The window of opportunity for NFL teams to sign unrestricted veteran free agents closed over the weekend. And while league accountants still have to figure out all the final specifics, it appears that both New England and Baltimore are likely to get the maximum number of compensatory picks for the 2007 draft. Indeed, both the Patriots and Ravens lost a total of 6 more unrestricted free agents than they were able to sign themselves. Baltimore, for example, had 9 veteran free agents sign with other teams this winter including RB Chester Taylor, DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu, DE Anthony Weaver and FS Will Demps, while signing three. Meanwhile, the Patriots lost 8 veteran free agents, including WRs David Givens and Andre Davis, as well as star PK Adam Vinateiri. San Diego, Indianapolis and Oakland are also almost certainly going to each receive a healthy package of comp picks next spring. San Diego lost 4 more free agents than they signed, while both Indianapolis and Oakland were a minus 3. As well, all three teams also lost high priced free agents which will impact their ultimate comp pick award. San Diego, for example, lost QB Drew Brees who signed with New Orleans, while star Colts RB Edge James signed with Arizona and Oakland CB Charles Woodson inked with Green Bay. Other teams which should be in line to get something in terms of comp picks this year include Atlanta, Kansas City, Minnesota, and possibly Pittsburgh. On the other hand, teams which will definitely NOT be getting comp picks this year include Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Washington and the Jets. The allotment of compensatory draft picks is determined by a complicated formula which factors in the net loss of veteran free agents for each team, as well as the value of the contracts signed. Comp picks are usually announced about a month before the actual draft....


Several sources are reporting that Giants’ undrafted rookie free agent OT Jai Lewis has decided not to attend training camp when it opens later this month. Lewis, the former George Mason basketball star, did not play football in college, but decided to give football a try after leading GMU deep into the NCAA basketball tournament this spring....


There have been several changes affecting the post-season college all-star games which have kind of slipped under the radar this summer. The NFL Network, for example, has acquired the exclusive rights to televise the Senior Bowl the next few years. The NFL Network will also be covering Senior Bowl practices in a multiyear deal. The Senior Bowl had been televised by ESPN for years. Meanwhile, the Hula Bowl All-Star Classic has a new head honcho. Former college coach and pro scout Joe Dan Rogers has been named executive director of the Hawaii-based game. Both the Senior and Hula Bowls will be played on the weekend of January 27-28 after the current season. And if we hadn’t mentioned it before, the East-West Shrine game will be on the move again. The Shrine game, which was played in San Antonio last winter, will be played in Houston this January. The East-West game will be played the weekend before the other two games. And while we have a full season of college football to be played, the all-star games are already hard at work scouting and recruiting players. Indeed, we had our first reported game attendees when Central Michigan announced that both star DE Dan Bazuin and OT Joe Staley had been invited to the Shrine game.....

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2007 DRAFT

CB DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State… 5-11, 190, SR… Perhaps the best cover corner in the country nobody outside of the NFL scouting community – and Big XII offensive co-ordinators – has seen or heard much of to date. However, Jackson is an outstanding all-around defensive back with decent size and better speed; he’s also a very physical CB who is not at all shy about coming up to help support the run defense. Indeed, he hits like a safety and posted over 100 tackles the past couple of years including 55 in 2005. Jackson, in fact, forced 4 fumbles last season. Jackson, though, is even better in coverage where he picked off 6 passes the past couple of seasons, including 5 last year, and broke up another 12. Jackson is very aggressive in coverage with good hands and concentration; he also has an excellent break on the ball and will battle for the ball in the air. If there is a bit of a downside, Jackson can be overaggressive and will gamble at times, but has excellent recovery speed. He’s also a good athlete who was a QB in high school. And just for good measure, Jackson is also a very good KO returner who averaged almost 25 yards per return last fall. Jackson, though, will have to be checked out medically as he was forced to miss his junior season in high school with a bruised kidney which was later removed, although he has been cleared to play since.