BlackJesus

John Ross 4.22 (40) NFL record 5'11 188 lbs 8 3/4" Hands Overview Ross was just getting started on his way to stardom in Washington when he tore his left ACL in the spring of 2015. He had become known as a kick returner (three TDs in 2013-14) and big-play receiver in limited touches (16-208, TD in 2013; 17-371, 4 TD in 2014) before having to redshirt his third year at UW. In fact, coaches liked Ross' athleticism so much he started three games at cornerback (INT, two pass breakups) in a season he gained honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. In his return to the field in 2016, Ross became a star, garnering second-team All-American honors and first-team All-Pac-12 accolades with 81 catches for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns (tied for second in the nation). Analysis Strengths Has home-run gear to yank the top off of defenses. Vertical speed demands respect and creates open throws underneath. Corners open hips early to turn and sprint, leaving his curl and dig routes unchallenged. Feet are fire. On verticals from the slot, sells the corner route and stems to the post with a burst for easy separation and a comfortable throwing window for the quarterback. Hands are generally solid. Plus hand-eye coordination. Natural ball-tracker who locates the deep ball early and watches it. Dangerous show-and-go open-field ability after the catch. Able to win with slants or fades near the goal line. Eludes the first tackler and can turn a short one into a long one in a heartbeat. Has enough size to work from outside or from the slot. Saw four of his eight carries go for 15-plus yards. Has returned at least one kickoff for a touchdown in each of his three years at Washington. Weaknesses Undersized with below-average play strength. Struggled to get into his routes cleanly and impact the game against the physical cornerbacks at Alabama. Weight will creep too far out over his toes at times. Tape shows occasional stumbles over nothing but turf in his routes and after the catch. Needs to do better job of working back to the throw. Has to learn to make contested catches. Will need to sharpen his short and intermediate routes to become a true three-level target. Has had a major injury to both knees. The long-term health of both knees will be a concern that has to be answered at the combine. Draft Projection Round 1 Sources Tell Us "He will get emotional on the field when he drops one or when their quarterback leaves an open deep ball short, and I've heard other scouts call it 'bad body language.' I just think he's an edgy player. He's competitive and shows it. You'll take some attitude when a guy scores as many touchdowns as he does." -- West Coast scout for NFC team NFL Comparison DeSean Jackson Bottom Line Ross is an instant-impact weapon who scored 23 touchdowns in just 112 touches. He should be able to step right in as a kick returner and a slot receiver, but teams with speed at tight end might utilize him outside to create extreme vertical stress on opposing safeties. If his knees check out as healthy, Ross is a likely first-round pick with the rare ability to become a high-volume slot receiver or a lesser-targeted, high-yield deep-ball threat.

He may have the best chance of the FA's to make the 53 based on his NFL blood lines and how his dad played for Marvin.

Marvin Lewis on proposed race: Ross 'not a circus act' by Jeremy Bergman NFL.com Published: May 5, 2017 Marvin Lewis is calling the race early. The Bengals coach quickly put the kibosh on a proposed 40-yard dash-off between his first-round pick John Ross and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton, telling Cincinnati reporters Friday, "John is not a circus act." Shame. Hamilton first suggested the race between the 40-yard dash champion and himself, saying that the two could test each other's speed "for a charity event" or something of the kind. Ross responded Friday, saying he's up to it, but not right now. "It would be awesome to do that and we could probably work out something later," Ross told ESPN's Katherine Terrell on Friday. "Right now I'm just focused on being a Bengal. I don't know what the future holds, but if he wants to do something for the community later or for charity, that would be awesome. Right now I'm just focused on being a football player." Double shame. We're sure Lewis and Ross are objectively in the right here, choosing to prevent the first-round wideout from potentially aggravating an injury rather than racing a Red. But where's the fun in that? On top of supporting charities, a 40-yard dash between Mr. 4.22 and baseball's best base-stealer would promote a very worthy cause: Keeping us football die-hards entertained during the pigskin-poor summer doldrums. Do it for the fans. That's charitable enough. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000806800/article/marvin-lewis-on-proposed-race-ross-not-a-circus-act

Stephen Shuck-and-Jive Smith is an insufferable jackass. A total fucking clown. With a straight face he said Robert Kraft wouldn't even touch someone like Mixon ... um, dipshit ... the Patriots gave Aaron Hernandez over 40 million dollars !!!! Murder victims killed in the last 10 years Bengals - 0 Patriots - 2 Player Suicides in Prison Bengals - 0 Patriots - 1

Bengals president explains in letter why team drafted Joe Mixon By Austin Knoblauch NFL.com May 5, 2017 at 07:13 p.m. In a letter published Friday in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Bengals owner and president Mike Brown addressed why the team drafted Joe Mixon, writing the "risk has an upside as well as a downside" despite the "terrible thing" Mixon did in college. The controversial running back, who was the subject of national attention after he was shown punching and knocking out a woman on camera, was drafted by the Bengals at No. 48 overall in the second round of the NFL draft last week. Mixon was pegged by many draft analysts to be a Day 2 pick despite questions about his character following the incident, which occurred in July 2014 prior to his freshman season at Oklahoma. Brown's letter comes three days after a Cincinnati-based advocacy group called on the Bengals to take a stand against domestic violence and sexual assault. "We expect businesses in our great city, and this includes sports teams, to place a high value on speaking out against both domestic violence and sexual assault," Kristin Smith-Shrimplin, president and CEO of Women Helping Women, told The Associated Press. Prior to his first rookie minicamp session with the Bengals on Friday, Mixon said he appreciated Brown's support. "I've been just trying to get in here and be with my teammates and move forward with the situation," Mixon said, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "Thank you Mike Brown for that, but I'm just trying to move on and come out here and compete and learn this playbook and get our team the win." Oklahoma suspended Mixon for a season for punching Amelia Molitor, a fellow Oklahoma student, after a brief confrontation at a restaurant. Molitor suffered fractured bones in her face, according to The Associated Press. Video of the incident wasn't made public until after a judge ordered the release of security videos in December 2016. Mixon, 20, completed one year of probation, 100 hours of community service and behavioral counseling as part of a plea agreement to a misdemeanor assault charge, according to court records. Last week, a settlement was reached in the civil lawsuit Molitor filed against Mixon, according to the Associated Press. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. "This is definitely going to be attached to my name the rest of my life and the end of the day I'm going to do whatever I can to move forward and move past it," Mixon told NFL Network's Judy Battista last week after being drafted. "Just keep playing and I look forward to having a great career here and being the best teammate and person possible." Here is Brown's complete letter: In the NFL draft last Friday, the Cincinnati Bengals selected a very talented football player who did a terrible thing his freshman year at college. The player -- Joe Mixon -- is a top level football player by everyone's account. Joe's regrettable deed was that he struck a young woman, another student, shortly after arriving on campus in Norman, Oklahoma, three years ago. Joe and this young woman recently met in person, came to terms with the incident, and they agreed to resolve their differences so they could move forward with their lives. While the circumstances that led up to the incident are unclear -- what is clear is that it is unacceptable for a man to strike a woman. Since the incident three years ago, Joe was suspended by the football team, pleaded guilty in court, and accepted the consequences of his actions. He later went on to become a good citizen in Norman, a popular teammate, a player respected by his coaches, and one of the most talented players in college football. The Bengals take pride in our hometown and want to provide winning football on the field and successful players off the field. That is the reason we drafted Joe -- he is a rare football talent, and his conduct over the past three years leads us to believe he can help us win football games and also become a productive member of this community. In making our decision, we took a risk. In this case, the risk has an upside as well as a downside. We believe Joe has put this behind him and that he can turn into the player and community member that creates a plus for Cincinnati. We are going to do everything in our power to make this happen. Our hope is that time will prove that this opportunity is deserved, and perhaps -- if given a chance -- Joe can write a chapter in Cincinnati sports history that both he and Cincinnati can be proud of. Thank you. Sincerely, Mike Brown, President http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000806641/article/bengals-president-explains-in-letter-why-team-drafted-joe-mixon

I do love a 350 lb DT.

A Hardy throwback Posted 23 hours ago by Geoff Hobson The Hardy Nickersons: The Elder as a Buc in the '90s (left), The Younger with Illinois last year. Marvin Lewis can now officially be called an NFL senior statesman and not because he convenes his 15th rookie minicamp Friday as Bengals head coach. It’s because one of the guys in that camp, undrafted Illinois linebacker Hardy Nickerson, is the son of a guy Lewis coached in his first season in the NFL as the Steelers linebackers coach. Lewis had Hardy Otto Nickerson for one season before he moved on in free agency, a vehicle he helped move as a plaintiff in the case that sued the NFL for free agency. One of the most highly regarded players of his era on and off the field, Nickerson’s impact on Lewis helped form a coach. The 1998 winner of the Whizzer White Award as the NFL’s Man of the Year. A member of the All-Decade team for the ‘90s. He also may be the only man to play for both Marvin Lewis and Sam Wyche. “Smart as a whip,” Lewis recalled this week. “All business. Sudden. Very sudden. Never wasted a step. Tough as hell. Couldn’t ask for a better person to break you in. Every day they did. Every day. All those guys. Hardy. Greg Lloyd. David Little. Jerrol Williams. Jerry Olsavsky. They were very demanding.” Nickerson was a six-year veteran that year ascending to the elite when Lewis arrived as strictly a college coach who had to grow up fast in quirky room full of veterans. “Very detailed and demanding,” is how Nickerson remembered Lewis that first year. “He has a way of getting the best out of players. It was one of my best years. That season kind of set the stage for me in terms of becoming a free agent in that first class … That year made me highly sought after. I probably owe a lot of that to Coach Lewis getting me coached up.” Hardy The Younger has never met Marvin Lewis, but you get the idea he’s going look pretty familiar to the head coach. He was nine years old when his father retired so on those slow days of off-days or walk-throughs or maybe a family day in training camp, he was used to being in an NFL locker room. From the time can remember he was clopping around in cleats or wrapping himself in a gargantuan jersey, or trying to pull on his helmet without it going over his eyes. Now this week at Paul Brown Stadium he’s going to wake up in a dream when they’re giving him his own NFL jersey for a full work day. “It’s something I always wanted to do. I looked up to him and always wanted to do what he did,” The Younger said as he prepared to fly to Cincinnati. “I was exposed to the locker room. That created that love for the game. I always wanted to play. You can just go out there and let it loose. Especially at my position. You have to be a guy that’s passionate, physical, and loves to play the game.” The cleats don’t walk far from the helmet. So it wasn’t very surprising to Lewis when Nickerson himself became an NFL linebackers coach under Lovie Smith in Chicago and Tampa Bay after his 16-year journey through three decades, four franchises, and five Pro Bowls. Lewis hasn’t talked to Nickerson since he took the defensive coordinator job at Illinois last season when he followed Smith to Champaign, but he could hear him on tape. Marvin Lewis coached Nickerson The Elder in 1992. During the draft process just completed Lewis was watching an offensive player work against Illinois when he was struck at how well the defense responded and reacted. “I’m thinking, ‘Gee, these guys are well-coached,’” Lewis said. “Then it clicked. Look who’s coaching them. So I sent Lovie a text.” In the middle of it was Hardy William Lindsay Nickerson, a 5-11 chip off the old 6-2 block racing sideline-to-sideline as the Illini middle backer, getting his dad’s defense lined up, and racking up 107 tackles, much like Hardy Otto Nickerson did for Lewis’ linebackers when he led the Steelers with 114 tackles in 1992. “Smart. Physical. Captain. Plays like a coach’s son. Great to get him,” said Bengals linebackers coach Jim Haslett. “I just hope he doesn’t come in here telling me I’m doing it wrong.” Haslett was laughing, of course. He coached against Otto Nickerson as a player and coach and, like Lewis, has known him a long time. When he was scouting the kid he would smile because the body language was oddly familiar. Bill Tobin, the Bengals Midwest scout, was also part of a mix that gave The Younger a draftable grade. “Coach Haslett was really big getting Hardy there,” The Elder said. “He talked to Hardy at the combine. He communicated with Hardy right away after the draft was over and that went a long way.” Back in the day, when the draft was shoe-horned into 12 rounds weekend mornings and afternoons, 1987 to be exact, the 6-2, 230-pound Nickerson was a fifth-round draft pick out of Cal by the Steelers. Thirty years later he was there for his 5-11, 232-pound son after the draft when the call didn’t come. He and his wife were on one phone and Hardy was on the other. The advice was old school. “You want to make sure you get to a place where you have a chance. Where you’re wanted first,” The Elder said. “And the scheme is something you’re familiar with and you have an opportunity to make the team … I think Cincinnati is the best fit for him.” He says The Younger grew up in schemes like the Bengals’ 4-3 defense, like what The Elder used at Illinois and what the Younger played in the East-West Shrine Game after the season. And he’s been able to adjust, too. He thinks he can play all three spots, but figures the Bengals are going to put him in the middle. Look, here’s a kid who has his degree in legal studies from Berkley and has already started his master’s in sports administration after playing three seasons at Cal. Smart? When his dad got the call to Illinois, he couldn’t resist. He had already played under him in high school when The Elder was the head coach at Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland. Nickerson The Younger has been watching another undrafted backer for years; Vontaze Burfict. But … “He wasn’t able to make a lot our games because of the schedule when he was with Tampa,” The Younger said. “I just wanted to spend my senior year close to family.” And that’s how he made the Bengals’ decision, too. There was plenty of interest. The Bucs, for whom The Elder went to four Pro Bowls and became a Tampa icon, called every day leading up to the draft. And there were others. But, in the end, it came down to a linebacker corps where the best player, Vontaze Burfict, and the best backup, Vincent Rey, came out of the ranks of the undrafted. “You want an opportunity,” The Elder says. Those last two backer spots are always there to be claimed. And with the help of Nickerson the competition at Bengals linebacker has just amped up to warp speed with the drafting of Oklahoma speedster Jordan Evans in the sixth round and the signing of the undrafted Big Ten tackling machines Nickerson and Brandon Bell of Penn State. The core looks set with starters Burfict, Kevin Minter, Nick Vigil, and the backup Rey. Now the rookies are in a pitched battle with incumbents Marquis Flowers (last season’s third-leading tackler on special teams), P.J. Dawson (a third-round pick in 2015 working his way back from spending last year on the practice squad), as well as a first-year player in Bryson Albright trying to catch on as a pass rusher after playing one game for the Bills last season as a rookie. Plus, fourth-rounder Carl Lawson, a pass rusher from Auburn, is listed as a linebacker but there’s a good chance he’ll end up counting as a defensive lineman. Whatever, the linebacker positon is now a mad dash after a season it was viewed as a celebrity walk. Nickerson isn’t a burner, but his 4.78 is a nice 40 and along with Bell’s 4.68, and Evans’ ridiculous 4.51, they’re faster than last year. “It’s a good group,” Haslett said. Hardy William’s favorite linebacker has always been Hardy Otto. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t watching others. “I loved watching Ray Lewis growing up,’ he said. “(Derrick) Brooks. Nowadays I like watching (Luke) Kuechly.” He also loves watching No. 55 and he’s been doing it a long time as a fellow West Coast guy. “He brings that physicality,” Nickerson said of Burfict. “I’ve been watching him since Arizona State. I saw a lot of Pac 12 games. I see him out there bringing the wood. I’m excited to play with him. He’s physical. He flies around.” Here’s another reason The Younger likes him. Burfict also got a late call. “He’s another guy that came out undrafted showing everybody. Sideline-to-sideline. Making plays in the run game and the pass game,’ he said. “A guy that’s going to change the game whether it’s a big hit or a takeaway.” It’s a different game than when The Elder came out of the fifth round, of course, in 1987. Chuck Noll and Tom Landry were still coaching. Bill Walsh and Joe Montana were still seeking that third Super Bowl title to cap a dynasty. Bill Belichick was the defensive coordinator for the Giants, Marvin Lewis was coaching the linebackers at New Mexico, and A.J. Green wasn’t born yet. “I think I’ve got a shot,” The Younger said. “I’m just going in ready to work. That’s the biggest thing. I’m thankful for the Bengals giving me a shot. I’m just going to take it day by day. The effort is going to be there. I’m excited to go out and make the best of it.” Maybe it’s not all that different. http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/A-Hardy-throwback/575a53ac-bb34-47a5-a396-ef4972f21db6

Highlights

Hardy Nickerson 6'0 232 lbs Analysis Strengths Always looking to play downhill. Is willing to take chances and shoot the gaps to make a play. Energetic and always plays as hard as he possibly can. Productive tackler, posting more than 100 tackles in each of his last two college seasons. Scrapes with square pads and good quickness. Has only allowed three broken tackles over his four years of football. Willing to fling himself into a gap and sacrifice his body against pulling guards and iso-blocking fullbacks. Father was one of the NFL's most menacing inside linebackers in his day. Weaknesses Struggles to disengage from big tight ends, and even wide receivers have had some success blocking him. Play strength must increase. Instincts are below average. Can be slow to read and react and will run himself out of his run fits more than he should. Herky-jerky and plays with excessive wasted motion post-snap. Takes inconsistent angles to the ball, which gets him beat in run game and in coverage. Submarines iso blocks on the edge of the run lane rather than the middle of the hole. Sources Tell Us "He may get a legacy grade from some teams based on his tackle production and his bloodlines, but I'm struggling to find consistent tape of him where he looks like an NFL linebacker." -- Regional scout for NFC team Bottom Line Nickerson is a try-hard WILL linebacker in a 4-3 defensive front who might lack the instincts and consistency to make an NFL team. While the tackle production is solid, third day (Rounds 4-7) draft pick and special teams performer could be his ceiling. Based off the tape, making an NFL roster could be difficult.

And by the way Paulie ... she was illegally drunk (underage), hurling racial slurs, blew smoke in his face, pushed him first, slapped him first, and had warrants out for her arrest. Above is one of her multiple mug shots. So maybe we shouldn't really focus on her, and just be happy that Mixon has owned up to what he did wrong -- which yes was wrong.

Exhibit A: Cleveland chose Caleb Brantley in the draft, who punched and knocked a woman unconscious 2 weeks ago !!! And the entire nation yawned and didn't give a shit. Meanwhile, Mixon is the lead on Sportscenter all day and the Bengals are smeared. Then the Cleveland Browns took the cowardly road and didn't even defend their decision to make the pick! Browns admit they might not keep Caleb Brantley The Cleveland Browns chose Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley with the 185th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft on Saturday. Considered one of the nation's top interior defensive line prospects, Brantley fell through the draft after he was charged on suspicion of misdemeanor battery following an alleged physical altercation with a woman earlier this month. Brantley allegedly struck the woman with a closed fist and knocked her unconscious in Gainesville, Florida, on April 13, according to the Gainesville Police Dept. The Browns deeply researched the matter and personally visited with Brantley before making the pick, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. However, Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown told reporters Saturday the team could decide not to keep Brantley. According to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala, Brown said the misdemeanor charge Brantley is facing is "concerning." "This may not be something we can get comfortable with," Brown said. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000804870/article/browns-admit-they-might-not-keep-caleb-brantley

Mixon was suspended from OU football for an entire year (1 full season), agreed to pay out a settlement to the victim (undisclosed), and ESPN calculated that his drop in the draft cost him $25,000,000 ... so you were close ... only 25 million off.

6'5 258 lbs

Bio: Named Second Team All-MAC in 2016 after catching 59 passes for 651 yards and four touchdowns as a first-year starter. Caught 49 balls for 469 yards and two touchdowns during his first three seasons with the Bulls. Pos: Nice-sized tight end with a developing game. Displays outstanding vision, shows the ability to slide out in pass protection and squares into defenders. Keeps his feet moving, bends his knees and blocks with leverage. Strong at the point and controls defenders. Consistently finds the soft spot in the defense to make himself an available target. Adjusts to the errant throw and extends to make receptions away from his frame. Keeps the play in bounds after the catch and works to pick up positive yardage. Neg: Lacks overall quickness and speed in his game. Slow releasing off the line of scrimmage and more of a short-area target. Analysis: Schreck is consistent in all areas of his game and spectacular in none. He possesses enough skill to make a roster as a third tight end.

(Marvin's Face) --> When you realize you just got the next Adrian Peterson ... Brief description of this image Uploaded 2 seconds ago SAMSUNG SAMSUNG-SM-N900A1/30s ƒ/2.2 ISO100 4.13mm — More Exif data Manufacturer SAMSUNG Model SAMSUNG-SM-N900A Exposure Time 1/30s Aperture ƒ/2.2 ISO 100 Focal Length 4.13mm Resolution Unit inches Color Space sRGB Orientation Horizontal (normal) Sensing Method One-chip color area Scene Capture Type Standard Exposure Program Program AE Exposure Mode Auto Metering Mode Center-weighted average Light Source Unknown Flash No Flash White Balance Auto Share image

Zane still hasn't been chosen as we enter Rd 7. The Bengals should use their last pick 251 on Zane if he is still there and make the two of them compete in camp.

Brandon Wilson 5'11 200 lbs Overview A three-way player for the Cougars, Wilson made an impact as a running back, cornerback, and kick returner. In fact, he was the only player in the nation in 2015 to score multiple touchdowns on offense (two rushing touchdowns), defense (interception return, fumble return, with 58 tackles, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles), and special teams (two kickoff returns). Wilson started eight games at cornerback the previous year (33 tackles, one break-up) after playing on special teams as a redshirt freshman, making five tackles and returning a blocked field goal 78 yards for a score. He finished his UH career with a second-team All-American Athletic Conference season despite missing three games due to injury (43 tackles, one INT, five pass breakups, 5-52 receiving, 4-6 rushing, 512 kick return yards). Analysis Strengths Was the talk of the pro day running 4.36 with a vertical jump of 41 inches, broad jump of 11-feet-1 and 24 bench reps. Versatility could be a selling point. Could be targeted as cornerback, safety or running back. Limited reps as a runner, but looked good. Uses functional jump cut to avoid trouble. Tough runner who can power through angle tackles. Runs with good knee bend and stays behind his pads. Willing to sink and deliver a blow at the finish. Has controlled stride and foot quickness to string together cuts. Offers value as kick returner and in kick coverage. His 100-yard "kick-six" return for a touchdown created huge momentum shift in Houston's week one upset win over Oklahoma. Weaknesses Hip tightness limited his ability to make plays on the ball as a cornerback and create average elusiveness in tight quarters as a running back. Will have to find a set position in the pros. As a running back, needs to improve his vision and decisiveness between the tackles. Needs to run with better patience and control. Balance was a little inconsistent in space. Used primarily on swing passes. Will need to expand route-running and prove he can protect to garner third down reps. Draft Projection Rounds 4-5 Sources Tell Us "Looks like everyone is woke on Brandon now. I was hoping he would have pulled a hammy (hamstring) so he couldn't work out and I could have kept him off the radar. You don't jump 41 (inches) and run 4.3 and stay off of radars." - NFC national scout NFL Comparison Orleans Darkwa Bottom Line Explosive athlete who could be considered on either side of the ball as a defensive back or a running back. Wilson doesn't have as many flashes on tape at cornerback as he does at running back, but his he was primarily a fill-in at running back in a few games over the last two years due to injury. If Wilson transitions to running back, he will be a developmental prospect who could make a roster sooner over later thanks to his kick return potential.

Highlights