Dr Z

MAC's ESPN deal looks even smarter today than it did in 2014 The MAC, meanwhile, went from getting about $1 million a year in its previous ESPN deal, which was set to expire in 2017, to reeling in well over $100 million in the new 13-year agreement. The final 10 years of the deal (2017-27) reportedly are worth about $10 million per year. Contrast that with Conference USA, which might be seeing its annual rights haul getting cut from $14 million-plus to about $2 million. Timing really is everything. We emailed a MAC source Tuesday and asked if the person felt even better about the ESPN deal after reading the SBJ story. The reply was simple, and telling: “You would be correct.”

List and more at Hustle belt, including who is still out there (Cody Grice and more). Were you able to recognize all the NFL/fringe talent when you watched MAC games last year? I'm a little surprised Roger Lewis didn't get drafted. Drafted (Minnesota Vikings) OL- Willie Beavers, Western Michigan (Tennessee Titans) WR- Tajae Sharpe, Massachusetts Minutemen (San Diego Chargers) LB- Jatavis Brown, Akron (Dallas Cowboys) DB- Kavon Frazier, Central Michigan (Dallas Cowboys) RB- Darius Jackson, Eastern Michigan (Chicago Bears) WR- Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan Undrafted Free Agents (Tennessee Titans) OL- Rmadan Ahmeti, Central Michigan (Buffalo Bills) DE- Bryson Albright, Miami (Minnesota Vikings) OL- Nick Beamish, Central Michigan (Miami Dolphins) OL- Ruben Carter, Toledo (Dallas Cowboys) DT- Rodney Coe, Akron (Detroit Lions) DE- Clay Dawson, Eastern Michigan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Phillips Ely, Toledo (Oakland Raiders) DE- Perez Ford, Northern Illinois (Indianapolis Colts) QB- Blake Frohnapfel, Massachusetts (Washington) RB- Travis Greene, Bowling Green (Cincinnati Bengals) DB- Eilar Hardy, Bowling Green (Tennessee Titans) OL- Alex Huettel, Bowling Green (Green Bay Packers) DB- Randal Jette, Massachusetts (Baltimore Ravens) DL- Robert Kitching III, Massachusetts (Chicago Bears) OL- John Kling, Buffalo (New York Giants) WR- Roger Lewis, Bowling Green (New Orleans Saints) WR- Tommylee Lewis, Northern Illinois (Buffalo Bills) QB- Joe Licata, Buffalo (Cincinnati Bengals) QB- Matt Johnson, Bowling Green (New York Giants) TE- Desroy Maxwell, Northern Illinois (New York Giants) LB- Kessan Messiah, Massachusetts (Houston Texans) DE- Jarrell McKinney, Western Michigan (San Diego Chargers) OL- Mike McQueen, Ohio (Minnesota Vikings) WR- Marken Michel, Massachusetts (Dallas Cowboys) S- Rolan Milligan, Toledo (Pittsburgh Steelers) CB- Cheatham Norrils, Toledo (Cincinnati Bengals)- OL- Lucas Powell, Ohio (New York Giants) OL- Jacob Richard, Ball State (Cincinnati Bengals) WR- Alonzo Russell, Toledo (Kansas City Chiefs) DL- Nate Terhune, Kent State (San Diego Chargers) TE- Matt Weiser, Buffalo (Detroit Lions) CB- Ian Wells, Ohio (Arizona Cardinals) DB- Ronald Zamort, Western Michigan

FULL story found here. Bell Glades, Florida has a population just shy of 18,000. Located in the southeastern portion of the Sunshine State, Travis Benjamin grew up just two houses down from the Chargers fifth round draft pick, Jatavis Brown. The two played in the same little league system as Brown looked up to Benjamin, who is four years his elder. In high school, Benjamin was a gridiron star as a senior when Brown was just getting started on the JV squad. Going to college in nearby Miami, the wide receiver kept tabs on the outside linebacker while the rising high school star watched his hometown hero make his mark with the Hurricanes. In 2012, the Cleveland Browns selected Benjamin in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. That same year, Brown began his collegiate career at nearby Akron. Less than an hour apart, the pair continued to keep tabs on each other.

Interesting story. GT of the BJ writes...Jatavis Brown on Saturday became the first linebacker from the University of Akron ever selected in the NFL Draft. Interview with Chargers dot com. Chargers.com: How would you describe your game as a linebacker? Have the Chargers discussed how they would use you? Brown: I’m very intense. I like to compete and fly around and make plays. I’m a playmaker. They told me they would use me as a dime backer. In a 4-3, I play outside but in a 3-4 I can play inside.

Former running back.

That's one of the oddest predictions I have seen this year. Guy studied all year and got 16 percent of the first round right...and people still read every "mock" draft like it's fact. If he gets this one pick right, I'll listen...a little.

Here are all the Packers pre-draft meeting. Doesn't mean they won't draft him, but they have had no contact. Robby Anderson, WR, Temple (PRI) Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan (COM) Moritz Wilhelm Boehringer, WR, Germany (PRI) James Bradberry, CB/S, Samford (SR) Kevin Byard^, S, Middle Tennessee (WOR, PRI) Devin Fuller^, WR, UCLA (STM, PRI) Darion Griswold, TE, Arkansas State (PRO) Chris Jones, DT/3-4DE, Mississippi State (COM) Bronson Kaufusi, DE/3-4DE, Brigham Young (STM) Jay Lee, WR, Baylor (PRO) Alex Lewis, OT, Nebraska (PRI) Kolby Listenbee, WR, TCU (COM) Mitch Mathews, WR, Brigham Young (PRI) Dadi Lhomme Nicolas, OLB, Virginia Tech (PRO) Reggie Ragland^, ILB, Alabama (SR, COM) Eric Rawls, CB, Kentucky State (PRO) Luke Rhodes, ILB, William & Mary (PRO) Roy Robertson-Harris, DE, Texas-El Paso (PRI) Alonzo Russell, WR, Toledo (PRO) Jaylon Smith, OLB/ILB, Notre Dame (COM) Noah Spence, DE/3-4OLB, Eastern Kentucky (PRI)

14 minutes into the predraft presser Pete speaks of a spot for JB-type in his defense.

Nothing against JM (because he was a talent), but my memories of the 3-3-5 are much different. "Can't recruit DL in the MAC"....psshhhhtt, yeah right. I like the entertainment value these guys bring. I think they have a lot to do with this thread topic.

Ever see Deone Bucannon play? He excels at it. Mark Barron for the Rams....who had a private meeting with JB. I've heard the Patriots coach talk multiple times how they like to scheme with hybrids. I think Seattle would be a great defense for JB, but as far as I can tell, the interest isn't there. For those that care what Mel Kiper has to say (I don't), he lists JB at number 247. If there are 246 better college football players in this draft, I missed a LOT of good football last year. But I don't think I did.

I'm guessing this is what JB is hearing in his pre draft meetings. What teams have a history of being creative on defense? I hope he gets his wish. “Honestly, I’d like to see a team create a position for me. Not quite a linebacker, not quite a safety but use me and be creative,” Brown told Speed of former Glades Central player Jatavis Brown could be ticket to NFL Here are all the pre draft visits listed. Four teams had JB in for an official private meeting; Rams, KC, SD and Pitt.

I think round five. I'm hoping he goes #220 in round 6.

Doesn't seem to be a concern in the Cleveland front office. Cardale scores higher on the Wonderlic than Paxton Lynch!?!?

Hue Jackson revealed last week that Jared Goff and Carson Wentz might not be his top two quarterbacks, and he won't get any argument from ESPN's Jon Gruen. Gruden, who studied all of the top prospects for his QB camp series, emerged with Michigan State's Connor Cook -- the Hinckley, Ohio native and Walsh Jesuit grad -- at the top of his list. "He's gonna be I think perhaps the best quarterback in this year's draft," he said on air recently. Connor has some who are concerned. “There’s something off,” said an NFL quarterbacks coach, one of many people in the league who have spoken to Cook and gave their impressions to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. “There’s something about him that you just don’t trust him.” “I don’t mind the kid at all,” a general manager for a different team said. “I’ll take an (expletive) who wins games over a nice guy who loses games. But there’s something missing with him.” “There’s just something put-offish about him,” an offensive coordinator for a third team said. “It appears to me – I could be dead wrong – but he’d be a guy that, when he got in the locker room, they’d try to eat him up and spit him out.”

Who? Team specific draft boards. This one is for the Browns. Just change the name at the end of the link for other teams.

I watched Lane garner the attention of the defense without the ball coming his way often in the second half of the season. You don't always have to have the ball in your hand to be effective for your team. If our offense run different personnel packages than they did last year, his "stats" might have been better, but overall offensive effectiveness may have suffered.

Worthwhile read on Carson Wentz. by Kevin Van Valkenburg ESPN Senior Writer

Unfortunately I am out of town, and was unable to attend.

BG AD joins TW.

Another south Florida (Fort Myers) athlete.

That Thad Matta tree just keeps growing.

It all started in 2008 with second team preseason All-MAC Iowa transfer Ryan Bain. So many memories.