9. New York Jets – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – I know just yesterday I had Cooper going to the Jets at #13, but they can’t chance the Titans or Miami would take him before then. The Jets, more than most teams, need a starter from day 1 at probably 4 positions. If Tavon Austin is drafted by either Buffalo, or St. Louis as predicted, The N.Y Jets will tell all the viewers at #9 who exactly is making the decisions for the team. If they trade this pick… It’s Idzick. If they pick a defensive player, Rex Ryan is making the decisions, and if they pick a lineman, Woody Johnson is thinking longevity with his early pick in 2013.

8. St. Louis Rams 8. Buffalo Bills – Tavon Austin, WR West Virginia – Everything I have read today had mentioned that both the N.Y. Jets as well as the Bills are very high on Tavon Austin, but neither is as high on him as St. Louis. With St. Louis having two first round picks, the ability to move up is infinite. This also works in favor for Buffalo who has to pick in front of Minnesota to make sure they get their pick of a QB like Ryan Nassib at 16, or E.J. Manuel and still acquire more picks later this year, or possibly next. If the Jets don’t go after Nassib at #13, he will fall directly to Buffalo.

7. Cardinals – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – ESPN’s Todd McShay “loves” this guy. I also think he can play in either scheme (4-3 or 3-4) as both at DT, or DE. He beats the Offensive line early in games and often and makes his presence felt. At 6’3” 311lbs, Star has the prototypical size and strength to be an impact player right away, which is exactly what a first round pick should do for your team.

6. Oakland Raiders – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” . At 6’3 297 pounds, and with a solid 40 time, Oakland loves highly touted athletic players of which Floyd definitely fits the mold. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin could also go here, or the Raiders could do something smart and move further down again in order to grab more talent, much like the Patriots do every year.

5. Detroit Lions – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. In 5 years’ time, this will either seem like the steal of the top 10, or a total bust.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Joeckel, OT/ Texas A&M – Chip Kelly gets to choose between a dynamic DE in BYU Ziggy Ansah or the consensus #1 for the last few months. I understand his new offense has been quoted by LeSean McCoy as being “a track meet” and I truly think that unless another team that is looking to move up, like the San Diego Chargers, trades into this position the choice will be Joeckel or North Carolina OG Lane Johnson.

3. Cleveland Browns – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – In the first trade of the NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders are said to be looking to trade down, and Cleveland has been rumored to be very interested in both, West Virginia QB Geno Smith, or BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah. Brandon Weeden was the last regimes QB, and unfortunately his biggest loss will be the fact that his new bosses didn’t draft him, and therefore will never have “their guy” until they draft “their guy.” There is also talk that if the top two tackles don’t go 1 & 2, Oakland would be willing to trade for nearly anyone who thinks the LT is a position of need and is willing to pay with multiple picks.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Dion is an anomaly. Most prospects unable to compete at either the combine or their pro day typically fall on draft boards. Instead, all this kid has done is run a 40 and he’s being considered as one of the best defensive players available this year. Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. GM David Caldwell recently said, “We’re pretty close – It’s down to two people.” Most people believe the two he referenced are Oregon DE Dion Jordan and West Virginia QB Gen Smith., but there is new talk that OT Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher depending on who Kansas City takes is a likely pick for Jacksonville. Again, I don’t see it. The Jags offense was woeful, but it’s still better than their defense.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Yes for the first time in 3 months Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel has fallen from the top spot. A lot of chatter has been made about Fisher being the favorite of Andy Reid and I can’t say there is a heck of a difference between him and Luke. It will come down to who the coaches liked more, and thought was the better guy. There has been some speculation the Chiefs will try to trade down, but I don’t see it.

Last week the Twitterverse was humming with nonsensical needling. This is, of course, a result of too much idle time on the Philadelphia Eagles’ hands. Perhaps that is not entirely accurate. There always seems to be a slow and steady leak emanating from the gaping hole in the Philadelphia face. Of course, this hole is only wide enough to talk trash when the Eagles have had a moderately successful season. All other times, it is wrapped up tight.

Most of the talk has been coming from the Seans during the offseason. LeSean McCoy is the current culprit. All of the other Philly Seans keep their mouths well greased though – DeSean, BeSean, Fe-Fi-FoSean…all of them. While most professional football players are focusing on working out a deal to end the lockout or getting their bodies into game shape, the Eagles are focusing their sights on the New York Giants, Osi Umenyiora in particular.
(more…)

Heather Ainsworth/AP

OK, Giants fans. Are you ready for a new, weekly feature to keep you busy during this long, grueling offseason? Well, you’re getting one anyway. This week there were a few headlines that deserve to be addressed with the gloves off. That’s what this feature will deliver. I’m off to a late start so let’s get to it.

Brandon Jacobs, who doesn’t seem to have much control over his temper, or mouth at times, has been speaking to the media about the possibility of him not being back with the New York Giants. This, of course, was purely speculative on his part. He didn’t think that the front office would be able, or have the desire, to re-sign him, at the whopping salary that he commands, and Ahmad Bradshaw. GM Jerry Reese announced this week that the Giants had every intention of re-signing Jacobs and laughed at the notion of not having him on the roster for the 2011 season.

BJ was fined last year for tossing his helmet, started the season off by being confrontational with the media and ended the year on the same note by telling reporters, “F*** you all!” Now, I am a Jacobs fan. I would love to see him go over 1,000 yards this year and get rid of some of the frustration that he can no longer suppress. But the first step, is getting back to the Big Blue basics. With this damn lockout in place it is a bit trickier to do. Regardless, being a New York Giant means leading by example, displaying class on and off the field and keeping a sock in it. See Jacobs run. See Bradshaw run. See Jacobs and Bradshaw run.
(more…)

From an outside perspective, I have watched the Packers end their season on a major upswing — even though they’ve battled back from key injuries to major players on their team throughout the season the Packers came together at the right times and found ways to win games decisively, impressively, and with consistently astounding precision. Everyone in Green Bay is clearly on the same page, from the front office right on down to the water boy. Must be nice…

So I guess what’s most relevant to how the NY Giants fit in to Matthews’ statement is quite simple: there’s nothing unusual about questioning your team when things aren’t going right. There’s nothing unnatural about it either, and that brings me to the fallout of Anrel Rolle’s latest comments about Tom Coughlin needing to loosen up as a coach. This story has been for many, a metaphor for Coughlin losing disclipline in his locker room. Well, I have a different take on things.

Read the rest of my article at NFL.com >>

Look, I’m as devastated as anyone that the Giants lost Sunday afternoon. They found all too many ways to lose that game — offensively, defensively and of course, on special teams when it mattered most. And it’s not just ANY opponent, it’s the Eagles. Chalk it up to a choke job, a collapse, an abomination — but the fact is that the Giants should have won that game. And this one tiny fact is enough for me to hang onto, optimism intact, as we head into the final two games of the season with a legitimate shot to make to the playoffs, and more.

Read the rest of my article here: http://blogblitz.nfl.com/new-york-giants/

Yes, the offensive line has overcome injuries and Rich Seubert, Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie are all having tremendous years. But Pascoe has offered that extra bit of insurance with his run blocking that has turned 5-yard gains into 10- and 12-yard gains for Jacobs and Bradshaw. Getting into the second level of the defense has been a matter of consistency for the Giants backfield, Pascoe leading the charge is more often than not the reason why.

Read the rest of my article here:

http://blogblitz.nfl.com/new-york-giants/entry/bear_pascoe_is_the_key

Brett Favre is known for being the ironman of the NFL — 298 career starts and counting will make you a legend for quite some time. That is more starts than Peyton and Eli Manning have combined, or nearly so … and I’m not sure anyone is going to come close to breaking that record any time soon. But this season, Favre has a few other things going for him that aren’t quite as ironclad, not quite as impressive – problems that when you take a closer look make him all the more human.

Read my full article here at blogblitz.nfl.com