Weekend Watchdog: Drafting for the picket line
We have a 2011 NFL schedule. Thursday, we have the 2011 NFL draft. Will we have a 2011 NFL season on time.
Ask the lawyers about the coming season. Until then, the NFL draft opens Thursday on ESPN and NFL Network. There’s plenty of questions due to the lockout, but nobody locks out Mel Kiper Jr.
It’s one round of picks Thursday night at 8, two more on Friday starting at 6 p.m. and the final four rounds Saturday beginning at noon.
Then it’s back to the negotiating table. And more waiting for fans.
The Capitals advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs, and begin play Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and Versus. Game 2 against the Lightning is set for Sunday at 7 p.m.
The second round begins Thursday on Versus, with the Predators visiting Vancouver at 9 p.m. The second West semifinal begins Friday at 10:30 p.m. with Detroit heading to San Jose.
NBC shows the opener of the Bruins-Flyers series Saturday at 3 p.m., and Game 2 from San Jose Sunday at 3 p.m. Versus has the second game from Vancouver Saturday at 9 p.m.
In the NBA playoffs, there’s a pair of Game 6 contests on TNT Thursday – Lakers at Hornets at 8 p.m., followed by Dallas at Portland. ESPN has Game 6 between San Antonio and Memphis Friday at 9 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule? Depends on who wins Thursday. The first East semifinal kicks off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. when the Heat take on the Celtics.
NASCAR heads to Richmond for the weekend, with the Sprint Cup race Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on FOX. The Nationwide racers take the track Friday for the Bubba Burger 250 on ESPN2.
For a more exotic locale, the IndyCar drivers are in Sao Paulo Sunday at noon on Versus.
FOX Saturday baseball goes early this week, with the Mets visiting the Phillies at 1 p.m. Other games in the time slot are Angels at Rays and the Cardinals taking on the Braves. The Mets and Phillies meet again Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN, while the Yankees host the Blue Jays in the afternoon on TBS.
The Orioles play the Red Sox Thursday on MASN, then go to Chicago this weekend on MASN2. The Nationals are home this week, with the Mets on MASN2 Friday and Giants in town Friday through Sunday on MASN.
Comcast has ACC baseball this weekend, with Florida State at Miami Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday afternoon at 1, Georgia Tech visits Clemson.
Comcast goes to the Sun Belt Saturday at 4 p.m. for Arkansas-Little Rock taking on Louisiana-Lafayette.
ESPN2 has SEC baseball between Arkansas and Georgia Saturday at 1 p.m. and Auburn-South Carolina Sunday at 3 p.m.
ESPN showcases college softball Saturday at 8 p.m., with Oklahoma facing Texas.
The PGA tour visits New Orleans this weekend, with CBS providing coverage Saturday and Sunday starting at 3 p.m.
Weekend Watchdog: Drafting for the picket line
We have a 2011 NFL schedule. Thursday, we have the 2011 NFL draft. Will we have a 2011 NFL season on time.
Ask the lawyers about the coming season. Until then, the NFL draft opens Thursday on ESPN and NFL Network. There’s plenty of questions due to the lockout, but nobody locks out Mel Kiper Jr.
It’s one round of picks Thursday night at 8, two more on Friday starting at 6 p.m. and the final four rounds Saturday beginning at noon.
Then it’s back to the negotiating table. And more waiting for fans. Continue reading “Weekend Watchdog: Drafting for the picket line” »
The AFP on WREL: Baseball season
AFP editor Chris Graham talks sports with WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
The segment begins with a look at ACC baseball. Can the #1 Virginia baseball team continue its prolonged hot streak all the way to Omaha? That’s the question with the Cavs at the top of a deep ACC field of likely entrants into the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
NFL Draft talk wraps us up. Tyrod Taylor will be a good steal for whatever team picks him up later in the draft, according to Chris.
The AFP on WREL: Baseball season
AFP editor Chris Graham talks sports with WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
The segment begins with a look at ACC baseball. Can the #1 Virginia baseball team continue its prolonged hot streak all the way to Omaha? That’s the question with the Cavs at the top of a deep ACC field of likely entrants into the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
NFL Draft talk wraps us up. Tyrod Taylor will be a good steal for whatever team picks him up later in the draft, according to Chris.
UVa.'s Parr to declare for NFL draft
Junior defensive end Zane Parr will forego his final year of eligibility at Virginia and declare for the National Football League’s draft. Parr has informed Cavalier head coach Mike London of his decision to leave the University and begin to train for workouts for NFL scouts and the draft.
“I have expressed to Zane the benefits of staying at Virginia and pursuing his academic and athletic opportunities for his final season,” London said. “In the end, Zane decided declaring for the draft and withdrawing from school to prepare for it is the course of action he wants to pursue. I wish him the best and appreciate his contributions to the program.” Continue reading “UVa.'s Parr to declare for NFL draft” »
Tech, JMU, UVa. players land in NFL
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Virginia Tech sent an ACC-high five players to the NFL in the 2010 NFL Draft over the weekend. James Madison sent two players, and UVa. one. Continue reading “Tech, JMU, UVa. players land in NFL” »
Weekend Watchdog: I feel a draft
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com
Are you ready for three nights of Mel Kiper Jr.? ESPN and the NFL hope so.
The NFL draft will now spread across three days, starting Thursday at 7 p.m. with the first overall pick. Continue reading “Weekend Watchdog: I feel a draft” »
Worilds declares for NFL Draft
Junior defensive end to pursue shot at pro career
Staff Report
Virginia Tech sports: www.hokiesports.com
Virginia Tech junior defensive end Jason Worilds announced Thursday that he will forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.
The Carteret, N.J., native was a two-time All-ACC performer who recorded 49 tackles this year, including 11.0 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also had one forced fumble, one pass break up and a team-leading 32 quarterback hurries.
“Jason is a very talented player, but is also a very smart player,” Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. “He has the toughness to be successful after playing through a shoulder injury last year. We wish him a long NFL career. He was great for Virginia Tech, and we wish him the best in the NFL.”
Long itching to get back on the field
Story by Chris Graham
sportsdom@ntelos.net
Chris Long is OK with the pomp and circumstance that goes with being a projected top-two or top-three pick in the NFL Draft.
I say that, and then I think, you know, that maybe he’s not.
“The only thing that’s taxing or annoying about it is that I’m not really able to get into a groove with my workouts. Other than that, you just kind of go with the flow. You know you’re going to have to show up at some team’s minicamp in two weeks, or maybe even less. Really, the sense of urgency to work out is really pretty high, but the opportunity to do it is not as good,” Long said by phone from New York City. Continue reading “Long itching to get back on the field” »
A long way from that grainy tape to the NFL
Story by Chris Graham
sportsdom@ntelos.net
Branden Albert was barely on Al Groh’s radar screen – and he wasn’t on many other ones.
Now a projected top-five NFL draft pick, Albert didn’t even play high-school football until he transferred from his native Rochester, N.Y., to Baltimore, and went out for football as a junior at the insistence of his older brother.
Albert’s dream was to play big-time basketball, which is scary to think about now, looking at the 6-7, 315-pounder and envisioning him coming hard down the lane.
“I think my basketball background has helped me a lot – because a lot of things I do on a basketball court, I do on a football field. And one thing is pass-blocking. A key thing for a left tackle in the NFL is you’ve got to be able to move your feet, and playing defense on a basketball court is just like pass-blocking on a football field,” Albert said. Continue reading “A long way from that grainy tape to the NFL” »
