Compiled by Arthur Arkush
May 2, 2008

Friday, May 2, 2008

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette regarding firth-round pick, former Oregon QB Dennis Dixon: "He has great physical talent. He can run, he has a strong arm and he is coming to a great situation where he can grow behind two people like Ben and Charlie. It is going to be a great situation for him." Tomlin continued when asked why they elected to draft another QB: “Some people, like my former boss, Jon Gruden, collect quarterbacks. You can't have enough of these men."

Chargers QB Philip Rivers is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered in last season’s AFC championship game, as quoted in SignOnSanDiego.com: “I'm real pleased. I'm at the point now where I have to bear down. I'm getting a little impatient. You get tired of doing the rehab. You get tired of doing the one-legged this and that. Now is the most crucial time. It feels really good and you've got to get it really strong. I'm definitely ahead. We've still got three months to the start of training camp.” Rivers added: “As far as doing stuff out on the field, it's like James (Collins, the Chargers head athletic trainer) says, you're not going to hurt it. You've got just as much chance of stepping out of the truck wrong and hurting it as you do out here doing a drill. We're past the point where you have to be careful how you're walking.”

Seahawks new RB Julius Jones, excited about his fresh start in Seattle, as quoted on seattlepi.com: "This was definitely the best fit for me. I love playing here. The atmosphere, it's 10 times better than Dallas. It's intimidating. Before the game, raising the 12th Man flag, and then the 12th Man. It's a lot. It gives you the chills."

Former Broncos C Jay Leeuwenburg, speaking from his experience in dealing with Type I Diabetes (Bronco QB Jay Cutler was recently diagnosed with the disease), as quoted in The Denver Post: "Unfortunately, in the position Jay's in, people will wonder in their back of their minds: Did he throw that interception because his blood sugars weren't in control? And that is 100 percent not fair. I never in my nine years in the NFL, in my five years of college and four years of high school missed a down of football because of diabetes. It is doable. There are some life-changing things Jay will have to come to grips with. But he has world-class doctors that will help him. And he will have all the resources available to him."

New Patriots LB Jerod Mayo, quoted in The Boston Globe regarding the surreal experience of becoming a first-round pick in the NFL: "It's kind of overwhelming right now, I feel like a little boy again. At the same time, I'm just going to relish the moment and enjoy myself." Mayo continued: "I'm a hard worker and I'm going to come in here and contribute to this team any way I can, whether it be on special teams or as a starter. I'm coming to make a contribution and help bring a championship here. I'm just ready to put pads on now and hit someone."

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson, quoted on Star–Telegram.com regarding the departure of FB Lorenzo Neal: “It's going to be a little different just from the simple fact that we work so well together, and we know each other. He knows sometimes what I'm thinking, and he can leave somebody and go get the next guy. He just has a feel for my running style. That comes with time, so that's going to be tough working with somebody new. I'm certainly going to miss him.”

Eagles S Brian Dawkins believes Philadelphia could’ve handled the Lito Sheppard contract situation better, as quoted in the Philadelphia Enquirer: "The way it has played out, I don't see those three guys being here at the same time. It's a tough situation to be in, and this is somebody I'm close to and I consider a close friend. I don't like it for him. Whatever happens, I hope it works out best for Lito. I hate that this is happening to him." Dawkins added: "You understand there's a business side of things, but . . . business can be handled in a better manner. I just don't see how it can work out here. I really don't."

Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha, quoted by the Associated Press on his role as one of the most charitable players in the league (Asomugha has received the Bryon “Whizzer” White award three years running; the award is given to one player annually for recognizing charitable work): "I just view it as my portion. It is normal for me because it has always been a part of me, for as long as I can remember. You wake up in the morning and tie your shoes and don't think twice about it because you are used to it. It's just never been that big of a deal to me, until I hear stories of the impact it has on people. That's when it blows my mind." Asomugha added: "I like to show them that I am like them. I'm here as a human being. I'm not on a pedestal."

Bills special teams coach Bobby April, pleased with Buffalo’s draft last weekend, as quoted in The Buffalo News: “Since I’ve been here, the scouts have been indoctrinated to look for and see what those guys bring to the table on special teams. A lot of these guys really made that a priority to check on the players, not just as offensive or defensive players, but as what they can do for us on teams. We’ve got a bunch of good players in the draft for special teams. I think it’s really going to be beneficial to us.” April went on to say: “We’ve been really good here for four years, and it’s because of their mentality. I always mentioned to the guys that everyone in the room has the talent to play well on special teams. But to play well on special teams, you have to have that constitution that you really want to be outstanding, you really want to excel and you really want to win that play.”

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Bears new RB Matt Forte, quoted on chicagobears.com regarding the RB legacy in Chicago, and how he hopes to have his name mentioned with the former greats one day: “I’m happy to be drafted by the Chicago Bears, especially as a running back. They have a great history of running backs that came through there. Hopefully I can take over and become one of those guys who makes history as a Chicago Bear just like they did.” Forte added: “This is a great opportunity to come in and make a mark for myself. I know their running back situation and I have a chance to come in and compete. It’s not going to be given to me. I’m going to have to work hard and come in and compete. It’s a great chance for me to show I can play in this league and to do good and become a great running back in the NFL.”

Panthers GM Marty Hurney, excited after his team bulked up their defensive line Tuesday signing former Bears veteran DT’s Darwin Walker and Ian Scott, as quoted in the Charlotte Observer: "We had a chance to get two veteran defensive tackles. You bring experience and talent into the mix with both of them. Obviously, we feel very good and fortunate to have been able to sign them. Hurney continued: "Darwin has the ability to rush the passer; he's a very good player inside. Both of them are very good inside. Ian's a guy we have always liked. We had been talking (with his agent) for some time."

Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, offering high praise when describing Jared Allen’s replacement, DE Tamba Hali, as quoted on kansascity.com: “Tamba Hali is probably the most underrated player in the NFL when it comes to rushing the passer. All people look at is how many times he sacked the quarterback. What they don’t look at is how many times he made the quarterback move. He was a force rushing the passer all year long. I don’t know how many sacks he missed when he tried to strip the ball and the quarterback got away.” Cunningham went on to say: “I’m not going to say Tamba Hali is going to get 15 sacks because he’s playing on the right side. I have to let that play out. The thing we need to find out is how comfortable he’ll feel on the right side. With all of the skills he’s shown, he’s certainly shown he can be a double-digit sack guy over there.”

Titans new scouting coordinator Blake Beddingfield, reflecting on his first draft in his new position last weekend, and how it went a lot smoother than expected, as quoted on The (Nashville) City Paper: “Usually when you go into those meetings, you want everybody to be on the same page, but there’s almost always disagreements. The coaches want one player, the scouts recommend another. This was actually the first time since I’ve been here that everybody was actually in agreement. And it was that way on every pick, which is rare. There were really no arguments on any of the seven choices.”

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert, fortunate that RB Rashard Mendenhall was still on the board when it was their turn to pick in the first round Saturday (Pittsburgh selected Mendenhall with the 23rd pick overall), as quoted on steelers.com: “As we finalized our preparations mid-week, the coaching staff, scouting staff and ownership all sat down and we came up with a list of players that we would not trade away from if they were available at 23. Rashard Mendenhall was one of those players — so we are very excited that this player was available at 23, because it was unexpected.  I don’t want his agent hearing that, but it’s the truth.” Colbert added: “This is an exciting running back. He runs with power, he runs with moves, he can catch. He’ll work as a blocker. This is something that’s very exciting for this organization, and we were happy to make that pick.”

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, quoted in The New York Times regarding New York’s third-round selection, Michigan WR Mario Manningham (Manningham’s draft stock steadily dropped following a Pro Football Weekly report that stated he lied about his past marijuana use at the Scouting Combine): “We felt like because of the support services that we can provide for him, because of our coaching staff, because of our veteran players, that he would be a young man who would quickly recognize the fact that he can be a very successful player in this league, but it can be taken away very, very quickly if he would fall into some of these problems.”

Chiefs new DT Glenn Dorsey, excited to be in Kansas City with fellow first-round selection Branden Albert, as quoted on TheLedger.com: “I'm real excited. I heard it's a great environment. I heard the stadium is amazing, that it's a great organization. I'm just excited to come and visit and get to work.” Dorsey continued by saying he looks forward to enduring the rookie transition with Albert: “We're going to go through it together. Instead of having everything being on one of our shoulders, we have each other to vent to, to get in fights and stuff like that. We might end up going against each other once or twice in practice. That makes it even better. I'm just looking forward to the opportunity. This works out for the better.''

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, quoted on macon.com on what separated Matt Ryan from the rest of the pack Saturday: "We're talking about bringing in guys who have the team concept, who are about getting better and who have passion for the game There may be flashy players on the defensive line, but if they don't have the team concept, to me, I think you need to put that player aside." Dimitroff added: "We had options, for sure, and obviously, as has been written, Glenn Dorsey was a legitimate consideration and we respect the ability of both players. It came down to us considering the value of that position, the need that we had, but, most importantly, we decided on the skill set that Matt Ryan possessed along with his intelligence and his leadership ability."

Monday, April 28, 2008

New Bills CB Leodis McKelvin, showing his competitiveness after being drafted 11th overall by Buffalo, and the first cornerback chosen, as quoted in The Buffalo News: “Off the field, I stay out of trouble. I do the right thing for my coaches and who I’m representing as an organization. But on the field, I’m very competitive and another side of me is going to come out. It’s just a thing you got to switch on and off to. On the field, I’m going to be a warrior because we’re fighting out there.” McKelvin added: “It was during the season when we were playing I knew I was the best corner in the draft and that I could compete with anybody in the country. When the season was over, I got a chance to go to the Senior Bowl and show that I could compete with any player.”

RB Darren McFadden, the Raiders' first-round pick, as quoted by The Associated Press on what he brings to Oakland as the fourth overall selection: “A lot of backs may be smaller with speed, but I feel like I'm a big back with speed. I feel like I can bring back to the Raider Nation a big player. It's something the coaches talked about with me; (the thing) they said they're missing from their offense was the ability to make big plays.” McFadden continued by discussing the importance of reporting to training camp on time: “It's very important. I want to be out there playing. I don't want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning. The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there, so I'll let my agent take care of that and I feel like he's going to get it done for me.”

Ravens first-round pick Joe Flacco, excited to prove his worth when some have doubted the wisdom of taking a University of Delaware quarterback in the first round, as quoted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: “I'm ready to work really hard to prove to everybody they made a good decision. I think everybody has to make an adjustment, no matter what level of college football they were playing. I think I'm just as prepared as anybody else. I have confidence in my ability.” Flacco went on to discuss his two years at the University of Pittsburgh: “I never really got a shot there. I still carry that with me, that I'm a I-AA guy and had to go down to the minor leagues of college football and prove who I was. I'm going to carry that with me for the rest of my life, and hopefully use it for the best.”

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, quoted on (Phoenix) EastValleyTribune.com regarding the team's first-round pick, 16th overall, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie of Tennessee State: “We’re in a position where we don’t really have a pressing need at any position. So when our pick came, we were looking for the player who was the greatest margin of improvement for our team. That’s what we felt this was.” Whisenhunt continued by addressing the issue that Cromartie has not faced strong competition, coming from a small school: “There’s always a question about the level of competition. But we felt like he excelled when he went against some better competition, most notably in the Senior Bowl. That’s one of the things that really made it easier in our decision process.”