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Wisconsin running back Montee Ball might be the best tailback in the draft. It’s either Eddie Lacy or Ball. Ball could make a nice second round consideration for the Jets.
Here are some of Ball’s thoughts about his future –
“You’ve just got to cherish [the draft process] and that’s what I’m doing. I know that I can help a team win. That’s what I truly believe in. My film shows that.
“I understand the level of competition that I’m putting myself into and really looking forward to it. I do believe that I’m a better player (than a year ago). I do a lot of things better without the football — blocking, chipping ends.
“I try to [model] my game after Terrell Davis. He’s my idol. I feel like I run a lot like Curtis Martin. Nothing really stands out — like speed or strength, but we’re very balanced overall and very consistent.
“The challenges I faced after the season (trespassing charge and he was assaulted), I’m only human. I caught myself at times debating if I made the right decision or not to come back (to school).
“You live and you learn. I learned that I live my life in a fishbowl the hard way. The bottom line is I learned my lesson and moved on from it.
“I’m really looking forward to showing [NFL teams] how well I can apply my intelligence to the playbook and to the game, which gives me an advantage. Obviously I want to show them how well I can move on the field and with the football in my hands and how well I can catch the ball out of the backfield.
“I’m extremely consistent. You can count on me when I have the ball in my hands — 924 carries, only two fumbles. So I do a great job of protecting the football. I score touchdowns. You can count on me to make the play and be there for you.” . . .
The San Francisco 49ers are quickly emerging as the leading candidates to land Darrelle Revis.
They now have draft 15 picks in 2013, five in the top 93 slots — one in the first round, two in the second and two more in the third. They are picks 31, 34, 61, 74 and 93.
Sending two of those picks, perhaps 31 and 61, could get a Revis-deal done.
And if the Jets have four picks in first two rounds, they could fill a lot of needs – let’s say OLB Dion Jordan at nine, WR Tavon Austin (world class speed) at 31, and then in the second round, with two picks, they can get a quarterback (E.J. Manuel or Mike Glennon), and a running back (Ball).
With four picks in the first two rounds, they Jets can really help themselves.
It now looks like Revis is a goner.
The Jets were shopping him at the combine, a source told Gary Myers of the Daily News.
Yahoo’s Jason Cole, who is close to the Revis camp, reported today that San Francisco is very interested, and they don’t feel they need an extension in place, to make the deal.
Since they have so many draft picks (15, with 18 a possibility, when you consider the supplemental picks), they would even do a one-year rental with Revis, and not blink over it. They feel they can win the Super Bowl next year, and they feel a shutdown corner can help get them over the hump.
February 27, 2013
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