Jackson is looking to get his career back on track in Washington.

It was a surprise earlier in the week when the Tampa Bay Bucs cut once promising safety Tanard Jackson, yet it was not a surprise when Jackson resurfaced only days later, on a new team with a familiar face on the coaching staff, as it was announced today that he signed on with the Washington Redskins, reuniting him with former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris, who is now the secondary coach in the nation’s capital.

Jackson, who has played five season in the National Football League, all of them with the Bucs, has had an up and down career to this point, will look to get back on track with Washington. He has started a total of 56 games in his career and following the 2009 season when he intercepted five passes, the future seemed bright.

However, Jackson has repeatedly run into trouble off the field, as he was suspended on two different occasions for the violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. On top of that, he has struggled with injuries and failed a physical recently with Tampa Bay, which was cited as the reason for his release.

Last season, Jackson played in 10 games, registering 35 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed. For his career Jackson has 10 interceptions and 11 forced or recovered fumbles to go along with 27 pass breakups, so at one time he was a productive player.

Analysis: This is a low-risk move for Washington, Jackson is a talented player, who has encountered some off the field problems, yet the potential for him to develop into a regular starter at safety still exists and surely, the Redskins hope that having Morris on staff to oversee Jackson as his position coach, will greatly assist in the regeneration of Jackson’s once promising career.

Breaking News! According to Adam Schefter’s official twitter page, “Former Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman has officially agreed to terms with the Bengals.” Newman, who was selected fifth by the Dallas in the 2003 NFL Draft, was released this offseason due to a decline in his play.

However, the Cowboys loss is the Bengals gain, as Newman has found a new home in Cincinnati, where he will be reunited with former Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Although, Newman may not be the pro bowl corner that he once was, he still has a nose for the football, intercepting four passes last season and also recovering a fumble, to go along with 53 tackles and eight passes defensed.

In nine season with Dallas, Newman was named to the pro bowl twice, following the 2007 and 2009 seasons and ranks eighth all-time in franchise history with 32 career interceptions. However, Newman’s play started to drop off in recent years and after Dallas brought in high priced free agent cornerback Brandon Carr from Kansas City, his days were numbered.

On the bright side,  Newman should fit in well in Cincinnati. He’s familiar with the defensive system due to his previous experience with Zimmer and joins a solid group of cornerbacks, including fellow pro bowlers Leon Hall and Nate Clements, as well as Adam Jones in the Bengals secondary.

Plus the Bengals seem to be headed in the right direction after qualifying for the playoffs last season with a 9-7 record behind a solid defense, and the better than expected play from rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, so Newman goes from one contending team to another.

There is no question that Newman is not the same player he onces was, yet he has still found a way to intercept nine passes over the last two seasons, so his ball skills are intact. At age 34, the athleticism that once made him a shutdown corner is gone but with his skills and veteran savvy, he should be able to contribute as a third corner.

The Bengals, who have two first-round picks had been rumored to have interest in cornerbacks such as Stephen Gilmore of South Carolina, Janoris Jenkins of North Alabama and Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama. However, the Newman signing means the team has four  solid, veteran corners, lessening the need there and potentially opening up other possibilities with their two first-round selections.

One possibility at a position of need for the Bengals would be Alabama safety Mark Barron, who is the no.1 safety in this year’s draft class. Cincinnati has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for him, yet the Eagles, who are two spots ahead of the Benglas at no.15,  are starting to show a strong interest in Barron as well and are in desperate need of help at in the secondary, so if Cincinnati truly wants him, they may have to package some picks and move up to make it happen.

Every year around this time, NFL teams are getting their draft boards ready because with the NFL Draft only weeks away,  final boards are being put together, causing many players to rise or fall, as their Draft value  is solidified.

Due to the importance of the position, quarterbacks always seem to be on the rise as the Draft nears, as teams without franchise quarterbacks are desperately seeking to acquire one. Following the Redskins trade with the Rams to secure Robert Griffin III and the no.2 overall pick, Ryan Tannehill was the big mover, as he went from an expected mid-to-late first round pick, to a potential top-five selection, with the number of potential franchise quarterbacks dwindling fast.

Teams such as Cleveland, Miami, Arizona and Seattle could all use upgrades at the position. Yet, the Cardinals seem content to roll with either Kevin Kolb or John Skelton, while similarly, the Seahawks starter will likely emerge from the competition between incumbent starter Tavaris Jackson and free-agent signee Matt Flynn from Green Bay.

Right now, it seems the teams most interested in landing Tannehill are Cleveland and Miami. The Browns hold the no.4 pick, therefore, they want Tannehill at that spot, he should be there for them. He makes sense in Cleveland, cause the Browns utilize the west coast offense, which is what Tannehill ran in college at Texas A&M, where current Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman was his head coach.

Its hard to say if the Browns interest in Tannehill at no.4 is genuine or a smokescreen, but my take on the situation is the Browns are interested, just maybe not enough to use a top-five pick on him. With that in mind, I also don’t see Miami trading up into the top-five to acquire Tannehill. Essentially, the two teams are playing a game of chicken waiting for someone to blink. If the Browns want him at no.4 they can take him, if not, he should fall to Miami at no.8.

Scouts around the league are in agreement that Tannehill has the potential to be a starting quarterback, yet he has limited experience, starting only 19 games in college. He posted impressive numbers with the Aggies, throwing 42 touchdowns compared to 21 interceptions for his career and completed 61.6% of his passes this season, his only full-year as a starting quarterback.  He has good size and athleticism, above average arm strength and accuracy, plus still has room to develop.

Considering Tannehill’s potential, it would not be at all surprising if Cleveland pulled the trigger at no.4, they need a franchise guy and it’s unclear if Colt McCoy can be it. Drafting Tannehill would allow the Browns to keep McCoy on the field for now, giving them a better idea what kind of player he is, while Tannehill develops.

On the other hand, the Browns are desperately in need of some skill players, such as running back Trent Richardson and wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Fortunately, the Browns have plenty of flexibility because they hold the 22nd and 37th picks in the draft as well, so they could potentially pass on Tannehill, allowing Miami to select him at no.8, then pick Richardson, who would fill an immediate need and instantly add a playmaking threat to the offense. The Browns could then address quarterback with one of their next two selections.

While there is no consensus no.4 quarterback in this draft now, the candidates include Brandon Weeden, Nick Foles, Brock Osweiler and Kirk Cousins. Foles and Cousins are seen solidly in the second, Weeden and Osweiler both merit first-round consideration.

From my perspective, Osweiler is way too risky to pick in the first round, thus Weeden is clearly the fourth quarterback prospect and is comparable to Tannehill in the eyes of some. In two years as a starter at Oklahoma State, he threw 71 touchdowns compared to just 26 interceptions, while completing 69.7% of his passes.

Talent-wise, Weeden is worthy of being selected in the first round, what might hold him back is his age. He will enter the NFL next season as a 28-year old rookie, which is not ideal. However, quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner and Rich Gannon blossomed late and won MVP awards, so whose to say Weeden can’t follow in their footsteps.

When it’s all said and done, we may just see three quarterback taken in the first round, but when it comes down to it, quarterbacks drive success in this league, so one with first-round talent would be hard to pass up on, thus it would not  come as a shock to no one, if a guy like Brandon Weeden comes off the board a little earlier than expected.

Across the NFL it’s pretty widely known that the Green Bay Packers are looking for pass rushers. Last season, their pass rush, which was so dominant in 2009 and 2010, was one of the worst in the league and it might have cost the team a second Super Bowl title. As Always, General Manager Ted Thompson will look mostly to the draft to improve the club, therefore, the Packers will be taking a long, hard look at all the pass rushers available when they select with the no.28 overall selection in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

By nature, Thompson and the Packers are very conservative, particularly in the first round. With the amount of money and investment that goes into the first round pick, Ted normally plays it safe, meaning he prefers experienced players (seniors) with no character issues. Ironically, the only junior Thompson has drafted in the first round while in Green Bay, was Aaron Rodgers, but we all know that drafting quarterbacks is a completely different ballgame.

One complication for the Packers when pursuing pass rush help, is that the player not only needs talent but also has to fit into the 3-4 scheme, meaning many of the guys that played 4-3 defensive end in college, are going to have to shift to outside linebacker in the 3-4, or just play in nickel situations as an edge rusher. However if you’re picking a guy in the first round, it’s always been my belief that he should be a three-down player.

With that thought in mind, one player, Shea McClellin of Boise State, is a perfect fit for the Packers, not only because he can fill their need for a pass rusher, but he fits into their defensive scheme, their culture and he’s everything Thompson looks for in a first-round selection. McClellin was highly productive in college, registering 20.5 career sacks and 33 tackles for loss, as well as 130 tackles, five forced fumbles and four interceptions, he also scored one defensive touchdown in his four-year career with the Broncos. So he’s a finished product with tons of playing experience and a knack for making plays.

In today’s NFL, there are no truly dominant defenses. Take even the 49ers, the best defense in the league last season, and even they gave up 32 points to the Saints in the Divisional Playoff, showing that elite offenses can still score against even the best of defenses. The key is not being dominant; it’s about taking away the football. San Francisco did that better than anyone last year, which was a big reason for their success on that side of the ball.

Besides forcing turnovers, the other thing that makes defenses successful is a good pass rush, because often times turnovers are a direct result of the defense applying pressure on the quarterback.

Not only can McClellin get after the quarterback, he’s not too bad in coverage either, as his four career interceptions can attest to. He plays the run well and is very durable, missing only three games in four years due to a leg injury his freshmen season. Not only that but he’s also  the kind of high character guy, Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy love.

So let’s review, McClellin can rush the passer, play on his feet, put his hand in the ground, play the run, cover, is durable, has off the charts intangibles and is experienced. He’s also relentless and has a motor to match that of current Green Bay outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Frankly, defensive coordinator Dom Capers should be jumping for joy, if he ends up with Matthews and McClellin as edge rusher, cause the possibilities would be endless.

McClellin had been projected as a second or third round selection when the draft process started, yet he’s been flying up draft boards recently and has positioned himself as a potential first-rounder. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr currently has him rated as the 36th best player. Yet, I don’t take much stock into rankings, cause it only takes one team believing he’s a first-round pick, to make it a reality.

Scouts absolutely love this kid and in my opinion if he’s available at no.28 for Green Bay, they should absolutely take him. He’s the complement to Matthews they’ve been searching for and he’s also the pass rusher/defensive playmaker the defense so desperately needs. So while some Packer fans want Thompson to take a risk and trade up, they should hope he plays it safe and picks McClellin, because sometimes the best moves are the ones you never make, and the safe play turns out to be the right one.

With less than a week till Super Bowl XLVI, it’s time we take a look at the keys to the game for both the Patriots and the Giants.

Gronk’s Health – This has been the biggest story for the last week and a half, and will continue to be the leading story until we see Gronkowski play on Sunday. With the recent report coming from his dad that he has a high ankle sprain, this is a major issue for the Patriots. Gronkowski has become the focal point of the offense, allowing others like Welker and Hernandez more room to run. If Gronk is unable to be effective during the game, the Giants won’t have to double him and can concentrate on taking away Brady’s other targets. If this is the reality, Deon Branch could be the key to the Patriots passing game. If Gronk is able to be effective, than the pressure is on the Giants’ mediocre core of linebackers to handle two stud TEs.

Giants Pass Rush – In Super Bowl XLII the Giants’ pass rush shocked the New England offensive line and overwhelmed Brady. The Patriots were to inept to handle the rush, or make game time adjustments to slow down Giants. However, the Giants don’t have the same type of D they had in ’07. While their front 4 are the best in the game, their linebackers are weak, and can’t be left alone in 1on1 pass coverage all game. The Patriots O-Line handled the Ravens front 7 and if they do the same to the Giants, Brady will carve their weak (but not as pathetic as the Patriots) secondary.

Turnover Battle – While this is a no brainer key to the game, the events in both the AFC and NFC Championship games, makes this even more important. In the AFC Championship, Brady and the Patriots almost blew their chance to be in the Super Bowl with turnover after turnover. Brady was surprisingly bad, throwing three INTs including an awful decision to take a shot down field after a Brandon Spikes‘ interception that could have sealed the game. After the Patriot escaped elimination after numerous turnovers, the Giants got their berth to the Super Bowl capitalizing on turnovers. Kyle Williams inability to hold onto the football, and the fact he thought he could fool the 700 angles of instant replay, allowed the Giants to sneak into the Super Bowl. The Patriots had similar issues with Danny WoodHead fumbling on a kickoff return. If the Giants are able to force multiple turnovers, this game could get out of hand. Look for the giants to try and fluster Brady and force him to make bad decisions.

Like it or not, Roger Goodell will be the commissioner of the NFL through 2018. After taking of for Paul Tagliabue in 2006, Goodell has been instrumental in the success of the NFL. Over the last decade, the NFL has grown astronomically and is above all others when it comes to fan base, and ratings. However, we are going to start off with some of the ways Goodell might ruin in the game in the next 6 years.

Since taking office, Goodell has suspended over 7 players and handed out more fines than I think we’ve ever seen in the sport. While people are more intrigued with the with the sport and the fan base is growing rapidly in all demographics. While there is a lot of attention being given to the game, the media has clearly paid more attention to the fines and suspensions. We have no one but Goodell to thank for this with the rule changes he has laid down over the last 5 years. There is a fine line of protecting the players, and controlling the game that he may have crossed. The most disappointing rule change is clearly the fact that he moved up the kickoff. Not only does it take one of the most exciting plays out of the game, but he also may have cost some players a job and a shot to live out their dream. Goodell also crossed the line with some of the rules that favor the offense. While it is exciting to see points on the board, it’s not as exciting to see them do it with 15yrd penalty after 15yrd penalty. While the main issue is that there isn’t parody from referee crew to referee crew, it is Goodell’s job to make sure that they are all on the same page.

That being sad, nothing can be taken away from Goodell for what he did during the lock out. Not only did he respectively reduce his salary to $1, but he saved a sport we all love. In the last year, he negotiated a 4 1/2 month locate, extended and negotiated long-term tv contracts that will bring in more revenue for the next 10 years, and saw the NFL have one of its most successful seasons ever. So while we may criticize ”The Man” for trying to change the game too much, we can all be glad Goodell is here to stay.

The whole NBA is holding their collective breath until they find out one thing:  What is he going to do? 

He is not Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire (who is nearing a $100 millon deal with the Knicks), Dwayne Wade, or Dirk Nowitski.  He is Lebron James and right or wrong, he is the most imporatnt man in basketball.  Not for his playing ability or marketing power, though those things are certainly why everyone wants him.  But it’s for his decision.

James is a free agent and has been since 12:01 am July 1st.  He is the straw that stirs the drink in what is being recognized as the biggest free agent year ever in the NBA.  With so many of it’s top stars opting for free agency, some teams gave up on last season in order to clear cap space to sign one – or in some cases more than one – of these young players.

Yesterday, the son of Akron, Ohio sat down with the likes of Nets owners Mikhail Prokhorov and rapper Jay-Z, Nets coach Avery Johnson, and GM Rod Thorn.  He also entertained the New York Knicks who had a truckload of stuff to bring with them – literally.

Today, sporting a white t-shirt and baggy sweat pants (the perfect choice of clothing for an important business meeting with professional excecutives offering millions and millions of dollars) he entertained the Miami Heat with Heat exec. and former coach Pat Riley, Heat owner Micky Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra and former Heat center Alonzo Mourning (all wearing business suits – way to be overdressed) in toe. 

After a courtesy meet and greet with the L.A. Clipppers, James will call it a day.  In tomorrow’s Main Event, LeBron will be entertaining the Chicago Bulls, as well as his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers - the 2 teams considered the favorites to land him. 

He hopes to make a decision by July 5th.  What James decides may shape the NBA for the next decade.

By Bob Metz

WR Steve Smith, Carolina branch (Panthers) has a broken arm he suffered in a flag football game according to Mike Cranston, AP sports writer.

Smith had surgery Sunday night on the same arm he broke against the New York Giants last season, though not in the same place. The team does not have a timetable for his return.

However, all may not be lost, fantasy owners because though Smith will miss the start of training camp for certain, the reports at this early stage sound optimistic about Smith possibly being able to play by week 1 of the regular season.

Either way, I wouldn’t count on Smith being a top notch WR this season.

By Bob Metz

So Albert Haynesworth took the check. The $21 million dollars that was offered to him on April 1 to do just one thing: Show up and do his best. That apparently wasn’t what Haynesworth had in mind when he accepted the check instead of the other offer. Freedom.

Haynesworth met with new ‘Skins head coach Mike Shanahan and the latter offered him a way out. A way out of a $100 million contract and the rest of the $40 million guaranteed money that Haynesworth signed on for under then-head coach Jim Zorn.

Why would he want out? Because Shanahan runs a 3-4 defense and Haynesworth is more comfortable in a 4-3. Apparently Haynesworth has a big problem with it. So big in fact, that Haynesworth has made a spectacle of the situation, and is not showing up for offseason workouts.

Haynesworth has even alienated his teammates. His selfishness has turned off everyone within the organization and many outside of it. “He didn’t turn down the money, but he never intended to show up.” sites one source.

The only thing it appears the Redskins can do at this point is trade him. After all, he is worthless to his team now that nobody wants him there and he doesn’t want to be there. But right now they are more concerned with getting some or all of the $21 million back that he accepted only 2 1/2 months ago.

By Bob Metz

Click for an updated version of my 2010 fantasy mock draft!

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/