The defense will be starting new players in Spring practice due to injuries. Kevin McNeil, who was the projected starter at left end, is out with a broken foot following a car accident. Walk-on Eli Charles will work in the No. 1 spot. At defensive tackle, Letroy Guion and Justin Mincey will hold down the fort this spring while Emmanuel Dunbar (back) and Paul Griffin (knee) watch from the sideline.
As stated previously, the biggest change on defense will be at the linebackers position due to the departure of Timmons and Davis.
The most stable area on defense will be the secondary since every scholarship player is back from last season.Despite the lack of seniors, Mickey Andrews' unit will have lots of game experience. Seven players in the secondary have started multiple games in their careers, and two others, Darius McClure and Patrick Robinson, logged extensive minutes on the field last season. The key for the secondary is to get better than they were last year.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
2007 Look Ahead: Defense
"Technology Has Forced It"
"Technology has forced it. A school that has somebody with all of the technology available will get a year ahead of you recruiting. They don't only know the seniors, they also know the juniors and the sophomores. We have been behind in that area. We will catch up now."
Bobby Bowden regarding the hiring of Bob LaCivita as Football Director Of Player Personnel
Friday, March 16, 2007
Noles Hold First Practice
The Florida State football team took the practice field for the first time Friday since a season-ending Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA. The Seminoles worked for 28 periods in shorts and for the first time the team was actually on the practice field with the five new coaches that were hired this off-season.
"It was a good start," said head coach Bobby Bowden. "The kids were very excited. They hustled and did some good things. It was like I told them it is just a start, a beginning. The key will be to try to get better everyday."
It was the first practice for new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, offensive line coach Rick Trickett, receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey and running backs coach Dexter Carter. It was also the first practice for Chuck Amato as an FSU coach since Florida State's 1999 National Championship.
"It was definitely different," said running back Antone Smith of the first day. "There are still a lot of things we have to improve in but hopefully in the end we will be better."
"It is fun to get out on the field and coach," said Fisher. "That is what we love to do and that is what the kids love to do, come and play. All the off-season stuff is necessary and we have to do it but when you get out on the field that's their sanctuary. It felt really good."
Fisher brought a new pace to the Seminole practice as the 28 periods were conducted at a very high tempo.
"It is a much faster pace," said quarterback Drew Weatherford who split reps with the first team with Xavier Lee. "Coaches just expect a lot out of us. They have been very successful at other places. They know what it takes to win. They are just trying to implement what they have done with other teams."
"That tempo usually goes back to the coach," said Bowden. "It suits me. You can't get it too up tempo for me."
The excitement surrounding the Seminoles' first practice with the new staff wasn't just limited to the players. It was a homecoming for Amato, Carter and Dawsey and a chance for Fisher and Trickett to begin their FSU careers coaching for a legend.
"I forgot. I didn't realize until the end he was there," said Fisher of coaching under Bowden's watchful eye. "Cause we get started and I wasn't used to that. I will have to remember from now on. It is a good feeling to have the winningest coach in college football standing there looking at you. When you make a mistake he can help you so you can help the kids."
"I have got complete confidence in what they are doing," said Bowden of the new coaches. "I'll watch and I'll criticize if I see something that I think needs to be changed. I feel good confidence."
Thursday, March 15, 2007
2007 Look Ahead: Linebackers
188. That is the number of combined tackles that departed linebackers Buster Davis and Lawrence Timmons had for the Noles in 2006. New linebackers coach Chuck Amato will have to find new talent to fill the huge void left by these two great linebackers. Linebacker Geno Hayes who had 59 tackles in 2006 will look to help fill that void.
The defense is not bare however. A Mickey Andrews defense always has played a lot of players so FSU has a number of quality linebackers that will compete for starting time. Surgeries will keep linebackers Marcus Ball and Derek Nicholson, out of contact for Spring practice.
“It's exciting to know that you've got a number players returning that have played in key, big ballgames,” said Andrews, who on Friday begins his 24th spring practice as FSU's defensive coordinator. “We had some success last year but not at the level we would want.
If I know Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato, FSU will not have a fall off in this area for 2007.
Spring Practice Depth Chart
This is the start of Spring practice depth chart:
OFFENSE
WR 81 De’Cody Fagg 6-3 218 R-JR
80 Joslin Shaw 5-10 183 JR
86 Rod Owens 6-0 179 SO
87 Damon McDaniel 6-0 197 FR
LT 79 David Overmeyer 6-5 280 R-JR
76 Daron Rose 6-5 284 FR
LG 68 Jacky Claude 6-4 290 JR
60 Ryan McMahon 6-3 273 FR
64 Marcus Ford 6-1 278 R-JR
78 Matt Hardrick 6-5 352 FR
C 67 John Frady 6-4 279 R-JR
57 Brandon Davis 6-2 272 FR
70 Philip Browning 6-5 291 R-FR
RG 58 Dumaka Atkins 6-4 304 R-SO
74 Geoff Berniard 6-8 320 R-SO
61 Tyler Graves 6-6 272 FR
Chris Hopke 297 R-SO
RT 73 Shannon Boatman 6-7 324 R-JR
77 Caz Piurowski 6-7 277 FR
-or- 71 Evan Bellamy 6-4 306 FR
TE 45 Charlie Graham 6-3 240 R-FR
82 D.J. Norris 6-3 250 R-JR
Jonathan Persons 6-0 235 R-SO
WR 89 Greg Carr 6-5 212 SO
85 Richard Goodman 6-0 182 SO
13 Preston Parker 6-0 191 FR
Joshua Dobbie 203 R-SO
Todd St. Louis 183 R-FR
QB 11 Drew Weatherford6-3 220 R-SO
9 Xavier Lee 6-4 236 R-SO
16 D. Richardson 6-1 200 FR
14 Christian Ponder 6-2 211 FR
FB 32 Joe Surratt 6-1 258 JR
41 Sederick Holloway 5-10 257 FR
40 Mattt Dunham 6-2 254 FR
38 Sean Compton 6-0 238 R-JR
Erik Stapelton 5-10 210 R-SO
TB 6 Antone Smith 5-9 188 SO
35 Marcus Sims 6-0 230 FR
33 Jamaal Edwards 6-0 211 R-SO
27 Russell Ball 5-7 168 R-FR
30 Pat Davis 5-9 183 R-SO
DEFENSE
LE 97 Eli Charles 6-2 225 R-FR
Antoine Seay 6-0 227 R-FR
59 Neefy Moffett 6-1 245 SO
DT 93 Letroy Guion 6-4 286 SO
94 Justin Mincey 6-5 275 FR
NG 96 Andre Fluellen 6-4 286 JR
72 Budd Thacker 6-2 275 FR
56 Kendrick Stewart 6-2 271 FR
RE 99 Everette Brown 6-4 240 FR
98 Alex Boston 6-3 264 JR
Walter Small 6-2 224 R-FR
Craig Yarborough 6-2 223 FR
SLB 36 Dekoda Watson 6-2 225 FR
31 Toddrick Verdell 6-3 215 SO
52 Jeremy Franklin 6-2 210 SR
MLB 10 Geno Hayes 6-2 215 SO
48 Recardo Wright 6-2 215 FR
49 Anthony Kelly 6-3 251 JR
Carlyle Bruno 5-8 214 SR
WLB 37 Rodney Gallon 6-0 200 SO
Benjamin Lampkin 6-0 210 SO
Damion Harris 5-11 FR
LC 15 Tony Carter 5-9 160 SO
22 Korey Mangum 6-0 192 FR
21 Patrick Robinson 5-11 190 FR
Andre Durham 5-9 178 R-FR
Jessee Outlaw 5-9 164 R-SO
FS 8 Roger Williams 6-0 200 JR
24 Darius McClure 5-11 198 SO
26 Anthony Leon 6-4 215 FR
Marcus Gadson 5-11 183 R-FR
RV 3 Myron Rolle 6-2 218 FR
46 Anthony Houllis 6-0 210 JR
47 Mister Alexander 6-2 183 FR
23 Roosevelt Lawson 5-11 187 SO
Joshua Underwood 5-11 R-SO
RC 20 Jamie Robinson 6-2 187 FR
29 Michael Ray Garvin 5-8 181 SO
18 J.R. Bryant 6-1 172 JR
39 Ochucko Jenije 5-10 177 FR
Jeremie Samuels 5-8 173 R-FR
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK 12 Gary Cismesia 5-11 211 JR
DS 65 Garrison Sanborn 6-1 222 R-JR
KO 43 Graham Gano 6-1 190 SO
P 43 Graham Gano 6-1 190 SO
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
FSU Pro Day On Thursday
FSU will be host to Pro Timing day on Thursday when former Seminoles get another chance to impress NFL coaches and scouts in the 40-yard dash and other drills. Lorenzo Booker is back in town to participate in the Pro Day and will also have a private tryout with the Patriots on Friday.
Florida State released its depth chart on Wednesday for spring practice with Drew Weatherford listed as the No. 1 quarterback. But new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said earlier that the quarterbacks would be given a fair shake during spring drills.
Surgeries will keep linebackers Marcus Ball and Derek Nicholson, tackle Paul Griffin and defensive end Kevin McNeil, among others, out of contact for Spring practice.
Q & A With Bobby Bowden Re Spring Practice
Q: How excited are you for spring practice this year?
A: Naturally any time you add as many coaches as we did the excitement level goes up for coaches, players and fans. There definitely is excitement. There will probably be as much interest in the coaching staff this spring as there will be in the players. Most of our players are coming back so it is going to be nice to see how our returning coaches and our new coaches blend and work and what kind of results they can get.
Q: What are some of the big challenges this spring when you have five new coaches on staff?
A: Especially on the offensive side when you replace four of five coaches, you are not going to ask them to come in and do the same thing you were doing before. You are going to ask your new coordinator to come in and put in the offense he thinks is best, that he knows the best and that he thinks fits our personnel the best. That's going to be interesting to see. Our offensive staff with Jimbo (Fisher) heading it up, they will be in complete control of that offense.
Q: What are the keys to spring practice?
A:The key to having a great spring is if we can stay healthy. It is sad when you go out there and someone gets hurt and misses the rest of the spring practices. The other thing that is tough about the spring is when players have to have surgeries if they need them. You can't wait until after spring or the summer. Last year we had a bunch of players who had surgeries and didn't go through spring practice. This year we don't have as many. It is very important.
Quarterbacks
We expect the competition there to continue. The advantage to the players at quarterback with a new coach coming in is he is trying to learn everything he can about them and how quickly they can adapt to his coaching style. They will have 15 days of practice to evaluate them. That is always exciting.
Running Backs
You lost (Lorenzo) Booker but you have Antone (Smith) back. Antone actually had moved up to a starter before injuring himself on the second play of the Western Michigan game. He missed the rest of the year. Booker did an outstanding job for us but we still have four tailbacks on scholarship. Dexter Carter, who was one of the best running backs we ever had at Florida State, brings a lot of knowledge and practical experience with him from the NFL and here. We only lost one player at this position so it should be a fight there.
Wide Receivers
We lost Chris Davis and Robert Hallback so we will watch what happens there. We have veterans coming back. I want to see how they respond to Lawrence Dawsey who again, like Dexter Carter, was one of the greatest players we ever had at Florida State. He was an All-American and a great professional receiver. We think we can do some good things at that position.
Tight Ends
Charlie Graham overcame some injuries early in the year to play really well for us as the year went on. Obviously we are going to depend heavily on him this spring. We also have Jonathan Persons who had some good springs for us before but hasn't had as much opportunity in the fall. D.J. Norris has moved to tight end and playing his senior year he wants to have a good year. Injuries may limit him in the spring.
Offensive Line
We lost two starters in Mario Henderson and Cory Niblock. With coach Trickett, who is probably one of the best offensive line coaches in the country, it is going to be interesting to see how he can shape that line.
Defensive Line
It will be a big boost to get Paul (Griffin) back. We lost him early in the season last year. We had to play so many young guys on defense, so many young guys that normally would not have played. Now at least those young players come in this season with experience. There will be some good competition there along the line.
Linebackers
We lost (Lawrence) Timmons, who looks like a first round draft pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and you lose Buster (Davis), who was a senior starter. Thank goodness we did play some younger guys there last season but I am sure we have a lot of work to do there.
Secondary
We did not lose anybody in the secondary so the key there is to get better. We have to keep working hard and getting better because we have a lot of young players in that group.
Kicking Specialists
We have the kickers back, the punter back, the snapper back, the holder. Those are positions you don't hear anything about until they do something bad. You don't hear about that snapper until he gets a bad one. Then you hear about it. We are so lucky we have them all coming back.
Questions for Spring Practice
Some serious and not so serious questions as the Noles begin Spring practice:
1.Who is going to be the starting quarterback?
Who will step up in Spring practice for the starting QB position? New Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher molded JaMarcus Russell into the top pick in the NFL Draft. Now that he has taken over the play calling in Tallahassee, Fisher will have to decide between two talented but still raw QBs in Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee. It wil be interesting to see if Xavier Lee will truly compete for the starting job. And what wil be Bobby's opinion?
2. Can Antone Smith be the top back?
Now that Lorenzo Booker is gone, it is now time for Antone Smith to show what kind of back he can be. He will have competition with Marcus Sims, Edwards, and Ball. The competition could be very exciting.
3. Will the defense fall off after losing key players?
Buster Davis and Lawrence Timmons are gone but the Noles have talent although the experience may be lacking. Mickey Andrews seems to be able to mold a top defensive unit year in and year out.
4. Will Jeff Bowden be in the tower with his Dad?
Will we see Jeff side by side with Bobby overlooking Spring practices? Let's hope not. Unless he is bringing Bobby something to drink.
5.Will Chuck Amato be styling?
Will Chuck "The Chest" wear color-coordinated sunglasses and shoes as he did at NC State? He could add some color to the practices.
Clemson Designates FSU Game Solid Orange Event
The 70-year-old Orange Bowl is home to a University of Miami football team that is threatening to leave if Miami doesn't spend about $170 million to renovate the structure. The team is expected to make its decision in about 45 days.
The Labor Day opener on Monday, September 3 against Florida State has been designated by Clemson as "One Clemson...Solid Orange" event.
A month after joining the Duke staff as running backs coach and passing-game coordinator, Vaas was named offensive coordinator Tuesday. Vaas replaces Bill O'Brien, who left Duke two weeks ago to join the New England Patriots coaching staff.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
My View: Hope Springs Eternal
As spring practice is set to begin, the phrase, "hope springs eternal", comes to mind. The beginning of a new season is always exciting as the Noles start with a clean slate. This year is one of high expectations for the Seminoles. An overhauled staff and an apparently rejuvenated Bobby Bowden has fans and players alike optimistic about the 2007 season.
Spring practice is always exciting in that we come out of the winter slumber and start to become excited about the game and the start of the season. There will be surprises and new players that will capture our attention and become the topic of discussions for the blogs, web sites and message boards.
We are all "kids" again as we can hardly wait to see our team perform and hear about their daily progress. Hopefully we can as fans be realistic and not expect too much too soon. It doesn't hurt to dream as long as we realize that reality is much different than dreams.
"Got To Get Our Injured Players Back"
"The thing that kept us from winning some games last year was where we just couldn't quite finish. I think the experience we gained last year, the momentum we gained by playing like we did in the (Emerald Bowl) will help.
And we've got to get our injured players back. That will be critical, as it will for those players who will be working in their place to get better.”
FSU Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews on defense
Monday, March 12, 2007
New Changes For Receivers In 2007
The receiving corps will have new changes for 2007. First, the Noles have a new coach in former Seminole great Lawrence Dawsey. The second is that the most dependable receiver and route runner, Chris Davis is gone. Davis had 684 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns for the 2006 season. There were three receivers last year that made up the majority of the receiving yards: Chris Davis, De'Cody Fagg, and Greg Carr.
Although the Noles did lose Chris Davis to graduation, there are players returning with game experience. Led by seniors Joslin Shaw and De'Cody Fagg, the 'Noles have seven returning scholarship wideouts.
Outlook: Look for Greg Carr, De'Cody Fagg, and Joslin Shaw to be the main receivers this year. Others to watch are Richard Goodman and speedster Rod Owens, who sat out 2006 season following knee surgery. In addition, Dawsey will be looking at several players that were signed this year.
Needs Improvement: Greg Carr with 619 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns in 2006 needs to become more physical and improve his route running. All the receivers need to run precise routes and hold onto the ball. Dawsey will instill the fundamentals.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Spring Practice Preview: Maryland
FSU gets a shot at Maryland at home this year after losing to them in a heartbreaking game at Maryland last year. The Noles take on the "frightening" Terrapins on Nov. 17:
Top returner- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. As a redshirt freshman Heyward-Bey emerged as the Terps' top receiving threat with 45 catches for 694 yards and five touchdowns. He should again be among the conference's top receivers, although his production could dip if the quarterback play suffers.
Player on the verge- LB Alex Wujciak. A three-star prospect in 2006, Wujciak figures to step in and help bolster a run defense that ranked 96th in the nation last year.
Impact newcomer- P Travis Baltz. Although field position is vital, a punter's contribution is often overlooked. Baltz is one of the nation's top high school prospects and averaged 45.6 yards per kick at the U.S. Army Combine. He should at least maintain the productivity of Adam Podlesh, who last year was second in the ACC with a 42.9 punting average. Baltz can kick off and placekick, too.
The big question-Who will emerge as the Terps' starting quarterback? Either Jordan Steffy or Josh Portis will have to fill the void left by Sam Hollenbach. Portis hasn't played since his freshman year at Florida. Steffy completed 12 passes in his freshman season of 2004, redshirted in 2005 and did not complete any of his five passes last season.
Spring practice starting date: March 26
Spring game: April 28
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Miami Improving Facilities
As University of Miami football fans await word on whether their beloved team will move from the Orange Bowl to Dolphin Stadium, they will have some solace knowing their on-campus athletic facilities are about to significantly improve.
The university has initiated a campaign to raise $75 million over the next three years for all aspects of the athletic program, according to Sergio M. Gonzalez, the vice president for university advancement, who is heading the campaign named ``Sprint for Hurricane Athletics.''
Virginia football coach Al Groh today announced the hiring of Wayne Lineburg, a 1996 UVa graduate, as the Cavaliers new wide receivers coach. Lineburg replaces John Garrett who was recently named tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
Clemson opened its spring practice season on Saturday with a three-hour practice on the practice fields behind the Jervey Athletic Center. It was the first of 15 spring practices for the Tigers, a schedule that will conclude April 14 with the Spring Game at 1:00 PM at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers will practice Monday, Wednesday and Thursday next week before taking off for Spring Break.
"We had a good practice today, "said Bowden, who must replace many leaders off his 2006 team, including first-team All-American Gaines Adams (who attended the practice) All-ACC receiver Chansi Stuckey and quarterback Will Proctor (who attended the practice).
"You'll Be Disciplined On The Field"
"He's big on clean locker rooms. You can't have extra shoes, hoodies in the stadiums, hats around the stadium, earrings. He says that the more disciplined (you are) off the field, the more you'll be disciplined on the field.”
FSU linebacker Geno Hayes regarding Chuck Amato
Friday, March 09, 2007
Spring Practice Preview: Boston College
The Noles have a lot of paybacks this year after the season they had in 2006. The Noles were beaten by Boston College in Tallahassee and now they look to reciprocate. BC has a new head coach since Tom O'Brien left for NC State. The Noles play BC on Nov.3:
Top returner- QB Matt Ryan: Some say that Ryan is the best quarterback in the Atlantic Coast Conference. If he steps up his play this fall, Ryan just might rank among the top quarterbacks in the nation.
Player on the verge- WR Brandon Robinson: Robinson caught 36 passes for 490 yards and one touchdown in a reserve role last season. Now that Tony Gonzalez has completed his senior season, Robinson should move into the starting lineup and get into the end zone more often this fall.
Impact newcomer- TE Jordon McMichael: This redshirt freshman and former four-star prospect could thrive under new offensive coordinator Steve Logan, who utilized a pass-oriented offense during his stint as East Carolina's head coach.
The big question- How quickly can the Eagles adjust?: Boston College has a lineup full of upperclassmen and a coaching staff full of newcomers. The Eagles' chances of challenging for an Atlantic Coast Conference title could depend on how fast the players can adjust to new coach Jeff Jagodzinski, a former Boston College offensive coordinator.
Spring practice starting date: March 24
Spring game: April 28
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Stadiums Of 2007 FSU Foes: Clemson Memorial Stadium
The Noles open their 2007 football season with the Tigers on a Labor Day match up before a national television audience. The Tigers will be looking to put a smackdown on the Noles at their home stadium. Known to many opposing teams as Death Valley, Memorial Stadium, home of the Clemson Tigers is one of the top stadiums in college football.
As the team’s success grew, along with its popularity, expansion of the stadium became apparent. By the start of the 1958 season 18,000 seats were added along the sidelines. Two years later, an additional 5,600 seats were constructed at the west end zone. Both of these additions increased the capacity at Memorial Stadium to 53,000. With continuing success and growing fan support upper decks were added in 1978 and 1983 bringing the capacity to over 78,000. The main lower grandstand is in a horseshoe shape with suites and luxury areas between the lower decks on the upper decks on the north and south stands. The latest addition to Memorial Stadium occurred before the 2006 season. This project, on the west side of the stadium, includes club and general seating, an athletic heritage museum and new locker rooms increasing the seating capacity of Memorial Stadium to 80,301.Throughout their history at Memorial Stadium, the Tigers have won 70% of their home games
FSU Player Profile: Xavier Lee
Will this be the year for Xavier Lee? If he was playing for almost any other college football team, he would be the starting QB.Lee has had a tough time getting recognized and this can be attributed in large part to some would say Bobby Bowden's stubbornness to stick with Drew Weatherford. This year promises to be different with a new offensive coordinator who has said that it is a clean slate for who will be the starting QB for the Noles in 2007.
In 2006, Lee was able to play due to Weatherford's injury and show what he is capable of doing. In the games that he did play he had 7 TDs, 5 interceptions, and 885 yards passing. It was clear in the games that he played that he has tremendous potential and is able to scramble unlike Weatherford.
In high school, Lee was all everything. He graduated from Seabreeze High School in 2004 and was rated a five-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 1 rated dual threat quarterback in the nation. He holds Florida's all-time record for passing yards (9,082), completions (549) and touchdowns (98). He was named Florida's Mr. Football for 2003. He was also a member of the East Squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl played on January 3, 2004 in San Antonio, Tex.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
"There Are Ways"
“Today's ball with the new schemes and the spread schemes, there are ways. You can create different ways to run the football with slot backs, receivers and even quarterbacks at times. I think there are a lot of different ways that we can have a running game.”
Jimbo Fisher regarding FSU running game
No Guns Allowed At Miami
Miami's new coach has added new rules -- among them, any player caught with a gun is off the team and players must wait two years before moving off-campus, plus maintain a 2.5 grade-point average to stay there. And anyone caught with a gun is not only off the team, but kicked out of school.
The Miami Hurricanes began their spring practice Tuesday afternoon on the Greentree Practice Fields, going through the first of 15 scheduled sessions. The team worked in shorts without pads under the guidance of new head coach Randy Shannon.
"It was the first day, but players weren't in pads. There was a lot of enthusiasm and we wanted to get the timing right. That's what we worked on today," said Shannon. "The energy level was great. Guys flew around. Nobody walked from drill to drill. I wanted guys to understand what we're trying to get done. The (assistant) coaches have done a good job of that."
See Ya'll In Jax
Looks as if the Bama folks are just tickled pink with their new coach, Nic "The Liar" Saban. So much so that tickets to the FSU-Alabama game are selling like hot cakes.
Due to overwhelming response, the University of Alabama Athletics Ticket Office has suspended until further notice the internet-only public sale of upper deck tickets for the Alabama - Florida State football game. In slightly less than three hours this morning, UA sold more than 7,000 tickets at $45 each to the game slated for Saturday, September 29, at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
Johnson Goes To Dallas
Montrae Holland (6-foot-2, 322 pounds) is entering his fifth NFL season and joins the Broncos after spending his first four professional seasons with New Orleans. Holland, who has played 52 career regular-season games (30 starts), was selected by the Saints in the fourth round (102nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft from Florida State University.
The Cowboys have another mentor for Tony Romo. Former Nole Brad Johnson, who turns 39 in September, signed a three-year contract with the Cowboys worth $7.5 million Monday, giving the Cowboys some protection should something happen to Romo.
Nearly five years after Panthers coach John Fox and his staff decided Chris Weinke was no longer their starting quarterback, they decided he no longer is their backup.
Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Trophy winner and a rookie starter in the Panthers' 1-15 2001 season, was released Tuesday, triggering what likely is to be a search for a quarterback with experience to serve as the top backup to Jake Delhomme. Former Oakland quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo is expected to visit with the team in the coming days.
Former FSU star and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward is one of four finalists for the 2007 Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award.
The award will be presented on March 31 in Atlanta at the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast. It is annual event hosted by Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, in partnership with Upward Unlimited, during the NCAA Final Four weekend.
