Former North Carolina Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky asked people to start calling him Mitchell and stop calling him Mitch during the Scouting Combine in February. Perhaps Mitchell needs a nickname too, can we suggest “Mitch?” There were reports that the Chicago Bears were looking to trade back from the #3 slot, but instead they went up to #2 and then took Trubisky.

Pretty much no one in the Bears community likes this pick. It’s been widely panned on Twitter. Here’s just a very small sampling.

I don't care. I'm calling him Mitch

— Brian Bedo (@BrianBedo) April 28, 2017

My reaction to (1) learning that the #Bears not losing to SF forced them to trade up, and (2) to drafting Trubisky. #EmbraceTanking pic.twitter.com/qhceVd02Yv

— The Frustrated Fan (@Frustrated_Fan) April 28, 2017

Mike Glennon: 5 starts last 3 NFL seasons

Mitchell Trubisky: 13 college starts since HS

Mark Sanchez: 10 NFL starts since 2012

— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 28, 2017

You are dead to me @ChicagoBears

— Alex Patt (@chifanpatt1) April 28, 2017

If the Bears had selected Trubisky 3d, I'd have been mildly surprised. The trade of three premium picks to move up one slot is stunning.

— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) April 28, 2017

Ryan Pace must have really, really, really, really, really, really had Trubisky rated higher than the other QBs in the 2017 #NFLDraft #Bears

— Lester A Wiltfong Jr (@wiltfongjr) April 28, 2017

Trading those picks for Mitchell Trubisky is like paying $20 for a bottle of water at Coachella only to spill it on the desert floor. #Bears

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) April 28, 2017

The Bears trade up to draft Mitchell Trubisky after JUST signing Mike Glennon to a 3Y/$45M contract. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/u0ivEerbIR

— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) April 28, 2017

#Bears fans after picking Mitchell Trubisky #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/nSjFCm5zHE

— History of Sports (@BeforeFamePics) April 28, 2017

Okay so the Bears seemed to have gotten fleeced here. According to reports, the Bears gave the 49ers their No. 3 overall pick, 2017 third- and fourth-round picks, and a 2018 third-round pick to move up to No. 2. All to move up just one spot!

Yikes! You can why Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace is being pilloried on social media right now. The fate of Pace will be tied to Trubisky. They will sink or swim together.

So who is Mitchell Tubisky?

“He’s polished,” said NFL Network Draft guru Mike Mayock, when he met the media during the combine availability post QB workouts.

“Even though he’s only played one year, which bothers me, you can see the quick feet, quick release and accurate, really like him.”

We heard reports claiming that Pace was prioritizing experience when deciding which way to go with the quarterback position.

That turned out to be completely true, and nothing but a blatant smoke screen. Pace even once said this offseason that the idea of  Jay Cutler coming back was still on the table, but we really never believes that narrative at all. 

Pace gave all that money Mike Glennon, a QB who’s accomplished nothing in the NFL and has hardly even played.

Sanchez doesn’t have much experience either. Mitchell Trubisky has only played only 13 games, so again However Mayock points out something interesting about him:

“he threw the ball 571 times this year. If you look at Carson Wentz in his entire career, I think Carson only threw it 612 times. So he only threw it 30 or 40 times less than Wentz did in college. However, one year as a starter, I look at that and go, okay, 13 games, how many two-minute situations was he in?

How many four-minute situations where he knew he had to bleed the clock and make calls at the line of scrimmage and do pass protections and get the ball out? I look at the Bowl game and think it’s a perfect example. It’s a microcosm of what I’m talking about. He made two or three throws in that Bowl game against Stanford that were big-time NFL throws under pressure.

Loved them. However, in the same half, in the second half of that game, he threw a pick six that was an awful read and an awful throw. I just don’t think he’s ready yet.”

Trubisky didn’t have the best combine. It wasn’t bad, it’s just that both Deshaun Watson of Clemson and Pat Mahomes of Texas Tech had significantly better showings. On the plus side, Mitchell Trubisky does bring a quick release, big arm, good feet and pocket mobility to the table. 

Keep telling yourself that now, because I know you really hate this selection.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN. 

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube

Follow paulmbanks

The post Mitchell Trubisky Selection Was Not Very Well Received by the Chicago Bears Fan Community appeared first on The Bank.

In the Jacksonville Jaguars organization, the man at the very top is an Illini grad.

As of Friday night, so is the newest member of the club- Defensive end Dawuane Smoot.

The 6-3, 264-pound tackles-for-losses machine was selected with the fourth pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia. Smoot was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 68^th overall pick.

Dawuane Smoot finished 31st in the nation in tackles for a loss last fall sixth in the Big Ten in TFLs per game (1.7), third in the Big Ten in TFLs during conference game (13.0) and eighth in the Big Ten in sacks during conference games (5.0). Illinois as a team was ninth in the country. Smoot is the fourth Illini player drafted by the Jaguars and the first since 2004 (Kevin Hardy 1996 (3rd overall pick), Danny Clark 1999, Sean Bubin 2004).

We spoke with NFL Network Draftnik Mike Mayock about the draft stock of Illini defensive ends Dawuane Smoot and Carroll Phillips.

“Smoot is a little bigger and had more consistent production over a longer period of time. I thought he struggled a little bit against Jon Heck from North Carolina, and I thought the kid from Western Michigan, Moton, handled it also. That made me nervous. He came to the Senior Bowl and had a good week. He’s got natural pass-rush ability but has to be better against the run,” said Mayock.”

“I think Smoot probably goes third, fourth round, somewhere near that.” 

Mayock was accurate about the specific round. There is one Illini already on the Jags roster, seven year veteran wide receiver Arrelious Benn.

Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan graduated from the University of Illinois College of Engineering with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1971. He later was awarded the Mechanical Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999. Smoot enters JAX’s 4-3 scheme as the likely back-up to RDE Calais Campbell.

Illini football Coach Lovie Smith offered this analysis of Smoot during the final week of 2017 spring practice.

“He can of course be a 4-3, left end ideally, he can be a stand-up 4-3 linebacker too, so it’s kind of the preference, he has skills that are pretty flexible, play a couple different ways”

“Most people don’t see him as fast as he really is, so I think he’s going to surprise people with his speed, and agility,” said Illini DL James Crawford, who played alongside Dawuane Smoot last season.

“Smoot is a quick guy that people don’t really see,” Crawford added.

“Because he’s a prototype 250-260 defensive end, but he’s got speed to him too.”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN. 

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube

Follow paulmbanks

The post Jacksonville Jaguars Add More Illini Flavor by Drafting Dawuane Smoot appeared first on The Bank.

Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Pace will either a.) be ultimately proven a genius for his outside the box 2017 NFL Draft selections or b.) soon looking for a new gig.

Coming off a 3-13 season in which the Bears hit rock bottom, Pace went with a very high risk/very high reward strategy which yielded just five total picks, out of a draft that lasts seven rounds. The end result will be extremely hit-or-miss, sink-or-swim, choose your all-or-nothing cliche.

If Mitchell Trubisky develops into the Chicago Bears bonafide QB1 for the next decade, then this will all be worth it.

If he’s the real deal, then we’ll all forget about badly Pace got fleeced by the San Francisco 49ers to get him. If Trubisky indeed pans out, then no one will recall all that Chicago gave up for the chance to move up one whole slot. The Trubisky selection was not very well received, especially within the Chicago Bears community itself. 

Social media torches everything, but it really torched this decision. It’s funny, but we actually mocked Trubisky to the Chicago Bears, way up at the top of the draft, as the NFL season was winding down.

Later, like a sane person, we actually slotted him much lower, towards the back of the first round.

While the Trubiksy selection was much maligned, some of the Bears’ other picks were questionable as well. They took TE Adam Shaheen in the second round out of the Division II Ashland University. It’s reminiscent of another second round pick the Bears made 11 years ago, for another division II player, Abilene Christian’s Danieal Manning.

That choice was also slammed at the time, but in the end it worked out beautifully because Manning ended up having a really nice career. That’s definitely got to be the ceiling on the Shaheen pick.

In round four, the Bears grabbed DB Eddie Jackson out of Alabama and RB Tarik Cohen out of North Carolina A&T. Are you sensing a theme here? That of taking guys from schools you have never heard of?

Rank the Bears draft. @360FFB

— Gordy Baba ?? (@gordy_baba) April 30, 2017

In round five, the Bears took OL Jordan Morgan from Kutztown University, again a school where you can’t name the conference affiliation or mascot of the school. You got to give Pace credit for this though- he doesn’t care where the players that he thinks can ball come from. You got to love his originality and boldness.

That said, this Chicago Bears draft class will earn a lot of “F” and “D” grades from a lot of pundits, writers, bloggers and fans.

Of course, what do draft grades really mean? You can’t actually evaluate the true value of a draft class until a few years down the road. On the other hand, you still have immediate thoughts and feelings to anything in life, despite the fact that the ultimate meaning down the road could vastly different.

Today, in the immediate aftermath of the Bears five picks, I would give them a participation trophy. Congrats on your participant ribbon. That’s the grade I was assign.

It was a very deep draft, at least on defense, and no doubt an amazing class for defensive backs. However, what did the Bears without a doubt, genuinely accomplish here? They have needs all over, certainly so on defense and in the secondary. I see no upgrades in those areas.

Good luck to Chicago Bears Head Coach John Fox; he really wasn’t given a whole lot to work with here.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN. 

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube

The post Chicago Bears 2017 Draft Grade: Participant Trophy appeared first on The Bank.

Welcome to the 2018 NFL mock draft. Order was based on an amalgam of NFL power rankings from across the internet. If you have issue with the order, well so do many others. That’s what the comments section is for! Just keep it above board and professional in your criticism.

Team needs were not taken into account for the 2018 NFL mock draft as it’s just too early. 2017 NFL Draft picks were mostly not taken into account for our projections.

And yes, with only 32 picks, some guy that you feel should be a first rounder will be left out!

Also, yes, many of you will strongly disagree with projections here, and with the justification, but try to be respectful about it in the comments section. There is no need for name calling and hateful slurs, try to be the adult in the room as you voice your disagreement.

1.Los Angeles Rams, Sam Darnold, QB, USC

2. Cleveland Browns, Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

3. Chicago Bears, Arden Key, DE/OLB, LSU

4. San Francisco 49ers, Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

5. New Orleans Saints, Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

6. New York Jets, Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

7. Jacksonville Jaguars, Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

8. Detroit Lions, Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama

9. Baltimore Ravens, Derwin James SS, Florida State

10. Philadelphia Eagles, Malik Jefferson, OLB, Texas

11. Los Angeles Chargers, Calvin Ridley WR, Alabama

12. Tennessee Titans, Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

13. Buffalo Bills, Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

14. Indianapolis Colts, Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State

15. New York Giants, Daron Payne DT, Alabama

16. Miami Dolphins, Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

17. Arizona Cardinals, Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

18. Minnesota Vikings, Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

19. Denver Broncos, Da’Shawn Hand, DE, Alabama

20. Houston Texans, Jake Browning, QB, Washington

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State

22. Cincinnati Bengals, Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State

23. Carolina Panthers, Martez Ivey, OG, Florida 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

25. Green Bay Packers, Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

26. Washington Redskins, Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama

27. Kansas City Chiefs, Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

28. Atlanta Falcons, Geron Christian OT, Louisville

29. Oakland Raiders, Jordan Whitehead, CB, Pitt

30. Dallas Cowboys, Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama

31, Seattle Seahawks, Harold Landry, DE, Boston College

32. New England Patriots, Brock Ruble, OT, Florida State

This 2018 NFL mock draft is listed on the Walter Football database

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN. 

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post 2018 NFL Mock Draft 6-29-17 appeared first on The Bank.

The noted American poet laureate Anthony Kiedis once rhetorically asked “how come everybody want to keep it like the Kaiser?!” in the 1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers hit, “Give it Away.” Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly essentially implied how come everybody want to ask about the Kizer in his response on a media teleconference Sunday afternoon.

Former Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer, who left school early to declare for the NFL Draft last season, was a second round pick by the Cleveland Browns. It was recently announced that Kizer won the Browns QB1 job, so he’ll open up under center against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers a week from today.

Kelly did a media call today to recap yesterday’s 49-16 domination of Temple and to preview next week’s high profile clash at home versus #15 Georgia. An off topic query came in from a media member who covers the Browns.

“I know this isn’t about the game, but I cover the Browns in Cleveland. I was wondering your feeling on DeShone Kizer winning a starting job, your thoughts about him, maybe he should have stayed another year?” Kelly was asked. 

“Well, I mean, probably the 700th time that I’ve responded to this question,” Kelly replied indicating that he’s certainly had more than his fill of discussing this topic. He then went on to extol the virtues of and show support for Kizer, but he maintains his position that DeShone Kizer should have returned to South Bend for at least one more season.

“What I said was that he was the best quarterback in the draft, and he had the biggest upside, but would benefit from staying at Notre Dame. Once that decision was made, we were all for DeShone seeking out what his dream was: to play in the NFL. That’s what he’s done.”

“In a very short period of time he’s gotten himself into a great position to be the starting quarterback. We’re thrilled for DeShone. We’re big fans. Hopefully he’s surrounded with guys that can get Cleveland back into championship caliber.”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

The post Brian Kelly Has Apparently Had Enough DeShone Kizer Questions appeared first on The Bank.

Another NFL season kicks off tonight and, just like in most recent seasons, the news cycle surrounding the league has been very dark and gloomy. If you need some more light hearted NFL news, then I suggest you take a look at the PetPlan pup-nosticators.

Yes, what’s better to deliver you from gloom and doom news, then puppies! Puppies that also actually do better at picking NFL winners than the so-called “experts.”

Last year, the Pup-nosticators went 7-3 throughout the playoffs, but more importantly they were 10 for 10 on adoptions.  The Pup-nosticators are part of Petplan pet insurance’s “Social Good” campaign to help raise awareness for pet adoption.

Check out PetPlan on Twitter:

The Pup-nosticators are back to make some bold predictions for week 1 of the football season. #NFL #week1 @Giants @Browns @packers pic.twitter.com/ZtYHTTEBKT

— Petplan Insurance (@Petplan) September 7, 2017

And on Instagram, and Facebook.

What PetPlan is doing to raise awareness about pet adoption is more important than ever right now. Think of all the poor displaced pets in Texas that lost their homes in Hurricane Harvey, the most devastating and destructive storm in American history. More pets will lose their homes in Florida as Hurricane Irma, the strongest hurricane in Atlantic Ocean history barrels down on Florida this weekend.

Right behind Irma is another storm, Jose, which could also potentially be devastating.

Help out Petplan anyway you can.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post PetPlan Puppies Picked NFL Winners at 70% Clip Last Year appeared first on The Bank.

Friday night Donald Trump held a campaign rally for an election that he already won 10 months ago. At the rally he called Colin Kaepernick, and other NFL players who don’t stand for the national anthem, “sons of bitches.”

Therefore he also called mothers of NFL players “bitches” in the process. Naturally and deservedly, he’s getting a ton of blowback for such hateful and divisive commentary. Chicago Bears Team Captain Akiem Hicks called Trump out on Saturday.

Sunday brings the weekly political and NFL talking heads shows, and with it plenty of strong opinions.  Here is just a small smattering of opinions.

Boomer Esiason called Trump’s comments “a blight on our country,” while James Brown called it “divisive, insensitive, vulgar and dismissive.” Burleson had the best line, stating: “this isn’t as a player woe is me, this is a woe is us as a country.”

From CBS Sports The NFL Today

Boomer Esiason:

“What I’m seeing today is a unity between the owners and the players like I’ve never seen before.  So the conversation is started. The conversation is going. I said a couple weeks ago right here that the NYPD here in New York, and I know the Commissioner O’Neill personally, he’s done yeoman’s work in trying to police the community properly, which they are every single day. So the conversation is working, change is happening.

“It’s slow, but what happened this past weekend, unfortunately, is really a blight on our country because it is unfortunate that he used those words and that tone.”

James Brown:

“So to be dismissive, vulgar and divisive with comments that reflect a lack of understanding, insensitive, and indeed colonizing does not serve the purpose of trying to honestly resolve problems, build bridges and foster civil dialogue.”

“What would be more effective is knowing, and Nate said this earlier, the kind of dialogue that uses the four-letter word that former UCLA coach John Wooden said is, the most powerful one to effect change, and that is love.”

The NFL Today discusses The President’s comments on player protests. pic.twitter.com/6yuBVrwd5a

— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) September 24, 2017

Nate Burleson:

“Listen, we’re talking about what’s next, and I can appreciate your thoughts on that. But as players we have to handle what is now. There are going to be players that will sit and that will kneel. We’re hearing about teams that will stay in the locker room. And because of things that are going on in this country, but also because of the words of our President.”

“So I don’t want any narrative to be changed where people say look at the players and look at what they’re doing. This is almost in direct response to our president calling players, and I say us, SOBs. And this isn’t as a player woe is me, this is a woe is us as a country.”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

The post Boomer Esiason, James Brown, Nate Burleson All EVISCERATE Trump appeared first on The Bank.

Friday night Donald Trump held a campaign rally for an election that he already won 10 months ago. At the rally he called Colin Kaepernick, and other NFL players who don’t stand for the national anthem, “sons of bitches.”

Therefore he also called mothers of NFL players “bitches” in the process. Naturally and deservedly, he’s getting a ton of blowback for such hateful and divisive commentary. Chicago Bears Team Captain Akiem Hicks called Trump out on Saturday.

Sunday brings the weekly political and NFL talking heads shows, and with it plenty of strong opinions.  Here is just a small smattering of opinions.

The NFL Today talks with John Dickerson, Seattle HC Pete Carroll, and Amy Trask about player protests. pic.twitter.com/AM7ife84bs

— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) September 24, 2017

Pete Carroll said that now “is a time for change,” and that “players are ready to activate” while Charles Barkley called to action the athletes residing in the 1% of earners in America on The NFL Today.

Mark Cuban made an allusion to Trump’s well documented thin-skinnedness on “Meet the Press.”

Pete Carroll:

“This is not about the President. I think the players and the owners have stepped to the front and they’ve showed you what they think of those comments. This is about something different, James. This is about a time marking it’s a new day right now. This is a time for change. Our players are ready to activate.

“They’re ready to be the messengers of the change that is necessary for us.”

“This is so crucial that we take this opportunity and make the most of it. Inequality, treating people unfairly, treating people uniquely because of their background and where they come from is no longer okay. With that thought, I think you’ll see that activation. Our players are the messengers. They’re the ones that can reach the young people. They’re the ones that can spread the word that will no longer allow these things that have lasted for so long to stay the same.”

“I can’t tell you how excited we are about that, James. Because this is an extraordinary opportunity, and we can’t miss this chance.  They are the ones that will have the message that they can carry to the young people, James. They are the ones that we have to recognize them. We don’t want to see them as anything but that.

“They aren’t perfect. They’re going to make mistakes. But they are the ones that know. They have lived the life. They know of the inequalities…

Not a single player from the team led by Pete Carroll, nor their opponents, the Tennessee Titans, participated in the national anthem. Have a look:

Not a single player from the Titans or the Seahawks participated in the National Anthem just now. pic.twitter.com/yskxkpFYL0

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) September 24, 2017

“We as players have to figure out what to do next. We’ve got to stop worrying about who is kneeling.  We’ve got to not worry about who is not kneeling.  We’ve got to figure out how we can go back in our communities and make a difference. We can’t be saying negative things on Twitter.”

“That only escalates to the stupidity. But we’ve got these guys, myself included, we make more money than 99.9% of the people in the world.”

“We’ve got to find a way to go back in our communities and raise up our communities. Let’s not worry about who is kneeling.”

Mark Cuban via “Meet the Press” with Chuck Todd:

“If the president’s going to say something condemning a person, an industry, a sport, then he’s got to be able to take the blowback that’s going to come back. So LeBron and Steph and any athlete, any owner, it’s an open door now, and so they have every right for the same reasons to be able to say whatever’s on their mind.

“Now we’ll be able to see if he can take it.” 

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

The post Pete Carroll, Charles Barkley, Mark Cuban Respond to Trump UGLINESS appeared first on The Bank.

By John O’Leary

When our favorite old-school football players left the field for the last time, some dropped out of the spotlight, choosing to lead quieter lives. Others do everything that they can to stay in front of the camera, seeking careers in entertainment, either acting or becoming a sports commentator. Still more get their moments in the spotlight in negative ways, such as felons on the evening news.

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to your favorite players after retirement, keep reading to learn about four famous former players and the lives that they lead now.

Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice spent more than 20 years in the NFL, starting in 1984 and ending in 2000. While he spent most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, including three of his Super Bowl runs, he also played for the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. His records for many of the major statistical categories for wide receivers continue to hold strong today.

While he may have left the field after retirement, he didn’t leave the spotlight. He has guest-starred on shows like Law and Order, One Tree Hill and The Class. He participated in Dancing with the Stars and Deal or No Deal. He even appeared in the film Without a Paddle: Nature Calls. Rice continues to make his way onto our screens today.

Joe Montana

If there’s one player that did everything he could to drop out of the spotlight rather than staying under it, it’s Joe Montana.

You may remember him better as Joe Cool or The Comeback Kid. He was a Hall of Fame inductee, as well as a four-time Super Bowl Champ and a three-time Super Bowl MVP. After spending the 80s and 90s on the field, he left for California wine country, where he lived on a ranch with his wife and kids, owning horses and making his own wine. He used the profits from his wine business to support the charity he started and spent his free time coaching his son’s junior football team. Now, he’s continuing the quiet life in a San Francisco condo with his wife.

Archie Griffin

Though he was perhaps the most famous NFL player on this list, Archie Griffin was one of the least successful in retirement. Before he even started in the NFL, Archie Griffin became the only college football player to earn the Heisman Trophy twice. His entrance into the draft in 1976 was a highly anticipated one. Unfortunately, his 7-season run with Cincinnati Bengals was less than memorable. He left the NFL in 1983 and tried to make it in the USFL, but was met with failure.

His retirement from football was equally disappointing. He tried and failed to start his own shoe line. He filed for bankruptcy after several failed ventures. Now, he seems to have finally found his niche, working as the Ohio State Assistant Alumni Association Director, where he gets to help rally the team before and after games. He is also a partial owner of a minor league baseball team.

Tim Foley

Tim Foley is perhaps best-known for being a player with the Miami Dolphins during their record-breaking undefeated season in 1972. Even while he was still playing, he was known for being a hard worker who was serious about getting the job done right. So it should come as no surprise that when he hung up his uniform in 1980, it didn’t take long for him to go back to work.

Foley launched his Amway Independent Business in 1981, less than a year after retiring from his 11-year run in the NFL. His hard work and dedication paid off at Amway as much as it did on the field; as he would later earn the prestigious level of Founders Crown Ambassador.

Leaving the Spotlight

From actors to winemakers to business owners and everything in between, there’s no telling which direction NFL players will choose to go once they hang up their jerseys. While it seems that an increasing number of recent-retirees find their way back onto TV in a bad way, at least there are a few old-schoolers out there finding success off the field.

The post What Four Legendary Old School Football Players Do These Days appeared first on The Bank.

Welcome to the 2018 NFL mock draft. Order was inspired by Tankathon, who we linked here. We then projected out how we will see each team finishing, out and thus composing the final order. If you take issue with the order, well then you have a lot of company. That’s what the comments section is for! Just keep it above board and professional in your criticism.

Team needs were somewhat taken into account for the 2018 NFL mock draft, at least as much as we could at this point. It’s still very early for a 2018 mock draft right now, and team needs will not be fully accounted for until AFTER NFL free agency ends.

For the link to our NBA mock draft go here.

With only 32 picks to go around, yes, there will be a guy or two that you feel very strongly should be a first rounder, but got left out. Sorry, but it’s inevitable.

Also, many of you will strongly disagree with the projections here, and with the write-ups, but try to be respectful about it in the comments section. There is no need for name calling; be the adult in the room as you voice your disagreement.

We appreciate your attention and zeal, so again just comment section away.

1. Cleveland Browns, Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Comedic legend, N.Y. Jets fan and L.A. resident Larry David wants his team to pick Rosen over Darnold, but neither will likely be available by the time NYJ are on the board. David adds that he hates the Jets are winning and thus preventing the opportunity. Yes, the Brownies are once again looking for a signal caller, and are once again probably going to be picking up at the top of the draft.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

2. San Francisco 49ers, Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Penn State coach James Franklin articulated the selflessness and team-oriented philosophy of Saquon Barkley. “He’s never once asked for the ball more, never asked for more touches, never fussed at the offensive line,” said Franklin.

“Never fussed at the coaching staff, he’s an unselfish guy that gets the big picture in a circumstance that most guys wouldn’t.”

“A lot of attention and focus on Saquon Barkley right now, but his attention and focus is on the team.”

 This is a guy that we have interviewed many times and written about extensively; for good reason. Go here for more on him.

3. New York Giants, Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Almost everybody seems to believe that Darnold will be in the top three to top five overall pick discussion, including Adnan Virk, host of College Football Final, who joined our podcast this season. You can hear him assess Darnold and some of the other brand name stars in college football over at this link.

Darnold was previously considered to be THE guy, at #1, but this season he has thrown too many interceptions and now exposed some of his flaws.

4. Denver Broncos, Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch were definitely not the answer. Try, try and try again. You can do worse than a Heisman Trophy winner…that much is true.

5. Indianapolis Colts, Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Brian Kelly has finally gone against his pass happy ways and committed to the run game. Why?

Because he knows that he has two future NFL studs on the left side of his offensive line, and he sets up the rushing attack to play to the strengths of the Fighting Irish. McGlinchey is one of those two, Nelson is the other. Go here for more on that.

6. Chicago Bears, Arden Key, DE/OLB, LSU

Bears are a complete mess, they just need players period. Key might be a nice piece to pair with Akiem Hicks, who’s arguably the team’s MVP this season. Really, above all the Bears need a wide receiver, but I just don’t see one in this class who’s worth mocking up this high right now. John Fox could be unemployed soon so that will obviously have tremendous consequence on who we decide to mock in this slot.

7. New York Jets, Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

Yes, both teams in Gotham could be looking for a QB this draft; including the team you usually suspect. It’s just too bad that Larry David won’t likely be getting the one that he wants; unless the Jets trade up.

8. Miami Dolphins, Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama

Bama blue chip may not even last this long. He’s a prospect that could fit in with almost any team.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

Brian Kelly has finally gone against his pass happy ways and committed to the run game. Why? Because he knows that he has two future NFL studs on the left side of his offensive line, and he sets up the rushing attack to play to the strengths of the Fighting Irish. McGlinchey is one of those two, Nelson is the other. Go here for more on that.

10. Cleveland Browns (from Houston Texans), Derwin James SS, Florida State

An electric prospect wbo will be wanted by any team with a need to shore up their pass defense. The Browns are such a team that mus get better at stopping the pass, and they may go best DB available with their second pick.

11. Los Angeles Chargers, Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Quarterbacks, quarterbacks, QBs everywhere in this 2018 NFL mock draft. Getting a chance to sit and learn from Phillip Rivers for a year is a good landing spot for this guy.

12. Cincinnati Bengals, Trey Adams, OT, Washington

The Bengals OL has certainly been a weakness this year, and pick #12 is a good place to address this issue.

13. Arizona Cardinals, Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma 

The bad boy of college football. He’s going to be a Heisman winner with an attitude. Obviously, you have some character concerns, and obviously Arizona has shown a tendency to draft players in that category anyway.

14. Oakland Raiders, Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio St

By far the biggest disappointment of the season, the Raiders have been a major let down on every level. Lots of needs to address but why not start with their awful pass defense.

15. Dallas Cowboys, Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia 

You’ll see many a 2018 NFL mock draft mocking somebody in the middle of the defense to the Boys and there’s plenty of reason for that.

16. Washington Redskins, Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

Very hit-or-miss prospect in that many a 2018 NFL mock draft has this guy in the top five or top ten. Just as many have him in the second round.

17. Green Bay Packers, Harold Landry, DE, Boston College

Scouts from several NFL teams came to DeKalb to see Landry in action against NIU, and for good reason. Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey on facing Landry: “He’s good. I don’t know where the NFL scouts have him ranked, but for us this is like Bosa when we faced him at Ohio State. He can single-handedly disrupt an offensive game plan, and we have got to know where he is.” Go here for more on Landry.

18. Baltimore Ravens, Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

As good a time as any to address the issues plaguing what might be the NFL’s worst passing offense.

19. Detroit Lions, Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

Would definitely make a lot of sense in Detroit.

20. Seattle Seahawks, Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

If Cliff Avril retires, Hawks could probably use some upgrades at edge rusher.

WILD CARD ROUND LOSERS

21. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs), Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern 

Is this pick a stretch? That depends on who you talk to. Although his stock has certainly dropped, there are a few scouts out there that still consider him a mid-to-late first round talent. He’s got size and speed, and he’s developed his throw game now to a level more equivalent to his run game.

We did a full stock report on Thorson over at this link, so go here for that.

22. Buffalo Bills, Malik Jefferson, OLB, Texas

Battling turf toe, Jefferson still hasn’t made up his mind about this NFL future. He looks like a mid late to first rounder if he decides to come out.

23. Atlanta Falcons, Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

Hurst finished the season with 59 tackles (13 1/2 for a loss) and five sacks in 12 starts this season, looking better than his teammate in the position group Rashan Gary. That’s a huge compliment because Gary is projected to be a top ten pick next year when he becomes draft eligible.

24. Carolina Panthers, Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

The 6’8″345 pound mountain of man is the son of the late Orlando “Zeus” Brown who played in NFL (Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens) for more than a decade

DIVISIONAL ROUND LOSERS

25. Jacksonville Jaguars, Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

Vaulted himself into NFL discussion since September, as he’s had a huge season benefiting from the rise of Mayfield.

26. Tennessee Titans, Calvin Ridley WR, Alabama

He could really shoot up the charts if he lands with the Bears, as we’ve heard numerous reports claiming the Bears are interested.

27. Los Angeles Rams, Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State

The senior defensive tackle was a very bright spot in what was a disastrous and highly dramatic season in Tallahassee. His position coach, Odell Haggins, was named interim head coach for FSU as his Jimbo Fisher bolted for a $75 million payday at Texas A&M. But hey, there’s not enough money to pay players right?

28. New Orleans Saints, Billy Price, OL, Ohio State

You have to listen to our audio with Price, he’s just as fun to do interviews with as he is to watch dominate opposing defenders. Price is funny, witty, down to earth and oh, also a dominator in both pass blocking and run blocking.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP LOSERS

29. Minnesota Vikings, Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

He entered the season with huge expectations, but has underwhelmed a year after leading the nation in interceptions. He’s been hyped for his ball skills, but hasn’t shown them as much in 2017 as he did before.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers, Connor Williams, OT, Texas

I definitely applaud this dude’s decision to leave early and skip the bowl game. Good for him. I know many find this practice to be sacrilege and supporting it to be wrong, but whateves man.

SUPER BOWL TEAMS

31. Philadelphia Eagles, Bryce Love, RB, Stanford

If this guy played in the east coast media market he would have won the Heisman.

32. New England Patriots, Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa

Could step in right away and get major playing time. The type of player who fits the Pats scheme quite well.

This 2018 NFL mock draft is listed on the Walter Football database

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune corporation blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post 2018 NFL Mock Draft 12-5-17 appeared first on The Bank.

Consistently one of the top college football powerhouses in the country every year, the LSU Tigers send several talented athletes to the NFL each April. The 2018 draft (full mock available at this link) looks to be no different, as a number of Louisiana State prospects are projected to be taken by an NFL team in the first three rounds.

Here’s a quick look at your top five LSU Tigers projected to go pro this spring. Keep an eye on them in the Citrus Bowl today versus Notre Dame (full game preview available at this link).

• Derrius Guice

After a phenomenal sophomore season that initially set him apart, star running back Derrius Guice will be entering this year’s draft. He is no doubt, the anchor of this offense. Even with workhorse back Leonard Fournette on the field, Guice still managed to put up 1,387 rushing yards.

He may not have had quite as eye-catching a junior year by the numbers, but Guice is still far and away one of the best running backs – and athletes – of this class. The quality that sets him apart so much is his ability to “run angry.”

Derrius Guice (@DhaSickest)
1. Fasted LSU RB to 1k yd mark, 2k yd mark, and 3k yd mark
2. Longest run in LSU history (96 yd) and most yards in a single LSU game (285 yd)
3. First and only RB in SEC history to have 3 games of 250+ yds
4. Highest yard per carry avg in SEC history pic.twitter.com/Ct6QcPhjya

— Franke (@The6thProphet) January 2, 2018

On his collegiate career, 1,636 of his 2,983 total rushing yards have come after initial contact, per Pro Football Focus. At 5-foot-11 and 212 pounds, Guice has an unprecedented amount of strength and agility for a back his size. Expect this rare talent to be taken early on Day 1.

Projection: First round

Derrius Guice (@DhaSickest) will finish 2nd in SEC history in yards per rush (min. 400 rushes).

Guice's career total of 6.50 is behind Bo Jackson's record of 6.62 and just ahead of Todd Gurley's 6.44.

Pretty good company.

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 2, 2018

• DJ Chark

One of the LSU Tigers biggest offensive weapons this season has been DJ Chark. He’s a deep threat, with 14 total receptions traveling at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, per PFF. The 6-foot-3, 187 pounder also had six receptions for 40 yards or more.

Chark has huge upside, and the fact he’s been incredibly productive at the college level despite “historically bad quarterback play” has caused respected draft analysts like Mel Kiper to believe he’ll be even better at the pro level.

Heading into the Citrus Bowl, Chark has racked up 35 receptions for 811 yards, averaging 23.2 yards per catch. Chark is expected to go in the third round, but could easily slide into the second depending upon how he fares between now and April.

Projection: Third round

• Arden Key

Though Arden Key will not be playing Monday due to a pinky finger injury that’s kept him sidelined for two games, he’s still one of the most important prospects in this year’s draft. Key may have been MIA in the spring, as well as portions of this season, but it hasn’t stopped him from being one of the most dominant players in college football.

At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds Key has size, speed and athleticism. Despite appearing in only eight games this season, Key still managed 33 total tackles, 5.5 for a loss. He also recorded four sacks. While his long absence may cause leeriness for some teams, his ability to be a superior edge rusher at the next level absolutely prevents him from falling to the second round.

Projection: First round

• Donte Jackson

At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, cornerback Donte Jackson isn’t necessarily the ideal size for the position that he plays. But he more than makes up for it with his quickness. Per PFF, Jackson has only allowed for 29 receptions on 54 throws into his coverage this year with 11 total passes defensed. The biggest issue scouts seem to find with Jackson is his discipline, so he’ll need to do some adjusting in order to find success in the NFL.

We don’t see him falling past round two.

Projection: Second round

• Will Clapp

Offensive linemen tend to get overlooked when analyzing draft prospects, but center Will Clapp is not a guy you pass over. In 2016, Clapp only allowed two hits on his quarterback and didn’t allow even one sack. This year, Clapp allowed for one sack, but not one hit.

Perhaps the only thing that keeps Clapp out of the running for Day 1 is his injury history, which may make NFL teams wary. While Clapp will likely be drafted in the third round, it also wouldn’t be surprising to see him go in the late second.

Projection: Third round

Other LSU Tigers who may find an NFL home this year include defensive tackle Greg Gilmore, defensive back Ed Paris, linebacker Donnie Alexander, fullback J.D. Moore, defensive end Christian LaCouture, cornerback Kevin Toliver and tight end Foster Moreau. All will be present when the LSU Tigers take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Orlando at noon central.

The post Five LSU Tigers NFL Draft Prospects to watch in the Citrus Bowl appeared first on The Bank.

Saquon Barkley had a monster scouting combine, and that elite “underwear olympics” performance, combined with his stellar body of work on the field, has made the Penn State running back, the current favorite to be selected #1 overall in the NFL Draft next month.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a back taken first overall, and coincidentally it was a Nittany Lion- KiJana Carter taken first by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1995.

The NFL has gotten away from taking tailbacks at the very top of the draft, instead focusing on passers, pass-rushers, and pass defending specialists. Yes, the cliche is certainly true- “it’s a pass first league.” If it’s not Barkley who goes first, it could be USC quarterback Sam Darnold, who had been the favorite to go #1 most of the season.
We had an exclusive chat with ESPN College Football Analyst Adnan Virk, and he spotlighted some of the reasons why Darnold could go first overall.

With the NFL draft upcoming, there’s no consensus #1 pick and nobody’s sure how the first five or even ten picks are going to pan out. However this resource for betting helps users who fancy their chances on such trade picks, which is why it’s important when it comes to picking the right sportsbook by knowing what’s on offer.

The Cleveland Browns pick first and fourth, and still want a quarterback, even after acquiring Tyrod Taylor. But it’s difficult to separate between the four quarterbacks at the top of the draft board, which is why you’ll see running back Saquon Barkley at the top of the odds sheet. While the quarterbacks combine for an overwhelming probability that one of their number will be the top pick, Barkley is the safest pick and the sure choice if Cleveland wants a workhorse running back.

Saquon Barkley: 7/3
Sam Darnold: 3/1
Josh Allen: 4/1
Baker Mayfield: 11/2
Josh Rosen: 7/1
Field: 20/1

Saquon Barkley shot up the charts after what he did in Indianapolis. He put up 29 bench press reps, second to only DL Kylie Fitts of Utah among combine attendees under 270 pounds. Barkley, who also ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and had a 41-inch vertical, is 43 pounds lighter than Fitts.

As for Darnold, he was the slam dunk choice to go first overall, until some of the struggles he had this season showed weaknesses that scouts hadn’t seen before. The Trojans signal caller threw too many interceptions to see his draft stock hold steady or increase. Allen didn’t have the greatest combine, and his body of work came against mostly weaker competition in college and thus he’s a bit of a dark horse.

The main concerns for Mayfield related to character, as he’s an individual who often expresses strong opinions in public and showcases his colorful personality. The NFL typically wants to avoid people like that, and instead prefers vanilla corporate types.

However, Mayfield reportedly nailed his interviews at the combine and thus alleviated that concern.Rosen may be dealing with a similar issue, as many of his public remarks have ignited controversy. The UCLA signal caller is the long shot of the group to go first overall.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post Saquon Barkley, Sam Darnold Battling to be Top Overall NFL Draft Pick appeared first on The Bank.

It’s version 1.0 of our 2019 NFL mock draft. The order is completely randomized at this point. Don’t read anything more into the order than that. The 2018 NFL Draft has not been taken into account, as it obviously has not transpired yet! We did not figure our 2018 NFL mock draft selections into this mock either.

However, if you want to see the 2018 mock, go to this link. Team needs were sometimes, but mostly, not taken into account, as it’s still absurdly early for a 2019 mock draft. Enjoy!

1. Chicago Bears, Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Bosa is a stud just like his brother; he might end up being even better.

2. New York Jets, Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan

Jim Harbaugh was obviously a very accomplished quarterback on both the collegiate and professional level. However, ironically, the QB play under his regime at Michigan has a been a train wreck. Maybe that changes now that he has such a talented and pro ready transfer coming in.

3. Cleveland, Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

Perhaps the most can’t miss prospect of this class Part 1

4. Baltimore, Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

Perhaps the most can’t miss prospect of this class Part 1

5. New Orleans, Christian Wilkins, DE, Clemson

Was perhaps ready to jump in 2018, but since he stayed in school longer, he’ll just be all the more special next spring when he comes out.

6. Washington, Rashan Gary, DE/DT, Michigan

One of the most blue chip recruits Harbaugh landed, we all knew Gary had pro potential since high school.

7. Tampa Bay, Bryce Love, RB, Stanford

If this guy played on the east coast, he’d be Heisman trophy front-runner. Well, he’ll get his chance to get noticed and get paid now.

8. New York Giants, Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

Definitely a top 10, maybe even a top 5 talent for whatever team takes him.

9. Arizona, Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern

It will be fascinating to see how he responds to a serious injury that he suffered in an exhibition. He has the size, speed, measurables and dual threat ability that NFL scouts crave. We’ve sized up his NFL Draft stock in detail quite a bit already. Go here for that link.

10. Miami, Trey Adams, OT, Washington

11. San Francisco, A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss

12. San Diego, David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin

13. Washington, Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State

14. Indianapolis, Connor McGovern, G, Penn State

15. Detroit, Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State

16. L.A. Chargers, Andraez (Greedy) Williams, CB, LSU

17. Tennessee, Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn

18. L.A. Rams, Will Grier, QB, West Virginia

19. Buffalo, Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

20. Dallas, Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma

21. Cincinnnati, N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

22. Kansas City, Collin Johnson, WR, Texas

23. Carolina, Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford

24. Houston, Jonah Williams, T, Alabama

25. Seattle, Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

26. Green Bay, Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama

27. Pittsburgh, Cameron Smith, LB, USC

28. Minnesota, Chauncey Gardner, S, Florida

29. Philadelphia, Mark Gilbert, CB, Duke

30. Jacksonville, Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

31. Atlanta, Ahmmon Richards, WR, Miam

32. New England, Joe Jackson, DE, Miami 

This 2018 NFL mock draft is listed on several mock draft databases including Walter Football, DC Pro Sports Report and Eat, Drink, Sleep Football. 

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune corporation blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post 2019 NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0 appeared first on The Bank.

Only 22 players were invited to the 2018 NFL Draft, and for those that made the cut, the future looks very bright indeed. We’ve since updated our 2018 NFL Mock Draft, in the wake of the attendees list being announced.

Getting named to this short list is about as good as it gets in terms of NFL Draft stock, as it’s the highest indicator possible of first round potential. It also provides a glimpse into who has the best odds of being selected first overall. Like an online casino, trying to project who gets selected where, is fun and engaging, because it’s so unpredictable.

In fact, sports books do take bets on which players will be drafted where.

Here below you can see the full list, and we also cited where we have each prospect currently slotted in our latest mock draft. Learn more about each prospect in the links where highlighted.

Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

#29 JAX

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

#3 NJY

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

#4 CLE

Taven Bryant, DT, Florida

#26 ATL

Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State

#5 DEN

Sam Darnold, QB, USC

#1 CLE

Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio

#20 DET

Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

#13 WAS

Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

#27 N.O.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

#10 OAK

Shaquem Griffin, LB, Central Florida

#32 PHI

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

#23 L.A.

Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

#14 G.B.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

#31 N.E.

Derwin James, S, Florida State

#7 T.B.

Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

#25 TEN

Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

#2 NYG

Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

#11 MIA

Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

#28 PIT

Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Not in our mock currently, could be mid-late first round

Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Connor Williams, OT, Texas

#30 MIN

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune corporation blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post 2018 NFL Draft Attendees: Where All 22 Could Get Selected appeared first on The Bank.

In 2017, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly finally went against his pass happy ways and committed to the run game. Why? Because he had two future NFL studs on the left side of his offensive line, and he set up not just the rushing attack, but the offense itself to play to the strengths of the Fighting Irish.

Tackle Mike McGlinchey and Guard Quenton Nelson paved the way for what was certainly a top ten, maybe top five run game in the nation. In just a week from tomorrow night, we’ll find out where both of these big boys will be balling professionally. With Nelson, there seems to be a very positive consensus- he won’t last beyond the top ten, and looks very likely to be selected top five.

With McGlinchey, the spread is much more variable. He’s a sure fire first rounder, but most likely late or middle of the first round. Additionally, ND has a night two guy in wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown. He projects as a round two-three prospect. So let’s do some Notre Dame NFL Draft mocksourcing- let’s see where a few of our favorite NFL mock drafts have McGlinchey, Nelson and St. Brown going on April 26th.

Quenton Nelson

The Sports Bank–  #6 IND

Walter Football-

Walt’s: #5 DEN

Charlie’s:  #5 DEN

Consensus: #5 DEN

Chicago Now– #6 IND

NFL Network-

Jeremiah: #7 T.B.

Brooks: #6 IND

Casserly: #6 IND

Jones-Drew: #6 IND

 Mike McGlinchey

The Sports Bank–  #17 LAC

Walter Football-

Walt’s: #10 OAK

Charlie’s: #15 ARZ

Consensus: #15-#17

Chicago Now– #23 N.E.

NFL Network-

Jeremiah: #21 CIN

Brooks: #32 PHI

Casserly: #16 BAL

Jones-Drew: #8 CHI

Equanimeous St. Brown

Chicago Now– #83 BAL

Walt’s: #67 IND

Charlie’s: #39 CHI

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post Notre Dame NFL Draft Mocksourcing: Nelson, McGlinchey, St. Brown appeared first on The Bank.

It’s going to be a very exciting and extremely interesting 2018 NFL Draft for Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans. Offensive Guard Quenton Nelson could be a top five overall pick. Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey could go in the top 10-15. Then you’ll see some skill position players picked in the mid rounds. Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown is looking like a round 2-4 pick, while running back Josh Adams projects round 3-4ish. 

Additional former members of the Fighting Irish should be selected on day three. We did a “mocksourcing,” showing where all the blue chip prospects are projected, and you can view that over at this link. Also, here’s the link to our latest mock draft, and you can see where we slotted Nelson and McGlinchey.

We also had an exclusive with Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack, where we asked him his impressions of the various Fighting Irish players who will hear their name called this NFL Draft. We asked Mack what it was like to play and practice with these guys, and to tell us what kind of players a NFL would be getting in them.

Mack on Quenton Nelson

“Q is a dominant leader, last year we all fed off of him. His play speaks for itself. You can put the film on and you can see the same guy every week, he’s going to have a very successful career in the NFL.”

Can he go top five? “I believe it.”

On Mike McGlinchey

“Big, physical smart, knows the game, technique. Not afraid to turn down the challenge, and I think that’s going to translate well in the NFL.”

“Having the knowledge of the game and being under (former Offensive line coach Harry) Heistand one of the greatest offensive line coaches in the country in the my opinion. I wish him nothing but the best.”

Mack says he plans on watching the NFL Draft, and on giving all his former teammates a call the night before to wish them well. He said he even went to the grotto and prayed, and lit a candle for each of them. 

On Equanimeous St. Brown

“That’s my boy, we’re close, it’s crazy to see how his career has progressed, from playing with him in high school, coming to the same college…great hands, great speed, he’s always looking to get better and grow.”

On Josh Adams

“Hope to see him definitely get picked up, and go somewhere, and he’s going to be successful, as well….strong back, very long, speed, smart, he’s a guy you don’t have to worry about off the field. He’s got his head on straight. He’s a leader, and he loves football.”

Said Mack in summation: “Those are my guys, those are my brothers. It’s going to be exciting to see dreams come true.”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Follow paulmbanks

The post Notre Dame 2018 NFL Draft: Former Teammate Describes Irish Pro Prospects appeared first on The Bank.

The Chicago Bears are bound to get a great prospect #8, given a.) they have so many needs and b.) it’s a deep draft across multiple positions. The consensus seems to believe that Chicago should go cornerback or linebacker here, but obviously you couldn’t go wrong trying to beef up the line to protect the investment in Mitch Trubisky either. Some mock drafts slot an OG to the Monsters of the Midway.

They also need wide receiver help, but that could wait until a later round. Without further ado, let’s dive right in to the Chicago Bears 2018 NFL Draft mocksourcing.

The Sports Bank–  Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State

Walter Football-

Walt’s: trade back to #15 Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio

Charlie’s:  Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

Consensus: Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

Chicago Now– Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

SB Nation Windy City Gridiron

Infante: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Wilfong: Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

NFL Network-

Jeremiah: Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

Brooks: Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State

Casserly: Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State

Davis: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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By this week, all the soundbites for every NFL draft prospect now run together into an indecipherable word salad. Actually, it all becomes gobbedly-gook well before this week, due to the over-usage of cliches. All the Draftniks do it:

Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Mike Mayock, and Jon Gruden most of all. Gruden speaks with a much higher buzz word/NFL draft catch-phrase per sentence percentage than anyone. If I sat down and watched Gruden’s “QB Camp” show again, this list would be four times as long.

Actually, I shouldn’t single out Gruden, maybe Mayock is the most cliche, or any of them for that matter. By the end of NFL Draft weekend it all bleeds into the same page and runs the same.

Yes, I’m aware that many of these are just scouting terms that have made their way into the mainstream lexicon as the NFL Draft went from niche to headliner. And yes, those scouting terms do have an actual specific meaning in some cases, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t make fun of them. And yes, I do actually know what all of these are supposed to mean, but seriously, when you hear them Tbursday-Saturday, soooooooooooooooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaad!

It probably just conveys how much the NFL Draft coverage is in overkill mode now. It’s a highly specialized activity that’s now all up in the faces of even casual football fans. Without further ado, let’s get the NFL Draft cliche party started.

1. “Has all the measurables”

2.”measurables monster”

3. “aced the scouting combine”

4. “combine hero”

5. “he can make all the throws”

6. “character issues” 7. “red flags” 8. “off-the-field issues” <– these are all essentially all the same thing. They are blanket terms that can cover serious things like alleged murder and rape accusations. I mean “red flag” is a legitimately important metaphor, and players who have committed violent crimes don’t really deserve euphemisms.

However, these phrases can also cover immature, dumb, but essentially harmless things like stealing crab meat and yelling “fuck her right in the pussy” on top of a table. When we were 18 or 19 we pretty much all did stuff that was beyond stupid and inexplicable.

These three terms can cover a wide spectrum of events, and they range greatly in how serious or superficial the magnitude.

Can’t you just say the legal term for the alleged crime? Supposed infraction? Would that really be such a big deal?

9. “quicker than fast”

10. “can drop his pads”

11. “all he does is make plays”

12. “manufacturing touches”

13. “his tape is better than he tests”

14. “can get up the field”

15. “straight line speed”

16. “generational talent”

17. “a wow get off”

18. “sets a violent edge”

"a wow get-off" "at the point of attack sets a violent edge" "best take get-off" "converts speed to power" –Mayock is just making up stuff

— Paul M. Banks ???? (@PaulMBanks) April 29, 2016

19.”great acceleration to the ball.”

20. “a height/weight/speed guy”

21. “best take get off”

22. “converts speed to power”

23. “edge-rusher” <–a new position made up during the past five years, used to be called “defensive end” or “outside linebacker”

24. “plays well in space” <– this one always reminds me of “IIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN SPPPPPAAAAAAAAACCCCCEEEEE” like the old Daffy Duck cartoons “Duck Dodgers! Of the 24th and a half century!!”

25. “hand-in-the-ground player” <– so he’s a gardener? and yes I know what it really means

26. “high character guy”

27. “tremendous upside”

28. “untapped potential”

29. “great ball skills”

30. “you coach him up” <– one of Kiper’s favorites, at this point Mel Kiper essentially is Frank Caliendo doing Mel Kiper, much like Jon Gruden actually is Frank Caliendo doing Jon Gruden.

31. “plays faster/slower than his tape/tests”

32. “5 technique, 3 technique”<– just a trendier, more scientific renaming of the defensive tackle or nose tackle position

33. “gets all the 50/50 balls” <– a more recent one, which originated in basketball

34. “shows great physicality” <– I hate to break it to you all, but physicality is not actually a word

35. “at the point of attack” <–this isn’t a trench in the Ardennes during World War I

36. “a space eater/run stuffer/a big body” we also would have accepted “road grader”

37. “a high motor guy”

38. “intangibles”

39. “SEC speed” <–the bastard cousin of this one is “he’s good at catching it in a crowd because he’ll always be in one”

40. “true north/south runner” <– I know what this means, but man I still really hate this one

41. “great acceleration in getting to the second level,” “pad level” is a catching on a lot too.

42. “very coachable”

43. “doesn’t have a lot of tread/too much tread on the tires”

44. “a locker room guy”

45.”he’s a football player” <–well, no shit he’s a football player but yes, we still hear this one all the time

<-which is loosely related to “He just wins” and “he’s just a winner”

45. “a man child”

46. “he’s a beast”

47. “Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane”<– a guy who really looks like he should be very good, but actually totally sucks. This one might be a bit sexist, misogynist depending on just how far you go in being pc.

48. “It’s a quarterback driven league”

49. “It all starts with the quarterback”

50. “It’s a passing league”

51. “blue collar”

52. “lunch pail”

53. “hard hat”

54. “grinder”

55.  “he’s a freak/physical freak/freak of nature”

56. “can be gap sound”

57. “fox hole guy” <– bastard sibling of “point of attack” “in the trenches guy”

58. “phone booth guy” “you put ’em in a phone booth” “he plays in a phone booth” <–WTF does this mean?

59. “plays to the whistle” “gets after it on every play”

Has your mind been turned into oatmeal yet, from all of this mush, or should I continue?

60. “passes the eye test”

61. “eye discipline”

62. “physical specimen”

63. “football IQ”

64. “a quick study”

65. “plug n play”

66. “day one starter”

67. “mortgage the future”

68. “heat seeking missile”

69. “those big paws”

70. “unleashes upfield”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Follow paulmbanks

The post Listing 70 of the Worst NFL Draft Cliches, Buzzwords, and Assorted Word Salad appeared first on The Bank.

For the New England Patriots, it’s going to be a very interesting NFL Draft. In addition to picking in the 30s of the first round, as is annual tradition, they have another pick in the early 20s. So far, it seems like two players are emerging as consensus projections.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in to the New England Patriots 2018 NFL Draft mocksourcing.

The Sports Bank–  #23 Derrius Guice, RB, LSU, #31 Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Sports X Media  #23 Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise St., #31 Lorenzo Carter, DE/LB, Georgia

Walter Football-

Walt’s: #23 Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama,

Charlie’s:  #23 Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama,  #31 Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Consensus: #23 Harold Landry, DE/3-4OLB/OLB, #31 Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Chicago Now– #23 Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame, #31 Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford

NFL Network-

Jeremiah: #23 Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama   #31 Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Brooks: #23 Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA    #31 Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise St.

Casserly: #23 Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA   #31 Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Jones-Drew: #23 Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA    #31 Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The post New England Patriots NFL Draft Mocksourcing: Rashaan Evans, Kolton Miller appeared first on The Bank.

The long, drawn out, extremely tedious eligibility saga of quarterback Shea Patterson is now over! Michigan fans can rejoice because they now have their blue chip signal caller officially cleared to play this fall. Reports had surfaced last night that this might be coming, and the official announcement came in the traditional, industry standard Friday at 5 pm when everyone has already checked out for the weekend news dump.

The University of Mississippi QB and the U of M then sent out a joint statement that was so dull and boring that I won’t dare burden you with citing it.

It was clearly written by a team of lawyers trying to be as uninteresting and corporate as possible, and it consisted of nothing but NCAA buzzwords. Fitting, as the whole drama itself wasn’t really about anything more than bureaucracy and paper pushing.

Alas the Toledo native has had his waiver request granted; at long last. Patterson totally changes the entire complexion of Michigan’s season because, for the first time under Jim Harbaugh, they will have a QB with actual bonafides. It’s ironic how the QB play has been so poor during the Harbaugh regime when the coach himself is such an accomplished former quarterback.

However, Shea is the real deal. He’s projected as a top five overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, and some experts could see him going #1 overall. Go here to see where we have him in our latest 2019 NFL mock draft.

An hour after the joint statement was sent out by Michigan and Mississippi, U of M sent out a statement with these quotes attributed to Shea Patterson.

“There are a lot of people who worked really hard to help make this transfer process a success. I want to thank Coach Harbaugh, the University of Michigan and the NCAA for allowing me to continue my education and football career at one of the best universities in the country.

“A special thanks to Michigan’s Compliance Staff and to Tom Mars for his personal guidance for me and my family during this time. With this decision behind us, my family and I are fully focused on the upcoming season. My teammates and I are always committed to competing at the highest level and winning championships. Go Blue!”

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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