National Football League Draft (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Bobby “Blackjack” Guarente-Talking Football Live Host/ Special Contributor-FRO

When given the task to write about the New York Giants’ first 2 draft picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, the first thing that came to mind was something that my on-air broadcast partner on Talking Football LIVE had said.  To paraphrase the words of Anthony “Big T” Guarente, “My God, our New York Giants have just won the Super Bowl and we weren’t even that good.”   That’s the beauty of the greatest sport in the world, where on ANY given Sunday, ANY team can win.  Well, that and having the genius of Head Coach Tom Coughlin at the helm and GM Jerry Reese rolling snake-eyes on free-agent pick-ups and those not picked up.

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For General release-

(Boston, Massachusetts) September 16, 2011 – Bianca & Vince Wilfork and Joslin Diabetes Center will be “Tackling Diabetes” with the support of EMD Millipore during this year’s Patriots season, raising money for the Vince Wilfork Foundation and Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund. The program will kick off this Sunday, September 18, with the Patriots’ first home game at Gillette Stadium and continue though the final regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, January 1, 2012.

Fans of Vince and the important work of the Joslin Diabetes Center will pledge $7.50 or $75.00, in honor of our beloved #75, for each tackle Vince makes during the regular season. One-time individual or corporate donations are also encouraged ranging from $75 to $7500. WEEI will be promoting the program on its sports radio show weekly. Fans who participate have the opportunity to meet Vince at a VIP reception and to win amazing prizes throughout the season!

“Tackling Diabetes” is a very personal effort for the Patriots defensive tackle and his wife Bianca. Vince’s Dad, his most devoted fan, passed away from complications of his diabetes while Vince was a student at University of Miami. His Dad never had the chance to see him play with the Patriots, or become a loving husband and father based on the example his parents had shown him.

“Bianca and I realize how precious life is and we are dedicated to doing all we can to prevent others from having to suffer the loss we did because of diabetes. We created the Vince Wilfork Foundation to support care givers and researchers, like those at Joslin Diabetes Center,” according to Vince Wilfork. “The folks at the Joslin work to educate about prevention, offer healthier, longer lives to children and adults living with diabetes and their researchers are racing towards a cure; we know our challenge to “Tackle Diabetes” will bring in support from the best fans in the NFL.”

“The Joslin Diabetes Center is grateful to Bianca and Vince Wilfork for their efforts on behalf of Joslin’s High Hopes Fund,” said Joslin President and CEO John L. Brooks, III. “The High Hopes Fund supports the Center’s greatest needs in research, education and clinical care, making it possible for us to look forward to a future without diabetes.”

“Tackling Diabetes” is a positive way to take part in the game. It asks fans to participate with Vince Wilfork in meeting or beating his 57 tackles during the 2010 regular season, knowing the funds raised by the Vince Wilfork Foundation and Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund will help provide life-changing and life-saving research for one of America’s fastest-growing diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25.8 million Americans suffer from diabetes, with some 2 million new cases each year. The CDC estimates that by 2050, one-third of Americans could develop diabetes. The current annual economic cost of diabetes in the U.S. is estimated to be more than $218 billion.

To get involved Make a $7.50 donation for every tackle that number 75 makes to the Vince Wilfork Foundation and the Joslin Diabetes Center High Hopes Fund! Visit http://events.joslin.org/wilfork to register. Or for more information, Erik Ryan at erik.ryan@joslin.harvard.edu or 617.264.2531

About the Vince Wilfork Foundation

Established by New England Patriots Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork and his wife Bianca in 2009, the Vince Wilfork Foundation has raised over $500,000 for diabetes-related causes, including the Joslin Diabetes Center and the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami. His annual draft day fundraiser, a bowling event he has held for seven years, is one of the signature fundraising events held by a pro athlete in New England. http://www.vincewilfork75.com/foundation

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center is the world’s preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real hope and progress toward diabetes prevention and a cure. Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. For more information about Joslin, visit www.joslin.org. Keep up with Joslin research and clinical news at Inside Joslin at www.joslin.org/news/inside_joslin.html, Become a fan of Joslin on Facebook at www.facebook.com/joslindiabetes and follow Joslin on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joslindiabetes

About EMD Millipore

EMD Millipore is a division of Merck KGaA, Germany. EMD Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, EMD Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science. Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 68 countries and 2010 revenues of $2.2 billion. EMD Millipore is known as Merck Millipore outside of the U.S. and Canada. http://www.emdmillipore.com/

http://www.facebook.com/EMDMillipore, http://twitter.com/emd_millipore

From Pr Newswire…

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

NFL Football Star, Ndamukong Suh, Seeks to Prevent Head Injuries With Endorsement of New Sports Safety Product

Battle Sports Science Launches the New, Revolutionary Impact Indicator

OMAHA, Neb., June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Last season, Detroit Lions football player, Ndamukong Suh, registered 10 sacks, the most by any NFL Defensive Tackle, 66 tackles, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble – all miraculously without head injuries. This upcoming football season, Suh will be the first NFL football player to take another precautionary step to protect athletes from head injuries by endorsing the new revolutionary Impact Indicator by Battle Sports Science.

The Impact Indicator is designed to measure the G-force and duration of hits sustained by an athlete’s head during play. It uses highly sophisticated technology and proprietary software, embedded in a helmet chinstrap, to signal the possibility of a head injury. This revolutionary new product will alert referees, players and coaches to get a player off the field for a medical assessment – maximizing treatment, recovery and possibly preventing subsequent brain injury. In 2011, there will be limited availability of the Impact Indicator and only select sporting goods retailers will carry the product.

Suh, a rookie defensive tackle for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, was the number two overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft and the first defensive player to win the 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year award. Following an award-winning college football career, where he was recognized as one of the most decorated defensive players in the history of the sport, he became the first defensive player ever to win the Associated Press College Player of the Year Award, in addition to being a Heisman Trophy finalist and winning multiple other awards.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Ndamukong Suh and have him be the first NFL player during the 2011 football season to align with the Impact Indicator,” said Chris Circo, CEO of Battle Sports Science. “With the Impact Indicator, Suh is becoming a pioneer in professional football by helping others understand the dangers and importance of early detection for a possible head injury in a player through the use of advanced sports technology.”

About Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh is a defensive tackle for the NFL’s Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where as a senior, he became one of the most decorated defensive players in college football history winning accolades for his team, conference and on the national level. In 2009, Suh became the first defensive player ever to win the Associated Press College Player of the Year Award, in addition to being a Heisman Trophy finalist and winning multiple other awards including the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Additionally, Suh was named to the NFL’s All-Pro Team and voted to be a Pro-Bowl Starter; a feat never accomplished by a rookie defensive player in NFL history.

About Battle Sports Science

Based in Omaha, Nebraska, and founded in 2009, Battle Sports Science focuses on enhancing safety for athletes. The company is dedicated to sports safety; producing products through science, research, innovation and development, and bringing them to market. Additional sports safety products produced by Battle Sports Science include the Battle Shield, DMask, 100MPH Helmet and select TapoutPro products. For more information go to www.battlesportsscience.com.

(the 11th Installment of the “Pro Draft Report” presented by Football Reporters)

Big Talent from the Small Schools

By Jay Horn-Special Contributor-Football Reporters Online

The 2011 Draft is jam-packed with talented players from non-FBS schools. 56 players from ‘small schools’ (Divisions 1-AA, 2, 3, and NAIA) where invited to this year’s NFL Combine. The conventional wisdom is shifting from the day when scouts only looked at a couple standouts from these lower-tier divisions. Recently, a number of impact players have come from “less” than the Division-1 farm system.

In 2008, Brandon Carr from perennial D-II power Grand Valley State broke in as a starting cornerback for the KC Chiefs after being taken in the 5^th round, in 2009 RB Bernard Scott was a 6^th round pick from Abilene Christian who dazzled the NFL in his rookie season with big kick-off returns and steady production in the backfield for the Cincinnati Bengals. Also that year, WR Johnny Knox, Scott’s teammate at ACU, has been extremely productive since entering the League as a 5^th round pick with the Bears. Another ACU product, OT J’Marcus Webb, was taken in the 7^th round and has earned a starting role with the Bears as well.

Last year, some of the NFL’s most exciting rookies came from ‘small schools.’ D-2 Tiffin Dragons RB Chris Ivory (who played only four games as a senior after suffering a broken leg) became a starter for the defending World Champion New Orleans Saints. GLIAC standout offensive tackle Jered Veldheer from Hillsdale, was taken in the 3^rd round by the Raiders and was a fixture on the o-line starting at both center and tackle. Perhaps one of the best ‘feel good stories’ of this year was the success of former Chadron State and Harlon Hill winner RB Danny Woodhead. Originally drafted by the Jets and signed in 2008, Woodhead was cut, re-signed to the practice squad, then cut again and signed by the Patriots in 2010.  He became one of the Patriots most productive offensive players, finishing the season with a career high 547 rushing yards on just 97 carries (5.64 per carry) and a TD. He also had 379 yards receiving on 34 catches with 5 TDs. His yards per rush was a Patriots team record and fourth in the NFL.

Who be this year’s Ivory, Veldheer or Woodhead? Here is a sampling of a few of the possibilities in the 2011 Draft:

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS:

OT Ben Ijalana – Villanova 6’ 3.6” 319 – 5.30 – 2^nd-3^rd round

WR Edmund Gates – ACU 5’ 11.5” 189 – 4.37 – 3^rd - 5^th round

RB Taiwan Jones – Eastern Washington – 5’ 11.4” – 4.40 – 3^rd – 5^th round

OG – Will Rackley – Lehigh – 6’ 3.3” 307 – 5.20 – 3^rd – 5^th round

C – Brandon Fusco – Slippery Rock – 6’ 4.1” 302 – 5.25 – 4^th – 6^th round

TE – Schuyler Oordt – Northern Iowa – 6’ 6.0” 261 – 5^th – 7^th Round

OT – David Mims – Virginia Union – 6’ 8.2 335 – 5.58 – 5^th – 7^th round

QB – Pat Devlin – Delaware – 6’ 3.3” 226 – 4.82 – 6^th – 7^th round

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS:

DT Kendrick Ellis – Hampton 6’ 5.0” 336 – 5.05 – 4^th – 6^th round

CB Korey Lindsey-Woods – Southern Illinois – 5’ 10.1 181 – 4.45 – 5^th – 7^th round

CB Buster Skrine – Chattanooga – 5’ 9.5 186 – 4.37 – 5^th – 7^th round

CB Ryan Jones – Northwest Missouri State – 5’ 11.0 197 – 4.42 – 4^th – 6^th round

DT Cedric Thornton – Southern Arkansas 6’ 3.5” 299 – 5.91 – 7^th round – UDFA

(This is the 9th Installment of the “Pro Draft Report” presented by Football Reporters Online)

By Mark Kern-Writing Intern-Football Reporters Online

1. Mike Pouncey OL. 6’5’’  303lbs 5.28 40 yd.

Pouncey is the brother of Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey. Blessed with the same talent as his brother, Mike has a chance to be a very good lineman. He has all the physical tools and knows how to play. One thing Pouncey needs to do is to get a little stronger. Defensive lineman that are very strong are able to go through them every once in a while. Look for Mike to join his brother in being a first round pick somewhere around 13-18.

2. Tyron Smith OT 6’5’’ 307lbs 5.10 40yd.

Smith is an extremely raw tackle. He is not as polished as some of the other lineman in the draft, but is believed to have the most potential. He is a very athletic big man who can get out in lead the running back down the field. Will probably start out on the right side of the line, but has the capability to eventually play the left tackle for many years. He should be off the board right around the same time Pouncey does.

3. Anthony Costanzo OT 6’7’’ 295 5.2  40yd.

Constanzo is very intelligent football player that is going to play hard every play. Constanzo really excels in pass blocking; which he shown in a match-up with another potential first round pick DaQuan Bowers of Clemson. A slight on him is that he is tends to not keep the same intensity for lesser opponents. That will need to be fix as there are no plays off in the NFL. Overall, another outstanding lineman in this class and should be off the board from 18-21 in the first round.

4. Gabe Camiri OT 6’7’’ 325 lbs. 5.03 40 yd.

Camiri was a standout lineman that featured one of the best ground games in the country.  He showed how good he was going against standout defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and Cameron Heyward. He also showed a very good ability to get his block early and then get to the linebackers. He needs to get stronger in the legs and work on his footwork. Camiri will not make it past the Eagles at 23 and the Chiefs at 21 could take him as well.

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