BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan@suntimes.com
PACKERS DAY 1 GRADE: B+
2nd-round combo looks solid
No first-rounder, but you have to love the combination of players the Packers landed in the second round. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson is a super-productive sure-handed big receiver. Quarterback Brian Brohm gives them long-term cover for injury-prone Aaron Rodgers as Rodgers begins the post-Brett Favre era. And Auburn's Patrick Lee is a nice complement to their aging cornerback position. Excellent combination.
VIKINGS DAY 1 GRADE: B
Johnson fills need at safety
The Vikings continued their bold offseason by moving up for safety Tyrell Johnson, filling a major need. They already paid through the nose for WR Bernard Berrian and DE Jared Allen, then paid again by moving one spot ahead of the Bears to get Johnson at No. 43. It's a good thing to get the guy you want and it's also obvious that this team is sacrificing a lot to win immediately. Now they need to find a capable starting quarterback.
LIONS DAY 1 GRADE: D
Stretch and super stretch Poor Matt Millen just can't seem to get it right. Staring at Rashard Mendenhall, the perfect running back for the Lions' offense, he trades down, leaving Branden Albert for Kansas City. Then he passes on Mendenhall again and reaches for Boston College tackle Gosder Cherilus with Jeff Otah on the board. And if Cherilus was a reach, then second-round linebacker Jordon Dizon was a quantum stretch. The theme song: Dumb de dumb dumb dumb.
Source: suntimes.com
sestdiena, 2008. gada 26. aprīlis
NFL tries to make draft more fan-friendly
By Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer April 26, 2008
NEW YORK -- It's called the NFL draft, but it's almost like a high-stakes game of lining up dominoes.The first one is in place -- the Miami Dolphins made Michigan tackle Jake Long the No. 1 overall selection -- and the rest will begin falling today, when two of the seven rounds take place.
According to the NFL, more people will be watching the draft than the NBA playoffs when the two events are being aired at the same time. Recognizing the draft has increasingly become a made-for-TV spectacle, the league moved the start time back three hours to noon PDT and shortened the time between selections. Teams will now have 10 minutes to make a pick in the first round, instead of 15, and seven minutes in the second round, instead of 10. The third round has been moved to Sunday. The event will air on ESPN and the league-owned NFL Network, which is broadcasting four hours of pre-draft coverage.Commissioner Roger Goodell said the reason for the changes "is to make it more entertaining and make it more fun for the fans. There was a significant amount of time during the picks that teams just sat on their picks, waiting to see if somebody came to them."We felt that it was a time that was not necessary. So we shortened the rounds. By shortening the rounds, it gave us the ability to move it later in the day, which made it more convenient for a large part of the country, particularly the West Coast."The quicker rounds are the only pared-down aspect of this draft. Otherwise, what is officially known as the "annual player selection meeting" has only grown by the year -- in magnitude, money and fan interest. Oh, and the players aren't shrinking either. It's entirely conceivable that half of the first 10 picks could weigh in the neighborhood of 300 pounds.Unlike in years past, when skill-position players dominated the top half of the first round, this class is loaded with big men, offensive and defensive linemen who will command gargantuan salaries.In signing a five-year, $57-million deal, Long became the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league. And he's never participated in a practice, let alone played in a game."That drives me," Long said. "It pushes me, because I've got to go out there and prove to people that it was a good choice and show people that I will do well at this next level."Rookies are paid so much, with the first player selected setting the standard, that it's often cost-prohibitive for teams to trade up into the top five to grab one of the elite prospects. Many people in and around the league think the system needs to be addressed and changed, so that veteran players are given a bigger slice of the financial pie.Regardless, anyone selected in the first round today will instantly become a millionaire several times over. There are 31 picks in the round, one fewer than typical because the New England Patriots were docked a selection after they broke league rules by secretly videotaping the hand signals of opposing coaches.The Patriots will still have the seventh pick, however, and are in prime position to further upgrade their roster. Kansas City and Dallas each have two selections, whereas the Cleveland Browns, who were very active in free agency, don't pick until the fourth round, having traded away the majority of their picks. As many as five USC players could be chosen in the first round, but the only ones virtually guaranteed of that are defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and linebacker Keith Rivers. There's a good chance defensive end Lawrence Jackson, tight end Fred Davis and tackle Sam Baker will slip into the second round, although all are expected to be taken on the first day.There is widespread speculation that several teams will look into either trading up or down in the first round, or, in the case of the Dolphins, trading back in to select a quarterback. The four passers generally considered the most promising in this draft are Boston College's Matt Ryan, Michigan's Chad Henne, Louisville's Brian Brohm and Delaware's Joe Flacco.Before a quarterback is selected, however, the St. Louis Rams are likely to use the No. 2 pick on a defensive lineman, either Virginia's Chris Long or Louisiana State's Glenn Dorsey. Chris Long, the son of Raiders great Howie Long, is comfortable with the fact he wasn't selected first. In fact, he seemed to have the mega-event in very clear perspective."I don't think of it as the draft as the achievement," he said. "I think it's the career afterward that matters."
sam.farmer@latimes.com
Source: latimes.com
NEW YORK -- It's called the NFL draft, but it's almost like a high-stakes game of lining up dominoes.The first one is in place -- the Miami Dolphins made Michigan tackle Jake Long the No. 1 overall selection -- and the rest will begin falling today, when two of the seven rounds take place.
According to the NFL, more people will be watching the draft than the NBA playoffs when the two events are being aired at the same time. Recognizing the draft has increasingly become a made-for-TV spectacle, the league moved the start time back three hours to noon PDT and shortened the time between selections. Teams will now have 10 minutes to make a pick in the first round, instead of 15, and seven minutes in the second round, instead of 10. The third round has been moved to Sunday. The event will air on ESPN and the league-owned NFL Network, which is broadcasting four hours of pre-draft coverage.Commissioner Roger Goodell said the reason for the changes "is to make it more entertaining and make it more fun for the fans. There was a significant amount of time during the picks that teams just sat on their picks, waiting to see if somebody came to them."We felt that it was a time that was not necessary. So we shortened the rounds. By shortening the rounds, it gave us the ability to move it later in the day, which made it more convenient for a large part of the country, particularly the West Coast."The quicker rounds are the only pared-down aspect of this draft. Otherwise, what is officially known as the "annual player selection meeting" has only grown by the year -- in magnitude, money and fan interest. Oh, and the players aren't shrinking either. It's entirely conceivable that half of the first 10 picks could weigh in the neighborhood of 300 pounds.Unlike in years past, when skill-position players dominated the top half of the first round, this class is loaded with big men, offensive and defensive linemen who will command gargantuan salaries.In signing a five-year, $57-million deal, Long became the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league. And he's never participated in a practice, let alone played in a game."That drives me," Long said. "It pushes me, because I've got to go out there and prove to people that it was a good choice and show people that I will do well at this next level."Rookies are paid so much, with the first player selected setting the standard, that it's often cost-prohibitive for teams to trade up into the top five to grab one of the elite prospects. Many people in and around the league think the system needs to be addressed and changed, so that veteran players are given a bigger slice of the financial pie.Regardless, anyone selected in the first round today will instantly become a millionaire several times over. There are 31 picks in the round, one fewer than typical because the New England Patriots were docked a selection after they broke league rules by secretly videotaping the hand signals of opposing coaches.The Patriots will still have the seventh pick, however, and are in prime position to further upgrade their roster. Kansas City and Dallas each have two selections, whereas the Cleveland Browns, who were very active in free agency, don't pick until the fourth round, having traded away the majority of their picks. As many as five USC players could be chosen in the first round, but the only ones virtually guaranteed of that are defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and linebacker Keith Rivers. There's a good chance defensive end Lawrence Jackson, tight end Fred Davis and tackle Sam Baker will slip into the second round, although all are expected to be taken on the first day.There is widespread speculation that several teams will look into either trading up or down in the first round, or, in the case of the Dolphins, trading back in to select a quarterback. The four passers generally considered the most promising in this draft are Boston College's Matt Ryan, Michigan's Chad Henne, Louisville's Brian Brohm and Delaware's Joe Flacco.Before a quarterback is selected, however, the St. Louis Rams are likely to use the No. 2 pick on a defensive lineman, either Virginia's Chris Long or Louisiana State's Glenn Dorsey. Chris Long, the son of Raiders great Howie Long, is comfortable with the fact he wasn't selected first. In fact, he seemed to have the mega-event in very clear perspective."I don't think of it as the draft as the achievement," he said. "I think it's the career afterward that matters."
sam.farmer@latimes.com
Source: latimes.com
All about the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
Your comprehensive guide to Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon weekend, whether you're running or just stopping by to watch:
Health and Fitness Expo
When: Today
Where: Cox Convention Center
Cost: Expo and booths are free and open to the public
On tap: Running clinics from marathon legends Bill Rodgers and Dick Beardsley, Course/Relay instruction booths, discussion forum with race announcer Whit Raymond, medical tips from Dr. Tom Coniglione, music by Edgar Cruz, and a Pasta Party for runners at the National Memorial Plaza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday
Race Day schedule5:30 a.m. — Sunrise prayer service, begin check-in
6:00 a.m. — Opening Ceremony
6:20 a.m. — National Anthem
6:25 a.m. — Wheelchair marathon start
6:30 a.m. — Full and half-marathon and five-person relay start*
6:40 a.m. — 5K Memorial Walk start
8:15 a.m. — Kid's Memorial Marathon start
10:00 a.m. — Awards ceremony at the finish line
*official time limit will be seven hours
Previous winners2001: Peter Euler, Pittsburg (Kan.), 2:37:11 and Kim A. Bricker, Edmond, 3:12:29
2002: Jesse Williams, Seattle, 2:39:36 and Shawna Doty-Myers, Richmond (Texas), 3:05:35
2003: Conor Holt, Norman, 2:26:55 and Kristen Jett, Coppell (Texas), 3:15:44
2004: Conor Holt, Norman, 2:22:54 and Tracy Evans, Woodward, 3:13:53
2005: Matt Aguero, Poteau, 2:31:41 and Sara Pizzochero, Austin (Texas), 3:05:08
2006: Jerry Faulkner, Edmond, 2:36:03 and Sara Pizzochero, Austin (Texas), 3:02:07
2007: Niklas Kroehn, Austria, 2:37:38 and Amanda Luksetich, Richmond (Va.), 3:11:31
10 best places to watch the race1. The Start: This will be the only place you see all 16,000-plus runners grouped together. The stampede at the starting gun is breathtaking.
2. Bricktown: Here, marathoners face their toughest climb — up the Mickey Mantle Bridge and into middle of Oklahoma City's downtown revitalization.
3. State Capitol: Sunlight barely peeks over the Native American atop the Capitol Dome to greet runners as they turn toward the center of the city.
4. Edgemere Park: Century-old oak and maple trees tower over viewers gathered to watch the race.
5. Crown Heights: Last year, a few residents of this stately neighborhood set up a mini-bar in the front yard on marathon morning.
6. Nichols Hills: Enormous and extravagant homes make up for lack of tree-shade in this oil-born neighborhood.
7. Lake Hefner: Sparse runners blur together between sailboat masts and wind-chopped water in the background.
8. Classen Boulevard: 13-block stretch is grueling as runners near the 20-mile mark. Check out live music and other festivities on Classen.
9. Heritage Hills: Yet another beautiful neighborhood setting and the beginning of the final leg of the race.
10. The Finish: The most dramatic of all scenes. Runners cross the finish line to a chorus of cheers. Some gasp. Others collapse. All in the shadow of the "Gates of Time.”
Compiled by Blake Jackson
Source: newsok.com
Health and Fitness Expo
When: Today
Where: Cox Convention Center
Cost: Expo and booths are free and open to the public
On tap: Running clinics from marathon legends Bill Rodgers and Dick Beardsley, Course/Relay instruction booths, discussion forum with race announcer Whit Raymond, medical tips from Dr. Tom Coniglione, music by Edgar Cruz, and a Pasta Party for runners at the National Memorial Plaza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday
Race Day schedule5:30 a.m. — Sunrise prayer service, begin check-in
6:00 a.m. — Opening Ceremony
6:20 a.m. — National Anthem
6:25 a.m. — Wheelchair marathon start
6:30 a.m. — Full and half-marathon and five-person relay start*
6:40 a.m. — 5K Memorial Walk start
8:15 a.m. — Kid's Memorial Marathon start
10:00 a.m. — Awards ceremony at the finish line
*official time limit will be seven hours
Previous winners2001: Peter Euler, Pittsburg (Kan.), 2:37:11 and Kim A. Bricker, Edmond, 3:12:29
2002: Jesse Williams, Seattle, 2:39:36 and Shawna Doty-Myers, Richmond (Texas), 3:05:35
2003: Conor Holt, Norman, 2:26:55 and Kristen Jett, Coppell (Texas), 3:15:44
2004: Conor Holt, Norman, 2:22:54 and Tracy Evans, Woodward, 3:13:53
2005: Matt Aguero, Poteau, 2:31:41 and Sara Pizzochero, Austin (Texas), 3:05:08
2006: Jerry Faulkner, Edmond, 2:36:03 and Sara Pizzochero, Austin (Texas), 3:02:07
2007: Niklas Kroehn, Austria, 2:37:38 and Amanda Luksetich, Richmond (Va.), 3:11:31
10 best places to watch the race1. The Start: This will be the only place you see all 16,000-plus runners grouped together. The stampede at the starting gun is breathtaking.
2. Bricktown: Here, marathoners face their toughest climb — up the Mickey Mantle Bridge and into middle of Oklahoma City's downtown revitalization.
3. State Capitol: Sunlight barely peeks over the Native American atop the Capitol Dome to greet runners as they turn toward the center of the city.
4. Edgemere Park: Century-old oak and maple trees tower over viewers gathered to watch the race.
5. Crown Heights: Last year, a few residents of this stately neighborhood set up a mini-bar in the front yard on marathon morning.
6. Nichols Hills: Enormous and extravagant homes make up for lack of tree-shade in this oil-born neighborhood.
7. Lake Hefner: Sparse runners blur together between sailboat masts and wind-chopped water in the background.
8. Classen Boulevard: 13-block stretch is grueling as runners near the 20-mile mark. Check out live music and other festivities on Classen.
9. Heritage Hills: Yet another beautiful neighborhood setting and the beginning of the final leg of the race.
10. The Finish: The most dramatic of all scenes. Runners cross the finish line to a chorus of cheers. Some gasp. Others collapse. All in the shadow of the "Gates of Time.”
Compiled by Blake Jackson
Source: newsok.com
Man dies after shark attack off San Diego
Experts say a man killed by a shark in the sea near San Diego was likely to have been attacked by a great white.
It is the first time that such an attack has occurred in Southern California in nearly fifty years.
The victim - sixty-six year-old David Martin - was swimming with a group of tri-athletes off Solana Beach at the time.
Source: Belfast Telegraph
It is the first time that such an attack has occurred in Southern California in nearly fifty years.
The victim - sixty-six year-old David Martin - was swimming with a group of tri-athletes off Solana Beach at the time.
Source: Belfast Telegraph
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