Welcome to another week. The draft is almost here. Give thanks. Here's your Kansas City Chiefs news. Another tweet-free edition (work sucks).
Having had a few hours to negotiate the move, the New York Jets last year packaged three draft picks to move up to the top of the third round and select Iowa running back Shonn Greene.
The trade paid off for the Jets. Greene had a strong rookie season and wound up as the league’s top postseason rusher. The Jets were so impressed with Greene they released veteran back Thomas Jones, who gained more than 1,400 yards last year. Jones ended up signing with the Chiefs.
That type of trade might be more common in this year’s draft. It’s a possible effect of the draft’s new format.
More time for teams in NFL draft may mean more maneuvering from KC Star
Tick, tick, tick goes the draft clock with the first round coming up this Thursday.
That generates a lot of talk around the league, and we are checking in on some of the decision makers and what they are willing to say about their teams, their plans and the players in the draft pool. Here’s part No. 2. If you missed part No. 1, here’s the link.
What Others Are Saying About The Draft-Part 2 from Bob Gretz
If the St. Louis Rams take OU quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Rams figure to rekindle local fan interest.
The last time the Rams held a significant Oklahoma fan presence was 1999-2001 with the "Greatest Show on Turf" offense featuring Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. As the Rams began to lose, their Oklahoma fan base began to dwindle.
If Bradford, the most glorified quarterback in OU history, can turn the Rams into winners, this state's overall NFL interest could be on the verge of expansion.
Welcome to Oklahoma City, you're entering Rams Country? from The Oklahoman
USC safety Taylor Mays has visited the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, a league source confirmed.
And the Bengals could be a potential landing spot for Mays, an All-American selection.
Taylor Mays visited Bengals, Chiefs, Cowboys and 49ers from National Football Post
THE RIGHT 53? – Maturity questions have surrounded Bowman during his entire Penn State career. He’s been disciplined for being involved in a fight and then smoking marijuana. It’s hard to piece those incidents together with the fact that he stayed after his school work and was able to graduate in December, in less than four years.
What he said (about his off-field problems) – "It’s about growing up and realizing what’s right and what’s wrong. The things that happened off the field make me look at things a little closer and make more right choices. A mistake is a mistake, and I own up to what I did. I haven’t run from it. "
Draft Profile: Navarro Bowman from Bob Gretz
THE RIGHT 53? – Ducasse’s journey from his birthplace in Haiti to the NFL is filled with the "right stuff" type of attitudes and sought-after personality traits. Work-ethic is top-notch and so is his desire to improve on a daily basis.
What he said – "I like competing. I’m physical. Up at this level, everybody’s athletic, everybody’s talented, everybody’s fast. They just want to be able to see you finish and be physical, and that’s what I bring to the table."
Draft Profile: Vladimir Ducasse from Bob Gretz
His father played professional soccer in Germany, and his sister played at Mississippi State and is a midfielder for the Cameroon national women’s team.
So, yes, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh gave soccer a whirl from the time he was 3 years old in Portland, Ore. Only one problem.
"I got a lot of fouls," Suh recalled. "That’s kind of the reason I moved away from soccer. I got too many red cards."
Nebraska defensive tackle Suh goes from soccer to sacker from KC Star
The biggest long shot eligible for the NFL draft would also be the oldest player ever drafted.
Ball State defensive end Brandon Crawford received All-Mid-American Conference honors, started 39 consecutive games, had 16 career sacks and was a two-year team captain.
He’s also 33 years old.
"Age has nothing to do with it if you take care of your body," said Crawford, who spent four years in the Marine Corps before enrolling at Ball State in 2006 as a 29-year-old.
Age is just a number for Ball State’s Crawford from KC Star