Football – Page 83 – North Platte Post Archive

30 Top Prospects to Attend NFL Draft in New York

Posted on April 22, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL says 30 top prospects, including Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, will attend the draft next month in New York.

Among other players scheduled to appear at Radio City Music Hall include Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins and Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack.

The prospects are expected to be selected in the first three rounds.

The first round will be Thursday, May 8, with rounds 2-3 the next day.

Night Kickoffs Slated for Nebraska Games vs. Illini, NW

Posted on April 22, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two more night games are set for the Nebraska football team this season.

The Big Ten Network announced on Tuesday that the Cornhuskers’ home game against Illinois on Sept. 27 will kick off at 8 p.m. Central and that the Oct. 18 game at Northwestern will start at 6:30 p.m.

It was previously announced that the Sept. 13 game at Fresno State would kick off at 9:30 p.m. Central and the Sept. 20 home game against Miami at 7 p.m. Also, the Oct. 4 game at Michigan State is set for 7 p.m. Central.

The five-game stretch of night games will be Nebraska’s longest since also playing five in a row during the 2006 season.

Manning Says He and Gase Didn’t Break NFL rules

Posted on April 22, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning insists that he and Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase didn’t break any NFL rules when they met with Alabama coach Nick Saban earlier this month.

Manning said he’s well aware of the rules prohibiting NFL players from meeting with their coaches prior to the start of offseason workouts, which began today.

Asked if he and Gase met together with Saban, Manning said: “That didn’t happen. We know what the rules were and like I said, I was there on an independent project and Adam was as well.”

Gase got his coaching start under Saban at Michigan State in the 1990s and followed him to LSU.

Manning said he always tries to improve in the offseason and nothing’s changed at age 38.

AP Source: Suh Won’t Attend Lions’ Voluntary Camp

Posted on April 21, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Ndamukong Suh is not attending the Detroit Lions’ voluntary minicamp this week.

The person, who says Suh will attend the team’s voluntary workouts in May and mandatory minicamp next month, spoke Monday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Suh was not announcing his plans.

Detroit’s first-year coach Jim Caldwell said last week he wished the defensive tackle was at previous voluntary workouts, adding he has spoken to Suh more than any other player on the team since being hired.

The two-time All-Pro has skipped voluntary workouts in the past, and the 6-foot-4, 307-pound Suh has stayed in good shape.

Suh is entering the last year of his contract.

Franklin Tweets that He’s Moving to Left Guard

Posted on April 21, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are shuffling their offensive line this offseason and Orlando Franklin provided some insight into their plans Monday by tweeting that he’s moving from right tackle to left guard.

“Left guard, excited to learn and improve this offseason. I will give it my all,” Franklin wrote on Twitter.

He’d replace Zane Beadles, who left for Jacksonville in free agency.

That apparently means Manny Ramirez would stay at center and Chris Clark, who filled in at left tackle after All-Pro Ryan Clady went on IR with a foot injury in Week 2 last season, will switch sides and play right tackle.

The Broncos’ offensive line was dominated by Seattle in the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning was under constant pressure in Denver’s 43-8 loss.

Chiefs in Discussion with Smith Reps on Extension

Posted on April 21, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs are speaking with representatives of quarterback Alex Smith about an extension that would keep him in Kansas City beyond next season.

Smith said Monday that his agent, Tom Condon, has been talking with the team about a new contract. Smith is due to make $7.5 million in the final year of a contract signed in 2012, when he was still with the San Francisco 49ers.

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid have both expressed their desire to keep Smith in Kansas City, but his play last season underscored his value. Smith completed 66 percent of his passes with a career-best 23 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while leading a team that had been 2-14 to an 11-5 record and the playoffs.

Did Manning’s Meeting with Saban Cross the Line?

Posted on April 19, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning’s never-ending quest to hone his game and Nick Saban’s desire to decipher fast-paced offenses led to a recent meeting that the Crimson Tide coach called mutually beneficial.

It also might have violated NFL rules because, according to Saban, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase also was in attendance.

The league doesn’t allow players and their coaches to meet before the start of offseason workouts, which for the Broncos begin Monday. On-field instruction won’t start until mid-May.

The Associated Press left messages with the team and the NFL on Friday seeking comment.

Gase, one of the rising young stars in the NFL coaching ranks, and Saban go way back. Gase worked under Saban at Michigan State in the late 1990s and followed him to LSU as a graduate assistant in 2000.

Saban also has known Manning for a long time and is friends with his father, Archie.

The Broncos gather Monday for what’s called Phase One of the voluntary offseason workout program. During the first two weeks of the offseason program, activities are limited to strength and conditioning and rehabilitation before any on-field work and instruction are allowed.

NFL, Lawyers at Work on $765M Concussion Deal

Posted on April 17, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A judge overseeing thousands of NFL concussion-linked lawsuits says lawyers are still working to address her concerns about a proposed $765 million fund.

U.S. District Judge Anita Brody says she fears the fund may not be large enough to cover up to 20,000 retired players for 65 years.

Lawyers have given her more data to weigh since she rejected the deal on a preliminary basis in January.

The judge says in a Thursday order the parties are continuing to work with the court “to address the issues.” She also has clarified an order this week denying approval of the deal was not a new ruling. She says she was simply adding the January ruling to some case files.

The judge is expected to hold hearings in the case this year.

Manning Holds on to Heartache of Super Bowl

Posted on April 17, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Broncos fans may want to move on from Denver’s Super Bowl debacle. Not Peyton Manning. He’s holding on to the heartache to stoke his competitive fire.

In his first public comments since the highest-scoring team in NFL history was destroyed by Seattle from the opening snap two months ago, Manning said the Broncos’ 43-8 loss will serve as motivation in 2014.

The Broncos gather next week for the official start of offseason workouts with a roster that looks a lot different from the one that lost by five TDs to the Seahawks.

Although Manning and the Broncos will view their loss to Seattle as a scar, much like they did their defeat to Baltimore in the playoffs a year earlier, Manning agreed the gathering will allow the Broncos to begin looking ahead.

Judge Again Rejects Deal in NFL Concussion Cases

Posted on April 16, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge in Philadelphia has again declined to approve deals for some of the retired players suing the NFL over concussions.

U.S. District Judge Anita Brody’s preliminary ruling Wednesday affects a batch of lawsuits involving lead plaintiff Kevin Turner, a former Philadelphia Eagle now battling Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Brody had issued a similar ruling in January in the lead case in the matter, which could ultimately cover up to 20,000 retired players.

The judge has asked lawyers for more details to support claims the proposed $765 million fund would last for 65 years. Young players with severe brain injuries would get up to $5 million under the deal, though most players would get far less.

Brody is expected to conduct hearings in the case later this year.