The 2013 NFL Draft is nearly upon us

Brett Davis

Will Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft?

With the irreplaceable, unpredictable and anything but ordinary collection of three days that is the NFL Draft starting this Thursday at 8 PM ET, teams, draftniks and fans from around the country are all eagerly awaiting that infamous introduction from the league's commissioner:

"The 2013 NFL Draft is now open."

After that, all bets are officially off and if you think you're a "draft expert" or "draft guru" and that you have the most legit draft board (collection of players and where they will be drafted) available, be prepared to feel like a dope.

Sometimes, the draftniks do get it right. It may seem easy to do their job, but if you look at the work and effort that most of these guys put into their craft, you can't help but to appreciate their input.

Last year, while I was covering the 2012 NFL Draft and 2012 NFL Scouting Combine for Stampede Blue, I was lucky enough to be able to get a rare glimpse into the drafting world and just how difficult and tiresome  it can actually be.

Mock drafts - replications of the draft that can be done by virtually anyone - have been around since, well, forever. Finding a mock draft that nails a few picks really isn't all that hard.

When the draft rolls around, there's usually a team or two (or three) that has either leaked or hinted at their draft selection via private workouts and/or blatant flirtation. Last year, the Colts made it known to the world that they were taking then-Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck days before the draft even took place.

This year's talent, however, isn't so concrete. The popular pick to go No. 1 overall is Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, but anything could happen. The Chiefs, who hold the No. 1 pick, could trade down (trade their pick for more picks later in the draft) or might find they like another prospect more. That said, finding a mock draft that correctly predicts most of the first round, let alone the following seven, is truly a rarity.

Dawn Aponte - the NFL's first female general manager?

Palm Beach Post

Could Dawn Aponte be the NFL's first female general manager?

In a league dominated by men, Dawn Aponte, the Miami Dolphins' current V.P. of football administration, could be the first woman to call the shots for an NFL team.

In today's NFL, only a handful of women hold high-level positions among the league's 32 teams. Aponte, who was most recently promoted from director of college scouting to V.P. of football administration, has apparently played a large role for the Dolphins in recent months.

Free agent stars like wide receiver Mike Wallace and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, both of whom were successfully signed by the Dolphins, negotiated with not only Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland, but also Aponte.

Aponte has reportedly played the "bad cop" to Ireland's "good cop" in contract negotiations, proving that Aponte is no stranger to player/agent deals that can sometimes get, well, a little feisty.

In her new position, which she was promoted to in August 2012, one of Aponte's responsibilities will be managing the Dolphins' future cap space - a vital piece to running any NFL team. With the Dolphins massive, roughly $37 million assault on free agency this year, the new contracts will be a task to manage in future years - a task that will likely fall on the shoulders of Aponte, if she's around.

Aponte could be in Miami come 2014, but with new general manager positions opening up every year, it's very possible that Aponte could be on the short list of an NFL team looking for the next management star.

As for my take on Aponte, it's quite simple: forget about her gender.

Darrius Heyward-Bey looks for redemption in Indianapolis

Christopher Hanewinckel

Colts fans are hoping that Darrius Heyward-Bey does more of this in Indianapolis.

In the NFL, redemption stories are not uncommon. If you have the talent, you’ll have your chance to shine, and for Darrius Heyward-Bey, finding himself as a professional football player might just be as simple as a change of scenery.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (or DHB), the Oakland Raiders’ seventh overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, will be suiting up for the Colts in 2013. Unsurprisingly, there are mixed feelings over Colts general manager Ryan Grigson’s latest, and tenth, free agent acquisition.

In Oakland, DHB was a major disappointment. It’s easy to blame the embarrassing quarterback play the Raiders have experienced since what seems like forever, and possibly the expectations attached to a guy that was brought into a franchise on the verge of a total meltdown.

I mean did Oakland fans really expect him to fly with all of the dysfunction in Oakland? Maybe not, but DHB’s professional career was set up for failure well before it even began.

Finding a franchise quarterback can be an exhausting, disastrous journey

Brian Spurlock

Colts fans thank former quarterback Peyton Manning for "gifting" them Andrew Luck.

When you're trying to win a Super Bowl in the NFL, one thing will always be true of your success, or lack thereof – do you have a quarterback?

The term franchise quarterback was coined because of the stability and success that one player allowed a franchise obtain over the span of years and years. You need one of these treasures to be a contender for the Lombardi, but you need an above average quarterback just to be competitive.

In 2011, the Colts lost their then-star quarterback, Peyton Manning, for the entire season. After nine straight playoff appearances, two conference championships and one Super Bowl win, the Colts went 2-14 in a downright miserable season.

Yes, it was evident that one guy – Peyton Manning – had become the rise and the fall of the team. The position of quarterback had never been illustrated with such importance.

A year later, Manning would be cut, ultimately landing in Denver and giving the Broncos a franchise quarterback to call their own. The Colts luckily found their new franchise quarterback in Andrew Luck. The franchise somehow struck gold for the second time in 14 years, while some teams haven't even smelled a championship in a decade.

The Broncos locked up their guy and are set at the position for the next 3-4 years, depending on Manning's ability to stay healthy. The Colts? Well, they could be riding a wave of success for the next 10-15 years.

But teams like the Raiders, Bills, Browns, just to name a few, are still in the dark at the position.

Colts choose quality over flash in free agency

Nick Laham

One of the Colts' newest additions, LaRon Landry, smashes Colts quarterback Andrew Luck in 2012.

I've been kicking around some free agency articles over the last few weeks and hopefully you have a) learned something about the business side of the NFL, and b) aren't tired of them quite yet because I need to get one more free agency article off of my chest.

This time, I'd like to discuss the nature of the signings made by a certain team that I blog about frequently. Yeah, you already know who I'm talking about -- the lovely Indianapolis Colts.

With roughly $46 million in cap space available for the Colts to dish out this year, many were expecting them to spend freely and they did.

Much was made of the contracts handed out by Colts general manager Ryan Grigson in his first year of managing the team with a juicy amount of cap space. Some called the moves confusing. Some called them smart. Me? I call them necessary.

Despite a surprisingly successful playoff season, the holes in the Colts roster were, well, glaring. Their secondary (defensive backs) was one of the league's worst, while the offensive line relied on depth chart fillers. The Colts also undoubtedly suffered when it came to attacking the quarterback.

Free agency market takes a slide in 2013

USA Today Sports

In a down year for free agents, defensive end Cliff Avril cost himself a few million by testing the market.

If you're a football fan, there's a good chance you were surprised by the somewhat bland week of free agency that commenced on Tuesday, March 12 at 4 PM ET. If you're not a football fan (Shame on you!), you may still find these numbers interesting.

Each year, there's always a team that overpays for typically one player. Every. Year. However, this year, the dollar amounts were down across the board and teams only seemed to be overpaying players by production standards.

Paul Kruger, who was arguably the crown jewel of the 2013 free agency class, was expected to ask for roughly $11-12 million annually in his new contract search – try $8 million. And this winning price came during a supposed "bidding war" between the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns to secure Kruger's services. I noted in last week's column that Kruger would choose the Browns if he wanted more money, and the Colts if he wanted a competitive advantage.

Was I right or was I right?

Cliff Avril, another stellar free agent pass rusher, ultimately bet on himself and lost.

Last year, the Detroit Lions reportedly offered the defensive end a three-year, $30 million contract. Instead of taking the deal, Avril chose to play in 2012 under the franchise tag, netting him $10.5 million for one year. Not a bad haul for 16 games, eh? If you're unfamiliar with the franchise tag, it's basically a one-year deal worth a lot of money, which guarantees the player can't test the market.

Anyway, rewind to last Thursday, and Avril signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. In his new deal, Avril will pocket $25.5 million over three years, or $4.5 million less than what he would have earned if he took the Lions initial offer.

For those of you keeping score – Seahawks 1. Cliff Avril 0.

Free agency feeding frenzy begins on Tuesday

Ronald Martinez

One of the crown jewels of free agency, OLB Paul Kruger, celebrates after winning his first Super Bowl.

Every year, teams spend big money to find pieces that will hopefully solve their Super Bowl puzzle, and 2013 will be no different.

On Tuesday at 4 PM ET, those pieces will officially be able to fall in to place. However, if I may, I'd like to express an annoyance before jumping into the free agency goodies.

In previous years, teams were allowed to reach an "agreement in principle" with a player's agent well before the beginning of the official league year. This agreement would also usually be leaked to the media during the three-day negotiating period, creating a huge wave of exciting news story over the weekend and telling other teams to stay away from their prize.

Friday, Mar. 8 at 12 AM ET, technically Saturday, was supposed to be the start of this negotiating period in 2013, but then something happened...

Just before the negotiating period opened on Friday night, the league released a memo to all 32 NFL teams warning that if any agreements (expressed or implied, oral, or whatever) had been reached before the league year's opening on Tuesday, there would be investigations for tampering.

Ridiculous.

Unfortunately for the fans, and the many sports writers around the country, the league's memo worked. Friday night's news came and went with a whimper, as did Saturday and Sunday's. The team's were scared and the three-day excitement-filled news stream was effectively snuffed out.

Funny enough, the rules of free agency, according to the league, actually state that it's perfectly acceptable for teams to enter into negotiations with a player's agent. No "agreement in principle" is prohibited, only the execution of an actual contract.

“Beginning at 12:00 midnight ET on Saturday, March 9 (i.e., after 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on Friday, March 8) and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 12, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2012 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.  However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.”

I'd be confused, but I then remember that we're talking about the NFL—one of the most powerful corporations in the entire world. The commissioner is the most powerful man in sports. If he wants to make up some rules, he will.

Redskins no more: it's time for a change in D.C.

Howard Smith/USA Today

Should the Redskins change their name? The answer should be a resounding yes.

What do you think when you hear the name Washington Redskins? Perhaps, legendary football teams and players that have donned the burgundy and gold? Perhaps, a catchy name that is a racial epithet, indirectly aimed at demeaning an already severely undervalued group of Native Americans?

If you want to steer clear of the controversial nature of this conversation, I strongly encourage you to read on. The great controversy of one of the NFL’s most popular teams continues to brew in the realm of morality and it's not going to change.

At least, not until Redskins general manager Bruce Allen put his business-driven pride to the side and does the right thing.

It's been over 40 years since the Redskins were, officially, the Redskins. Registered in 1967, the name has no real source of origin, except for the possibility that it may have been created in 1933 to honor former head coach Lone Star Dietz, who claimed to be of Sioux heritage. His actual heritage, however, was never confirmed.

The name, to some, is a blatant example of the marginalization of a race that has been disregarded and pushed to the side from the very moment they encountered foreign settlers. Some feel the name is an "honor" — a dedication of sorts. Owner Daniel Snyder, Allen and the Washington Redskin's brain trust fall into this category. This honor could stand for the bravery and resilience Native Americans have displayed when facing racial hardships since, well, forever.

Patrick McDermott

"Chief Zee," an African American Redskins super fan, served
as inspiration for the Redskins infamous logo.

But if the name is indeed such an honor, why not go ahead and consider these nicknames for other teams around the country?

The Colorado Crackers.

The New York Negroes.

Hypothetical and highly offensive names these surely are, but what’s the difference? Why are these viewed as degrading, racist and inappropriate, while an equally disparaging term like "redskins" is conveniently justified as an ovation to Native American honor and bravery?

It's a double standard, that's why.

The pistol offense and how it contributed to Robert Griffin's bleak future

Patrick McDermott

What will become of the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year's NFL career?

It was a long shot, but 23-year-old Robert Griffin III could have been an Indianapolis Colt.

The fans of professional football can argue about who was the better rookie quarterback in 2012, but regardless of who they choose, it’s clear the Colts and their fans will always be the “victors” of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The “victory,” and I use quotes because an injury is absolutely nothing to celebrate, should have been decided by individual achievement, accolades and most importantly, Super Bowl rings. Instead, it has come in the form of something much more simplistic: durability.

Even though Andrew Luck appeared to be the Colts choice well before the legendary Peyton Manning had even exited Indianapolis, there was a relative amount of push from the outside world to make former Baylor quarterback Griffin the No.1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Thankfully for Indianapolis, Colts' general manager Ryan Grigson didn’t fall for it, and why would he?

Luck and Griffin are both, without a doubt, phenomenal football specimens. That much was clear. But the risks were also hiding in plain sight. Griffin had already suffered a catastrophic knee injury in college, and if he was going to be a slam dunk in the NFL, his body would need to be protected; from himself, and from an offense that would force him to run.

While working on Draft profiles last year for my gig at StampedeBlue.com, I was given the task of profiling Griffin and examining the quarterback from every angle. After experiencing Griffin work the press room at the 2012 NFL Combine, firsthand, and watching hours upon hours of tape, I concluded my profile with the following assessment [emphasis mine]:

No matter how much film you watch, it's impossible to address every aspect of this guy's game. This is a player that could ultimately transform the position, as we know it. Andrew Luck is the more polished prospect (mechanics, awareness, offensive experience), but Griffin is just a totally different animal. And while both carry question marks, Griffin's carry more risk.

I am hardly a professional talent evaluator, and that's the point. I could recognize the risks involved when vesting a team's future in Griffin. They were obvious, so why ignore them?

Ray Lewis' legacy, as a man, still faces tough questions

Patrick Smith

Will Ray Lewis ever answer the question of what really happened on that fateful January night in 2000?

With a new Super Bowl champion crowned and the 2013 off-season already in full swing, one of the game's most notable warriors — a warrior that has a lot of history in games against the Indianapolis Colts — is riding off into the sunset.

But not without a trail of mystery, tragedy and sorrow at his heels.

That warrior, is Ray Lewis. His legacy as a one of football's greatest talents ever is ending, but his journey as a regular human being has resumed.

During the next stage of his life, Lewis won’t be celebrating anymore wins on Sunday with his teammates. Lewis, instead, will be taking a shot at life behind the cameras. He'll still be a star, but he will also have a great deal of time to think about the haunting images of two men that were murdered in 2000.

It has been thirteen years, but the answer to what happened on that fateful January night is no closer to being disclosed. If anyone knows what happened, it's still, well, Ray Lewis.

On the field, Lewis was an animal — a rare breed of athlete that ended his illustrious playing career with yet another Super Bowl ring. No one can question Ray Lewis, the player. That’s unarguable.

However, questioning Ray Lewis, the man, is a different story.

After the Ravens thrilling victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Lewis was ready to provide one of the biggest media venues of the year with his larger than life personality. He was a champion, again, and it was time to let the world know how great God he felt about it. There’s nothing wrong with that, either. But when would questions about 2000 come? You just knew someone was going to ask about it, but I don't think anyone expected it would come from his ex-teammate, now CBS analyst, Shannon Sharpe.

In an awkward moment, Sharpe started his friendly exchange by teetering around the real question Lewis should have been asked: What happened during that night in Atlanta? But to Sharpe’s "credit," he still posed a question to Lewis, softly or not.

"What would you like to say to the families?" Sharpe asked.