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BC Linebacker Herzlich Fighting Cancer

Photo - LB Mark Herzlich - Boston College

Boston College senior linebacker Mark Herzlich announced this week he has been diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma, a cancer most often found in bone or soft tissue. Herzlich was the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year last season and was preparing for his final campaign in the ACC. He had just finished his classes for the spring semester and returned home to Pennsylvania with pain in his left knee and throughout his leg. He went to see his orthopedic doctor, who requested an MRI because of the swelling in thigh. After the results, Herzlich was sent to an oncologist in Philadelphia who informed him he has cancer. Herzlich had turned down the NFL Draft 2009 as a junior to return for his senior season this fall. Last season, Herzlich led the Eagles with 110 tackles, 6 interceptions, 8 PBU, 2 FF and 2 FR. He was ranked a probable Top 10 selection in the NFL Draft 2010 entering his final season.

"It can be pretty life threatening," he said, admitting he was scared but sounding calm as usual. "My doctor told me the cure rate is pretty high, but then again for some people, they take the chemo well, get rid of most of the tumor and can remove the rest of it with surgery. Some people don't take the chemo well, and then you have to rely just on surgery, which obviously brings down the chances. Some people react differently. It's basically waiting to see how the chemo goes, how the treatment goes, and how my body reacts to everything."
"I've learned there are some things you can't control, and those are types of things I don't like to worry myself with because I can't control them. All I can control now is how I am mentally through the process. I hopefully can be a positive story in the end of this for people who go through this. It's really up to God and medicine how everything works out."

He intends to follow treatment this summer and see how his recovery progresses before making a decision about school and football in the fall or next spring.

AFC North Team Draft Grades

Photo – Michael Oher - Ole Miss

Baltimore Ravens - Grade B+
The Ravens had a strong draft class and were able to address their biggest needs on their offensive line and back seven on defense. On the 1st round, they moved up quickly when OT Michael Oher was still available late in the round. He is a well developed left tackle and capable of starting early in his pro career. It was a great move to land a premier left tackle for their young developing line. On the 2nd round, they selected LB/DE Paul Kruger, a versatile quick defender who is an ideal addition for their front seven. He fits the outside role as an attack linebacker with good pass rushing skills and the ability to play up and down. On the 3rd round, they chose CB Lardarius Webb, a compact tough defensive back with fine natural cover skills. He has fine closing speed and the COD skills to match up well in man situations. He is also a sure tackler and should press for the nickel corner role in camp. He has intriguing upside to start on the corner and probably sooner than expected. We ranked him the #2 small college prospect with an early NFL starting grade. With two 5th round picks, they chose LB Jason Phillips and TE Davon Drew. Phillips is a good athlete who runs well and has the instincts and toughness the Ravens seek in a defender. He had a strong career and was a rising prospect until injured. He figures to help on special teams and has the athleticism to play a few linebacker positions for a few roles. Drew is a mobile sure handed receiver who gives them a nice H back prospect behind veterans Heap and Smith. With their 6th round pick, they drafted runner Cedric Peerman, a shifty runner with a nice combination of skills. He is a tough back who fell off ball security concerns. He is a good inside runner who put a few moves together. He must show better ball security to make this roster, but with improvement there, he is a talented back who can surprise in camp and win a backup role.

Baltimore
1 23 Michael Oher - OT - Mississippi
2 57 Paul Kruger - DE - Utah
3 88 Lardarius Webb - CB - Nicholls St
5 137 Jason Phillips - LB - Texas Christian
5 149 Davon Drew - TE - East Carolina
6 185 Cedric Peerman - RB - Virginia

Cincinnati Bengals - Grade B+
The Bengals addressed major need areas especially in the early rounds. They selected players with high grades at key need areas. On the 1st round, they chose OT Andre Smith, a very well developed blocker who they hope becomes a cornerstone performer on their offensive line. He should win a starting job in camp and possibly the left tackle position. He also has the versatility to play inside at guard. On the 2nd round, they were surprised to see LB Rey Maualuga available and quickly chose the Mike defender. He is an athletic defender who is a tough and dominated run defender. He can start on the inside and a defender that HC Marvin Lewis sees as a core player in his scheme. On the 3rd round, they chose DE Michael Johnson and TE Chase Coffman. Johnson is a big athlete who was an underachiever over his career. He is a quick edge rusher with the prototypical skills to be a top flight pro pass rusher. He may be the biggest boom or bust prospect in this class, but a good risk this late and capable of being a huge surprise if motivated. Coffman is a sure handed receiver who is well developed in all areas of the passing game to help immediately in a few roles. He is only a marginal blocker as an inline performer. He was good value here and should start early in his career. On the 4th round, they added OC Jonathan Luigs and punter Kevin Huber. Luigs is a sound technician who understands angles and has the intangibles necessary to start. He was an excellent addition here with a fairly early pro starting grade. Huber is a good punter who can win the job outright in camp. In the 6th round, they added CB Morgan Trent and runner Bernard Scott. Trent is a savvy cover man who fits a cover 2 scheme and will press for the nickel corner role. Scott is a troubled prospect with natural running skills. He gets a huge chance here at a position with only marginal talent after the release of veteran Chris Perry. On the 7th round, they added FB Fui Vakapuna, DE Clinton McDonald and WR Freddie Brown. Vakapuna is a tough relentless blocker with good physical skills to compete for the starting role. He can play on special teams. McDonald figures to challenge for a roster spot along their average front four. He can fill a few roles and has a make it grade. Brown is a big athlete with good hands to compete for a backup role.

Cincinnati
1 6 Andre Smith - OT - Alabama
2 38 Rey Maualuga - LB - Southern Cal
3 70 Michael Johnson - DE - Georgia Tech
3 98 Chase Coffman - TE - Missouri
4 106 Jonathan Luigs - OC - Arkansas
5 142 Kevin Huber - P - Cincinnati
6 179 Morgan Trent - CB - Michigan
6 209 Bernard Scott - RB - Abilene Christian
7 215 Fui Vakapuna - FB - BYU
7 249 Clinton McDonald - DE - Memphis
7 252 Freddie Brown - WR - Utah

Senior Bowl Roster Produces 11 First Round Picks in NFL Draft 2009

Photo - TE Brandon Pettigrew - Oklahoma St.

The Senior Bowl 2009 roster produced 86 total draftees, including 11 first round selections this past weekend. The NFL Draft 2009 was held over two days with seven rounds and 256 picks and saw 86 Senior Bowl players selected in the draft process. Included in that total were 11 first round picks and a top ten selection.
The first Senior Bowl player to hear his name called Saturday was Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Raji was the 9th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers. This marks the 12th straight year a Senior Bowl player has been selected in the top 10 of the draft. Six picks after Raji was selected, Southern Cal linebacker Brian Cushing was picked by the Houston Texans at number 15th overall pick. Cushing was one of six Trojans to play in the 2009 Senior Bowl, all of whom were drafted.
With 11 more first round selections this year, the Senior Bowl has now had 122 first round picks since 1999. That’s an average of 11 first round picks a year. During that same time period a total of 963 Senior Bowl players have been selected in the NFL draft.
There were twenty Senior Bowl players selected in the second round, the most of any round, including seven of the first nine picks. With 12 more players going in the third round, a total of 43 picks of a possible 100 were Senior Bowl players in the first three rounds. This number is especially impressive when you consider that 27 underclassmen were also selected during the same period.

Frank Coyle has been a consultant for the Senior Bowl for 15 years.

The Senior Bowl’s firm relationship with the NFL was also evident in the fact that 29 of the 32 NFL teams drafted at least one Senior Bowl player. Leading the way were the Cleveland Browns with six Senior Bowl selections followed by Arizona, Buffalo, Dallas, New England and the New York Giants who each drafted five Senior Bowl players. A total of 12 teams selected four or more Senior Bowl players. The two coaching staffs of the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl selected a combined six Senior Bowl players with the Cincinnati Bengals (North squad) choosing four and the Jacksonville Jaguars (South squad) choosing two.

The future stars of the 2010 NFL Draft class will take the field for the 61st annual Under Armour Senior Bowl on Saturday January 30, 2010. For more information visit www.seniorbowl.com.

2009 Senior Bowl First Round Selections
Player - Position - School - Pick - NFL Team

B.J. Raji - DT - Boston College - 9 - Green Bay
Brian Cushing - LB - USC - 15 - Houston
Larry English - LB - Northern Illinois - 16 - San Diego
Robert Ayers - DE - Tennessee - 18 - Denver
Brandon Pettigrew - TE - Oklahoma St - 20 - Detroit
Alex Mack - OC - California - 21 - Cleveland
Michael Oher - OT - Ole Miss - 23 - Baltimore
Peria Jerry - DT - Ole Miss - 24 - Atlanta
Clay Matthews - LB - USC - 26 - Green Bay
Eric Wood - OC Louisville - 28 - Buffalo
Ziggy Hood - DT - Missouri - 32 - Pittsburgh

Top Feature Backs Knowshon Moreno & Donald Brown Chosen in First Round

Photo - Brian Cushing - Southern Cal

New Jersey has always supplied college football with premier talent that has helped teams like Penn St and Southern Cal compete for national titles. This year the Jersey college talent converted into seven #1 picks in the NFL Draft 2009, including two prospects in the top ten overall selections. OT Eugene Monroe and NT B.J. Raji were among the elite draft selections this past weekend with each selected among the top ten picks.
The top two running backs, Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown were selected in the first round. Both prospects are Jersey Shore players who I have been familiar with for the past six seasons and ranked at the top of the class. Each prospect is a talented feature back and carries an early NFL staring grade. Both have excellent intangibles and character, in addition to well rounded running skills.
The Jersey first round contingent fittingly finished with Rutgers wideout Kenny Britt selected by the Tennessee Titans as the 30th overall selection. Britt was the first Rutgers player ever chosen in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.

First Round Selections
Overall - Player - Pos - School
8th Eugene Monroe - OT - Virginia
9th B.J. Raji - DT - Boston College
12th Knowshon Moreno - RB - Georgia
14th Malcolm Jenkins - CB - Ohio St.
15th Brian Cushing - LB - Southern Cal
27th Donald Brown - RB - UConn
30th Kenny Britt - WR - Rutgers

Mock Draft - First Round

Photo - QB Matt Stafford - Lions

1 Detroit - Matt Stafford - QB - Georgia
2 St. Louis - Jason Smith - OT - Baylor
3 Kansas City - B.J. Raji - DT - Boston College
4 Seattle - * Mark Sanchez - QB - Southern Cal
5 Cleveland - Aaron Curry - LB - Wake Forest
6 Cincinnati - Eugene Monroe - OT - Virginia
7 Oakland - * Michael Crabtree - WR - Texas Tech
8 Jacksonville - * Andre Smith - OT - Alabama
9 Green Bay - Tyson Jackson - DE - LSU
10 San Francisco - Brian Orakpo - LB - Texas
11 Buffalo - Michael Oher - OT - Mississippi
12 Denver - * Aaron Maybin - LB - Penn St
13 Washington - * Eben Britton - OT - Arizona
14 New Orleans - Brian Cushing - LB - Southern Cal
15 Houston - Michael Johnson - DE - Georgia Tech
16 San Diego - Clay Matthews - LB - Southern Cal
17 New York Jets -* Josh Freeman - QB - Kansas St
18 Denver (Chicago) - Malcolm Jenkins - CB - Ohio St.
19 Tampa Bay - Brandon Pettigrew - TE - Oklahoma St
20 Detroit (Dallas) - * Jeremy Maclin - WR - Missouri
21 Philadelphia - * Knowshon Moreno - RB - Georgia
22 Minnesota - * Vontae Davis - CB - Illinois
23 New England - Conner Barwin - LB - Cincinnati
24 Atlanta - Peria Jerry - DT - Mississippi
25 Miami - Darius Butler - CB - Connecticut
26 Baltimore - Rey Maualuga - LB - Southern Cal
27 Indianapolis - Ziggy Hood- DT - Missouri
28 Buffalo (Phil -Carolina) - Robert Ayers - DE - Tennessee
29 New York Giants - * Darrius Heyward-Bey - WR - Maryland
30 Tennessee -* Everette Brown - DE - Florida St
31 Arizona - Alex Mack - OC - California-
32 Pittsburgh - Alphonso Smith - CB - Wake Forest

"The Publication NFL Scouts Buy"

Hindu Theory Players '09

Hindu Theory - This theory is a takeoff on our old friend, George Young former General Manager of the New York Giants, "If NFL General Managers and scouts had one common religion, it would be Hinduism because they all believe in reincarnation. They think every new player reminds them of some former NFL performer." This theory takes into account a players' projected NFL ability, size, body type, athleticism and upside potential as a pro.

Photo - OL Max Unger - Oregon

Current Player - Reminds of
OL Max Unger - Pete Kendall
LB Larry English - LaMar Woodley
CB Lardarius Webb - Cortland Finnegan
DE/LB Connor Barwin - Mike Vrabel
Robert Ayers - Tamba Hali
TE James Casey - Owen Daniels
LB Aaron Curry - Junior Seau
WR Hakeem Nicks - Terrell Owens
LB Aaron Maybin - Jason Taylor
S William Moore - Adrian Wilson
RB Knowshon Moreno - Marshawn Lynch
LB Lawrence Sidbury - Shaun Phillips
CB Michael Ray Garvin - Chris Carr
OC Alex Mack - Jeremy Newberry
WR Percy Harvin - Steve Smith
DT Chris Baker - Tank Johnson
TE Jared Cook - Daniel Graham
S Louis Delmas - Kerry Rhodes
WR Kenny Britt - Braylon Edwards
NT B.J. Raji - Jamal Williams
OC Eric Wood - Jake Grove
LB Brian Cushing - Keith Brooking
OG Duke Robinson - Davin Joseph
RB Donald Brown - Marion Barber
TE Richard Quinn - Reggie Kelly
CB Malcolm Jenkins - Nate Clements
DE Michael Johnson - Mathias Kiwanuka
TE Chase Coffman - Zack Miller
WR Jeremy Maclin - Eddie Kennison
DT Mitch King - Dan Klecko
RB Shonn Greene - Rudi Johnson
CB Alphonso Smith - Antoine Winfield
DT Fili Moala - Shaun Cody
TE Travis Beckum - Randy McMichael
RB * Chris Wells - Jamal Lewis
OL Herman Johnson - Leonard Davis
WR Brian Robiskie - Amani Toomer