draft has Leinart going No. 2 overall to New Orleans, and Tennessee using the third overall pick on Young. He has Cutler slotted No. 9, to Detroit. Scouts Inc., a scouting service, projects Cutler going to Arizona with the 10th overall selection.

"I think I've put myself in a really good position to go in the middle or the top half of the first round,'' Cutler said. "If I go lower, that's fine, too. I just want to play ball somewhere.''That mind-set enabled him to make the best of what appeared to be a bad situation after Illinois turned its back on him.

"His development at Vanderbilt has been phenomenal,'' Clayton said.The Commodores remained a Southeastern Conference doormat during Cutler's four-year stint. They won only 11 of 46 games, and were 5-27 in the SEC.Unable to lift the team collectively, Cutler elevated his own game.

He set school career marks for total offense (9,953 yards), touchdown passes (59), passing yards (8,697), attempts (1,242) and completions (710).As a senior, Cutler completed 273-of-462 passes for 3,073 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He was at his best in his final three games against Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee, passing for 1,061 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions. In his final game, he led Vanderbilt to a 28-24 upset of the Volunteers in Knoxville by passing for 315 yards and three touchdowns.Imagine, Kiper said, what Cutler could have accomplished had he been surrounded by better talent.

Of the 330 players invited to the combine, Cutler is Vanderbilt's only representative. Tennessee has seven players involved in the NFL's evaluation process. USC has 14.The factors that enhance Cutler's draft stock are his size ---- 6-4, 230 pounds -- and physical tools. He has a strong arm and more than adequate mobility.

Along with passing for 8,697 yards and 59 touchdowns, he ran for 1,256 yards and 17 TDs.Cutler also was just the second player in school history to serve as team captain for three seasons.All that remains is for Cutler to impress the NFL scouts, reinforce his pre-draft stock and surpass Ken Dilger as Heritage Hills' highest draft pick.

The Colts selected Dilger, a standout quarterback who switched to tight end after going to Illinois, in the second round of the 1995 draft (No. 48 overall).Leinart and Young reportedly won't throw with the other quarterbacks at the combine. Cutler will."All of the pro scouts and coaches are going to be there,'' Cutler said. "Why not go out and show what you've got?"
Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830.

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Position Analysis: Offensive Line

The offensive line was one of the top priorities during the 2005 off-season for the Carolina Panthers. A solid front in 2003 had been one of the keys to their successful season, but they entered 2004 with three new starters and four starters new to their positions. Thus, the keyword entering 2005 was stability.



Guard Mike Wahle made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his first season with the Panthers. (AP Photo) In that vein, Carolina signed free agent guard Mike Wahle. They moved second year guard Travelle Wharton to his college, left tackle, inserted Wahle at left guard, kept veteran Jeff Mitchell at center, moved Jordan Gross back to right tackle (after one season at left tackle) and started Tutan Reyes at right guard.



All five players started all 16 games, a first in the franchise's 11-year history. This stability led to the unit surrendering just 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history, and allowed the offense to gain momentum as the season progressed. I wasn't surprising that their best performances came late in the season, during a 44-11 victory at Atlanta that clinched a playoff spot, a 23-0 NFC Wildcard playoff victory over the New York Giants, and a 29-21 NFC Divisional playoff victory over Chicago and the Bears second-ranked defense.

The key to the whole strategy was Wahle. The Panthers felt that Wharton would take his lumps at tackle playing against some of the best defensive ends in the League, but having Wahle next to him would serve as a safety net of sorts. They didn't sign Wahle just for his mentoring abilities, though. He also brought a considerable amount of skills to the table.

"Mike Wahle went to the Pro Bowl, so it was obviously a good fit for him," said Maser. "Mike did some good things for us. It was a period of adjustment for him getting used to the offense, the other guys, and me. All of those types of things that go into a new relationship. But I thought he got through it well.

"I'm looking for great things from Mike next year as far as continued performance. I thought Mike being there was very beneficial for Travelle. Mike was a steadying influence. He's a real student of the game who really pays attention to a lot of small things, which I think helped Travelle out in the long run. Travelle's got a good work ethic. Having a guy next to him is extra diligent about the little things makes a big difference. I think that will help him in the long run as well."

The Panthers trusted tackle Travelle Wharton with guarding Jake Delhomme's backside. (Getty Images) A third-round draft choice from South Carolina, Wharton's ability to play the all-important left tackle position was a sink-or-swim gamble that the coaching staff felt was worth the risk. Looking back, one would have to say that it worked out fine.

"Travelle had a good season, I thought," said offensive line coach Mike Maser. "Maybe it wasn't a Pro Bowl season, but I thought he did a capable job for us. I thought he held up well under the circumstances and got a year under his belt from a learning standpoint. I think that's going to help him out in the long run. Travelle has a lot of ability. He just has to learn to play with a little bit more aggressiveness. He needs to play a little bit more nasty. We kind of answered a question, though, with him playing that position."

Manning the center position was Mitchell. The nine-year veteran once again provided a refuge for his fellow offensive linemen in training camp by bringing his recreational vehicle to Wofford College. It was a move symbolic of his leadership abilities, as Mitchell drove the bus, so to speak, by making calls at the line based on defense recognition.

"Jeff played the whole year and did a nice job for us," said Maser. "He was very capable. He directed traffic well and did a good job of getting everybody going in the right direction. Jeff handled himself well and we were very pleased with his performance."
Reyes provided a veteran presence at right guard. Even though he only had 12 starts under his belt when the season began, he was very familiar with the system and overcame some nagging injuries to provide another rock steady player on the front line.

"Tutan did a good job," said Maser. "Very steady. He held up. He played every game. He didn't get as much practice time as we would have liked him to have because of (nagging injuries), so the younger guys got a lot of work, which was good. Both (Geoff) Hangartner and (Evan) Mathis developed and played some different positions because of that situation. I think that's going to benefit us in the long run as far as getting those guys ready to perform."

At right tackle, Gross picked up where he left off in 2003. The move back to the position where he earned All-Rookie honors seemed to be a beneficial one for the third-year player from Utah.
"Jordan Gross was very steady," Maser said. "His move back to right tackle was not a problem. He picked it up very well. He got back into the framework of things and I was very happy with his performance all year long. I felt like he was a steady guy. He's definitely got things going in the right direction and I'm hoping for better things from him in the future."

As for depth, aside from Hangartner and Mathis, the main man off the bench was veteran Todd Fordham. A versatile player, Fordham's value to the team shone through in several ways.

"Todd has always been an excellent depth guy for me," said Maser, who coached Fordham in Jacksonville previously. "I've known Todd forever. He's kind of like a security blanket in that he can play any one of the positions along the line and fill in at a moment's notice. The great thing about him is his mentoring ability with the younger players. Bringing those guys along and spending time with them, talking to them about different aspects of what to look for."

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The race is on, but not everyone gets it!

The draft evaluation process is under way, and there are so many twists and turns on the journey to the end of April in New York City that it is impossible to predict which eight players are going to hear their names announced as the top eight picks.

I drew a line at the eighth pick for a number of reasons at this point in the process. As one GM said to me this week, I think there will be eight solid players at the top of this draft. A second reason to split the draft at that point is money. After looking at the rookie contracts from 2004, a few things were clear about the drop in value after the eighth pick. Draft picks No. 1 thru 8 averaged 50 percent of the rookie pool. The rest of the first-round contracts averaged about 30 percent of the rookie pool. DeAngelo Hall was the eighth pick, he consumed 44 percent of the rookie pool, and his deal averaged $2.6 million. The next pick in the draft at No. 9 was Reggie Williams. His deal used up 33.8 percent of the rookie pool and averaged $2.09 million for the same six years. So, getting to the top eight is a significant place to be, and of course the higher the better.



But as I said, twists and turns on the journey have already started. Here's a look at where the future rookies are in their big race for the top. I'll check back in from time to time this spring and keep you posted.

When the race started, there were no juniors on the starting line, just seniors. NFL scouts were sending information back to their team headquarters, and the following eight players were running up front, according to the scouts I spoke with in the fall: QB Matt Leinart, OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LB A.J. Hawk, S Michael Huff, CB Jimmy Williams, RB DeAngelo Williams, DT Claude Wroten and OT Marcus McNeil.

Then came the announcements about underclassmen entering the draft race, and even though they got a late start, some of them raced up into the top eight right away. Enter RB Reggie Bush, QB Vince Young, DT Haloti Ngata, DE Mario Williams and a few others close to the top group, and the race was really on.

The Senior Bowl strengthened a few seniors like Ferguson and DeAngelo Williams from their performances at practice and caused the same effect that Cadillac Williams created last year when he elected to go to Mobile. Also, QB Jay Cutler entered the fray with a big jump in the eyes of a few teams. Quarterbacks can always make a significant move in a race for the top of the draft. Keep in mind that with every new name entering the elite eight, someone has to drop back. So a race that started with eight seniors back in November at this point has thirteen men in it as we head to the Combine next week.

I am not going to sit here and say if an athlete decides not to participate at the Combine he is sure to drop out of the top eight prospects, but for juniors who entered this process late, have less college playing experience, did not play in the Senior Bowl and elected to not participate in the drills and testing in Indianapolis, they aren't helping themselves -- unless of course they have something to hide. Last year, junior RB Ronnie Brown participated in everything and finished the race in New York as the second overall pick. The year before, OT Robert Gallery did everything he was asked to do and heard his name called second in the draft.

When I hear a potential top-eight selection say he will probably not participate because of unfamiliar surroundings and that he has to do some two-man drills with players he's not used to working with, a yellow caution flag goes up. My first question is: Who is this guy listening to for his advice? It's a race, and there are thirteen players at this point in the front pack. By the end of the combine, I guarantee there will be a few more in the pack. It happens every year when some corner or wide receiver pops a 4.3 forty time. Two years ago, two wide receivers and a corner made it to the top eight in New York. Last year, two wide receivers and two corners finished strong enough to get selected by the eighth pick. I'm sure there were a number of receivers who didn't see WR Troy Williamson coming until he passed them at the draft last year.
A word of caution to those who don't understand: They are in a race, and the Combine is a dangerous curve. I only mentioned one CB in this group of thirteen, Jimmy Williams from Virginia Tech. When March 1 comes and we understand the results from Indianapolis, the lead group will have grown to 15.

Finally, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and D'Brickashaw Ferguson are not going to slip out of the top eight picks unless they have a major injury over the next few months, but after that, I haven't seen a sure thing in this race. So now, the reality is there will be close to 12 players looking at the remaining five spots. Any player who doesn't make a move at the Combine can't be considered in the lead. My advice to the players mentioned in this article is: Compete every chance you can between now and New York. Oh! Did I mention a few running backs could also quickly move up to the front of this race, and another defensive end may run a 4.5 forty and a 3.9 short shuttle next week, swelling the group to 18 players? This is no time to try and save gas!

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Steelers sign 19

The Pittsburgh Steelers added 19 first and second-year free agents to their roster and allocated 12 of the players to play in the NFL Europe League.

The players added are: center Kyle Andrews, punter Mike Barr, offensive lineman Ulish Booker, quarterback Shane Boyd, offensive lineman Tim Brown, linebacker Matt Farrior, wide receiver Adam Herzing, running back Mike Jemison, tight end Erik Jensen, fullback John Kuhn, center Brandon Newton, linebacker Malcolm Postell, quarterback Rod Rutherford, linebacker Richard Seigler, linebacker Ronald Stanley, running back Fred Staton, offensive lineman Brandon Torrey, wide receiver Isaac West and wide receiver Walter Young.




All players except Booker, Brown, Jensen, Kuhn, Rutherford, Seigler and Stanley will be allocated to NFL Europe.

Booker, Brown, Jensen, Kuhn, Rutherford, Seigler, Stanley and Young each spent part or all of the 2005 season on the Steelers’ practice squad. Practice-squad players automatically become free agents immediately following the end of a team’s season.

Barr, Booker and Stanley were in training camp with the Steelers in 2005 but were released prior to the regular season. Booker was resigned to the practice squad in November of this past year and Stanley was added last month during the AFC Playoffs.

Young spent the last two seasons on the Steelers’ practice squad, while Brown, Kuhn, Jensen, Rutherford and Seigler were signed throughout this season to the practice squad during the season.

Rutherford, a native of Pittsburgh who played at Pitt, was placed on the practice squad Reserve/Injured List last month. Jemison played at Pitt before transferring to Indiana (Pa.), while Postell also attended Pitt.

Following is a list of the Steelers’ recent free-agent signings:

Player Pos. Ht. Wt. NFL Exp. College
Kyle Andrews* C 5-11, 254 1 Ohio State
Mike Barr* P 6-2, 230 2 Rutgers
Ulish Booker OT 6-6, 319 2 Michigan State
Shane Boyd* QB 6-1, 232 1 Kentucky
Tim Brown OT 6-5, 313 1 West Virginia
Matt Farrior* ILB 6-1, 230 1 Florida
Adam Herzing* WR 6-3, 190 1 Cal-Poly
Mike Jemison* RB 5-11, 216 1 Indiana (Pa.)
Erik Jensen TE 6-2, 253 1 Iowa
John Kuhn FB 6-0, 255 1 Shippensburg
Brandon Newton* C 6-2, 296 1 Hofstra
Malcolm Postell* LB 6-1, 231 1 Pitt
Rod Rutherford QB 6-2, 223 2 Pitt
Richard Seigler LB 6-2, 238 2 Oregon State
Ronald Stanley LB 6-0, 244 1 Michigan State
Fred Staton* RB 5-10, 251 1 Tusculum
Brandon Torrey* OT 6-3, 277 1 Howard
Isaac West* WR 6-0, 187 1 Furman
Walter Young* WR 6-4, 220 3 Illinois
*Allocated to NFL Europe

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Official Steelers Super Bowl Book Will Make Fans Feel "Super Again!"

Steelers fans can relive one of the most exciting seasons in team history through the pages of the official Super Bowl book of the Pittsburgh Steelers, "Super Again!"

In 2005, the Steelers became the first team in NFL history to win nine road games, including an unprecedented postseason run to become the first sixth seed to win the Super Bowl.

"Super Again!" will enable fans to recapture the excitement that began with running back Willie Parker's record-setting 161-yard rushing effort in Week 1 through the team's 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.



The gorgeous 108-page full-color book is the only book published by the Steelers about their magical 2005 season. The book will feature photos and inside stories that will not be found anywhere else.

Among the many features will be a special foreword written by Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, and stories and photos that take you from training camp through Super Bowl XL. The book will also feature a special tribute section to Jerome Bettis and a thank you section to Steelers fans.

"Super Again!" will be available in early April, but orders are being taken now. The book is being offered in both a softbound and hardbound version.

A $5 discount is being offered off the cover price for both versions for a limited time only. Fans who order now can purchase the softbound version of "Super Again!" for only $14.95 ($19.95 retail) and the hardbound version for only $24.95 ($29.95 retail). Hurry! Don't miss out on this special offer!

Credit card orders for "Super Again!" can be placed by calling 1-800-334-4005 or by emailing orders@curtispub.net. Steelers fans can also look for the coupon in our ad in Steelers Digest or on the team's official website www.steelers.com. Coupons should be mailed to Curtis Publishing,
P.O. Box 526600, Miami, FL 33152
or submitted via fax to 305-477-1346.

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Fans welcome home World Champion Steelers

Pittsburgh was a sea of black and gold on Tuesday as the City welcomed the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers home.

Crowds packed the streets from Mellon Arena all the way to Point Park, waving their Terrible Towels and chanting Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go, the entire way along the route.
A reviewing stand was set up near the Hilton Hotel, where head coach Bill Cowher and players such as Jerome Bettis, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Joey Porter and more addressed the crowd.

"We set out a along time ago to bring this home to Pittsburgh and you believed in us, that we could get it done," said Bettis. "This is for all of you, every one of you. I am so happy with everything this city has given to me. I am happy we are able to give this one for the thumb to you."



Porter got the crowd engaged in the chant of "Who Ride, We Ride," while all of those who spoke thanked the Steelers fans for their incredible support and believing in them all season.
"We wanted to win for you guys," Ward told the crowd. "This championship is for you guys."
Along the parade route players interacted with the fans, shaking hands and sharing high fives. Safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison joined the crowd as both jumped out of the truck they were riding in and body surfed in the crowd.



Bettis was the last player in the parade and came carrying the Lombardi Trophy. The crowd got so tight around Bettis' car near the end of the parade that he had to get out and walk the last portion of it, but he didn't seem to mind at all.

"I want to thank you for all of the memories you have given me and the way that you have taken me in," said Bettis to the crowd.

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New look Seahawks pass first test

Though some might have forgotten, Shonquilla Hudson was once a prolific scorer for Myrtle Beach High School.

Monday night, the senior guard offered a flashback to her play as a freshman and sophomore, scoring 16 points to help the Seahawks beat Airport 55-42 in the first round of the Class AAA state tournament.

Hudson's scoring - which tied Anastasia Wilson for team honors - was a much-needed offensive lift after Ashley Clarke, the Seahawks leading scorer throughout the regular season, was dismissed from the team last week.



Hudson, who is 25 points away from becoming the fourth Seahawk to score 1,000 points under coach Mickey Hunter, has been asked to become an offensive threat again after giving up her shots to Clarke and others the past two seasons.

"She had accepted her role; she has been our best perimeter defender," Hunter said. "[But] I've been telling her for the last week we need a little more offensive production."
If the Seahawks (23-3) are to make a run to a Class AAA title - they were ranked No. 1 in The State's AAA basketball poll before the loss of Clarke - they will need to find a way to make up the 19 points per game Clarke scored.

"[Hunter] wants me to shoot a lot more," Hudson said. "... I had been telling [younger players] to shoot ... Now I have to become more of a leader than before."

Hudson is not the only Seahawk who has had to adapt to a new role. With Clarke gone, Jasmine Jones has had to take over at the critical point guard position.

"I'm used to playing point guard," Jones said. "In practice, me and [Clarke] would go against each other all of the time."

Jones has the talent to do the job. She was named as the co-Region VII-AAA Player of the Year along with Georgetown's Jasmin Coleman.

She displayed lead-guard talent in the third quarter, threading a half-court bounce pass between Airport defenders to Wilson for a layup that gave Myrtle Beach a 36-32 lead.

Jones gave a fist pump and Myrtle Beach played with similar confidence the rest of the way. After the Jones' pass, the Seahawks outscored Airport 22-10 to close the game.

Jones and Brianna Webb each finished the game with five assists - half of them were to Hudson, who was open for shots outside.

"We executed our offense very well," Hunter said. "We shared the ball well, everyone got a look."

Taking better shots is another way the Seahawks can try to make up for Clarke's loss. Hunter said they will not be routing teams by 20 or more points any longer.

"We came together and said we have to step up one more notch," Jones said. "... I think some might underrate us, but we know what we are."

AIRPORT (42) - Jarne Gleaton 4, Janna Echelberger 2, Devette Robinson 5, Kaeya Stephens 12, Shardae Washington 2, Delisa Colter 17.

MYRTLE BEACH (55) - Shonquilla Hudson 16, Anatasia Wilson 16, Jasmine Jones 9, Ashley Nichols 6, Brianna Webb 8.

Airport16 10 9 7-42

Myrtle Beach11 18 15 11-55

3-point goals: Airport 2 (Colter 2); Myrtle Beach 2 (Hudson 2). Fouled out: none Technical fouls: none.

Records: Airport 13-8, Myrtle Beach 23-3.

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Seahawk fans: Get over it!

Did you get the same e-mail I did? The photo that has Super Bowl referee Bill Leavy peering into the replay monitor, and he's wearing a shirt with black and yellow stripes?
Or the one that's my personal favorite: Bill Cowher is simultaneously screaming at an official and handing him a wad of $100 bills.

To answer your next question, yes, both photos were cleverly doctored.
I'm writing this against my better judgment, because it's been a whole week since the Super Bowl. Yet, I see the bonfire about the officiating still raging.

Allow me, the trusted voice of reason, to help hose it down.
It's over. Done. Move on. The beloved Seahawks (beloved, that is, until they finish 6-10) had a wonderful year. It's time to recognize it for what it is.



Still, too many hang on to the conspiracy theories: The refs lost it. The NFL wanted this for The Bus. Seattle? Isn't that way out near Ketchikan or Minsk or someplace?

The blaring is primarily about four calls, which we'll address here:
* Replays showed that Seattle receiver Darrell Jackson did push off on Chris Hope in the end zone. He was called for offensive interference. Does what Jackson did always warrant a penalty? No. But to me, Jackson gained an advantage because he stopped Hope's momentum toward him, which means Flag City.

* The first touchdown of the game came when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger rolled to his left on third down late in the first half. He appeared to come down just short of the goal line on a head-on hit with D.D. Lewis. The original call was a touchdown and Leavy didn't see enough incontrovertible evidence to overturn it. Fair enough. Can we all agree it was incredibly close? In fact, after looking at replays ad nauseum, it appeared to me that the tip of the ball barely brushed the plane of the goal line just before Roethlisberger fell to the turf. Sorry, kids.

* A holding call on Sean Locklear in the fourth quarter wiped out an 18-yard pass play from Matt Hasselbeck to the beleaguered Jerramy Stevens at the Steeler 1. It put Seattle in position to take a 17-14 lead with 12 minutes to play. That one hurt the Seahawks - not to mention their fans - most because of the circumstances of possibly getting the lead back. Replays were inconclusive, but only because of the camera angles. Someone saw something, or thought he saw something, and threw a flag. Does it automatically follow that the official is on the take? No. It was a call at a crucial part of the game and it went Pittsburgh's way. That's football. Besides, Locklear held, grabbed and squeezed more in the game alone than Hugh Heffner does in a month.

* The one I can't figure out was Hasselbeck's personal foul after he threw an interception to Ike Taylor. In one of the toughest plays I've seen a quarterback make, Hasselbeck not only brought down Taylor, but also a blocker. Yet, back judge Bob Waggoner dropped the flag and called a low block on Hasselbeck. Wow. Take down the ball-carrier and it's a tackle, not a block. Lame call. It gave the Steelers a great head start on a drive that pushed the score to 21-10.
The zebras didn't force Stevens to drop as many as four passes. They didn't force Hasselbeck, with an assist to coach Mike Holmgren, into simply horrible clock management at the end of the first half, when they couldn't figure out what to run. The zebras didn't give up Willie Parker's 75-yard TD at the beginning of the third quarter or Roethlisberger's 37-yard heave on third-and-28.

So enough of the whining, and that includes Holmgren, who rightfully should reach for his wallet after his crack about having to fight both the Steelers and the guys in the striped shirts.
It's done, people. Chill. Cuddle with a loved one and listen to "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder. Look on www.davebarry.com and read terms that would make great names for rock bands (examples: "Weasel Nostrils" and "Jimmy Music and the Stomach Contents").
Considering everything, the Super Bowl may have been one of the more decently officiated games of the playoffs. Ask Troy Polamalu. The uproar comes from the importance of the game and the vast television audience.

Still, the average NFL athlete has become too fast, too intelligent and too skilled for mere mortals to detect at full speed. It was easy to call Chuck Bednarik for a head-slap in the 1960s because he was glacially slow, comparatively speaking. Joey Porter can get away with it.
The replay rule has helped, but it's not enough.

Once the NFL stops its practice of yanking America's bankers and custodians out of their regular jobs and hires them full-time - with rigorous training curriculums in the off-season - we'll get the same controversies year after year.

It won't be perfect. We're working with humans here, remember.
In the meantime, let's all take deep, cleansing breaths and move on.

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Seahawks post-season fate will be sorted out soon

Most coaches will tell you that projections are just that- projectios, nad cary no weight until March. that doesn't mean they're not worth looking at though.

As of right now bracket experts Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com and Tony Mejia of CBSSportsline.com have the UNCW men's basketball team making the NCAA tournament in their projections as an at-large.

Even with the Seahawks projected in, some have questions about their Ratings Percentage Index rating (RPI). The RPI is something that comes up every year about this time, and usually only the people seeding the teams really understand.



The RPI is a complex formula that rates teams according to their winning percentage and strength of schedule. The strength of schedule rating for said team takes into account the strength of schedule of the opponents of the teams' opponents.

To put things simply, teams need to protect their home court, steal a few big wins on the road, and hope that that every team they play does the same.

The Seahawks currently sit at 45 in the RPI, which isn't far off of last year's mid-major at-larges. Northern Iowa made the tournament with an RPI of 42, Wichita State with a 44, and St. Mary's 38. To be on the safe side, the Seahawks could afford to move up five spots.

Though the losses to College of Charleston and East Carolina may have stung at the time, they're stinging even more now. UNCW dropped the game at home to Charleston, who carries a 184 RPI. The Pirates are a lowly 273 in the ratings.

Even though the Seahawks missed out on three big chances on the road at (RPI 16) Wisconsin, at (RPI 55) Hofstra, and at (RPI 27)George Mason, the selection committee can take into account the way the lost those games. Luckily, humans will do the selections and not computers.
UNCW has an open date this weekend, and will have eight days to prepare for the Rams. Perhaps even more importantly, the Seahawks will get a nice break before heading into crunch time.

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Bloom runs an out pattern

If he does make an NFL roster, he just won't have an Olympic medal to show his new teammates.

The much-hyped star of the deep U.S. men's moguls team finished sixth under the lights on man-made snow on Wednesday night. The United States did get a medal, with the bronze going to Toby Dawson of Vail, Colo. But his was