SportingNews.com

Mike Florio

Every year at this time, we're reminded that many college football players have smoked marijuana. Given that many college students smoke marijuana at some point or other during their four (or five ... or eight) years of "higher" education, it's not really a surprise.

Usually, the issue hits the NFL radar screen due to reports of positive marijuana samples generated by players tested at the Scouting Combine. Given that the players know they'll be tested, a positive result constitutes evidence of a problem -- or proof of extreme stupidity. But while those players require more scrutiny, the supposed rash of players who tested positive during college or who admitted to smoking marijuana in pre-draft interviews gets far more focus than it deserves.

Teams generally don't care if players smoke pot. Teams care if smoking pot affects player performance, or if it keeps them from playing due to a suspension. "There's a difference between a guy who smokes pot from time to time," said an agent who requested anonymity, "and Charles Rogers or Onterrio Smith."

Rogers, the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, and Smith, a first-round talent who slid to Round 4 due in part to multiple marijuana issues, couldn't put down the weed, even when their livelihoods depended on it. But for every player who smokes his way out of the league, there are hundreds who can stop cold turkey as soon as they enter the league's substance-abuse program and become subject to up to 10 unannounced tests per month. Indeed, most men prefer playing pro football to smoking pot, and most can quit when they absolutely must.

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Still, scouts and coaches claim to be worried about the issue. One unnamed head coach recently told Don Banks of SI.com that "[i]t's something that's concerning to all coaches and general managers in this league."

Apparently, these aging muckety-mucks all have forgotten the things they did when they were 20. As the agent who requested anonymity told me, he recalls in their younger days a current "high-level NFL decision-maker" passing him a joint.

Really, how many of the people who occupy positions of influence and responsibility in the NFL can say they haven't smoked pot at least once in their lives? It's a normal – albeit illegal – activity, and concerns should arise only when the player has become addicted to it or has become entangled with law enforcement because of it.

In the grand scheme of things, few players are suspended for using marijuana. Even fewer see their careers end. Thus, the reward outweighs the risk. Last year, many news outlets reported via anonymous sources that Vikings receiver Percy Harvin tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine, and he only went on to have a dramatic impact on the Minnesota offense and special teams.

So why is it suddenly a big deal? It could be that some teams hope to scare other teams into passing on players with red flags due to green leaves, which could cause highly-talented players to slide into the clutches of teams that are quietly fueling the anti-pot crusade. Or it could be that many of these scouts and coaches are too old to remember what it's like to be a kid in college, and the things that they and their friends did 20, 30, or 40 years ago.

Those who realize that marijuana use now is no more of an epidemic now than it ever has been will be in the best position to do the homework necessary to differentiate those who control their pot smoking from those whose pot smoking controls them. And the teams who take the time to draw those lines instead of simply striking from the board anyone who has a history of doing something that a large percentage of the total college population has done will reap the benefits on draft day.

Heck, maybe even a few of the G.M.'s and coaches will celebrate by firing up a doobie.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

Vinnie Iyer and Russ Lande, Sporting News

In what's deemed as a shaky 2010 quarterback class, the top prospects each have something to prove in pre-draft examinations the last four weeks: 

1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma. Coming off shoulder surgery, he must prove he can make every NFL-type throw during his pro day Monday. Projection: Rams in Round 1.   2. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame. Recovering from two torn ligaments in his right big toe, he must show good footwork and mobility during his April 9 workout. In interviews, he must prove he can be a good teammate and leader. Projection: Vikings in Round 1.   Related Links

• War Room: Quarterback rankings
• Mock Draft: First three rounds
• Dillon: Players who are rising, falling
• Prospect profile: Tony Pike

3. Tony Pike, Cincinnati. Past his pro day and now in meetings and private workouts, Pike must convince teams that he has the greatest potential despite lack of pedigree. Projection: Redskins in Round 2.   4. Tim Tebow, Florida. Arm strength and motion remain big concerns, but work ethic, desire and intangibles can't be ignored. Projection: Browns in Round 3   This story first appeared in March 25's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

Players have been moving up and down NFL teams' draft boards for months. The reasons can be related to their all-star game performances, their workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine or the drills at their school's pro day—or a character or personality nugget a scout might have discovered.

Dan Williams could be good alternative if a team can't grab one of the top two defensive tackles.

After talking to three college scouting directors for NFL teams, we have identified three players who have risen and three who have fallen since the end of the 2009 season:

Moving up

1. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State 

Draft grade then: Top of third round or bottom of second.

Draft grade now: In the top 15-25 picks overall.

The skinny: After a good week at the Senior Bowl, Robinson followed up with an impressive Combine and pro day. He is a well-rounded cornerback who has an explosive burst and good coverage skills. Scouts say he has the ability to play press or zone coverage.

The view: "He plays as fast as he needs to play," an AFC college scouting director said, "and I think that's a good quality to have."

2. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

Draft grade then: Middle of second round.

Draft grade now: Late first round.

The skinny: Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy are considered the two elite defensive tackles in this draft. Everyone behind them is fighting for the next spot. Williams, a slow but steady riser in mock drafts but a player NFL teams have been fond of all along, could claim it.

What makes him most appealing is he could play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme or the 3-technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. He is a big guy who can clog the inside and is tough to move. Williams isn't the most polished pass rusher but can get under a center, collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback.

The view: "He reassured everybody that what they saw on film is factually true," an NFC scouting director said.

3. Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU

Draft grade then: Top of the third round, bottom of the second.

Draft grade now: Top of the second round.

The skinny: This year's outside linebackers class is considered a weak group, but Washington stands out—mainly because of his athleticism. He has excellent size (at 230 pounds, he's actually 15 pounds bigger than some scouts thought) and good speed. Even if he only plays on special teams as a rookie, he should be ready to start at linebacker in Year 2.

The view: "He runs to the ball and makes plays all over the place," the NFC scouting director said. "That's what you're supposed to do."

Falling down

1. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

Draft grade then: First round.

Draft grade now: Second or third round.

The skinny: LaFell was a highly rated prospect after his junior season, and scouts expected him to perform even better in 2009. Instead, he couldn't maintain the momentum—his production fell off, and he was inconsistent catching the ball—and he leveled off.

LaFell missed an opportunity to change perceptions about him when an injury prevented him from playing in the Senior Bowl. He also didn't measure up well against the other wide receivers at the Combine, where he neither ran well nor performed well in drills.

The view: "When you turn on LSU film, you don't see a player who dominates the competition he's playing against," the AFC scouting director said. "You want to see that out of a big-time receiver."

2. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida

Draft grade then: Top-10 pick.

Related Links

• Prospect profile: Brandon LaFell
• Brown: Safety surge in this year's draft
• Mock Draft: Spikes will go high in Round 2
• War Room: Three-round mock draft
• Super 99: Ranking the prospects

Draft grade now: Top of the second round.

The skinny: Scouts didn't expect Spikes to run a blazing 40 at Florida's pro day—and they weren't disappointed. Speed is not Spikes' forte. Brian Urlacher, he is not. This is what Spikes is: A big, tough, diagnostic playmaker—and he'll probably start as a rookie. There's not a lot of quality at linebacker in this draft class, so Spikes isn't expected to drop too far.

The view: "The teams that like him are going to like him for what he is—an in-the-box, downhill, strong player who diagnoses quickly," a second AFC scouting director said. "He's not a fast guy over 40 yards, but he can play quick in the box."

3. Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss

Draft grade then: Middle of first round.

Draft grade now: Bottom of second round or top of the third.

The skinny: Hardy has talent, all right. He just doesn't show it often enough. As a junior and senior, he didn't even start for Ole Miss; instead, he rotated in. Hardy is big and has pass-rush ability, but he doesn't show it down-in and down-out. He also can be aloof at times, which won't endear himself to NFL coaches.

The view: "Hardy has all the physical skills in the world," the NFC scouting director said. "But he's got to do some soul searching and find out if football is important to him."

This story appears in March 26's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

Sports Radio Interviews

Mike Shanahan is starting a new phase in his career, taking the helm of the Washington Redskins after a year away from coaching. The two-time Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos joined ESPN Chicago to talk about the upcoming football season.

To listen to Mike Shanahan on ESPN Chicago, go to Sports Radio Interviews.

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan says the NFL does a good job of making small changes every year. What does Shanahan think of the new playoffs overtime rule?

Shanahan: Well, number one, over the years being in these meetings, if the commissioner and the owners really believe a rule is in the best interest of the league, they're going to get it passed.  A lot of times they'll table it until May, if they don't feel something is going to go through that they really want.

This is a situation that I felt they were very up front about, knew the commissioner wanted it, there was a number of owners that wanted it, and they just put it through a little bit earlier than they normally do.

Is he in favor of the new rule?

Shanahan: Yeah, I don't mind it.  I don't think there is a perfect way to solve this problem that we have.  I was looking forward to doing something.  I didn't know, exactly, what was the best situation.  I think this is a good start for the league.

Would Shanahan like the new overtime rule added for the regular season, too?

Shanahan: I would like it for the regular season as well as the playoffs.  Some people just want it just for the playoffs because they don't want the additional snaps added to the game, because of injury.  The way I look at it, if you use it through the playoffs, you might as well use it during the regular season, but either way I think it's a good first step.

Are coaches more apt to kick off in overtime under the new rule, or will coaches still always want the football?

Shanahan: I think it could go either way.  A lot depends on the wind, what type of defense you have, what type of offense.  Obviously, if you score, you score a touchdown, the game is over with.  So I think, ultimately, with a good offense, you believe you can score and end the game right then and there.

Also depends on your field goal kicker and how good he is.  So I think there are some variables in there that could go either way.

Are there any other changes he would like to see the owners vote on and pass?

Shanahan: I've been doing this, been in these meetings for a number of years and what I think they try and do is upgrade the game every year.  The competition committee, number of people on that, they hear different recommendations from different organizations, and every year they'll bring up about ten different new things, if it's rule interpretation, if it's changing of rules.  I think that's the reason our game keeps on getting better as we do change little things every year.

How did Shanahan spend the year off from football?

Shanahan: One thing, I think, if you want to stay in this game, or you want to be good in any profession, you better be constantly learning.  But it was something that I've never had the opportunity to do in a long time, 25 years.  I actually had a chance to go to a couple of pro camps and see how they did things.  Two organizations that have been very successful over the years and that was a good experience for me to see how different people do things at Pittsburgh and New England.

Then I went back to my stomping grounds when I coached '80-'83 for the Florida Gators.  I went out there to watch their practice.  Obviously, with them winning a couple national championships, I wanted to see how Urban [Meyer] was running his practices and hadn't had a chance to see a college practice for a number of years, so that was quite interesting.

Does he think Tim Tebow's skill set will play in the NFL?

Shanahan: I just think Tim Tebow is a winner.  He is going to make it.  In fact, worked him out on Saturday.  You're talking about a great kid.  He's going to find a way to get it done.

I just think he just brings so many tangibles to the table that he's going to find a way to do it and I think that he can do it in a number of different ways.  He can run that Wildcat.  I think regardless what offense you're running, he will spend the time that is necessary to work at it and eventually get it done.

What does Shanahan think about the Bears acquiring Jay Cutler?

Shanahan: First off, I'm a Jay Cutler fan.  I can just talk about what Jay Cutler did for Mike Shanahan, not exactly his experience in Chicago.

But Pro Bowl player, had a good supporting cast around him, a worker, very smart, handles himself like you want. I thought he was just getting better and better.

Obviously, there are going to be some road blocks for every quarterback in the league and he's going through a tough situation right now, but my opinion is he'll work through it and Chicago will be very proud to have him as their quarterback.

More from SRI
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Just because an NFL team makes a bold personnel move doesn't mean it's necessarily a good one. Here are the five most head-scratching decisions so far this offseason:

Did Cleveland really upgrade the position by bringing in Seneca Wallace as one of its new quarterbacks? 1. The Browns get Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace to replace Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. It was evident from Day 1 on the job that president Mike Holmgren was set to exorcise the ghosts of passers past. The decision to move on without Anderson and Quinn was acceptable, but the effort to upgrade with Delhomme and Wallace, Holmgren's former backup in Seattle, was curious.

It's unclear whether both veterans were brought in as insurance in case the team isn't able to land a franchise quarterback in the draft or whether they are short-term stopgaps in an optimistic attempt to be competitive.

"What Cleveland is doing at quarterback is a total mystery," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.

Even more mysterious is why Cleveland felt the need to spend $7 million on Delhomme after he was released by the Panthers—especially considering the Browns aren't even sure he will start over Wallace.

It's hard to see either Delhomme or Wallace helping Cleveland (5-11 last year) win more games in 2010, given the supporting cast. It will be equally interesting to see how Anderson (Cardinals) and Quinn (Broncos) play on teams that have good offensive structures in place.

BY THE NUMBERS

Anderson and Quinn combined in 2009: 11 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 56.8 passer rating
Delhomme and Wallace combined in 2009: 11 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, 65.5 passer rating

2. The Raiders make Sebastian Janikowski the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. Oakland has had plenty of personnel turnover in the past decade, but there have been two constants: Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler. Immune to the team's numerous problems, each has been rewarded with plenty of green to stay in Silver and Black.

A year after the Raiders made Lechler the highest-paid punter ever with a four-year, $12 million contract, Janikowski received the same distinction at his position. Janikowski still has a booming leg at 32, something he proved by drilling a 61-yarder in Cleveland in December.

But with 18 missed field-goal attempts over the past three years, he has been far from perfect. That makes investing $16 million in him over the next four years seem reckless, especially for a team with many holes.

BY THE NUMBERS

Janikowski's 2009 rankings: Fifth in FG percentage, tied for 10th in field goals made, 19th in points scored

Thomas Jones is a better runner than his Gang Green replacement. 3. The Jets release Thomas Jones and sign LaDainian Tomlinson. In the end, the Chiefs are happy Jones became available to back up their young star, Jamaal Charles, while New York seems content to have L.T. provide relief for second-year back Shonn Greene.

Although Tomlinson has a bigger name, the Jets didn't get a better complementary veteran than they had in Jones, a popular player on a playoff team. Tomlinson will provide a pass-catching dimension—especially if Leon Washington doesn't re-sign—but Jones has been a much stronger runner in a similar late stage in his career.

"L.T. can't touch the production that Jones has had the last two seasons," Baldinger said. "And Jones just keeps getting better and better."

The league's top rushing team may have sacrificed too much production for a little more versatility.

BY THE NUMBERS

Thomas Jones: 31 years, 7 months old; 2,280 career attempts; 4.4-yard average from 2008 to 2009
LaDainian Tomlinson: 30 years, 9 months old; 2,880 career attempts; 3.6-yard average from 2008 to 2009

4. The Bengals sign Antonio Bryant instead of Terrell Owens. Proponents of this move point to the fact that Bryant just turned 29 and Owens is 36. Bryant is a great talent and showed just how good he can be when he put it all together for a stellar 2008 comeback season with the Buccaneers.

Both receivers were stuck with shaky quarterback situations last season, but Owens was the healthier, more durable and more productive receiver. Owens is at his best providing a first-year impact for a contending team, like the playoff-caliber Bengals.

With all the attention Chad Ochocinco draws, T.O. would have thrived in a T.J. Houshmandzadeh-type role and as a premier red zone target for Carson Palmer. Instead, Bryant comes in as a high-priced enigma.

BY THE NUMBERS

Antonio Bryant in 2009: 39 catches, 600 yards, four TDs
Terrell Owens in 2009: 55 catches, 829 yards, five TDs

Related Links

• Brown: Four moves that can shake things up
• Dillon: New homes for QBs after scramble
• Iyer: McNabb trade best solution for Eagles
• War Room: Super 99 free agents

5. Kyle Vanden Bosch signs with the Lions. There's no doubt Detroit's young defenders will benefit from having Vanden Bosch's smarts, work ethic and savvy around to help them grow in coach Jim Schwartz's scheme.Based strictly on production, however, Vanden Bosch's contract (four years, $26 million) wasn't a sound investment for a struggling young team that consistently plays from behind.

Vanden Bosch was a great player for Schwartz in Tennessee, but that was on a loaded defense that was often protecting leads with a relentless pass rush. He had only three sacks last season, will turn 32 in November and has a history of injuries.

BY THE NUMBERS

Lions who had more sacks than Vanden Bosch's three in 2009: Cliff Avril, 5 1/2; Jason Hunter, 5, and Julian Peterson, 4 1/2.

This story appears in March 25's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.

Fans will recognize many of the players in Sporting News' latest mock draft second round. SN draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts believe Notre Dame's Golden Tate, Alabama's Terrence Cody and a handful of Florida standouts will come off the board with picks 33-64.

1. St. Louis Rams 

Golden Tate could wind up wearing gold and blue in St. Louis. Golden Tate*, WR, Notre Dame. If the Rams grab Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford in the first round, the overhaul of the offense can continue with Tate. He has the ability to make big plays running after the catch.

2. Detroit Lions

Earl Thomas*, S, Texas. The Lions want to add speed to their secondary/defense and Thomas has the explosiveness and play-making ability to upgrade the back end of their secondary quickly.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois. The Bucs' OL has struggled with consistency in recent seasons and they need to upgrade. Asamoah brings the athleticism to be a good NFL guard and possibly even a tackle.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Arrelious Benn* , WR, Illinois. The Chiefs need offensive weapons and Benn is a well-built and very athletic receiver who has the talent to be a big-time player in the NFL if he can play up to his ability more consistently.

5. Washington Redskins

Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati. While many expect them to take Clausen in the first round, Pike is the tall, strong-armed QB that Mike Shanahan seems to prefer.

6. Cleveland Browns 

Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State. Cox is a first-round talent who will likely slide due to off-field concerns. But the Browns need to improve their secondary and here he is too good of a value for the Cleveland to pass up.

7. Oakland Raiders

Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida. The Raiders need to replace Kirk Morrison and Spikes is the type of tough, hard-nosed middle linebacker the Raiders have won with over the years.

8. San Diego Chargers (from Seattle)

Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia. After losing Jamal Williams, the Chargers desperately need a nose tackle. Owens is the best true NT in this year's draft and could start as a rookie.

9. Buffalo Bills

Corey Wootton, DE , Northwestern. With the Bills switching to a 3-4 scheme, they need to get big, tall, long-armed DE's to fit their scheme; Wooten fits that perfectly.

The War Room has Carlos Dunlap staying in the Sunshine State. 10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago)

Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida. The Bucs want to upgrade their pass rush and while Dunlap's lack of consistency is a real concern, his size, strength and athleticism are too good to pass up right now.

11. Miami Dolphins

D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech. The Dolphins are still trying to bring in big, strong defensive linemen to play DE in their 3-4 scheme. Smith, who played DT in college, fits the bill perfectly.

12. New England Patriots (from Jacksonville)

Damian Williams* , WR, USC. With Wes Welker's 2010 season up in the air and Brandon Tate an unknown, the Pats need some help at receiver, and Williams is a smart route runner who has excellent hands and good run after catch ability.

13. Denver Broncos    

Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati. The Broncos are going to get rid of Brandon Marshall (at least that is what I keep hearing), so they grab the explosive playmaker Gilyard.

14. New York Giants

Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas. After losing Fred Robbins in free agency, the Giants need to add some young talent at DT. Houston has the strength, athleticism and competitiveness to be a very good backup as a rookie and eventually a starter.

15. New England Patriots (from Tennessee)

Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse. The Patriots' D-line is not getting any younger and they have little line depth, so they grab Jones who played DT in college, but is a good fit at DE in their 3-4 scheme.

16. Carolina Panthers

Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU. The Panthers have been trying to find a big receiver to play opposite Smith for a number of years and with Dwayne Jarrett having flopped, they jump at the chance to grab Lafell, who would have likely been a first-rounder a year ago.

17. San Francisco 49ers

Jahvid Best*, RB, Cal. The 49ers need a change of pace to take the pressure off Gore and a big-play returner to help them win field position battles, and Best has the talent to be a big time playmaker in the NFL.

18. Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta)

John Jerry, G, Ole Miss. The Chiefs need offensive line help and Jerry has the athleticism, size and strength to be a left tackle in the NFL if he can keep his weight under control and play as well as he did in 2009 for the rest of his career.

19. Houston Texans

Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford. The Texans want to get a big back who can carry the load and make big plays. Gerhart has shown the ability to be that type of back and will also be a big asset in their passing attack.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers    

Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. The Steelers must add youth to their defensive line and Cody has the bulk and strength to anchor their 3-4 scheme at nose tackle.

21. New England Patriots

Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee. The Pats have been disappointed in Laurence Maroney and Hardesty brings the tough, physical and aggressive running style to their offense that Bill Belichick likes.

22. Cincinnati Bengals    

Donald Butler, ILB, Washington. The Bengals want to bring in speed and athleticism to their defense, and Butler is a very fast and physical player.

23. Philadelphia Eagles

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. The Eagles have a good tight end in Brent Celek, but they have a history of drafting elite players that slip in the draft and Gresham is a very talented tight end with a lot of upside.

24. Green Bay Packers    

Related Links

• Tate needs to answer size questions
• Prospect profile: Brandon LaFell
• Who is this guy: Toby Gerhart
• Full mock draft: Pro Football War Room
• Player page: Terrence Cody, Alabama
• Super 99: Rrospect rankings
• Position rankings: Wide receivers

Rodger Saffold, T, Indiana. The Packers want to get some youth at OT as Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are nearing the end of their careers, so they grab the very athletic Saffold, who could be their left tackle of the future given a season or two to learn as a backup.

25. Baltimore Ravens

Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida. The Ravens do not pass up the chance to grab Murphy, who has the athleticism, instincts and playmaking skills to be a very good cornerback in the NFL.

26. Arizona Cardinals

Anthony McCoy, TE, USC. The Cardinals want a tight end who can make plays as a receiver, but also has the size, strength and competitiveness to be a very good blocking tight end, which is vital in their offensive scheme.

27. Dallas Cowboys

Kyle Wilson,  CB, Boise State. They have two good starters, but Wilson is a playmaker who should upgrade the Cowboys at nickel cornerback and could become a starter if Terence Newman leaves in free agency in a season or two.

28. Seattle Seahawks (from San Diego)

Charles Brown, T, USC. The Seahawks need a young left tackle and Brown was played the position under Pete Carroll at USC, so it makes sense for the Seahawks to grab him here.

29. New York Jets

Devin Ross, CB, Arizona. The Jets have an elite CB in Darrelle Revis and a very talented one in Antonio Cromartie, but Cromartie needs to step up his play and Ross brings the toughness, aggressiveness and playmaking skills that fit the Jets' scheme well.

30. Minnesota Vikings

Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers. They have Antoine Winfield who is a sure thing, and Benny Sapp and Asher Allen who are still developing, so the chance to add another young CB with very good athleticism makes a lot of sense.

31. Indianapolis Colts

Nate Allen, S, South Florida. Bob Sanders cannot stay healthy and they want to have young talent for the future, so they grab the well-built and athletic Allen, who should become a starter down the road.

32. New Orleans Saints

Aaron Hernandez*, TE, Florida. Jeremy Shockey is definitely closer to the end of his career than the beginning and Hernandez is a young, athletic tight end with excellent receiving skills.

*--Denotes underclassman

For more than 640 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts -- plus an updated mock draft (now three rounds long), Super 99 rankings and more -- go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

With the completed NFL season fading into the rear-view mirror, the offseason wasteland is filled with anticipation for the release of the 2010 schedule.

Sean Payton's Super Bowl champion Saints will open up the 2010 regular season.

Though the identity and location of the 256 games already is known, the date and time remains a mystery. And so fans wait anxiously to see, for instance, how many Monday night, Sunday night or Thursday night games or back-to-back-to-back road games or games against teams coming off "bye" weeks their favorite teams will play.

And so the early days of April become like the latter days of December, with football fans awaiting the arrival of the schedule as if the Commissioner Roger Goodell were wearing a red suit and commandeering a flying sleigh. Typically, the NFL gives fans a peek at some of the packages in conjunction with the annual meetings, announcing the schedule of prime-time games in Week 1 and the trio of Turkey Day contests.

This year, for reasons still unclear, the league opted not to do so.

So let's fill that void by suggesting the matchups we'd like to see for each of the games that would have been announced. And then let's look at a few other preferred dates for several other key games.

For the Sept. 9 season opener, the Saints will be the host. With Steelers president Art Rooney II declaring last week that his team won't make its once-every-eight-years trip to the Superdome to launch the season, it's widely believed the opponent will be the Vikings. But a visit from the Falcons also would be compelling. Related Links

• PFT: Charges against Sapp dropped
• PFT: Payton's crying about OT changes
• PFT: Rumor mill
• Uncapped year puts crimp on Tom Brady
• Broncos: Orton is our QB starter
• Terrell Owens likely won't sign soon

On Sunday night, an AFC North showdown would be a great way to kick things off, with the Steelers visiting the Ravens. (The delay in the announcement of the prime-time games might have something to do with the tenuous status of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.)

For the first game of Monday night's doubleheader, what better way to christen the Jets' portion of the new stadium than to invite the Dolphins to town, a decade after the two teams played a classic game on a Monday night in October? And it makes sense. For the past three years, the league has scheduled games between division rivals for the first Monday night of the season.

The other viable alternative would be the Patriots, but they played on Monday night to start the 2009 season.

For the nightcap, which typically features division rivals from the western edge of the country, Pete Carroll's return to the NFL would provide a great story line — especially if his Seahawks are traveling to Arizona to face the Cardinals, who presumably will be quarterbacked by one of Carroll's prized pupils at USC, Matt Leinart.

For Thanksgiving, the reports that the Jets will host a night game means the Patriots will play at Detroit in the early game, given that the Jets and the Patriots were the two candidates to play on Ford Field.

In the second game, the Cowboys can host any of their six NFC opponents. The best game would come from the Saints, but the NFL typically doesn't waste "good" games for the games that we'll all watch regardless of how "good" they are. So scratch off the Saints, the Eagles, the Giants, and the Redskins. The Lions are otherwise occupied.

So it leaves the Bears.

The Saints-Cowboys contest would be a great candidate for prime time in November, during the ratings sweeps, even though FOX surely will want it for the back end of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader during that same period. Steelers-Saints is another one that will attract plenty of attention, giving NBC and ESPN a game to covet for evening placement, and for CBS an ideal game for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader of its own.

Other non-division games that merit a high profile include (in no particular order) Colts-Patriots, Cowboys-Colts, Giants-Colts (featuring the Mannings brothers), Chargers-Colts, Jets-Steelers, Vikings-Patriots, Packers-Patriots, Vikings-Jets, Packers-Jets, Texans-Jets, Jets-Steelers, Saints-Ravens, Ravens-Jets, Saints-Bengals, and Falcons-Steelers.

Bottom line? The 2010 slate features plenty of great games. Still, even when we know what's in Santa's bag, we still can't wait for him to show up. The fact that he didn't let us open a few of the packages early at the league meetings will only make us even more eager for him to arrive.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

Although Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen didn't throw for scouts, he attended Notre Dame's pro day Tuesday and had individual meetings with representatives of the Redskins and 49ers. Clausen, who has been recovering from January surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his right big toe, will hold his own workout for NFL teams on April 9 in South Bend. He spoke with a group of reporters, including Sporting News' Dave Curtis, after Tuesday's event.   Jimmy Clausen has resumed running after surgery on toe ligaments injured in September. Sporting News: How's the toe? Jimmy Clausen: It's coming along. Yesterday was the first day I've been able to run since surgery. Just jogged around the track a little bit. Two laps, and I was pretty winded. But it felt good. It's not as strong as I want it, coming off of surgery, but it's getting there.   SN: When did the torn ligaments happen? JC: They tore in the Michigan State game (Sept. 19). As soon as I got hurt, I heard a pop. Going back and looking at the MRIs, it was definitely torn in that game. I played on it the whole season, so my two sesamoid bones moved a centimeter down. The doctor had to reattach the tendons and then move the sesamoid bones up. It was a pretty intense surgery.   SN: Did you think about having anything done earlier? JC: The doctor (after the season) said I should've had it done the next day. Knowing that, I wouldn't be in this position right now, but it's hard to think about that.   SN: Do you feel like you deserved better? JC: It's whatever it is. I'm in a great situation right now, and I don't think I'd be in this situation if I would've known I had two torn tendons. If I had known, I probably would have had the surgery the next day.   SN: What have you been doing the last three weeks? JC: I have been lifting a lot Š my upper body, my left leg, doing core. These past two weeks, I've been getting my throwing motion down, getting ready for April 9. Once my toe feels a little better, I can start getting my footwork down. But I've just been dropping back, walking, trying to get through my release.   SN: Why did you go to the Combine? JC: I went for interviews and obviously to get checked out by the doctors. That's pretty much the only reason I went down.   SN: What kind of questions are you getting from teams? JC: It ranges (from) why I came to Notre Dame, my leadership ability, some of the off-the-field things to questions like: "Are you a dog or a cat?" I said I was a dog. "If you had to choose, what kind of tree would you be?" Those are some of the questions they asked; it's pretty funny. But they want to get to know you, your personality.   SN: How do you feel about some of the things that are being said about you in the media? JC: That's one of the big things why I wanted to go to the Combine. The coaches could see first-hand who I am as a person, what I'm about, things I like, don't like, how I am in a meeting situation. They could fire questions at me, have me up at the (chalk)board, try to put me in intense situations and see how I react. That's just the life of it. That's why I wanted to go to the Combine. I was real anxious to get the coaches, general managers and owners to get a feel for me.   SN: Do you have anything set up with teams that you're at liberty to tell us? JC: I really don't know. My agent is setting all those meetings up. I know the first meeting I have to go to is Buffalo. That's the only one I know so far.   SN: How frustrating is it going through this with an injury? JC: It's hard not being able to go out there and run a 40, do a shuttle, throw the ball, do all those things. But I'll be able to go out there on the 9th and I think that's what coaches want to see.   SN: Why are you here today? JC: I wanted to show my support for those guys and be there for them. They're my teammates. It was their day today, and all of them performed really well.   SN: What are you hearing from the guys still with Notre Dame about how things are going with coach (Brian) Kelly? JC: Great things. That's all I've been hearing, is great things. (They've) just been saying they're real excited to get out there Friday (for the start of spring practice).   This story appears in March 24's edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.