ESPN insider Adam Schefter has made his official prediction for the No. 1 overall pick in April's 2010 NFL Draft, and he says he is confident the St. Louis Rams will pick Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.
"On the basis of what I've talked to people around the league [about], everything I've heard," Schefter said on a St. Louis ESPN radio spot. "And at some point, it's gonna shift to this guy, and I don't know whether it'll be now or late March."
He also stated that he has yet to talk to anyone inside of the Rams headquarters, but he would take any and all bets on this prediction right now.
Even though the draft is still two months away, Schefter's ability to find and locate insider information may be better than any other sports broadcaster in the business.
Schefter also took a friendly shot at fellow ESPN colleagues Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay for not even including Bradford in their top five.
"I notice that Sam Bradford is not in their top five," said Schefter. "I can promise you that's wrong."
Once his Pro Day comes, Schefter says Bradford will be 100 percent healthy and ready to impress—and a month before the draft, mocks will swing toward Bradford going No. 1, and everyone will say, "Wow. Would and could the Rams take with the No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford?"
Schefter said he is certain that teams are scared about Bradford's shoulder injury, but he also reminded everyone that no one would have thought that four years after a bad shoulder injury, Drew Brees would win a Super Bowl.
Schefter is one of the top insiders in the business, but remember when everyone thought Reggie Bush was a lock as a No. 1 pick.
Schefter is right probably 98 percent of the time with his deep connections in the NFL, but there is always that two percent that looms and can take effect at any time.
Lewis was let go with one year remaining on his contract. His season ended Dec. 2 when he was placed on injured reserve with post-concussion symptoms, but he doesn't want his career to end with an injury.
First, he must be cleared to return.
"If Jamal wants to play and he's cleared to play, I think he's got a lot of football he can bring to the table to help an organization," said his agent, Mitch Frankel. "He can be a significant contributor to the right organization. Jerome Bettis and some other guys at the end of their careers took on a different role, and I think Jamal can do that."
Lewis, 30, said after the Browns' season finale that he was still suffering from headaches and blurred vision as a result of the concussion, which he suffered in the opener against Minnesota. Frankel said he wasn't sure if Lewis was still having the problems.
Lewis carried 143 times last year for 500 yards and has rushed for 10,067 yards in his career.
Lewis' release leaves Jerome Harrison as Cleveland's apparent starter. The former Washington State player rushed for 862 yards last season, but ended with a flurry. He rushed for 561 yards and five touchdowns over the final three games — all wins — as Cleveland closed the season by winning its final four.
Ravens sign Stallworth
Desperate for a playmaking receiver, the Ravens granted disgraced former first-round draft choice Donte' Stallworth a second chance.
The ball is now officially in his court. Will the 29-year-old Stallworth finally fulfill the promise he held as the 13th pick in the 2002 draft? Or will his last chance continue the decline of an injury-strapped seven-year career?
The NFL suspended Stallworth for the 2009 season after he pleaded guilty last June to manslaughter while driving drunk in Miami Beach, a second-degree felony in Florida. He struck and killed a 59-year-old construction worker March 14, one day after he cashed a $4.5 million bonus from the Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens signed Stallworth to a one-year contract reportedly worth $900,000 with $300,000 in incentives after a Tuesday workout.
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