By Tim Graham
Last year at this time, we were in some sort of bizarro
world.
The Buffalo Bills had convinced one of the NFL's most coveted
free agents to sign. They gave Mario Williams the NFL's richest contract for a
defensive player.
The Miami Dolphins, meanwhile, couldn't convince anyone to
sign.
The Dolphins, despite their glamorous locale and free-spending billionaire
owner, endured a series of stiff-arms from coach Jeff Fisher (after getting
rejected by Jim Harbaugh a year earlier) and quarterbacks Peyton Manning and
Matt Flynn.
Twenty-seven hours into free agency this year, fortunes of
the rival franchises appear to be back in alignment.
Continue reading "Buffalo's inactivity 180 degrees from what's happening in Miami" »
February 27, 2013 - 1:09 PM
By Tim Graham
If the Buffalo Bills want to trade back into the first round
or move up into the second round for a player they want -- perhaps a quarterback --
then the San Francisco 49ers have emerged as obvious candidates to work out a
deal.
The Niners reportedly have worked out a trade that will send
quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs for this year's second-round
draft choice (34th overall) and other unrevealed considerations. The Niners also
hold the 31st overall selection.
It's no secret the Bills need a quarterback and want to draft one early. They own the eighth and 41st overall picks.
Draft analysts are hesitant to put a high first-round value on a quarterback in this year's class, but the best prospects could be gone by the time the Bills draft in the second round. Thus, the Niners become attractive trade partners.
Continue reading "With 15 draft picks expected, 49ers prime trade partners for Bills" »
February 4, 2013 - 12:33 AM
By Tim Graham
NEW ORLEANS -- The San Francisco 49ers had
three plays to move the ball five yards and win the Super Bowl.
Twice, they tried to beat Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey
Graham. Twice, the 49ers failed.
Graham, a Turner-Carroll alum, helped Baltimore
lock down the Super Bowl XLVII victory Sunday night by denying San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree
inside the two-minute warning and helping the Ravens win, 34-31.
Continue reading "With the championship on the line, Corey Graham makes plays" »
February 2, 2013 - 8:11 AM
By Tim Graham
NEW ORLEANS
-- Jack Harbaugh isn't the only old coach whose rooting interests for Super Bowl
XLVII will be conflicted.
Ted Marchibroda was the Baltimore Ravens' first head coach
and worked closely with General Manager Ozzie Newsome.
"You have to give it to Ozzie," said Marchibroda,
the former St. Bonaventure quarterback. "That first draft was a great
draft in 1996. Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis was probably the best draft since
Gayle Sayers and Dick Butkus. Maybe it's even better than those guys."
Marchibroda also is close to San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.
While nobody can expect Jack Harbaugh to root for one of his
sons to beat the other Sunday night -- John Harbaugh is the Ravens' head coach
in case you just crawled out from under a manhole cover to read this blog -- Marchibroda actually
has a favorite.
Marchibroda was the Indianapolis Colts' coach until 1995, the
season Jim Harbaugh won the Comeback Player of the Year Award, led the
NFL in passer rating and took the Colts to the playoffs for the first time in
eight years.
"I'm a little closer to Jim than I am to the Ravens,"
Marchibroda said. "It was an outstanding year Jim had for me in Indianapolis. It was
special. You don't have that many in your lifetime.
"I enjoyed my time with the Ravens. It's a tough situation
when you're taking a ballclub and moving from city to city. But I'm leaning
toward Jim. I spent more time with him."
