Free safety Abram Elam's older brother, Donald Elam Jr., 33, was shot and killed Friday afternoon in Riviera Beach, Fla. Elam and his family have dealt with an incredible amount of tragedy. Abram Elam has had two other siblings shot to death, his younger sister Christina in 1999, and half-brother Donald Runner in 1987.
Abram Elam has returned to Florida for his brother's funeral.
Much like Punxsutawney Phil a few months earlier, Bobby Gonzalez emerged today. The occasion was the official signing to a National Letter of Intent by 6-foot-11, 340-pound center Melvyn Oliver.
Oliver led Mississippi Elite Christian Academy to a 20-5 record, averaging 20.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game during the 2007-08 season.
"We think that Melvyn Oliver has the potential to be the single-most important recruit we've signed since coming here," Gonzalez said in a statement released by the school. "I feel that he has pro potential and with some hard work and conditioning, we believe the sky is the limit for him. Melvyn is a very unique type of player as his skill level is off the charts for a guy his size. I think he is one of the biggest sleepers in the country and now has a chance to come into the Big East Conference and really make some noise."
Gonzo declined interview requests. While Oliver certainly does have potential, I have two questions about him. Can he lose more weight so that he can be a productive player at the college level? At his present weight (he was once 375, according to reports), stamina will be a major problem.
My other question: Will Gonzalez tweak his up-tempo system to increase Oliver's potential effectiveness? At his weight, Oliver won't be filling the lane on the fast break. The Hall will need to run some inside-out, half-court sets to take advantage of Oliver's skill set, something the Pirates haven't done much in Gonzo's two seasons at the helm. Just ask John Garcia and Mike Davis, often reduced to offensive afterthoughts while other players go one-on-one or chuck 3s.
Seton Hall's men's basketball program was docked one scholarship by the NCAA, it was announced today, because the Hall fell one point short of the 925 minimum for the NCAA's APR, aka Academic Progress Report.
However, that won't affect the Pirates for this upcoming season because they chose to apply the penalty to the 2007-08 season, when they played with only 10 scholarship players and had another one, Robert Mitchell, sitting out as a transfer from Duquesne. The NCAA scholarship limit is 13. The Hall used only 11 last season and apparently was holding the 12th for Mike Glover, who didn't get through the NCAA Clearinghouse and still hasn't been cleared to play by the NCAA.
The APR is designed to measure how student-athletes are progressing toward degrees, and it punishes programs that have poor academic performance by their players. The current report is based on the academic years from 2003-04 to 2006-07. Louis Orr was Seton Hall's coach for the first three seasons of that span, before being fired and replaced by Bobby Gonzalez, who has coached the last two seasons. Interestingly, Gonzo's former program, Manhattan, also was docked one scholarship for academic performance over the same time frame.
The Jets just announced that they have re-signed cornerback Hank Poteat, who was an unrestricted free agent. It's not a huge surprise, considering he hadn't drawn much interest on the open market, and he is a favorite of coach Eric Mangini, who also coached Poteat in New England. Haven't gotten the financial terms yet, but I'm sure the one-year contract was at a price friendly to the Jets, likely the veteran minimum of $730,000.
Poteat, who has started 15 games for the Jets over the past two seasons, could have a chance to reclaim his starting spot at RCB opposite Darrelle Revis. That wouldn't be bad, as the veteran certainly is a good enough 'hold-the-fort guy' [to use a Bill Parcellsism] until fourth-round pick Dwight Lowery is ready to start. This also could mean the Jets might part ways with veteran David Barrett on June 1.
The Jets finished their three-day rookie mini-camp Sunday, and I would like very much to give you some observations from the final day.
I can’t, because there was no access. Of course, it’s not as if I can give you a ton of observations from the other two days, considering the media were allotted a total of one hour and 25 minutes to watch practice, and almost all of that time was taken up by calisthenics and special-teams drills.
Why? Well, it’s all a part of coach Eric Mangini’s pattern of deep cover, learned from his estranged mentor, Bill Belichick. [Although, believe it or not, somebody told me that the Patriots had three hours of rookie practice visible to the media this weekend. Go figure.]
This is not a rip on Mangini. To the contrary, I think he is a generally likeable person, and when he talks about his wife and children, you can see a genuine warmth and humanity. His news conferences aren’t as contentious as those of Belichick, for example.
[In fact, Mangini was often funny this weekend, noting how he first saw tape of Vernon Gholston while he was walking on the treadmill, and quickly added, ‘it may seem shocking at this point, but I was actually on the treadmill.’ Mangini apparently has put on a few pounds this off-season, not that I have the right to criticize anyone on that score. It was then asked if Mangini actually was walking on the treadmill, and he said, ‘I was just standing there having dinner. But I wanted to say I got on the treadmill.’]
But despite the fact that he has more personality than Belichick, Mangini is convinced that secrecy wins games. Is he correct? On injuries, perhaps. Other than that, I’d like to see the evidence.
The Jets announced today they have signed River Vale resident and former St. Joseph standout Shawn McMackin, an offensive lineman. McMackin was one of three Hofstra players to try out over the weekend, and many scouts believe the 6-3, 287-pounder is a late bloomer who has a chance to develop into an NFL O-lineman. He worked at all three positions during the weekend, and we all know how big the Jets are on 'position flexibility.'
The Jets need backup help at center, and Nebraska center Brett Byford, who played for new O-line guru Bill Callahan at Nebraska, was waived Sunday, so that could help McMackin. The Jets also cut loose Wagner cornerback Al Phillips, who had 17 picks during his college career, including seven last year. On paper, Byford and Phillips looked like two who had a chance to at least make it to the next phase, the voluntary full-team workouts this month. So much for that, but McMackin still has a chance.
The Jets are having the second day of their three-day rookie mini-camp today. Not much to report. Saw both free-agent RB Danny Woodhead and fourth-round CB Dwight Lowery fielding punts. Lowery had a TD in that role for San Jose State last season, while Woodhead, he of the nearly 8,000 yards, certainly has the shiftiness to do the job.
With that said, the most impressive player I saw in the 40 minutes we were allowed to watch was punter Jeremy Kapinos, who was booming some punts and placing others inside the 20. The competition between him and Ben Graham should heat up at next month's veteran mini-camp.
LB Vernon Gholston looked good Friday off the edge. Of course, it will be interesting to see what he looks like next month against the veterans.
The 10 signed rookie free agents are C Brett Byford (Nebraska), RB Danny Woodhead (Chadron State), FBs Jehuu Caulcrick (Michigan State) and Justin Valentine (Minnesota), DEs Kenwin Cummings (Wingate), Bryan Mattison (Iowa) and Ropati Pitoitua (Washington State), CB Al Phillips (Wagner), S Nate Lyles (Virginia) and WR Paul Raymond (Brown).
Just got in from watching the 45 minutes of rookie mini-camp stretching, er, practice the media is allotted. Actually, it wasn't the usual stretching that we saw, but different types of calisthenics. And we saw a few actual drills. QB Erik Ainge certainly can hand off well, I'll tell you that.
As for the rest of it, well, here are some random observations: 5-7 Chadron State RB Danny Woodhead has some moves. Hey, you don't rush for nearly 8,000 yards at any level without ability. He also worked in some special-teams drills as a returner, which makes sense. He would have to contribute on specials to have any chance at making the roster.
Didn't take the Jets long to give away Nos. 51 [Vilma] and 63 [Robertson], although, to be fair, with 10 undrafted free agents in camp plus 34[!] tryouts and six draft picks, there aren't a lot of numbers to be had. Tryout LB Wallace Artis of Furman has 51, while free-agent signee C Brett Byford of Nebraska got 63. Keep an eye on Byford, who played for new assistant Bill Callahan at Nebraska. The Jets need backup help at C after not re-signing Wade Smith.
As for the draft picks, Vernon Gholston got a great pass-rusher's uniform number, 56, worn of course by LT and by former Jet John Abraham after he switched from 94.
Ainge has No. 9, and he looked good throwing 10-yard passes to fellow QB Brett Ratliff, who spent all of last season on the practice squad. Ratliff is one of seven players from the actual roster participating in this camp. The others are WR David Ball, CB Etienne Boulay, OL Stanley Daniels, Clint Oldenburg and Robert Turner and P Jeremy Kapinos, who figures to challenge Ben Graham in the summer.
I realize it's cool to give out letter grades to teams' drafts, but let's be honest. None of us knows how good this draft is right now. Of course, part of our job in the media is to analyze, so here's what I think of the Jets' picks.
1/6 Vernon Gholston, DE-LB, Ohio State
The consensus seems to be that Gholston will be an all or nothing type pick. Either he will be an excellent pass rusher in the 3-4, or the inconsistency and suspect motor he sometimes displayed at Ohio State will come back to bite him. I think he’s the real deal, but I’m not the one getting paid big money to make that decision, so I don’t have to sweat it all that much. He should have an opportunity to win a starting position over the disappointing Bryan Thomas.
1/30 Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue
Keller could be a bit of a reach at No. 30 overall, although his drafting seemed to signal the Jets are unhappy with disgruntled incumbent TE Chris Baker. Scouts believe Keller projects as a Dallas Clark-type as a pass-catcher and could stretch the field somewhat, but needs a lot of work on his blocking to properly fit into the Jets' system. Then again, the Jets could use him on passing downs and let Baker, if he’s still around, and Bubba Franks split the blocking chores. I still don’t think the Jets needed to trade up here, because none of the teams from 31-35 were seriously looking at TEs, apparently. Of course, the Jets didn’t know that at the time.
4/113 Dwight Lowery, CB, San Jose State
Lowery seemed to be the best corner still available at this point. It’s interesting that the Jets traded down from the 102nd pick right after CB Justin King of Penn State was selected by St. Louis. Lowery certainly has good ball skills, as evidenced by his 13 interceptions the last two seasons. His speed is VERY questionable, however, which is why he was a fourth-rounder. But that shouldn’t be a huge problem with the Jets’ system, which uses mostly zone coverages. While he should contribute this year, he isn't likely to start, although you never know. Sixth–rounder Drew Coleman started four games in 2006 before giving up a TD to Chicago’s Mark Bradley.
It looked like Baltimore trading up to No. 18 to select Delaware QB Joe Flacco was going to be the biggest reach of the first round. Then the Jets traded their second-round selection and one of their fourth-round picks (113 overall) to move up six spots and select Purdue TE Dustin Keller.
Keller was projected by just about everyone as a second-round choice. Now perhaps the Jets thought Miami might grab him at No. 32. But here's my problem--they really don't need a tight end that badly. Last time I checked, Chris Baker is pretty good. He's under contract for two more years, although he and the Jets currently are embroiled in a dispute as he wants a raise (sound familiar?).
Keller is a pass-catcher, and he is said to have vertical ability to get down the field, which is something the Jets need. But he simply cannot block. Perhaps this means the Jets will look to deal Baker. We'll see.
recent comments