Don Banks' new mock draft has the Titans taking Nick Fairley at the 8 spot, with Newton and Gabbert going well before our pick. If the Titans get to a spot like Banks lays out where they have Fairley, Prince Amukamara, and Julio Jones on the board I'd be thrilled with any of those options. They'd all represent tremendous athletes who have the polish to come in and be a force right away. If they're all judged as equal talents by the Titans' scouts I'd hope they take a shot on Fairley, who would be re-united with his college D-line coach in Tracy Rocker. Jim Wyatt details which Titans could suffer or benefit the most from an extended lockout. Kenny Britt, who nearly ruined his 2010 campaign with a terrible off-season and showing up out of shape leads the list. If you still count VY as a Titan (I'd call him a TINO: Titan in Name Only), then he's on the list. The other loser would be any QB the teams brings in. So who are the guys who could legitimately benefit from a long lock-out? Chris Johnson. CJ had already stated that he, once again, wasn't going to attend the voluntary workouts, so there's no friction created if there are no voluntary work-outs for him to irk coaches by skipping. Kerry Collins also has more value the lsee time we have to bring in a completely new QB. Tony Brown could also gain thanks to the extra rest, which is what his ailing knee needs. Hopefully Brown stays on top of his rehab over that period.
TitansInsider.com has free content that compiles various draft experts' opinion on Jack Jake Locker as a Titan. One interesting point made is that Locker is such a valued baseball prospect that some teams might hold it against him. This post also gives the same looking over to Blaine Gabbert, who the scouts/draftniks call the safest pick of the top 4 QBs despite. Rob Rang's take on Gabbert mentioned what I imagine Gabbert's career is destined for unless he lands in a perfect situation (think David Carr or Alex Smith):
There's a higher floor with him. If he is a quote unquote a disappointment he won't be a guy that is going to be out of the league in three or four years. If he's not not quite a starting franchise quarterback, he is still somebody a franchise could keep around.
Peter King reports that the the lockout is probably closer to resolution than both sides are admitting in public. King also lays out some of the big issues the sides have new appear to have worked out before negotiations broke down over financial disclosure and the overall adjustments to the revenue split. Some of the revelations include: Kiss the 18 game season good-bye for this CBA, reduction in off-season activities (voluntary and mandatory) for players, appeals for drug and PED cases will go to an independent arbiter rather than the commissioner and monetary guarantees for players who suffer a career-ending injury.
With coaches being advised that they could be fired if they're found to be in contact with players during the work stoppage, a few squads are scrambling to get clarifications on situations like Kevin and his father Bruce Matthews, or NY Giant Chris Snee and his coach/father-in-law Tom Coughlin. I still can't imagine how weird it must be to play for your wife's father. At least they were together before Coughlin drafted the guard, so both sides knew what was up when their professional relationship began.
Only one group of people are applauding the NFL lockout: the battery of lawyers who will be representing both sides in the flood of lawsuits that are coming down the pike. One thing to keep in mind is that the last time something like this situation happened in a real American sport (not looking at you NHL and MLS) was the baseball strike back in 1995. In that situation it was a judge named Sonia Sotomayor, now on the Supreme Court, who saved the day by stopping owners from using replacements players. That key court battle abruptly ended the lockout the day before the season was scheduled to start.
Wow: who knew Bobby Sewall is still bouncing around trying to find a spot to play in the NFL. Last year's 7th round pick, David Howard, spent last year with the Raiders on their practice squad.
Wes Bunting at NFP has another round of draft rumors. If you aren't following @WesBunting on Twitter I'd advise you to get on it because he delivers a lot of random tidbits on some of the non-first round guys who are being under-covered elsewhere.
Email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter @AugustWest_MCM