The Tiger Report: 06/17/12

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Schiano teaching Bucs how to tackle

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 17, 2012, 1:17 PM EDT

Gerald McCoy played high school football so well that he was USA Today‘s defensive player of the year as a senior, and he played college football so well that he was the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. But through all that, and through his first two seasons as a defensive lineman for the Buccaneers, McCoy says he never really learned how to tackle.

McCoy told the Tampa Tribune that he never had a coach show him proper tackling technique until he started playing for Schiano this offseason.

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Riley Reiff offers versatility to Lions

Posted by Darin Gantt on June 17, 2012, 6:40 PM EDT

The good news is that Lions first-round pickRiley Reiff has impressed enough in offseason workouts to convince the team he can start.

The bad news is they don’t know where.

The college tackle has worked at both outside spots, and he could begin the year as Jeff Backus’ backup on the left side. Or he could replace Backus. Or he could push Gosder Cherilus for the right tackle job.

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Don't worry Barkley, Tebow will be our role model

Posted by Darin Gantt on June 17, 2012, 5:39 PM EDT

Tim Tebow is no Charles Barkley.

The Jets backup quarterback drew a crowd of 26,000 to Qualcomm Stadium, and told the Father’s Day crowd he wanted to be viewed as more than an athlete.

“One of the most frustrating things – and last time I said it, I got a lot of flak for it, but it doesn’t bother me too much. There are a lot of role models. There just aren’t a lot of good ones,” Tebow said, according to U-T San Diego. “If we would come together and be great role models, it would be amazing to see how the next generation turns out.”

Tebow spoke for 35 minutes with the pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, talking about role models and whether Christians can also be “real men.”

He’s never backed away from that side of the equation, speaking openly about his responsibilities as a public figure.

And whether Tedy Bruschi likes it or not, or whether you agree with his public pronouncements of faith, arguing in favor of setting a good example for young people is admirable. And it’s also part of what makes Tebow so popular with a large swath of America that doesn’t care a thing about his passer rating.

Clemens rejects Seahawks extension, will test free agency in 2013

Posted by Mike Florio on June 16, 2012, 11:17 PM EDT

Getty Images

Veteran defensive end Chris Clemons unexpectedly held out of the Seahawks’ mandatory minicamp. Come 2013, he could be walking out of Seattle.

Len Pasquarelli of the Sports Xchange reports that Clemons has decided not to sign an extension with the Seahawks, opting instead to become a free agent in 2013.

Per Pasquarelli, the team offered to convert his current deal, which pays a base salary of $4 million in 2012, into a three-year contract with $8 million in 2012, $4.5 million in 2013, and $5.5 million in 2014. Clemons declined.

Clemons has opted not to participate in the team’s offseason program, giving up a $100,000 workout bonus and, due to his decision to boycott the mandatory minicamp, exposing himself to $63,000 in fines.

Of course, there’s no guarantee he’ll become an unrestricted free agent in 2013. If the Seahawks choose to use the franchise tag, he won’t hit the market — but he will be in line for a one-year deal worth at least $10 million.

It’s unlikely that Clemons would balk at that kind of payday, given that he’s 30 years old and never has landed a major payday.

Perhaps he will. He has started all 32 games during his two years in Seattle, after starting only three total regular-season games during his prior six NFL seasons. He also has notched 11 sacks in 2010 and another 11 in 2012, exceeding the 20 career sacks from his six pre-Seattle seasons.

Pacman Jones on his past: I was pathetic

Posted by Evan Silva on June 16, 2012, 6:56 PM EDT

Bengals cornerback Pacman Jones‘ appointment as speaker at the NFL’s annual rookie symposium probably drew a few eyerolls from cynics who have every right to be cynical about Jones, considering his long history of transgressions.

But the notion that Jones has turned over a new leaf isn’t a ruse. Bengals rookie cornerbackDre Kirkpatrick says Jones has already taken steps to steer him in the right direction.

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