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      Pats, Cowboys Might Be Moving On Up

      BY ROB RANG,
      The Sports Xchange
      Posted: 2008-04-16 21:48:32
      Filed Under: NFL
      With the time between first-round picks cut from 15 to 10 minutes, many teams will look to work out potential deals before the draft even begins. With this draft class lacking an established top prospect, the combination has led to unprecedented pre-draft rumblings and smoke-screens by team decision-makers.

      Among the interesting war-room rumblings with more than a week remaining until the April 26-27 draft:

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      Vernon Gholston has the kind of pass-rushing skill that the Patriots might value enough to move up a couple of slots in the first round to secure.


      -- Several teams in the top 10 are looking to make a trade, but none more so than New England. Owners of the seventh overall pick due to their trade during last year's draft with the San Francisco 49ers, the Patriots aren't opposed to the idea of moving up to secure a unique pass rusher like Vernon Gholston. They may look to swing a deal with Kansas City at No. 5 to leapfrog the rival Jets.

      A significant trade-down possibility also looms, as there is a lot of smoke coming out Dallas that Jerry Jones is willing to package his two first-round picks to move into the top 10. So who would the Cowboys be packaging the picks for -- since running back Darren McFadden is considered a lock to be among the first six players drafted? Sources wouldn't specify, but the Cowboys are thought to be quite high on the versatility of Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin and Michigan State wide receiver Devin Thomas, prospects who also happen to be two of the elite kick returners in this draft.

      -- While insiders maintain the Dolphins have Jake Long as the highest-rated prospect in the draft, their grade on the All-American offensive tackle is only slightly higher than that of pass rushers Gholston and Chris Long. The Dolphins are so torn as to whom to select, they're essentially auctioning off the pick -- for the lowest contract.

      Insiders tell me the initial offer sent to Jake Long's representatives was $10 million - $15 million less than what the first and second picks of last year's draft (Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson) stand to earn with their rookie deals. Should one of the three be willing to sign for a significantly lower sum, the Dolphins could find themselves drafting a player who they don't necessarily have ranked at the top of their board.

      -- The team most likely to jump back into the late first round would appear to be the Atlanta Falcons. Thought to be considering Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan with the third overall pick, the Falcons are more likely to address their needs at quarterback with one of their three second-round picks. With Miami reportedly considering taking Chad Henne with the first pick of the second round, the Falcons may elect to jump ahead of the Dolphins to secure the strong-armed passer's services. If trading up, the San Diego Chargers, owners of one pick before the fifth round -- the 28th overall -- may be willing to trade out of the first round to add extra selections.

      -- If the Falcons draft someone other than Ryan with the third pick, could it spark an Aaron Rodgers/Brady Quinn-like drop down the board for the BC passer? Some teams seem to think so. Three general managers mentioned Ryan as the likeliest "surprise faller" of 2008's first round. "He's a good player," one GM told me, "I'm just not sure he's a great player. Some of the teams we thought would jump all over him now we're hearing may not." Despite the hype, Ryan hasn't been a legitimate candidate for the first overall pick for weeks and may be growing out of favor in the Atlanta and Kansas City front offices, as well. Some suggest Baltimore, with the eighth pick, is the earliest Ryan may now go.


      -- One player who appears well on his way toward recovering his once falling stock is Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. In visiting with several teams over the past two weeks, Stewart is reassuring clubs that his turf toe injury is healing as expected. Speculated by some as falling out of the first round, Stewart is now a possibility to make the top 15, and could leap back ahead of Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall as the second running back selected.

      Meanwhile, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey continues to be a hot topic because of lingering concerns about a 2006 stress fracture in his leg. Dorsey skipped the medical re-check in Indianapolis in early April, but one team said, "We checked him and our doctors believe he is healing well." Considered a top three pick, the perception on Dorsey's leg among teams with high selections will help shape the first hour of the draft.

      Considered a late first-round prospect, Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves is also trying to steady his stock. He sent a letter to all 32 teams following heart surgery March 27 to treat his Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. WPW is an abnormality in the heart's electrical system that can lead to rapid heartbeats if left untreated. Said a source from one team, "The procedure is effective. There is no concern."

      -- The news that Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham and Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib admitted to testing positive for marijuana during their collegiate careers is certain to have a negative impact on their draft stocks. The question is just how much -- and is it the same for both players? Both are first-round caliber athletes, but some insiders would be stunned if either was selected that high. "I don't know how you could justify to your owner that you're taking one of those two," one source explained. "On the one hand (Manningham) you've got a guy who lied to your face. On the other, you have a guy (Talib) who's failed multiple tests."

      Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

      2008-04-16 15:53:15


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      17 comments

      johnandy27 12:24:50 PM Apr 19 2008

      when are GMs going to wise up???They should make pay based on performance,play better earn better,if play should go down then so should pay

      johnandy27 12:22:06 PM Apr 19 2008

      when are GMs going to wise up.Paying huge sums to unproven players.They shoul make pay based on a performance scale,PLAY BETTER EARN BETTER.START AT A REASONABLE FIGURE AND MAKE ANY INCREASES,based on performances and if they have a bad month then so should the pay

      bippyearl 09:24:37 AM Apr 18 2008

      I just get tired of kids coming out of school and signing multi million dollar deals, never see the field or when they do they suck, just think we made, cordell stewart,ryan leaf,and hundreds maybe thousands multi millionaires for what sitting the bench or sucking up the field, I say everyone of these kids should have to prove themselves before making that kind of money henne is one of them, he cant play! he is as slow as sap coming from a tree in january, he is not accurate at all, and when you match the kind of speed in the nfl to 20 year old kids you will see look at reggie bush in my eyes I would have never picked him that early, and he is to me a bust!!!!!!

      bippyearl 09:17:18 AM Apr 18 2008

      josedistefa, for one matt ryan, I would take the kid from hawaii, next year the winner of this years heisman when he comes out him, boise state, delaware, the thing is that sure you could say the same about brady but brady never had the opportunity to prove himself on the field like henne, tell me what he did for michigan, and think about the offensive line, all went pro for the 4 years he was in, and weak schedule, never beat ohio, never a rose bowl, 2 of the 4 years was the worse years in 80 years of michigan football, they were going to bench him 2 years ago and didnt have a back up, he had the opportunities and couldnt do it, also do you know that out of 100 LINEMAN, OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE 70 of them are faster than him, he is not accurate, sure he can throw a long ball but tell me what team throws it, or has enough time to do it.

      josedistefa 12:59:46 AM Apr 18 2008

      Bippy many would have said the same thing about Tom Brady and look at him now Chad henne has a very strong arm. Name me the ten QB's better then him?

      cd6color 09:28:38 PM Apr 17 2008

      The Patriots should not be allowed to have any first round picks regardless of trades. They were caught cheating and should have had a stiffer penalty. The Walsh testimony should also be given before the draft. The only person in the Patriots organization that seems to have any class is the owner which really makes you scratch your head.

      bippyearl 09:08:34 PM Apr 17 2008

      did I read that correctly? did they say that the falcons might pick Henne to insure the strong armed qb? are you kidding me? this is why I despise these picks, henne sucks!!!!!!! I would pick 10 qbs before him, these people are nuts, I can see it now pay him the money plays for 3 to 4 years bounce around the league then done, dont waste a pick on him, pick a cheerleader.

      lesliehurton 03:29:31 PM Apr 17 2008

      rest0123 get a grip

      reste0123 01:17:32 PM Apr 17 2008

      Pat's should get some O-Linemen after there so called Pro Bowlers got stomped by the Giants. How does a team like the Pat's wind up with such a weak schedule like they do? Guess you get rewarded for cheating?

      arthurbm5 11:53:13 AM Apr 17 2008

      NFL TEAMS CAN SEND A STRONG ZERO TOLERANCE SIGNAL BY AVOIDING ANY PLAYERS THAT HAD DRUG ISSUES DURING THIER COLLEGE PLAYING DAYS. IF THEY WILL INCLUDE EXCLUSION OF CRIMINAL ACTS OFF THE FIELD, THE ENTIRE NFL CAN REDEEM THIER FORMER LEVEL OF RESPECT. OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE THE SAME OLD CLASS OF SCUM.

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