2015 first round draft order: Buccaneers now on the clock

Following is the 2015 NFL Draft first round order. The first round will start on Thursday, April 30 with the second and third rounds on Friday, May 1, followed by rounds four through seven on Saturday, May 2. The 2015 draft will be held at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

The order below does not include trades; the Cleveland Browns own the Buffalo Bills‘ No. 19 overall selection.

Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB.

Read more from original source

2015 first round draft order: Buccaneers now on the clock

Falcons" turnaround sends them to brink of playoffs

It was a wave that would have made Queen Elizabeth proud: There was Atlanta Falcons defensive end Osi Umenyiora, the football in his right hand and 50 yards of unfettered green in his field of vision, turning back toward the north end zone of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday and using his left hand to say goodbye to the New Orleans Saints, figuratively and literally.

A few hours after completing the 86-yard fumble return that closed out the Falcons‘ 30-14 victory — setting up a winner-take-all showdown with the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome next Sunday for the NFC South title — Umenyiora put his team’s surprising revival in perspective, recalling a late-October collapse that would have made London Bridge seem historically sturdy by comparison.

Eight weeks earlier at Wembley Stadium, after blowing a 21-0 halftime lead and making a series of unconscionable late-game mistakes in a 22-21 defeat to the Detroit Lions, the Falcons flew home from London carrying a looming sense of doom. With a 2-6 record, a five-game losing streak and an embattled head coach in Mike Smith, Atlanta — just two seasons removed from a heartbreaking NFC championship game defeat — looked headed for oblivion.

Read more from original source

Falcons" turnaround sends them to brink of playoffs

Bowl viewer"s guide: Previewing Saturday"s slate of CFB action

College bowl season officially kicks off Saturday, and College Football 24/7 is providing a daily glimpse at the best players in each game and predictions from writers Gil Brandt, Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Bryan Fischer, Chase Goodbread and Mike Huguenin.

Site: New Orleans
Date: Dec. 20
Time/TV: 11 a.m. ET, ESPN
Matchup: Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) vs. Nevada (7-5)
NFL teams attending: Buffalo Bills
Top players to watch: Nevada (QB Cody Fajardo, DE Brock Hekking, WR Hasaan Henderson, DE/LB Ian Seau); Louisiana-Lafayette (RB Alonzo Harris, WR Jamal Robinson).
Why NFL fans should tune in: Why not get your bowl season started out right with an intriguing matchup between an up-and-down Wolf Pack team taking on one of the most impressive Sun Belt teams over the years in ULL? Fajardo has put up comparable numbers to Colin Kaepernick during his time in Reno and is among the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. The team’s pistol offense gets a lot of the press, but it’s the defense you’ll really want to keep an eye out for with Ian Seau (Junior’s nephew) and wild man Brock Hekking, who might have the best hair in college football and is an equally fearsome pass rusher. As for the Ragin Cajuns, they feature a number of playmakers on the offensive side that could wind up being late Day Three selections.
Game predictions:
Brandt: UL-Lafayette, 24-21
Brooks: UL-Lafayette, 33-30
Jeremiah: Nevada, 28-24
Fischer: UL-Lafayette, 33-23
Goodbread: Nevada, 30-21
Huguenin: UL-Lafayette, 27-24

Read more from original source

Bowl viewer"s guide: Previewing Saturday"s slate of CFB action

Johnny Manziel must show Browns potential for development

Fate owes the Cleveland Browns a few breaks.

Since rebooting in 1999, the franchise has been on a long slog of disappointment. The Browns could write a thesis on first-round mistakes in the draft (Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, William Green, Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden). They’ve been plagued by internal problems since returning, from staph infections in the locker room to bickering in the front office. They have gone from one coach to another, and from one quarterback to another. The only thing that has stayed the same are those classic uniforms (which are changing next year, thanks to Nike). They’ve made one playoff appearance since version 2.0 began, an exciting loss to the rival Steelers in the 2002 Wild Card Round.

Read more from original source

Johnny Manziel must show Browns potential for development

Aaron Rodgers "baffled" by Kromer"s Jay Cutler comments

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler are rivals on the field, but they are also friends who happen to be members of a relatively small fraternity. And as a franchise quarterback who credits a supportive and open environment for helping him thrive with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers was appalled by what Cutler, his beleaguered Chicago Bears counterpart, had to endure last week.

Reacting to reports that Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer admitted last Monday to his players that he’d been an anonymous source in a report by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport in which Cutler’s game-management skills were criticized, Rodgers strongly denounced Kromer’s behavior, saying he was "baffled" by the situation.

"I would have a major problem if somebody said something like that," Rodgers said Tuesday during an interview at Lambeau Field. "I think anybody that plays the position, you can’t help but empathize with Jay for that situation. You talk all the time about being connected, being a unit, believing in each other. But if you have unnamed sources, people out there cutting you down, and then you find out it’s the person calling the plays — that would be really hard to deal with, to look at him the same way."

Read more from original source

Aaron Rodgers "baffled" by Kromer"s Jay Cutler comments

Arizona Cardinals can beat Seattle Seahawks with elite defense

The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks are out to prove that stellar defense can win championships in today’s NFL. While the ‘Hawks are aiming for their second Lombardi Trophy in as many seasons, the Cards are poised to make a deep postseason run despite a spate of injuries at the quarterback position (and elsewhere).

Arizona can actually clinch the NFC West — and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs — with a win in front of the home crowd on Sunday night. Of course, the naysayers doubt the Cardinals can beat the Seahawks with third-string QB Ryan Lindley under center. Seattle did beat Arizona 19-3 last month in the madhouse that is CenturyLink Field. But with the game shifting to University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Cardinals are a perfect 7-0, I believe Bruce Arians‘ squad can win behind a monster defensive effort.

After watching the All-22 Coaches Film of the Week 12 battle, I’ve come up with a game plan. Here’s how Arizona needs to approach Seattle in order to pull off the victory:

Read more from original source

Arizona Cardinals can beat Seattle Seahawks with elite defense

Cardinals, Colts, Lions among least convincing winning teams

Fifteen weeks into the 2014 NFL campaign, eight teams boast double-digit win totals:

» Arizona Cardinals (11-3)
» Denver Broncos (11-3)
» New England Patriots (11-3)
» Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
» Detroit Lions (10-4)
» Green Bay Packers (10-4)
» Indianapolis Colts (10-4)
» Seattle Seahawks (10-4)

But of course, not all double-digit winners are created equal. Which is the least-convincing team with 10-plus wins?

Read more from original source

Cardinals, Colts, Lions among least convincing winning teams

Road win over Eagles puts Cowboys into NFC East driver"s seat

This is the backstory to one of the great moments of Week 15, the Dallas Cowboys‘ refusal to crumble on the road in a pivotal NFC East showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys‘ rebound after blowing a 21-point lead, as well as the Arizona Cardinals clinching a playoff spot with a win over the St. Louis Rams despite numerous key injuries and the Buffalo Bills‘ upset of the Green Bay Packers are nominees for the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the week. Cast your vote for the GMC Never Say Never Moments of Week 15.

Tony Romo

Just two weeks ago, the Cowboys suffered a humiliating 33-10 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in front of a turkey-stuffed national-television audience on Thanksgiving Day. Facing the daunting task of collecting an essential road win against the Eagles, the Cowboys stormed out to a 21-0 lead, allowed 24 unaswered points, managed to recapture momentum for a 38-27 win. That was huge, pushing the Cowboys from "In the hunt" status in the NFC playoff picture to in the driver’s seat for the NFC East title and a potential candidate to attain home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Read more from original source

Road win over Eagles puts Cowboys into NFC East driver"s seat

Which teams can clinch a playoff spot during Week 16?

As the regular season wanes, each week brings with it a fresh opportunity for some teams to clinch playoff spots. Check out every possible scenario for each conference below, and predict the playoffs here:

CLINCHED: Arizona Cardinals

ELIMINATED: New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers 

Read more from original source

Which teams can clinch a playoff spot during Week 16?

Seahawks, Cardinals among roughest teams to confront at home

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “v0ap3000000441407″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“450″), height = Number(“253″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

Fourteen weeks in the 2014 NFL effort, four teams remain perfect at home:

» New England Patriots (6-0) » Denver Broncos (7-0) » Arizona Cardinals (7-0) » Green Bay Packers (7-0)

Hey, whaddya know: Those just so happen to be the top two seeds for every conference in the upgraded playoff image. One team that’s not on this list: the tremendously unsatisfactory New Orleans Saints, who have inexplicably dropped four in a row in the Superdome, which had been a house of horrors for competitors prior to the season.

Read more from original source

Seahawks, Cardinals among roughest teams to confront at home

Fortune rallies from slow beginning to produce stunning triumph

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “vid1″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“615″), height = Number(“346″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

Here Is the backstory to among the significant minutes of Week 14, the Indianpolis Colts’ come-from-behind triumph on the way over the Cleveland Browns in a critical AFC confrontation. The Colts last minute triumph, along with the Minnesota Vikings’ overtime triumph on the New York Jets as well as the Arizona Cardinals’ crucial triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs are nominees for the GMC Never Say Never Minute of the week. Cast your vote for the GMC Never Say Never Minutes of Week 14.

Andrew Luck

If he’s not already there already, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is on the verge of being considered one of the NFL’s prime minister (dare we say "elite") passers. Yet, for 50-plus minutes of a Week 14 confrontation with the up and coming Browns, Luck seemed little just like a blooming star and much more like a back-up quarterback thrown to the fire. Luck redeemed himself in epic style, and created a second that helps express Luck’s greatest guarantee.

Read more from original source

Fortune rallies from slow beginning to produce stunning triumph

Ravens outclass Dolphins in critical AFC matchup

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “vid1″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“615″), height = Number(“346″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

The Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins met Sunday in a matchup of wouldbe AFC rivals. Joe Philbin’s squad was totally coordinated in a 28-13 Ravens success.

1. Elvis Dumervil was the most effective player in the field Sunday, and Joe Flacco was a close second. Let us begin with all the Ravens’ defense. Despite losing two more cornerbacks to harm (Danny Gorrer and Anthony Levine), the Ravens just gave up three points in the last three quarters as a result of ferocious pass rush. Dumervil controlled Dallas Thomas for 3.5 sacks, quitting multiple drives. Terrell Suggs added 1.5 sacks. Ryan Tannehill regularly held the ball a long time, getting knocked down nine times.

2. Flacco has played near perfect soccer the previous couple of weeks. Torrey Smith was quite small due to harm (no catches) but Flacco kept converting third downs with throws on the move to Steve Smith, Marlon Brown, Kamar Aiken and a person named Phillip Supernaw. Flacco is playing in the manner of a top-10 quarterback.

Read more from original source

Ravens outclass Dolphins in critical AFC matchup

Scout compares Baylor"s Bryce Petty to Matt Flynn, Drew Stanton

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “vid1″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“615″), height = Number(“346″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

Getting past Kansas State and possibly into the College Football Playoff is the immediate challenge for Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. But another challenge — getting past the stereotype the Bears’ shotgun offense has not prepared him well for the NFL — could be even more demanding.

"He puts up monster numbers in a offense that does not have a history of creating successful pro style quarterbacks," an AFC place scout told NFL Media’s Albert Breer. & quot;He Is a bright, high character player. Respectable sportsman, having a powerful lower body, but I personally do not see him as a top prospect."

That scout compared Petty to the Green Bay Packers’ Matt Flynn as well as the Arizona Cardinals’ Drew Stanton — not just household names.

Read more from original source

Scout compares Baylor"s Bryce Petty to Matt Flynn, Drew Stanton

Kirk Ferentz sees Brandon Scherff as first-round draft pick

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “vid1″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“615″), height = Number(“346″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz considers Hawkeyes offensive tackle Brandon Scherff compares favorably with a number of the top former Iowa linemen in the NFL, such as the Baltimore Ravens’ Marshal Yanda and former first-round picks Riley Reiff (Detroit Lions) and Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers). And according to the Des Moines Register, Ferentz anticipates Scherff, a senior, to be a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, at the same time.

"It Is not about the combine items, although Brandon’s got freakish strength and explosion," Ferentz said. & quot;But lots of men can not take that to the field. Brandon’s got the power to do this, also. He is a rare man."

Uncommon enough to earn Big Ten Rimington-Rate Offensive Lineman of the Year honours with a vote of the league’s coaches. In a league known for road-grading offensive linemen, Scherff beat out the likes of Wisconsin’s Rob Havenstein, Michigan State centre Jack Allen and Ohio State guard Pat Elflein for the award.

Read more from original source

Kirk Ferentz sees Brandon Scherff as first-round draft pick

Chargers gather monumental road win over playoff-quality team

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “vid1″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“615″), height = Number(“346″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

Here Is the backstory to among the significant minutes of Week 13, the San Diego Chargers’ frenzied final-minute road win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers’ thrilling triumph, along with the finest comeback triumph in Jacksonville Jaguars history as well as the Green Bay Packers’ fending away from the powerful New England Patriots are nominees for the GMC Never Say Never Minute of the week. Cast your vote for the GMC Never Say Never Minutes of Week 13.

Philip Rivers

One could easily create a claim that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is having an MVP season. The astonishing seasons of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady — not to mention the havoc-wreaking ridiculousness that’s J.J. Watt’s campaign for the Houston Texans — tend to overshadow what Rivers has done this season. Rivers hammered that point home having a come-from-behind road win against a playoff-quality team, a success that force the Chargers to the center of the AFC playoff race.

Read more from original source

Chargers gather monumental road win over playoff-quality team

Winners and losers from Week 14 college football matches

Week 14 of the college football season brought us emphasizes galore as well as several surprises that nobody could have called earlier in 2013. While we understand who won and who lost the matches in the box scores, who actually came out of Saturday competent to hold their heads high?

TCU: Saturday could not have been scripted considerably better for the Horned Frogs, who found Mississippi State go down in front of the box and Ohio State lose their starting quarterback. Combination in Baylor fighting against lowly Texas Tech and TCU is in far better standing to reach the College Football Playoff.

Memphis: The Tigers won seven matches united in 2012 and 2013 but continued their extraordinary turn around under trainer Justin Fuente with their ninth victory of the season on Saturday over UConn. That gave the team a share of the AAC tournament and made the boxscores coach an even hotter commodity this offseason.

Georgia Tech: It was not pretty but the Yellow Jackets stormed back to defeat their instate competition in wild way and send themselves into the ACC Championship Game next week on a high.

Read more from original source

Winners and losers from Week 14 college football matches

Adrian Peterson suspended without pay for rest of 2014 season

Adrian Peterson will not return to football in 2014.

The NFL announced Tuesday the Minnesota Vikings running back will be suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2014 season, and cannot be considered for reinstatement before April 15, 2015. (To read the league’s full statement, click here.)

Commissioner Roger Goodell expanded on his decision in the following letter to Peterson:

Read more from original source

Adrian Peterson suspended without pay for rest of 2014 season

Adrian Peterson"s appeals hearing set for Monday

Adrian Peterson‘s appeals hearing to be removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt list has been set for Monday, a league spokesperson confirmed to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport on Wednesday.

The NFL Players Association on Monday filed an expedited, non-injury grievance on behalf of Peterson that seeks immediate reinstatement for the Minnesota Vikings running back.

On Nov. 4, Peterson pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. He was placed on probation and was issued a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of community service in addition to enrollment in parenting classes.

Read more from original source

Adrian Peterson"s appeals hearing set for Monday

NFL's greatest competition? Bears-Packers continues among top picks

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “v0ap3000000424236″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“450″), height = Number(“253″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

The NFL is constructed on classic competitions, as is clear in the primetime lineup for Week 10. First, the Cleveland Browns rolled over the Cincinnati Bengals on "Thursday Night Football," by having an honest to goodness AFC North race adding some juice to the Battle of Ohio. Next comes the granddaddy of these all: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on "Sunday Night Football."

As the Bears and Packers prepare for the 190th episode of among the more storied show in league history, we believed we had ask: Which NFL competition is the most effective right now?

Read more from original source

NFL"s greatest competition? Bears-Packers continues among top picks

Ben Roethlisberger set out to construct Steelers into attacking power

nfl.use(“nfl-video”, function (Y) (!supportsFlashVideo && !supportsHTML5)), srcId = “v0ap3000000423920″, srcNodeId = “#”+srcId, srcNode = Y.one(srcNodeId), width = Number(“615″), height = Number(“346″), vp, w, rsH, orH, updateSize; if(requireSizeAdjustment) updateSize = function() w = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); vp.get(“boundingBox”).setStyles( width: w + ‘px’, height: Math.round(w*(9/16)) + ‘px’ ); ; width = srcNode.get(‘offsetWidth’); stature = Math.round(width*(9/16)); rsH = Y.on(“resize”, updateSize, window); orH = Y.on(“orientationchange”, updateSize, window); nfl.videoplayers = nfl.videoplayers );

Judy Battista emphasizes the storylines and elements to pay attention to in Week 10, beginning with Large Ben’s recent offensive explosion and continuing below with 10 more items to observe.

Only before training camp started this summer, Ben Roethlisberger spoke up within an offensive assembly. The Pittsburgh Steelers were understood for his or her vaunted defense for such a long time, he started. But, he asked those around him, why can not the Steelers be understood for offense, also?

It hit some in attendance as a curious second in Roethlisberger’s career, the day that — even with two Super Bowl titles already to his name — he began to take a more vocal part together with the offense and started chiseling a fresh identity because of his team.

Read more from original source

Ben Roethlisberger set out to construct Steelers into attacking power