Cameron Newton is interviewed during the 2011 NFL

Cameron Newton is interviewed during the 2011 NFL - The Carolina Panthers have selected Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, gambling that the Heisman Trophy winner will overcome questions about his character and work ethic to become the first franchise quarterback in team history.

A year after going 2-14 with the NFL's worst offense, the Panthers on Thursday night bypassed safer selections such as Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson for Newton, who dazzled in his only season playing major college football.

The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Newton accounted for 50 touchdowns and led the Tigers to the national championship last season despite an NCAA investigation that his father concocted a pay-for-play scheme during his recruitment.

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EWU RB Taiwan Jones 57th underclassman in draft

EWU RB Taiwan Jones 57th underclassman in draft - Taiwan Jones was left out of initial lists of underclassmen in the draft. He'll get some attention because he fits a popular new model of prospect, the smaller, speedster...with a long list of injuries. I'll be really curious to see if this type of running back is on the Rams' radar as draft time rolls around.

the NFL Playoffs are happening, with some good games on the docket too, but you know it's the holiday season when Mel Kiper's 2011 mock draft makes its first appearance. Practices have wrapped up for the East-West Shrine Game, with the actual game set for Saturday. Next week, it's the Senior Bowl. Here's a little draft reading to put you to sleep, or keep you up at night.

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Wes Bunting practice notes to Citadel CB Cortez Allen

Wes Bunting practice notes to Citadel CB Cortez Allen: Wes Bunting practice notes - Bunting points to Citadel CB Cortez Allen as an intriguing small school player to keep an eye on. In particular, he "opened eyes" with his work as a press corner, but struggles in zone...sounds a little like Jerome Murphy. The upside: PA system can play "Cortez the Killer" by Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

The NFL Playoffs are happening, with some good games on the docket too, but you know it's the holiday season when Mel Kiper's 2011 mock draft makes its first appearance. Practices have wrapped up for the East-West Shrine Game, with the actual game set for Saturday. Next week, it's the Senior Bowl. Here's a little draft reading to put you to sleep, or keep you up at night.

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Nfl Playoff Schedule 2011

Nfl Playoff Schedule 2011, (AP) – As one of the strangest NFL seasons – on and off the field – coming to an end, fans can start thinking playoffs, followed by the Super Bowl, then the project. And then, perhaps, nothing. Dark stages. Empty Sunday afternoon and Monday evening. No team fantastic. The collective agreement between the league and players expires March 4. Team owners have gone from optimism to express essentially clamming up to about an agreement with the players’ union in the near future. Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith stressed the need for substantive negotiations now. Yet the two sides remain far apart on key issues, especially the players of turnover, and a switch for an 18-game regular season.

“If both sides give a little, everyone will have a lot,” Goodell said, “especially the fans.”

Smith counters, “The players believe the lockout will occur.”

They certainly did, “said Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, two agents of the NFL best player, with a clientele that includes brothers Manning, Drew Brees and Patrick Willis.

“I think the players take it very seriously,” said Condon, who was with three other labor disputes: in 1974 as a rookie, with 82 in the negotiations, and as an outside counsel for players in 1987. “They know what is at stake here and all the reaction to the preparation because it was positive. We encouraged them to talk to their player reps, which are their direct lines to the union, to discuss issues and discuss them. ”

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