ESPN NFL

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

In a radio interview, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips offered a bit about the health status of linebackers Brooks Reed and Daryl Sharpton, says Tania Ganguli of the Houston Chronicle.

The Texans added Deji Karim to their roster, and he will compete with four undrafted rookies for the No. 3 running back job, says Ganguli.

A detailed, technical look at D.J. Swearinger’s coverage techniques and capabilities that delves into shuffle vs. backpedal, from Brett Kollmann of Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

An update on the Colts and the salary cap from Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

There is no discernable disconnect between Chuck Pagano and Pep Hamilton with regard to using Andrew Luck in read-option situations, says Kyle Rodriguez of Colts Authority. There is an old video of a Hamilton interview that was interpreted as new in one write-up, causing some confusion.

Projecting the impact of draft picks with Tyler Brooke of Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Veteran safety Dwight Lowery is already doing a lot to help his rookie partner, Johnathan Cyprien, find his way on the field, says Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.

Justin Blackmon is responding to Gus Bradley just the way Bradley hopes he will, says Vito Stellino of the Times-Union.

Undrafted quarterback Jordan Rodgers is out until training camp after having a sports hernia repaired, says Stellino.

Details on what unfolded for Jimmy Smith and landed him in jail, from Stellino.

The Jaguars claimed former Patriots defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick off waivers, says O’Halloran.

Tennessee Titans

Bernard Pollard brings encouraging words to a defense desperately in need of an edge, says David Climer of The Tennessean.

“The Titans waived tackle Matt Sewell, one of two undrafted free agents from Canada on the team’s roster, The Tennessean reports. “The move came with a transaction wire notation that Sewell had left the team.”

What’s the future hold for Karl Klug at a more competitive defensive tackle spot? John Glennon of The Tennessean considers.

To which I say: I don’t see Klug getting a look outside. As Glennon points out, Klug’s best characteristics make him best operating in tight quarters, not out in space.

Some thoughts on Lavelle Hawkins signing with the Patriots from Mike Rodak and Mike Reiss at ESPN Boston. I contributed.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans


Texans rookie safety D.J. Swearinger moonlights as a rapper, says John Brannen of the Houston Chronicle.

The war of words over an engagement ring that Mario Williams wants back has escalated, says David Barron of the Chronicle.

Despite the rave reviews they offered about him during his rookie camp audition, the Texans didn’t offer Collin Klein a contract, says Tania Ganguli.

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas thinks the Colts are going to take a step back, says the Indy Star.

At least publicly, Chuck Pagano and Pep Hamilton don’t appear to be on the same page about Andrew Luck running some read-option, says Brad Wells of Stampede Blue.

To which I say: I’ll believe they intend to use any when I see it. I think Hamilton’s getting it out there so defenses put it on their lists of things they have to consider when preparing for Indianapolis.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars found iPads in their lockers Monday when they started OTAs, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. It’s the way the league is moving, and the team will be able to get information like film and notes about practice to players more quickly.

“(Jimmy) Smith is one of the top three players in team history, but there was plenty of legitimate suspicion that he spent his last NFL years in denial about his addictions. His post-football life certainly confirms that. What (Justin) Blackmon needs to see is a mug shot of Smith, with a stern reminder that that can be him in 10 years if he's not careful.” Gene Frenette’s column from the Times-Union.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have two Canadians -- offensive tackle Matt Sewell and defensive tackle Stefan Charles -- on their roster fighting for a chance, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

A familiar face is back in Nashville, and Antonio Johnson is now part of the Titans’ roster makeover, says Wyatt.

Maurice Jones-Drew thinks the media is blowing Justin Blackmon's four-game suspension out of proportion.

In making such a claim I believe he’s doing a disservice to Blackmon.

A four-game suspension under the league’s policy against substance abuse is a big deal, a sign of a growing issue. It’s not something to be casually dismissed as being about the media.

I believe Jones-Drew’s response to Blackmon’s situation is nothing short of irresponsible. He said the reaction’s been “out of control.”

"The media just blows it out of proportion," Jones-Drew said, per an Associated Press report. "A lot of people make several mistakes. If you're that age and you have that amount of money, how would you act? If you answer that question truthfully, you can go from there."

For a guy who’s got a regular gig on Sirius-XM Radio, who serves as the face of the franchise on a national level and who has the ability to be charming and disarming, I’m amazed at how consistently Jones-Drew misses the mark on big issues.

He was critical of Jay Cutler not playing in the 2010 NFC Championship Game, but then sprinted away from his comments, telling people he was joking, but apologizing and shifting blame to the media. He disrespected the Jaguars new coach last year, failing to communicate directly with Mike Mularkey about how he wouldn’t be reporting to OTAs. Then Jones-Drew failed to gain an inch as a result of a purposeless holdout that stood no chance of helping him or his team.

As for his casual response to Blackmon’s suspension:

There are plenty of first-round picks in the NFL who can qualify as young and newly rich who don’t get into repeated trouble with alcohol (and, perhaps, something else we don’t know about). At that age and with that amount of money, a high percentage of them have managed not to get suspended for four games. That’s what they did. Though he wasn't as highly drafted as Blackmon, that's what Jones-Drew did, by the way.

The media didn’t sign up for a collective bargaining agreement that spells out what has to be done to earn a four-game suspension.

The media didn’t get itself placed in the first phase of the NFL’s policy and program for substances of abuse. Or commit the violation necessary to be placed in the second phase. Or commit the violation required in order to earn the four-game suspension for a violation once in the second phase.

The media isn’t missing four games, hurting the team MJD is supposed to be leading.

The media isn’t costing itself nearly $220,000 or triggering a clause in Blackmon’s contract that enables the Jaguars to cut him at any point going forward without being on the hook for any further money.

As a member of the media, I’m admittedly, inherently, get defensive when things are blamed on the media that aren’t the media’s fault. (We are hardly without sin. The volume on Tim Tebow? That's us. Blackmon's problems? That's Blackmon.) If Blackmon drove drunk and injured an innocent bystander, I wonder if MJD would put that on reporters and columnists.

Full disclosure: Jones-Drew and I don’t get along. He hasn’t cared for much of what I’ve written about him. He and his agent and his loyalists and maybe even some team brass will see this blog post as piling on.

That’s the price that comes with seeking to hold a star player accountable for comments that often are not well thought out. He’s an excellent football player. When he chimes in on topics like this one, I feel like he's often trying to pass the buck rather than showing a belief in the importance of personal accountability.

At least Jones-Drew said that Blackmon has something to prove going forward.

"We're going to see what kind of character he has," Jones-Drew said.

It’s good to know there is a point at which MJD will stop shifting blame and defending a teammate in the wrong.

For the sake of everyone involved, I hope it doesn’t get worse for Blackmon. Another misstep means a year suspension and would probably be the end of him as a member of the Jaguars.

Another Jaguars receiver had troubles that started in a similar fashion. Things wound up far worse for Jimmy Smith: He just got sentenced to six years in prison for drug possession and weapons charges.

Justin Blackmon spoke to the Jacksonville media Monday and addressed the violation of the league's substance-abuse policy that resulted in his four-game suspension.

He said a lot of the right things, just as he’s said after alcohol-related issues in the past.

He was bluntly asked if he has drinking or had a substance abuse problem.

“No, I would say I don’t,” he responded. “Out of this whole thing one of the main things I would say that I had a problem with was just making a poor decision, making a selfish decision at that and not thinking about the long-term of it and just thinking about at the time. If you want to ask if I have a problem? I have a problem with making a poor decision.”

He’ll lean on his support group headed by general manager David Caldwell and Jaguars coach Gus Bradley.

“(They) have been very supportive ever since they’ve been here,” Blackmon said. “I’ve been going in and talking to them almost every day so having them there, having the teammates here that I have here have been very supportive here and it feels good to have people I can lean on and talk to.”

Blackmon was a player on the rise at the end of the 2012 season, but he has really hurt himself with the four-game suspension. If he receives another violation, he’s out a year and his job security will plummet or disappear.

He no-commented when asked if he would be going into any sort of rehab or if it was necessary.

Here’s hoping he’s willingly doing whatever he needs to make sure the decision-making he’s talking of gets better before it’s too late for him.

In case you missed it, here's a transcript of Paul's chat from Thursday.

Houston Texans

The Texans will give former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein a look during their rookie minicamp, writes Nick Scurfield for the team's website. “We’re gonna bring him in here for the minicamp and take a look at how far he’s come,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “One thing about this guy is he’s been an overachiever his whole life, been very successful. We’re gonna give him a quick look here to see how much progress he’s made, and we’ll go from there.”

Former Texans safety Glover Quin sees a lot of similarities between his old team and his new team, the Lions, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Broncos linebacker Von Miller draws inspiration from Houston's J.J. Watt, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Star has been profiling the Colts' best undrafted free agents through the years. Next up on the list: defensive tackle Tony Siragusa.

NFL Network evaluates the Colts' 2013 draft class.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Undrafted rookie quarterback Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, said about 10 teams expressed interest in signing him as a free agent, but he chose the Jaguars because he felt it was his best opportunity, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union.

Coach Gus Bradley is standing behind troubled receiver Justin Blackmon, who was recently suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. “I told Justin I do trust him,” Bradley told the Times-Union. “We both have to earn each other's trust and I don’t want trust to be mistaken for being naive."

Tennessee Titans

NFL Network's Charlie Casserly looks at how Titans draft picks Chance Warmack and Justin Hunter will help Jake Locker's play next season.

The Titans will bring in former Colt Dwight Freeney for a visit, writes NFL.com's Chris Wesseling.

Reading the coverage…

I’ll miss this site, which has pointed this blogger to many, many radio interviews of note pertaining to the AFC South over the years.

Houston Texans

DeAndre Hopkins is showing support for the Rockets, which immediately helps him with Houston fans, says John Brannen of the Houston Chronicle.

To which I say: An easy move straight out of Winning Over a New Market 101. Did they offer that at Clemson?

Twitter handles for the Texans rookies, courtesy of Patrick Starr of State of the Texans.

A closer look at sixth-round receiver Alan Bonner from Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

Reggie Wayne intends to join the list of receivers who’ve had 1,000-yard seasons at 35 or older, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Does Bjoern Werner have acting/commercial chops? Watch this video he was part of in high school, courtesy of the Indianapolis Star.

Colts players say they would accept a gay teammate, says Phillip B. Wilson of the Star. Also, Kelvin Sheppard has been reunited with several teammates from LSU: Defensive tackle Drake Nevis, safety LaRon Landry and defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois.

A draft class breakdown from Brad Wells of Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A position-by-position look at the Jaguars after the first round of free agency and the draft from Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.

Justin Blackmon’s next misstep must be his last as a Jaguar, says Gene Frenette of the Times-Union.

How safety Josh Evans fits in with what the Jaguars plan to do, says Hank Joness of Big Cat Country.

Tennessee Titans

Receiver Lavelle Hawkins told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean he was unsurprised to be cut: “I was due to make ($1.9) million. And for a guy who caught five balls last year, that’s unheard of. I totally understand.”

The offensive line revamp serves as a wakeup call for everyone on the line, says left tackle Michael Roos. Read more of John Glennon’s story from The Tennessean.

David Stewart still doesn’t have full flexibility back after surgery to repair a broken leg but thinks he’ll be back to regular work in June, says Glennon.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Links to stories on all the Texans draft picks from during their college careers, compiled by Patrick Starr of State of the Texans.

Projecting the initial 53-man roster of the 2013 Houston Texans, with Starr.

A closer look at third-round offensive tackle Brennan Williams, from Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

It’s a time for using pencil, not pen, when writing up the Indianapolis Colts’ roster, says Mike Chappell.

Fifth-round nose tackle Montori Hughes is a calculated risk for Ryan Grigson, says Marcus Dugan of Colts Authority.

What to expect from Hugh Thornton and Khaled Holmes, from Nate Dunlevy of Colts Authority.

Jacksonville Jaguars

All the disingenuous expressions of remorse (subscription required) can't mask what Justin Blackmon really is right now, says Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union.

Gus Bradley was very careful not to tip off the Jaguars’ interest in Florida safety Josh Evans, the team’s sixth-round pick, says Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country.

One issue for Denard Robinson is how his bulk is distributed, says Crow.

Tennessee Titans

Presuming his knee is well and he avoids further injury, Justin Hunter will be the best wide receiver the Titans have had since landing in Tennessee, predicts David Climer of The Tennessean.

Undrafted running back Dontel Watkins, who played at Utah State and Bowling Green, grew up in Nashville and expects to make the Titans, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

A 2007 fifth-round pick of the Titans, Antonio Johnson wound up playing for the Colts. Now a free agent, he was back in Nashville to visit his old team, says Wyatt.

Pro Football Talk has pointed out since Justin Blackmon's suspension that contractual language would allow the team to release him now without any further financial burden.

That’s an interesting bit of news.

But I know for sure the Jacksonville Jaguars have no intention of releasing him.

New general manager Dave Caldwell and new coach Gus Bradley might have inherited Blackmon from the previous regime, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like him.

Blackmon was widely regarded as the best receiver in the draft last year, and Jaguars GM Gene Smith traded up to draft him fifth overall. It was a bold move that addressed a very weak roster spot.

Blackmon might have issues, but he’s also got something the Jaguars need a lot more of: talent.

He came on in the latter part of his rookie season and appears to be on his way to be a solid pro, provided, of course, he can get his issues in order and be available on Sundays.

ESPN Stats & Information said among rookie receivers in 2012, Blackmon ranked first with 128 targets, tied for first with 64 receptions, first with 865 yards and tied for second with five touchdowns.

The drinking and driving on his résumé and a four-game suspension for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy isn't enough to prompt this team -- and I doubt any team -- to give up on that talent in just his second season.

Statement from Blackmon: "I’ve made a mistake and I have no excuse. I am truly sorry and disappointed in myself for putting the Jaguars in this situation, and I look forward to putting this behind me and maturing and growing as a person. I will have a productive training camp and preseason with my team, and during the suspension I will work hard to stay in top football shape and be ready to help the Jaguars when I return. I have chosen to be accountable for my poor decision, and I sincerely apologize to my teammates, coaches, the front office and Jaguars fans for the impact of my mistake on the team."

Statement from Caldwell: “Coach Bradley and I have spoken with Justin, and he is well aware of our disappointment. I don’t think there is any question that Justin is embarrassed and remorseful, and Coach Bradley and I are both confident he understands the obligations ahead of him, to himself, the franchise and the fans. We will support him throughout the process and continue to work to educate him and all of our players on making the right decisions. The Jaguars have made a lot of progress over the past three months, and we will not allow this news to slow us down.”

Adam Schefter just tweeted that Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon is being suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season.

He violated the league's substance abuse policy.

The Jaguars are not particularly deep anywhere. Blackmon and Cecil Shorts are the two starting receivers. Mohamed Massaquoi would be next in line outside.

The best guy after that is likely to be fourth-round draft pick Ace Sanders from South Carolina, a small slot guy at 5-foot-7 and 173-pounds.

Jacksonville's first five games are against Kansas City, at Oakland, at Seattle and against Indianapolis.

The Jaguars are planning on staying out West between the games against the Raiders and Seahwaks. So beyond missing four games, Blackmon will miss a big bonding week on the road.

ESPN.com’s scout Matt Williamson called Ace Sanders “Tavon Austin Lite.”

After they traded out of the first pick of the fourth round, the Jaguars took South Carolina receiver/returner Sanders with the 101st selection.

The pint-sized receiver is dangerous in space and is a slot guy who could go nicely working with Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts on the outside.

The Jaguars also have Jordan Shipley, but Sanders looks to be far more dangerous and could be a very threatening punt returner.

Here’s Scouts Inc. on his big-play ability.

"Quicker than fast and reaches top-end speed quickly after catch. Makes defenders miss in space. Above average balance and can run through arm tackles. Appears faster than timed top-end speed on film but doesn't show breakaway speed when gets a seam or have the second gear to take the top off the coverage. Doesn't have the frame or length to win 50-50 balls downfield either."

The issue, of course, is what happens when he doesn’t escape?

He runs 4.38, but when he does get hit can his 5-foot-7, 173-pound frame hold up?

If the Jacksonville Jaguars select a receiver in the NFL draft, he’s going to be a guy they see as a super value.

With the news that they have agreed to terms with free agent Mohamed Massaquoi, I think they are in pretty good shape at the position. And given how thin they are at other spots, I’d expect their draft focus will be elsewhere.

Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts will be the presumed starters. Jordan Shipley will get a lot of opportunity in the slot. And now Massaquoi adds another physical presence.

Scouts Inc. scores Massaquoi a five out of five in route running and traffic presence, four out of five in hands, yards after catch and durability and a three out of five in speed.

Here’s their scouting report:

Massaquoi is a big, physical receiver and an excellent route runner. He has very good hands and shows courage and concentration in traffic. He is a solid perimeter blocker, giving great effort staying connected to defenders. Massaquoi is one of the more consistent offensive players for the Browns and could flourish in a more stable environment.

Jacksonville doesn’t qualify as a more stable environment, yet. But it could be in a year after general manager David Caldwell has more time to reshape the roster and Gus Bradley and his staff have had a year to coach guys up.

There is a certain sentiment connected to Brad Meester in Jacksonville, and there should be.

He’s been part of the Jaguars since 2000, and no one else dates back further than 2004.

Meester holds franchise records for games played (193) and started (193) and is the only player to play to 13 seasons with the club. He enters the 2013 season with a streak of 74 consecutive starts and is the only Jaguars player to start the first 92 regular season games after being drafted.

The Jaguars announced today they re-signed the free agent to a one-year deal, presumably his last year.

He’s hardly a top lineman any more. But with the degree of turnover that’s to come on the Jaguars’ roster, it’s a good thing they’ll have a long-time veteran on the line to lead the way for the guys who play in the trenches, as well as guys who play far from the center.

Meester is smart and knows all the tricks. But he lacks major strength and can be pushed around in the run game. Perhaps he’ll fare a bit better as the team turns more towards a zone-blocking scheme that counts more on lateral movement than forward push, and relies less on size and power.

The Jaguars also signed receiver Jordan Shipley.

I was a bit surprised when the team decided not to tender Shipley as a restricted free agent. Now they have him back under a two-year deal, and I suspect the cost for this season is closer to the fourth-year minimum of $715,000 than the bottom tender or $1.323 million.

After Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts, the Jaguars are lacking at receiver. Shipley should have a real chance to help.

Fans of teams who’ve signed big free agents in the first day of the new league year are largely overjoyed at the news.

Laurent Robinson is just a year removed from his big day and offers a cautionary tale.

Let’s remember it’s completely possible that today’s big signing is, in just one year, a salary-cap burden who not only solves no problems, but creates some.

The Jaguars cut Robinson, avoiding a $2 million bonus that was about to come due.

That’s new general manager David Caldwell cleaning up more of the mess left behind by his predecessor, Gene Smith. Smith gave Robinson, coming off his one big season, a five-year, $32.5 million contract that guaranteed him $14 million

(It’s a good time to revisit this piece by Bill Barnwell of Grantland, who crushingly picked apart Smith’s failures, including that Robinson contract.)

Even if Robinson didn’t suffer four concussions and play in only seven games, it was a contract that was way too big.

Now, Robinson is a free agent again. The Jaguars said at the combine he’d been medically cleared. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union says Robinson passed a physical. But Mark Long of the Associated Press reports Robinson “disagrees with [the] team's assessment that he's healthy, says he felt lightheaded during workout yesterday.”

Today, as we recall Robinson’s failed year with the Jaguars, we should remember how quickly the excitement of a big signing can dissipate.

As for the Jaguars, they are now really two receivers deep with Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts. I thought they should have tendered Jordan Shipley but they didn't like him enough to do so.

Guy Whimper, released Wednesday by the Jaguars, was somewhat of a symbol of stubbornness to me.

Jacksonville -- with, I believe, deposed general manager Gene Smith at the head of the line -- insisted Whimper was an NFL-caliber player. The evidence screamed otherwise.

The offensive tackle was brought in on Nov. 2, 2010 as offensive line depth. A third tackle at best, he would up starting 22 of a possible 40 games.

That was far more than the Jaguars ever envisioned they would need from him.

In a miserable 2-14 season that got both Smith and coach Mike Mularkey fired, Whimper caught a touchdown pass as a tackle eligible in Green Bay. But he was central in another tackle-eligible moment that might encapsulate the disastrous year more than any other.

In a 24-3 loss at Miami, officials said he botched a crucial play.

What I wrote about it that afternoon:

The worst, most symbolic moment of the game came after Jacksonville sacked (Ryan) Tannehill, forcing and recovering a fumble. Chad Henne threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Justin Blackmon that should have put the Jaguars ahead 10-3. But tackle Guy Whimper, who’d come in the game and lined up as an eligible player running a route, failed to report and was flagged for an illegal substitution. Later, the drive ended without even a field goal as Henne failed to convert a fourth-and-1 run.

Whimper said afterward he reported as he was supposed to.

The Jaguars need to get a lot better on the offensive line. I’m not sure the new brass yet realizes the extent of the deficiencies, though David Caldwell recently acknowledged the team probably has blanks at left guard and right tackle right now.

It was time for Whimper to no longer be in the mix. The Jaguars also released quarterback John Parker Wilson and defensive back Brandon King.

A combine rewind on what we heard from the Jacksonville Jaguars in Indianapolis…

A hybrid defensive front will limit opponents’ run options: Coach Gus Bradley says the Jaguars defense will be unpredictable. “What we've seen in the run game, some offenses might say, 'Here's our run game attack for a 4-3 team and here's our run-game attack for a 3-4 team,'” Bradley said. “When they see us do both, the run game shrinks down a little bit and the philosophy behind it defensively is it pares it down and easier for us and the style of runs we'll see.”

The relationship between Bradley and Caldwell is already strong: Caldwell is kind of low key while Bradley is a ball of energy. It seems like a nice yin-and-yang combination. Asked about why he didn’t wait on his friend Greg Roman, the 49ers offensive coordinator, to become available, general manager David Caldwell said “Gus really knocked my doors off.” Said Bradley: “One of the most important things is to develop a relationship with the GM. We spend a lot of time watching tape together and talking through philosophy and what we're looking for in our scheme both offensive and defensively.”

Laurent Robinson has been cleared: The wide receiver who went to Jacksonville for a big free agent contract last year, then played in only seven games because of three concussions. There are no team activities for him to participate in now, but were there any he’d be good to go, Caldwell said. That’s an encouraging development. But do the Jaguars need to worry that one big shot will knock him out? With Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts and Robinson, the Jaguars have a nice three-pack of receivers. But they should be at least four deep. Exclusive rights free agent Jordan Shipley could be a key guy.

Trade bait may be the second-rounder, not the first: The Jaguars have the first pick of the second round, 33rd overall. Since there is a day between the first and second round, that pick could be very popular. A team in need of a quarterback could look to vault up to the top of the second day to ensure it gets its guy. “I think there’s going to be a lot of interest,” Caldwell said. “There will be a very good player for us to select, too. We feel very good about having that.”

Derek Cox’s injury history makes things complicated: He is a quality cover corner for the Jaguars, but he heads for free agency with a major record of getting hurt. He’s missed 17 of 48 games the last three years, and it’s hard to pay big dollars to a player who’s missed a third of the team’s games over that stretch. “The most important ability is availability,” Caldwell said. "Regardless of size, speed, athleticism, play-making ability, if they’re not available on game day, then I think it’s difficult to pay them for that.”