Walcott spent just over one month as a linebacker for the Browns

Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Ausar Walcott pleaded not guilty to three charges on Thursday, including one count of attempted murder, according to an Associated Press report.

Walcott is also facing charges of aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim.

The charges stem from a June 23 incident in which Walcott allegedly punched a man outside a gentlemen's club in Passaic, N.J. The victim is currently in a medically induced coma at a New York hospital.

Walcott turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday and he's currently being held on a $500,000 bond. The 23-year-old is being represented by a public defender while he searches for an attorney.

Walcott spent just over one month as a linebacker for the Browns. Cleveland signed the rookie out of Virginia on May 13 and then released him on Wednesday after news of the attempted murder charge became public.

Aaron Hernandez probably won't be wearing Puma's gear anytime soon. But if he is, it's not because he's being paid to wear it. Puma dropped Hernandez as an endorser on Thursday, one day after the former Patriots tight end was charged with murder in the death of Odin Lloyd.

"Puma has ended the relationship with athlete Aaron Hernandez in light of the current situation".

Hernandez and Puma weren't together long. The company had just signed Hernandez to a two-year deal in April.

At the time of the signing, Puma said one of the reasons that they added Hernandez was because of his "ability to overcome adversity."

Hernandez said he picked Puma because he's different. "You don't see many people signing with Puma," Hernandez said in April. "I thought it would be something different, and I feel like I'm different than most."

-- This article from: cbssports.com

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Helu’s future is as uncertain as any player on the roster

When it comes to hard luck, you could do better than Roy Helu.

After a successful rookie season where he posted a combined 1,019 yards and three touchdowns, Helu looked to be locked in as Washington's starting running back entering the 2012 campaign. But a combination of lower-body injuries limited him in training camp, and his once-promising career took a hit with the stunning emergence of Alfred Morris. Helu missed nearly the entire year nursing his injuries and was buried on the depth chart after the Redskins took Chris Thompson and Jawan Jamison in the 2013 NFL Draft.

His future with the team, while seemingly secure, is as uncertain as any player on the roster. With the glut of athletes taking up the backfield behind Morris, Helu's role is undefined. Will he be a prime performer in 2013 as part of an offense that has skill all over the field?

If healthy, there's no reason why Helu can't take over the No. 2 spot in the backfield. While he's not in the same league as Morris, he's definitely more versatile. While he's not as speedy as some of the younger backs that were drafted in April, he's more proven and could fit the mold as a third-down back to relieve Morris of some carries. In addition, he could give the Redskins something they didn't have all of last season—a receiving threat out of the backfield.

In fact, Helu could be the man on the depth chart who might push this offense to the next level. Washington ranked just 24th in the NFL in third down conversion percentage in 2012; it became obvious as the season rolled along that they were missing something in those situations. It was one of the few consistent weaknesses the Redskins displayed on that side of that ball, and the lack of any kind of situational back surely contributed.

But what if Thompson or Jamison takes over the second spot? Then the questions really begin for Helu. There really wouldn't be an immediate spot for him on the team; he could be released or kept around for greater depth. Either way, it would essentially be a death knell for his career as a Redskin.

It's an unfortunate situation for the once-promising Helu, but it's also the reality of the "next man up" mentality that pervades the NFL. Helu went down and Alfred Morris stepped up and took over. That's the way it is—and to Helu's credit, he has done all he can to get back on the field in 2013.

-- This article from: bleacherreport.com

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Hamilton never gave up the NFL dream

 

One player was a four-star recruit who went from junior college to the Southeastern Conference and immediately made an impact, appearing in 13 games with five starts and an interception in 2010.

The other was a sparsely recruited receiver who started just one year in high school and switched positions multiple times at a Southern Conference school, before finally moving over to defense his final season.

They both ended up in Dallas, but it was the former who joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and the latter who entered town as a third-round draft pick.

The former player, Jakar Hamilton – once ranked as the second-best junior college player in the country – transferred from Georgia to South Carolina State for academic and health reasons, but certainly not for a lack of talent. The latter player, J.J. Wilcox, played receiver and running back in college before demonstrating enough potential at safety to warrant a mid-round selection.

Despite their vastly different routes to the NFL, they now find themselves in similar situations and have developed a friendship in their brief time together. Though they’re competing at the same position, Hamilton hasn’t been bashful when it comes to offering tips to the third-round pick.

After all, he’s played the position three more years.

“I had heard of him, great safety down at Georgia Southern,” Hamilton said of Wilcox. “When I met him, he was a real cool guy, had his head on straight. You can tell he played safety for one year, I played maybe three or four. There’re some things I help him on, there’re some things he helps me on. We just try to work together and try to get through this.”

Hamilton learned from some of the best college safeties and coaches throughout his long journey to the NFL. He competed at Georgia alongside Bacarri Rambo, a sixth-round pick of the Redskins who now becomes his division rival.

“To go out there and to compete and to start with him and play with him and learn how to play free safety, because I only played one year when I got to Georgia, it was a wonderful experience,” Hamilton recalled. “We’re still friends to this day. I still hit him up, he’ll hit me up.

“But going to South Carolina State was like a cultural shock. You don’t get the stipends. You don’t get as much equipment. The speed program’s a little different. You’ve got more technology at Georgia and more things to use. It was pretty much a culture shock. Not too much different as far as competition, because you get a lot of guys who don’t qualify or something happens at another school.”

Hamilton never gave up the NFL dream when he switched to a smaller school, but uncertainty about his NFL future did cross his mind at one point. Those thoughts quickly dissipated, though. He wasn’t going to let the transfer affect his goal.

“It’s not about where you start, it’s how you finish,” Hamilton’s coaches would tell him. “I’m trying to finish as strong as possible.”

If Hamilton can do just that at training camp, he may be able to find a spot on this team and eventually compete for playing time at safety.

Wilcox has already heeded the same advice Hamilton was given, earning almost all of his looks from NFL scouts during
his final year in college at Georgia Southern. He’s come a long way from being a freshman receiver.

“It was a journey,” Wilcox said. “Coming in as a one-year starter in high school, I didn’t have too many options. I went to a receiving camp, and Georgia Southern was there, Samford was there. I went to Georgia Southern, and it felt like home. The coaching staff there was consistent through the recruiting process.”

The staff eventually moved him to safety, and the rest is history, after he recorded 88 tackles and two interceptions his senior year.

As Wilcox and Hamilton begin their experiences in the NFL, their roles have reversed from where they started in college. Hamilton said he can see the other draft picks making their mark, and as a high-potential free agent safety, he knows he has to make the most of fewer opportunities.

On the other end, Wilcox realizes the pressure accumulates when a draft pick steps on the field.

-- This article from: dallascowboys.com

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Holcomb interviewed for the defensive quality control position

When he served as a training camp coaching intern for the New York Jets in the summer of 2007, Al Holcomb knew he wanted to coach in the National Football League permanently.

"I had a burning desire," Holcomb said. "I felt like this was what I wanted to do."

At the time, Holcomb was midway through his three-year stint as the defensive line coach at Lafayette College in Easton, Penn.

Then, after the 2008 season concluded, Holcomb got a call from New York's other NFL team – the Giants.

"I just kept nurturing those NFL contacts and when a spot with the Giants opened up, they called me and asked if I'd be interested in interviewing," Holcomb said. "Being from New York, born and raised, that was unbelievable."

Holcomb interviewed for the defensive quality control position. It was his opportunity to get his foot in the door of an NFL franchise.

He thought the interview went well.

"As a coach, you only get so many opportunities to coach at the highest level," Holcomb said. "I felt like that was my one shot to get in front of people and show them what I was capable of."

The Giants offered Holcomb the job the next day.

"A huge moment in my career," he said.

After four successful years with the Giants – the final two as a defensive assistant – Holcomb learned that another NFL team was interested in his services.

The Carolina Panthers were looking for a new linebackers coach, and head coach Ron Rivera requested an interview.

"I came down, the staff was great and I thought I nailed the interview," Holcomb recalls.

He was right.

"Coach (Rivera) extended the offer, and I decided it was time for me to make the move and for my family to come down here."

In his first year as an NFL position coach, Holcomb inherits one of the NFL's most talented linebacker units, a group led by Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis.

Expectations for that trio are high, as they should be given their talent and track records. Holcomb understands that and welcomes the pressure.

"Obviously, everyone is looking to this position group as the leaders and the bell cows on the defensive side of the ball," Holcomb said. "We certainly are going to do our part to get this defense where it needs to be.

"It's exciting, because there is a lot of knowledge in that room. They are really the quarterbacks of the defense – really bright, high football intellect kind of guys. And they make you go 'wow' in terms of their athletic ability."

After a minicamp practice, Holcomb offered some early observations on his three starters.

Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly – the 2012 NFL tackle leader and Defensive Rookie of the Year – has been as good as advertised.

"He's very good and even with the success that he's had early in his career, he's like a sponge," Holcomb said. "He wants to gain as much knowledge about the (middle linebacker) position and the defense as he can.

"You tell him something once, and he gets it. He lets you coach him, he takes to coaching very well. He tries everything the way we are teaching it. It's been a pleasure coaching him."

Jon Beason is adjusting to the weakside linebacker spot after playing in the middle for most of his first six seasons. Holcomb believes the switch will be seamless with the ability Beason possesses.

"Jon is a three-time Pro Bowler, he's been the leader of this defense. The guys rally around him," Holcomb said. "His football acumen is off the charts.

"I think he's going to transition well to the outside and he's going to give us a presence there."

Holcomb also likes how Thomas Davis has transitioned to the strongside position, after reemerging as the weakside linebacker in 2012 following three anterior cruciate ligament injuries in less than two years.

"Thomas is a veteran, and he sees the big picture. He gets it," Holcomb said. "He's adjusting very well to playing on the strong side. He's picking up the checks, he's communicating more.

"Physically, he's a guy that in space, you marvel at. He has exceptional ability for the position, in terms of his movement and his ability to close on the football."

For a position coach making his debut, Holcomb's got plenty of talent to work with. Now he's tasked with maximizing the talent at his disposal.

"What I try to do is give them some key coaching points and then let them go play – not over-coach them," Holcomb said. "Let their natural instincts take over."

-- This article from: panthers.com

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The Cleveland Browns have released a rookie

A Denver judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a woman who accused former Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox of sexual assault.

Court documents show the case was dismissed last week at both parties' request, with no one admitting fault.

Attorneys for both sides mentioned a confidential agreement reached outside of court in declining to comment Wednesday.

The woman had sued after jurors acquitted Cox of criminal charges alleging he sexually assaulted the woman at his apartment in 2010 after a night of partying. She remembered little of what happened but became pregnant, and prosecutors said DNA tests indicated Cox was the father.

Cox now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.

Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas, who was a witness in the criminal case, was previously dismissed from the lawsuit.

The Cleveland Browns have released a rookie who is charged with attempted murder for allegedly punching a man in the head outside a club in northern New Jersey.

Ausar Walcott turned himself in to Passaic police Tuesday after he was identified as a suspect in an incident that happened around 3 a.m. Sunday.

The linebacker was signed by the Browns on May 13 following a tryout. The team announced his release Wednesday.

Walcott, 23, is charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree endangering an injured victim, said Salvatore Bellomo, a senior assistant prosecutor.

He said the complaint alleges Walcott punched a man in the head.

The Record newspaper said the Hackensack, N.J., native and former University of Virginia player struck 24-year-old Derrick Jones just after The Palace Gentlemen's Club closed. Police told the newspaper that Jones, who is from New York City, was critically injured.

Walcott was being held on $500,000 bail. It's not clear if he has a defense lawyer.

His release came on day after the AFC's rookies visited the Browns' facility as part of the NFL's Rookie Symposium, four days of seminars and meetings designed to prepare the drafted first-year players for life as a professional - on and off the field.

Earlier this week, the players listened to cautionary speeches from Cincinnati cornerback Adam ``Pacman'' Jones and former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett about staying out of trouble.

Walcott is the second Browns rookie to be arrested. Seventh-round selection Armonty Bryant was charged with drunken driving in Oklahoma less than one week after the Browns picked the defensive end in April's draft. Bryant, who was also arrested on a felony drug charge in college, said Tuesday that he has been working hard to stay clean.

-- This article from: thescore.com

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Time will tell if Wilson learns the "little intricacies"

Former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi once labeled Tiki Barber the "most remarkable back I have not only ever been with but that I have ever seen."

Barber is not just the Giants' all-time leading rusher, but also the franchise's most complete back since Hall of Famer Frank Gifford inspired Fred Exley to pen football's most poignant piece of literature.

If Barber is to be believed, David Wilson could erase his records. "He is as dynamic a player at that position that the Giants have ever had," Barber said this week. "... I didn't have breakaway speed like he does. I wasn't the athlete like he is. I worked hard to get where I was. As long as he doesn't take that for granted and works hard on top of it, he can be fantastic."

After going back and watching Wilson's 2012 film for Around the League's "Making the Leap" series, it's hard to quibble with Barber's assessment. We will have more in-depth analysis in a few weeks, but the most obvious takeaway was Wilson's breathtaking breakaway speed that jumped off the screen.

Time will tell if Wilson learns the "little intricacies" -- as Barber explained -- of pass protection, recognizing defenses, decisiveness and ball security that will enable him to become a complete back. If he does, the Giants will have one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league at their disposal.

In 2007 he called his former quarterback Eli Manning "comical." In 2010 he said Tom Coughlin's job was in "jeopardy." Earlier this week, the ringless and shameless Tiki Barber told that David Wilson is "dynamic," which is why it's so pivotal that Big Blue acquires free agent Vonta Leach. 

Besides learning the minutiae of the position, the currently inactive fullback Leach would expedite Wilson's tangible results.

Leach is a proven commodity. He was largely responsible for the breakout of Arian Foster of the Houston Texans and Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens. Ralph Vacchiano reminded fans about when the G-Men signed Leach to a restricted free agent offer sheet in 2007 before the Houston Texans matched it.

This time around, Giants brass can't afford to lose out on the 31-year-old's services.

As usual in the business of sports, it will all boil down to money.

Since the Giants remain concerned about Henry Hynoski's timetable to return, they'll likely have to consider offering the ex-Raven a multi-year deal.

The Miami Dolphins could lure Leach with their $17.6 million of cap room left for 2013, but Leach's departure from the Baltimore Ravens was rumored to be because he didn't want to sign a one-year deal.

In the Giants minicamp in early June, tight end Bear Pascoe filled in and played the role of fullback since there were no other fullbacks on the roster. Having Pascoe block for Wilson and Andre Brown is not the optimal role that offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride had in mind.

With Hynoski out for an extended period of time, it's critical for the Giants to do everything within reason to give Wilson a great fullback to run behind.

The Giants front office must consider the burden that their young backfield will be facing this year and give Leach the multi-year deal he's seeking.

Leaning on Miller may not even be in Miami's plans

No doubt Dolphins RB Lamar Miller will be a popular pick on fantasy football sleeper lists this year. And why not? With Reggie Bush gone, the 22-year-old is set to take over Miami's backfield after averaging 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie last season. But fantasy owners should be careful not to get too high on the second-year back.

Although the rushing average was nice, Miller had just 51 carries for 250 yards. In fact, he never had more than 10 carries in any contest. Even in two years at the Univ. of Miami, Miller topped out at 227 carries as a sophomore, though he did turn those into 1,272 yards (5.6 ypc). But the point is, Miller's far from a proven commodity as a workhorse back the Dolphins can lean on for 20-plus carries a game.

Leaning on Miller may not even be in Miami's plans. Even with Bush around last year, the Dolphins ranked in the middle of the pack in rushing attempts (440) and yards per carry (4.1). Bush only topped 20 carries twice and had 15-plus totes just six times in 16 games. Of course, Bush also did a lot of damage in the passing game, but Miller is not nearly the same proven pass-catcher and open-field threat. Miller had just six receptions for 45 yards last season and totaled 28 catches for 181 in college.

Speaking of the passing game, the Dolphins seemed to focus on improving the aerial attack this offseason, adding targets Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Dustin Keller to help second-year QB Ryan Tannehill take the next step. Miami, which had a 55-45 pass-run ratio last year, could be chucking the ball more in 2013 if Tannehill improves.

Not only could Miller's workload be a little lighter than expected, he may not even be the preferred option around the goal line. For all his faults, the 6-1, 233-pound Daniel Thomas is a better fit as a goal-line back than the 5-10, 218-pound Miller. Miami's RBs rushed for just 11 TDs last year, and Thomas had four of those. Miller, who had one of those scores, can't afford to lose too many goal-line plunges to Thomas.

While we still expect Miller to start and get the bulk of the carries in this offense, don't expect too much from the former fourth-round pick. We have him ranked as the No. 26 running back, which translates to a high-end bench option or flex play in 12-team leagues, with a little more potential value in PPR leagues. If you draft Miller as a sure-fire RB2 breakout, though, you'll likely be very disappointed.

-- This article from: fantasysource.sportingnews.com

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