Kevan Barlow fan club

INDIANAPOLIS – For Janoris Jenkins, interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine have been more like interrogations.

How many times has he been arrested? How many drug tests did he fail in college? Does he still smoke marijuana?

Janoris Jenkins, left, has to answer a number of off-the-field questions for interested NFL teams before the upcoming draft. (AP photo)

Jenkins, a 5-foot-10 cornerback from North Alabama, is hoping his draft stock is not severely hurt by his troubled past. It’s an interesting case. Jenkins is one of the draft’s most talented corners with clear first-round talent. But he may fall to the second round, because teams must determine if Jenkins has really matured, or if he has simply learned to say the right things.

‘One of the ultimate boom-or-bust guys in this draft,’’ said NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock during a pre-Combine conference call.

Sunday during his media session, Jenkins was calm and straightforward, patiently answering questions. After all, Jenkins has a lot of explaining to do.

“I’m grateful for my second chance,’’ said Jenkins, who landed at North Alabama after being dismissed from the team at Florida.

Jenkins said he failed one drug test at Florida and was arrested three times — once for a bar fight and twice for marijuana possession. When teams have asked about those incidents at the Combine, Jenkins said he didn’t make excuses.

“I was honest, straightforward,” Jenkins. “Told them I did it. I admitted to everything. I take full responsibility. I learned from it. It made me a stronger person. How to separate myself from certain guys, certain people. In order to be successful at the next level, I can’t do the things that I used to do.’’

Teams looking for a first-round corner have options. Morris Claiborne of LSU, Leonard Johnson of Iowa State, Trumaine Johnson of Montana and Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama are among the other top prospects. Any of those corners would be a safer pick than Jenkins. But Jenkins has eye-opening ability. Some think he can be a better NFL corner than former Florida teammate Joe Haden, drafted seventh by the Browns in 2010.

However, Jenkins knows some teams will eliminate him from their draft board. What’s past is not always past. Not when it comes to paying a draft pick millions of dollars and trusting him to stay out of trouble.

“I’m pretty sure it will hurt me,” Jenkins said. “But I’m moving past that.”

Jenkins has plenty of motivation to earn NFL dollars. He is 23 years old, but he already has four children ranging in age from three years old to three months.

Playing at North Alabama was far different than being at Florida. North Alabama sometimes played on Thursday night, giving Jenkins a chance to watch Florida play on Saturdays. Jenkins said that was difficult.

“It struck me,” Jenkins said. “I was just like, ‘Man, I’m supposed to be there with those guys.

“It made me appreciate a lot. Coming from Florida, getting three or four pair of cleats a week. Going to North Alabama, getting one pair of cleats. Playing in front of 3,500 people. Being in The Swamp, playing in front of 95,000 is a big difference.”

Jenkins said he had given up marijuana.

“I’m done,” Jenkins said. “I can’t do it. I thought about my mom and my kids. In order for them to have a nice life, I have to put that aside.”

When defensive backs go through Combine workouts on Tuesday, Jenkins hopes to impress with his speed and overall skill-set. Jenkins said he was rarely tested at North Alabama, only thrown at by opposing quarterbacks three or four times per game. Why challenge Jenkins when you can throw elsewhere?

Now Jenkins is back competing against college football’s best players, vying for attention at the Combine, trying to convince interested teams he is a changed man. The Cowboys (No. 14 pick), Bengals (No. 17) and Lions (No. 23) are among the teams that could take a hard look at Jenkins.

If they all pass, Jenkins could tumble into Round 2. However, cover corners are precious commodities, and Jenkins may be the most talented of this year’s group.

“They see the talent,” Jenkins said. “They just want to know what kind of kid I am. I’m not a bad kid. I’ve made a few mistakes and I learned from them. Everything I did, I did. I’m admitting it. I did it. I’m looking to put that in my past and move forward.”

But the Combine will help determine how much Jenkins’ past impacts his future.

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INDIANAPOLIS — After being hired in late January, new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano has faced challenges putting together his coaching staff.

Schiano was denied permission to speak with several coaches who were under contract. The process has been difficult. But Schiano’s staff is almost complete, after the hiring of former LSU defensive backs coach Ron Cooper as the Buccaneers’ secondary coach.

Greg Schiano left Rutgers behind to coach the Buccaneers. (AP Photo)

Schiano confirmed Cooper’s hiring Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“I wasn’t going to rush just to fill up a staff,” Schiano said. “I made some mistakes in my 11 years as a head football coach (at Rutgers). My first time as a head coach, I felt I had to get the staff hired, had to do it quickly. That’s not the way to go. It’s taken longer than maybe I would have liked, but we’re going to make sure that the guys we hired were the right fit.”

Schiano said he has received great help from Butch Davis, the former Cleveland Browns and North Carolina coach who is now Schiano’s special assistant.

While some are skeptical about Schiano’s chances to succeed as an NFL coach, he says he has no regrets about leaving Rutgers.

“There’s never a good time to leave,” Schiano said. “Having left when I did, Rutgers was able to hang on to the predominance of their recruiting class. Had I left in December, that may not have been the case.

“I felt sad about leaving my players, but it felt right. What I wanted (with Davis) was someone who could help the head coach be a head coach. Someone who had done what I was trying to do, and that’s go from college football to the National Football League. Learn from the good things Butch did when he did it, things he wished he could have changed. I’m going to make mistakes. That’s life.”

The key for Schiano will be to win games, even when he is making mistakes.

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DUI charges against Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward were dropped Wednesday as part of a plea agreement. Ward pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of reckless driving Wednesday in connection to a July 9 arrest in DeKalb County, Georgia, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

With the deal, which also includes Ward pleading “no contest” to a charge of failing to maintain his driving lane, he received a sentence of 12 months’ probation with 80 hours of community service. He also was fined $2,000.

Hines Ward avoids a more serious charge in a Georgia plea deal. (AP Photo)

Because Ware plays in Pittsburgh but the violation happened in the state where he played college football, he will be allowed to check in with his probation officer via phone or e-mail.

Last July, Ward was pulled over by a DeKalb County lawman after he swerved from his lane and hit a curb with his car, which the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports was an Aston Martin. According to police, Ward failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a Breathalyzer test, leading to his arrest. Shortly after the incident, Ward was released on a $1,000 bond.

“We are grateful for the outcome,” said Andrew Ree, Ward’s personal attorney and manager, per the Tribune-Review. “By dropping the DUI charge it is clear that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to proceed. Hines has always maintained that his ability to drive was in no way impaired and we are pleased that the facts support his innocence.”

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Freddie Solomon died Monday without any football regrets. If you ever saw him play, you’d have one.

Imagine if Michael Vick spent his career as a wide receiver. Or if all those mock drafts had Robert Griffin III being converted to cornerback.

With Vick, at least we know the quarterback fun we’d have missed. With Solomon, one can only imagine.

“I don’t look back and wonder whether I could have or couldn’t have,” he said. “I just did the best I could.”

It was 10 years ago. Vick was just starting to dazzle the NFL, and I wondered if Solomon was having any flashbacks.

He was mentoring kids at a Tampa high school. Few of them realized what a great NFL receiver he was. None of them had a clue what a dynamo he was at the University of Tampa.

Their coach did. Billy Turner was Tampa’s offensive line coach in the early 1970s. He’d occasionally break out a projector and thread some old some game film for his players. The kids were amazed by what they saw.

“Vick?” Turner mused. “He’s close to being Freddie.”

And Freddie was as close to an irresistible force as college football had seen. Don’t be misled by the fact he played for little old U of Tampa.

Players like John Matuszak and Leon McQuay made it the team none of the big boys wanted to play. Tampa was the kind of renegade place where nobody freaked out if a black player took snaps from center.

Along came Solomon. He was a cobbler’s son from Sumter, S.C., who grew up idolizing Joe Namath. The Spartans’ option attack was perfect for his skills.

He piled up 5,803 yards total offense in three years. His 3,299 yard rushing set an NCAA record for quarterbacks.

After Solomon passed for 103 yards and ran for 182 against his team, Miami coach Pete Elliott called him “the biggest threat I’ve ever seen on a football field.”

Solomon went to the East-West Shrine game and was named offensive MVP. If it were 2012, we’d be debating which NFL team should trade up and take a chance on him.

It was 1975, and Solomon was drafted as an “Athlete.”

“Whatever that meant,” he said.

That meant we he was a victim of the Jim Crow quarterback laws. Generations of coaches had been raised believing black kids weren’t cerebral enough for the position.

Individually, the coaches might not have been racist. But collectively they represented an institutional failure that wouldn’t be fixed for another couple of decades.

The Dolphins took Solomon in the second round. He’d never run a pass route in his life, but they saw him as a wide receiver. It was rough at first, though Solomon’s talent was apparent enough.

He had a 53-yard touchdown catch, a 59-yard touchdown run and a 79-yard punt return for a score in one game. Miami traded him to San Francisco after two seasons.

The Dolphins were eyeing a title and wanted a more polished receiver. The 49ers were a joke, but that gave Solomon a place to develop.

“I decided I’d better learn to play receiver,” he said, “or my career was over.”

His career took off. Solomon won two Super Bowl rings with the 49ers. Joe Montana remembered him as a receiver who never came back to the huddle complaining that he wasn’t thrown to.

Solomon was Terrell Owens in a parallel universe, quietly going about his business. His quarterback days became just an enticing memory, though the NFL did get one glimpse.

It was the final game of the 1978 season in Detroit. Steve DeBerg got hurt. Backup quarterback Scott Bull went down. San Francisco put in defensive back Bruce Threadgill, who’d played some quarterback in Canada.

He also had a broken hand. They cut off his cast so he could take snaps.

They should have kept it on.

Threadgill’s first two passes were intercepted. The Lions led, 33-7, so coach Fred O’Connor figured he had nothing to lose by sticking Solomon behind center.

He rushed for 42 yards and passed for 85 more. When he capped a late touchdown drive with an 11-yard run, even Detroit fans applauded.

“That won’t happen again,” Solomon said. “I’ve lived my fantasy, and got it out of my system.”

It really did. When I caught up with Solomon, he was a community liaison for the sheriff’s department in Tampa. After retiring in 1985, he devoted himself to helping underprivileged children.

He rarely talked about his playing days, but the kids called him Coach since he insisted they tuck in their shirts.

“He’s the most humble guy I’ve ever known,” Turner said. “With the things he’s done, I’d be cocky.”

He’d just turned 50, but Solomon still looked fit enough to play. That changed in a hurry the past year. He was diagnosed with liver and colon cancer and faded fast.

Could he have been an NFL quarterback?

“I don’t mean to be rude,” Solomon said, “but I never got a chance.”

That’s something we should all regret.

Source

Freddie Solomon died Monday without any football regrets. If you ever saw him play, you’d have one.

Imagine if Michael Vick spent his career as a wide receiver. Or if all those mock drafts had Robert Griffin III being converted to cornerback.

With Vick, at least we know the quarterback fun we’d have missed. With Solomon, one can only imagine.

“I don’t look back and wonder whether I could have or couldn’t have,” he said. “I just did the best I could.”

It was 10 years ago. Vick was just starting to dazzle the NFL, and I wondered if Solomon was having any flashbacks.

He was mentoring kids at a Tampa high school. Few of them realized what a great NFL receiver he was. None of them had a clue what a dynamo he was at the University of Tampa.

Their coach did. Billy Turner was Tampa’s offensive line coach in the early 1970s. He’d occasionally break out a projector and thread some old some game film for his players. The kids were amazed by what they saw.

“Vick?” Turner mused. “He’s close to being Freddie.”

And Freddie was as close to an irresistible force as college football had seen. Don’t be misled by the fact he played for little old U of Tampa.

Players like John Matuszak and Leon McQuay made it the team none of the big boys wanted to play. Tampa was the kind of renegade place where nobody freaked out if a black player took snaps from center.

Along came Solomon. He was a cobbler’s son from Sumter, S.C., who grew up idolizing Joe Namath. The Spartans’ option attack was perfect for his skills.

He piled up 5,803 yards total offense in three years. His 3,299 yard rushing set an NCAA record for quarterbacks.

After Solomon passed for 103 yards and ran for 182 against his team, Miami coach Pete Elliott called him “the biggest threat I’ve ever seen on a football field.”

Solomon went to the East-West Shrine game and was named offensive MVP. If it were 2012, we’d be debating which NFL team should trade up and take a chance on him.

It was 1975, and Solomon was drafted as an “Athlete.”

“Whatever that meant,” he said.

That meant we he was a victim of the Jim Crow quarterback laws. Generations of coaches had been raised believing black kids weren’t cerebral enough for the position.

Individually, the coaches might not have been racist. But collectively they represented an institutional failure that wouldn’t be fixed for another couple of decades.

The Dolphins took Solomon in the second round. He’d never run a pass route in his life, but they saw him as a wide receiver. It was rough at first, though Solomon’s talent was apparent enough.

He had a 53-yard touchdown catch, a 59-yard touchdown run and a 79-yard punt return for a score in one game. Miami traded him to San Francisco after two seasons.

The Dolphins were eyeing a title and wanted a more polished receiver. The 49ers were a joke, but that gave Solomon a place to develop.

“I decided I’d better learn to play receiver,” he said, “or my career was over.”

His career took off. Solomon won two Super Bowl rings with the 49ers. Joe Montana remembered him as a receiver who never came back to the huddle complaining that he wasn’t thrown to.

Solomon was Terrell Owens in a parallel universe, quietly going about his business. His quarterback days became just an enticing memory, though the NFL did get one glimpse.

It was the final game of the 1978 season in Detroit. Steve DeBerg got hurt. Backup quarterback Scott Bull went down. San Francisco put in defensive back Bruce Threadgill, who’d played some quarterback in Canada.

He also had a broken hand. They cut off his cast so he could take snaps.

They should have kept it on.

Threadgill’s first two passes were intercepted. The Lions led, 33-7, so coach Fred O’Connor figured he had nothing to lose by sticking Solomon behind center.

He rushed for 42 yards and passed for 85 more. When he capped a late touchdown drive with an 11-yard run, even Detroit fans applauded.

“That won’t happen again,” Solomon said. “I’ve lived my fantasy, and got it out of my system.”

It really did. When I caught up with Solomon, he was a community liaison for the sheriff’s department in Tampa. After retiring in 1985, he devoted himself to helping underprivileged children.

He rarely talked about his playing days, but the kids called him Coach since he insisted they tuck in their shirts.

“He’s the most humble guy I’ve ever known,” Turner said. “With the things he’s done, I’d be cocky.”

He’d just turned 50, but Solomon still looked fit enough to play. That changed in a hurry the past year. He was diagnosed with liver and colon cancer and faded fast.

Could he have been an NFL quarterback?

“I don’t mean to be rude,” Solomon said, “but I never got a chance.”

That’s something we should all regret.

Source

From expected No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck to alphabetical order-ending Markus Zusevics of Iowa, more than 300 college football players will be on display Feb. 22-28 at the annual NFL Scouting Combine.

Pro prospects face a grueling regime of medical, physical and mental tests at the Combine, which is held in Indianapolis but is closed to the public. Television coverage from the NFL Network will detail on-field testing.

Baylor QB Robert Griffin III figures to be the second quarterback drafted. He will be tested during the NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 22. (AP Photo)

Sporting News experts also will be on hand with information and evaluation from the Combine. The best and brightest will be called at the NFL Draft, which begins April 26 with first-round selections in prime time. All rounds will be complete by April 28.

Who got the golden ticket to make their case for the Draft? Here’s the list of players invited to the 2012 Scouting Combine, as provided by the NFL. (*—underclassman)

Emmauel Acho, OLB, Texas; Joe Adams, wide receiver, Arkansas; Mike Adams, tackle, Ohio State; Chas Alecxih, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh; Frank Alexander, defensive end, Oklahoma; Antonio Allen, strong safety, South Carolina; Dwayne Allen*, tight end, Clemson; Jeff Allen, tackle, Illinois; Justin Anderson, tackle, Georgia; Bryan Anger, punter, California; Mark Asper, guard, Oregon.

Edwin Baker*, running back, Michigan State; Ryan Baker, outside linebacker, LSU; Mike Ball*, running back, Nevada; Vick Ballard, running back, Mississippi State; Mark Barron, strong safety, Alabama; Kelvin Beachum, tackle, SMU; Tim Benford, wide receiver, Tennessee Tech; Travis Benjamin, wide receiver, Miami (Fla.); Dwight Bentley, cornerback, Louisiana-Lafayette; Jake Bequette, defensive end, Arkansas; Tony Bergstrom, tackle, Utah; Justin Bethel, strong safety, Presbyterian; Justin Blackmon*, wide receiver, Oklahoma State; Philip Blake, center, Baylor; R.J. Blanton, cornerback, Notre Dame; Jamie Blatnick, defensive end, Oklahoma State; Brandon Bolden, running back, Mississippi; Omar Bolden, cornerback, Arizona State; Brandon Boykin, cornerback, Georgia; Jarrett Bodkin, wide receiver, Virginia Tech; Nigel Bradham, running back, Florida State; Andre Branch, defensive end, Clemson; Lavon Brazill, wide receiver, Ohio; Michael Brewster, center, Ohio State; Michael Brockers*, defensive tackle, LSU; Ron Brooks, cornerback, LSU; Charles Brown, cornerback, North Carolina; James Brown, tackle, Troy; Zach Brown, outside linebacker, North Carolina; Ryan Broyles, wide receiver, Oklahoma; Randy Bullock, kicker, Texas A&M; Vontaze Burfict*, inside linebacker, Arizona State; Miles Burris, outside linebacker, San Diego State; Drew Butler, punter, Georgia.

Tank Carder, inside linebacker, TCU; Sean Cattouse, strong safety, California; Josh Chapman, nose tackle, Alabama; Orson Charles*, tight end, Georgia; Greg Childs, wide receiver, Arkansas; Morris Claiborne*, cornerback, LSU; Danny Coale, wide receiver, Virginia Tech; Audie Cole, inside linebacker, North Carolina State; B.J. Coleman, quarterback, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Josh Cooper, wide receiver, Oklahoma State; Quinton Miles, defensive end, North Carolina; Paul Cornick, tackle, North Dakota State; Aaron Corp, quarterback, Richmond; Kirk Cousins, quarterback, Michigan State; Fletcher Cox*, defensive tackle, Mississippi State; Jack Crawford, defensive end, Penn State; Tyrone Crawford, defensive end, Boise State; Lennon Creer, running back, Louisiana Tech; Jared Crick, defensive tackle, Nebraska; Juron Criner, wide receiver, Arizona; John Cullen, tackle, Utah; B.J. Cunningham, wide receiver, Michigan State; Vinny Curry, defensive end, Marshall.

Mike Daniels, defensive tackle, Iowa; Andrew Datko, tackle, Florida State; Lavonte David, outside linebacker, Nebraska; Austin Davis, quarterback, Southern Miss; DeMario Davis, outside linebacker, Arkansas State; David DeCastro*, guard, Stanford; Jeff Demps, running back, Florida; Alfonzo Dennard, cornerback, Nebraska; Taylor Dever, tackle, Notre Dame; Derek Dimke, kicker, Illinois; Drake Dunsmore, tight end, Northwestern.

Pat Edwards, wide receiver, Houston; Michael Egnew, tight end, Missouri; Rhett Ellison, fullback, Southern Cal; Bradie Ewing, fullback, Wisconsin.

Loni Fangupo, defensive tackle, Brigham Young; Antonio Fenelus, cornerback, Wisconsin; Coby Fleener, tight end, Stanford; Darius Fleming, running back, Notre Dame; Jamell Fleming, cornerback, Oklahoma; Michael Floyd, wide receiver, Notre Dame; Nick Foles, quarterback, Arizona; Marcus Forston*, defensive tackle, Miami (Fla.); Justin Francis, defensive end, Rutgers; Terrence Frederick, cornerback, Texas A&M; Jeff Fuller, wide receiver, Texas A&M.

Chris Galippo, inside linebacker, Southern Cal; Terrance Ganaway, running back, Baylor; Garth Gerhard, center, Arizona State; Adam Gettis, guard, Iowa; Stephon Gilmore*, cornerback, South Carolina; Chris Givens*, wide receiver, Wake Forest; Cordy Glenn, tackle, Georgia; Najee Goode, inside linebacker, West Virginia; T.J. Grahan, wide receiver, North Carolina State; Cyrus Gray, running back, Texas A&M; Jonas Gray, running back, Notre Dame; Ladarius Green, tight end, Louisiana-Lafayette; Robert Griffin III, quarterback, Baylor; Winston Guy, strong safety, Kentucky; Trevor Guyton, defensive end, California.

Dominique Hamilton, defensive tackle, Missouri; Jewel Hampton*, running back, Southern Illinois; Darius Hanks, wide receiver, Alabama; James Hanna, tight end, Oklahoma; Corey Harkey, tight end, UCLA; Chandler Harnish, quarterback, Northern Illinois; Cliff Harris*, cornerback, Oregon; DaJohn Harris, defensive tackle, Southern Cal; Jacory Harris, quarterback, Miami (Fla.); Josh Harris, long snapper, Auburn; Casey Hayward, cornerback, Vanderbilt; Dan Herron, running back, Ohio State; Akiem Hicks, defensive end, Regina; Dont’a Hightower*, inside linebacker, Alabama; Stephen Hill*, wide receiver, Georgia Tech; Ronnie Hillman*, running back, San Diego State; T.Y. Hilton, wide receiver, Florida International; Lamar Holmes, tackle, Southern Miss; Jayron Hosley*, cornerback, Virginia Tech; Jaye Howard, defensive tackle, Florida; Delane Howell, strong safety, Stanford; John Hughes, defensive tackle, Cincinnati.

Emil Igwenagu, tight end, Massachusetts; Duke Ihenacho, strong safety, San Jose State; George Iloka, free safety, Boise State; Melvin Ingram, defensive end, South Carolina; Bruce Irvin, defensive end, West Virginia.

Ace Jackson, cornerback, Cal Poly; Janzen Jackson*, free safety, McNeese State; Jerrell Jackson, wide receiver, Missouri; Malik Jackson, defensive tackle, Tennessee; LaMichael James*, running back, Oregon; Jamaar Jarrett, defensive end, Arizona State; Jordan Jefferson, quarterback, LSU; Alshon Jeffery*, wide receiver, South Carolina; A.J. Jenkins, wide receiver, Illinois; Janoris Jenkins, cornerback, North Alabama; Cam Johnson, defensive end, Virginia; James-Michael Johnson, inside linebacker, Nevada; Leonard Johnson, center, Iowa State; Rishaw Johnson, guard, California (Pa.); Steven Johnson, inside linebacker, Kansas; Trumaine Johnson, cornerback, Montana; Ben Jones, center, Georgia; Chandler Jones*, defensive end, Syracuse; Dwight Jones, wide receiver, North Carolina; J.J. Jones, cornerback, Wayne State; Marcel Jones, tackle, Nebraska; Marv Jones, wide receiver, California; Coryell Judie, cornerback, Texas A&M.

Josh Kaddu, outside linebacker, Oregon; Matt Kalil*, tackle, Southern Cal; Jermaine Kearse, wide receiver, Washington; Case Keenum, quarterback, Houston; Senio Kelemete, tackle, Washington; Mychal Kendricks, inside linebacker, California; Dre Kirkpatrick*, cornerback, Alabama; Peter Konz, center, Wisconsin; Kuke Kuechly, inside linebacker, Boston College; Markus Kuhn, defensive tackle, North Carolina State.

Ronald Leary, tackle, Memphis; Josh Leribeus, guard, SMU; Ronnell Lewis*, defensive end, Oklahoma; Travis Lewis, inside linebacker, Oklahoma; Ryan Lindley, quarterback, San Diego State; Brandon Lindsey, defensive end, Pittsburgh; Shawn Loiseau, inside linebacker, Merrimack; Joe Looney, guard, Wake Forest; Andrew Luck*, quarterback, Stanford; D’Anton Lynn, cornerback, Penn State.

Terrell Manning*, outside linebacker, North Carolina State; Brandon Marshall, outside linebacker, Nevada; Kyle Martens, punter, Rice; Doug Martin, running back, Boise State; Jonathan Martin*, tackle, Stanford; Keshawn Martin, wide receiver, Michigan State; Markelle Martin, free safety, Oklahoma State; Mike Martin, nose tackle, Michigan; Jonathan Massaquoi, defensive end, Troy; Bobby Massie*, tackle, Mississippi; Rishard Matthews, wide receiver, Nevada; Marquis Maze, wide receiver, Alabama; Matt McCants, tackle, UAB; Antoine McClain, guard, Clemson; Shea McClellin, defensive end, Boise State; Kelcie McCray, strong safety, Arkansas State; Jerron McMillian, strong safety, Maine; McNutt, wide receiver, Iowa; Caleb McSurdy, inside linebacker, Montana; Vaughn Meatoga, defensive tackle, Hawaii; Devin Meggett, running back Maryland; De’Quan Menzie, cornerback, Alabama; Whitney Mercilus*, defensive end, Illinois; Lamar Miller*, running back, Miami (Fla.); Ryan Miller, guard, Colorado; Chase Minnifield, cornerback, Virginia; Charles Mitchell, strong safety, Mississippi State; David Molk, center, Michigan; Kashif Moore, wide receiver, UConn; Kellen Moore, quarterback, Boise State; Rennie Moore, defensive tackle, Clemson; Alfred Moore, running back, Florida Atlantic; Brandon Mosley, tackle, Auburn; Derek Moye, wide receiver, Penn State.

Tyler Nielsen, outside linebacker, Iowa; Luke Nix, guard, Pittsburgh; Josh Norman, cornerback, Coastal Carolina; Brad Nortman, punter, Wisconsin.

Josh Oglesby, tackle, Wisconsin; Kelechi Osemele, tackle, Iowa State; Brock Osweiler*, quarterback, Arizona State; Chris Owusu, wide receiver, Stanford.

Eric Page*, wide receiver, Toledo; Donte Paige-Moss*, defensive end, North Carolina; David Paulson, tight end, Oregon; Isaiah Pead, running back, Cincinnati; Micah Pellerin, cornerback, Hampton; Nick Perry*, defensive end, Southern Cal; DeAngelo Peterson, tight end, LSU; Bernard Pierce, running back, Temple; Eddie Pleasant, strong safety, Oregon; Dontari Poe*, defensive tackle, Memphis; Chris Polk, running back, Washington; Tauren Poole, running back, Tennessee; Devier Posey, wide receiver, Ohio State; Nate Potter, tackle, Boise State; Chaz Powell, cornerback, Penn State; Shawn Powell, punter, Florida State; Tydreke Powell, defensive tackle, North Carolina; Shaun Prater, cornerback, Iowa; De’Andre Presley, cornerback, Appalachian State; Nick Provo, tight end, Syracuse.

Cyhl Quarles, strong safety, Wake Forest; Brian Quick, wide receiver, Appalachian State.

Chris Rainey, running back, Florida; Kheeston Randall, nose tackle, Texas; Rueben Randle, wide receiver, LSU; Antwuan Reed, cornerback, Pittsburgh; Riley Reiff*, tackle, Iowa; Beau Reliford, tight end, Florida State; Kendall Reyes, defensive tackle, UConn; Matt Reynolds, tackle, BYU; Sean Richardson, strong safety, Vanderbilt; Trent Richardson*, running back, Alabama; Travian Robertson, defensive tackle, South Carolina; Josh Robinson*, cornerback, Central Florida; Keenan Robinson, outside linebacker, Texas; Gerell Robinson, wide receiver, Arizona State; Trent Robinson, free safety, Michigan State; James Rodgers, wide receiver, Oregon State; Eva Rodriguez, tight end, Temple; Brett Roy, defensive tackle, Nevada.

Zebrie Sanders, tackle, Florida State; Mohamed Sanu*, wide receiver, Rutgers; Quentin Saulsberry, guard, Mississippi State; Mitchell Schwartz, tackle, California; Darrell Scott*, running back, South Florida; Coty Sensabaugh, cornerback, Clemson; Derrick Shelby, defensive end, Utah; Amini Silatolu, tackle, Midwestern State; Harrison Smith, free safety, Notre Dame; Jacquies smith, defensive end, Missouri; Scott Solomon, defensive end, Rice; Sean Spence, outside linebacker, Miami (Fla.); Brian Stahovich, punter, San Diego State; Ryan Steed, cornerback, Furman; Donald Stephenson, tackle, Oklahoma; Devon Still, defensive tackle, Penn State; Tommy Streeter*, wide receiver, Miami (Fla.); Nathan Stupar, outside linebacker, Penn State; J.R. Sweezy, outside linebacker, North Carolina State.

Alameda Ta’ amu, defensive tackle, Washington; Ryan Tannehille, quarterback, Texas A&M; Brandon Taylor, strong safety, LSU; Dave Teggart, kicker, UConn; Darron Thomas*, quarterback, Oregon; Johnny Thomas*, free safety, Oklahoma State; Phillip Thomas*, free safety, Syracuse; Brandon Thompson, defensive tackle, Clemson; Christian Thompson, free safety, South Carolina State; Andrew Tiller, guard, Syracuse; Nick Toon, wide receiver, Wisconsin; Danny Trevathan, outside linebacker, Kentucky; Johnnie Troutman, guard, Penn State; Christian Tupou, nose tackle, Southern Cal; Robert Turbin, running back, Utah State; Marc Tyler, running back, Southern Cal; DeAngelo Tyson, defensive end, Georgia.

Courtney Upshaw, outside linebacker, Alabama.

Olivier Vernon*, defensive end, Miami (Fla.); Trevin Wade, cornerback, Arizona; Bobby Wagner, inside linebacker, Utah State; Dustin Waldron, tackle, Portland State; Blair Walsh, kicker, Georgia; Brandon Washington*, tackle, Miami (Fla.); Rokevious Watkins, tackle, South Carolina; Brandon Weeden, quarterback, Oklahoma State; Corey White, cornerback, Samford; Jordon White, wide receiver, Western Michigan; Tahir Whitehead, outside linebacker, Temple; Fozzy Whittaker, running back, Texas; Carson Wiggs, kicker, Purdue; Kyle Wilber, outside linebacker, Wake Forest; David Wilson*, running back, Virginia Tech; Russell Wilson, quarterback, Wisconsin; Billy Winn, defensive tackle, Boise State; Patrick Witt, quarterback, Yale; Derek Wolfe, defensive tackle, Cincinnati; Jerel Worthy*, defensive tackle, Michigan State; Jarius Wright, wide receiver, Arkansas; Kendall Wright, wide receiver, Baylor; Desmond Wynn, guard, Rutgers.

Kevin Zeitler, guard, Wisconsin; Markus Zusevics, tackle, Iowa.

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MOBILE, Ala.—Many of college football’s best seniors took part in their first practices of Senior Bowl week, on fields made slick by passing showers. Five players who thrived and five who struggled, based on initial impressions:

Players who helped themselves most:

1. Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas, 5-foot-10, 174 pounds, 4.45 40 time (South squad). Adams was the most explosive player on the field at the South’s practice in Fairhope (the North practiced in Mobile). He showed excellent quickness to defeat press coverage off the line and top acceleration to threaten the defense vertically. He showed outstanding suddenness to separate from man-to-man coverage, with great body control and balance on the wet field. He torched cornerback Ryan Steed during the one-on-one period. On more than one occasion, he snared the ball out of the air in tight coverage.

2. Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia, 5-9, 183, 4.45 (South). He showed dominant cover skills despite his size and was competitive throughout practice. He displayed outstanding quickness, explosive closing ability and rare recovery speed to deny double moves during the one-on-one period. He has what all great players at his position need: great confidence. Against Dwight Jones, he slipped after an aggressive jam, got up and still undercut Jones’ comeback route to knock down the pass. His strong return skills give him even more value as a possible late first-round or early second-round pick.

3. Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina, 6-2, 276, 4.75 (South). While he lacks explosiveness off the edge, Ingram is very aggressive on contact, largely due to his violent hand use, strength and power. He was quick to read and recognize his keys as a run defender during 9-on-7 and team periods. He also ran well for a man of his size, and he looked very comfortable playing off the ball in pass coverage.

4. Marvin Jones, WR, California, 6-2, 198, 4.50 (North squad). Jones is a fluid athlete with quick feet. He ran sharp, precise routes and also displayed great body control, balance and acceleration out of breaks. He used his strong hands to disengage from press coverage. He beat Nebraska’s Alphonso Dennard deep during the one-on-one period. Jones also made tough catches on off-target throws.

5. Billy Winn, DL, Boise State, 6-3, 296, 4.90 (North). Winn lined up at end and tackle Monday, but appeared to fit best as a 3-4 end. He made no impact at tackle. He showed the skills to consistently win off the edge, especially against Iowa State’s Kelechi Osemele. He also showed strong hands and great leverage against the run. His strong fundamental technique, awareness and instincts were evident in all situations.

Players who hurt themselves most:

1. Will Blackwell, G, LSU, 6-3, 314, 5.40 (South). Blackwell appeared severely overmatched. He lacked the strength and skill to compete effectively against the quality of the players here. He constantly overextended, dropped his head and bent at the waist while trying to grab defenders. He was beaten every time during the one-on-one period.

2. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, 5-11, 191, 4.95 (North). Moore did not look like an NFL quarterback. His throwing motion was elongated, the ball lacked zip coming out of his hand and his accuracy was terrible. On numerous deep routes, the ball hung in the air, exposing his lack of arm strength.

3. Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State, 6-4, 310, 5.20 (North). Brewster looked out of place compared to the other players at his position group. He consistently gets too wide as a run blocker, which prevents him from redirecting against a quick defender. Former Michigan defender Mike Martin went through and around him on nearly every play with relative ease. His weaknesses were constantly exposed in one-on-one blocking situations.

4. Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska, 5-10, 203, 4.55 (North). Dennard showed inconsistent technique and footwork. He also lacked explosiveness when trying to close on passes in front of him or to recover when receivers got separation in man coverage. On a deep post route by Marvin Jones, he got upright and flat-footed with his weight on his heels. He allowed Jones to close the cushion, and lost a step when he had to flip his hips to turn and run. Dennard must improve if he is to maintain his high draft status.

5. Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego State, 6-4, 229, 5.10 (South). At one point during practice, Lindley had thrown almost as many passes into the turf as into his receivers’ hands. He showed slight improvement later, but not enough to save the day. He looked like a slow-twitch athlete who was deliberate in his movement. He also had the worst arm strength among South QBs.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The East-West Shrine Game, which kicks off Saturday, marks the beginning of spring scouting travels. Every year a few players greatly improve their draft status in this showcase with a strong week.

Examples? The St. Louis Rams’ Rodger Saffold, the first pick of the second round in 2010, and Mike Kafka, a 2010 fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, enhanced their profiles for NFL scouts last year.

After evaluating players on film and talking to scouts, we compiled a list of 10 players NFL teams are interested to see this week.

In projected draft order:

Micah Pellerin, CB, Hampton, 6-0, 185 pounds

Despite his height, Pellerin has the foot quickness and smooth speed to stay with any receiver he faced. Now he must prove he can handle the speed of professionals. Pellerin is raw and must improve his backpedal and transition. This week will be a good test to see if he has the burst needed to catch up a receiver gets separation. If Pellerin shines, he could get a last-minute invitation to the Senior Bowl. PROJECTED: Late first round.

Chip off the old block? Davin Meggett has NFL bloodlines and will show scouts he is a worthy of high selection on draft day. (AP Photo)

— Video: Where will Robert Griffin III go? | NFL playoffs breakdown | Secret to Tebow’s success? | Draft risers and fallers | Alabama is BCS champion | College football awards |

Matt Reynolds, T/G, BYU, 6-4, 310 pounds

Reynolds was considered an elite prospect at times, but his play didn’t drastically improve. He tends to play flat-footed, doesn’t bend his knees or use his hands aggressively, which allows pass rushers to dictate play. A big concern for NFL teams is where Reynolds fits. His lack of foot quickness makes him an ideal candidate to switch to guard. However, he’s a finesse blocker which will diminish his play inside and force him to stay at tackle. PROJECTED: Late first round.

B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State, 6-2, 230 pounds

Cunningham was highly productive in college. He has excellent size, playing strength and hands even though he is not viewed as an elite prospect. While Cunningham is a good athlete for his size, he lacks foot quickness and explosiveness to get consistent separation against man coverage. PROJECTED: Third or fourth round.

Shawn Prater, CB, Iowa, 5-10, 181 pounds

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Prater is a top-level athlete who played well against good college receivers. The issue with him? He doesn’t always play up to his talent. Prater is not highly rated despite his physical talent. He allows too many catches by receivers he should easily cover. He must prove to NFL teams that he can maintain his focus, be more consistent transitioning and consistently play at a high level. PROJECTED: Third or fourth round.

— 2012 draft: Claiborne decision | Richardson, Bama buddies going pro | Tannehill’s bad break | RG3 leaves Baylor for NFL | Mock: Indy has Luck

Lance Lewis, WR, East Carolina, 6-1, 205 pounds

Lewis has uncommon foot quickness and speed for a tall receiver. He also gets separation deep down the field. He has good hands and looks comfortable catching the ball, even when he must adjust to off-target passes. The concern with Lewis? He lacks aggressiveness, which hinders his ability to fight through press coverage and break tackles to gain yards after contact. PROJECTED: Third or fourth round.

John Brantley, QB, Florida, 6-3, 220 pounds

Every scout we spoke with expressed frustration that Brantley had not been more productive. He has the physical tools to be elite. No one questions his arm. What do teams want to see? Better footwork and consistent accuracy. Plus, he must adjust when plays break down. PROJECTED: Fourth or fifth round.

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Davin Meggett, RB, Maryland, 5-8, 210 pounds

Meggett plays with the versatility of his father, former New York Giants running back Dave Meggett. He too makes big plays as a runner and receiver, and he has pass-protection skills. Scouts view him as a “quicker than fast” back who lacks game-breaking speed and explosiveness that are seen as necessary for a short back to produce. More than anything, Meggett needs a big week to prove to NFL teams he has the toughness to handle the pounding and be a durable No. 1 back. PROJECTED: Fourth or fifth round.

Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas, 6-3, 210 pounds

Childs must shine to show he is a good as he was before tearing a patella tendon against Vanderbilt in 2010. He is a big, strong receiver with excellent body control. NFL personnel like his ability to catch high passes. Childs could develop into a red-zone weapon. But to be more than a specialist he must show the burst and speed to get separation against NFL defenders. PROJECTED: Fourth or fifth round.

Jeff Adams, T, Columbia, 6-6, 300 pounds

Adams was a dominant Ivy League player. With his size, foot quickness and intellect, NFL teams are excited to see how he stacks up. At Columbia, he rarely had trouble blocking anyone — but he didn’t see the explosive pass rushers he will face this week. With a strong showing, Adams could make a big jump on draft boards. PROJECTED: Sixth or seventh round.

Justin Francis, DT, Rutgers, 6-2, 275 pounds

Francis made an impact are end and tackle, where he late in his senior year. NFL teams want to see if he has the foot quickness and athleticism to make up for a lack of bulk. If Francis can add weight without losing his explosiveness and agility, he could become a productive interior force similar to the Indianapolis Colts’ Eric Foster, who also played at Rutgers. PROJECTED: Sixth or seventh round.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The East-West Shrine Game, which kicks off Saturday, marks the beginning of spring scouting travels. Every year a few players greatly improve their draft status in this showcase with a strong week.

Examples? The St. Louis Rams’ Rodger Saffold, the first pick of the second round in 2010, and Mike Kafka, a 2010 fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, enhanced their profiles for NFL scouts last year.

After evaluating players on film and talking to scouts, we compiled a list of 10 players NFL teams are interested to see this week.

In projected draft order:

Micah Pellerin, CB, Hampton, 6-0, 185 pounds

Despite his height, Pellerin has the foot quickness and smooth speed to stay with any receiver he faced. Now he must prove he can handle the speed of professionals. Pellerin is raw and must improve his backpedal and transition. This week will be a good test to see if he has the burst needed to catch up a receiver gets separation. If Pellerin shines, he could get a last-minute invitation to the Senior Bowl. PROJECTED: Late first round.

Chip off the old block? Davin Meggett has NFL bloodlines and will show scouts he is a worthy of high selection on draft day. (AP Photo)

— Video: Where will Robert Griffin III go? | NFL playoffs breakdown | Secret to Tebow’s success? | Draft risers and fallers | Alabama is BCS champion | College football awards |

Matt Reynolds, T/G, BYU, 6-4, 310 pounds

Reynolds was considered an elite prospect at times, but his play didn’t drastically improve. He tends to play flat-footed, doesn’t bend his knees or use his hands aggressively, which allows pass rushers to dictate play. A big concern for NFL teams is where Reynolds fits. His lack of foot quickness makes him an ideal candidate to switch to guard. However, he’s a finesse blocker which will diminish his play inside and force him to stay at tackle. PROJECTED: Late first round.

B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State, 6-2, 230 pounds

Cunningham was highly productive in college. He has excellent size, playing strength and hands even though he is not viewed as an elite prospect. While Cunningham is a good athlete for his size, he lacks foot quickness and explosiveness to get consistent separation against man coverage. PROJECTED: Third or fourth round.

Shawn Prater, CB, Iowa, 5-10, 181 pounds

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QB Coleman stands out in first practice for East-West Shrine Game CBSSports.com: Monday Jan 16

East-West Shrine Game 2012: Postseason All-Star Games Starting Up SB Nation: Tuesday Jan 17

Prater is a top-level athlete who played well against good college receivers. The issue with him? He doesn’t always play up to his talent. Prater is not highly rated despite his physical talent. He allows too many catches by receivers he should easily cover. He must prove to NFL teams that he can maintain his focus, be more consistent transitioning and consistently play at a high level. PROJECTED: Third or fourth round.

— 2012 draft: Claiborne decision | Richardson, Bama buddies going pro | Tannehill’s bad break | RG3 leaves Baylor for NFL | Mock: Indy has Luck

Lance Lewis, WR, East Carolina, 6-1, 205 pounds

Lewis has uncommon foot quickness and speed for a tall receiver. He also gets separation deep down the field. He has good hands and looks comfortable catching the ball, even when he must adjust to off-target passes. The concern with Lewis? He lacks aggressiveness, which hinders his ability to fight through press coverage and break tackles to gain yards after contact. PROJECTED: Third or fourth round.

John Brantley, QB, Florida, 6-3, 220 pounds

Every scout we spoke with expressed frustration that Brantley had not been more productive. He has the physical tools to be elite. No one questions his arm. What do teams want to see? Better footwork and consistent accuracy. Plus, he must adjust when plays break down. PROJECTED: Fourth or fifth round.

Related on SN

Rams set to introduce Fisher as new coach; Saints’ Williams may be joining him as DC Tuesday Jan 17

Oakland Raiders will interview Denver Broncos’ coordinators Monday Jan 16

Report: Lions’ Stafford comeback player of the year Tuesday Jan 17

Davin Meggett, RB, Maryland, 5-8, 210 pounds

Meggett plays with the versatility of his father, former New York Giants running back Dave Meggett. He too makes big plays as a runner and receiver, and he has pass-protection skills. Scouts view him as a “quicker than fast” back who lacks game-breaking speed and explosiveness that are seen as necessary for a short back to produce. More than anything, Meggett needs a big week to prove to NFL teams he has the toughness to handle the pounding and be a durable No. 1 back. PROJECTED: Fourth or fifth round.

Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas, 6-3, 210 pounds

Childs must shine to show he is a good as he was before tearing a patella tendon against Vanderbilt in 2010. He is a big, strong receiver with excellent body control. NFL personnel like his ability to catch high passes. Childs could develop into a red-zone weapon. But to be more than a specialist he must show the burst and speed to get separation against NFL defenders. PROJECTED: Fourth or fifth round.

Jeff Adams, T, Columbia, 6-6, 300 pounds

Adams was a dominant Ivy League player. With his size, foot quickness and intellect, NFL teams are excited to see how he stacks up. At Columbia, he rarely had trouble blocking anyone — but he didn’t see the explosive pass rushers he will face this week. With a strong showing, Adams could make a big jump on draft boards. PROJECTED: Sixth or seventh round.

Justin Francis, DT, Rutgers, 6-2, 275 pounds

Francis made an impact are end and tackle, where he late in his senior year. NFL teams want to see if he has the foot quickness and athleticism to make up for a lack of bulk. If Francis can add weight without losing his explosiveness and agility, he could become a productive interior force similar to the Indianapolis Colts’ Eric Foster, who also played at Rutgers. PROJECTED: Sixth or seventh round.

Source

If you’re 25 years old or younger, you have never lived in a world where Martin Luther King’s birthday was not a national holiday. If you’re over 40, however, you remember how hard many of this nation’s federal, state and local elected officials, and your fellow citizens from coast to coast, fought to the bitter end to keep this honor from ever being bestowed.

And if you’re in that age group, you also vividly remember Super Bowl XXVII, in January 1993.

The 1993 Super Bowl, won by the Cowboys, will be remembered for a number of reasons, and one reason should be its relevance to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (AP Photos)

Sure, it was the first of the three Cowboys’ championships in four years, the first with Jerry, Jimmy, Emmitt and Troy. It was also the third out of the four-peat of losses by the Bills. But, for the purposes of this particular day, it was memorable because it was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena instead of Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, where the NFL had it originally scheduled.

A little over two years earlier, the NFL reversed field and told Arizonans, in essence, if you’d rather not honor Dr. King, we’d rather not grace you with this event.

To set the record straight, King’s birthday was already a national holiday by the time the NFL first awarded the game to Tempe in 1990. It wasn’t a state holiday in nearly half the country, though—and one of those states, quite memorably and incredibly contentiously, was Arizona.

Sports, as it so often does, became the battleground. The NFL and the Super Bowl packed as big a punch then as it does today. The league chose to throw that punch in favor of King, his legacy, his holiday and their supporters in Arizona and around the country.

The NFL wasn’t alone, either.

Its Super Bowl move was an emphatic shout. The NBA’s decision in 1987 to pull its annual league meeting out of Scottsdale was a relative whisper, but it made a similar impact. So did its behind-the-scenes declaration to Suns management, also in 1990 at the height of the controversy, that it could forget about any other major league events being awarded to them as long as the state kept waging this anti-King battle.

Hint: Don’t hold your breath on hosting the All-Star Game any time soon.

The quote by commissioner David Stern at the time was intentionally low key and non-confrontational but also very pointed: “It just doesn’t seem to be a place that we would find particularly hospitable.”

Several college football teams had the same sentiment. At least four, Penn State, Notre Dame, Miami and Virginia, backed away from accepting invitations to the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, leaving bowl officials scrambling for teams further down their list. At one point, it was reported, officials considered moving the game out of Tempe, to San Diego.

It was all part of a widespread boycott of Arizona by businesses and entertainers in support of the King holiday proponents—one that cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

As effective as they all were, however, they were dwarfed by the hysteria unleashed when the NFL yanked the Super Bowl.

The timing was perfect for the holiday supporters, mildly inconvenient for the NFL (which, in traditional fashion, wanted to reward Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill and his new home with its marquee event), and a disaster for the opponents. The league meeting that gave Phoenix the big game was in March 1990, and the ballot initiative for the holiday was in November.

When the owners’ approval of the game for Tempe was made conditional upon the vote passing, the King opponents suddenly found their comfort levels shaken to the core—about being entitled to their place in the center of the universe during Super Bowl week, and about their self-proclaimed principled stance against honoring this particular American hero.

The holiday was defeated, the NFL walked away, and the seemingly victorious side portrayed the league, and commissioner Paul Tagliabue in particular, as bullies and extortionists who “forced” them to vote against the holiday to protect their sense of self-determination and independence.

The 1993 Super Bowl was still played in Pasadena, funneling the estimated $200 million of revenue into Arizona’s next-door neighbor.

By the time the game was played, Arizona had voted in the holiday. It was too late for it to benefit. On the other hand, the NFL wasted little time in bringing the game back. The Cowboys and Steelers met in Tempe in 1996. The league came back 12 years later, to the Cardinals’ new stadium in Glendale.

The fate of the holiday in Arizona is obvious now, of course. All 50 states and Washington, D.C. celebrate it. For years, the NBA has made it a special date, with matinee games, celebrations and testimonials.

That’s how it should be. Sports helped get America to this point—in at least one case, vehemently against its will. Like the day itself, that cannot ever be taken for granted.

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