With the 2010-11 NFL season still in full swing, a number of Florida Gators participated in Week 15 action, some of whom had an impact on their team’s performance.OGGOA has checked and re-checked the box scores to bring you a summary of what these Gators accomplished during the 15th week of the season.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
QB TIM TEBOW, Denver Broncos: 8/16 for 138 yards, touchdown (QB rating: 100.5); eight carries for 78 yards (long: 40), touchdown [Video highlights]
TE AARON HERNANDEZ, New England Patriots: Four receptions for 31 yards, two touchdowns (targets: 5, long: 13); rush for 16 yards

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
WR DAVID NELSON, Buffalo Bills: Three receptions for 61 yards, touchdown (long: 23)
WR ANDRE CALDWELL, Cincinnati Bengals: Four receptions for 89 yards [team-highs] (targets: 6, long: 53)
DE CARLOS DUNLAP, Cincinnati Bengals: Two sacks, three QB hits
WR PERCY HARVIN, Minnesota Vikings: Five receptions for 72 yards [team-high], touchdown (targets: 7, long: 23); rush for -1 yard
QB REX GROSSMAN, Washington Redskins: 25/43 for 322 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions (QB rating: 93.4)

LB MIKE PETERSON, Atlanta Falcons: Three tackles (two solo)
S MAJOR WRIGHT, Chicago Bears: Three solo tackles
S REGGIE NELSON, Cincinnati Bengals: Five tackles (two solo)
CB KEIWAN RATLIFF, Cincinnati Bengals: Three tackles (two solo)
CB JOE HADEN, Cleveland Browns: Eight tackles (seven solo)
WR JABAR GAFFNEY, Denver Broncos: Reception for 32 yards (targets: 2)
DT MARCUS THOMAS, Denver Broncos: Two solo tackles
DL JEREMY MINCEY, Jacksonville Jaguars: Solo tackle
LB CHANNING CROWDER, Miami Dolphins: Solo tackle
CB LITO SHEPPARD, Minnesota Vikings: Tackle
LB JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM, New England Patriots: Three tackles (two solo, QB hit)
DT GERARD WARREN, New England Patriots: Two tackles (one solo)
DE ALEX BROWN, New Orleans Saints: Five tackles (four solo, two for loss)
WR LOUIS MURPHY, Oakland Raiders: Reception for 14 yards (targets: 2)
WR RILEY COOPER, Philadelphia Eagles: Onside kick recovery
LB BRANDON SILER, San Diego Chargers: Two solo tackles (one for loss)
DE RAY MCDONALD, San Francisco 49ers: Four tackles (three solo)
FB EARNEST GRAHAM, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rush for -1; three rec. for 21 yards

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN — NO STATISTICS / DID NOT PLAY
C Maurkice Pouncey (Pittsburgh Steelers), G Cooper Carlisle (Raiders) – DE Derrick Harvey (Jaguars), RB Fred Taylor (Patriots), DE Jarvis Moss (Raiders)

INACTIVES
LB Andra Davis (Bills), LB Brandon Spikes (Patriots), LT Max Starks (Steelers), RB DeShawn Wynn (49ers)

NOTES
- Tebow received his first career NFL start on Sunday.
- Nelson has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games.
- Grossman received his first start of the season on Sunday.
- Harvin returned after missing two weeks of action due to migraine headaches.
- Cooper’s onside kick recovery was key in his team’s come-from-behind victory.
- Ratliff signed with the Bengals on Wednesday.
- Spikes continues to serve his four-game suspension.

OGGOA RELATED: Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Alex Brown, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Siler, Carlos Dunlap, Channing Crowder, David Nelson, Earnest Graham, Gerard Warren, Jabar Gaffney, Jeremy Mincey, Jermaine Cunningham, Joe Haden, Keiwan Ratliff, Lito Sheppard, Louis Murphy, Major Wright, Marcus Thomas, Mike Peterson, NFL, Percy Harvin, Ray McDonald, Reggie Nelson, Rex Grossman, Riley Cooper, Tim Tebow

With the 2010-11 NFL season now underway, a number of Florida Gators participated in Week 8 action, some of whom had an impact on their team’s performance.OGGOA has checked and re-checked the box scores to bring you a summary of what these Gators accomplished during the eighth week of the season.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
WR PERCY HARVIN, Minnesota Vikings: Team-high six catches for 104 yards (targets: 8, long: 30), two-point conversion, two kickoff returns for 31 yards

LB ANDRA DAVIS, Buffalo Bills: Three tackles (two solo)
WR DAVID NELSON, Buffalo Bills: Three receptions for 25 yards (targets: 5, long: 9)
WR ANDRE CALDWELL, Cincinnati Bengals: Solo tackle
S REGGIE NELSON, Cincinnati Bengals: Six tackles (four solo)
DE CARLOS DUNLAP, Cincinnati Bengals: Two solo tackles
WR JABAR GAFFNEY, Denver Broncos: Four rec. for 54 yards (targets: 7, long: 19)
QB TIM TEBOW, Denver Broncos: Two carries for one yard, touchdown

DT MARCUS THOMAS, Denver Broncos: Four solo tackles
LB CHANNING CROWDER, Miami Dolphins: Four tackles (three solo), pass deflection
LB JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM, New England Patriots: Three solo tackles (one for loss), quarterback hurry
TE AARON HERNANDEZ, New England Patriots: Two rec. for 33 yards (long: 27)
LB BRANDON SPIKES, New England Patriots: Seven tackles (five solo, one for loss)
DT GERARD WARREN, New England Patriots: Solo tackle
DE ALEX BROWN, New Orleans Saints: Solo tackle, QB hit, Gator Chomp
DE RAY MCDONALD, San Francisco 49ers: Solo tackle
FB EARNEST GRAHAM, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rush for two yds, rec. for two yds
QB REX GROSSMAN, Washington Redskins: Completed 4-of-7 passes for 44 yards, fumbled ball on first snap (returned for a touchdown)

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN — NO STATISTICS / DID NOT PLAY
C Maurkice Pouncey, LT Max Starks (Pittsburgh Steelers); G Cooper Carlisle (Raiders) – DE Jarvis Moss (Broncos); DE Derrick Harvey, DT Jeremy Mincey (Jacksonville Jaguars); WR Louis Murphy (Oakland Raiders), LB Brandon Siler (San Diego Chargers)

BYE WEEK
LB Mike Peterson (Atlanta Falcons), S Major Wright (Chicago Bears), CB Joe Haden (Cleveland Browns), WR Riley Cooper (Philadelphia Eagles)

INACTIVES
CB Lito Sheppard (Vikings), RB Fred Taylor (Patriots)

OGGOA RELATED: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Alex Brown, Andra Davis, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Channing Crowder, David Nelson, Earnest Graham, Gator Chomp, Gerard Warren, Jabar Gaffney, Jermaine Cunningham, Marcus Thomas, NFL, Percy Harvin, Ray McDonald, Reggie Nelson, Rex Grossman, Tim Tebow

1 » No. 1/1 Florida Gators volleyball (20-1, 13-0 SEC) looks unstoppable these days, especially if you ask their opponents. Take the Ole Miss Rebels (16-6, 10-3 SEC) for example, who were trounced 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-17) by the Gators at home on Friday in Oxford, MS. Florida junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy achieved her nation-high sixth triple-double on the season with 10 kills on .562 hitting, a team high 16 assists and a match-high 10 digs. The Gators have seven matches left in the regular season, which ends for them on Fri., Nov. 26.

2 » Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has suffered his fair share of injuries both at the University of Florida and already in the NFL, but one that hit him pretty hard on Sunday may be bothering him for quite some time. In the first quarter of the Vikings’ game on the road against the New England Patriots, Harvin significantly hurt his left ankle and was unable to get off the field without help from two medical staffers. After sitting out a number of plays, Harvin’s ankle was taped and he reentered the game where he ended up registering team-highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (104) along with a spectacular two-point conversion catch later in the game. Even so, he had a severe limp in the locker room after the contest and claimed that “adrenaline got me through” the game.

3 » Washington Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman saw his first action of the season on Sunday, and it came at the tail end of his team’s game against the Detroit Lions when he was substituted for a healthy Donovan McNabb because he apparently knows the two-minute offense better than the Pro Bowler. While that may be the case, head coach (and former Florida offensive coordinator) Mike Shanahan’s decision-making was certainly questionable considering, on Grossman’s first play from scrimmage, he was sacked and fumbled the ball which was returned by Detroit for a touchdown.

4 » Since we here at OGGOA also have a strong following on Twitter, we figured it was a good idea to share with you a link that has come our way almost a dozen times this morning. While ESPN picked up a five-year-old website calling for head football coach Urban Meyer‘s firing two weeks ago, we present to you a more creative site – one that supports retaining Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt: KeepMarkRicht.com.

Photo Credit: Unknown

Tags: Detroit Lions, Donovan McNabb, Georgia Bulldogs, Kelly Murphy, Mark Richt, Mike Shanahan, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, NFL, Ole Miss Rebels, Percy Harvin, Rex Grossman, University of Florida, volleyball, Washington Redskins

Round 3 – No. 75
Major Wright, S
Chicago Bears

Height: 5’11″ – Weight: 206 lbs.
Age: 21 – Class: Junior

The Chicago Bears waited patiently for almost two full days before making their first selection of the 2010 NFL Draft, using the No. 75 overall pick in the third round to select former Florida Gators safety Major Wright.

He was the first Florida player at his position to be drafted since Reggie Nelson (No. 21, Jacksonville Jaguars – 2007) and goes to a team which hopes he can step in and play right away.

“You hate to talk about rookies being one of the starters right away,” Chicago head coach Lovie Smith said when discussing Wright, “but […] he’s our first pick. We’re expecting big things from him.”

Wright was explosive for the Gators in 2008 but experienced reduced playing time in 2009 when the team decided to utilize three safeties. His decision to declare for the draft was seen as a mistake by many in Gator Nation, but his stock rose with each passing event as he was impressive at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine and Florida’s Pro Day.

He is the first Gators player to be selected by the Bears since the team took three former University of Florida student-athletes in 2003: quarterback Rex Grossman (first round), defensive tackle Ian Scott and safety Todd Johnson (both fourth round).

Tags: Chicago Bears, combine, Draft, Ian Scott, Lovie Smith, Major Wright, NFL, Pro Day, Reggie Nelson, Rex Grossman, Todd Johnson, University of Florida

Round 1 – No. 25
Tim Tebow, QB
Denver Broncos

Height: 6’3″ – Weight: 236 lbs.
Age: 22 – Class: Senior

For the first time since 1989, three former University of Florida student-athletes were picked in the first round of a NFL Draft. Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow completed the trifecta for the 2010 NFL Draft, being chosen by the Denver Broncos with the No. 25 overall selection.

Tebow becomes the fourth Florida quarterback drafted in the first round and the first since Rex Grossman was picked by the Chicago Bears in 2003. Denver made four trades in the draft before eventually winding up with the opportunity to select the Heisman Trophy winning signal caller.

Months of debate about whether or not he was worthy of a first round selection were only fueled Thursday by the Broncos’ decision. Now the story changes to whether or not Tebow will be able to live up to the slot in which he was picked.

Things got rolling between the two parties early in the process but intensified this Monday when general manager Brian Xanders and head coach Josh McDaniels visited Tebow for a private meeting in Gainesville, FL.

He will join former Florida wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and defensive linemen Jarvis Moss and Marcus Thomas who are already on Denver’s roster. The team, which happens to use orange and blue as its two primary colors, recently made the No. 15 jersey available after trading wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins for two second round picks.

Should Tebow get a chance to play in week one of the 2010 NFL season, he will take the field at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL, against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

WHAT TEBOW SAID
Press Conference Transcript
“A lot of people said it was going to be a hard process or a long process and that it was going to be very frustrating for me but I loved it and I enjoyed the working process. All the critics and negativity only pushed me that much more and made me work that much harder and made me better. I think that was a positive thing for me, to be honest with you. I believed in myself and the people that were around me and supporting me. I thank my quarterback coaches for the work that they put in and trying to constantly get better. Not only get better but show that I was coachable, to be humble and learn to do what someone says and I think that is something that I tried to show and I think I showed that to Coach McDaniels and the staff there.”

WHAT THEY SAID
Press Conference Transcript
Press Conference Video
Head coach Josh McDaniels: “The player obviously has all the traits that you’re looking for in terms of toughness and competitiveness. He’s intelligent and he’s won a lot of games. He’s a leader, he works hard and he’s got all the intangibles that you look for in a player at that position. He’s produced a lot of numbers and statistically – I’m not even going to talk about that because he’s one of the best in a long, long time. We need that player in that position to be a good player, a real good player. If we can make him a special player, that’s what we’re looking for. Now we have a deep group of quarterbacks and we expect the competition to be incredible. It hasn’t changed anything in terms of our depth chart right now. We’re looking for that position to be the best player on our team if we can make it that way. Competition is only going to make each one of those players better and that’s what we expect him to come in and provide us with.”

Head coach Urban Meyer: “I’m sure Tim and his family are glad the process is over. The Denver Broncos are getting a winner. Tim will show on the field what he is capable of doing and more than anything Tim has a competitive fire that will constantly push him to get better and do whatever he can to help his team win.”

THINGS TO READ
- ESPN: The wait is worth it for Tebow
- ESPN: Josh McDaniels’ legacy is Tim Tebow
- SI: Tebow’s Mile High landing, a sour night for Clausen
- AP: Tebow taken in Round 1 by Broncos, joins QBs Orton, Quinn
- FOX: Round 1 shows character counts
- CBS: Broncos’ McDaniels can kiss job goodbye with Tebow pick
- CBS: Broncos will regret falling for Tebow’s good-guy reputation

- Denver Broncos: Broncos Pick Two in Primetime
- Denver Post: Broncos pick QB Tim Tebow at No. 25 in NFL draft
- Denver Post: By Josh, McD got it right
- Gainesville Sun: Broncos make first-round pick Tebow feel a mile high
- A lot of Gator fans just became Broncos fans

VIDEO

NFL Network interview with Tim Tebow

ESPN interview with Tim Tebow

Gainesville Sun interview with Tim Tebow

Broncos coach McDaniels’ press conference



OGGOA will continue updating this story.

Tags: Brandon Marshall, Brian Xanders, Chad Jackson, Chicago Bears, Heisman Trophy, Jabar Gaffney, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jarvis Moss, Josh McDaniels, Marcus Thomas, Miami Dolphins, Rex Grossman, Tim Tebow, University of Florida, Urban Meyer

Having now competed in the 2010 Senior Bowl, 2010 NFL Scouting Combine and his school’s Pro Day, the only things left on former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow’s plate before the 2010 NFL Draft are workouts and interviews with individual teams.

As of March 8, only the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks had arranged individual workouts with Tebow. However, the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins can now be added to that list, according to SportingNews.

The Browns, which had their president, general manager and head coach in Gainesville for Florida’s Pro Day, are expected to draft Gators cornerback Joe Haden with their No. 7 overall selection on April 22. The team is also in need of a quarterback of the future with 35-year-old Jake Delhomme as their only legitimate starting option and possesses an early second-round pick.

One of the first teams to work out Florida players after their Pro Day every year, the Patriots – especially head coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft – hold Gators head coach Urban Meyer and his players in high regard. In fact, the team also took a close look at tight end Aaron Hernandez and linebacker Brandon Spikes on Thursday. (Spikes has reportedly also met with the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin.) Tebow would fit well in New England as a back-up who could sit comfortably behind Tom Brady for a few years.

The Redskins, which recently signed former Florida quarterback Rex Grossman to a free agent contract, are still looking for a starter with incumbent Jason Cambell seemingly always on the hot seat. Head coach Mike Shanahan is a former Gators offensive coordinator, and his son Kyle holds that same position under his father.

Photo Credit: Jimmy DeFlippo/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, combine, Draft, Joe Haden, New England Patriots, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Day, Rex Grossman, Seattle Seahawks, Senior Bowl, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Washington Redskins

1 » Miami Dolphins and former Michigan Wolverines quarterback Chad Henne, who defeated former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow in his final college game – the 2008 Capital One Bowl – claims the two-time National Champion and Heisman Trophy winner will not be successful in the NFL. “My judgment is that he’s not an NFL quarterback,” Henne said during an interview on WQAM in Miami, FL. “I’ll leave it at that.” As a Dolphins fan it pains me to say this, but some would argue whether or not Henne fits that distinction himself. You can listen to the interview here.

2 » Two roster moves affecting former Gators occurred Wednesday as QB Rex Grossman signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Bryan Augenstein was optioned by his team to Triple-A Reno. Grossman will team up with new Redskins head coach and former Florida offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan as well as his son, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who coached Grossman last season with the Houston Texans.

3 » Still rolling through the 2010 season is the No. 6/13 Gators softball team (20-3, 4-1 SEC), which defeated the Auburn Tigers (15-9, 2-3 SEC) 7-0 and 5-4 in a doubleheader Wednesday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Junior Stephanie Brombacher tossed both games, extending her record to 16-3 by picking up two victories. Junior outfielder Kelsey Bruder supported her with a combined 3-6 performance including two home runs and a game-winning double in the second game – a come-from-behind victory.

4 » Led by a six-goal and four-assist performance by freshman attacker Ashley Bruns, Florida lacrosse (4-3) took down the Marist Red Foxes (2-3) 22-3 Wednesday evening at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Gators outshot their opponent 37-10, only allowing three shots the entire second half.

Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Ashley Bruns, Auburn Tigers, Bryan Augenstein, Capital One Bowl, Chad Henne, Dizney Stadium, Kelsey Bruder, Kyle Shanahan, lacrosse, Marist Red Foxes, Miami Dolphins, Michigan Wolverines, Mike Shanahan, MLB, NFL, Pressly Stadium, Rex Grossman, softball, Stephanie Brombacher, Tim Tebow, Washington Redskins

1 » Though he has told the media and his players that he plans to return to the Florida Gators on March 17 for the beginning of spring practice, head coach Urban Meyer will not be speaking at a Gator Gathering in Jacksonville, FL, on April 21. Instead, interim head coach and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will fill in. Over the last few years, Meyer made an exuberant number of Gator Gathering stops throughout the state of Florida during the offseason. Curtailing those appearances is a step in the right direction in limiting his travel and responsibilities. UPDATE: Addazio will also take Meyer’s place at the same event on April 30 in Atlanta, GA.

2 » In his latest Big Board, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. dropped former Gators cornerback Joe Haden seven spots from No. 5 to No. 12 overall. Kiper still lists Maurkice Pouncey, who he calls an “athletic, versatile interior lineman [who is] rising quickly,” at No. 18 – the top center/guard on his board.

Extra Bit » Reports have the Washington Redskins showing a strong level of interest in former Florida quarterback Rex Grossman. OGGOA will update.

Tags: Joe Haden, Maurkice Pouncey, NFL, Rex Grossman, Steve Addazio, Urban Meyer, Washington Redskins