Schaub on track for start of the season

Posted by Mike Florio on April 16, 2012, 1:49 PM EDT

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Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was lost for the 2011 season in November with a foot injury.  And as the 2012 offseason program launches in Houston, Schaub revealed that he recently underwent another surgery.

“I had a procedure last week, getting hardware taken out, which is customary for this thing, so just let the incisions heal up and move forward,” Schaub said, via quotes distributed by the team.  “I’m right on schedule because where the hardware removal takes place in this procedure is right where we are and so from here, we just move forward and just keep going.  But we have a lot of time left to get ready and there’s no doubt I will be ready.”

It’s unclear whether Schaub will be able to participate in any portion of the team’s offseason program.

“I mean, sitting here on April 16, it’s hard for me to say when I will be [ready],” Schaub said.  “I mean, after the screws came out this past week, it’s hard for me to tell you a certain date or June or something like that.  All I know is come time for training camp, I’m going to be 100 percent ready to go and that’s all that really matters, in my mind.”

If Schaub can’t participate in the upcoming OTAs, T.J. Yates presumably will get the bulk of the practice reps.  Which will make him better prepared in the event of further injury to Schaub.

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Maybin stays in New York

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 16, 2012, 10:21 AM EDT

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The Jets open their offseason program today, and Aaron Maybin will be there.

Maybin confirmed on Twitter this morning that he “just inked the new contract” and is ready to get to work.

As a restricted free agent tendered at the first-round level, Maybin’s contract is a one-year deal with a salary of $1.26 million.

In 2009, Maybin was viewed as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL draft, and the Bills selected him with the 11th overall pick. But Maybin was a huge disappointment in Buffalo, playing in 27 games without ever recording a single sack. After two seasons the Bills had seen enough, and they waived him during training camp last year.

When Maybin caught on with the Jets, however, he found the perfect fit as a situational pass rusher, recording six sacks last season. At the age of 24, Maybin has plenty of room to keep getting better, and the Jets have a talented young player at a relatively inexpensive price. The Bills just wish he could have developed for them like he developed for the Jets.

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Trent Richardson takes cancer survivor to her prome

Posted by Josh Alper on April 16, 2012, 9:34 AM EDT

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One of the biggest night’s of Alabama running back Trent Richardson’s life will take place next Thursday in New York, but he spent this weekend helping to create one of the best nights of someone else’s life.

Richardson, who is expected to be one of the first players off the board in the first round,  escorted 17-year-old Courtney Alvis to her high school prom on Saturday night after Alvis’ uncle reached out to some of Richardson’s friends at the university. Alvis was diagnosed with leukemia last year and is currently taking chemo maintenance treatments, according to WBRC-TV in Birmingham.

Monday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on April 16, 2012, 9:20 AM EDT

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Analyzing some of the tackle options for the Bills.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald looks at LB Cameron Wake’s standoff with theDolphins.

Danny Woodhead is the most experienced running back on the Patriots roster right now.

Quarterback isn’t high on the list of Jets draft priorities.

The Ravens aren’t likely to use the draft to acquire a third quarterback, according to the Baltimore Sun.

2012 Mock Draft 2.0

1. Colts - Andrew Luck is regarded as the best QB prospect since John Elway, and is viewed as the safest pick in the draft.
2. Redskins - Robert Griffin III cost them a lot of draft picks, but he is worth it.  Griffin could have a better career than Luck when all is said and done.  
3. Vikings - Matt Kalil is widely regarded as the best tackle in what appears to be a rather weak o-line class.  The Vikes match need with value.
4. Browns - Their offense is woeful and it needs to be addressed.  We keep hearing about how they need to get tougher, and Trent Richardson will help them with that.  Also, he will help the offense faster than a rookie QB or WR could.
5. Buccaneers - Morris Claiborne is regarded as the best defensive player in the draft, and Tampa needs to upgrade the corner position.  This is a no-brainer for Tampa.
6. Rams - This is a dream scenario for Sam Bradford and the Rams, as the draft's most polished receiver falls right into their lap.  Justin Blackmon finally gives Bradford a number

Warren Sapp filed bankruptcy to avoid jail

Brad Biggs - National Football Post

Warren Sapp says a bad construction deal at the worst possible time sent him spiraling into debt that led him to file for bankruptcy last week.

Sapp made his first comments on the situation to Tampa Bay Times columnist Gary Shelton and said he was motivated to file for bankruptcy with $6.7 million worth of debt because he didn’t want to go to jail.

“Do you think I wanted to declare bankruptcy?'' Sapp told Shelton. "Do you think if there was any other way possible I would have done it? It was either this or go to jail. Those were my choices.''

Tebow booed at Yankees game

Posted by Mike Florio on April 15, 2012, 9:24 PM EDT

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While attending a Yankees game on Friday, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisbergersaid that the “feels bad” for “the Sanchez” because fans will be cheering for backup quarterback Tim Tebow during the first game of the 2012 season.

New York fans attending Sunday’s game at Yankees Stadium got a chance to chime in.

Lee Evans joins the Jaguars

Posted by Mike Florio on April 15, 2012, 1:22 PM EDT

Reuters

Receiver Lee Evans, a former No. 1 wideout in Buffalo who is at least for now best known for failing to make what would have been an AFC title-winning touchdown reception in January, will continue his career in Jacksonville.

Evans will sign with the Jaguars on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

In Jacksonville, Evans joins a depth chart that includes Laurent Robinson, Mike Thomas, Brian Robiskie, and Taylor Price.

Schedule release expected to be Tuesday

Posted by Mike Florio on April 15, 2012, 8:32 PM EDT

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Every day, we get more and more emails asking for information about the release of the 2012 regular-season schedule.

And so, even though we’ve written about the topic a few times (or more), it’s time for a quick refresher.

In three of the past four years, as charted by Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the schedule has been released the second Tuesday before the draft.  In 2010, the schedule came on the Tuesday of draft week.