Brian Calhoun on Jets radar

[NIGHT STALKER]

By TFY Draft Preview(JFF)

Date: Feb 8, 2006

With just two weeks to go before the NFL combine in Indianapolis, players are hard at work preparing to perform in front of scouts on the turf of the RCA Dome. At the same time NFL-franchises are beginning to target certain prospects.

Several players are beginning to build a buzz, including a pair of juniors.

Sources have told the TFY Draft Preview that former Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie has been given a clean bill of health and will be 100% for the combine. In fact, backing up an earlier story, Cromartie was ready to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Penn State, but that decision was nixed by Seminole coaches.

Cromartie is training hard in Georgia. He recently clocked a 4.31 in the forty and threw up almost 25 repetitions of 225-pounds on the bench. Several teams are monitoring Cromartie closely including the Niners, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the organization hottest on Cromartie's trail. After speaking with him at the Senior Bowl, where Cromartie introduced himself to coaches on hand, the Chiefs have already scheduled a post-combine one-on-one interview with the shut down corner.

Brian Calhoun is the other underclassman getting a lot of play. Calhoun has weighed in near 202-pounds recently, alleviating some concerns of scouts who thought he was lighter. The shifty back from Wisconsin is also running in the low 4.3's and has garnered the interest of several teams.

The New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, a pair of squads who need backs, are closely following Calhoun. As are the Indianapolis Colts, who are likely to lose Edgerrin James to free agency. There has been some talk in the Colts camp of possibly trading down into the early part of round two then grabbing Calhoun.

Calhoun's Badger teammate, receiver Brandon Williams, has also gotten a lot of pre-draft looks. Williams, who is running his forty in a time of 4.46 on grass, was interviewed by 16 different teams at the East-West Shrine Game in mid-January. Recently Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Steelers have spoken with him. Pittsburgh is looking at Williams as a possible replacement for Antwan Randle-El, who could be lost to free agency next month.

Abeline Christian's Daniael Manning is hard at work in Houston preparing himself for the combine. The defensive back\return specialist is working out at the same facility as Texas junior Vince Young. Checking in at 205-pounds, Manning's pre-combine forty times have been under 4.40 seconds.

Once again the Chiefs have been active, scouting Manning whom they consider a safety in the NFL. The Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills also like Manning, though they prefer him at cornerback. All three teams feel that, as a rookie in the NFL, Manning will positively impact as a kick returner.

Manning will workout at the combine yet is also hoping to participate in a Pro-Day at one of the Lone Star State's bigger schools. The rules dictate that, as a division II player, Manning can take part in a pro-day anywhere in the state of his school, Texas. The hopes are he will workout at the Longhorn pro-day, which will give him the most visibility and surround him with the best talent.

[quietjets]

Edwards and special team AGAIN? oh boy.