| Like so many millions of young
| |
| | Miller could slice up some seams in the
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| sports-crazed boys, in my formative years
| |
| | defense this fall. Plexico Burress is
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| I was a baseball card fanatic. But one
| |
| | gone so Pittsburgh is going to need other
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| thing that I never understood about
| |
| | playmakers to step up. Also his size
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| baseball cards is why rookie cards were
| |
| | (6'5'' 256) will make him an inviting red
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| always worth more money than any other
| |
| | zone target.Mike Nugent, K, New York
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| cards. I bring this up, because I'm
| |
| | JetsDoug Brien converted 83 percent of
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| equally confused when it comes to rookie
| |
| | his kicks in 2004, but was exposed the
|
| contracts in the NFL.Why is it that
| |
| | after a pair of missed game winning field
|
| rookies -- players who haven't
| |
| | goals missed against Pittsburgh last
|
| accomplished anything in the league are
| |
| | January. Tough crowd. Enter the kid.
|
| paid exorbitant sums of money and put in
| |
| | Nugent won the Lou Groza Award last fall
|
| positions to hurt their teams by holding
| |
| | and was prolific at Ohio State. He was
|
| out? Case in point: two-time Super Bowl
| |
| | deemed worthy of a second round pick by
|
| MVP Tom Brady signed a contract extension
| |
| | New York, the third highest a kicker has
|
| that included $32 million guaranteed,
| |
| | ever been drafted. New York's style lends
|
| perennial All-Pro and future Hall of
| |
| | itself to a lot of close games. That
|
| Famer Orlando Pace signed an extension
| |
| | means Nugent will face plenty of clutch
|
| with $18 million guaranteed, and rookie
| |
| | kicks this season.Matt Jones, WR,
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| quarterback Alex Smith - who was a
| |
| | JacksonvilleThe Jags pick of Jones 21st
|
| one-year wonder at the football factory
| |
| | overall may have been the shocker of the
|
| that is Utah, and who hasn't taken a
| |
| | first round in April. He is a converted
|
| single snap in a regular season game -
| |
| | quarterback out of Arkansas, and will be
|
| signed a contract that guarantees him $24
| |
| | expected to step right in and contribute.
|
| million. Curious.This year featured more
| |
| | Last year's No. 1 pick Reggie Williams
|
| first-round holdouts and more acrimony in
| |
| | had an awful rookie season, and besides
|
| NFL rookie negotiations than any in
| |
| | 36-year-old Jimmy Smith the Jags don't
|
| recent memory. At one point, players like
| |
| | have much of a receiving corps. Byron
|
| David Pollack, Adam Jones, Roddy White
| |
| | Leftwich could be ready for a breakout
|
| and Cedric Benson were projected starters
| |
| | year, but if that's going to happen than
|
| for their respective teams. However, due
| |
| | Jones is going to have to take advantage
|
| in part to their extended holdouts, as of
| |
| | of the mismatches (he's 6'6'', 242)
|
| right now none of those players figure to
| |
| | he'll most likely face.David Pollack, LB,
|
| crack the starting lineup come Week
| |
| | CincinnatiWhen Pollack was at Georgia,
|
| One.The irony here is that these players
| |
| | the coaches used to have to take him off
|
| are squabbling over a slight increase in
| |
| | the practice field because the offense
|
| money now - and by slight I mean in
| |
| | just couldn't get anything done when he
|
| percentages, not in actual figures - and
| |
| | was out there. He was that dominant. The
|
| by doing so jeopardizing their long-term
| |
| | Bengals are hoping that he can make the
|
| earning potential. By holding out, these
| |
| | adjustment to linebacker in their 3-4
|
| rookies are missing valuable acclimation
| |
| | alignment. Pollack held out for 20 days,
|
| time in training camp, they're alienating
| |
| | which could stunt his growth in the early
|
| themselves from their coaches, teammates
| |
| | part of this season. However, he will
|
| and fans, and earning reputations as
| |
| | have the benefit of playing alongside
|
| people who are difficult to work with.
| |
| | college teammate Odell Thurman. Thurman
|
| Furthermore, the track record for rookies
| |
| | was picked up in the second round by
|
| that hold out more than 10 days is a
| |
| | Cincinnati and is also projected as a
|
| train wreck.The NFL is in the middle of
| |
| | starting linebacker for the league's
|
| negotiating a new collective bargaining
| |
| | 26th-rated run defense.Alex Barron, OT,
|
| agreement. I wouldn't be surprised (and
| |
| | St. LouisWhat a spot for Barron, college
|
| am actually hoping for) a change that
| |
| | football's Outland Trophy winner last
|
| institutes a rookie pay scale, similar to
| |
| | fall, to be in. He gets to apprentice
|
| what the NBA has in place. In the NBA
| |
| | next to Adam Timmerman and on the same
|
| system the contracts' length and worth
| |
| | line as Orlando Pace. Barron not only
|
| are figured on a graduated scale and
| |
| | held out, which pissed off head coach
|
| preset based on when players are picked.
| |
| | Mike Martz, but he missed his first
|
| Starting this in the league would
| |
| | practice after he signed with the team -
|
| effectively end NFL rookie holdouts, and
| |
| | unexcused. You don't want to get in
|
| help ensure that more money is invested
| |
| | Martz's doghouse. Just ask Kyle
|
| in accomplished NFL players as opposed to
| |
| | Turley.Cedric Benson, RB, ChicagoAs a
|
| the potential-laden first-round picks
| |
| | Bears fan I'm disgusted with this whole
|
| that have a hit-or-miss history in the
| |
| | situation. As if it wasn't bad enough
|
| league. I don't see where the NFLPA would
| |
| | that we had to stare in horror at his
|
| have a problem with this, given that
| |
| | freak out on draft day (you know, when he
|
| about 80 percent of the players in the
| |
| | started panting, sweating, babbling and
|
| league weren't No. 1 picks and a pay
| |
| | sobbing during his interview with Suzy
|
| scale would mean more money for
| |
| | Kolber after he was selected fourth by
|
| them.Here's a list of 10 rookies that I
| |
| | the Bears) now we have to wait for him to
|
| expect to have a definite, tangible
| |
| | put his avarice aside and become a team
|
| impact on their team's fortunes this
| |
| | player. He can make it up to me with
|
| season, for good or ill. I would wager
| |
| | 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.Roddy
|
| that of the 10 teams that these players
| |
| | White, WR, AtlantaWhite held out for the
|
| represent, the ones that get the most
| |
| | first two weeks of camp and, wouldn't you
|
| production from their first-year players
| |
| | know it, he got injured (ankle) in his
|
| will be the ones still alive in
| |
| | first preseason game after his return.
|
| January.J.J. Arrington, RB, Arizona The
| |
| | I'm not saying that his injury had any
|
| Cardinals are the trendy sleeper pick
| |
| | physical link to his hold out I'm just
|
| this season in the weak NFC West.
| |
| | saying it's bad karma. Some in Falcons
|
| Arrington follows in the footsteps of the
| |
| | camp insist that Peerless Price is still
|
| NFL's leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, who
| |
| | the No. 1 receiver in Atlanta, but still
|
| retired after the 2004 season. That
| |
| | others surmise that he's going to get cut
|
| sounds more dramatic than it really is,
| |
| | to free up cap space. The jury is still
|
| since it's not like Smith actually did
| |
| | out. But it's clear that big things are
|
| anything in Arizona. Arrington topped the
| |
| | expected from White, the second wideout
|
| 2,000-yard mark at Cal last fall, and has
| |
| | Atlanta has taken in the first round in
|
| the speed and shake to be a productive
| |
| | two years (Michael Jenkins in 2004).Fred
|
| scat back. However, he is small (5'9''
| |
| | Gibson, WR, PhiladelphiaOK, so T.O. being
|
| 214 lbs.), he has fumbled twice in two
| |
| | back in camp takes the onus off Gibson.
|
| preseason games, and it remains to be
| |
| | However, who knows how long that whine
|
| seen whether he can take an NFL
| |
| | ass will hold up this season. Regardless,
|
| pounding.Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas
| |
| | the Eagles lack a No. 2 option, and rumor
|
| CitySo far I've heard from several
| |
| | has it that Gibson has looked really good
|
| sources that this kid is just an animal.
| |
| | this August in camp. He was labeled as
|
| He was by far and away the best defensive
| |
| | soft during his time at Georgia, but he
|
| player in the draft, but he slipped to
| |
| | could blossom under the guidance of a
|
| No. 15 and fell into the Chiefs' lap.
| |
| | team player like Owens (just
|
| Johnson will join Sammy Knight, Patrick
| |
| | kidding).Honorable mention: Cadillac
|
| Surtain and Kendrell Bell in a retooled
| |
| | Williams, RB, Tampa Bay; Erasmus James,
|
| K.C. defense. If you can find anyone dumb
| |
| | DE, Minnesota; Jammal Brown, OG, New
|
| enough to take your wager, bet your
| |
| | Orleans; Daryl Blackstock, LB, Arizona;
|
| mortgage on Johnson as the Defensive
| |
| | Roscoe Parrish, WR, Buffalo, Chris Henry,
|
| Rookie of the Year.Heath Miller, TE,
| |
| | WR, Cincinnati.Doc's Sports Recent
|
| PittsburghThe Steelers have never really
| |
| | Articles:2005 Pac-10 Preview2005 SEC
|
| utilized the tight end in the passing
| |
| | Preview2005 WAC PreviewDoc's Sports
|
| game (average of 18 catches a year since
| |
| | Handicapping Service
|
| 1998). In fact, they'd rather have a
| |
| | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports
|
| sixth lineman than a pass catcher in the
| |
| | has been recognized as one of the leaders
|
| TE slot. Miller could change all of that.
| |
| | and most trusted names in sports
|
| With sure hands and outstanding speed,
| |
| | handicapping information.
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