Tebow won't be limited to quarterback in New England

I've seen reports stating, "Tebow was brought to New England to play quarterback," while others say, "Tebow will be studying a great deal at tight end." Limiting him to just one position defeats the purpose of having him on your team. If there's one thing that's true about this guy it's that he's a football player. Not a quarterback but a football player. I think that the Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is going to get creative. I expect to see Tebow lined up in the backfield with  Tom Brady. And specifically on goal-to-go situations where he can run the ball in, complete a short pass for a touchdown or catch a dump off from Brady. He's being given the opportunity to develop as a quarterback and learn from one of the greatest to ever play the position. However, there is no denying Tebow's presence on the field- it causes the defense to account for the myriad of options that could be thrown at them. For Belichick and McDaniels, the possibilities are endless.

Patriots sign Tim Tebow

No, this is not a joke, the New England Patriots have signed the polarizing figure that is Tim Tebow. Just days after Bill Belichick addressed the rumor spread by a piece written by Yahoo! Sports' Mike Silver stating that Belichick "hated" Tebow as a player. Well, that Silver guy should feel pretty stupid. Unless this is just a way of getting back at him by Belichick; crazy and unlikely, I know, but it wouldn't be strangest thing that's happened.

I'm not a Tebow fan, to put it mildly. I hate the hype that surrounds him considering he's a terrible quarterback. The Jets weren't successful in using him as a half back/tight end and on special teams. The Jets didn't have an offensive mind that was able to capitalize on Tebow's strengths. Josh McDaniels will come up with specific packages for him and get very creative. He's 6'3" 235lbs and looks more like a linebacker than a quarterback. His mechanics are terrible and he's a poor thrower. So, who better to backup than Tom Brady?

There is no denying Tebow's athleticism and ability to run the football. He's been reluctant to switch positions in the past but I have a feeling that after an offseason where it was widely believed he wouldn't play another down in the NFL, he's going to be a little more open to it this time around.

2014 NFL Draft's Top 5 prospects at every position| Defense

I listed my Top 5 prospects on offense for next year's draft. Now, let's take a look at the defensive side of the football.

Defensive Tackle:
1. Louis Nix III, Notre Dame- Nix deserves a lot of credit for Manti Te'o's incredible season in 2012, demanding double teams and making life easier for his former teammate. At 6'3" 340lbs Nix is huge but has rare quickness for his size. He reminds me of Patriots' defensive tackle Vince Wilfork in that regard. If Nix doesn't regress in 2013 he should be penciled in as the first defensive tackle drafted.
2. Will Sutton, Arizona State- At 6'1" 288lbs Sutton is considered undersized for a defensive tackle. But there's no denying his talent. He's a terrific pass rusher; he piled up 13 sacks last season. If he's not an anchor against the run teams may look to play him at end and move him inside to rush the passer.
3. Anthony Johnson, LSU- Johnson has great speed for his size earning him the nickname "The Freak". He's force at the line of scrimmage and very explosive off the snap. If he can be a force in his junior year it would do wonders for his draft stock.
4. Daniel McCullers, Tennessee- McCuller is a mountain of a man at 6'6" 377lbs. He is still raw and has to improve in several areas but he has a lot of upside.
5. Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma St.- Barnett was very disruptive up front for the Cowboys. In 2012 he was named the Big XII Defensive Newcomer of the Year. With his first season in the Big XII under his belt Barnett should have a better senior season.

Defensive End:
1. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina- Unless you've been under a rock for the past year you know who Jadeveon Clowney is. This young man is a freak of nature. His size and athleticism draws comparison to Julius Peppers when he came out of college in 2002.
2. Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame- Tuitt is a beast. His 6'6" 300lb frame has surprising quickness and burst. He's extremely talented as we saw last season when he recorded 12 sacks. If Tuitt decides to enter the draft next year he's an automatic first rounder.
3. Trent Murphy, Stanford-
4. Aaron Lynch, South Florida- It's scary to think that Notre Dame once had Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt, and Louis Nix as their defensive line. Unfortunately for the Irish, Lynch was homesick and transferred to South Florida. Having to sit out 2012 due to the transfer rules Lynch is expected to come right in and wreak havoc. He's got the skill to do it.
5. Scott Chrichton, Oregon St.-

Outside Linebacker:
1. Kyle Van Noy, BYU- Van Noy excels in each aspect of the position; playing the run, rushing the passer, and pass coverage. He's especially good at the latter. He's an overall exceptional linebacker.
2. Anthony Barr, UCLA- Barr was an unknown Bruins fullback until the UCLA coaching staff decided to move him to defense. Barr totaled 83 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in his first season on defense. He is a terrific pass rusher who explodes off the snap and punishes the quarterback, just ask Matt Barkley.
3. C.J. Mosley, Alabama- Mosley plays sideline to sideline and is a leader on the Crimson Tide's stellar defense. He's solid in pass coverage (5 career interceptions) and always seems to be around the ball.
4. Ryan Shazier, Ohio St.- Shazier will be viewed as a "tweener" due to his size (6'2" 225lb) but I don't believe it's going to be problem for him. He's explosive and aggressive. He had a terrific sophomore season posting 115 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, 11 pass break ups, one interception, and three forced fumbles.
5. Adrian Hubbard, Alabama- Hubbard looks like the quintessential 3-4 outside linebacker. He's big (6'6" 252lb) and gets after the quarterback. He recorded seven sacks last year, his first season as a starter.

Inside Linebacker:
1. Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky- Jackson is a thumper in its truest sense. The 6'1" 265 pound linebacker stones anybody who gets in his way. He also plays well against stronger competition like LSU, Alabama, and Kentucky.
2. A.J. Johnson, Tennessee- Johnson shone on a poor Volunteers squad in 2012. The sophomore tallied 138 tackles, good for fifth in the country. He was also their short-yardage running back too, scoring six rushing touchdowns.
3. Eric Kendricks, UCLA- Kendricks burst onto the scene last year and put up a heck of a season; 151 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, three fumble recoveries (2 TDs), and four forced fumbles. He's the Bruins' middle linebacker and can also plat outside. If he wants to be in the middle in the pros he's going to have add weight to his 6'0 228lb frame.
4. Shayne Skov, Stanford- Skov surprised many by returning for his fifth year at Stanford. His play doesn't "wow" anyone but he's a solid run defender and pretty good blitzer. A good 2013 season would really help his draft stock.
5. Max Bullough, Michigan St.- Bullough is a tough and physical run-stuffing linebacker. He put up a solid junior campaign for the Spartans and returns for his senior year in 2013. There are questions about whether or not he is a three down linebacker.

Cornerback:
1. Bradley Roby, Ohio St.- Roby is an aggressive corner who has good instincts. He's got good speed and should continue to improve in his junior year.
2. Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida- Purifoy has great size to be a press man corner at the next level. He had a good sophomore season for the Gators often being assigned to cover receivers one on one. He's such a talent that the Gators plan on using him at wide receiver as well as cornerback in 2013.
3. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon- Ekpre-Olomu was a turnover machine for the Ducks last season as he picked off four passes and forced six fumbles. He has good instincts and should build off a solid sophomore season but still has some things to work on.
4. Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma- Colvin has good size at 6'0 181lb and is a good press man corner. He could lament himself into first round consideration with a solid senior season.
5. Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M- Everette was impressive in his first season as a starter, also the Aggies' first season in the SEC, as he recorded 56 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions.

Safety:
1. Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State- Zimmerman isn't the biggest or fastest guy but he's smart and instinctive. He's had a productive career at Kansas State and looks to add to that with another good year as a senior. He's recorded 10 interceptions in his career as a Wild Cat.
2. Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama- Better known as Haha Clinton-Dix, the Crimson Tide safety had a great sophomore season that saw him intercept five passes. He should be even better this season now that he'll be a starter.
3. Ed Reynolds, Stanford- Reynolds broke out last year as he lead the nation in interception return yards with 361 off of six picks. He has a nose for the football and should build off his stellar sophomore season and continue to be listed as one of the top safeties in college football.
4. Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt- Ladler really pops out when watching the Vanderbilt defense. He throws himself at ball carriers and plays from sideline to sideline.
5. Dion Bailey, USC- Bailey played safety and outside linebacker for the Trojans. He excels in pass coverage and the ability to play safety and linebacker will help him when he goes to the pros.

2014 NFL Draft's Top 5 prospects at every position| Offense

The 2014 NFL Draft is a just under a year away, but it's never too early to look ahead. Here are my top five prospects at every offensive.

Quarterback:
1. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville- Bridgewater led the Louisville Cardinals to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl win over the Florida Gators. He has a very high football IQ and is expected to be the first signal caller off the board next year and possibly the number one overall pick.
2. Tajh Boyd, Clemson- Boyd improved his game in his junior season and showed plenty of improvement in his game. The 6'1" 225-pounder has a strong, accurate arm and can take a hit. I expect him to improve in his senior season.
3. Aaron Murray, Georgia- Murray had a good season last year but he's struggled against elite defenses like Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama. He needs to improve against better competition to be a first round pick.
4. A.J. McCarron, Alabama- McCarron is a winner, having helped lead the Crimson Tide to back-to-back National Titles in 2011 and 2012. In his three years playing for Alabama he's completed 66.7 percent of his passes and thrown 49 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions.
5. David Fales, San Jose St.- Fales was a junior college transfer who broke out last year at San Jose St. He doesn't face elite competition and that will be a knock on him when he enters the draft. But, he's got terrific accuracy, decent mobility, good size, and great stats.

Running Back:
1. De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon- Thomas isn't built like a running back. He's lean. But his playmaking ability is off the charts. He, more than any player I've seen, is always a threat to score with the ball in his hands.
2. Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona- Carey led the nation in rushing in 2012 when he ran for 1,929 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. He's a quick back with physicality to his game. If he can put on some more muscle without losing speed it'd help his draft stock.
3. Silas Redd, USC- Redd transferred from Penn State to USC after the infamous child abuse scandal. In his first season with Southern Cal he racked up 905 yards and five touchdowns. Redd has good speed and shows an ability to break tackles. Look for him to have an excellent senior season in 2013.
4. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor- Seastrunk may fly under the radar due to Baylor's passing game the past couple seasons. But the Bear's running back has a good combination of size and speed and is expected to serve a larger role on offense this season.
5. Damien Williams, Oklahoma- Williams had a pretty good season in 2012 running 946 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 176 carries. He displayed good receiving ability catching 29 passes. He's a solidly built back who could breakout in 2013.

Wide Receiver:
1. Marqise Lee, USC- Lee was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2012, maybe I should just stop there? I would, but with quarterback Matt Barkley now in the NFL it'll be interesting too see how Lee's stats are effected by it in 2013.
2. Sammy Watkins, Clemson- Watkins is an extremely explosive athlete who has great speed an moves with the ball in his hands. He's a game changer.
3. Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt- Matthews has good hands and runs clean routes. His production took a huge leap his junior year and he'll look to build on that in his final year.
4. Brandon Coleman, Rutgers- Coleman is an imposing target. His 6-foot-6 225-pound frame make him a nightmare for cornerbacks. Scouts are going to question his speed when he enters the draft but he'll be a force regardless of his 40 yard dash time.
5. Mike Evans, Texas A&M- Like Coleman, Mike Evans is a big man. At 6'5" 225lbs he uses his basketball background to his advantage against smaller defenders. His quarterback Johnny Manziel got all the attention last year but Evans was a huge reason for Manziel's success.

Tight End:
1. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington- Team's are looking for the next Rob Gronkowski and Sefarian-Jenkins is the closest thing since Gronk was drafted in 2010. With great size (6'6" 267lbs) and athletic ability he has the potential to be great. However off field problems have hurt him. If he can stay out of trouble you can pencil him in as a first round pick.
2. Eric Ebron, North Carolina- Ebron was the Tar Heels' second leading receiver in 2012 catching 40 passes for 625 yards and four scores. He has all the intangibles teams look for in a tight end.
3. C.J. Federowicz, Iowa- Federowicz has the size teams look for in a tight end (6'7" 265lbs). He's a good and willing blocker and if he continues to work on his pass catching it'll help his draft stock considerably.
4. Colt Lyerla, Oregon- Lyerla was one of many weapons used in the Ducks offense last year. He shows terrific athleticism but could stand to add some weight. It'll be interesting to see how he, and the Ducks offense as a whole, fair this season under new head coach Mark Helfrich.
5. Xavier Grimble, USC- Grimble displayed good receiving ability last season and with Robert Woods in the NFL and Marquise Lee commanding a single high safety, Grimble should have plenty of opportunities this season.

Interior Offensive Lineman:
1. Cyril  Richardson, Baylor- A massive man at 6'5" 335lbs Richardson has played at both guard and tackle for the Baylor Bears. He's more effective at guard and will likely play the position in the pros. He's a mauler in the run game but would be wise to improve his pass protection.
2. Zack Martin, Notre Dame- Martin is Notre Dame's starting left tackle but will likely be moved inside at the next level. At 6'4 305lbs Martin is built more like a guard in a zone blocking scheme. His versatility will help him in the pros.
3. Gabe Jackson, Mississippi St.- Jackson, like Richardson, is a mauler in the run game but should look to improve his pass blocking. He played well against Alabama and LSU last year. If he plays well against the Bulldog's tough 2013 schedule, he'll start opening eyes.
4. Bryan Stork, Florida St.- Stork has experience playing at center and guard at Florida St. That versatility with serve him well in the pros. He's improved each year and I'd expect that trend to continue.
5. Anthony Steen, Alabama- Anthony Steen was overlooked because he played on a prolific offense and offensive line. He was overshadowed by his line mates D.J. Fluker, Chance Warmack, and Barrett Jones; all of whom are now in the NFL. Steen, along with teammate Kouanjio, are now "the guys." Steen finished 2012 without giving up a single sack or committing a single penalty. Very impressive.

Offensive Tackles:
1. Taylor Lewan, Michigan- Lewan enters his fourth straight season at Michigan as the starting left tackle. With a great senior season he can supplant himself as the top left tackle in college football. Lewan has the nastiness teams want in their offensive lineman and plays with a mean streak.
2. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M- Son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, Jake will be moving over to left tackle since Luke Joeckel is a Jacksonville Jaguar. Matthews is smart and technically sound. Look for him to fight for that label of "top left tackle" with Taylor Lewan.
3. Cyrus Kouanjio, Alabama- Kouanjio protected A.J. McCarron's blindside and plowed defenders for Eddie Lacy in 2012 helping Alabama win the National Championship. He's quick and athletic for his size and another impressive season should cement him as a first round pick.
4. James Hurst, North Carolina- Hurst has the size and quickness teams look for in a tackle. Hurst will start his season off with a mighty test as he squares off with Jadeveon Clowney.
5. David Yankey, Stanford- Yankey did a good job for the Cardinals at left tackle last year and should continue to improve. He'll face some very good pass rushers this season and the results will help scouts decide if he's better suited at tackle or guard.

Top 10 second year players primed for breakout season in 2013

Last season we saw a rookie quarterback class like no other as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson propelled to stardom and took the NFL by storm. Some of their fellow rookies, however, weren't so fortunate. With a year in the pros under their belt, here's my Top 10 players I expect to have a breakout sophomore campaign (in no particular order):

1. Michael Floyd WR, Arizona Cardinals- Arizona selected Michael Floyd in the first round last year but he didn't live up to the selection his rookie season thanks to shady quarterback play. He's a big and talented receiver that could wreak havoc opposite Larry Fitzgerald. And now with a reliable quarterback, Floyd should be ready to step up.
2. Ryan Tannehill QB, Miami Dolphins- The selection of Tannehill with the eighth overall pick was considered by many, including myself, to be a bit of a reach. But, Tannehill got better as his rookie season went on and with all the weapons GM Jeff Ireland has provided for him, I expect Tannehill to flourish in 2013.
3. Trent Richardson RB, Cleveland Browns- As long as Richardson stays healthy he's going to have a great season. He is freak of nature who has the ability to be the second best back in the league and his health is the only thing holding him back at this point
4. Chandler Jones DE, New England Patriots- Jones provided the Patriots with a solid pass rush and finished with six sacks on the season. He struggled in the second half of the season dealing with ankle injuries but with an offseason under his belt and some added bulk I think he'll post double digit sack numbers this year.
5. David Wilson RB, New York Giants- When Ahmad Bradshaw went down with injury Wilson stepped in and never looked back. After being put in head coach Tom Coughlin's dog house for fumbling he took full advantage of his second opportunity. Wilson is an explosive and dangerous athlete who's going to provide a lot of highlight reel plays for us this season.
6. Mike Martin DT, Tennessee Titans- Selected in the third round last year, Martin showed promise his rookie season. He's an effective pass rusher (something Tennessee desperately needs) and I think he's going thrive as he sees more of the field this season.
7. Coby Fleener TE, Indianapolis Colts- The 6'6" 250lb tight end was out performed by his rookie teammate and fellow tight end Dwayne Allen. But with an offseason to work with his former college teammate and best pal Andrew Luck, Fleener should become Luck's safety blanket and go to guy after Reggie Wayne.
8. Mark Barron SS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers- In an offseason that saw the Bucs add Darrell Revis, Dashon Goldson, and Johnathn Banks to its secondary Mark Barron is one happy camper. I expect that the shut down ability of Revis will present more opportunities for Barron to make plays.
9. Lamar Miller RB, Miami Dolphins- With Reggie Bush out of the picture Lamar Miller has a chance to win the starting job. He's got competition in Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee, the latter of which I think is Miller's biggest threat.
10. Nick Perry LB, Green Bay Packers- Perry's rookie season ended early when he was put on injured reserve after suffering a wrist injury in Week 6. The 6'4" 265-pounder has all the athleticism in the world and on a front seven that boasts Clay Matthews III and BJ Raji, Perry is primed for a breakout season in his sophomore campaign.

Brian Urlacher hangs up his cleats

Today 13 year veteran Brian Urlacher announced his retirement from the NFL via Twitter. After 13 seasons in the windy city Chicago opted not to re-sign the eight-time Pro Bowler and rumors pointed to Denver and Minnesota as possible landing spots for the middle linebacker. However, it appears he's ready to walk away from the game he's given so much to. The 6'4 260-pounder has long been the leader of the Chicago Bears defense and according to Lance Briggs his absence hasn't gone unnoticed.

Brian Urlacher finishes his career with 939 tackles, 41.5 sacks, and 22 interceptions. And he played his entire career with one organization; not a very common occurrence in this day and age. Most players either tire out their welcome or sign with the team offering them the most money. Urlacher's voice never wore down, his leadership was always present. I'm sure Chicago fans are happy that he retired a Bear and he's forever engraved himself in the team's history and will forever be mentioned with the other great Chicago Bears linebackers.

Charles Woodson headed back to Oakland

Free agent defensive back Charles Woodson has signed a one year deal with the Oakland Raiders; the team who drafted him fourth overall in 1998. Woodson, who will be 37 years old by the time Week 6 rolls around, spent the first eight seasons of his career in the Bay area before signing with the Packers in 2006. Woodson was a cap casualty in Green Bay this offseason.

This is a very smart signing by Raiders' GM Reggie McKenzie. The Raiders currently lack veteran leadership and, to put it nicely, have a weak secondary. Oh who am I kidding? They suck. But, having a leader and future Hall of Famer like Woodson will really help the young guys learn the game and provide the right attitude with which to play. As of now it appears Woodson will line up at safety since it remains to be seen if he still has the quickness to line up against slot receivers. Tyvon Branch is penciled in as one starter and Usama Young was signed earlier in the offseason to man the other starting role. I think Woodson will have something to say about that.