Not Everyone Gets Drafted

A great deal of emphasis is put on the Scouting Combine, but it's a flawed process. They invited 333 players for a chance to audition for about 255 draft selections. Many highly drafted players will never make an impact in the league while late round picks, like Tom Brady, become superstars.

Coach Belichick has often mentioned that he has drafted players who never got an invitation. His roster this past season included Julian Edelman Shaq Mason, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Matthew Slater and Nate Ebner.

All of these players made a contribution. Their situation isn't unique. It's like that on all teams.

Jaylon Smith

It's easy to see why players leave college early for the NFL draft. A sudden injury can cost them financially as they drop in the draft order.

Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith is a classic example. He was seen as a possible Top 5 pick, but  ended up tearing his ACL and MCL during the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

It was recently discovered that he had nerve damage and might need to sit out the 2016 season. This could cost him millions. It remains to be seen if he will ever be the same player.

Greg Olsen

The NFL Network does a great job in providing guest-analyst opportunities to current players. Some of them do better than others. They all have their own ideas.

I thought Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen did an outstanding job at the Scouting Combine. His comments during the on-field drills for tight ends was very insightful. He excelled in the panel discussion.

They all agreed that he has a great future in broadcasting. I have no doubt about it.

Never On Monday

Most NFL teams copy the actions of each other. New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo will be doing something drastically different this season when his players will have Monday as their day off instead of Tuesday.

This makes so much more sense with the starting times of Sunday games and traveling. I never understood why players meet on Monday and then have Tuesday off.

It's only a matter of time before other teams see the logic in doing this.

Docket Number Day

I'm glad to see the lawyer for Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul file a lawsuit against ESPN and Adam Schefter over the disclosure of his medical records involving his July 4th incident. It was such a violation of the HIPPA laws to post this material on their website.

Stuff like this happens all the time and it's wrong. I have a lot of respect for Schefter and enjoy his reports, but this was a wrong thing to do.

Lawsuits like this can take years to get to an actual trial. Pierre-Paul set the wheels in motion. Will he still be playing when this is finally resolved?

RG III Moving On

Robert Griffin III has experienced all the highs and lows of being a first round pick in 2012. He was the Offensive Rookie Player of the Year, but suffered a knee injury before the end of the season. He butted heads with Coach Mike Shanahan over the injury and the offense.

A concussion at the end of the 2015 gave second year Coach Jay Gruden the motivation to bench him in favor of Kirk Cousins.

The team plans to release him before March 9 to avoid picking up his $16.5 million salary for 2016. He should be draw interest from other teams, but many think he will just be a backup.

RGIII has a long road to get back to where he was in 2012.

No Picks Back

As the NFL draft approaches, we are hearing mumblings about the Pats trying to get their first and fourth round picks back after they were penalized for Deflategate.

Fans are only kidding themselves into thinking this might happen. The Commissioner has ruled and is not about to admit that the whole Deflategate was a fiasco.

There are not many fans around the league showing sympathy for the Pats
.

Antonio's New Challenege

New York Jets CB Antonio Cromartie just saw his contract money evaporate after getting released. He was scheduled to be an $8 million hit against the team's salary cap. He will most likely end up playing for the veteran minimum if he gets signed by another team.

He needs to keep playing in order to pay child support. He has fathered at least eleven children with eight different women.

It doesn't sound like he has saved his money from his contracts. It could get very messy for him legally if his money dries up.

The Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine starts on Tuesday and goes through Saturday. It's a made-for television event for the NFL Network. They do a great job with the coverage every year.

There are so many great players in NFL history who never got invited to the Combine. The system has its flaws when it overlooks people.

Only the NFL could make a spectacle about the evaluation of players and talent, while making money doing it.

Marshall's Law

Players make bold predictions that they can never back up. WR Brandon Marshall of the New York Jets said that he would retire if his team wins Super Bowl LI.

I think age will force the 32 year old into retirement before his team wins the Lombardi Trophy. Marshall has never played in a post-season game in his ten year career. He is not about to start now.

The Money Tag

NFL players want long term financial security, but it's very elusive. Only a few players ever get all the money from their contract.

I'll never understand why players detest the franchise tag so much. It guarantees them a large payment for one season before they start the free agent process all over again.

Long term contracts are a joke in the league. They always get renegotiated or the player gets released.

The End For Jerod Mayo

It was inevitable that the career of LB Jerod Mayo was coming to an end. So many things were working against his future with the Pats. He was still young at 29, but after eight seasons, the game had taken a toll on his body. He finished the last three seasons on Injured Reserve with different injuries.

Mayo was a first round pick in the 2008 draft and quickly became a team leader and tackling machine on the field. His $11.5 million salary cap figure for 2016 sealed his fate with the team.

At least he gets to leave the game on his on terms, but in the end, his body made the decision for him.

No Williams Here

Pittsburgh Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams is under contract to his team for 2016. When asked on Twitter whether he could ever see himself playing for the Pats, he said that the only player who likes Bill Belichick is Tom Brady.

There is no doubt that Belichick is controversial and one of the most demanding coaches in the NFL. Other players have made comments about him in the past.

No former player has ever come out with anything outrageous against the coach. We will never know if anyone is holding back on their comments.

Is Matt Their Forte?

Everyone seems to think that the Pats will try to sign RB Matt Forte who will be released by the Chicago Bears. Forte is being kicked to the curb because of his age (30) and his potential new contract.

The Bears are parting with a player who is second in the team's history to Walter Payton with 8,602 rushing yards, 487 receptions and 24 games with 100 yards of rushing.

The Pats don't like to pay a running back more than $1 million. Can they get him for one season at a bargain price? Forte is probably on his last contract wherever he goes. It might come down to the money.

The Bargain Basement

As potential free agents get ready to test the market, many "experts" seem to think that the Pats will try to make a splash with a big signing. My advice to fans is to not hold your breath.

The Pats will let other teams spend their money on players not worth it. They will be the bargain hunters, looking for deals on players that can fit a key role. It happens every year. It's not about to change for them.

Stadium Issues

I'm glad to hear that the Oakland Raiders will not be moving for the 2016 season. They have one of the worst stadiums in the NFL. Their fans deserve better. Raider Nation has its place among rabid fans throughout the league.

If the Raiders leave to go to Los Angeles or Las Vegas, it will be from a stadium issue. The team should not expect the taxpayers to bail them out and build a state of the art facility.

No city or area should ever be held hostage over building a publicly funded stadium.

Peyton's Date

Peyton Manning and Broncos GM John Elway both said that the quarterback will take his time in deciding his playing future. A decision will be made by March 9th because his $19 million salary kicks in at that point.

I can't imagine the Broncos dedicating that much money to him. Both parties want to save face. Will Manning ask for his release or will the team cut him?

If he was planning to retire, I think he would have said it by now.

Marshawn Lynch

The NFL lost a bit when Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch retired the other day. He was the heart and soul of the Seahawks. He is leaving the game on his own terms after nine seasons.

The NFL Network had a great story about his career. It was interesting to hear the discussion of his potential Hall of Fame candidacy.

His 9,112 rushing yards are short of the magical 10,000 mark. He could hang on for a few more years, but this might take away from being "Beastmode". Fans will remember him for that.

The last 888 yards to 10,000 could be quite painful.

Enabling Johnny

Johnny Manziel continues to effect the Cleveland Browns. His latest episode involved the team allegedly covering up his drinking at a team practice. Rather than deal with a substance abuse issue, the team said he a suffered a concussion few days earlier.

Further investigation poked holes in the team's story. I don't understand why the team would concoct a story like this. It doesn't make any sense, but the Manziel story keeps getting more bizarre daily.

Sore Losers

Cam Newton has been criticized for his excessive celebrating and other antics at the expense of his opponent. He is one big smile when he wins.

It took a bad turn last night after his team lost the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos. He gave one word answers in his press conference before abruptly walking out on reporters.

Deion Sanders called him out on it. I'm not sure if it will change anything. Who knows if Cam will ever make it back to the Super Bowl.

Dying To Get In

The selection process to the Hall of Fame is far from perfect. It seems like nobody can get in on the first ballot, with a few exceptions. It would have been a fiasco if Brett Favre didn't make it. The same went for the late Junior Seau last year. I don't understand why they bypassed Terrell Owens. His record speaks for itself.

The selection committee has a habit of honoring players after they die. Ken Stabler of the Oakland Raiders and Dick Stanfel who played for the Detroit Lions in the 1950's are two examples. They both made it this year. Stabler recently passed away and Stanfel died last year.

It's a great honor to be selected, but it would have been better if Stabler and Stanfel were alive to enjoy the moment.

I have no doubt that another deceased player will make it next year and in the future. Too bad it takes their demise to make it.

Looking Forward To The Game

A local sportswriter decided to speak for everyone and say that Pats fans have no interest in the Super Bowl. He interviewed a few people who whined about the AFC Championship game loss to the Denver Broncos.

He wasn't speaking for me. I have a big interest in the game. There are a lot of great story lines on both teams.

If this is the last game of Peyton Manning's career, I hope he goes out as a winner.

Ryan & Johnny

Ever since the great debate in 1998 over who should be the first quarterback drafted, Ryan Leaf has been the poster boy for wasted opportunity. Peyton Manning was selected first, while Leaf went to the Chargers and proceeded to spiral out of control.

Johnny Manziel is now competing with his legacy. He continues to make the news with his bizarre behavior. His father made a public plea for him to get help.

All of this has resulted in Leaf being relevant again. I saw an interview with him where he talked about Manziel. He said it was a different time and set of circumstances.

Maybe Jerry Jones will ride into town and rescue Johnny Football once the Browns release him. He was persuaded by his Cowboy staff not to draft him two years ago.

Not The Answer

Peyton Manning seems to be headed towards retirement after the Super Bowl. He will be 40 during the next season. It's hard to build a future around a quarterback that old.

Now that the Rams are moving to Los Angeles, there is talk about trying to sign him if the Broncos terminate his contract. Their lack of a decent quarterback has kept them out of the playoffs.

I don't think Manning is the answer for any team.

Eugene's Moment

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera asked the team's broadcast analyst to address the team about distractions at the Super Bowl.

Former Atlanta Falcons safety Eugene Robinson is one of the most qualified people to talk about this. On the eve of Super Bowl XXXIII, he was arrested in Miami for soliciting sex from an undercover female police officer. Hours earlier, he received an award from the league in the presence of his family.

Robinson played the next day, but gave up an early 80 yard TD pass from John Elway. The Falcons lost 34-19 to the Broncos.

He will be forever linked to the incident which remains as one of the ultimate examples of selfish behavior by a player.

Thomas Davis

The Super Bowl is filled with great stories of players and their journey to the game. Carolina LB Thomas Davis broke his arm during his team's win over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

He had surgery the next day which involved a plate with twelve screws. He plans to play on Sunday. People should not doubt him. He is the only player in league history to come back from tearing his ACL in the same knee on three different occasions.

After eleven years in the league, this is his first chance on the big stage. He might never get this opportunity again.

Time To Release Johnny

Fans of the Cleveland Browns deserve better. The Johnny Manziel situation has become a complete circus. His latest incident involved another issue with his girlfriend and a police search for him in Texas using a helicopter.

The Browns want to trade him, but who really wants him? Cowboys owner Jerry jones thinks that he is something special as a player and probably hopes to sign him if the Browns release him.

There are salary cap implications in any move they make. They don't need the distractions from Manziel. They should just realize the mistake in drafting him and move on.