Mar. 16th, 2011

Pouncey the main attraction at busy Florida pro day

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- There was one thing that stood out at Florida's pro day Tuesday: "Team Pouncey" T-shirts were everywhere.

They were on the field and in the stands. They were on former and current players. They were on friends and family members.

At one point, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick found himself surrounded by a dozen people wearing the black shirts that had "Team Pouncey" printed on the front and "2 Of A Kind" on the back.Despite the extra attention, Mike Pouncey didn't need help separating himself from the pack. Pouncey was the main attraction at Florida's pro day.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound guard/center had scouts, general managers and coaches watching his every move. They broke down his stance, put him through blocking drills, scrutinized his snaps, talked about his personal life and tested his football IQ.

"I did a great job. They loved me," Pouncey said.

With good reason, too.

Pouncey's twin brother, Maurkice, started 16 games at center for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Mike has the same DNA, something NFL personnel executives noted.

"You definitely take that into consideration because obviously they're very similar," Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Gene Smith said. "Both guys could play center or guard, and versatility equals value. He did a nice job out here today."

Pouncey spent most of his college career at guard, but returned for his senior year and replaced his brother at center. He struggled some early, but settled down with more experience and emerged as Florida's best blocker and one of the team leaders.

"You've got to love his confidence and his personality," Jaguars offensive line coach Andy Heck said. "He's got a magnetic personality. It's clear that he's got some leadership about him. I think that shines through."

Safeties Ahmad Black and Will Hill, linebackers Brandon Hicks and A.J. Jones, receiver Carl Moore, running back Emmanuel Moody, punter Chas Henry, offensive linemen Maurice Hurt, Marcus Gilbert and Carl Johnson, and defensive linemen Brandon Antwine, Duke Lemmens, Lawrence Marsh, Terron Sanders and Justin Trattou, and a few others also worked out in the Swamp.

Three former Florida players -- quarterback Chris Leak, tight end Tate Casey and linebacker Dustin Doe -- showed up to work out. But because they are considered NFL free agents in the middle of a lockout, they weren't allowed on the field or able to talk to any team representatives.

Pouncey, meanwhile, held everyone's interest.

Since he worked out at the NFL combine in Indianapolis last month, there was little Pouncey had to prove. Still, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 times, two fewer than his brother, and did every drill scouts requested. He met individually with the New York Giants, the Jaguars, the Patriots and the Chicago Bears. He also begins individual workouts Wednesday, with the first stop being Detroit.

Pouncey would love Pittsburgh to draft him so he would be reunited with his best friend, but the Steelers pick 31st and Pouncey doesn't expect to still be on the board then.

Nonetheless, the Steelers like the thought of pairing up the brothers and seeing what develops."I don't know if it'll happen, but I can (imagine that scenario)," Pittsburgh offensive line coach Sean Kugler said. "They're tough to tell apart. They're very similar in a lot of ways, great kids, great family. I certainly enjoy coaching Maurkice and wherever his brother ends up, he'll do a great job as well."

Mike Pouncey anticipates getting drafted in the middle of the first round, pointing to warm meetings and strong feedback from the Miami Dolphins (15th pick), the Jaguars (16th), the Giants (19th) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20th).

The Bucs would be a welcome spot since it's a half-hour drive from his home in Lakeland.

"That's hometown," Pouncey said. "I would love to go there."

Pouncey didn't bring up his brother's success Tuesday. He didn't feel he needed to. Those T-shirts -- his mother handed out 30 of them -- said it all.

"I don't sell it," Pouncey said. "They watch the tape, they see we play just alike. Obviously, he's doing so good at center at the next level that they'll probably throw me in at center and let me excel at that position. But if not, I'll play guard. I'll play any position they want me to."

Mar. 1st, 2011

DL prospects show their speed at the Combine

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This year's crop of defensive linemen is officially fast.

Nevada DE-OLB Dontay Moch had the quickest time among defensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, registering the fastest 40-yard dash time since 2000 with a time of 4.44 seconds. Moch, a tweener at 248 pounds, is one of the smallest D-linemen at this year's Combine. But it was the speed of the bigger players that demanded attention.

Potential top-five pick DT Nick Fairley of Auburn unofficially clocked in at 4.82 at 291 pounds. His biggest competition to be the first DT drafted, 319-pound Marcell Dareus of Alabama, ran an unofficial 4.92. Fellow 300-pound DT Marvin Austin of North Carolina recorded a time of 4.8, unofficially. Meanwhile, Miami (Fla.)'s Allen Bailey (285) hit 4.77 and Iowa's Christian Ballard (283) clocked in at 4.80.http://sarwary-sarwary.blogspot.com/

North Carolina DE Robert Quinn stole the show among the defensive ends, running a time of 4.70 seconds at 265 pounds. Former Purdue standout Ryan Kerrigan finished slightly slower with an official time of 4.71 at 267 pounds. DEs Aldon Smith of Missouri and Cameron Jordan of California each recorded times of 4.78 and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt crossed the line at 4.84.

Other top prospects, such as Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers and Ohio State's Cameron Heyward, did not participate.

Feb. 22nd, 2011

All-stars energized for NBA playoff run

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LOS ANGELES — They were teammates on the winning Western Conference side in Sunday's 60th NBA all-star game but now it's back to business for Kevin Durant Cheap NFL Jerseys and Blake Griffin.
The second half of the 2010-11 NBA season begins with Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder taking on Griffin's Los Angeles Lakers as one of nine NBA games on Tuesday.
Durant said he is taking not only good memories from the all-star weekend but also a renewed sense of purpose in trying to help the Thunder win the Northwest Division.
"My shots felt good. So hopefully during the next couple of days, they will feel good, as well," said Durant who had 34 points in the West's 148-143 win over the East at Staples Center arena.
"This was a great experience for me. I can't take anything for granted."
Carmelo Anthony expects this to be his last all-star appearance as a Denver Nugget.
Anthony, who had eight points and seven rebounds Sunday as a starting West forward, hopes to get an answer this week on where he will be playing in the future. The NBA trading deadline is Thursday at 12pm Los Angeles time (2000 GMT).
"Time is ticking, man, and time is money," Anthony said during Friday's media day at the all-star game.
"There's a lot of teams that I'm pretty sure that's going to call. I don't really know how much interest the Lakers have or Dallas or anything at this point.
"The end is near. All this stuff will be over with."
Los Angeles Clippers rookie Blake Griffin soared over a car Saturday to win the slam-dunk contest. Griffin, who will turn 21 next month, was the busiest all-star, competing in the rookie game, dunk contest and making his main all-star game debut.
"Oh man. I can barely move right now," Griffin said following Sunday's game. "The last time I was this tired was probably at training camp."
Since Griffin's arrival, the Clippers have been playing in front of sold-out houses and even taking some of the limelight in Los Angeles from storied Lakers franchise.
"I am excited about that," Griffin said. "But the big reason is not just for me but for how we have been playing as a team. We have not accomplished anything yet. We are still learning. I am glad to be part of it."
The defending champion Lakers head into the second half with a 38-19 record and a commanding nine and a half game lead over second place Phoenix in the Pacific Division.
All-star game MVP Kobe Bryant said the Lakers were in contact with each other during the all-star break and are ready to get back at it.http://sarwary-sarwary.blogspot.com/
"We are looking forward to it," Bryant said of the second half of the season.
"We are up for the challenge. Pau (Gasol) and I have been talking this whole time. We have been in communication with the rest of the fellas, and we all can't wait to get started."
Anthony hopes to get his short term future sorted out by the end of the week but nobody knows what is going to happen with the long-term future.
The players union and the owners are in limbo over negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement and if the two sides can't agree on a deal by midnight on June 30 there could be a lockout.
"Nobody knows what's going to happen with the lockout," Anthony said.
"At the end of the day, if I was to sit here and say I'm not thinking about that, I would be lying to you guys. I don't want to go into no lockout. I don't think none of the players want to go into a lockout."