Clowney Not Working

It seems to happen every year in the NFL draft. Jadeveon Clowney is considered the consensus number one overall pick. He has drawn praise from all sorts of scouts, coaches and GM's.

At the same time, there are those who question his work ethic. Some feel that he will take the money from his new team and not work as hard as he needs to.

They sing his praises about his immense talent, while others predict that the team will regret selecting him in the first few picks.

We shall see.

Draft Day

Only the NFL Network could keep the draft so interesting. Their analysis is so thorough. It's hard to follow any draft predictions of the "experts".

The Pats have done many things on draft day. This year might be some of the same stuff as far as trading draft choices.  I have no doubt they will trade out of the first round.

Going North For Chad

The toughest thing for many players is to realize their NFL career is over. Some try to make a comeback because they still have the desire to play. Often, it's a matter of the money.

Former WR Chad Johnson plans to workout next week for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. He is  36 and didn't play the last two seasons after being released by the Miami Dolphins in training camp back in 2012.

He faces an uphill battle. The CFL might be his best option other than the Arena League. That might be next.

Stike Up The Ban

I predict that QB Michael Vick will not be on the opening day roster for the New York Jets. The circus around him continues to grow and attract unwanted attention.

Some disgruntled fans have started a petition addressed to SUNY Cortland where the Jets hold their training cap. They want the convicted felon and dog abuser to be banned from the grounds of the state school.

The team has enough problems selling tickets to their home games at MetLife Stadium. They don't need this type of distraction. Vick and the Big Apple are a bad fit for each other.

Spiking It

Former Pats LB Brandon Spikes lit up Twitter with his strong remarks about his time in Foxborough. He referred to his tenure as "four years of slavery". He also said his new team, the Buffalo Bills, will beat the Pats twice this season.

I don't think anyone, including Spikes, thought he would get another contract with the Pats. He was placed on IR before the start of the playoffs with a knee injury. He claimed he was ok to play and that it was in retaliation for missing a team meeting.

Spikes was criticized for never living up to his second round potential. Maybe it will be better for him in Buffalo. His remarks burned any bridges back to Foxborough.

Patrick Chung left as a free agent last year. Things didn't work out with the Eagles. The Pats had no problem taking him back because he left on good terms.

Last Stand For Vince?

Vince Wilfork seems to face an uphill battle to collect all of the money from his new contract. They gave him some guaranteed money, but in the end, he needs to make the 53 man roster coming out of training camp.

I have my doubts about Vince continuing his career. I might be wrong. He has kept a low profile since his injury. Coach Belichick won't keep him on the team if he can't play.

This will be a great story through camp.

Maybe Dee Ford

Every expert has their own mock draft. One of the New York Post columnists has the Pats selecting DE/OLB Dee Ford of Auburn with the 29th pick in the first round.

He is described as a "faster Rob Ninkovich" and the best pass rusher available. Some consider him a guy without a position. Is he a linebacker or defensive end? His size might be an issue. He finished second in sacks behind Michael Sam in the SEC.

He skipped the NFL scouting Combine because of medical issues, but had a great performance at Auburn Pro Day. He seems like a good fit for the Pats.

Another Bad Move

The Philadelphia Eagles cut WR DeSean Jackson the other day after rumors became rampant about his gang affiliation. The Eagles never explained why they released him. Many teams stayed clear of him, but he ended up with the Washington Redskins.

Owner Dan Snyder is not afraid to hire and fire coaches on a whim. He has signed plenty of players who have flamed out. Why change now?

He had no problem giving Jackson a 3 year/$24 million contract with $16 million guaranteed. It's a move that will probably result in a lot of dead salary cap money in the end.

Snyder gets involved as an owner and isn't afraid to make another bad move.

A Chance To Fire the QB

Buffalo Bills fans must be concerned about the future of their team after owner Ralph Wilson passed away. His family plans to sell the team. New ownership could move it to Toronto, Los Angeles or another big-market city. Buffalo isn't even in the top 50 television markets in America.

The league wants a team in LA, the nation's second largest market. Would the owners allow one of the original AFL franchises to relocate?

Donald Trump revealed that he had been contacted about buying the team. He expressed some interest in the sale and said that he would not move the team.

Trump has prior ownership with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL back in the 1980's. He is still close to his former QB Jim Kelly who is currently undergoing cancer treatment in New York City. Kelly's family is staying at one of Trump's apartments in the Big Apple.

Easy Money For Some

It's easy to see why so many professional athletes are financially destitute after their playing days are over. It happens in all sports. The NFL is a prime example of athletes blowing their new found wealth.

WR Eric Decker just signed a 5 year/$36.35 million contract with the New York Jets which also included a guaranteed $15 million bonus.

He thought nothing of paying teammate Jeff Cumberland $25,000 to obtain jersey #87. Cumberland knew easy money when he saw it and will now wear #85.

Years from now, Decker will probably wish he had that $25,000 back. So many players squander their money and end up selling their memorabilia from their playing days just to pay their bills.

Two Surprise Visitors

The Pats turned a lot of heads today when they had QB's Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater in for a pre-draft visit. Everyone is trying to figure why the team would use two of their 30 allowed visits to host players they have no chance of drafting.

All sorts of theories were floated put there. Was Coach Belichick scouting Manziel as a favor to Texans coach Bill O'Brien?  That seems a bit much.

I think Belichick realized that he will be coaching against these two players in the next few years and wanted a chance to sit down and watch film with them and observe drills.

We will never really know in the end.

Not In The Final Eight

A publication linked to the Pats has been running a contest to determine the greatest quarterback of all time. They started with 32 players and are down to the final eight They broke it down by eras.

I was surprised to see Drew Bledsoe in the group. He put up some amazing numbers, but I never thought of him as one of the greatest. He will get consideration for the Hall of Fame, but I don't think he will ever get elected.