2017-03-23

Peter Schrager’s post-free agency 2017 NFL mock draft

We’re through the Senior Bowl, the Super Bowl, the Combine, the first two waves of free agency and, now, several Pro Days. To cite Bill <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-derek-watt-jersey-c-1_16.html">Derek Watt Jersey</a> Belichick: “No Days Off.”

With a few more to come between now and draft weekend, here’s my second 2017 NFL mock draft. Dig in. Tune in to The Herd at 2:30 ET Tuesday for more.

Garrett is the unanimous top prospect in this draft class. The Browns are wealthy with draft picks (six of the top 65), but <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-dexter-mccoil-jersey-c-1_18.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-dexter-mccoil-jersey-c-1_18.html they shouldn’t get cute here. Take the best guy on the board. Garrett is the top prospect in this class and a franchise cornerstone.

I expect the 49ers, who signed many players to fiscally sound deals in free agency, to look at offers for the second overall pick. A talent-starved roster coming into this offseason, San Francisco could be willing to parlay the second pick into a bunch of others. But what if it keeps the choice?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Niners went defensive line for the third straight year with their first-round selection. Thomas’s stock skyrocketed at the <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-drew-kaser-jersey-c-1_21.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-drew-kaser-jersey-c-1_21.html Combine, and he’s local with a loaded resume from Stanford. Tremendous kid, great family, and a heck of a franchise cornerstone up front for San Francisco. Thomas, DeForest Buckner, and Erik Armstead could make for a scary defensive line for years to come.

It’s not often you see a safety taken in the top three, but I think the Bears pluck the tone-setter out of Baton Rouge if the first two picks fall this way. Adams, whose father, George, played for the Giants in the 1980s, is a punishing hitter who roams the middle.

Adams was the rare bright spot in a forgettable 2016 LSU season. He is a defensive leader, a vocal guy and someone who can play right away. A scud missile from the safety spot, he can bring a toughness to the Chicago defensive backfield that’s been missing in recent years.

For the 11th straight year, the Jaguars “won” free agency with big-name signings in March. With all the additions, how they use the No. 4 pick will be awfully interesting. The Jaguars D was coming on toward the second half <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-joey-bosa-jersey-c-1_29.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-joey-bosa-jersey-c-1_29.html of last season, brings back just about everyone and added A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell to the mix. But I don’t think they’re done.

Allen is a man. And with Campbell at 31 years old, there’s a good mentor-student element to this. In a division with Marcus Mariota, Andrew Luck and mabye Tony Romo, you can never have enough big bodies up front. There are some minor concerns about Allen’s shoulder. Minor.

The 6-6 dynamo is my favorite tight end to enter the NFL Draft in years. Big body, can block and can move. Is top five too high? Have you seen the way Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce are utilized in their teams’ game plans? Howard’s an absolute stud, and just because Tennessee has a few tight ends on the roster doesn’t mean it wouldn’t scoop him up this high.

The Jets take the first quarterback off the board. Trubisky had a solid Combine performance, silencing critics who thought he was sub-6-foot-2, and exhibited solid footwork and athleticism. The Jets aren’t rolling into the 2017 season with Christian <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-kyle-emanuel-jersey-c-1_36.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-kyle-emanuel-jersey-c-1_36.html Hackenberg, Josh McCown and Bryce Petty as their quarterbacks. If Trubisky is on the board, they grab him.

This is one of the most loaded defensive back drafts in years, and Los Angeles is a prime spot for one of the two highly rated Ohio State defensive backs. I like Hooker, the 6-foot-1, do-everything free safety with incredible ball skills.

There have been comparisons made to Ed Reed. In 2016, Hooker intercepted seven balls and broke up four others. The Chargers are quietly building one of the better young defenses in the league in terms of talent. I love their roster on that side of the ball. Hooker would be a fantastic addition.

2017-03-22

LaDainian Tomlinson reveals what free agency is like, how Jets signed him

When the inevitable day came, LaDainian Tomlinson was not <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-ladainian-tomlinson-jersey-c-1_37.html">LaDainian Tomlinson Authentic Jersey</a> caught off guard.

He knew the Chargers were going to release him following the 2009 season, so when it happened he was preparded for free agency. Recently, the Hall of Fame running back reflected on the process of finding a new team after spending nine years in San Diego.

“He (Dean Spanos) asked me to come in and talk to him, you know, as soon as I could,” Tomlinson told NFL.com. “I think I rushed right down to the complex because I knew what was about to happen.”

Tomlinson would go on the sign with the Jets, but an NFC team made a <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-keenan-allen-jersey-c-1_32.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-keenan-allen-jersey-c-1_32.html strong push for the veteran halfback.

Tomlinson was quickly courted with meals, limousines, and much more by the Minnesota Vikings, who wanted to pair LT with Adrian Peterson.

The NFC Championship appearence of the prior year combined with the allure of teaming up with Peterson was huge, yet there was a bigger factor for Tomlinson still in the works.

“I remember before I made my decision, talking to Brett Favre, trying to get it out of him,” Tomlinson recalled, refering to the quarterback’s hesitation to play another year. “I remember him saying, ‘Uhh, LT I don’t know. I’m just not sure if I wanna play anymore.'”

So when the Jets came at <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-max-tuerk-jersey-c-1_41.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-max-tuerk-jersey-c-1_41.html Tomlinson with a convincing family-oriented approach, his wife nearly made the decision for him.

“So my wife was pregnant at the time and what the Jets did, they had this baby basket like with onesies and Jets’ footballs and all <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-sean-lissemore-jersey-c-1_47.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-sean-lissemore-jersey-c-1_47.html kinds of stuff for a baby,” Tomlinson said. “And my wife seen that, it was over. We were going to New York.”

The rest was easy for Tomlinson, who wanted nothing more than to be on the field again.

“After free agency, you’re exhausted,” Tomlinson said. “You just <a href="http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-antonio-gates-jersey-c-1_3.html">http://www.officialchargesshop.com/shop-by-players-antonio-gates-jersey-c-1_3.html want to sign with a team and start to play football again.”

2017-03-21

Cosa ci possono insegnare le ultime scarpe da corsa della Nike sul futuro dello sport

Le Vaporfly Elite mirano ad abbattere la <a href="http://www.aheartinhand.com/">nike air max cheap</a> soglia delle due ore nella maratona — ma fin dove potrà spingersi la tecnica a migliorare le prestazioni atletiche?

La Nike ha da poco annunciato le Vaporfly Elite, il <a href="http://www.cerfim.it/">scarpe air max ummo</a> nuovo prototipo di scarpa da corsa per maratoneti. Il modello non sarà messo in vendita o prodotto su larga scala perché progettato esclusivamente per Zersenay Tadese, world record nella mezza maratona, Lelisa Desisa, vincitore di due maratone di Boston e Eliud Kipchoge, medaglia d’oro alle Olimpiadi di Rio. Sebbene ancora lontane dalla vendita al grande pubblico, la tecnologia alla base della progettazione e le aspettative riposte sul miglioramento delle prestazioni degli atleti possono dirci molto sul futuro dell’agonismo.

Le Vaporfly Elite non hanno un bell’aspetto, almeno per tutti coloro che sono abituati alle scarpe più appariscenti della Nike. La loro forma sproporzionata e poco lineare salta subito all’occhio, ma la scelta estetica non è altro che il risultato di una calcolata somma di fattori mirata a un unico obiettivo: completare una maratona entro le due ore — poco importa se le scarpe non siano belle in senso classico.

Secondo Tony Bignell – vice presidente del reparto footwear innovation della Nike – le Vaporfly Elite sono la soluzione per abbattere il muro delle due ore, rimasto intatto dal lontano 1906 quando il canadese Billy Sherring scese per la prima volta sotto le tre ore. Le speranze di Bignell ruotano intorno a tre fattori: il peso, in grado di <a href="http://www.mascarpone07.it/">http://www.mascarpone07.it/ ridurre l’energia nel sollevare il piede dal suolo; l’ammortizzazione, per supportare le ossa e i muscoli; e la propulsione per aumentare la velocità del corridore. Negli anni la ricerca si è interrogata intorno a queste tre semplici variabili, capaci di modificare sensibilmente le prestazioni di un atleta.

I tre corridori testeranno questa primavera i nuovi modelli durante il Breaking2 project, una simulazione di una maratona presso l’autodromo di Monza. Gli organizzatori mettono l’accento sulle capacità della scienza di portare l’uomo ad una <a href="http://www.nuovenike.it/">http://www.nuovenike.it/ condizione che solo 50 anni fa sembrava impossibile. “È una di quelle grandi barriere del potenziale umano” afferma Bignell, “siamo arrivati ad un punto in cui sembra che ci siano le giuste scoperte scientifiche”, continua Matthew Nurse, responsabile di Nike Sports Research Lab.

Ma tutta questa concentrazione sulle innovazioni tecniche spinge a porci una domanda: è sempre l’uomo al centro dell’attività sportiva? O la scienza sta lentamente prendendo il posto della natura?

Sono passati 57 anni dalle Olimpiadi di Roma, la cui maratona fu affrontata e vinta interamente senza scarpe da Abebe Bikila. Il suo gesto, passato alla storia, era allora carico di un senso politico nei confronti dell’oppressione occidentale sull’Africa, ma dimostrò comunque il potere della forza di volontà nel superare i limiti fisici del corpo umano. La fine del flower power però lasciò il posto a figure come Bill Bowerman – fondatore della Nike – sinceramente amante della corsa, ma convinto che la scienza e lo studio delle nuove tecnologie applicate allo sport potessero aiutare l’uomo a spingersi oltre i propri limiti. “Dio determina quanto correrai veloce, io posso aiutare solo con la meccanica” amava ripetere.

A partire dagli anni Settanta, lo sport ha cercato di infondere sempre più spettacolo all’interno delle performance degli atleti. Spesso è l’atleta ha contribuire allo spettacolo agonistico, ma sempre di più ci si confronta anche con la realtà del doping all’interno degli eventi sportivi — come è accaduto alle ultime Olimpiadi con lo scandalo russo. I margini di miglioramento per l’essere umano si assottigliano, mentre le <a href="http://www.tuschianty.it/">http://www.tuschianty.it/ soluzioni per pompare le prestazioni aumentano esponenzialmente. Rifiutare o abbracciare questo inevitabile cambiamento?

All’inizio del 2016 la Delaware North – concessionaria sportiva americana – ha rilasciato un documento di 50 pagine dal titolo The Future of Sports. Al suo interno vengono esposte le maggiori previsioni sul settore agonistico divise attraverso punti cardine come atleti, stadi, rappresentazione, pubblico, e il futuro ne risulta spacchettato in previsioni da 1-5, 5-10 e 10-25 anni.

2017-03-20

Bolzano, lo sport pronto a lasciare il Talvera

BOLZANO. Lo sport al Talvera potrebbe “chiudere”. Niente più calcio <a href="http://www.wsystems.it/">scarpe air max ummo</a> per Virtus Bolzano e Bozner. Sparizione completa di baseball e softball dal panorama cittadino. È lo scenario peggiore di un braccio di ferro in corso tra associazioni sportive e Comune. L’amministrazione, infatti, ha deciso di modificare la gestione della manutenzione degli impianti. Fino ad oggi ogni singolo campo veniva affidato ad una società ma dai prossimi mesi tutte le strutture saranno accorpate in un bando unico. Prima ogni associazione riceveva un contributo per le spese di servizio, ora chi vincerà la gara si porterà a casa almeno 170.000 euro (base d’asta al ribasso) per tutto.
«È un cambiamento che innesca un terremoto - spiega Robert <a href="http://www.nuovenike.it/">air max donna</a> Oberrauch, presidente di Virtus Bolzano - perché già adesso il contributo non è sufficiente a coprire le spese. La luce, l’acqua e la manutenzione di un campo hanno costi pazzeschi. Noi riceviamo ogni anno circa 70.000 euro e arriviamo a versarne 100 mila. In tutto abbiamo calcolato che l’amministrazione spenda per gli impianti del Talvera 250.000 euro l’anno. Ora, però, la base del bando unico è poco più della metà. Le spese diventerebbero eccessive e non abbiamo nessuna intenzione di chiedere 200-350 euro alle famiglie che già faticano. Con questo scenario chiudiamo». Concorde il collega del Bozner Helmuth Stuppner: «Nessuno mi ordina di fare calcio. Mi <a href="http://www.mascarpone07.it/">http://www.mascarpone07.it/ diverto e lo faccio per i giovani ma io non punto al business. Che senso ha inserire anche la gestione del bar nel bando? Noi non possiamo mirare a fare degli utili. Il nostro compito sociale è un altro. Stiamo valutando con le altre società la costituzione di un’Ati (Associazione Temporanea d’imprese, ndr) per vincere il bando ma io deciderò insieme al mio direttivo. L’appalto è di nove anni: un’eternità per un’associazione sportiva. Come faccio a impegnare la mia società economicamente per tanto tempo?». Nell’Ati comparirebbero anche baseball e softball con <a href="http://www.cerfim.it/">http://www.cerfim.it/ il diamante. «Riusciamo a sopravvivere grazie al contributo dei volontari» chiarisce il presidente di Bolzano Baseball Mauro Belliero. «Ipotizziamo che una cooperativa vinca il bando e decida di guadagnarci qualcosa affittando i campi: come potremmo pensare di far fronte a quei <a href="http://www.dancingepreville.fr/">http://www.dancingepreville.fr/ costi?». «Siamo gli unici a proporre ai ragazzi questo sport - gli fa eco la presidente del Softball Club Dolomiti Fiorella Cargnel -ma con questa scelta dell’amministrazione siamo destinati a sparire. La manutenzione di un campo in terra ed erba, con moltissime partite in notturna, ha costi molto pesanti. Andare incontro ad una contrazione dei contributi significa impedirci di pianificare qualsiasi tipo di attività».
A spiegare le intenzioni del Comune è l’assessore comunale allo sport Angelo Gennaccaro. «I margini per risparmiare ci sono. Anzichè quattro trattori, per esempio, le società ne avranno uno. Dobbiamo uscire dalla logica che il campo sia solo di un’associazione. Possiamo riuscirci solo coinvolgendo tutti. Il nostro obiettivo è creare un solo organismo di gestione. Sarebbe un successo». «Entro il mese - chiude l’assessore al patrimonio Sandro Repetto che ha anche gestito per dieci anni la società calcistica Stella Azzurra - ci saranno le manifestazioni d’interesse. Il bando può essere modificato ascoltando le società e le <a href="http://www.pedemontanalombarda.it/">http://www.pedemontanalombarda.it/ loro esigenze. Questo allarme è esagerato».

2017-03-14

Cosa ci possono insegnare le ultime scarpe da corsa della Nike sul futuro dello sport

Le Vaporfly Elite mirano ad abbattere la soglia delle due ore nella maratona — ma fin dove potrà spingersi la tecnica a migliorare le prestazioni atletiche?

La Nike ha da poco annunciato le Vaporfly Elite, il nuovo prototipo di <a href="http://www.cerfim.it/">air max 2016</a> scarpa da corsa per maratoneti. Il modello non sarà messo in vendita o prodotto su larga scala perché progettato esclusivamente per Zersenay Tadese, world record nella mezza maratona, Lelisa Desisa, vincitore di due maratone di Boston e Eliud Kipchoge, medaglia d’oro alle Olimpiadi di Rio. Sebbene ancora lontane dalla vendita al grande pubblico, la tecnologia alla base della progettazione e le aspettative riposte sul miglioramento delle prestazioni degli atleti possono dirci molto sul futuro dell’agonismo.

Secondo Tony Bignell – vice presidente del reparto footwear innovation della Nike – le Vaporfly Elite sono la soluzione per abbattere il muro delle due ore, rimasto intatto dal lontano 1906 quando il canadese Billy Sherring scese per la prima volta <a href="http://www.mascarpone07.it/">http://www.mascarpone07.it/ sotto le tre ore. Le speranze di Bignell ruotano intorno a tre fattori: il peso, in grado di ridurre l’energia nel sollevare il piede dal suolo; l’ammortizzazione, per supportare le ossa e i muscoli; e la propulsione per aumentare la velocità del corridore. Negli anni la ricerca si è interrogata intorno a queste tre semplici variabili, capaci di modificare sensibilmente le prestazioni di un atleta.

I tre corridori testeranno questa primavera i nuovi modelli durante il Breaking2 project, una simulazione di una maratona presso l’autodromo di Monza. Gli organizzatori mettono l’accento sulle capacità della scienza di portare l’uomo ad una condizione che solo 50 anni fa sembrava impossibile. “È una di quelle grandi barriere del potenziale umano” afferma Bignell, “siamo arrivati ad un punto in cui sembra che ci siano le giuste scoperte scientifiche”, continua Matthew Nurse, responsabile di Nike Sports Research Lab.

A partire dagli anni Settanta, lo sport ha cercato di infondere sempre più spettacolo all’interno delle performance degli atleti. Spesso è l’atleta ha contribuire allo spettacolo agonistico, ma sempre di più ci si confronta anche con la realtà del doping all’interno degli eventi sportivi — come è accaduto alle ultime Olimpiadi con lo scandalo russo. I margini di miglioramento per l’essere umano si assottigliano, mentre le soluzioni per <a href="http://www.nuovenike.it/">http://www.nuovenike.it/ pompare le prestazioni aumentano esponenzialmente. Rifiutare o abbracciare questo inevitabile cambiamento?

2017-03-06

Gerry Dulac: Writing is on the wall for RB DeAngelo Williams

Longtime Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the <a href="http://www.authenticsteelersshop.com/shop-by-players-deangelo-williams-jersey-c-2_66.html">Deangelo Williams Jersey</a> Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did not flat-out say that DeAngelo Williams won't be back in Pittsburgh for the 2017 season. But, based on the team's desire to draft a young running back in this year's draft, he believes that the writing is on the wall with regard to Williams' future with the club.

Dulac addressed the team's plans for the running back position on Friday during his weekly Q&A.

"I expect them to take (a running back) in the first two days," he wrote. "They were going to draft one last year in the fifth round but the guys they liked were already gone. So I think the desire to get one is heightened this year. That will also tell <a href="http://www.authenticcowboysstore.com/shop-by-players-lp-ladouceur-jersey-c-2_45.html">http://www.authenticcowboysstore.com/shop-by-players-lp-ladouceur-jersey-c-2_45.html you know what you need to know about (DeAngelo) Williams."

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a great season and will be even stronger in 2017! Stay in the loop and sign up for our FREE Steelers newsletter!

While everyone expects the Steelers to select a running back in the draft, that doesn't necessarily mean that Williams' time in Pittsburgh is over. Mike Tomlin, speaking to the media shortly after the AFC Championship Game, said that Williams' value on the open market will play a big role in whether or not he returns to the team next season. Tomlin added that the two sides had a favorable experience working together over the past two seasons.

"I have an indication (that Williams wants to return), but again, none of those decisions occur in a vacuum," Tomlin said. "Free agency is what it is. It's free for him, it's free for us. We'll assess it and see if the two sides can come <a href="http://www.authenticnflraidersshop.com/shop-by-players-stacy-mcgee-jersey-c-2_43.html">http://www.authenticnflraidersshop.com/shop-by-players-stacy-mcgee-jersey-c-2_43.html together and do business again. I know it was a pleasant experience, the two years that he's been a part of this."

After undergoing knee surgery late in the year, Williams returned to score two touchdowns in Pittsburgh's Week 17 victory over the Browns. In the playoffs, Williams relieved an injured Le'Veon Bell in the AFC Championship Game, gaining 85 all-purpose yards and scoring his first postseason touchdown.

The Steelers are 10-4 in games Williams has started since the 2015 season. He's amassed 1,750 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns while helping the Steelers go 21-11 over the past two regular seasons. He had a sensational season in 2015, amassing 1,274 all-purpose yards while tying for the NFL lead with 11 rushing touchdowns.

Williams embraced his role as Bell's "backup" throughout his time in Pittsburgh, saying on numerous occasions that his only goal is to retire as a Super Bowl champion.

"I honestly can't put it into words. It would be unbelievable to win a Super Bowl," Williams told 247Sports back in November. "To win No.7, and to <a href="http://www.authenticcowboyssale.com/shop-by-players-tony-dorsett-jersey-c-2_42.html">http://www.authenticcowboyssale.com/shop-by-players-tony-dorsett-jersey-c-2_42.html experience it with the kids, the wife, that would be unbelievable."

2017-03-04

Labriola on Lake and Prime Time in 1989

Carnell Lake had a ringside seat for one of the Scouting Combine's legendary moments.

Ready or not, here it comes:
* It was 1989, and the NFL <a href="http://www.authenticsteelersshop.com/shop-by-players-carnell-lake-jersey-c-2_52.html">Carnell Lake Jersey</a> Scouting Combine was at hand. Carnell Lake, a linebacker from UCLA who was going to try to make a living as an NFL safety, was going to Indianapolis to make an impression. Deion Sanders, a cornerback from Florida State, Prime Time in the making, was going there to put on a show.

* “I knew I was going to try to make the transition from linebacker to safety,” said Lake, “and so what I really was trying to do was to shed myself of all linebacker thoughts.”

* Lake played in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl, but he knew he needed to show NFL scouts more if he was going to entice them to use a draft pick on him. Bill Nunn is one of the greatest scouts of all time, and his philosophy on <a href="http://www.authenticnflraidersshop.com/shop-by-players-tim-brown-jersey-c-2_26.html">http://www.authenticnflraidersshop.com/shop-by-players-tim-brown-jersey-c-2_26.html defensive backs always has been that you watch to see if the guy has the requisite athletic skills and movement. If a guy has that, then Nunn believes he can be coached to play the position the way his team wants it done.
* “What I thought I would do in my preparation for the Combine was I didn’t worry about the bench press, because I knew I’d be strong enough for cornerback or safety,” said Lake. “I wanted to make sure I was ready for the 40 and the vertical jump and the other drills I would have to do. So once the Senior Bowl ended, I didn’t go into the weight room hardly at all. I just went onto the field and ran 40s and did defensive back drills.”

* Lake played on a UCLA defense that included Daryl Henley, a cornerback who ended up drafted in the second round by the Rams that same year, and for Lake there was no stint at a performance camp or paying a private trainer. He simply asked Henley to show him some defensive back drills he could practice on his own.

* “When I got to the Combine, they didn’t tell me what group I was going to be in,” said Lake. “Initially, they threw me in with the linebackers, and I knocked that out. I wasn’t worried about doing the 40, or the vertical, or the cone drills with the linebackers. I figured I’m probably going to be faster than those guys anyway. What I was concerned about was whether they would put me in the defensive backs drills. It turned out they put me in both. So on the day of the workouts, I had to stay. I did the linebacker drills with the linebackers, and then they told me to stay and I did the defensive backs drills with the DBs. I had to work out twice that day.”
* And so it was that Lake’s Combine experience included working in the same linebackers group with Derrick Thomas and then running the 40 with the defensive backs group that included Deion Sanders. Also at that time, players did the bench press and the 40 on the same day, at least those players who weren’t sufficiently big-time to avoid it.

* “I’m exhausted after I finished the linebacker drills, and Deion is over there warming up for the 40,” said Lake. “Deion said, ‘I’m just running the 40. I’m not doing any of that other stuff.’ And I thought to myself, man, I wish I had it like that. I was bench pressing and stretching and jumping. When the 40 times came out, I thought, I’ll bet I would’ve been a lot closer to Deion’s time if I didn’t have to do all of that other stuff.”
* The time Sanders posted in that 40-yard dash 28 years ago remains the stuff of Combine legend. As Lake remembered it, Sanders ran the 40 – one time – and after he crossed the tape at the finish he just kept sprinting. Down the field. Into the tunnel at the corner of <a href="http://www.authenticcowboysstore.com/shop-by-players-sean-lee-jersey-c-2_8.html">http://www.authenticcowboysstore.com/shop-by-players-sean-lee-jersey-c-2_8.html the end zone. Gone. Left the building. Never checked on his time. Didn’t care to run again to try to do better.

* Sanders' time was a hand-held 4.2. And the story goes that when he ran out of the tunnel, he continued to run out of the stadium, where one version of the legend has it he got into a waiting limousine that took him to the airport.

* That 4.2 seconds was the cherry on top for Sanders, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound cover cornerback/returner who was coming into the NFL after a college season where he had five interceptions and returned two of those for touchdowns, a 15.2-yard punt return average with one of those returned for a touchdown, and with a 4.2 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine.

* Even with that, though, Sanders ended up being the fifth overall pick, by the Atlanta Falcons. Sounds ridiculous until you realize that Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, and Derrick Thomas were three of the four players picked before him.
* As for Lake, he ended up being a second-round pick of the Steelers – 34th overall – and the perfect safety complement for cornerback Rod Woodson. A lot is made, and rightfully so when talking about Lake’s playing career, about the 1995 and 1997 seasons when he moved from safety to cornerback in the middle of each season to stabilize the Steelers’ secondary and help the team win those AFC Central Division titles and go deep into the playoffs. But it’s also historically accurate to recognize Lake and Woodson as the two primary pieces of the defensive scheme that eliminated the run-and-shoot as a viable NFL offense.

* When Kansas City defensive coordinator Bill Cowher was hired in 1992 to follow Chuck Noll, the Steelers defensive staff also included Dom Capers, Marvin Lewis, and Dick LeBeau. They came up with what was called at the time, the dime-defense. It included two defensive linemen plus two outside linebackers as a four-man front, a middle linebacker, and six defensive backs.

* Two of those six defensive backs – who ended up being Lake and Woodson – lined up on the two inside slot receivers in the run-and-shoot, where they either turned and ran with the receivers in coverage, or they came off the edge with a free <a href="http://www.authenticcowboyssale.com/shop-by-players-robert-newhouse-jersey-c-2_56.html">http://www.authenticcowboyssale.com/shop-by-players-robert-newhouse-jersey-c-2_56.html path to the quarterback. Those run-and-shoot slot receivers were lined up just outside of each of the offensive tackles. It worked so well because Lake and Woodson actually could do both things, because if all they could do was come off the edge and rush, a quick pass to the slot receiver in the vacated area would’ve resulted in a series of big gains and/or third down conversions.

* When legendary defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan came to refer to the run-and-shoot as the chuck-and-duck, he probably was thinking about what the Steelers’ dime-defense was doing to that offense, and to the quarterbacks who were operating within it.