The draft, Bailey, Portis Monday the 23rd

[brandies]

From the Great Blue

February 23

(12:01 AM): Crowd forming at top of board...Coming into the combines, QBs Eli Manning of Ole Miss and Miami of Ohio junior Ben Roethlisberger, along with Pittsburgh sophomore WR Larry Fitzgerald, were the clear top 3 prospects for the 2004 draft. And while all three have done nothing to hurt their respective grades this week, the consensus around Indianapolis is that Iowa OG Robert Gallery may have been the most impressive prospect so far this week and could be challenging for a spot among the top 3. Gallery measured in at a sculpted 6-7, 324 and, according to Neil Stratton of Inside the League, clocked under 5.00 seconds in one of his 40-yard dashes. (For the record, ITL has a full listing of results from the combines available to subscribers.) Gallery, though, had to share the buzz around the combines this weekend with Southern Cal sophomore WR Mike Williams who is expected to announce later today whether he will opt to enter this year's draft. If he does enter this year's draft, Williams will bring a similar package to the table as Pitt's Fitzgerald leading to some speculation that he could also push for a very early selection. Pat Kirwan of NFL.com, though, has a piece suggesting that not everyone in the NFL is yet sold on Williams, at least as a top 5 prospect. It should also be noted, though, that collectively, people around the NFL are sticking pretty much to the party line that they really don't want young players like Williams and Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett entering the league until they are older.

Market softening for CB Bailey...Everyone around the NFL sat and up and took notice a week or so ago when Washington allowed Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey permission to seek a trade. At least a half dozen teams reportedly have had some interest, but all appear to have backed off in the wake of the Redskins demand of 1st and 2nd round picks, plus other considerations in exchange for Bailey, who is considered to be one of, if not the, best cover corner in the league. Detroit, for example, which reportedly has had the greatest interest in Bailey, at least initially, will wait and see if the price will come down; in particular, the Lions don't want to part with this year's #1 pick, the 6th overall, to get Bailey. Meanwhile Arizona, another potential suitor, reportedly has dropped out of the chase completely. Meanwhile, some idle speculation by Redskins' head coach joe Gibbs over the weekend - he commented that the Redskins wouldn't be interested in disgruntled Cincinnati RB Corey Dillon as part of a Bailey package but knew who he would want - set off speculation that Washington might be willing to deal Bailey for a veteran player. That got some rumors started in Seattle that the Seahawks could move RB Shaun Alexander, who becomes a free agent in 2005, for Bailey. Denver also got into the act where there were rumblings that the Broncos could send RB Clinton Portis, who is treatening to hold out if he doesn't get a new contract, to the Redskins for Bailey one up. Complicating the situation for the Redskins, who franchised the free-agent to be Bailey last week so they wouldn't lose him without compensation once free agency starts early next month, is the fact that it is a very good year for veteran free agent CBs. While Oakland has franchised Charles Woodson, and Baltimore is expected to do the same with Chris McAlister, Shawn Springs of Seattle, Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent of Philadelphia, Antoine Winfield of Buffalo and Ahmad Plummer of the 49ers lead a solid group of veteran CBs that likely will hit the free agent market early next month giving teams looking to add a top cover corner other, cheaper alternatives.

Monday morning combines' potpourri...Oregon State RB Steven Jackson's hopes of being the first RB selected come April 24th took a hit when he showed up in Indianapolis with a torn meniscus; its not believed to be a serious injury, but likely will prevent from working out much before the draft...Hawaii DT Isaac Sopoaga turned in the best lifting performance in over four year; Sopoaga had 41 (or 42 depending on who is counting) reps at 225 pounds, the best total since 2000...Like Iowa's Gallery, Alabama junior OG Justin Smiley also ran the 40 in around 5 seconds flat...South Carolina OT Travelle Wharton also helped himself by running close to the 5.00 mark...Arizona State OG Regis Crawford, on the other hand, may have set something of anti-record when he was reportedly timed at over 6.00 seconds for the 40...Miami LB Jon Vilma passed a big test when he weighed in at close to 230 pounds; there were whispers that he played at considerably less in college; fellow Hurricane FS Sean Taylor, meanwhile was a LB-sized 6-2 ½ and 230 pounds...Scouts were a little disapointed that Washington State junior WR Devard Darling, who was listed at 6-3 in the school's program, measured in at barely 6-1 ...Of the 32 NFL head coaches, 30 are in Indianapolis this week; the two absentees are Mike Shanahan of Denver and Bill Parcells of Dallas. Have a nice day!!

[laurent]

Interesting to see that Taylor came very close to what he his listed college height and playing weight after rumors that he was a little on the light side.