Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Thursday

Thursday!

Pre-Draft Insider News & Notes: April 4th
What will the Seattle Seahawks do? Separate sources told me today the team hopes to move out of the 12th slot and trade into the later portion of round one, where they will then draft linebacker Donta Hightower. If they can’t move the pick they are seriously considering Hightower’s teammate, safety Mark Barron, at that slot.

Twitter / @robstaton: I understand Chandler Harn ...
I understand Chandler Harnish (QB, Northern Illinois) will be visiting or has already visited with the Seahawks for a work out.

2012 NFL draft pro day updates - Tony Pauline - SI.com
Fifteen teams showed up in Madison to watch Wisconsin center Peter Konz perform. The junior, who struggled late in the 2011 season with a dislocated left ankle, did not run or complete any of the jumps he continues to rehab his injury. He did 23 reps on the bench press then participated in position drills.

B.J. Coleman throws for 16 teams at Chattanooga pro day - CBSSports
Representatives from the Bears, Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Falcons, Giants, Patriots, Seahawks, Steelers, Saints and Vikings were on hand. A total of seven prospects worked out, including Tennessee-Chattanooga teammate Joe Bradford, who caught passes from Coleman, and former Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tim Benford.

Ryan Broyles to work out five months after ACL surgery - CBSSports
Oklahoma's NCAA record-holding wide receiver Ryan Broyles confirmed to NFLDraftScout.com that he feels "great" and will hold a personal pro day for NFL scouts on April 12, five months after a torn left ACL prematurely ended his remarkable college career.

The Shutdown 50: #44 — Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery made one of the signature plays of the 2011 college football season: a leaping Hail Mary reception just before halftime of the Capital One Bowl against Nebraska. Unfortunately, that catch came at the end of an otherwise miserable season for a player who looked like a can't-miss first round pick after catching 88 passes for 1517 yards in 2010. Jeffery caught just 49 passes in 2011, and appeared to be out-of-shape for most of the season. There were rumors that he ballooned to 250 pounds, though broadcasters politely referred to him as "230+ pounds." Whatever his exact weight, he was clearly carrying the kind of baggage that would spark pregnancy rumors if he were a Hollywood starlet.

The Shutdown 50: #43 — Jared Crick, DE/DT, Nebraska | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with Nebraska DE/DT Jared Crick, who has a very interesting collegiate story. One of the most interesting aspects of Ndamukong Suh's reign of terror through the NCAA and NFL is that the focus Suh commands from every opposing offense created disproportionate opportunities for his linemates. It was that way for Crick at Nebraska through the 2009 season, just as it has been for guys like Cliff Avril and Lawrence Jackson in Detroit. After Suh left Nebraska for the NFL, the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Crick had to prove that he wasn't just a guy benefitting from mandatory single-block schemes arrayed against him.

What Is The Deepest Offensive Position In The 2012 NFL Draft? - Mocking The Draft
This past Saturday, I made a poll asking what the deepest defensive position in this draft is. You guys voted and picked cornerbacks. Today, we are going to look at the offensive side of the ball.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | The 2006 Draft: Six Years Later
It's time, once again, to step in the Football Outsiders Wayback Machine and look at the draft that happened six years ago. The customary "report card" report indicates that in those days of yore, the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns were praised for their drafting savvy, while the Houston Texans' decision to draft a defensive end rather than a running back with the first overall pick was deemed deeply controversial.

NFL - Nothing simple about RB negotiations - ESPN
There's no position in the NFL with a shorter shelf life than running back. That reality creates natural tension at the bargaining table, with agents and teams knowing decline can come quickly.

New Nike NFL uniforms combine flash and increased function - NFL - SI.com
Forget the flash, at least for now. When the new Nike Elite 51 NFL uniform were unveiled in Brooklyn Tuesday, it was the uniform's performance improvements that were boasted about as its hallmark feature.

Mock Draft 6.0 | National Football Post
12. Seattle Seahawks: Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus The Seahawks need a more dynamic pass rushing option to replace Red Bryant on obvious passing downs. Mercilus has a lot of natural talent and could be a force off the edge.

Prospect Focus: Quarterback Brock Osweiler | National Football Post
Taking a look at the Arizona State signal-caller.

NFL Draft: Is Floyd now a Top 10 prospect? | National Football Post
After pro day workout, WR's stock continues to rise.

NFL.com Blogs " Blog Archive Top WR prospect Floyd feels Notre Dame pro day ‘went well’ "
"I think it went well," Floyd told NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock after the workout. "I performed well, you know, I caught all my balls, ran good routes, was explosive off the ball, (and did) what I think teams wanted to see."

NFL.com Blogs " Blog Archive Rounding up the Abilene Christian pro day "
Prospects from several schools worked out at the Abilene Christian pro day Tuesday, including players from Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, West Texas A&M and McMurry.

NFL.com news: Richardson ranks as No. 3 overall prospect in 2012 NFL Draft
The 2012 NFL Draft is less than a month away, so scouts are meeting around the clock to put the finishing touches on draft boards as pro days come to a close. Although team visits, private workouts and medical evaluations could alter the landscape leading up to draft day, here is how I envision most draft boards across the league at this point in the process:

Re-signing David Hawthorne didn't fit Seahawks' M.O. - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
David Hawthorne appeared likely to return to the Seahawks when Detroit and New Orleans -- the only two teams to show serious interest in the unrestricted free agent -- signed other middle linebackers instead.

Sports Radio Interviews " Blog Archive " Seahawks’ Richard Sherman Weighs in on the Team’s Revamped Uniforms
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman joined 710 ESPN in Seattle to discuss the changes.

Draft Spotlight: Sean Spence, LB, Miami " Seahawks Draft Blog
Rundown: Sean Spence is a senior linebacker from the Miami Hurricanes. He played most of his snaps at middle linebacker. He was the ACC defensive rookie of the year in 2008. He has 47.0 career tackles for loss, the second highest career total among 2011 players.

2012 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper's fourth mock draft is two rounds - ESPN
Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina Even if Kuechly is still on the board, it would be tough for Seattle to pass on perhaps the safest 4-3 DE option available. Coples has prototypical size, can play every down as a pass-rusher and has a solid arsenal of moves to get to opposing quarterbacks, but with the size and discipline to be a force against the run. Seattle can't go wrong here with either the top LB or DE available. This defense is close to being considered among the NFL's finest.

Q&A with New Saints LB David Hawthorne
Q: It seems like you’ve had your eye on the Saints for a couple weeks, what ultimately led to your decision? A: "From management, to coaching on down, it seems like a great group of people with a great track record of success. It’s the type of program I want to be in where there is the opportunity to win consistently and compete for a championship."

Wow, Now That's Rich - Offseason Low Down - Rotoworld.com
The 2012 free agency period has slowed considerably since mid-March, giving us time to reflect fully upon signings that took place over the past three weeks. Looking ahead, Rotoworld draft analyst Josh Norris will soon begin cranking out weekly reports on offensive skill positions as the April 26-28 draft approaches. For now, let's take a look back at players whose recently signed contracts don’t match their on-the-field performance.

Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III top NFL mock draft; Ryan Tannehill goes to Dolphins - Don Banks - SI.com
Seattle needs to generate more heat on opposing quarterbacks, and Coples has natural ability in the pass rush department. His effort level has been inconsistent, and he could drop into the teens because of it. But his upside makes him a decent gamble at No. 12 for the Seahawks.

Pre-Draft Rookie Preview Podcast 04/04 by FantasyGuru | Blog Talk Radio
John Hansen (@Fantasy_Guru) previews this year's draft class with film guru Greg Cosell (@GregCosell) and NFL Reporter Adam Caplan (@caplannfl).