Archives for February 2009

‘ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper says whatever a player thinks about the combine, they better be ready to perform. “Embrace the process don’t fight it,” advised Kiper. “You’re going through it one time in your life. Don’t say it’s not football or this or that. It is what it is. If you screw it up you’re going to find out on draft day you’re a second round pick instead of a first round pick because you didn’t prepare or go in with the right frame of mind in those workouts. They are what they are, they’re not changing you’ve got to deal with it and go in with a positive attitude.”‘

‘Jenkins played in 13 games in 2008, making seven special teams tackles. Jenkins will enter his fourth NFL season in 2009.’

‘Though he still is young, 22, history has taught us careers that begin like this don’t always end well.’

‘"I don’t believe he thinks Marshawn was driving the vehicle, and I don’t believe he thinks the gun was found on Marshawn’s person," said Lynch’s attorney, M. Gerald Schwartzbach. "The car was not stopped for any kind of driving violation. It isn’t a situation that involved violence or the threat of violence."’

‘"They (officers) knocked on the window of the car. Someone unrolled the window. They saw three people in the car and they could smell a strong odor – marijuana coming from the car. They had the occupants exit so they could further investigate to see if there was any marajuana in the car. What they found were four, not marajuana cigarettes – what they call blunts or swisher sweets that appeared to contain marijuana in them," says Tankenson.’

‘Jenkins played 13 games this past season, making seven tackles on a unit that was one of the best in the league. In 2007, he played in 11 games for Buffalo after being promoted from the team’s practice squad in October.’

‘Jenkins has been a staple on Buffalo’s vaunted special teams units the past two seasons and was instrumental in helping the Bills reclaim the top ranking in the league for special teams units as Buffalo finished first overall in 2008.’

‘”Yeah I’ve given him a little bit of advice,” said the elder Ellison. “He’s just been asking me how the whole process works so he’s trying to get it as familiar as he can. I basically just told him what the four days were like and what it was like for me to go through it so hopefully he has a pretty good idea of what to expect.”‘

‘Regardless of legal statutes, the true crime is assuming every firearm owner is out for mayhem. Until it’s shown that Lynch did something bad with a gun, there is exactly nothing wrong with Lynch owning a gun. Prosecutors will now decide whether to pursue the case, and the first step should be determining who exactly was this alleged offense’s victim.’

‘Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said the combine is just “one piece of the puzzle” in the evaluation process. “Their body of work is the main focal point,” he said. “But certainly the combine gives us an opportunity to add variables into the mixture from the standpoint of not only the interview but just see how they react in their position drills. Then you layer that on their body of work that you have already compiled over the past year.”‘

‘”I’m very firm on the fact that everyone deserves the opportunity to be defended, everyone has the opportunity, if they make a mistake, to deal with that within the legal process. We understand sometimes the players are targets and we can’t rush to judgment. But again, multiple offenses over a period of time, you’re putting yourself in the wrong position and it reflects poorly.”‘

‘Still, it’s one more troubling, and unsurprising, episode for the Bills star. If you’d told me last week that a Bill would be arrested, Lynch would have been atop the list. Not Donte Whitner, Jabari Greer, Chris Kelsay or any of the countless other good guys on the team.’

‘I am privileged to sit on the foundation’s scientific advisory committee, and have watched Wilson’s investments make a daily mark on trailblazing science-the kind of out-of-the-box ideas that will someday have a major impact on improving and extending nearly all of our lives.’

‘Lynch can only blame himself for this mess. His own off-field troubles should have served as a wake-up call. Burress’ arrest was the equivalent of an ear-splitting alarm clock – and Lynch appears to have hit the snooze button.’

‘The same devotion shown to the Bills by the whole of Western New York makes caring for neighbors in distress second nature. While sports may not seem to carry relevance at a time like this, the loyalty shared by a team fans genuinely love is now proving useful. The same people who vigorously stick behind the Bills regardless of how the team performs are the ones who are going to reflexively help those truly in need; all will persevere together. It shows how what we gain from sports actually matters.’