1 » On Tuesday, OGGOA tweeted a picture of former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow handing a football off to a kid that got some of our female followers pretty riled up. It appears that picture was taken from a Broncos Bunch kids club event that Tebow participated in over the weekend. The Denver Broncos rookie threw passes to and took pictures with a bunch of children – not all of whom were Broncos fans. “Gator nation really is everywhere,” Tebow told CBS4 in Denver, CO. “It’s great to be out here and to play with these kids, to meet the parents and just be here in the stadium. It really is humbling to have people supporting me and to have fans. It really does mean a lot. […] It’s just an opportunity to come out here, throw balls, take some pictures, hang out with people, get a chance to make a kid smile or a family smile and – it’s more important than winning games, when you really look at it.”

Three more BITS on the futures of Udonis Haslem, David Nelson and Demar Dorsey.
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Tebow, Haslem, Nelson, Dorsey

Tags: Andre Caldwell, BCS, Buffalo Bills, Chan Gailey, Charlie Strong, David Lee, David Nelson, Demar Dorsey, Denver Broncos, Draft, Florida State Seminoles, Louis Murphy, Louisville Cardinals, Miami Heat, Michigan Wolverines, NBA, New York Knicks, NFL, Percy Harvin, SEC, Tim Tebow, Udonis Haslem

1 » ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that Rutgers transfer guard Mike Rosario, who was hoping to enroll at the University of Florida for its Summer A session, will instead join the Florida Gators for Summer B as he is stuck in New Jersey finishing classes. “Rosario might end up being one of the most important transfers Donovan has had in his career,” Katz wrote. “[He] will push Kenny Boynton in practice every day.”

2 » Former Gators dazzler and ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews finished third in her quest to win ABC‘s Dancing with the Stars competition. Andrews got further than many expected on the program and is rumored to have begun a relationship with her dance partner on the show. She is currently in the process of finalizing a new contract (including a significant raise) with the Worldwide Leader in Sports and hopes to expand her horizons beyond college sports and baseball.

3 » Two Florida softball players – juniors pitcher Stephanie Brombacher and outfielder Kelsey Bruder – have been named 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans by the College of Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Named to the third- and second-teams, respectively, each earned at least a 3.30 GPA.

4 » Former Gators inside linebackers Channing Crowder and Andra Davis were both in the news Wednesday. A report from the Sun-Sentinel states that Crowder may begin the season on the Miami Dolphins’ physically unable to perform list if his foot does not heal properly, while another from the Buffalo News infers that Davis is set to start for the Buffalo Bills alongside Paul Posluszny.

Tags: Academic All-American, Andra Davis, Buffalo Bills, Channing Crowder, Dancing with the Stars, Erin Andrews, Kelsey Bruder, Kenny Boynton, Miami Dolphins, Mike Rosario, University of Florida

Though they were not fortunate enough to be selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, three former Florida Gators players have already signed professional contracts as undrafted free agents.

Kick returner Brandon James was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver David Nelson found a home with the Buffalo Bills and linebacker Ryan Stamper agreed to a deal with the Detroit Lions.

Tags: Brandon James, Buffalo Bills, David Nelson, Detroit Lions, Draft, Indianapolis Colts, NFL, Ryan Stamper

Former Florida Gators defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, kick returner Brandon James and defensive backs Wondy Pierre-Louis and Markihe Anderson all participated in the team’s second Pro Day on Wednesday as linebacker Brandon Spikes looked on and showed his support. The Gainesville Sun‘s Robbie Andreu caught up with each player after their workout was completed though, as per usual, Spikes declined an interview request. Check out some notes and quotes (after the jump):
Continue Reading » Spikes, Cunningham, James, DBs at Pro Day

Tags: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Brandon James, Brandon Spikes, Buffalo Bills, Carlos Dunlap, Cleveland Browns, combine, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jermaine Cunningham, Markihe Anderson, Maurkice Pouncey, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Day, Ryan Stamper, Sugar Bowl, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Terry Watson, Washington Redskins, Wondy Pierre-Louis

Speaking for the first time directly after dining with former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow in upstate New York, former Buffalo Bills QB and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly spoke glowingly about the experience, saying he would feel comfortable recommending the Heisman Trophy winner and two-time National Champion to those on the team’s staff.

“Just because I’m a former quarterback, people think I can just tell from being around a guy [if he has what it takes],” Kelly told NFL.com‘s Vic Carucci. “But I need to watch him go through a drill and make all the throws. I need to really study him before I could say whether he should be a first-round pick. Now, a second-rounder, I’d be OK with that, but I don’t have enough information on [Tebow] to say they should use the No. 9 pick on him. Maybe they could also trade down, if someone wants that No. 9 pick, and get him with a lower pick in the first round.”

Kelly, the team’s “official ambassador,” said Tebow came off as a “yes-sir-no-sir kind of guy” who “looks like he can take a hit.” What is interesting is Kelly’s proclamation that he would be more comfortable with the team taking Tebow later in the draft as opposed to No. 9 overall, simply because of his constant praise of the signal caller.

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Heisman Trophy, National Championship, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tim Tebow

1 » The Buffalo Bills announced Wednesday that the team has signed former Florida Gators wide receiver Chad Jackson. A free agent after being cut by the Denver Broncos on Sept. 7, 2009, Jackson’s NFL career has been marred with injuries.

“The Bills had been looking at me for a while and I had the opportunity to come up and get a workout in and they obviously liked what they saw,” Jackson said. “I’ve heard a lot about coach Gailey and the things he can do on the offensive side of the ball. I’m looking forward to working with him. He’s the type of guy that if you can make plays he’s going to get you the ball. I’ve got a good opportunity ahead of me signing with this organization, but I have to prove myself to the coaches and coach Gailey. Once I do that I think everything will work out real well. I’ve got a lot of speed to me and a lot of size to me and I can make plays in the open field. I can make a lot of things happen.”

After forgoing his final year of eligibility with Florida and entering the 2006 NFL Draft, Jackson was though to be a potential first round pick. However, he fell to the second round, causing the New England Patriots to trade up 16 slots (from No. 52 to No. 36) in order to select him. He missed the 2006 preseason with a hamstring injury, hurt his groin during the season and finished his rookie year with 13 catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the AFC Championship against the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots placed him on the physically unable to perform list before the 2007 season, only activating him for four games. He was cut in 2008 and signed with the Broncos on Oct. 27, 2008, once again only playing in four games.

2 » Former Gators decathlete and U.S. Olympic gold medalist bobsledder Steve Mesler has accepted an invitation to speak on campus at the University of Florida on Thurs., April 1 at 10 a.m. Mesler will speak at the College of Health and Human Performance about his experiences at the Olympics. Admission is free, and Mesler will stay afterward for photographs with fans.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Tags: bobsled, Buffalo Bills, Chad Jackson, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, NFL, Olympics, Steve Mesler, University of Florida

Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has been the recipient of some nice meals recently. Just two days after sitting down with former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Tebow ate at a high-end restaurant in Boston, MA, with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and personnel director Nick Caserio, according to the Boston Herald.

Tebow, who told OGGOA Saturday that he is in the middle of private interviews and workouts but still has a few more to take care of before the 2010 NFL Draft begins on April 22, is shooting up draft boards after initial projections had him as a second-round pick.

He is working out for the Patriots Tuesday.

Bob Tebow, Tim’s father, made headlines recently by stating that his son would not fall past No. 15 overall in next month’s draft. While some remain skeptical that this proclamation will come to fruition, Tebow is getting a good deal of first-round attention.

Tebow has now spent two days with New England and was praised by Belichick just last week during the league meetings in Orlando, FL.

”He’s had a great career. There are a lot of positives. I’m sure he’s going to help a team,” Belichick said. “I think he performed very well in the offense he was in. I think he was outstanding. He’s already spent, I think, six weeks, or whatever it’s been, working on some other things and I think you can see the results of that working. He’s worked hard and made some changes, you can see those changes. I think he’ll continue to work.”

ESPN‘s Adam Schefter has reported that Tebow’s next two trips will be to the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns (not necessarily in that order). The Seattle Seahawks are also interested in bringing him in.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Tags: Bill Belichick, Bob Tebow, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Draft, Jim Kelly, New England Patriots, NFL, Nick Caserio, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seattle Seahawks, Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, Washington Redskins

As former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow told OGGOA Saturday, he has a handful of private interviews and workouts left on the docket before the 2010 NFL Draft begins on April 22. Following his autograph signing in South Florida, Tebow took off to upstate New York to meet with the Buffalo Bills.

The story coming out of Tebow’s trip is an apparent dinner meeting with former Bills quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, who has been an ardent supporter of the Heisman Trophy winner for about a year now.

Kelly’s wife Jill told the world about the meeting via her Twitter page, saying “JK is on his way home from having dinner with Tim Tebow. I can’t wait to get the full scoop! Can’t wait for draft day!” She also expressed that she was told not provide any additional details about the meeting.

It is a fair assumption that Tebow would not have been in Buffalo if not for the Bills requesting his presence (seeing as general manager Buddy Nix “really likes” him, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King), but it is unknown whether his dinner with Kelly was set-up by the team (with perhaps some of the front office or coaching staff present) or a more private and personal meeting.

Kelly even called him “a class act and a great guy,” according to his wife’s posting.

Bob Tebow, Tim’s father, made headlines recently by stating that his son would not fall past No. 15 overall in next month’s draft. While some are skeptical that this proclamation will come to fruition (noting that all of the teams picking 10-15 do not need a signal caller), the Bills do have a dire need for one and pick No. 9 overall in the first round.

Whether or not they are interested in taking a “gamble” on Tebow early in the first round or are hoping he might be available in the second remains to be seen. What is becoming obvious is that Tebow has a lot of momentum going into the draft and could very well be selected earlier than most “experts” project.

Tebow has already met with a handful of teams (including the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots) and has another handful of in-town and out-of-town appointments set up over the next few weeks.

Tags: Bob Tebow, Buddy Nix, Buffalo Bills, Draft, Heisman Trophy, Jim Kelly, NFL, Tim Tebow