One name not garnering much publicity as the 2010 NFL Draft approaches is former Florida Gators linebacker and defensive leader Brandon Spikes.

Hampered by a number of injuries (as well as a bruised reputation for an eye gouge) throughout the 2009 season, Spikes only participated in a few events at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, planning to do most of his testing at Florida’s Pro Day on March 17 and at individual workouts scheduled by various NFL teams.

Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will all conduct private visits with Spikes in the coming weeks.

Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah told OGGOA before the combine that Spikes could be picked anywhere from the middle of the first round to the middle of the second. The Browns (especially) have a dire need at linebacker, and Spikes would fit well in a 3-4 defense reconstituted by new team czar Mike Holmgren.

Photo Credit: Tim Larson/Icon SMI

Tags: Brandon Spikes, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, combine, Draft, Mike Holmgren, NFL, Pro Day, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Former Florida Gators cornerback Joe Haden is widely considered to be the best available at his position among those available for selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. After a stellar career at the University of Florida, Haden’s preparations for the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine will come to a head Tuesday when he completes the event’s workout and finishes up his responsibilities at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

While the purpose of the combine is for every NFL team to get a good look at each draft prospect, Haden may not need to impress anyone except the Cleveland Browns, who are heavily considering using their No. 7 overall pick on the dynamic corner. Long rumored to be one of their top targets, Haden has the Browns drooling, according to published reports.

“Team Need, say hello to Opportunity. Joe Haden, get ready for Cleveland winters,” writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “There is debate among the analysts about who is the better defensive tackle, who is the better quarterback and who is the better offensive tackle, but they all love Haden.”

Read more about Joe Haden’s preparations and future in the NFL after the jump!
Continue Reading » Cleveland Browns drooling over CB Joe Haden

Tags: Cleveland Browns, combine, Draft, Joe Haden, Lucas Oil Stadium, NFL, SEC, Tom Heckert, University of Florida

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share with our readers. In those instances, we present a special post: Gator Bites. Enjoy.

» Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow stepped to the podium Friday at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine for media interviews. Though OGGOA has the full audio version, here are some individual notes from his press conference:

• A writer handed Tebow a pad and pen as a joke, to which he signed it and gave it back to him. Apparently this was unexpected by said writer.
• “People don’t realize there have been a lot of hurdles in my life. Scrutiny is something you have to deal with. I just have a little more motivation added on top. For so many people to care, I look at it as a blessing.”
• Tebow once again mentioned that he only wishes to play quarterback in the NFL.
• On changing his throwing motion at Florida; “It was something we talked about, but we had some success there the first two years. I worked on it for sure with the great coaching I had at Florida. But we were running a different system. It doesn’t correlate to what I’m doing now.”
• “I’ll do whatever you ask me to do. And I’ll do it with all my heart. And I’ll do it over and over again.”
• On his new throwing motion: “I’m just trying not to have that long loop in my delivery. The release point is no different. I talked to a lot of quarterback coaches, and some of them told me I should wait until after the draft or the combine. But I’m someone who is raring to go. I’m not scared about what anybody has to say.”

Much more on Tebow, Cooper, James, Pouncey and Hernandez after the break!
Continue Reading » Gator Bites for Feb. 27 – NFL Combine Edition

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Cleveland Browns, combine, Draft, Green Bay Packers, Louis Murphy, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Holmgren, Mike Pouncey, Mike Shanahan, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Percy Harvin, Riley Cooper, SEC, Ted Thompson, Tim Tebow, Tom Coughlin, Washington Redskins

1 » Picking seventh in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns are likely looking to upgrade their secondary with either a safety or cornerback. Assuming Tennessee Volunteers S Eric Berry is off the board, the Browns are expected to target Florida Gators CB Joe Haden with their first-round selection. Seriously lacking defensive backs and a starting quarterback, the Browns could go either way to start the draft, but Haden may be as can’t-miss as it gets at that spot and could even start from day one.

2 » Head basketball coach Billy Donovan mentioned that the University of Florida will be honoring the 2000 NCAA Championship runner-up Gators team with a video and posters during Saturday’s home game against the Xavier Musketeers. “[There are] too many guys still playing/coaching to get them [all] back,” Donovan said. “[I] hope people remember what a special team that was.” The game will air live at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Cleveland Browns, Draft, Eric Berry, Joe Haden, NCAA Championship, NFL, Tennessee Volunteers, University of Florida, Xavier Musketeers

Much has already been said about Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer’s resignation, and it has only been hours since he has decided to step down from the program. Many of Meyer’s players, former players, peers and friends have already released statements about their thoughts and feelings about the situation.

Check out the sporting world’s reaction to Meyer’s announcement after the jump!!!
Continue Reading » Sporting world reacts to Meyer’s resignation

Tags: Abram Elam, Al Horford, Alabama Crimson Tide, Atlanta Hawks, Bobby Bowden, Cleveland Browns, Dan Mullen, Florida State Seminoles, Gary Patterson, Houston Nutt, Lane Kiffin, Les Miles, LSU Tigers, Mack Brown, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Nick Saban, Ole Miss Rebels, Taurean Green, TCU Horned Frogs, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, Tim Tebow

Five-star safety recruit Matt Elam has been a Florida Gators commitment for more than a year. Yet over that period of time, questions regarding the solidity of that promise have been many, not assisted by Elam’s repeated statements that he wanted to go on other recruiting trips and was considering a handful of other universities as he remained committed to the University of Florida. During Elam’s official visit to Gainesville, FL, this weekend, he donned a No. 22 blue Gators jersey in the Florida locker room and looks to be as committed as ever with a huge smile on his face. Elam has already filled out his admissions paperwork, but he must wait to submit it until he is officially graduated from Dwyer High School. He has planned to be on campus in January for spring practice in order to get a leg up on next season.

UPDATE: If that wasn’t enough, the picture above is now Elam’s facebook profile photo.

UPDATE II: On the WPTV late local news Sunday night, Elam and his brother Abram (Cleveland Browns safety) were interviewed. Elam did a Gator Chomp and reaffirmed his commitment to the Gators yet again. “I saw a lot of great things at all the places I’ve visited, but I made a commitment for a reason,” Elam said.

Tags: Abram Elam, Cleveland Browns, Dwyer, Matt Elam, University of Florida

Five-star Florida Gators safety commitment Matt Elam called himself only “85 percent committed” to the team on Tuesday, one day after telling a reporter from Rivals that the Gators had nothing to worry about in regard to his commitment.

“Though I made a verbal commitment to Florida last year to take the pressure off me, my brother [Cleveland Browns safety Abram Elam] thought it would be a good idea to take some visits anyway, just in case,” Elam said in a blog entry on his brother’s Web site. “So the recruitment is still going on, and I’m getting attention from a lot of different schools. Other schools I’m looking at are Tennessee, West Virginia and Georgia.”

While this blog entry comes straight for Elam, I am taking his comments with a grain of salt at this point. Especially considering just a day or two ago, Elam told Rivals that “[Florida] don’t have any reason to worry. I’m going to Florida.” Elam has reaffirmed his commitment on numerous occasions, including again today on his facebook page (“I AM GOING TO UF! I love to have p[eo]pl[e] thinking!”), that backing away from the Gators at this point is simply not likely. Couple that with his family’s relationship with head coach Urban Meyer, and Elam is all for the Gators as far as I am concerned. The “85 percent” statement may rub some (including the Florida coaching staff) the wrong way, but let’s be honest: Who is really 100 percent sure about anything as an 18-year-old high school student?

Photo Credit: Jim Rassol, Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Abram Elam, Cleveland Browns, Matt Elam, Urban Meyer