2012 Rookies

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2012 NFL Rookie Team: Which New Players Are the Most NFL-Ready? | Bleacher Report

 

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Why Browns liked Weeden over others
12:05PM ET
Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns took running back Trent Richardson with the third overall pick in the draft, despite being in position to trade up for Robert Griffin III or draft any other quarterback not named Andrew Luck. Instead, they waited to draft their next quarterback, Brandon Weeden, at 22. Why did they like Weeden better than the other options available to them? According to ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi, they were focused on landing a big QB with a strong and accurate arm, and Weeden fit the bill.

"Great arm. Great size. Great production," Grossi said of Weeden. "And the very thing that scared off every other team -- he's a 28-year-old rookie because of a failed five-year stint in professional baseball -- actually became an attraction to the Browns."

Just as interesting as why they chose Weeden is why they didn't focus intently on the other first-round quarterback options or free agent Matt Flynn.

"Of the more realistic candidates, free agent Matt Flynn was no bigger than [Colt] McCoy with a similarly popgun arm. He was never seriously considered.

"Media darling Robert Griffin III also was too small. And too eager to show how fast he could run. The Browns never seemed all-in on Griffin. They pursued him just enough to say they tried.

"Ryan Tannehill had the size and the arm, but his maturity as a quarterback and field leader were so lacking that he turned them off in personal interviews. He didn't project as a leader."

Clearly there is a lot of pressure on Weeden to live up to the Browns' expectations quickly, but that pressure will quickly shift to the Browns' front office if Weeden fails to match the success of the other aforementioned QBs.

- Tom Carpenter​

 

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Everyone know I was high on this dude prior to the draft:
Rookie Juron Criner impresses Oakland Raiders teammates - San Jose Mercury News

 

[ChrisPozz]

This is one of the best post-draft features anybody does each year. However, the one on the 49ers this year is a little bland and basic.

Finding the Fits: Looney, if healthy, could start as rookie for 49ers - CBSSports

 

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This is one of the best post-draft features anybody does each year. However, the one on the 49ers this year is a little bland and basic.

Finding the Fits: Looney, if healthy, could start as rookie for 49ers - CBSSports

Things for sharing Pozz. That was a good read - I always enjoy how the writers at CBS sports take their time to analyze things in perspective. Whether one agrees with their assessment or not, they try and make the effort of providing quality work...

Now, to comment on the actual article, I agree that AJ was NOT the right selection for us at that spot when Janoris was still on the board. However, they used the word "reached". Though I preferred not to draft a receiver in round 1 this year, I wander what they expect to get out of a receiver selected in the late 1st round (pick 30-32) in terms of skills set? I didn't want a receiver in the first because I knew guys like Randle, Criner, Hill, Quick (possibly) would have been there in the mid 2nd. How much better is AJ in comparison to the other aforementioned receivers? However, there was a HUGE drop off in talent from Janoris and the next best rated conerback. That is why I said we drafted the wrong Jenkins. But we got LaMichael, Looney, and Cam (and future draft picks). So it wasn't a complete disaster.

 

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Things for sharing Pozz. That was...

I meant to write thanks, not "things".

 

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Lamar Holmes' prognosis
8:03AM ET
Atlanta Falcons

In an effort to bolster an OT rotation that had its issues in 2011, the Atlanta Falcons invested their third-round pick (No. 91 overall) in Lamar Holmes during the draft this offseason. Unfortunately, it appears that he will not be able to continue his development for another several weeks.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the club has re-examined Holmes' injured foot, and determined that the best course of action is to hold him out until training camp.

Sam Baker and Tyson Clabo remain the starters at the two OT slots.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

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How WRs Britt, Wright are faring
3:33PM ET
Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt had his ACL and MCL surgically repaired in October and had a follow-up procedure last month, but he said Wednesday that he is slated to begin running and cutting again on Thursday, according to the Tennessean's Jim Wyatt.

It's another step in his rehab process, which he and the Titans hope will have him ready for Week 1.

If he isn't up to speed by then, the Titans will have to lean heavily on first-round pick Kendall Wright, who second-year QB Jake Locker raved about Wednesday.

"He is an explosive player," Locker said. "The guy gets downfield and makes plays."

When healthy, the same can be said about Britt, who pulled in 14 passes for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first two games last season. If Locker, Britt and Wright develop the way the Titans hope they will, the team could have a legitimate vertical passing game for years to come.

- Tom Carpenter​

 

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San Francisco 49ers – Niner Insider Blog – SFGate.com Practice notes: The ups and downs of A.J. Jenkins

 

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Glenn the starter at LT?
10:22AM ET
Buffalo Bills

One major offseason storyline for the Buffalo Bills was their pursuit of a player to step in to the starting LT role. Early on, it became clear they weren't interested in re-signing Demetress Bell, and he wound up with the Philadelphia Eagles after the injury to Jason Peters. While the club did not use its first-round pick on an OT, they did select Cordy Glenn with their second-rounder, and he was in at LT during rookie mini-camp.

During the ensuing full-team OTAs, Glenn has remained with the first team at LT, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, and Bills HC Chan Gailey is satisfied with the Georgia product's progress.

"He's done a good job. He's got some things to learn," Gailey noted. "The speed of this game is so different. So he's got a lot of learning to do. He's got physical talent and he's got ability. He's got a work ethic that will allow him to get there. He just needs as many reps as he can possibly get between now and the first game of the year."

Padless practices aren't a very strong indicator of how well a lineman is progressing, however, so the real tests will begin in the preseason. Stay tuned.

- Tim Kavanagh​

James Walker
This is good news for the second-round pick

"The Bills are high on Glenn and expect him to step in and start right away. Glenn has the size and ability but must learn the NFL game."

 

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Q: The Cleveland Browns have been a mess at QB for years now, and as a Browns fan, I am waiting for that one guy to build around. Is Brandon Weeden the type of guy you could surround with talent? Or is this just a short-term, four- or five-year investment who will soon fizzle out?

-- Michael (California)​

A: We're going to find out soon enough, Michael. A lot of people in Cleveland have a lot riding on Weeden. There was a mixed feeling about him in scouting circles. Some really liked him, some not so much. But it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks. It matters only how he plays. The early reports are that he has struggled some with his accuracy in OTAs, which is surprising. Accuracy was regarded as one of his strengths. The question on Weeden coming out was whether he could stand in the pocket and deliver on the ball where it needed to go as he was being pressured. That is something he hasn't always done. But here's the deal: Weeden is in a division with Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco (who has looked very strong for the Ravens in OTAs) and Andy Dalton. If Weeden's play doesn't at least rival that of those quarterbacks, the Browns are in trouble.

Adam Schefter​

 

[NinerSickness]

He's a Brown. He's going to be terrible.

 

[mem49er]

He's a Brown. He's going to be terrible.

Vinny Testaverde says hello!

 

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Cardinals sign Michael Floyd
Updated: June 11, 2012, 8:01 PM ET
Associated Press

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals have signed first-round draft pick wide receiver Michael Floyd to a five-year contract.

The team also signed third-round selection, cornerback Jamell Fleming of Oklahoma, to a four-year deal.

The moves on Monday leave all seven of the Cardinals' draft picks under contract heading into the start of minicamp on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Floyd was the 13th overall pick in the draft. Floyd set Notre Dame career records in receptions (271), yards receiving (3,686) and touchdowns (37) in 43 games with the Irish. He is expected to give Arizona a formidable option to perennial Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, but for now will compete for playing time with returning receivers Andre Roberts and Early Doucet.

Floyd, the second wide receiver chosen in the draft, is coming off an outstanding senior season at Notre Dame, when he caught a school-record 100 passes for 1,147 yards and nine scores.

Fleming was the 80th pick overall. He was the defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl two seasons ago and the Insight Bowl last year. He is expected to compete with several players for the cornerback spot opposite Patrick Peterson.

Fleming was an All-Big 12 selection as a senior with 60 tackles, 49 of them solo, a forced fumble and a fumble return for a touchdown. In 51 games with the Sooners, 24 as a starter, Fleming had 131 tackles -- 98 solos -- with seven interceptions, 24 passes defensed, 12½ tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

After their three-day minicamp this week, the Cardinals have just over a month before reporting to training camp in Flagstaff on July 24.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

 

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NFL asks Pacman Jones of Cincinnati Bengals to talk with 2012 rookie class - ESPN

 

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Andrew Luck returns to Indianapolis Colts after finishing up school - ESPN

 

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Will Perry start for Packers?
2:12PM ET
Nick Perry | Packers

The Green Bay Packers drafted Nick Perry to complement the pass-rushing ability of Clay Matthews, but that doesn't mean Perry is guaranteed a starting job. Green Bay is prepared to go with veteran Erik Walden if Perry can't handle the finer points of his new position. A 4-3 defensive end in college, Perry will play outside linebacker in Green Bay's 3-4. And while it's his pass-rush ability that made him so appealing to the Packers, ironically, it's his ability to handle pass coverage responsibilities that will determine how often he's on the field.

"He's coming from a situation where his head was down [before the snap]," Green Bay linebackers coach Kevin Greene tells ESPN.com NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert. "He's keying one thing. Or his head's up and he's keying the hip of an offensive tackle or guard. Or he's looking at the ball. He's keying one thing.

"Now he's got to stand up in a two-point stance and has to capture all five eligibles in his vision. And he has to know what each one of those guys are. Is it a halfback,? Is it a running back? Is it a fulback? Is it a tight end? Is it the second tight end? Is it a receiver? He's got to capture all five eligibles, understand who they are and what they mean to his pass coverage responsibility. And to see motions and to see shifts in alignments, that's the hardest thing, taking a guy like this and now focusing from sideline to sideline and capturing everything."

Seifert says that Perry's presence on the field can only mean good things for Matthews:

- Vince Verhei​

Kevin Seifert
Perry's development critical

"I realize the Packers didn't draft Perry to drop into pass coverage. But he's not going to get on the field regularly until he can do it, and thus the Packers won't be able to reap the presumed benefits of his pass rush until then. And in the end, the best measure of Perry's success could be reflected in Matthews' production this season. Like all 3-4 schemes, the Packers must achieve balance from their pass rush to maximize it."

 

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49ers.com | Secondary Gives A.J. Jenkins Pointers

 

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Janoris Jenkins mainly working with the Rams starting defense

 

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