NFL COMBINE

New Oakland head coach Lane Kiffin may be the youngest head coach in the league – he’s just 31 – but he sounded like an experienced pro when talking about the Raiders’ draft prospects at an impromptu news conference earlier this week. The Raiders of course hold the #1 pick at the 2007 draft and are widely expected to take LSU QB Jamarcus Russell with the selection. That speculation picked up steam yesterday when the Raiders opted not to pick up the option on veteran QB Aaron Brooks, the team’s starter last season, in effect making him a free agent. Despite the move Kiffin claims the Raiders draft options are wide open with “a number of players at the top of the draft that can change a team really quick. And a number of playmakers, especially on offense, that can come in right away and help. We'll evaluate all of that." Kiffin also stated that the Raiders were still "very excited” about 3rd year QB Andrew Walter whom the organization thought was their QB of the future, at least until he struggled through a dismal 2006 season in which he was 2-6 as the starter, completed but 54% of his passes, threw 13 interceptions, lost nine fumbles and was sacked 46 times. Meanwhile, while Oakland was downplaying the possibility of taking a QB with the #1 pick, Detroit has spent the week telling anyone who would listen just how interested the Lions are in possibly drafting a quarterback with the second pick overall this year. Head coach Rod Marinelli talked about it Tuesday. President Matt Millen did so Wednesday and offensive coordinator Mike Martz chimed in yesterday. Marinelli’s comments earlier in the week may have been the most telling. Marinelli has been a strong supporter of veteran Jon Kitna and while he confirmed that Kitna would be the starter next fall, but added that the team may also need to draft a QB for the future. Its not clear, though, whether the Lions are serious about taking a QB themselves or maybe just blowing smoke to increase the trade value of the pick, particularly if Oakland were to pass on LSU’s Russell.....

Sunday’s on-field combine workout involving QBs, RBs and WRs could have given NFL personnel people a chance to compare QBs Jamarcus Russell of LSU and Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn head-to-head, however, both have decided not to workout. Quinn will work out at the Irish’s pro day on March 4th while Russell will workout with LSU on March 14th. Russell, though, did raise a few eyebrows when he weighed in at 265 pounds earlier this week; for the record, that’s eight pounds more than his listed playing weight from college... This year’s combine has set a new unofficial record as 350 media members reportedly requested credentials for this year’s event… While WR and safety are the consensus positions of choice in the 2007 draft field, there are whispers that NFL personnel people are quietly very impressed with the interior offensive linemen with as many as 3-4 OGs and/or Cs likely to go in the latter part of the opening round. Names that are being mentioned in that regard as OGs Ben Grubbs of Auburn, OTs Arron Sears of Tennessee and Justin Blalock of Texas, both of whom project to OG at the next level, along with USC C Ryan Kalil.....


Former Florida DT Marcus Thomas may not be able to participate in on-field drills at the combine next week after he suffered what is being reported as a strained hip flexor. Thomas had been considered a second-round prospect before being booted from the Gators’ squad for reportedly failing a drug test late last season.....


The coin flip between Cleveland and Tampa Bay on Friday morning that gave the Browns the 3rd pick overall at this year’s draft highlighted a quirk in the NFL rules that the league reportedly look at later this spring. If Cleveland and Tampa Bay were in the same division the coin flip would have not have been necessary. The Buccaneers had beaten the Browns during the season and head-to-head results are used as one of the tie-breakers for teams in the same conference. However, for teams in different conferences, the only tie-breaker is strength-of-schedule. Reportedly this oddity will be addressed by the league’s competition committee at the NFL owners meetings late next month.....

The Baltimore Sun reports that Ravens RB Jamal Lewis is willing to re-work his contract and stay with the team instead of face being cut when they team has the option to do so or pay him a $5 million roster bonus on March 3. "Jamal would like to come back to play for the Ravens," said Mitch Frankel, Lewis' agent, "but we are going to have to wait and see what type of contract they're talking about." The Ravens would get over $8 million in cap room if they release Lewis.....


Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said at the NFL Combine that Byron Leftwich will return to his starting role, ending speculation about what the Jaguars would do at the position. "When you evaluate Byron and stack him up against the rest of the league, he's one of the young, really good, strong-armed quarterbacks out there," Del Rio said. "He's had some developmental setbacks the last two years because of injuries. But we really feel he's ready to take the next step and take it to the next level." Leftwich started the first six games last season, then was benched for Garrard -- a move Del Rio described as awkward. Leftwich eventually had ankle surgery and was placed on injured reserve. Del Rio said they talked for three hours after the Super Bowl in an effort to iron out their differences.....

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bears RB Thomas Jones has expressed to team GM Jerry Angelo that he either wants a contract extension with the team or be traded. Jones was nearly traded last offseason but never found a new home. "I'm going to do some more thinking about [Jones'] situation," Angelo said. "My understanding is he really enjoyed the season, really likes being a Bear and it has nothing to do with anything but what he feels might be in his best interest." Jones is in the final year of a very cap-friendly contract.....

Dolphins coach Cam Cameron told the media at the NFL Combine that he's seeing a great effort from QB Daunte Culpepper, who is rehabbing from knee surgery for the second offseason in a row. "I looked out my office ... and there's Daunte Culpepper out there doing his drills. Now for me to say he's 90 percent, 100 percent, 80 percent, I don't know. But here's what I do know, that he’s giving us 100 percent of his effort. He's where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there. He doing not only what our training staff is asking him to do, but within reason, doing things over and above that.....

The St. Petersburg Times reports that Bucs FB Mike Alstott has informed the team that he'd like to come back in 2007, and negotiations are underway for him to return.....


The Baltimore Ravens released a statement confirming that they will not use their franchise tag on any of their free agents, including LB Adalius Thomas, meaning that he will become a free agent on March 2. The Ravens don't have the salary cap room to keep Thomas, who would earn $7.2 million next year if he were franchised. The Packers, 49ers and Jets are considered potential suitors for Thomas.