Bad news surrounds everything NFL these days. It appears a deal will not be reached by that artificial arbitrary deadline. But there’s always a bull market somewhere. And good news for all you home-gamers is…the NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the combine just concluded.
We updated out second round mock a couple days ago. And a new update for both rounds will be here by Monday.
In the meantime, this is the first of two lightning rounds of winners and two more of losers from Indy.
By Paul M. Banks
Julio Jones, WR, and Marcell Dareus DL, Alabama
Both workout warriors blew everyone off the charts with their measurables this past week. For Jones, the achievement was even more impressive, as he did it all on a fractured foot. Talk about playing through the pain! Imagine what he could do healthy.
Dareus may have leaped Auburn’s Nick Fairley as the #1 DT, and possibly the #1 pick overall. He weighed in at 319, ran a 4.92 and leaped 38″.
Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon St
This Oregon State prospect was able to bench 225 pounds a whopping 49 times at Monday’s Combine workout. That’s a combine record. It took him just a minute to lift 11,025 pounds. Perhaps he’ll shoot up into the first round?
Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
Dowling probably could have come out last year, but stayed in and acquired another year of seasoning. He ran a 4.40 and has good size at 6-1.
Ryan Kerrigan, DL, Purdue
This is definitely the defensive line draft, and it seems like all the big name prospects took another big step forward this week. Kerrigan recorded a 4.6 40 and a 34″ vertical.
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Impressed in drills, recorded good times, and was absolutely gushed over by NFL Network commentator Deion $anders: “my BABY. my baaaaaaby.”
Written by Paul M. Banks, President and CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, the Tribune’s blog network, Walter Football, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports
He does a weekly radio segment on Chicagoland Sports Radio.com and Cleveland.com
You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank