2015 NFL Scouting Combine: Day Three from The Mothership
Many have speculated that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may select Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston first overall in this year's draft, and it was his turn to speak on Friday.
Immediately, before taking a question, he wanted to make something clear in his opening statement.
"First off, before we start anything, I want to let you all know I know made mistakes and I know I have a past," he said. "Right now, it's about me moving forward and earning the trust of all these 32 teams out there.
"By saying that, I'm a competitor and I know what I'm capable of doing so I will be throwing tomorrow at the combine."
NFL Draft Prospects Already Familiar to Much Of Chiefs Kingdom from The Mothership
As far as talent, no one doubts Green-Beckham, who measured in at 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds at the Combine.
The question, obviously, is whether a team can trust him.
"I know what's at stake," he told reporters. "I know what type of person I am. I understand what the NFL is looking for [from] me as a person. I just want them to know I'm going to go out there and give it my all and show everybody what I'm capable of doing and focusing on being the best player I can be."
Green-Beckham was born in Missouri and he said that much of the reason he chose the school was the proximity of his family. Family is important to him, and he also said it is part of the reason he chose to make himself eligible for the draft.
Chiefs, Ron Parker's representative continue talks from Chiefs Digest
The Chiefs and defensive back Ron Parker's representative have talked at the Combine, a source confirmed with ChiefsDigest.com.
The two sides could talk again before the Combine is over, the source adds.
That the Chiefs and Parker's agent opened the communication lines shouldn't surprise, as Chiefs general manager John Dorsey pointed out the benefit of both parties being present for the Combine.
Kansas LB Ben Heeney looks to translate college success to NFL from Chiefs Digest
Heeney said he can play in a 3-4 or 4-3 base defense, and looks to translate his collegiate success and work ethic to the next level in the NFL.
"I think I offer a lot to a team as far as my role on defense, special teams," Heeney said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I can do anything. I can play any of the linebacker positions. I can play anything on special teams. I'll do anything they want me to do."
Heeney, who hails from Hutchinson, Kan., has a good chance to hear his name called during the NFL Draft.
CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com rank Heeney as the seventh-best inside linebacker draft prospect and project him as a fifth-round pick.
Dorial Green-Beckham not only first-round WR in spotlight from ESPN
Ohio State's Devin Smith and Michigan's Devin Funchess are among the others.
Each player, predictably, spent some time talking himself up. Smith is fast and a deep threat, something the Chiefs certainly need.
"That's what teams need,'' said Smith, who measured 6-foot and weighed 196 at the combine. "They need guys who can go and get it. I think I have that ability. I've shown it plenty of times in college so I'm just going to translate that to the next level.''
Georgia LB Ramik Wilson scheduled for formal interview with Chiefs from Chiefs Digest
The inside linebacker position may become a pressing need for the Chiefs within the next year.
Starters Derrick Johnson, who turns 33 in November, returns from an Achilles injury, and Joe Mays turns 30 in July. Johnson and Mays enter the final year of their respective contracts.
So it makes perfect sense for the Chiefs to begin exploring options at the NFL Scouting Combine in preparation for the 2014 NFL Draft.
One possibility could be Georgia inside linebacker Ramik Wilson, who told ChiefsDigest.com he has a formal interview with the Chiefs, among other teams, scheduled for Friday night.
Chiefs trying to decide whether Murray, Pryor could be No. 2 QB from ESPN
The Kansas City Chiefs might need to decide soon whether between Aaron Murray and Terrelle Pryor they have a No. 2 quarterback they're comfortable with.
The backup to Alex Smith for the past two season has been Chase Daniel, but his $4.8 million salary-cap figure could be too much of a burden for the Chiefs as they comply with the NFL's salary limit.
The Chiefs drafted Murray last year in the fifth round but he didn't play as a rookie. They signed former Oakland Raiders starter Pryor in January.
Four things we learned at combine: Chiefs from ESPN
Chase Daniel remains the No. 2 QB, for now at least: Dorsey wouldn't commit to the Chiefs keeping Daniel, who is expensive for a backup quarterback. He has a salary-cap figure of $4.8 million in 2015. Only Oakland's Matt Schaub has a higher number for next season among backup quarterbacks. "Right now ... he's a Kansas City Chief,'' Dorsey said. "Everybody knows he's paid a little bit higher than a normal backup. But to Chase's credit he's played two good games when asked to start and he truly should be 2-0. We all know he's 1-1. I totally applaud what he's done so far.''
Post Football Therapy: Kansas City Chiefs from NFL.com
But in a way, save embarrassing losses to the Titans and Raiders, you guys were this close to being Super Bowl champs. Maybe one of your receivers wouldâve caught a touchdown along the way, too.
OK, so that's a stretch and not 100 percent accurate. But at one point this season, you guys were the final nail in the coffin of the Brady-Belichick era. What's that? The Pats won the... whoops. Scratch that.
The point is, the Chiefs are still an excellent team. You may not have the "12th Fan" moniker, but you guys are loud and are tough to play at home. You have an underrated quarterback in Alex Smith, a fast rushing attack and defense that ranked 7th in the league. That D also racked up 46 sacks, 22 of which came from likely-to-receive-the-franchise-tag Justin Houston.
You guys have plenty to look forward to in 2015.
A little piece of Chiefs dies if Raiders, Chargers move from ESPN
Both teams have at various times called Los Angeles home, the Chargers for their inaugural AFL season in 1960 and the Raiders for 13 years in the 1980s and 1990s. But San Diego and Oakland have been their respective homes for so long that those cities are where the respective franchises have their identities. Saying either team belongs to L.A. because of their brief histories there is like saying Dallas has a claim to the Chiefs, who were born in the Texas city.
The possibility of the Chiefs no longer playing their annual games in San Diego (always a favorite trip for Kansas City-area fans) and Oakland is bad enough. Now comes Pro Football Talk with a report that either the Chargers or Raiders would move not only out of the AFC West but to the NFC if both teams move to Los Angeles.
Telesco rival Chiefs found 'blue' Kelce from The San Diego Union-Tribune
We scanned for blue in Tom Telesco's two Chargers drafts and now turn to the blue-mining draft efforts of Telesco's rival in Kansas City, John Dorsey.
Dorsey, who like Telesco became a first-time GM in 2013, has made 14 draft selections. He also dealt his second-round picks from 2013-14 to the 49ers for quarterback Alex Smith.
Travis Kelce, taken by Dorsey 63rd in 2013, is a complete tight end who was a blue player last year.
UWM will honor NFL player Harris with bobblehead from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
You don't hear of NFL players coming from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The school hasn't had a football program since 1974, after all.
But 40 years later, Demetrius Harris made the leap. And on Sunday, the UWM basketball team he starred on will be honoring him with his very own bobblehead during a game against Cleveland State at the UWM Panther Arena.
The story of how Harris made it from UWM to the National Football League as a tight end involves a little help and a lot of persistence. A 36.5-inch vertical jump didn't hurt, either.
NFL writer's top 50 free agents list chock full of Cowboys from The Dallas Morning News
2. Justin Houston, OLB-DE, Kansas City Chiefs: I think he gets tagged if they can't work out a deal. You don't let great pass rushers walk out of your building.
Blood Clots Can Be Serious and Life-Threatening from Basketball Insiders
Two offensive linemen - Cleveland Browns guard Jason Pinkston and New York Giants tackle Stacy Andrews - were hospitalized with pulmonary emboli over the last two years. Neither player has returned to the field since the diagnosis, despite being starters prior to the injuries.
Varejao, Williams, Pinkston and Andrews were fortunate that their clots were detected early. Many athletes have died over the years from pulmonary emboli, including Mack Lee Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs, Harry Agganis of the Boston Red Sox and Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs among others.
#AskSchwartz: Giants offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz takes over Twitter from NJ.com
Giants offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz took over the @NJ_Sports Twitter account on Friday morning to interact with fans live from the 2015 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. As the offensive lineman ran through drills, Schwartz took fans through the process of the event and gave insight into which events truly matter for the position.
Along the way, questions about the best food in New York City and Kansas City BBQ entered into the discussion.