Pre-combine reading … For those looking for a little draft related reading as they wait for the start of next week’s scouting combine in Indianapolis long-time GBN Terry G correspondent recommends a great article on how Bill Belickchek and Patriots manipulate the draft to stay on top. It kind of plays to something we have talked about in the past in the sense that since no one in the NFL is really smarter than everybody else picking players at the draft which remains a lottery of the first orderMeanwhile, Philly.com has the following on how the Eagles draft will change now that head coach Chip Kelly has also become the team’s de facto GM and will run their draft. At the same time, the Jacksonville Times-Union has a piece (subscription required) on the lottery aspects of the draft in an article focusing on New England’s Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler, an undrafted rookie free agent this year. And NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock has released his first breakdown of the top 5 prospects by position for the upcoming draft. Maybe the most interesting element on Mayock’s list is that he has West Virginia WR Kevin White as his top receiver ahead of Amari Cooper of Alabama.
Browns get up-close – maybe too close – look at Ducks QB … One of the hot rumors around the NFL last week was that Cleveland, which has two #1 picks in this year’s opening round, might try and trade up in the upcoming draft to acquire Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. Turns out the Browns should at least have a pretty good scouting report on the former Ducks’ star as his pre-draft workouts are being conducted by QB-guru Kevin O’Donnell who is expected to be named QB-coach with Cleveland as earlier as right after the combine. And that isn’t sitting well with a number of other teams around the league who feel Cleveland is getting an unfair advantage, although its not all that clear if the Browns are actually breaking any rules at this time. Ironically, O’Donnell also ran current Browns’ QB Johnny Manziel’s pre-draft preparations prior to last year’s draft so has all that much more info the Browns. Manziel, of course, is currently in rehab for too-much partying and has an uncertain future with the Browns.
Big Ten LB gets another year … Michigan OLB Desmond Morgan has been awarded another year of eligibility after he missed all but one game in 2014 because of an off-field arm injury. Morgan had been considered a late-round or potential free agent target prior to the season.
