Higgity hump day.

Cosell Talks: The NFL Scouting Combine : NFL Films Blog
The NFL Scouting Combine begins this weekend in Indianapolis. More than 350 college players will go through all kinds of tests and drills designed to help NFL teams gather more extensive information on their physical skills, mental capacities, emotional make-up and medical background.

Scouting combine schedule & Zach Brown " Seahawks Draft Blog
Over the next few days prospects will arrive in Indianapolis to begin preparations for the 2012 combine. The players are split into groups and use a staggered four-day schedule, with the event concluding a week today. Day one for each group includes registration, hospital examinations and x-rays, orientation and interviews. Day two consists of measurements, medicals, media meetings, psychological testing and further interviews. On day three there’s a NFLPA meeting, further testing and interviews. The final and most crucial day includes the work outs (timing, stations and skill drills) and then departure.

The Seahawks' first moves should be ... - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines.

Scout's Notes: The Value of the Combine Numbers For Each Position | Articles
The NFL Combine is THEE event that can make or break a prospects stock. For the casual fan, we can comprehend the 40 yard sprint or the bench press, mostly because we've likely run a "sprint race" or benched at some point in our lives. We have some perspective how impressive (or not impressive theses numbers are).

2012 NFL Combine Preview - NFL Draft Preview - Rotoworld.com
The importance of the NFL Combine has recently shifted in the public's eye. Once viewed as a crucial piece of the evaluation process, it is now more of a media spectacle. The significance lies in the eye of the beholder, of course. In the NFL, teams value test results and measurements differently. What happens behind closed doors may actually impact prospects' draft value more than any stopwatch.

N.C. State TE George Bryan: Great Hands | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
N.C. State tight end George Bryan was second in career touchdowns (17) among active FBS tight ends in 2011. If you’ve watched Bryan play you know that he’s an in-line tight end personified. Somewhere in the range of 6’4″, 265 pounds, Bryan is a plodder when it comes to foot speed and ball carrying agility.

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Tuesday.

Peyton Manning to Seattle? Don’t count on it " Seahawks Draft Blog
Manning to Seattle is not an illogical suggestion by any means. The Seahawks do need to upgrade at quarterback and are poorly positioned in the draft to solve this problem. Manning’s strong reputation remains intact despite what will be an acrimonious departure from the franchise he helped build over more than a decade. For years he dragged a mediocre Indianapolis roster into contention and when he finally succumbed to injury, the Colts quickly became the worst team in the NFL. Seattle has a solid young core and having an experienced, proven quarterback would surely help the team improve upon back-to-back 7-9 seasons.

Pre Combine: Top 15 prospect rankings | National Football Post
Who makes our top 15 before the start of the 2012 NFL combine?

Early spring practice notes | National Football Post
Preparations for the 2012 campaign have begun.

Enduring, and embracing, a too-familiar process
No one could blame Walter Thurmond if he felt sorry for himself after a second season-ending surgery in 25 months. But he's using the same short memory in his rehab process that serves him so well on the field.

NFL.com news: Dolphins O-coordinator Sherman praises Tannehill's confidence
Baring a trade into the top of April's draft, it's highly unlikely the Miami Dolphins will be in position to select either of the consensus top two quarterbacks available -- Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

NFL.com news: Talent runs thick at outside linebacker; ILB more uncertain
The evolution of the passing game in the NFL has forced coaches and scouts to alter the job description for linebackers. Teams are intent on identifying disruptive playmakers with the speed and quickness to harass the passer, while also possessing the athleticism and instincts to drop into coverage.

On making a run at Steelers' Mike Wallace - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The San Francisco 49ers aren't the only NFC West team needing help at wide receiver. The St. Louis Rams stand ahead of San Francisco in that line, particularly if Brandon Lloyd departs in free agency.

The Shutdown 50: #50 — Jonathan Massaquoi, DE/OLB, Troy | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
Pros: Ridiculous burst and very fast first step off the ball; Massaquoi will be a nightmare at any level for offensive tackles who don't get into their stances quickly. Displays impressive short-area agility and upper body strength to get past first blocks at the line of scrimmage; will flash past tackles unless they re-set quickly. Can slant inside out of a "wide-nine" formation and pursue. Lateral agility applies to his ability to peel off blocks in the pocket and pursue running backs. Agile enough to roll into intermediate coverage; he'd be a long-term asset to any heavy zone-blitz team. Has a decent bull-rush for his size, especially considering his tendency to come off the snap high. Will go sideline-to-sideline with great effort to stop the play and has tremendous open-field speed. Teams that leave Massaquoi unblocked at the line do so at their own peril.

NFL.com news: Combine provides plenty of action, on and off the field
This week the NFL will converge once again on Indianapolis, but instead of hosting a huge game, the city resumes its normal role as home of the NFL Scouting Combine. I love the combine -- have loved every one since the first one I attended back in 1985 on the practice fields of Arizona State. And not because of the track and field event that is held on the field, but more for the opportunity to observe. As Yogi Berra once said, "You can see a lot by just observing," and the combine is a place for many observations.

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Happy Presidents' Day!

BJ Coleman (QB, Chattanooga) tape review " Seahawks Draft Blog
On January 11th I wrote an article for Field Gulls discussing quarterbacks available in this class, and touched on a little known prospect from Chattanooga: "If we’re talking darkhorses, B.J. Coleman is a former Tennessee transfer who has put up impressive numbers for the Mocs and has a lot of the physical tools Seattle likes. Big arm, mobile, makes difficult plays downfield. He’s very raw and more of an UDFA project, but he’s worth bringing to a camp."

NFL Scouting Combine Records - Mocking The Draft
More than 300 draft prospects will gather in Indianapolis, Ind. next week for the biggest job interview of their lives. They will be measured, interviewed and stared at for roughly a week before being sent on their way with two months to fret over where they will be selected come late April.

Creative team with WR needs could pry Wallace away from Steelers - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice
The NFL is on the verge of free agency and clubs are about to put franchise tags on players they most want to retain. In past years, under the old CBA, six to 10 players would receive the franchise tag. This year the tagging process runs from Feb. 20 to March 5 and I expect double the usual number of players tagged because the price of the franchise tags has gone down significantly. But while the franchise tag will keep more quality veterans with four or more years of service off the market, there might be a few opportunities in a relatively untapped pool of players.

The 2012 Running Back Market - Offseason Low Down - Rotoworld.com
In terms of yearly earnings (apy), here are the ten highest paid running backs in foo

Mac's Football Blog: HGH Testing, Player Safety Among Topics NFL, NFLPA To Discuss At Combine
When the National Football League and NFL Players Association hold meetings at next week's Scouting Combine, players safety and testing for human growth hormone will be two main topics of discussion, Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports.

Mac's Football Blog: Nike Shutting Smaller Retailers Out Of NFL Jersey Business
Nike will become the official uniform and sideline apparel provider for the National Football League, replacing Reebok, which had those rights for the last 10 years.

Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden: Less Tarrantino, More Gump | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
Knowledge Is Good, Wisdom Is Better This example of Weeden’s decision-making comes from the 2011 Oklahoma State-Baylor game. Weeden and the Cowboys offense comes to the line in a 30-personnel, 1×1 receiver set versus a Baylor 4-3 on 1st and 10 at the Cowboys 27 with 8:34 in the first quarter in a scoreless game.

Lower numbers could lead to record franchise tag designations | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
With the date for teams to tag their best players if they so choose starting tomorrow, one point of interest is that in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the formula to decide what those tag numbers per position will be has changed -- and the new numbers will be advantageous to teams looking to retain their more important free-agent assets.

Ranking the 2012 Free Agents: Tight Ends | ProFootballFocus.com
It is a good year to be in need at some positions in this free agency class, and not a great year to be in need at others. Right now, the 2012 tight end crop falls into the latter category, but that’s not to say there’s no talent available at the position.

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Happy Sunday everyone! You got tomorrow off? I don't!

The power of patience and inclusive thinking " Seahawks Draft Blog
Back in the early to mid 90s, I was a young, displaced Seahawks fan growing up in Arizona. I’d be lucky to see three Seahawks games in any given season, especially since the Seahawks were consistently lousy back then. While my access to the Seahawks was limited, my access to the NFL draft was no less restricted than anywhere else. Because of that, the draft took on a pretty big level of importance in my sports-fan life from a young age.

Tale of the Tape: Brock Osweiler vs USC - Hogs Haven
Today's subject of 'Tale of the Tape' is Arizona State Quarterback Brock Osweiler. Yes, I know another quarterback, but the Redskins need one so we should look at all the options. Plus, this was requested by someone. I'm always open to suggestions and requests so let me know if there is anyone in particular you'd like to see in a future post.

Nick Perry 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Mocking The Draft
Pass Rush: Nick Perry's biggest strength is his pass rushing ability. He has a quick burst off the line of scrimmage and gets to the edge quickly. Displaying both a spin move and a strong swim move, Perry collected 9.5 sacks this season for USC. While stronger tackles can push him around due to a lack of strength, Perry's motor, technique and quickness make him tough for any lineman to contain over the span of an entire game.

2012 NFL Free Agency: How Mike Wallace affects the 2012 NFL Draft - Mocking The Draft
The 2012 NFL Free Agent class boasts a handful of quality options at wide receiver. With guys like Desean Jackson and Wes Welker likely to return to their current teams, it is becoming gradually weaker by the day, however. But one name most excluded from the list due to his restricted free agent status could be more available than teams initially believed.

Goodell on 18 games: 'People want more football' - CBSSports.com
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's salary will reportedly double to $20 million as part of a new five-year contract extension from the NFL. That's a lot of coin but if the league wasn't awash in money the owners wouldn't reward Goodell with that kind of payday.

No time to rest: Combine signals nonstop offseason is under way - NFL - CBSSports.com
There is no offseason in the NFL, which is another way of saying the league's annual scouting combine begins next week. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be there, but so will a zillion other players, coaches, GMs, writers and broadcasters. Essentially, it's the Super Bowl Part Deux for Indianapolis, only this time the only zipline is to get to Luck and Griffin for the next quote. Trust me, there will be more stories next week than players, and let's start with five you should expect to unfold:

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It's the weekend.

NFL Free Agency 2012: From Mario Williams To Wes Welker, The AFC's Top Free Agents - SBNation.com
Since free agency is the next big thing in the NFL, here's a list of each AFC team's top free agent and where they could end up playing in 2012. Want to see the top NFC free agents? Check out this...

NFL Free Agency 2012: From Mario Manningham To DeSean Jackson, The Top Free Agents In The NFC - SBNation.com
Since free agency is the next big thing in the NFL, here's a list of each NFC team's top free agent and where they could end up playing in 2012. Want to see the top AFC free agents? Check out this...

Contract Killers: Which pending free agents hurt their cause in 2011? – Audibles
When NFL free agency begins on March 13, the race will be on for the elite players on the market. Players like Mario Williams, Vincent Jackson and Marques Colston likely will cash in with monster deals. But what about the less fortunate soon-to-be free agents?

Could Randy Moss land with the Rams? | National Football Post
Jeff Fisher awful fond of veteran wide receiver

Peyton Manning should tell the Colts to beat it | National Football Post
After everything he’s done, Peyton Manning deserves more respect than he’s getting from Jim Irsay.

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Yay!

Late round Quarterbacks of interest, Part III " Seahawks Draft Blog
Something I’ve noticed in doing this series is that you have two types of late round quarterbacks. You have underdeveloped and unconventional players with great size and tools, and then you have more polished players who are undersized. Josh Portis is the closest thing to an undersized quarterback this regime has grabbed so far, and he’s 6’3″ (6027) and 210 lbs, which is still bigger than a lot of the late round options this year.

The Seahawks spoke with Russell Wilson at the Senior Bowl. I don’t want to make too much of that, but then again, Pete Carroll and John Schneider are not exactly known for misdirection. If the team has some legitimate interest in a guy who’s 5’10″, you can probably assume the team has no ironclad rules about size with a late round quarterback pick. I hope that’s the case, because I’m finding that the best looking late round quarterbacks this year are consistently undersized.

Free Agency Primer: NFC West – Audibles
Audibles - Chris Burke on the NFL

Who needs a strong NFL Combine performance? | National Football Post
Breaking down which offensive prospects need a big week in Indy.

NFL.com news: Ward, Newman and Cooley highlight "Cap Casualty Season"
This is the time of year many NFL veterans dread. It's when that contract that looked so appealing just a few years ago -- in an era where nothing is fully guaranteed in this league -- suddenly becomes much less palatable.

Ultimate Texans " Mario Williams says top-dollar deal not his goal as he hopes to remain with Texans
"I’m not worried about that," Williams said Thursday. "It’s really not that big of a deal to me.

The 2012 Quarterback Market - Offseason Low Down - Rotoworld.com
Share 5 Last year’s quarterback market was slim pickings due in large part to the lockout-related CBA rules that limited unrestricted free agents to those players with at least six years of NFL experience. Whereas pure backups and fringe talents such as Bruce Gradkowski and Trent Edwards made this list last May, this year’s market boasts the most riveting story of the offseason: Where will Peyton Manning land?

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Thursday!!

BREAKING: NBA, NHL In Seattle? Christopher Hansen Schedules Press Conference To Announce Plans for New Arena Deal - SB Nation Seattle
Arena backer Christopher Hansen has scheduled a press conference for 2pm Thursday. Could mean potential for new arena and possible NBA, NHL franchises for the city.

Local News | NBA arena backer Chris Hansen to reveal Seattle plan Thursday | Seattle Times Newspaper
Christopher Hansen, the wealthy San Francisco mystery man who wants to build a sports arena in Seattle to lure NBA and NHL teams, will unveil his proposal at a news conference Thursday, according to two city sources.

Seahawks among teams pondering pass-fail draft
The Seahawks want a young quarterback to compete with and learn from incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson. The top two QBs in this year's draft class should be gone in the top four picks, but there are other options.

Just how good is LSU DT Michael Brockers? | National Football Post
We breakdown the hotly debated underclassman.

NFL.com Blogs " Blog Archive Mayock: Browns should trade up to draft RG3 "
Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III widely are considered the top two prizes of the 2012 NFL Draft, and many experts believe that if Luck goes No. 1 overall to the Colts, then the Rams’ second-overall pick — potentially RG3 — will be available for the right price.

NFL.com news: Agent: Ex-Jaguars QB Garrard healthy after back surgery
Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard is nearing a return from back surgery and is intent on playing in 2012, according to his agent, Albert Irby.

Real Rob Report - Mike Rob Goes Skydiving - YouTube
For Mike's 29th birthday his wife took him out skydiving. Here it is in all it's glory! Michael Robinson's first trip skydiving.

Draft analyst Mike Mayock talks Hawks | Seahawks Insider
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock held a conference call with media members this afternoon. For the eighth straight year the NFL Network will broadcast the NFL Scouting Combine from Indianapolis beginning next Thursday, Feb. 23.

Manuel labor
Marquand Manuel, an unintended standout on the Seahawks' Super Bowl team in 2005, has returned as the club's assistant special teams coach and three others also have been added to Pete Carroll's staff.

Expert vs. expert: Tannehill's talent, inexperience spark debate - NFL, NFLDRAFT - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
Come April 26, Ryan Tannehill might be forever indebted to Matt Barkley and Landry Jones. Then again, it could be an NFL team down the line that feels fortunate it was lured into a gamble that paid big dividends. When Barkley announced he was returning to Southern California and Jones opted to remain at Oklahoma for another season, Tannehill became the consensus third-best quarterback in the 2012 draft behind headliners Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.

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Hump Day!!

NFL Draft top 50 prospects: Luck, Griffin nearly even - NFL - Sporting News
Now that teams are going through draft meetings and preparing for the Scouting Combine, it's time to look at our projected player ratings.

No more poison pill offer sheets | National Football Post
It was six years ago that the Minnesota Vikings—perhaps astutely or perhaps foolishly—formulated a controversial plan in order to acquire all-pro guard Steve Hutchinson, who the Seattle Seahawks had tendered with a transition tag. The method the Vikings concocted in 2006 is now known simply as a "poison pill." Essentially, the "poison pill" is a component in a contract offer which features stipulations that make it arduous or impossible for the team in possession of a tendered players' rights to match an offer on that player.

Zach Corcoran GSU try out tape - YouTube
With the support of Georgia Southern Football players, App. State players and professional athletes I started my campaign to make the GSU football team. This is the copy of a video that will be given to the coach's at Georgia Southern.

Why the Seahawks will draft a running back early " Seahawks Draft Blog
Carroll has been pretty honest about the way he’s setting up his third (and probably final) tilt at the NFL. This is his vision. At a time when a lot of the NFL is turning to potent aerial attacks featuring big name quarterbacks, the Seahawks are using the run at the heart of their offense. His justification, noted on the same date as the quote above? "You don’t need to be like everyone else. I don’t want to be normal, you know?"

NFL Combine Snubs: Defense | National Football Post
Who are the top prospects not invited to the NFL combine?

Brock Osweiler 2012 NFL Draft scouting report - Mocking The Draft
Accuracy: Osweiler has the arm strength to accurately place the ball in a tight window when he’s hitting his passes. The trouble is, Osweiler often throws off balance from his back foot losing accuracy. Accuracy was inconsistent throughout his junior season. Threw a lot of slant and swing passes showing good ball placement and touch. When on the move, Osweiler would often throw low.

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