Rookies to Watch: Justin Hunter
Justin Hunter was the fourth receiver drafted this year. (Mark Humphrey/AP)
As we power through the summer toward training camps, Chris Burke will highlight players that interest him this season for various reasons. This week, he’s looking at three rookies who might star in 2013.
The Minnesota Vikings traded four picks — a second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-rounder — to move up and nab University of Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in Round 1 of this year’s draft.
Five selections later, the Titans moved three draft choices — a second-, seventh- and 2014 third-rounder — to climb the ladder for Patterson’s former college teammate, Justin Hunter.
High price tags both, and Patterson may have the highest ceiling of any rookie offensive player. So, why does it feel like the Titans pulled off a steal here?
Off the Snap: Is David Beckham NFL-bound?
David Beckham wouldn’t be the first high-profile soccer player to try a career in the NFL. (Christophe Ena/AP)
Catching you up on the latest must-read news and analysis from around the web….
Atlanta radio hosts fired for mocking Steve Gleason
Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS in November. (Gerald Herbert/AP)
The co-hosts of Atlanta sports-talk radio show “Mayhem in the A.M.” on 790 The Zone have been fired, one of them tweeted, in the wake of the controversy over a skit that made fun of former Saints player Steve Gleason.
Gleason is this week’s guest columnist for Monday Morning Quarterback. He wrote 4,500 words for the piece … using his eyes, and some special computer technology. Suffering from the devastating effects of ALS, Gleason is an inspiration to just about anyone who has met him or knows his story.
But all of that did not stop the show’s hosts from taking some shots at Gleason Monday morning, during a horribly ill-advised segment.
An update: we all got wacked. I apologized to Michel Gleason, she understands it was a stupid joke. I’ll do my best to help Team Gleason
— Nick Cellini (@NickCellini) June 17, 2013
Off the Snap: Johnny Manziel wants out, Donald Driver wants in
Johnny Manziel threw for 3,706 yards and ran for another 1,410 last season. (Patric Schneider/AP)
Catching you up on the latest must-read news and analysis from around the web….
Friday Toss-Up: Le’Veon Bell vs. Eddie Lacy
Le’Veon Bell will get a chance to be the unquestioned starter in Pittsburgh. (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Each Friday this offseason, Audibles will pit two players head-to-head in an attempt to figure out which one will have a better 2013 season. We’ll then take it to Twitter, to get your opinions on the debate. Find our previous Toss-Ups here.
Running backs had a rough go of it in the 2013 NFL Draft, with nary a one selected in the opening round. Five players from that position came off the board in Round 2, however, including Le’Veon Bell to Pittsburgh and Eddie Lacy to Green Bay.
Those are the two players under the microscope for this week’s Friday Toss-Up.
