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Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves fielded questions at the NFL Scouting Combine about their quarterback situation, and didn’t allow himself to get sucked into talk about Peyton Manning possibly being in the desert in 2012.

When asked about Manning, Whisenhunt said, “I’m not going to get into those scenarios. I think Rod Graves, our general manager, said it best. We’re always looking for opportunities with players. I don’t think that’s any different from any team in the league.”

Graves, who spoke after his coach told reporters he’s a fan like everyone else when it comes to Manning, wondering if and when the quarterback will play again.

“We’ve got an outstanding group of quarterbacks with us right now,” Graves said. “We believe we can win with those quarterbacks, and, you know, we’re preparing as if they’re going to be the group we’re working with. And we’ll see other opportunities present themselves if that happens.”

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Injuries are always key for teams that are looking to spend first round picks on high profile players, and today it was reveled that a major name that has been mentioned in the top 10 recently went under the knife.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson had a knee scope within the last three weeks and will participate in on-field drills during this weekend’s Scouting Combine, Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reports.

According to La Canfora, Richardson injured the knee prior to the National Championship Game in which Alabama defeated LSU

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1. Indianapolis Colts- (Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford)

This is the no-brainer of the draft, as the Colts know this is the only choice. The only question now is will Peyton Manning be around to mentor Luck for 2012?

2. Washington Redskins- (Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor)

The Skins wheel and deal with the Rams to move up to two, and grab the QB they think will make their offense click for 2012 and beyond. Griffin is a throw first QB, and he will get a chance to let it ride a lot with the Skins in 2012.

3. Minnesota Vikings- (Matt Kalil, OT, USC)

With the two big QB’s off the board, Kalil falls into the lap of the Vikings, who need help on the line and want to get younger. Kalil is the best non-quarterback in this class, and Minnesota has a huge need at left tackle.

4. Cleveland Browns- (Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State)

The Browns want Griffin III, but won’t sell out to get him, allowing the Skins to get up and steal him away at #2, meaning they will settle at four for Blackmon. They watched as A.J. Green revamped the Bengals offense last season, and feel that Blackmon will do the same with theirs.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- (Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State)

The Buccanneers have a lot of questions at the CB spot. Aqib Talib could be heading to jail, and Ronde Barber may not come back, choosing to retire. The CB spot is a need for the Bucs they can’t overlook.

6. S.Louis Rams- (Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa)

The Rams with new coach Jeff Fisher pick up a couple more picks with allowing the Redskins to move up, and take a big time tackle to help protect Sam Bradford and open holes for Steven Jackson. Reiff is the second-best player available behind Trent Richardson

7. Jacksonville Jaguars- (Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina)

The Jags need a big name DE to put pressure on the QB, and Coples will help make that happen. Coples’ size and athleticism allow him to move around from left to right; helping to create a consistent pass rush along with Jeremy Mincey and Tyson Alualu.

8. Miami Dolphins- (Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame)

The Dolphins have a new coach in Joe Philbin, and they will grab his former backup Matt Flynn to play QB, and will also get Floyd to help out at the WR spot to add some offense. It may be a few slots high for Floyd, but he’s going to wind up being a very good NFL WR.

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Current Rams WR Brandon Lloyd is set to hit the free agent market in less than a month, and his agent, Tom Condon, knows that a great fit for the 31-year-old would be New England.

Lloyd had his biggest season of his career when he was playing in Denver, and this upcoming season there’s going to be a key piece of that team roaming the Pats sideline – Josh McDaniel.

“I can’t even lie about that,” Lloyd told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in late December. “I’m tied to McDaniels. He uses me differently than other offensive coordinators used me in my entire career. He uses me as an every-play receiver. The short game, mid-range game, gimmick passes, deep balls.

Do you think Lloyd to New England makes sense? Click HERE to read the rest!

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If you are an NFL-only fan, I may not be able to help you. Here’s a schedule of upcoming sporting events to keep you occupied until the April 25th Draft.

The NFL Scouting Combine: Wednesday Feb. 22 -Tuesday, February 28th on NFL Network. Here’s a list of the quarterbacks who were invited to work out:
B.J. Coleman, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Aaron Corp, Richmond; Kirk Cousins, Michigan State; Austin Davis, Southern Miss; Nick Foles, Arizona; Robert Griffin III, Baylor; Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois; Jacory Harris, Miami; Jordan Jefferson, LSU; Case Keenum, Houston; Ryan Lindley, San Diego State; Andrew Luck, Stanford; Kellen Moore, Boise State; Brock Osweiler, Arizona State; Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M; Darron Thomas, Oregon; Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State; Russell Wilson, Wisconsin; Patrick Witt, Yale.

NBA All-Star Weekend: Friday, February 24th-Sunday, February 26th on TNT. Blake Griffin has not yet committed to defend his Slam Dunk Contest championship. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will be general managers of the two teams in the Rookie-Sophomore Rising Star Game, and they will pick sides from a pool of 18 players previously selected by league assistant coaches. The Game itself will feature Luol Deng, Roy Hibbert, Andre Iguodala, Lamarcus Aldridge and Andrew Bynum for the first time.

The NCAA Tournament: March 15th-April 2nd on TNT, TBS, TruTV, and CBS. Selection Sunday is March 11th. The field is narrowed from 68 to 64 on March 13th and 14th.

MLB Opening Day: Thursday, April 5th, on various channels including ESPN, MLB Network, WGN, and Fox Sports affiliates. There will be one game on the 4th between the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and new-look Miami Marlins (and overseas games earlier than this, including teams like the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics). The first day includes the debut of slugger Prince Fielder as a Detroit Tiger, taking on the Red Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit.  The Nationals will face the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but there’s no word whether new pitcher Edwin Jackson, phenom Stephen Strasburg, or someone else will pitch for the Nationals. The Pirates will battle for respect in a cross-state showdown as they host the Phillies. The Pirates have a 45% roster turnover from last season, when they were leading the Central at the 100-game mark. New Pittsburgh players include SS Clint Barmes, C Rod Barajas, LHP Erik Bedard, and 1B Casey McGehee. The Pirates’ .286 winning percentage over the final 56 games (16-40) was the poorest by any team that had ever led its league or division at the 100-game mark (even more horrific than the previous record of .339 by the 1977 Cubs). There will also be a night game, Dodgers vs. Padres at Petco Park in San Diego.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second week of April on NBC Sports Network. If the playoffs were to start today, there would be four new teams: Blues in the West; Senators, Devils, and Maple Leafs in the East. The Stars in the West still have a good chance.

Hit “Like” if you plan on watching something on this list.

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The St. Louis Rams have finally settled on a new general manager, as reports say the team is working on a contract that would make Falcons Director of Player Personnel Les Snead their new GM.

Snead has been in the Falcons organization for the last 13 seasons, spending the last three as the team’s Director of Player Personnel, where he has overseen the college and pro scouting departments. Prior to joining the Falcons, Snead spent three seasons in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ scouting department.

Snead was reportedly a candidate for the San Francisco 49ers’ general manager position last January and was one of two finalists for the Rams job. Minnesota Vikings Director of Player Personnel George Paton was a finalist, and believed to be the front-runner for the position, before he was promoted to Assistant General Manager by the Vikings on Saturday.

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It’s evident that even after three-seasons in the NFL, America still has not forgiven Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

In a recent poll done by Forbes, Vick was voted number one in ‘America’s Most Hated Athletes of 2012? for the second straight year. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many Eagles fans, at is seems every time Vick’s name is tossed out around any other fan, it is followed by an immediate frown and negative comment. There is still no almost no respect or love for Vick outside of the city of Philadelphia, and people are struggling in finding any reason to forgive him.

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Free agent frenzy starts in the NFL on March 13th, which is a welcome sight since last year we had to sit out a lockout and didn’t have free agency until August.

Today we start our position by position breakdown of free agents, and thanks to the good folks at Pro Football Weekly, they have a list of free agents by position, and today we start with the quarterback spot.

The number next to the players name represents the number of years they have been in the league.

Derek Anderson, Carolina 7
Richard Bartel, Arizona 2
Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh 14
Kyle Boller, Oakland 9
Tom Brandstater, St. Louis 2
Drew Brees, New Orleans 11
Mark Brunell, New York Jets 19
Jason Campbell, Oakland 7
David Carr, New York Giants 10
Kellen Clemens, St. Louis 6
Kerry Collins, Indianapolis 17 (retired)
Chase Daniel, New Orleans 3
Jake Delhomme, Houston 12
Dennis Dixon, Pittsburgh 4
A.J. Feeley, St. Louis 11
Matt Flynn, Green Bay 4
Jeff Garcia, Houston 10
Chris Greisen, Dallas 3
Rex Grossman, Washington 9
Max Hall, Arizona 2
Caleb Hanie, Chicago 4
Chad Henne, Miami 4
Shaun Hill, Detroit 10
Brian Hoyer, New England 3
Josh Johnson, Tampa Bay 4
Jon Kitna, Dallas 15 (retired)
Byron Leftwich, Pittsburgh 9
J.P. Losman, Miami 7
Josh McCown, Chicago 9
Luke McCown, Jacksonville 8
Kevin O’Connell, New York Jets 4
Dan Orlovsky, Indianapolis 7
Kyle Orton, Kansas City 7
Tyler Palko, Kansas City 2
Brady Quinn, Denver 5
Chris Redman, Atlanta 9
Sage Rosenfels, Minnesota 11
Alex Smith, San Francisco 7
Drew Stanton, Detroit 5
Charlie Whitehurst, Seattle 6
Vince Young, Philadelphia 6

Top Five QB Free Agents:

1. Drew Brees
2. Matt Flynn
3. Alex Smith
4. Kyle Orton
5. Chad Henne

Top Five QB Free Agent Question Marks:

1. Matt Flynn
2. Vince Young
3. Charlie Whitehurst
4. Caleb Hanie
5. Richard Bartel

Oldies but Goodies – QB’s that will get Jobs by Name Only:

1. Luke McCown
2. David Carr
3. Rex Grossman
4. A.J. Feeley
5. Jason Campbell

Breakdown – Not a bad class, but almost all focus will turn to Flynn after Brees gets his mega deal done with the Saints. There’s a lot of names on the list that make you scratch your head, like Young, Whitehurst, and even Hanie, who has shown some promise over the last year plus.

Flynn’s suitors appear to be the Dolphins, Redskins, and even the Browns have been mentioned. Look for him to get a huge deal, much like Scott Mitchell did from the Lions years ago. Whitehurst is another interesting name to look out for, as he never really panned out with the Seahawks.

I would expect Vince Young to get a deal, but likely as a backup, and he could wind up back in Philly as Michael Vicks’ backup.

Going to be an interesting class to watch.

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Another Steelers linebacker has had his contract restructured to clear up cap space.

Just a few days after it was announced that LaMarr Woodley had his deal redone, it’s being reported that LB Lawrence Timmons’ contract has also been restructured to give the Steelers salary cap space.

The new deal for Timmons frees up .14 million in space on their 2012 salary cap.

Signed to a five-year, .8 million contract extension in August, Timmons was scheduled to earn .625 million in base salary and a .5 million roster bonus, which was due on the fifth day of the 2012 league year, for a 2012 cap number of .125 million.

According to a league source, earlier this week, Timmons signed a restructured contract that reduced his 2012 base salary to 0,000, with the Steelers combining the .925 million in base salary and .5 million roster bonus into a .425 million signing bonus that will be prorated from 2012 through the 2016 season at .285 million annually.

The restructure reduces Timmons’ 2012 cap number to .985 million, a a cap savings of .14 million.

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The Steelers have replaced Bruce Arians with the offensive coordinator on the other side of the field in Super Bowl XLIII, Todd Haley. Check it out.

Hit “Like” if you are excited for the Steelers 2012 offense.

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