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Photo - LB Brandon Spikes - Florida

The college football bowl postseason schedule was announced with Florida facing Oklahoma in the BCS national title game. The BCS championship game will take place in Miami on Jan. 8, 2009 between the winners of the SEC and Big 12 championships. Florida made a classic comeback to beat Alabama while Oklahoma pounded an undermanned Missouri team. The game will demand much discussion especially with Texas holding an impressive win over Oklahoma only one month ago.

FedEx BCS National Championship Game
Florida vs. Oklahoma Miami
Dolphin Stadium - Jan. 8, 2009 8 p.m. FOX

For the entire Bowl schedule for 2008-2009 go to College Dates link on main page.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Breakout Player

Photo - QB Aaron Rodgers - G.B. Packers

The Green Bay Packers made major news this past offseason when they traded longtime star QB Brett Favre to the NY Jets for a few NFL Draft selections. The trade allowed former #1 pick, QB Aaron Rodgers to take over the reigns after sitting behind Brett his first three seasons. Rodgers has been outstanding in his first season at the helm despite dealing with shoulder problems since the first month of the season.
We took a lot of criticism prior to the NFL Draft '05 when we ranked Aaron Rodgers the #1 QB prospect ahead of highly regarded Alex Smith. Rodgers went late in the first round while Smith went the #1 overall selection in the process. Smith has failed miserably for the S.F. 49ers and has currently been benched this season in favor of veteran J.T. O'Sullivan. Rodgers sat behind future Hall of Fame passer Brett Favre his first three seasons before taking over the reins this fall. He has responded with a terrific effort that has him ranked at the top of the current NFL QB rankings. He has the Packers tied for the NFC Central lead with the Chicago Bears. His 66% completion percentage is among the top five in the league and his 4 interceptions are near the top of the league. He has the makings of being among the premier leaders in the league and carry on a great Packer tradition at the position.

Aaron Rodgers Scouting Report below - March 2005

Receivers On Block for Trading Deadline

Photo - WR Roy Williams - Detroit Lions

The NFL trading deadline closes Tuesday October 14th and could present several interesting moves that would have a huge impact for several contending teams through the rest of the '08 season. The NFL trading deadline has been an afterthought in recent years with few moves with any impact for clubs especially for the remaining season. This year a few of the game's better receivers could be available for the right price. There have been reports that veteran receivers, Roy Williams of the Lions, the Bengals' wideouts T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson and the Rams receiver Torry Holt to Bucs are all possible acquisitions for the right price. Teams like the Cowboys, Titans, Bucs, Eagles, Seahawks and Bills are all definitely interested in this short but talented group of receivers. The Cowboys are inquired about each of these receivers, but would have to surrender a #2 pick for either Roy Williams or Chad Johnson. Williams has stated he is interested in going to either Dallas or Tennessee with the Lions holding out for a #2 pick plus conditional other selections at this point. The Cowboys situation has been affected by the hand injury to starting QB Tony Romo who is expected to miss a month of action. The Titans are interested in several receivers including Torry Holt, though the 32 year old veteran would most likely not command more than a middle round selection. They are entertaining dealing for Roy Williams and Chad Johnson if they can agree on compensation.

Georgia Edges USC in Draft Insiders' Preseason Poll
DraftInsiders.com - Preseason Top 25

Photo - LB Rey Maualaga - Southern Cal

Top 25 Teams - Aug. 6
Frank Coyle - Head Scout - DraftInsiders.com
Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season for the Grantland Rice award and All-American teams at the conclusion of the season.

Rank - Opening Game
1. Georgia vs. Georgia So. (0-0)
2. USC at Virginia (0-0)
3. Oklahoma vs. Chattanooga (0-0)
4. Florida vs. Hawaii (0-0)
5. West Virginia vs. Villanova (0-0)
6. Missouri vs. Illinois (0-0)
7. Ohio St vs. Youngstown St. (0-0)
8. LSU vs. Appalachian St. (0-0)
9. Texas vs. Florida Atlantic (0-0)
10. Clemson vs. Alabama (0-0)

NFL 2008 Supplemental Draft Canceled

The NFL 2008 Supplemental Draft has been canceled this summer because of few participants. The Supplemental Draft has been an annual mid July event since its inception in 1977. The Supplemental Draft has allowed players who are three years removed from high school to enter the NFL Draft under this special selection process. It has become a little used player process with only marginal prospects over the past decade after supplying some premier prospects during the 1980s.

Four Rounds - Final NFL Mock Draft ‘08 - April 25

Photo - DT Sedrick Ellis - Southern Cal

For Complete Seven Round Final NFL Mock Draft ‘08
Update Report - Available now * underclassmen

1. Miami - Jake Long - OT - Michigan
The Dolphins signed the huge tackle days before the NFL Draft ’08. It’s smash mouth time in Miami. Long will couple with Vernon Carey to form a physical tackle tandem along with FA guard Justin Smiley. Long is one of the fastest picks in the draft and capable of being a dominant right tackle and a good left tackle. They had major needs along the offensive line prior to those two additions and this allows them to focus on skill positions and pass rushers and cover men thru the rest of the process. They are debating LB Quentin Groves at the #32 spot vs QBs like Chad Henne, Joe Flacco and Brian Brohm. They also could see a talented receiver on the board there like Limas Sweed or James Hardy.
Alternate Pick: None

2. St. Louis - Chris Long - DE - Virginia
The Rams are debating two defensive linemen here with Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey the only prospects of interest. They have received offers from clubs in the top ten for this selection and will entertain all offers right up to the selection. Chris Long addresses the bigger need on the outside while Glenn may be the best overall prospect in the entire draft. They are also debating receivers on the early 2nd round like DeSean Jackson and James Hardy. Offensive tackles will get attention especially in the top 100 selections.
Alternate Pick: Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

3. Atlanta - Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College
The Falcons are hoping Matt Ryan falls to this spot so they can turn on the page on the Michael Vick fiasco. Ryan would be a great image and start for a new era and a prospect with the development to be a good early NFL starter. They have many needs but a boatload of high selections with three #2 and two #3 picks that allows them to collect a bumper crop of prospects to rebuild a changing club. They could not go wrong with DT Glenn Dorsey here and come back in the early 2nd round with QBs like Henne, Brohm or Flacco.
Alternate Pick: Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

4. Oakland - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU
The Raiders have not done many things right over the past six years. They need to get this right after another poor ’07 performance despite a good draft class that should become a nucleus of this club going forward. They will debate a few prospects like Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey and Darren McFadden. They want to trade back and hope the Ravens or Cowboys are interested in moving up. They hope to recover a #2 pick for the DeAngelo Hall trade. Chris Long would carry on the heritage of his Hall of Fame father Howie Long with the Raiders. Glenn would be a great replacement for the retired Warren Sapp and a cornerstone defender. McFadden brings the star factor that Al Davis likes, but the Raiders have a deep backfield and not a high need area.
Alternate Pick: * Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas

5. Kansas City - * Vernon Gholston - DE - Ohio St.
The Chiefs are in limbo at this spot. They probably will not have a chance at Matt Ryan with this pick, the prospect they like the most. The second best offensive tackle does not merit this spot in the top 5 picks. They also must replace DE Jared Allen who was traded for another #1 pick of the Vikings. They will consider DE Vernon Gholston and Derrick Harvey if they retain this selection. They also like offensive linemen Ryan Clady and Branden Albert here and have both high on their list.
Alternate Pick: Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College

6. New York Jets - * Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas
The Jets have a few prospects earmarked here. They would love to land QB Matt Ryan, runner Darren McFadden or LB Vernon Gholston at this spot. McFadden would give them the big play weapon they need on this offense. Gholston would be a perfect compliment to FA addition Calvin Pace for their 3-4 scheme.
Alternate Pick: * Vernon Gholston - LB - Ohio St.

7. New Eng (San Fran) - Keith Rivers - LB - Southern Cal
The Patriots have a few key needs that must be addressed mainly in the secondary and at linebacker. They will consider Keith Rivers or Jerod Mayo if Vernon Gholston is off the board at this selection. They will most likely have their choice of any cornerback like McKelvin or Rodgers-Cromartie and either would be great additions for their changing secondary.
Alternate Pick: Leodis McKelvin - CB - Troy University

NFL Announces 32 Compensatory Picks for 15 teams
A total of 32 compensatory choices in the 2008 NFL Draft have been awarded to 15 teams, the NFL announced. Under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. The 32 compensatory choices announced today will supplement the 220 choices in the seven rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft (April 26-27). This year, the compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.
Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.