Post by elp525 on Feb 23, 2009 5:56:09 GMT -5
February 23, 2009
By The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS - Jerry Jones wants to be the sole voice of the Dallas Cowboys.
During this weekend's NFL annual scouting combine, nearly every team sent either coaches or front office officials - or both - to the media room to speak with reporters. Even Patriots coach Bill Belichick showed up at the podium, the first time that's happened since this format began in 2001.
But the Cowboys, one of the league's marquee teams, were noticeably absent.
NFL officials did not give a statement but said they tried to get a representative from each team to appear. They estimated only five teams did not send anyone, including the usually chatty Cowboys.
The reason? Jones wants to be owner and spokesman for the team during the offseason, not even letting coach Wade Phillips speak.
"Where I'm coming from here, I just want to make sure you're not getting bits and pieces of information,'' Jones told The Dallas Morning News on Saturday night. "That's not doing anybody any good and you're not making accurate reports.''
Last year, the Cowboys wasted a promising start and reports surfaced that there was infighting on the team. Dallas finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
Jones hasn't said whether outspoken receiver Terrell Owens, will return next season, and he offered no new information on Owens' future this week.
* * *
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick broke his own gag order Sunday.
For the first time since becoming coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick stepped to the podium to face reporters at the NFL scouting combine. He declined to talk about Tom Brady's injury or a possible trade for Matt Cassel. Or any other personnel moves, for that matter.
But he did wax philosophical about the coaches and front office staff the Patriots have lost in recent years.
He also talked about nearly firing current Browns general manager George Kokinis, back when Belichick was Cleveland's coach and Kokinis' boss.
"I was this close,'' Belichick said. "When we were there in Cleveland, he was driving guys to the airport and he got in an accident.''
The 12-minute opening statement was the longest of any coach at the combine, and Belichick did sound genuinely happy for those who have moved on from the Patriots organization.
But he doesn't believe the losses will impact New England's future success.
"We've had those in the past, it's not like we hadn't had those before,'' he said.
* * *
Few doubted Pat White's ability to run. There was more concern about his ability to throw.
Perhaps not any more.
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock met with reporters after Sunday's quarterback workouts and wasted no time in singling out White's impressive performance as one of the best of the day.
"He threw the (heck) out of the ball,'' Mayock said.
For White, the workout was essential to his draft hopes.
Many scouts considered him too small for the NFL, with his listed height and weight at 6-foot-1, 192 pounds last season at West Virginia. Some also wondered whether he could run an NFL offense after working out of the Mountaineers version of the spread.
But with things changing in the NFL, White may be the beneficiary. Last year, the trendy offense was the "Wildcat,'' a design that seems perfect for a player with White's skills.
Even Colts General Manager Bill Polian, whose team is not looking for a quarterback, acknowledged White was one of the more impressive players in workouts Sunday.
"He's an intriguing guy,'' Polian said. "He can throw it. We've seen it with Slash (Kordell Stewart) and with Antwaan Randle El, and I think we'll continue to see that in the game.''
If so, White could make it in the NFL.
* * *
Polian was impressed by the receivers workouts.
While most of the top prospects, including No. 1 rated Michael Crabtree, did not work out, Polian said nearly two dozen receivers were timed in less than 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
That's not bad for Lucas Oil Stadium, which is hosting the combine for the first time. At the old RCA Dome, agents and players often complained it was a slow track and suggest that's why players run.
Polian believes Sunday's 40-yard dash time will end any notion of a slow track.
"We know two things about this group of receivers,'' he said. "We know that this is a fast track, and we've got a bunch of fast receivers.''
* * *
Alabama tackle Andre Smith's strange behavior at the scouting combine has only added to the questions surrounding his character. After being suspended for the Sugar Bowl because of alleged improper dealings with an agent, he unexpectedly left the combine Saturday without notifying NFL officials or giving an explanation.
It's not unusual for a player to leave early. But not informing combine officials caused a bit of problem for a player who could be taken No. 1.
"You just hope it's a little bit of immaturity because if he handles the thing correctly, there's no issue and we're not sitting here talking about it,'' Mayock said. "Every year, kids don't compete at the combine and we don't worry about it. This kid didn't handle it the right way.''
There is talk that Smiths draft stock could slip because of his recent actions.
"That's why you have to do your homework,'' Mayock said. "I kind of say, 'Watch out, buyer beware.' You better beware, that's all I say.''
* * *
Missouri's Jeremy Maclin figures he has four ways he can impress the NFL scouts.
The two-time All-American led the nation in all-purpose yardage last season, and several mock drafts project him as a first-round pick.
"You get the ball in your hands, I just look to make plays,'' he said. "Every time I touch the ball, I look for the end zone. I definitely look to change the game.
"I consider myself a game-changer.''
In 2007, he was the only college player in the nation to score touchdowns rushing, receiving, returning a punt and returning a kickoff. Last season, he totaled 2,833 all-purpose yards - fifth-most in NCAA history - and decided last month to leave college after his redshirt sophomore season.
* * *
Sports apparel maker Under Armour, the presenting sponsor of the scouting combine, is offering an extra incentive for players during their workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The company will donate 100 cleats to the high school of each player who runs under 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash or under 3.85 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle or exceeds 41 inches in the vertical jump.
The only catch - they have to be wearing Under Armour's customized combine shoes, which have been given to every participant.
By The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS - Jerry Jones wants to be the sole voice of the Dallas Cowboys.
During this weekend's NFL annual scouting combine, nearly every team sent either coaches or front office officials - or both - to the media room to speak with reporters. Even Patriots coach Bill Belichick showed up at the podium, the first time that's happened since this format began in 2001.
But the Cowboys, one of the league's marquee teams, were noticeably absent.
NFL officials did not give a statement but said they tried to get a representative from each team to appear. They estimated only five teams did not send anyone, including the usually chatty Cowboys.
The reason? Jones wants to be owner and spokesman for the team during the offseason, not even letting coach Wade Phillips speak.
"Where I'm coming from here, I just want to make sure you're not getting bits and pieces of information,'' Jones told The Dallas Morning News on Saturday night. "That's not doing anybody any good and you're not making accurate reports.''
Last year, the Cowboys wasted a promising start and reports surfaced that there was infighting on the team. Dallas finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
Jones hasn't said whether outspoken receiver Terrell Owens, will return next season, and he offered no new information on Owens' future this week.
* * *
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick broke his own gag order Sunday.
For the first time since becoming coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick stepped to the podium to face reporters at the NFL scouting combine. He declined to talk about Tom Brady's injury or a possible trade for Matt Cassel. Or any other personnel moves, for that matter.
But he did wax philosophical about the coaches and front office staff the Patriots have lost in recent years.
He also talked about nearly firing current Browns general manager George Kokinis, back when Belichick was Cleveland's coach and Kokinis' boss.
"I was this close,'' Belichick said. "When we were there in Cleveland, he was driving guys to the airport and he got in an accident.''
The 12-minute opening statement was the longest of any coach at the combine, and Belichick did sound genuinely happy for those who have moved on from the Patriots organization.
But he doesn't believe the losses will impact New England's future success.
"We've had those in the past, it's not like we hadn't had those before,'' he said.
* * *
Few doubted Pat White's ability to run. There was more concern about his ability to throw.
Perhaps not any more.
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock met with reporters after Sunday's quarterback workouts and wasted no time in singling out White's impressive performance as one of the best of the day.
"He threw the (heck) out of the ball,'' Mayock said.
For White, the workout was essential to his draft hopes.
Many scouts considered him too small for the NFL, with his listed height and weight at 6-foot-1, 192 pounds last season at West Virginia. Some also wondered whether he could run an NFL offense after working out of the Mountaineers version of the spread.
But with things changing in the NFL, White may be the beneficiary. Last year, the trendy offense was the "Wildcat,'' a design that seems perfect for a player with White's skills.
Even Colts General Manager Bill Polian, whose team is not looking for a quarterback, acknowledged White was one of the more impressive players in workouts Sunday.
"He's an intriguing guy,'' Polian said. "He can throw it. We've seen it with Slash (Kordell Stewart) and with Antwaan Randle El, and I think we'll continue to see that in the game.''
If so, White could make it in the NFL.
* * *
Polian was impressed by the receivers workouts.
While most of the top prospects, including No. 1 rated Michael Crabtree, did not work out, Polian said nearly two dozen receivers were timed in less than 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
That's not bad for Lucas Oil Stadium, which is hosting the combine for the first time. At the old RCA Dome, agents and players often complained it was a slow track and suggest that's why players run.
Polian believes Sunday's 40-yard dash time will end any notion of a slow track.
"We know two things about this group of receivers,'' he said. "We know that this is a fast track, and we've got a bunch of fast receivers.''
* * *
Alabama tackle Andre Smith's strange behavior at the scouting combine has only added to the questions surrounding his character. After being suspended for the Sugar Bowl because of alleged improper dealings with an agent, he unexpectedly left the combine Saturday without notifying NFL officials or giving an explanation.
It's not unusual for a player to leave early. But not informing combine officials caused a bit of problem for a player who could be taken No. 1.
"You just hope it's a little bit of immaturity because if he handles the thing correctly, there's no issue and we're not sitting here talking about it,'' Mayock said. "Every year, kids don't compete at the combine and we don't worry about it. This kid didn't handle it the right way.''
There is talk that Smiths draft stock could slip because of his recent actions.
"That's why you have to do your homework,'' Mayock said. "I kind of say, 'Watch out, buyer beware.' You better beware, that's all I say.''
* * *
Missouri's Jeremy Maclin figures he has four ways he can impress the NFL scouts.
The two-time All-American led the nation in all-purpose yardage last season, and several mock drafts project him as a first-round pick.
"You get the ball in your hands, I just look to make plays,'' he said. "Every time I touch the ball, I look for the end zone. I definitely look to change the game.
"I consider myself a game-changer.''
In 2007, he was the only college player in the nation to score touchdowns rushing, receiving, returning a punt and returning a kickoff. Last season, he totaled 2,833 all-purpose yards - fifth-most in NCAA history - and decided last month to leave college after his redshirt sophomore season.
* * *
Sports apparel maker Under Armour, the presenting sponsor of the scouting combine, is offering an extra incentive for players during their workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The company will donate 100 cleats to the high school of each player who runs under 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash or under 3.85 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle or exceeds 41 inches in the vertical jump.
The only catch - they have to be wearing Under Armour's customized combine shoes, which have been given to every participant.
