The NFL it's in the game

[Mr. Breeze]

Well Big Blue improves their record to 3 & 2 with help form Shockey's 2 TD catches and Jacobs 2yd run + Fealey's 6 points. Their defense also recorded SIX sacks on Micheal Vic as their d pretty much had their way with the Falcons. This win puts the Giants in a tie for 2nd in their division with Dallas who they play next week. Should be a good one.
:twisted: :roll: :-x

[Mr. Breeze]

Well it don't look too good fer Big Blue their defense is decimated, Uminyora out, Strahan out, plus six more of their starters are on the sidelines in their street clothes. They might as well trade Shockey because they wont throw the ball to him which is exasperating :huh? Their last lost to the Jags leaves them tied for 1st in their division. I was holding my baby daughter while watching the last game and I almost hurled her at the TV. I'm playin' "Madden 07" on my PSP and my Giants are 15-n-0. Maybe I should take Caughlin's place.
:evil:

[USO36]

MIAMI - Wet and wild — and the perfect winning conditions for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl. A team built for indoors found its footing on a rain-soaked track and outplayed the Chicago Bears to win the NFL title 29-17 Sunday night.


The Colts were far less sloppy, particularly their star quarterback, who proved he can indeed win the big game — the biggest game.

That's what it was, too, for Tony Dungy, who became the first black coach to win the championship, beating good friend and protege Lovie Smith in a game that featured the first two black coaches in the Super Bowl.

"It's hard to put into words," said Manning, the game's MVP after hitting 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards with one touchdown and one interception. "I'm proud to be part of this team. We stuck together, won this game for our leader, Tony Dungy."

It was a game of firsts: the first rainy Super Bowl and the first time an opening kickoff was run back for a touchdown when sensational Bears rookie Devin Hester sped downfield for 92 yards.

And not since the Buffalo Bills self-destructed with nine turnovers in losing to Dallas 14 years ago had there been so much messiness. The first half was marred by six turnovers, three for each team. Even football's most clutch kicker, Adam Vinatieri, missed a chip-shot field goal, and an extra point attempt was botched, too.

The second half wasn't quite so ugly, but when much-maligned Bears quarterback Rex Grossman's wobbler was picked off and returned 56 yards for a touchdown by Kelvin Hayden with 11:44 remaining, it was over.

"I'm so proud of our guys," Dungy said. "We took the hit early with Devin Hester. We talked about it; it's going to be a storm. Sometimes you have to work for it. Our guys played so hard and I can't tell you how proud I am of our group, our organization and our city."

Chicago (15-4), which led the league in takeaways this season, finished with five turnovers, including two interceptions by Grossman.

The Colts (16-4) will take it. It's their first title since the 1970 season, when they played in Baltimore.

It was confirmation of Manning's brilliance, even if he didn't need to be dynamic. The son of a quarterback who never got to the playoffs, Manning has been a star throughout his college career at Tennessee and his nine pro seasons with the Colts.

Now he is a champion.

"Peyton is a tremendous player, a great leader," Dungy said. "He prepares, he works, does everything you can do to win games and lead your team. If people think he needed to win a Super Bowl, that is just wrong. This guy is a Hall of Fame player and one of the greatest ever to play."

It also was a validation of Dungy's leadership. He helped build Tampa Bay, one of the NFL's worst franchises, into a contender before being fired after the 2001 season. The next year, the Bucs won the Super Bowl under Jon Gruden.

Sunday was Dungy's turn. As his players hoisted their coach on their shoulders, he switched his blue Colts cap for a white one that read "NFL champions." Dungy was carried from the sideline, then was lowered so he could share a long embrace and a handshake with Smith.

"I'm proud to be representing the African-American coaches and the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said.

Then he waded through the mob to find his quarterback, giving him a big hug.

The Colts reached the pinnacle by winning four postseason games with a defense that made a complete turnaround in the playoffs.

And with a running game that perfectly complemented Manning, thanks to Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes, who combined for 190 yards — 113 on 21 carries by Rhodes and 77 on 19 carries by Addai, who also had 66 yards receiving.

Chicago was denied its first Super Bowl title since the powerhouse 1985 team. These Bears could have used Da Coach, Sweetness and their buddies.

It rained from start to finish; there was even "Purple Rain" during halftime when Prince sang some of his signature songs. And though Vinatieri twice was a victim of the slop, he kicked three field goals.

"We knew handling the ball would be tough," Dungy said. "We showed we could win many ways."

Hester's spectacular return provided a stunning beginning — and a severe jolt to the Colts. The local product and only rookie All-Pro this season pumped his arms to excite the crowd before the kickoff, then lifted the fans from their seats with an electrifying run on which he never was touched.

He barely touched the ball again as Indy went to squibbing kickoffs.

Leading 16-14 at halftime, the Colts spent half the third quarter with a march to Vinatieri's 24-yard field goal. Twice on the drive, Manning fell to the ground while throwing. But he completed them.

Grossman had it even worse on Chicago's initial possession of the second half, twice in a row slipping and getting sacked. Maybe he would have done better on icy turf.

Thomas Jones, forced to carry the Bears' entire rushing load when Cedric Benson was hurt in the first half, was Chicago's best player. But with Grossman ineffective, even inept, all the Bears managed in the second half was Robbie Gould's 44-yard field goal late in the third period.

After Hester's opening dagger, Manning tried to force a pass to Marvin Harrison in double coverage and was picked off by Chris Harris to spoil Indy's first possession, but the Colts struck back on their next series, converting three third-downs. The final one was the most important as Manning got everything on a long pass to the uncovered Reggie Wayne even though Tank Johnson had his hands on the quarterback. Wayne trotted into the end zone for a 47-yard score.

Then the rain ruined three straight plays.

Holder Hunter Smith dropped the snap on the extra point and Vinatieri couldn't get off a kick. Then Vinatieri, well aware of who was lurking deep, squibbed the kickoff to tight end Gabe Reid, who fumbled at his 35, with Tyjuan Hagler recovering for the Colts.

But Manning and Addai botched the handoff on the next snap and Chicago's Mark Anderson recovered, the third turnover in the first 8 1/2 minutes.

Couldn't anybody play this game?

Jones certainly could. He used a sharp cutback to break a 52-yard run, the longest of his career, to the Colts' 5, and Grossman found Muhammad in the front of the end zone for a 14-6 lead.

Jones finished with 112 yards rushing.

A fourth giveaway in the opening quarter, by Benson on his first carry before injuring his knee, didn't damage Chicago.

Vinatieri, who made two Super Bowl-winning kicks for New England, nailed a 29-yard field goal early in the second period but was wide left from 32 yards at the end of the half.

Vinatieri still set a record with 49 postseason points.

[inuyashaa]

so many errors by chicago wat was that pase going to, fin usless

[Mr. Breeze]

You could tell both teams were nervous with the record six turnovers in the first half. The Colts looked like they came out slow but picked up the pace very quickly. Watching the game it didn't really seem as though the Colts dominated but when you look at the numbers it tells a different story. I kept waitin' fer a new Gieco commercial but I guess they must have had a lot of claims and couldn't afford the 2.5 mil. for 30 seconds. I am glad at least one of the Manning boys got a ring.
:o

[USO36]

Wiese, a die-hard fan of the Chicago Bears, signed a pledge in front of a crowd at a Decatur bar last Friday night that if the Bears lost Sunday's Super Bowl, he'd change his name to that of the man who led the Indianapolis Colts to victory.

Final Score: Colts 29, Bears 17.

So on Tuesday, Wiese went to the Macon County Courts Facility and started the process of changing his name.

"I made the bet, and now I've got to keep it," said the 26-year-old, who lives in Forsyth, just north of Decatur.

Wiese will now have to advertise his intention in the local newspaper -- the Herald & Review -- for several weeks and then have a judge give him the OK to become, legally anyway, Peyton Manning.

The men have little in common, Wiese acknowledges.

Manning the quarterback is 30 years old, stands 6-foot-5 and has a contract with the Colts worth more than $100 million.

Wiese is 5-foot-11 and works at a Staples office-supply store for somewhat less.

"I think I kind of represent all Bears fans," he said. "Not that I'm saying they're all idiots like me, but I represent their passion because I really care about my team, you know?"

Wiese's lawyer and friend, Andy Bourey, is handling the paperwork. He said he admires Wiese's sense of honor.

"I never doubted him," he said. "He's a man of his word."

While he pledged to take on the new identity, Wiese isn't sure how long he's willing to keep it.

Say, maybe, until the Bears' next Super Bowl appearance? Not likely, given that their last trip to the big game was in 1985.

"I mean, well, it may be another 21 years."

[USO36]

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Twice during his introduction of Wade Phillips as Dallas Cowboys coach, Jerry Jones had to stop and gather himself. The decision was that emotional for the team owner.

"We needed to get it right," Jones said, pausing as tears welled up in his eyes. "In my mind, we got it right."

Phillips was hired Thursday, providing Dallas with an experienced replacement for Bill Parcells and someone well-versed in the 3-4 defense.

Maybe more significantly for Jones was getting a coach who can win now. The Cowboys haven't won a postseason game in 10 seasons, the longest drought in the history of a team with five Super Bowls.

"This team is best served now, next week, next month and next season by an NFL head coach with experience, that knows the game, that candidly knows the personnel that are playing the game right now," Jones said.


The seventh coach in team history, Phillips is only the second to arrive in Dallas with previous NFL head coaching experience. The other was Parcells, who retired Jan. 22 after four seasons with the Cowboys.

Phillips, defensive coordinator at San Diego the past three seasons, has a 48-42 head coaching record over three seasons with Buffalo, two with Denver and season-ending interim stints with New Orleans and Atlanta. The 59-year-old son of longtime Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips has been in the NFL for 30 of the last 31 seasons.

"It's great to have these cowboy boots back in Texas," said Phillips, showing his boots from the podium, where his father sat to his right. "(Jones) feels like and I feel like I was the best fit for this job. ... I think I can make an immediate impact."

Phillips joins Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson as the only Texas natives to be in charge of "America's Team." Landry and Johnson both won two Super Bowls in Dallas.

"It's a big job, but I'm ready for it," said Phillips, who got a three-year contract that includes an option for a fourth season.

Jones interviewed 10 candidates before hiring his sixth coach since buying the team in 1989. Phillips was interviewed two weeks ago, and his chances of getting the job seemed to be fading when Norv Turner was among five more who followed him.

"It was really tough," Phillips said. "In the game, I have control in a lot of things, like making the calls. In this, I didn't have any control. I'm just hoping."

But Jones chose the defensive-minded Phillips over Turner, a two-time head coach who was the Cowboys' offensive coordinator for Super Bowl titles after the 1992 and 1993 seasons. But Turner was only 59-83-1 in nine seasons as head coach for Washington and Oakland.

"It was important to get the experience and expertise and some of the specific things that I felt we needed to help our team out," Jones said. "How we were going to go forward with the offense, how we were going to go forward with the defense."


AP - Feb 8, 7:39 pm EST
More Photos


After Jason Garrett interviewed for the vacancy Jan. 25, Jones hired him to an unspecified role on the coaching staff. It has been presumed he will be the offensive coordinator, but Phillips said he didn't want to discuss Garrett's role until he had a chance to talk to the former backup quarterback.

Phillips' head coaching record includes 3-4 as a fill-in for the Saints and Falcons and 0-3 in the playoffs, most notably the "Music City Miracle," when Tennessee used a trick kick return for the winning touchdown in the closing seconds against the Bills in January 2000.

Besides carrying on his family tradition, Phillips has handled the dubious task of replacing Super Bowl coaches Dan Reeves in Denver and Marv Levy in Buffalo. So the idea of following Parcells doesn't bother him.

Parcells, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, went 34-32 in four years in Dallas and lost twice in the playoffs. He implemented the 3-4 scheme in Dallas two years ago, and has built a roster suited for it, highlighted by end-turned-linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

"I love the defense that San Diego plays, and I think our team has guys who could play great roles in it," Ware said Thursday from the Pro Bowl.

Yet the defense was the weak link last season, when Dallas went 9-7 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Cowboys lost four of their last five games, including the last three, mainly because they couldn't stop teams.

Phillips, meanwhile, was helping the Chargers go 14-2. They allowed the seventh-fewest points in the NFL and were rated 10th in total defense.

Phillips was born in Orange, Texas, and played college ball at Houston. He joined his dad's staff with the Oilers as a linebackers coach in 1976 and has been in the NFL ever since, except for 2001.

He stayed with the Oilers through 1980, then followed his father to New Orleans and became defensive coordinator at age 34. He replaced his father as head coach for the final four games of the 1985 season.

Phillips then was in charge of the defense in Philadelphia (1986-88) and Denver (1989-92), taking over as coach of the Broncos for 1993 and '94. His teams went 16-16 with a playoff loss.

The next three years were spent as defensive coordinator in Buffalo, followed by three years as the Bills' coach and vice president of football operations. The Bills were 29-19 under his guidance with two playoff losses.

He was Reeves' defensive coordinator in Atlanta in 2002 and '03. He went 2-1 as Reeves' replacement at the end of '03, then went to San Diego.

Phillips has a son, Wes, who coaches at Baylor, and a daughter, Tracy, who is an actress.

AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham contributed to this report.

[USO36]

Draft


1. Oakland Raiders – JaMarcus Russell, quarterback, LSU. His ability to keep his eyes focused downfield, plus his rifle arm and eye-opening size, would make him a perfect fit for a Raiders team that lacked firepower and punch in its offense this past season.

2. Detroit Lions – Jamaal Anderson, defensive lineman, Arkansas. A quick glance at the Lions' depth chart shows that despite Calvin Johnson possibly being the most talented player on the board, they could use an impact defensive lineman. That makes Anderson highly attractive. Detroit is the team most others will look toward to make a deal since one of the two top-rated quarterbacks will still be available at this selection.


(A coin flip at the NFL combine will decide the No. 3 and No. 4 choices between Cleveland and Tampa Bay.)

3/4. Cleveland Browns – Alan Branch, defensive lineman, Michigan. Branch would fill a major void for the Browns, who would allow him to clog the middle while opening up lanes for their outside pass rushers and young linebackers Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson. Cleveland paid close attention to the interior line position leading up to last year's draft but opted to take the pass rusher, so addressing the spot this year should come as no surprise.


3/4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Calvin Johnson, wide receiver, Georgia Tech. The healthy return of quarterback Chris Simms, running back Carnell Williams and wide receiver Michael Clayton certainly will help, but having a playmaker on the outside like Johnson to line up across speedy veteran Joey Galloway would open up the ground attack and provide the Bucs' quarterback with the type of rare pass-catcher who can make plays anywhere on the field.


5. Arizona Cardinals – Joe Thomas, offensive tackle, Wisconsin. They have areas on the defensive side of the ball to address, but finding a tackle that can lock down and anchor their line for the next 10 years is a primary need heading into the offseason. The Steelers have made it a habit of dominating the line of scrimmage during Ken Whisenhunt's time in Pittsburgh; it is something he now will stress in Arizona.


6. Washington Redskins – Gaines Adams, defensive end, Clemson. While not a complete player, Adams possesses the primary asset of harassing the quarterback. Creating pressure and forcing throws would provide the 'Skins with an improved pass defense and likely force opposing teams into an increased number of turnovers in 2007.


7. Minnesota Vikings – Reggie Nelson, defensive back, Florida. Nelson has the cover skills to man-up against slot receivers and has keen awareness when called upon to blitz. It may seem out of the question for Nelson to come off the board this early now, but come draft day, he will have the type of meteoric rise that saw Donte' Whitner shoot into the top 10 a year ago.


8. Houston Texans – Marshawn Lynch, running back, California. He's just too good to pass up here, as he can run, catch and provide the big-play ability that only a handful of backs in the NFL possess. Adrian Peterson's name has often come up or been associated with this pick, but Lynch is a far better fit for the Texans' scheme because of his above-average hands. Also, both Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith have seen the type of instant impact a rookie back can bring as evidenced by the success of divisional rivals Jacksonville and Indianapolis.


9. Miami Dolphins – Brady Quinn, quarterback, Notre Dame. The Dolphins were close evaluators of Jay Cutler leading up to last year's draft and now sit in prime position to solidify the quarterback position once again. They have needs along the offensive line and at defensive tackle and safety, but those are likely to be addressed in free agency. Quinn is a good fit for Miami's marketplace, too, since he has a big name and the type of maturity and character to handle the South Beach lifestyle.


10. Atlanta Falcons – Ted Ginn Jr., wide receiver/return man, Ohio State. Bobby Petrino has been successful at every stop along the way, using a variety of schemes, formations and, most importantly, playmakers in a variety of roles. Ginn has been outspoken in his desire to play some defense at cornerback, so he'll fit right in with the Falcons' other elite playmakers in cornerback DeAngelo Hall, running backs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood, and quarterback Michael Vick.


11. San Francisco 49ers – Amobi Okoye, defensive tackle, Louisville. The 49ers need to upgrade their defensive talent at cornerback and in the interior part of their line. In three to four years, Okoye will develop into one of this draft's best talents, and when he reaches that potential, he will still be only 23 years old. There is better depth at cornerback than interior line, so look for the 49ers to double-dip on corners later on.


12. Buffalo Bills – Aaron Ross, cornerback, Texas. The expected loss of cornerback Nate Clements in free agency opens the door for the Bills to find an ample replacement with Ross, who burst onto the scene with an outstanding senior campaign. He also can contribute to an already solid special teams unit.


13. St. Louis Rams – Charles Johnson, defensive end, Georgia. The Rams are hoping to upgrade a few areas, but none is more pressing than at outside pass rusher. Johnson was one of the best front-four playmakers, and he will wow scouts with his all-around athleticism, which will drive up his draft-day value.


14. Carolina Panthers – Lawrence Timmons, outside linebacker, Florida State. The Panthers' defense struggled after the loss of Will Witherspoon in free agency and Dan Morgan to injury. Timmons has amazing athleticism and brings the big-play ability Carolina lacked at the position this past season. The Panthers could also go off the board and take a guy like Adrian Peterson if he were to slip down this far.


15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Leon Hall, cornerback, Michigan. The Steelers got burned on the outside several times last season and hope to upgrade the corner position through the draft. Hall may lack the straight-line speed of Ike Taylor, but he would provide Pittsburgh with better ball skills and toughness. Hall also brings the experience of having defended many of the top-rated receivers in this year's draft.


16. Green Bay Packers – Adrian Peterson, running back, Oklahoma. While Peterson clearly is a top-five or top-10 talent, teams in need of a running back could address other positions, meaning he could fall right into the lap of the Packers. They need to upgrade the position, but they may opt for younger, fresher legs instead of re-signing veteran Ahman Green.


17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Adam Carriker, defensive lineman, Nebraska. The Jaguars need to spice up their outside pass rush, so the addition of Carriker, the best front-four defender still on the board, would give them a versatile prospect that can strengthen the play of their entire front seven.


18. Cincinnati Bengals – Darrelle Revis, cornerback, Pittsburgh. The Bengals are growing old on the outside, especially with Tory James hitting the free-agent market. Revis is a potential playmaker with no baggage, something that should be of more importance in their draft room this year.


19. Tennessee Titans – Robert Meachem, wide receiver, Tennessee. There will be several receiver options on the board, but the local talent may fit in the best. The former regime brought in a number of receivers, but none of them have become a primary go-to guy. And with Drew Bennett on the open market, the addition of Meachem would give Vince Young a vertical threat to grow with.


20. New York Giants – DeMarcus Tyler, defensive tackle, North Carolina State. The Giants could look for help at offensive tackle or running back, but their primary need is to find a run stuffer that can aid their ample pass rushers on the outside. "Tank" can step into the role as a rookie and secure the spot next to Fred Robbins, who is coming off his best season.


21. Denver Broncos – Jarvis Moss, defensive end, Florida. Using the leftover linemen from the Browns the past few years has grown old in the Mile High City, so this year's goal is to find a pass-rushing presence. Moss, who has upside if he can gain weight and concentrate full-time on football, would give the Broncos the young pass rusher they desire.


22. Dallas Cowboys – Brandon Meriweather, safety, Miami. The leak in their defensive unit starts over the top in pass coverage. That's why Meriweather, with his all-around play, would be a huge difference-maker for a team that still has its eyes on a Super Bowl berth next season.


23. Kansas City Chiefs – Tony Ugoh, offensive tackle, Arkansas. The Chiefs went through offensive tackles at an unprecedented rate, and that slowed down their ground attack and ruined the rhythm of their play-action passing. Ugoh is raw in some areas, but he brings a wealth of athleticism to an aging line and the potential of becoming a future standout at left tackle.


24. New England Patriots – Jay Moore, defensive end, Nebraska. The Patriots are growing old at the pass-rusher positions, where Moore excelled in the postseason. He is fluid enough to play outside linebacker in New England's 3-4 scheme, and he is a bright, poised kid who can start right away if necessary.


25. New York Jets – Zach Miller, tight end, Arizona State. The Jets looked to fill this spot in last year's draft but missed out on the top prospects. Our mock has the tight end position sliding down the draft board, providing New York with the chance to add a prospect that can be a solid addition in terms of pass-catching skills and blocking ability.


26. Philadelphia Eagles – LaRon Landry, safety, LSU. With safety Michael Lewis set to move via free agency, the Eagles will look to find a replacement. Landry could be the one who gets paired with All-Pro defender Brian Dawkins the next few years.


27. New Orleans Saints – Anthony Spencer, defensive end/outside linebacker, Purdue. The Saints have built a defense around speed and playmakers, but they are likely to lose Charles Grant in free agency. Spencer is a "hybrid" pass rusher who could play an important role off the bench during his rookie campaign.


28. New England Patriots – Daymeion Hughes, cornerback, California. The Patriots like players that have solid character and production, and Hughes fits that profile. He could challenge to start as a rookie if Asante Samuel is lost in free agency.


29. Baltimore Ravens – Justin Blalock, offensive lineman, Texas. The Ravens are looking to find more consistency out of their interior blockers, a quality Blalock could provide short-term. He has the ability to step into the starting lineup if he keeps his weight down and his right knee healthy.


30. San Diego Chargers – Tanard Jackson, defensive back, Syracuse. The Chargers will be on the hot seat going into next season, since most feel they have been the most talented team not to make an impact in the playoffs the past few years. Jackson would give them a versatile defender who could find a starting role at safety as a rookie and help solidify their pass coverage.


31. Chicago Bears – Greg Olsen, tight end, Miami (Fla.). The Bears have a few other holes, but they could use another playmaker on offense. The return of Tommie Harris and Mike Brown will help their defensive unit bounce back to full strength. Moreover, general manager Jerry Angelo seems to like playmakers from the state of Florida.


32. Indianapolis Colts – Jon Beason, linebacker, Miami. The Colts have allowed linebackers to walk during free agency, and that could happen again with Cato June. Beason would be a near-perfect fit for the Super Bowl champs and a great value pick if he slides to No. 32.

[USO36]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former NFL running back and new "Today" show correspondent Tiki Barber said his offseason work at Fox News Channel made him recognize he had a passion for a career outside of sports.

Barber also said his problems with New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin had "started to take its toll on me."


The just-retired NFL running back was formally introduced as an NBC Universal employee Tuesday. He'll contribute news and human interest stories to "Today," and he'll be an analyst on NBC's Sunday highlight show "Football Night in America" in the fall.

He spurned offers from Fox and ABC/Disney to take the NBC job.

"My dream has always been to be on the `Today' show," Barber said.

Barber, 31, retired as a Pro Bowl running back, scoring a touchdown in the NFL all-star game last weekend. Barber and his disciplinarian coach had their rough patches, particularly when Barber said the Giants were outcoached after a playoff loss a season ago.

Barber laid the groundwork for a broadcasting career while still active in the NFL. He was a correspondent for the Fox News Channel morning program "Fox & Friends," and has two programs on Sirius Satellite Radio, one on general topics and another on football that he does with his twin brother, Ronde Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Few other novice broadcasters would get such a lavish introduction to their new business: a news conference attended by NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff Zucker, the presidents of NBC News and Sports, and "Today" co-host Matt Lauer.

Zucker compared Barber to Joe Garagiola, another "Today" personality with a sports background, and former Giants star and longtime broadcaster Frank Gifford.

Barber "pops through the screen" and is incredibly popular with women, who make up the bulk of the "Today" show audience, Zucker said.

"He's incredibly handsome, he's incredibly charming, he's incredibly personable and he's incredibly smart," he said, "and that's a rare quality."

NBC News President Steve Capus also said Barber came with a backup.

"On those days when you're not feeling well, we'll just call Tampa Bay and get your brother," Capus said.

NBC is owned by the General Electric Co.

[USO36]

Rating the wide receivers
The wide receiver position comes back with a vengeance, as the top of this year's crop is made up of mostly underclassmen. As many as six receivers have potential first-round grades, including the possible No. 1 overall pick – Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson.

For the most part, the top five possess good size with all but Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. measuring at least 6-foot-2, but it could be interesting to see how teams favor this group. There is a solid foundation of prospects that could go anywhere between late in the first round all the way down to the third or fourth rounds.

Last season, the NFL Rookie of the Week honors went to a wide receiver on seven different occasions with seventh-round pick Marques Colston and undrafted free agent Hank Baskett accounting for four of those awards. Therefore, expect an early run on receivers.

However, a straying away from the position will allow several high-profile names to still be on the board come the second day of the draft.

WIDE RECEIVER SLEEPERS
Yamon Figurs, Kansas State
Onrea Jones, Hampton
Julius McClellan, North Carolina Central

TOP WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech. Potentially the best pound-for-pound athlete in the draft as he stands 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and has been timed in the 4.3-second range in the 40. He also has a vertical leap between 42 and 45 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet.

Johnson matches that athleticism with playmaker ability on the field and a quiet unassuming presence off of it. In fact, for a player of his talent level, there has not been a prospect with less of an ego or more of a workmanlike attitude to enter the draft in years. He acts and wants to be treated like he's just one of the guys, but he brings such a wealth of ability to the field that it would not be surprising to see him taken No. 1 overall.

He is very flexible and has a fluid stride that allows him to separate from defenders, although he needs to do a better job of locating the ball when it is in the air, especially when going to out-jump opposing defenders. He has great moves in the open field as he can take a short screen or slant route and deliver big yardage after the catch.

Without putting too much blame on his former quarterback (Reggie Ball), the accuracy and pocket presence of Georgia Tech's quarterback play was inconsistent throughout Johnson's college career. One aspect he could improve upon is breaking off his routes and coming back to the ball. Still, he shows adept footwork to keep or get himself inbounds along the sideline or in the end zone. He's a good all-around talent as he looks for players downfield to block and was able to cut-block defenders with the best of them in college.

One of the hardest workers at his pre-combine training with coach Tom Shaw in Orlando, Fla., Johnson has continued to work on using his long arms to get off the jam. He does not allow defenders to get into his body or use their hands to knock him off routes. The combination of his pure physical tools, high character and willingness to be a quiet, consummate leader should earn him high marks across the board. A 40 time in the 4.3-second range at the NFL combine or his pro day would further confirm that Johnson could be the No. 1 overall pick.

2. Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State. The elevation of this versatile performer to a potential spot among the top 10 picks comes from the fact he possesses speed – and more speed. He is likely the fastest player in the draft in terms of straight-line 40-yard dash speed, and he also has the rare athleticism to change direction on a dime without losing any speed. Even rarer is his ability to gear right back up to full speed with a few steps.

Ginn has started to grow as a receiver, although he is still a bit thin-framed and has too many drops. His fast reflexes and hand/eye coordination have made him the most feared return man in college football since he joined the Buckeyes three years ago. His open-field moves are eye-opening as he is able to see a seam in a defense and accelerate through it.

Ginn needs to learn to get free or create space for himself in the middle of the field. He will also drop a few balls when he is too active in trying to make a play. He must work to become more flexible as he can round off his routes at times, and he also needs to increase his bulk/strength in order to defeat press coverage in the pros.

Right now, he brings the dimension of speed, versatility and game-breaking return skills, but he is not a finished product at receiver. He has also speculated on several occasions that at some point in his pro career he would like to play cornerback, the position he prefers to play. Should he run 4.3 or better, he could go as high as No. 7 to the Minnesota Vikings or No. 10 to the Atlanta Falcons. If not, he will not slip too far past the top 10 based on his upside.

3. Dwayne Bowe, LSU. Corrective Lasik eye surgery in the offseason helped him produce his best year to date and gave scouts reason to believe that he can become a No. 1, go-to receiver. He was a first-down machine in the SEC, with over 75 percent of his career catches moving the chains for the Tigers. He also showed the ability to constantly break initial defenders' attempts at bringing him down.

Bowe primarily lined up at the flanker (Z) receiver spot in order to take advantage of his size. Most defenders were unable to get up and jam or press him since he could use his long arms and strong hands to disengage and quickly get into his routes. The eye surgery helped him see the ball quicker and catch the majority of passes with his hands outstretched from his body. He will still juggle or secure a few balls against his body, though.

He breaks most of his tackles with power as opposed to making defenders miss with speed. He should time very well for being 6-3 and 217 pounds, but it takes him time to build up to full speed. He is better on intermediate or post routes as opposed to corner or go patterns, and he has ideal size and leaping ability on fade routes. However, he has struggled at times to adjust to the ball, with it falling incomplete or just out of his reach.

Bowe passed the eye test with flying colors at the Senior Bowl. Solid workouts should put him in position to be taken somewhere around the mid-way point of the first round.

4. Robert Meachem, Tennessee. This youngster came on this past season thanks to a move from "X" to flanker, where he became the Volunteers' new go-to receiver. He used a combination of size, speed and slippery moves to elevate himself to the upper echelon of receivers.

He catches the ball with his hands and has terrific balance and agility in the open field, where he'll accelerate without losing any of his top-end speed. He had a few drops when trying to adjust to the ball, but he has good leaping skills and sticks his landings along the sideline.

Meachem became a red-zone threat last season, as he knew how to get open quickly or use his long arms to break free along the back line of the end zone. The tall, rangy prospect increased his strength at the line of scrimmage; he is harder to jam and is working to get better against press coverage. He runs pretty crisp routes and isn't a long strider considering his size. He's also a willing blocker and was recognized by teammates as being well-liked and mature.

He is similar in some ways to former Volunteers great Carl Pickens, who was taken in the second round of the 1992 draft and went on to have four 1,000-yard campaigns during a nine-year career that included a pair of Pro Bowl appearances. Meachem could be an in-state favorite for the Tennessee Titans at pick No. 19.

5. Dwayne Jarrett, USC. A tremendous playmaker at the collegiate level, Jarrett is now being questioned about his ability to keep up that big-play style at the next level. Some have him rated as high as the draft's No. 2 receiver. Others are not impressed by his potential impact in the pros and feel he will slide greatly on draft day.

Jarrett's issues revolve around his lack of ideal straight-line speed, questionable work habits and unwillingness to be coached. However, there is no doubting his production, size and keen ability to grab the ball at its highest point. He does well along the sidelines, looking to create space or coming back to the ball, and he has made smaller defenders pay on a consistent basis, but many of those jump ball or fade routes will not be so easy to achieve against NFL defenders.

Where he slacks off is when he is not the primary target. While his straight-line speed is average for his size and position, the failure to be overly flexible and to cut in and out on his routes is probably a more pressing issue.

Jarrett banged up his left shoulder last season but came back and was productive in the Trojans' Rose Bowl win over Michigan. Coming out early was likely a sound judgment call as the issue over his lack of speed would not have gone away even with another highly productive college campaign.

He needs to be paired with the right type of scheme and position coach in order to get the most out of him. He seems to have a little bit of Antonio Bryant in his game in that he can become frustrated and sound off. However, Jarrett is such an interesting prospect because he has produced and consistently made big plays in college. Still, other factors could cause him to slide toward the latter part of the first round.

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INDIANAPOLIS – LSU's JaMarcus Russell walked through the door of the media room at the NFL scouting combine, and as the 6-foot-5, 265-pound quarterback entered the room, a reporter walking his way stopped, gazed up at the hulking figure and was left with a one-word reaction not fit for print.

Russell, who wowed NFL folks from afar with his combination of size and arm strength, showed up Friday to talk with the media and continue to produce jaw-dropping glances from coaches.

"Oh, he's a man now," Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said with admiration. "He's got something you can't teach. He has an arm where you can't take it easy on him. With most quarterbacks, they start going (to the defense's) left, you don't expect them to throw it back across the field over the top.

"He can do that. He's dangerous for a defense. He scares you because he can throw it deep without having to use his legs."


That's because Russell, who some people have projected as the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, has plenty of everything else. From his size-14 shoes to his long arms and enormous hands, Russell is a specimen.

"The ball looks like a seed in his hand," San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan said.

Of course, there is much more to a quarterback, and there are plenty of questions about Russell, from his work ethic to his ability to read defenses. Some NFL types thought Russell looked a little flabby, although he's hardly fat.

But through the prism of this time of year, Russell is about as good as it gets. He's a quarterback, which automatically vaults him to the top of any wish list. He also has a cannon arm, good mobility and the size to shed defenders.

"Sometimes you're bigger than most of the defensive guys where I come from at the college level," Russell said before a large group of reporters. "It's a lot of fun when you've got big guys trying to tackle you and you're really not falling. You're still able to make plays. I'm bigger than most of the guys out there."

With the exception of most offensive and defensive linemen, that will continue to be the case in the NFL.

"I started playing football at the age of six," Russell added. "I've been playing quarterback ever since. I was always bigger and taller than the other kids. I was always able to throw it a pretty good length of the field."

"You can't just tackle this guy with the first defender who comes after him. It's not going to happen," Edwards said. "He's too much of a load. You see how he still makes plays after the defense starts to hit him."

Russell improved drastically this past season as a junior. He completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 3,129 yards, a school-record 28 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions. He finished his college career by being named the Sugar Bowl MVP after outdueling Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. He also was ranked third in the nation in passing efficiency.

Those are some gaudy numbers and achievements.

Still, nothing is gaudier than Russell's pure size. It's the kind of size that had Edwards shaking his head.

"He's just unreal, completely unreal," the coach said.

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In a bizarre twist on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended up with two veteran quarterbacks they had been pursuing this offseason.

Tampa Bay signed quarterback Jeff Garcia to a two-year deal, getting the veteran quarterback the team wanted badly heading into next season. But the Buccaneers also completed a trade for the Denver Broncos' Jake Plummer, a day after it appeared that Plummer had squashed the deal by retiring.

While the Bucs were announcing the signing of Garcia, who received a deal loaded with incentives, the Broncos announced the trade of Plummer. The Broncos get a conditional draft pick in 2008 that is likely contingent on whether Plummer plays.

Plummer reportedly declared his intentions to retire Friday after news leaked that the Broncos had dealt him to the Bucs for a fourth-round pick in this year's NFL draft. That temporarily scuttled the deal. However, the Broncos continued to make the deal and it's believed that part of the reason was purely out of spite.

The relationship between Plummer and Denver head coach Mike Shanahan deteriorated quickly last season after the Broncos spent a first-round draft pick on Jay Cutler and then replaced Plummer with the rookie in November.


Plummer's biggest private complaint about Shanahan came on the weekend after Denver had played on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day. That Sunday, Shanahan made the decision to switch quarterbacks, but didn't call Plummer directly. Instead, Shanahan had an assistant coach call Plummer, two sources close to Plummer said.

Plummer's pending retirement obviously creates a number of issues. That includes the possible repayment of bonus money. There has been speculation that Plummer might reconsider retirement if he could play for a team of his choice, such as the Houston Texans whose head coach, Gary Kubiak, is Plummer's former coordinator. However, one source close to him said last night he didn't think that would happen.

"I really think Jake is done," the source said.

The Bucs could eventually cut Plummer or put him on the reserve/retired list to save the money against the salary cap.

As for Garcia, he will receive a deal almost exactly the same as the one that Chris Simms agreed to last season. The deal will pay Garcia $5 million in the first year and could be worth as much as $14.5 million if Garcia is the starter both years and takes the Buccaneers to the playoffs each season.

Garcia flew to Tampa, Fla., on Friday night and the Buccaneers held a press conference Saturday afternoon to announce the signing.

Garcia, from Gilroy, Calif., and a product of San Jose State, spent Friday meeting with the Oakland Raiders. Although Garcia was said to have been impressed by the Raiders coaches, there were still significant questions about the team's management and ability to produce an immediate contender. The Raiders went 2-14 last season, scored the fewest points (168) in the league and have won just 15 games in the past four seasons. In addition, the Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick and are in position to take one of the top young quarterbacks in the draft, either JaMarcus Russell of LSU or Brady Quinn of Notre Dame.

Garcia helped Philadelphia reach the NFC divisional playoffs and nearly led the Eagles to an upset of the New Orleans Saints in that game. Garcia, 37, took over when Donovan McNabb was knocked out for the season with a knee injury and rallied the Eagles after they dropped to 5-6.

This was the second time the Bucs made a push to acquire Garcia. In 2004, Garcia was reportedly on the verge of joining Tampa Bay before signing with the Cleveland Browns.

Garcia finished last season with 10 touchdowns, two interceptions and a quarterback rating of 95.8. In the previous two seasons with the Browns and the Detroit Lions, Garcia combined for 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions and never had a rating of more than 76.7.

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Final '07 mock draft
Final '07 mock draft

This year's NFL draft is three days away, yet we are no closer to knowing the name of the top overall pick. Initial numbers and outlines for a possible contract have been sent out to the agents for quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn, and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. What should we read into this, if anything?

The top overall pick could come down to the total value of the contract offers made and how each of those agents initially responds. A thought would be that the wide receiver would come cheaper than a quarterback. However, the deals being offered to Russell and Quinn are not likely to be identical as it is believed the Raiders likely would bring Russell along slowly and therefore try to backload his contract. Quinn, more likely to play immediately, would have more upfront money or incentives and could void out the back year of the deal if he experiences early success. In essence, it may be easier for the Raiders to get a better deal done with Johnson or Quinn before the draft, but if they want Russell then they will be paying full market value for the No. 1 overall choice with in excess of $25 million being guaranteed.

OK, enough of the contract talk! Here's the final mock draft for 2007.

SECOND-ROUND PROJECTIONS
1. Oakland: Arkansas OT Tony Ugoh
2. Detroit: Stanford QB Trent Edwards
3. Tampa Bay: Hampton LB Justin Durant
4. Cleveland: USC OL Ryan Kalil
5. Chicago: Maryland CB Josh Wilson
6. Arizona: Florida DE/OLB Jarvis Moss
7. Atlanta: Texas S Michael Griffin
8. Miami: Auburn OG Ben Grubbs
9. Minnesota: LSU WR Craig Davis
10. San Francisco: Michigan LB David Harris
11. Buffalo: Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman
12. Atlanta: Georgia DE Charles Johnson
13. Carolina: Syracuse DB Tanard Jackson
14. Pittsburgh: Nebraska DE/OLB Jay Moore
15. Green Bay: Auburn RB Kenny Irons
16. Jacksonville: Hawaii DE Ikaika Alama-Francis
17. Cincinnati: North Carolina State DT Tank Tyler
18. Tennessee: Texas DE Tim Crowder
19. NY Giants: Lane (Tenn.) WR Jacoby Jones
20. St. Louis: Boston College OL Josh Beekman
21. Dallas: Texas CB/RET Aaron Ross
22. Kansas City: UNLV CB Eric Wright
23. Seattle: Texas OT/OG Justin Blalock
24. Denver: Notre Dame DE Victor Abiamiri
25. Philadelphia: Utah DB Eric Weddle
26. New Orleans: Fresno State CB Marcus McCauley
27. NY Jets: Miami (Fla.) DL Baraka Atkins
28. Miami: Arizona State TE Zach Miller
29. Baltimore: BYU QB John Beck
30. San Diego: USC WR Steve Smith
31. NY Jets: Delaware/Duke TE Ben Patrick
32. Tampa Bay: Florida DL Ray McDonald


ROUND 1

1. Oakland Raiders – LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders have plenty of options, but this will come down to picking a quarterback or wide receiver. Johnson has the highest grade, Russell has the strongest arm and Quinn is the best fit for the new coaching staff's scheme. With the Browns sitting at No. 3, that could shake things up in any possible deal between the Buccaneers and Raiders. The only real chance for a trade for No. 1 is if the Bucs were to pull the Lions into the mix and have them move down to No. 4. That would allow the Raiders to secure the quarterback at No. 2 and Johnson to land in Tampa Bay. At the end of the day, my gut feeling here is that if the Raiders keep the pick, it will be Russell. But if a deal can be reached, they very well could end up with Quinn a few picks later.

2. Detroit Lions – Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams. There has also been some speculation that the Lions would love to deal down, but that would only be the case if Calvin Johnson is still on the board. Ultimately, look for the Lions to land Adams with their choice at either No. 2 or with a deal down with the Bucs to No. 4.

3. Cleveland Browns – Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The Browns would now be sitting pretty if the draft plays out this way or if the Raiders and Bucs make a deal. They might have the choice of picking either a possible franchise quarterback or running back. If JaMarcus Russell is still on the board, I believe he is their top choice.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The Bucs have done a great job of publicizing scenarios for themselves, but they may have to decide exactly how much they are willing to give up to obtain the rights to Johnson. They have four draft choices in the first three rounds, so they are equipped to move up if necessary. The vibe here is that they can maneuver past most teams to acquire Johnson, but they do not want to see a last-minute spending spree by someone like Atlanta and get caught out of the action by Saturday morning.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas. Several teams are likely to try dealing up for this pick based on who comes off the board in the top three choices. Among those franchises are Denver or Chicago, which could eye moving up to land a starting left tackle. Overall, the Cardinals are in a very good place here and they could go off the board to pick a guy like LaRon Landry, Amobi Okoye or even Jamaal Anderson.

6. Washington Redskins – LSU safety LaRon Landry. The addition of Landry would give them an instant playmaker in the middle of the field to pair with All-Pro safety Sean Taylor. Other options would be to continue pursuing trade offers for linebacker Lance Briggs or even pick up the phone to see if New England would package cornerback Asante Samuel and one of their two first-round picks to move up to this point in the draft.

7. Minnesota Vikings – Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. I took considerable heat for this pick initially, given the production of tailback Chester Taylor last season. However, others have gotten on the bandwagon as drafting Peterson could really aid in the development of the team’s new signal caller and passing game as a whole.

8. Atlanta Falcons – Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown. This will be a tough choice for them. They also have a pair of second-round choices, which means they could take the best available defensive player on their board and then try to use a combo of their extra picks to deal back into the mid-to-late portion of the first round for Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley.

9. Miami Dolphins – Arkansas defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson. The Dolphins have a group of needs, but Anderson could help protect the team’s aging defenders such as Jason Taylor, Joey Porter and Zach Thomas. If Anderson were to slide down further, Denver could seek to move up for him. Also, if Joe Thomas and Levi Brown are both off the board, the Dolphins could slide back 4-6 picks and then go after Joe Staley.

10. Houston Texans – Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. Okoye would fit well with the franchise's top two picks from last year – defensive end Mario Williams and middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans. However, they could also seek a trade down for cornerbacks Leon Hall or Darrelle Revis.

11. San Francisco 49ers – Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch. The 49ers need a front-line playmaker in order to make the full-time switch to a 3-4 scheme and they believe Branch provides them with the best interior nose tackle for that scheme. However, if the 49ers feel there will be a run on linebackers before they can get their hands on one, they might take Patrick Willis and attempt to make a deal back up to grab a guy such as Tennessee’s Justin Harrell. They have also shown a lot of interest in Nebraska’s Adam Carriker throughout this process.

12. Buffalo Bills – Penn State linebacker Paul Pozluszny. Pozluszny, who played in a scheme last season similar to that of the Bills', has ideal intangibles and it is believed that head coach **** Jauron might prefer him over Patrick Willis.

13. St. Louis Rams – Nebraska defensive lineman Adam Carriker. The Rams have fallen short when drafting defensive linemen, but if the 49ers were to take Willis or Branch, it is very possible the Rams would switch to Carriker at this spot. If not, they are likely to stay on the defensive side of the ball and select Pittsburgh cornerback/return man Darrelle Revis.

14. Carolina Panthers – Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis. This pick will come down to adding an offensive threat like tight end Greg Olsen or fortifying a defense that let them down so often a year ago.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons. The Steelers, who are likely to have a heavy defensive draft, could wait for a defensive back until later on the first day and opt for an outside linebacker like Timmons. He would be a good fit as they make the move towards a Tampa 2 scheme over the next few years. Head coach Mike Tomlin sees Timmons as being a guy that can become a Derrick Brooks-type playmaker that his defense needs in order to be successful.

16. Green Bay Packers – Miami (Fla.) tight end Greg Olsen. In an average class of running backs, the most obvious option would be to select Marshawn Lynch. However, they have seemed to cool a little on him and could find a much better combination of choices by adding another receiving threat like Olsen and coming back with a running back in rounds 2 or 3.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Florida defensive back Reggie Nelson. There should still be a solid group of potential pass rushers on the board in the middle of the second round relative to available safety prospects if they pass on Nelson here.

18. Cincinnati Bengals – Michigan cornerback Leon Hall. Hall fills a number of voids for them, including the fact that he has a great reputation and comes from a solid program. This would be an ideal choice for their defensive unit and still gives them room to solidify things up front or draft a receiver later in the first day.

19. Tennessee Titans – USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett. The Titans have two major concerns on the offensive side of the ball: getting the ball down field and making sure there is a solid ground attack to help support quarterback Vince Young. It is likely that the Titans could find a change-of- pace back to pair with LenDale White in the middle rounds, but they need to secure a true playmaker for Young's ability to advance this coming season. Cornerback will also be considered at this spot.

20. NY Giants – Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Giants could opt for the speed of Ted Ginn Jr., but '06 draft pick Sinorice Moss has similar abilities. A guy such as Robert Meachem, who has very good hands, would give them a vertical threat. However, this selection would also send a message to several of their veteran players that no position is safe on this roster. Revis could press Sam Madison for his job and also take over most of the return game.

21. Denver Broncos – Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley. The Broncos will continue to try dealing up the draft, especially if Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas slides down past the first few teams. If not, they can find themselves in good fortune by finding the ultra-athletic Staley still on the board here. There has also been some late speculation that the Broncos could deal this choice to the Bears for the rights to linebacker Lance Briggs.

22. Dallas Cowboys – Ohio State wide receiver/return man Ted Ginn Jr. The Cowboys have secured most of their positions of need through free agency, which opens the door for either a deal down or for them taking a gamble on a player such as Ginn or even Marshawn Lynch.

23. Kansas City Chiefs – Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell. Teams have grown very fond of his toughness and motor. However, if Marshawn Lynch slides to this spot, it will make for an interesting debate inside the team’s war room as general manager Carl Peterson is known for having made decisions like that in the past (Larry Johnson when Priest Holmes was at his prime).

24 New England Patriots – California running back Marshawn Lynch. This is what makes the Patriots such a solidly built team: when a player slides, they put their full resources to work and draw their own conclusions. After adding depth in several areas this offseason, the Patriots now have a chance to add a second back from the last two drafts without having to spend a high draft choice or expensive signing bonus. Their other option here would be to take versatile running back Brian Leonard and come back with a defensive player such as Jon Beason or Tanard Jackson at No. 28.

25. New York Jets – Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston. Houston is a perfect fit for their defense since he is able to play man coverage, but also has excellent strength and could lock down one side of the field. If the Chiefs were to pass on Justin Harrell, he seems to be the type of guy head coach Eric Mangini likes. Harrell also fills a spot they are looking to improve.

26. Philadelphia Eagles – Rutgers running back Brian Leonard. Adding a combo back such as Leonard would then give them a more diversified offense. If they went for a defensive back here, it would likely be either Brandon Meriweather or Tanard Jackson.

27. New Orleans Saints – LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. The Saints have been targeting a cornerback and wide receiver. If they are unable to add restricted free agent cornerback Jason David, they are likely to attempt a draft day trade up, especially if one of the top corners were to slide past No. 15.

28. New England Patriots – Miami (Fla.) linebacker Jon Beason. The addition of Beason, who has the versatility and intangibles that the Patriots desire, offers them a player that can back up at several spots in the short term before taking over as the future leader of the team's linebacker corps. The signing of veteran cornerback Tory James means the Patriots can pursue the top players on their board opposed to simply drafting for need, which means they could go with either Beason or a safety at this pick.

29. Baltimore Ravens – Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. The Ravens are trying to add depth and plan to draft a quarterback of the future later on the first day. They seem more comfortable with the fact that left offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will return, but expect them to still search for a backup plan nonetheless. The loss of Adalius Thomas and possible contract situation with Terrell Suggs could heavily impact their defensive unit, which is why adding a pass rusher such as Spencer would be an ideal choice at this point. Spencer is a versatile defender that can play a situational role in their scheme as a rookie and start within a short period of time.

30. San Diego Chargers – Miami (Fla.) safety Brandon Meriweather. Their biggest need is to find a playmaker for the middle of their secondary. Meriweather has answered most of the questions about his character and athletically would provide them with the range/playmaking skills they lacked in Terrence Kiel and others they have tried the past few seasons at this same position. If Tanard Jackson is still be on the board, it makes things more interesting here, but I think they would still favor Meriweather.

31. Chicago Bears – Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem. If several defensive prospects go between picks No. 18-25, the Bears could very well find themselves with the chance to grab a vertical threat receiver like Meachem.

32. Indianapolis Colts – Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a smart, athletic, high-character receiver that would fit perfectly for their No. 3 role now that Brandon Stokley is gone. The Colts will also take a serious look at Hampton linebacker Justin Durant at this choice or could drop back a few slots and take him early in the second round.

[USO36]

NEW YORK – Perhaps Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn should look at it this way: Getting snubbed initially by his hometown team may have provided him some health insurance.

The Cleveland Browns' decision to bypass Quinn with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft on Saturday allowed the Browns to pull off a dynamic pair of first-round selections. The Browns started off the day getting left tackle Joe Thomas to solidify the offensive line. They then acquired the Dallas Cowboys' pick at No. 22 to rescue Quinn from his four-hour free fall.

Of course, the "safety" stance is the pragmatic view. However, it's not the perspective from behind the tears that Quinn's sisters shed at one point as he and his family sat through the humiliation of being the last guy out of the green room at Radio City Music Hall. For Quinn's family, it was another indignity in a season of unfulfilled goals.

"This whole year at Notre Dame was like this," said Robin Quinn, Brady's mother, who watched her daughters fall to tears as they waited to hear their brother's name announced. "He missed a lot of childhood dreams and goals: winning the national championship, winning the Heisman [Trophy], and being the No. 1 pick. They all just faded away."

The question now for Quinn after his mighty fall is whether he will turn the snub into burning emotion or simply fade away, as many NFL people believe.

"I'd be lying if I said no," Quinn said when asked if he would use this snub for emotional fuel. "You've got to feel that way. You've got to feel all of the teams that passed up on you, you have to come out with a chip on your shoulder. That just builds the motivation. All of the negative things that people say, all of the things that happened in college, all through this entire process."

Quinn's father, Ty, took it a step further.

"Now he has to go out, get a job and then kick their ass," the elder Quinn said, referring to how the Miami Dolphins, desperately in need of a fix at the quarterback position, passed on his son at No. 9 overall. "That's how it is in the Quinn family."

Miami's decision to pass on Quinn in favor of Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., seemed odd. The Dolphins, who are expected to complete a trade for veteran quarterback Trent Green, did want speed. But Ginn, a dynamic kick returner, was a guy who many evaluators felt would go later in the first round because his abilities as a receiver have been questioned.

Beyond that, Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller told plenty of people that he liked Quinn and even toyed with the idea of trading up for him. At least that's what Mueller said. Dolphins fans were fully expecting Quinn to be their guy.

Heck, even Ginn Jr. said he expected the Dolphins to take Quinn.

Still, Ginn wasn't nearly caught off guard as Quinn and his family.

"I was cleaning up around the room we were in at one point," Robin Quinn said. "I start cleaning when I get nervous."

The Browns stopped the anxiety by trading the No. 36 pick this year and a first-round pick next year to Dallas for the rights to Quinn. The Browns, who were getting competition from the Baltimore Ravens for Quinn, paid an expensive price to get Quinn, which is something of a compliment.

It was really the only compliment Quinn could salvage. Similar to 2005 when current Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers went from being a possible No. 1 overall pick to No. 24, Quinn sat there as one team after another passed on him. All the people who believe Quinn is overrated reveled.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell showed Quinn some compassion. At one point, Quinn left the green room to go to the bathroom. He ran into Goodell, who suggested that Quinn and his family move into Goodell's room at the hall.

"I thought it would be nice for them to have a change of environment," said Goodell, who actually warned Quinn and the other four players (quarterback JaMarcus Russell, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, defensive end Gaines Adams and running back Adrian Peterson) in the green room that this could happen.

"When I met with the five of them, I said, 'One of you is going to go last and it's going to seem like an eternity,'" Goodell said.

More like purgatory. Quinn did his best to keep a stoic look, borrowing on all of his extensive public relations skills. After he was drafted, there was some hint of awkward satisfaction. By the time he faced a roomful of reporters, Quinn turned on his pitchman smile.

"I made the decision to come here to New York City," Quinn said. "It's a great place. To have the chance to come here, spend it with my family and friends, all the people that love you, it's fun. It's just unfortunate it worked out the way it did. But I guess I'm young, still learning lifelong lessons like patience."

Lots of patience. Then again, if that patience pays off in a better situation, like having a real offensive line in front of him, it was well worth the wait.

[USO36]

Cole rankings
1. LW (1) New England Patriots (15-0)
2. LW (2) Indianapolis Colts (13-2)
3. LW (3) Dallas Cowboys (13-2)
4. LW (4) Green Bay Packers (12-3)
5. LW (5) Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
6. LW (6) San Diego Chargers (10-5)
7. LW (7) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
8. LW (10) Tennessee Titans (9-6)
9. LW (9) Seattle Seahawks (10-5)
10. LW (12) New York Giants (10-5)
11. LW (16) Washington Redskins (8-7)
12. LW (10) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)
Robinson rankings
1. LW (1) New England Patriots
2. LW (2) Indianapolis Colts
3. LW (3) Dallas Cowboys
4. LW (5) Jacksonville Jaguars
5. LW (4) Green Bay Packers
6. LW (6) Pittsburgh Steelers
7. LW (8) San Diego Chargers
8. LW (7) Cleveland Browns
9. LW (11) Tennessee Titans
10. LW (12) Seattle Seahawks
11. LW (13) New York Giants
12. LW (9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
MUDDLED MIDDLE
Cole rankings
13. LW (8) Cleveland Browns (9-6)
14. LW (11) Minnesota Vikings (8-7)
15. LW (19) Philadelphia Eagles (7-8)
16. LW (13) Buffalo Bills (7-8)
17. LW (15) Houston Texans (7-8)
18. LW (18) Denver Broncos (6-9)
19. LW (20) Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
20. LW (17) New Orleans Saints (7-8)
21. LW (21) Detroit Lions (7-8)
22. LW (24) Cincinnati Bengals (6-9)
Robinson rankings
13. LW (14) Washington Redskins
14. LW (10) Minnesota Vikings
15. LW (15) Buffalo Bills
16. LW (16) Houston Texans
17. LW (18) Philadelphia Eagles
18. LW (17) New Orleans Saints
19. LW (19) Arizona Cardinals
20. LW (20) Detroit Lions
21. LW (22) Chicago Bears
22. LW (21) Denver Broncos
BOTTOM OF THE PACK
Cole rankings
23. LW (25) Chicago Bears (6-9)
24. LW (22) Kansas City Chiefs (4-11)
25. LW (23) Carolina Panthers (6-9)
26. LW (29) San Francisco 49ers (5-10)
27. LW (26) Oakland Raiders (4-11)
28. LW (27) St. Louis Rams (3-12)
29. LW (28) New York Jets (3-12)
30. LW (30) Baltimore Ravens (4-11)
31. LW (31) Atlanta Falcons (3-12)
32. LW (32) Miami Dolphins (1-14)
Robinson rankings
23. LW (24) Cincinnati Bengals
24. LW (23) Carolina Panthers
25. LW (25) San Francisco 49ers
26. LW (26) Kansas City Chiefs
27. LW (27) St. Louis Rams
28. LW (28) Oakland Raiders
29. LW (29) Atlanta Falcons
30. LW (30) Baltimore Ravens
31. LW (31) New York Jets
32. LW (32) Miami Dolphins

[inuyashaa]

ok ppl i want to ask u something,
can we get a section where we have updates of nfl and team news player names position
rules, who they playing wen,
i been a fan of nfl for 3 to 4 years anyone askes i say i support
new england, and before u say it no i dont suport them coz they got england in there name
as im not english so :P
but to tell the truth i dont know much about them even tho i love watching the game
so please some 1 do a section that says wen they play who they play some rules
thx

[USO36]

AFC
Division leaders W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
1. *New England Patriots 15-0 6-0 12-0 @ NYG (10-5) = 10-5 (.667)
With the Giants having wrapped up a playoff spot, not much stands in the way of perfection.
2. z-Indianapolis Colts 13-2 5-0 9-2 TEN (9-6) = 9-6 (.600)
The Colts are locked into the No. 2 playoff position. With nothing to play for in the regular-season finale, might be time to get healthy.
3. y-San Diego Chargers 10-5 4-1 8-3 @ OAK (4-11) = 4-11 (.267)
What would a No. 3 seed mean to the Chargers? Only avoiding the Patriots for another week.
4. y-Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5 5-0 7-4 @ BAL (4-11) = 4-11 (.267)
With the AFC North wrapped up, they now have a week to figure out how to recover from the loss of Willie Parker.

Wild cards W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
5. x-Jacksonville Jaguars 11-4 2-3 11-3 @ HOU (7-8) = 7-8 (.393)
Locked into the No. 5 seed, they're suddenly the team no one wants to face in the playoffs.
6. Tennessee Titans 9-6 3-2 6-5 @ IND (13-2) = 13-2 (.867)
Pretty simple playoff formula: Win and they're in. Lose and they're out.

Still in the hunt W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
Cleveland Browns 9-6 3-3 7-5 SF (5-10) = 5-10 (.333)
They no longer control their own destiny. If Tennessee wins, the Browns are out. If Tennessee loses, the Browns are in.

NFC
Division leaders W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
1. *Dallas Cowboys 13-2 4-1 10-1 @ WAS (8-7) = 8-7 (.533)
With home-field wrapped up, they can now rest in the regular-season finale and hope two weeks is enough to get T.O. healed.
2. z-Green Bay Packers 12-3 3-2 8-3 DET (6-9) = 6-9 (.400)
Maybe with the way they played at Chicago, the Packers will welcome a road playoff game at Dallas ... if they get that far.
3. y-Seattle Seahawks 10-5 5-1 8-3 @ ATL (3-12) = 3-12 (.200)
Will the real Seattle Seahawks please stand up? Could be a threat in the playoffs ... or not.
4. y-Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-6 5-0 8-3 CAR (6-9) = 6-9 (.400)
They're locked into the No. 4 seed, which means they have a playoff date established with the Giants.

Wild cards W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
5. x-New York Giants 10-5 3-3 7-5 NE (15-0) = 15-0 (1.000)
That noise you heard was a collective sigh of relief by the Giants, who don't need to beat New England to get into the playoffs.
6. Washington Redskins 8-7 2-3 6-5 DAL (13-2) = 13-2 (.867)
Now in control of their own destiny, they get a less-than-motivated Cowboys team in the season finale.

Still in the hunt W-L Div. Conf. Remaining opponents
Minnesota Vikings 8-7 3-3 6-6 @ DEN (6-9) = 6-9 (.400)
Loss to Redskins was huge. Now they need to beat Denver and hope Redskins lose.
New Orleans Saints 7-8 3-3 6-5 @ CHI (6-9) = 6-9 (.400)
They have life for another week, and now they need to win and hope the Redskins and Vikings lose.

[USO36]

AFC
CLINCHED
New England: Clinched AFC East Division and home-field advantage.

Indianapolis: Clinched AFC South Division and first-round bye.

San Diego: Clinched AFC West Division.

Pittsburgh: Clinched AFC North Division.

Jacksonville: Clinched wild-card playoff berth and No. 5 seed.

ELIMINATED
Miami, N.Y. Jets, Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Houston, Buffalo, Denver.

WEEK 17 SCENARIOS
Tennessee: Can clinch wild card: 1) TEN win; OR 2) TEN tie + CLE loss.

Cleveland: Can clinch wild card: 1) TEN loss; OR 2) CLE win or tie + TEN tie.

NFC
CLINCHED
Dallas: Clinched NFC East Division and first-round bye.

Green Bay: Clinched NFC North Division and first-round bye.

Seattle: Clinched NFC West Division and No. 3 seed.

Tampa Bay: Clinched NFC South Division and No. 4 seed.

N.Y. Giants: Clinched wild-card playoff berth and No. 5 seed.

ELIMINATED
San Francisco, St. Louis, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Arizona, Chicago, Detroit, Carolina.

WEEK 17 SCENARIOS
Washington: Can clinch wild card: 1) WAS win; OR 2) WAS tie + MIN loss or tie; OR 3) MIN loss + NO loss or tie .

Minnesota: Can clinch wild card: 1) MIN win + WAS loss or tie; OR 2) MIN tie + WAS loss .

New Orleans: Can clinch wild card: 1) NO win + WAS loss + MIN loss.

[USO36]

The chance to watch the Giants try to mar the Patriots perfect season isn't drawing many Big Blue fans to the stadium this Saturday.

Many New York Giants fans are hawking their tickets to the game to New England Patriots fans who want to see quarterback Tom Brady and his teammates go for a 16-0 record in their final regular-season game.

Internet auction sites that allow customers to buy and sell sports tickets have seen a surge in ticket sales for the game by Giants fans, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported Tuesday.
"It looks like it's on pace to be one of our top 25 events for all time. It's definitely one of our hot sellers," Joellen Ferrer, a spokesman for Internet auction site StubHub, which specializes in tickets for events, told the newspaper. "Although it's meaningless to the Giants, it's still going to be a great game to watch."

In the first 24 hours after the Giants beat the Bills, more than 200 Giants ticket holders put their seats up for bid on the auction site, eBay.

As of Monday, about 3,000 tickets were available for purchase on StubHub.

Tickets on StubHub have gone for as much as $1,600 apiece, Ferrer said.

If the Patriots win, they would become the first NFL team to go undefeated during the regular season since the Miami Dolphins finished the 1972 season with a 14-0 record.

[inuyashaa]

when is the final game being played?

[USO36]

Saturday, December 29 Time (EST) Tickets Network Channel HD Channel Home Away Westwood One
NE @ NYG 8:15 PM Tickets NFL NETWORK 212 126 123 Radio
DIRECTV SIRIUS
Sunday, December 30 Time (EST) Tickets Network Channel HD Channel Home Away Westwood One
BUF @ PHI 1:00 PM Tickets CBS 713 125 121
SEA @ ATL 1:00 PM Tickets FOX 704 114 123
NO @ CHI 1:00 PM Tickets FOX 709 127 126
SF @ CLE 1:00 PM Tickets FOX 705 146 140
DET @ GB 1:00 PM Tickets FOX 706 130 119
JAC @ HOU 1:00 PM Tickets CBS 710 122 181
CAR @ TB 1:00 PM Tickets FOX 707 147 118
CIN @ MIA 1:00 PM Tickets CBS 712 110 143
KC @ NYJ 4:15 PM Tickets CBS 711 143 140
PIT @ BAL 4:15 PM Tickets CBS 714 114 181
DAL @ WAS 4:15 PM Tickets FOX 708 130 107
STL @ ARI 4:15 PM Tickets FOX 715 122 125
MIN @ DEN 4:15 PM Tickets FOX 716 123 147
SD @ OAK 4:15 PM Tickets CBS 717 119 126
TEN @ IND 8:15 PM Tickets NBC 83 126 Radio

[USO36]

After weeks of insisting they wouldn't cave in, NFL officials did just that Wednesday. Now all of America can see the Patriots' shot at history.

Saturday night's game between New England and the New York Giants on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation's homes with TVs, will be simulcast on CBS and NBC.

The Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement after the league announced it was reversing course. "What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."

NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky said officials would have no further comment Wednesday.

The NFL had claimed that the onus of making the game widely available fell on the major cable providers with which the league has bitterly feuded. Companies such as Comcast and Time Warner have declined to carry the network as part of basic packages.

But lawmakers have pressured the NFL to ensure more viewers could see the game. Last week, two prominent members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Goodell threatening to reconsider the league's antitrust exemption.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who co-wrote the letter with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he was "delighted" by the NFL's concession.

"I think it was a smart move on their part," he said in a phone interview.

Leahy expected to speak with Goodell again next month about the ongoing question of how many fans will be able to see games on the channel. Saturday's matchup wraps up the NFL Network's second season of airing live contests, with eight per year. This one and a key Thursday night game between Green Bay and Dallas last month drew widespread complaints about the lack of availability.

"I never completely gave up hope, but I was getting a little discouraged Christmas afternoon when we still had not gotten a positive answer," said Leahy, who added that his staff members were talking with NFL officials during the holiday.

Local TV affiliates in the Boston, Manchester, N.H., and New York areas that were already set to simulcast the game under NFL policy will still air it. That means viewers in those markets will have four channels to choose from if they get NFL Network.

That did not make officials at WWOR in New York happy.

"The NFL is in clear violation of their agreement with WWOR/My9," the station said in a statement. "We fully expect the league to honor their commitment to My9 as the exclusive free over-the-air broadcaster for Saturday's telecast of the New England Patriots at New York Giants game."

In a statement, NFL Network spokesperson Seth Palansky said: "We are in the process of reviewing the situation as it relates to Channel 9."

According to Palansky, there have been no complaints from the Boston market.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who had urged cable and NFL executives to settle the dispute, had a much more positive reaction to the league's announcement.

"I couldn't be more thrilled that as the Patriots rush toward an historic undefeated season, football fans everywhere have won a victory of their own," Kerry said. "With today's announcement, the NFL showed their loyalty to the sports fans who made the NFL an empire in the first place.

"The best news of all is that now no die-hard Pats fans will be shut out from watching their team take aim at football history," Kerry said in a statement.

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of an NFL game since the inaugural Super Bowl in 1967, when CBS and NBC televised the meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League.

"We're happy to accommodate the NFL's request for a joint national simulcast of this potentially historic game to make it available to the widest possible audience," said **** Ebersol, NBC Universal's chairman for sports and Olympics.

NBC was scheduled to air "Dateline NBC" and a repeat of "Law & Order: SVU" during the time slot. CBS was set to broadcast the movie "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "48 Hours: Mysteries."

[Ranma4699]

Thats right and with their win against the giants they broke plenty of records. My question to u all who follow football. Who will be in the superbowl and win it all. Im a huge PATRIOTS fan and they will face green bay in the bowl cause romo cant keep both of his heads focused for the bowl.

[inuyashaa]

lol u know who im going to say^^

[Ranma4699]

Yeah yeah inu ur with me all the way. Lets go PATS 4 bowls in 7 years yeah

[MTSANDSTALKER]

patriots are going to win the bowl cuz who in their right mind would screw up a perfect season.... the opponents might have the ball but the patriots have the wall lol... patriots have a great offense and a wall for a defense lol

sandstalker

[Ranma4699]

Atta boy sand u know who exactly is going to win. We have room for u to join our team lol LETS GO PATS

[USO36]

Go Chargers lol just messing with you honestly i want to see pats win really lol

[Ranma4699]

So u have seen the light uso its about time. Plus the chargers are already talking smack about the pats. U know what that means they aregoing to get their arses handed to them and thats the bottom line cause Ranma said so

[inuyashaa]

So u have seen the light uso its about time. Plus the chargers are already talking smack about the pats. U know what that means they aregoing to get their arses handed to them and thats the bottom line cause Ranma said so

il say no more as ranma just sumed it all up