When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the NFL’s much anticipated free agency period will begin without a salary cap for the first time since a cap was implemented in 1994. This uncharted territory for the league has some a bit uneasy as to what to expect from teams this offseason. Obviously there will still be some big spenders as always from Daniel Snyder ’s big fat bankroll with the Washington Redskins to his divisional rival with the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry Jones. Perhaps the most pressing question is not which team will spend the most, but which will spend the least. More »

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Fans of the ABC hit series Dancing with the Stars will now have a little bit more of a reason to get excited about the show, as it seems official that the upcoming season will feature none other than Mr. Chad Ochocinco. So let’s see. Ochocinco + dancing + wild and craziness = ratings boost! More »

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I feel like because I write about the NFL I have to address Tim Tebow (it’s THAT out of control). I believe that Tim Tebow will be a steal in the second round but a reach in the first. If you draft a quarterback in the first round you are saying that this player is the future of the franchise and should be able to start sometime in his rookie season. More »

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A lot of talk these past few days has been centered around the new proposed rule changes that the NFL may implement concerning overtime in the playoffs. After some complained about the Vikings’ loss to the Saints’ this year in the playoffs, we pretty much knew this was going to happen. More »

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The NFL’s annual Scouting Combine for rookies entering the Draft is fast approaching, and there will definitely be a lot of potential stars on display. Of course, this event–which officially begins this Saturday–is for the entire league’s benefit, as team scouts eye the newcomers in hopes of getting a final take on them before actually considering adding them via the Draft. More »

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Several times, we have taken a detailed look at the players around the league scheduled to hit the free agent market, but never has the exact list of the “soon to-be”s been known. That is, until the league recently released an official compilation of all 235 players who are set to become unrestricted free agents on March 5th. Of course, there are a variety of stars with the restricted FA title that could still be acquired, but it is certainly more likely that the unrestricted ones will be easier to sign. Because of the yet-to-be resolved Collective Bargaining Agreement, the list of UFAs this offseason is limited to only a few “big names”, and is mainly composed of mid-tier talent. More »

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A new series was formed over 2 weeks ago called The Future 40, and the next edition is here! The segment has and will continue to run every other day until late April as we provide you with in-depth scouting reports of some 2010 NFL Draft prospects, giving you information key to understanding some of the players’ strengths, weaknesses, projected round of selection, possibility of being picked by the Eagles, and much more! And because the Draft is an important event for the entire league, some of the top-ranked players not expected to go to Philadelphia will also be reported on. This time, we will stay in an offensive perspective and look at Joe McKnight, who was requested to be covered by one of our fans: More »

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It is very clear that the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations are not getting very far, and that the 2010 offseason and season are likely going to be executed without a league salary cap. Because of this, a variety of new rules will be put into effect, including important ones that impact free agency. A lot of top-tier talents will wind up being retained by their original teams instead of hitting the open market, and ultimately, there will probably be a significantly lower amount of offseason moves that involve big-name players. While it obviously will relate to the entire NFL and it’s 32 clubs, the Eagles will be one of the interesting squads to look at if the CBA decisions fail to resolve, as expected. More »

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A new series was formed nearly 2 weeks ago here called The Future 40, and the next edition is here! The segment has and will continue to run every other day until late April as we provide you with in-depth scouting reports of some 2010 NFL Draft prospects, giving you information key to understanding some of the players’ strengths, weaknesses, projected round of selection, possibility of being picked by the Eagles, and much more! And because the Draft is an important event for the entire league, some of the top-ranked players not expected to go to Philadelphia will also be reported on. In the first look at a prospect, we evaluated Nebraska’s DT Ndamukong Suh, who many consider to be the best player in the entire rookie class. In the second, we examined powerful RB Jonathan Dwyer and in the latest three, FS Darrell Stuckey, LB Sean Weatherspoon, and CB Joe HadenMike Kafka, as well as Cirion Black. This time around, we will go back to the defensive side of the ball and look at Greg Hardy: More »

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A new series was formed a little over a week ago here called The Future 40, and the next edition is here! The segment has and will continue to run every other day until late April as we provide you with in-depth scouting reports of some 2010 NFL Draft prospects, giving you information key to understanding some of the players’ strengths, weaknesses, projected round of selection, possibility of being picked by the Eagles, and much more! And because the Draft is an important event for the entire league, some of the top-ranked players not expected to go to Philadelphia will also be reported on. In the first look at a prospect, we evaluated Nebraska’s DT Ndamukong Suh, who many consider to be the best player in the entire rookie class. In the second, we examined powerful RB Jonathan Dwyer and in the latest three, FS Darrell Stuckey, LB Sean Weatherspoon, and Mike Kafka. This time around, we will stick with the offensive side of the ball and look at Ciron Black:

• Prospect Name: Ciron Black
• Position: Offensive Tackle
• College: Louisiana State University (LSU)
• Height/Weight: 6′5″, 322 pounds
• Age: 23 years
• Class Status: Senior

Summary: After a remarkable tenure as his high school’s versatile lineman in which he averaged nearly 5 “pancake blocks” per game and helped teammate and QB Matt Flynn gain attention as a talented player, Black was recruited to LSU to be the centerpiece of the Tigers’ offensive front. He sat out his true freshman season after being slapped with redshirt restrictions, and prepared greatly for his debut year. When he indeed set foot on the field as a member of the collegiate squad for the first time in 2006, Black’s presence was felt. He started all of the team’s 13 games that season at the Left Tackle spot, and garnered enough respect to be given All-American honors. In his sophomore playing campaign, the lineman gained even more high regard from around the NCAA as he set a school record in ‘07 for most snaps from scrimmage taken in a single season (1,031) and received even more awards. In the 2008 season, Black stretched his consecutive streak of starts to 40 and helped lead the LSU offense to having the 4th-best rushing attack in the SEC conference. The following year–his senior season as a Tiger–Black’s versatility was shown very much as he proved yet again to be an effective run blocker but also a top-notch pass protector. Because of his success, as well as his fellow lineman Joseph Barksdale’s achievements, Black was credited as being a member of one of the best duos of Tackles in the SEC division of the league.

Career Statistics:

Notable Achievements/Awards:

• All-SEC Honors (2006, 2007, 2008)
• All-American Honors (2006)
• Sporting News’ Freshman All-American Honors (2006)
• Winner of the Ralph Norwood Performance Award (2009)
• Outland Trophy Watch List member (2009)
• Record-holder for most snaps from scrimmage taken in a season at LSU

Strengths:

• Has good knowledge of position and way to approach oncoming defenders
• Possesses quality size and bulk to play either Tackle or Guard spots on the line
• Gets a powering push when entrenched with defensive linemen
• Has excellent skills to open holes for running attack
• Extremely durable
• Has surprisingly quick speed for a lineman
• Contains solid awareness during plays
• Has a great sense of character and is an obedient, top-tier academic student
• Uses hands well during blocking
• Can latch onto a defender and drive him upfield/off the line
• Balances his width and arm length effectively when defenders attempt to go past him

Weaknesses:

• Is inconsistent as a pass protector
• Lacks the overall characteristics of an NFL Left Tackle and will therefore project to be a RT
• Sometimes stands too high in blocking stance
• Can get slow and sluggish when utilizing legs too often to pursue/chase defenders who get around him
• Has trouble getting a frequently good step off the line
• Tends to rely on immediate contact and therefore could be beat by speed rushers

Projected Round of Selection: 2-3

NFL Player Comparison: Levi Brown, Arizona Cardinals

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We hope that everyone enjoyed the seventh report for The Future 40 prospect segment, and urge you to keep checking back for more scouting analysis as the series continues all the way up until the Draft! Also, remember that we will happily take and consider requests from our fans for this series!

(picture source)

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