Bretsky
02-26-2007, 08:50 PM
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES JOHN, AND NICE JOB AT THE COMBINE
Notes: Badgers' Stocco gets passing grade
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 25, 2007
Indianapolis - Quarterback John Stocco didn't melt in the biggest games for the University of Wisconsin nor did he back down Sunday in his workout at the NFL combine.
Stocco threw the ball better than he ran the 40-yard dash at the RCA Dome but overall appeared to solidify his status as a mid- to late round draft choice.
"It looked like he was fairly good today," said T.J. McCreight, assistant director of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns. "He's smart. Gets rid of the ball fairly good. I'd say fourth or fifth round."
Four other scouts all predicted Stocco would be drafted. Two called him a late pick, one said he would go between the fifth and seventh rounds and Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson guessed he could go as early as the third but probably would last to the second day.
"Hey, the kid's won, and that's important," said Jesse Kaye, a scout for the New York Jets. "(Brooks) Bollinger was more of an athlete who's developed as a passer. (Jim) Sorgi was maybe a little more advanced as a passer. And this guy is a combination of the two."
Before the combine, a personnel director for an NFC team said he preferred Stocco to Bollinger and Sorgi, both of whom carved out careers as backups.
"I think this guy has more talent," the scout said. "I don't think he'll ever be a great quarterback or anything, but we do like him. I think he's got something."
Stocco, 6 feet 1½ inches and 207 pounds, completed 15 of 22 passes (68.2%) to wide receivers Sunday with no defense in the way. His 40 time of 5.11 seconds was one of the two worst among the quarterbacks who ran, meaning the pressure on him next month in Madison to run faster will be intense.
"Some of the early throws when he was just doing the drops, I thought he was really mechanical," said offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell of the Minnesota Vikings. "He was better in just the throwing to receivers. He threw accurately. He had a nice career. Tough kid. He's a winner."
Based on the NFL passer rating system, Stocco registered 97.0 in 2006. His record as a starter was 29-7.
Not much there: Top quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn elected not to work out, although Quinn did set an unofficial record for quarterbacks in the bench press by lifting 225 pounds a total of 25 times.
Toby Korrodi of Division II Central Missouri State appeared to be the brightest surprise, whereas another lefty, Tyler Palko of Pittsburgh, seemed to be the biggest disappointment.
"I think it's a (expletive) group, to be honest with you," one scout said. "Russell has the most potential, Quinn is the best today and then I don't know where the hell you go. Take a chance."
Fingers crossed: All but $250,000 of the $4 million in roster bonuses that cornerback Al Harris received in his restructured contract and two-year extension from the Green Bay Packers is contingent upon his continued good health.
Harris, 32, has played 144 regular-season and 10 post-season games without a miss during his nine-year career.
In 2007, Harris gets a $250,000 roster bonus next month. Another $250,000 roster bonus is payable upon Harris being healthy enough to make the 53-man roster in early September. And a $1.1 million roster bonus will be paid in increments of $68,750 for each game he's active.
In '08, Harris has a roster bonus of $1.2 million broken down by weeks on the active roster. In '09, he has the same $1.2 million payable by weeks.
The Packers also increased his incentive clause for making the Pro Bowl from $100,000 to $200,000 in '07, '08 and '09. Plus, he was given workout bonuses of $56,720 each of the next three years.
Harris' base salaries of $2.2 million in 2007, $2.85 million in '08 and $3.0 million in '09 remained the same. The two-year extension includes base salaries of $2.5 million in '10 and $1.75 million in '11, plus $1 million roster bonuses each year.
His cap salary for '07 is $5.232 million, up from $3.575 million.
Notes: Badgers' Stocco gets passing grade
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 25, 2007
Indianapolis - Quarterback John Stocco didn't melt in the biggest games for the University of Wisconsin nor did he back down Sunday in his workout at the NFL combine.
Stocco threw the ball better than he ran the 40-yard dash at the RCA Dome but overall appeared to solidify his status as a mid- to late round draft choice.
"It looked like he was fairly good today," said T.J. McCreight, assistant director of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns. "He's smart. Gets rid of the ball fairly good. I'd say fourth or fifth round."
Four other scouts all predicted Stocco would be drafted. Two called him a late pick, one said he would go between the fifth and seventh rounds and Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson guessed he could go as early as the third but probably would last to the second day.
"Hey, the kid's won, and that's important," said Jesse Kaye, a scout for the New York Jets. "(Brooks) Bollinger was more of an athlete who's developed as a passer. (Jim) Sorgi was maybe a little more advanced as a passer. And this guy is a combination of the two."
Before the combine, a personnel director for an NFC team said he preferred Stocco to Bollinger and Sorgi, both of whom carved out careers as backups.
"I think this guy has more talent," the scout said. "I don't think he'll ever be a great quarterback or anything, but we do like him. I think he's got something."
Stocco, 6 feet 1½ inches and 207 pounds, completed 15 of 22 passes (68.2%) to wide receivers Sunday with no defense in the way. His 40 time of 5.11 seconds was one of the two worst among the quarterbacks who ran, meaning the pressure on him next month in Madison to run faster will be intense.
"Some of the early throws when he was just doing the drops, I thought he was really mechanical," said offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell of the Minnesota Vikings. "He was better in just the throwing to receivers. He threw accurately. He had a nice career. Tough kid. He's a winner."
Based on the NFL passer rating system, Stocco registered 97.0 in 2006. His record as a starter was 29-7.
Not much there: Top quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn elected not to work out, although Quinn did set an unofficial record for quarterbacks in the bench press by lifting 225 pounds a total of 25 times.
Toby Korrodi of Division II Central Missouri State appeared to be the brightest surprise, whereas another lefty, Tyler Palko of Pittsburgh, seemed to be the biggest disappointment.
"I think it's a (expletive) group, to be honest with you," one scout said. "Russell has the most potential, Quinn is the best today and then I don't know where the hell you go. Take a chance."
Fingers crossed: All but $250,000 of the $4 million in roster bonuses that cornerback Al Harris received in his restructured contract and two-year extension from the Green Bay Packers is contingent upon his continued good health.
Harris, 32, has played 144 regular-season and 10 post-season games without a miss during his nine-year career.
In 2007, Harris gets a $250,000 roster bonus next month. Another $250,000 roster bonus is payable upon Harris being healthy enough to make the 53-man roster in early September. And a $1.1 million roster bonus will be paid in increments of $68,750 for each game he's active.
In '08, Harris has a roster bonus of $1.2 million broken down by weeks on the active roster. In '09, he has the same $1.2 million payable by weeks.
The Packers also increased his incentive clause for making the Pro Bowl from $100,000 to $200,000 in '07, '08 and '09. Plus, he was given workout bonuses of $56,720 each of the next three years.
Harris' base salaries of $2.2 million in 2007, $2.85 million in '08 and $3.0 million in '09 remained the same. The two-year extension includes base salaries of $2.5 million in '10 and $1.75 million in '11, plus $1 million roster bonuses each year.
His cap salary for '07 is $5.232 million, up from $3.575 million.