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49ers Blog and Q&A: Who benefits from the Harbaugh-to-Browns drama? Harbaugh, of course
The Harbaugh-to-Cleveland story has taken on a he said-she said-Browns said quality. The truth usually is in the middle. But in my mind, at least, it skews toward the 49ers' side of the story. Here's why:
Russell Wilson: Race, religion not an issue on football field says Seattle QB - Washington Times
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said Tuesday that when it comes to football, characteristics like a player’s race or religion make no difference whatsoever to him or his teammates and that they would welcome an openly gay player to the ‘Hawks.
HBO's 'Hard Knocks' has eight contenders in place - NFL.com
A rule change allows the NFL to appoint teams to appear on HBO's "Hard Knocks" if no one volunteers. Check out which teams make up the field of eight that qualify.
Former CU Buffs star Paul Richardson stays fast, gets bigger for NFL - The Denver Post
"This (past) season, I think they had me listed at 165 or 170," Richardson said. "I was only 161 this season, 162 at the most. So I've already gained over 14 pounds in the last month. I've shown I can gain weight, and on Sunday I feel like I can run with my weight."
Russell Wilson: 'I want to be an owner of a team someday' | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is in New York today on a promo tour for Microsoft’s Surface.
Source: Cap will be higher than $132 million | ProFootballTalk
Per the source, the cap could be a “few million” higher than $132 million. If this means $3 million more than reported, the cap could be as high as $135 million. That would amount to an 9.75 percent increase over last year, the biggest spike by far since the 2011 labor deal was negotiated.
Salary cap expected to be well above $130 million - NFL.com
NFL Media's Albert Breer reported Tuesday that the salary cap is expected to climb more than $5 million above the previously projected $126.3 million figure for 2014.
Video - Seattle Seahaws Quarterback Russell Wilson Wants to Be an NFL Team Owner - WSJ.com
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson already has a Super Bowl championship under his belt, so what's next? In this excerpt of a longer interview with WSJ's Kevin Clark, Wilson reveals his goal of someday owning a major sports franchise.
How did the Jim Harbaugh-Trent Baalke breach open up? Let’s go back through it: Owen Marecic, A.J. Jenkins, Aldon Smith… – Talking Points
Let’s start this with a few important points to remember as we assess the ripple effects from the Jim Harbaugh/49ers Continuous Tumult Tour:
Draft Risers And Sliders: CB And S
The final day of the 2014 NFL Combine got underway Tuesday morning and the workouts will generate plenty of movement on draft boards. The top spot at the cornerback position was at stake and the safety position had to be sorted. Here are the risers and sliders from the secondary as the Combine closes out ..
Norris: NFL Combine Review - All Star Circuit - Rotoworld.com
I forgot how much I loved the Combine. Not so much for the changes in evaluations but for the spectacle of athleticism that it is. The key is parsing through the numbers and determining what applies to the field. I will be embedding some great graphs and tables from Marcus Armstrong’s site Mockdraftable, a resource that compiled copious amounts of Combine data dating back to 1999. I urge you to waste a few hours there.
LIVE BLOG — NFL Combine (DB’s) | Seahawks Draft Blog
Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward will not work out at the combine, according to Tony Pauline: “Routine Combine medical evaluations revealed a foot issue. Ward is still awaiting more to the exact nature of the injury, and initial reports are the injury is considered relatively minor.”
Tuesday at the Combine: That's a wrap, but the "unwrapping" continues
The NFL Scouting Combine concluded Tuesday when the defensive backs worked out at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the evaluation process for the May 8-10 NFL Draft now moves into the Pro Day phase.
Hawk Talk highlights: Pete Carroll's contract - 710sports.com
Pete Carroll signed a five-year contract to be the Seahawks' head coach before the 2010 season, which would make 2014 the final year of the deal. It's hard to imagine Carroll, coming off a Super Bowl victory, entering the season as a so-called lame duck coach, which begs an obvious question that was asked during the latest edition of "Hawk Talk" with Danny O'Neil.
Russell Wilson says Seahawks would welcome gay player - 710sports.com
"When I step in the huddle for the Seattle Seahawks, my focus is on winning football games and our goal is one goal and that's to win the Super Bowl. And every time we step onto the field that's our mindset," Wilson said. "So when I step into the huddle, I don't care whether my offensive lineman is white, black. If my receiver is Jewish or Christian. That has no effect on me," said Wilson.
49ers saga stands in contrast to Seahawks' harmony - 710sports.com
The Seahawks and 49ers have plenty in common, from the division they reside in to the way their teams are defined by strong defenses, physical running backs and young, athletic quarterbacks.
Cardinals, NFL respond to Arizona Senate Bill 1062 - ESPN
"What so many love about football is its ability to bring people together," the Cardinals said in their statement. "We do not support anything that has the potential to divide, exclude and discriminate. As a prominent and highly-visible member of this community, we strive to bring positive attention to the state. We are concerned with anything that creates a negative perception of Arizona and those of us who are fortunate to call it home."
Former Garfield star Deandre Coleman hoping for NFL chance | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
Deandre Coleman was one of the best defensive linemen in the country when he played at Garfield High School. He chose to play at California, where things didn’t go as he had hoped. But he has skills that will likely entice an NFL team to draft him in May.
Jimmy Graham, Saints millions apart on new contract - NFL.com
Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that no meaningful progress has been made in negotiations between tight end Jimmy Graham and the Saints. Rapoport was told the sides aren't anywhere close.
Niners' Marcus Lattimore: I'm close to 100 percent - NFL.com
San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore says his left knee "feels like nothing ever happened" and his right knee "feels great." Is this the season he challenges for snaps behind Frank Gore?
Cardinals' Rashard Mendenhall hinting at retirement? - NFL.com
Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall published a piece in The Huffington Post about a vision he had two years ago in Pittsburgh. Was he alluding to the end of his NFL career?
Jacksonville Jaguars not interested in 'Hard Knocks' - NFL.com
The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of eight teams that could be forced to participate in HBO's "Hard Knocks." General manager David Caldwell says he'd rather keep the cameras out of training camp.
2014 NFL combine: 10 takeaways from Indianapolis - CBSSports.com
The 2014 NFL combine concluded Tuesday. Looking for a broader scope of the biggest stories from Indianapolis? Here are 10 takeaways you need to get caught up.
OSU WR Brandin Cooks wins 100K for running fastest 40 in Adidas cleats - CBSSports.com
OSU wideout Brandin Cooks won $100,000 for running the fastest 40 time of anyone in Adidas cleats at the combine.
The NFL and its 'character concerns' | National Football Post
Character matters, right up until the player in question starts producing big-time results on the field.
Notes from Indianapolis: Part III | National Football Post
Greg Gabriel breaks down the defensive talent showcased Monday.
2014 NFL combine Risers, Sliders: Justin Gilbert, Phillip Gaines sprint into spotlight | Audibles - SI.com
How can NFL defensive coordinators possibly counter the influx of athletic talent and changes to the game that have made offenses so potent? Here's one way: find a cornerback like Justin Gilbert to draft.
Andre Williams, a star at Boston College, hopes to impress the NFL | The MMQB with Peter King
INDIANAPOLIS — Thirty-six NFL-hopeful running backs marched from the players’ hotel to Lucas Oil Stadium last Sunday morning. They were numbered from RB1 to RB36, in alphabetical order according their last names, and all wore the same navy blue and fluorescent green combine-issued workout gear.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Four Downs: NFC West
Biggest Hole: Quarterback of the Future In 2013, the Cardinals' defense ranked second in overall DVOA, fifth against the pass, and first against the run. (DVOA is Football Outsiders' defense-adjusted value over average metric, explained here.) Their front seven finished first in Adjusted Line Yards and 12th in Adjusted Sack Rate. The team as a whole produced 9.5 Pythagorean wins and 10.3 Estimated wins, both of which resemble their actual 10-win total. From a week-to-week DVOA perspective, they were also the fifth-most consistent team against a schedule that ranked fifth-toughest. Put simply, the 2013 season gave us a pretty reliable indication of what the Cardinals can accomplish when relying heavily on one of the league's premier defenses.
2014 NFL draft - Using Speed Score metric to identify potential sleeper, red-flag running backs - ESPN
Is it possible that scouts have this year's list of running back prospects completely upside down? That's the implication of Football Outsiders' Speed Scores, which rate a number of likely undrafted free agents as strong NFL prospects while suggesting that one of this year's most highly regarded prospects could be among the biggest running back busts ever.
NFL draft: Scouting combine winners and losers | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo Sports
The bags are packed, and the NFL soon will make its way out of Indianapolis with another scouting combine in the rearview mirror.
The 1956 NFL Season: The Forward Pass on Life Support — FootballPerspective.com
The history of offense in the NFL is not a linear one. The early ’70s was the dead-ball era of the passing game, and it’s largely true that pass frequency and efficiency have steadily increased since then. But NFL teams passed more frequently in the ’60s than they did in the ’70s, and passing ratios wildly fluctuated in the ’50s. The picture below shows the league-average pass ratio for the NFL1 for each year from 1950 to 1980. Pass ratio is simply defined as (Pass Attempts + Sacks) / (Pass Attempts + Sacks + Rush Attempts).
Jim Harbaugh entering make-or-break year with San Francisco 49ers? - NFL - Don Banks - SI.com
So much for the notion that winning cures all in the NFL. Apparently that theory no longer applies in San Francisco, which, including the playoffs, is tied for the most overall wins (41) in the league over the past three seasons -- a run of success that dovetails exactly with the three-year Jim Harbaugh coaching era.
The Players Who Will Be Cut in the Coming Days - Over the Cap
Release season is officially upon us. In the past couple of weeks, teams have begun cutting players in preparation for the 2014 season. In some cases these moves are made out of necessity (all teams must be under the cap by the start of the league year on March 11th). In other cases, teams are simply making smart football decisions in order to create cap space before the start of free agency (which also begins on March 11th). In the next two weeks, many more guys will be cut loose. Below, I break down who will be the next to go…
NFL Combine 2014: Day 6 Notebook
The latest NFL news, rumors, scores, schedules, predictions, picks against the spread, free agent updates, power rankings, mock drafts and more
B/R NFL 1000: Top 16 Fullbacks
Editor's note: This is the third installment in Bleacher Report's NFL 1000 for the 2013 season. This signature series runs through April 24, with NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller ranking the best players at every position...
Mayock: Gilbert lives up to billing, Pryor similar to Bob Sanders - NFL.com
Mike Mayock called the 2014 defensive backs class one of the deepest in years, and several of their performances stood out for him Tuesday at the combine, including Justin Gilbert and Calvin Pryor.
What we learned: Takeaways from Tuesday at NFL combine - NFL.com
Darqueze Dennard's speed has been questioned in the scouting process. But he can move, as evidenced by a good 40 time, which is just one of the things we learned in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
No-Huddle Series: WR/KR Bruce Ellington | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
A couple weeks ago, I was a guest on Elise Woodward’s show on 950 KJR Seattle talking Seattle wide receivers and the NFL Draft. Woodward asked me which receivers I think the Seahawks might take in the first couple of rounds if the team parts ways with either Sidney Rice or Golden Tate. She also asked me to consider my answer with the knowledge that Seattle has a penchant for surprising the general public with “reaching” for players they like earlier than the dictates of conventional wisdom
To Slot or not to Slot, a Statistical Study | Detroit Lions Draft
The NFL Draft is all about value. Few teams are afforded draft picks in the double digit amounts and those that are only have that opportunity every so often. When your team gets is allotted 3.1% of the 256 available draft picks, maximizing value with each selection is the only way to improve your team in a way that others cannot match.
Scout’s Eye: Closer Look At LBs After Combine Workouts
When the linebackers took to the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, all eyes were focused on Anthony Barr and Khalil Mack and who would leave that day heading into the pro days with the lead of one over the other.
Scout.com: Bucannon a 'top performer' at NFL Combine
ALL BUT ONE of the numbers for Deone Bucannon has come in from the NFL Combine. So how did the All-American Washington State safety grade out, and did he boost his draft stock?