NFL News & Rumors Digest

Robert Griffin III was all smiles Thursday night, befitting the second player taken in the NFL draft. But backstage at Radio City Music Hall, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback stated his night could have been even far better.

Griffin told ProFootballTalk.com the Redskins informed him that if they, and not the Indianapolis Colts held the No. 1 pick, they still would have taken him.

“They said if Indianapolis would have traded with them and kept Peyton Manning, that they would have drafted me with the No. 1 general choose,” Griffin said. “So it’s not a shot at anyone, it’s just that they’re the team that wanted me and they showed it in late February, and I’m glad to be component of the team.”

The Colts kept the No. 1 choose, or course, and drafted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

Griffin said he looks forward to the challenge of taking the reins in D.C.

“I’m going to go in, try to just show the guys that they can trust me instead of attempting to be the most vocal guy out there,” he said. “I am a rookie, and I realize that there are veterans out there who you have to respect, and I do respect them.”

(About:) This report was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For far more NFL news see: RG3: Redskins would have taken me, not Luck, No. 1 in NFL draft.

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Former USC coach Pete Carroll hasn’t precisely been rounding up former Trojans right after returning to the NFL.  If anything, he’s alienating them.

It started last year, when safety Taylor Mays sounded off on Carroll, claiming that he had indicated that Mays would be picked by the Seahawks with their second choice in round 1.  The Seahawks instead took Texas safety Earl Thomas.

Considering that then, Carroll has had two chances to sign Heisman winner Matt Leinart, and a shot at trading for Heisman winner Reggie Bush.  In each instances, Carroll passed.

Likewise, Carroll had (and still has) a clear shot at former Trojans receiver Steve Smith (the one who played by means of 2010 for the Giants), but Carroll opted instead for a guy who went to the other USC.

Most recently, former Trojan linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who preceded Carroll to Seattle, desires out.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Tatupu requested his release soon after the team asked him to take a pay cut.  Per Schefter, the Seahawks strategy to comply.

A 3-time Pro Bowler to commence his career, Tatupu has fallen off in the second three seasons of his six-year career.

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Congratulations go out to James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, who has come in very first location following a nationwide search for Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy.

The trophy is currently located at the San Diego Hall of Champions, although museum stated that arrangements are becoming made to return the trophy to the Bush loved ones.   It’s unclear regardless of whether Reggie or somebody else will get it.

The whereabouts of the trophy became a story earlier this when it was reported on the Dan Patrick Show Bush by no means gave back the trophy as promised. An employee at the San Diego Hall of Champions said then that Bush’s dad took the trophy, and that was the last they saw of it.

Apparently, there was some misinformation spread.  Either the Hall is covering for the Bush loved ones or perhaps they just wanted to keep the trophy.

Varney writes that ”not every person agrees” Bush really should return the trophy, such as some at the Hall of Champions.

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The New Orleans Saints have changed the face of their offensive backfield. With the help of a trade with the New England Patriots, the Saints jumped back into the first round of the NFL Draft to choose 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram at pick No. 28. Ingram, the final skill-position player taken during Thursday’s first round, brings an acclaimed jolt of life into a running game that struggled through injury and ineffectiveness last season.
“I’m excited that [the Saints] traded up to come get me,” Ingram said to the Associated Press. “They have a lot of great backs down there. I’m just going to go down there, work my butt and contribute to the team and help them win championships.”
With their original first-round pick, No. 24, the Saints selected California defensive end Cameron Jordan. FANTASY ANALYSIS: When Reggie Bush heard the news that the Saints had drafted Ingram, he tweeted: “it’s been fun New Orleans.” The Saints have to make a decision on Bush and his fat contract, but Ingram isn’t a threat to Bush; they are completely different types of running backs. However, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory have to take this as a direct challenge. Ingram has some durability issues of his own, but he may be the team’s best option in short-yardage and goal-line situations this season. That automatically gives his fantasy value a sizable boost. With an impressive camp and/or an injury among this group, which is pretty likely, Ingram could have one of the biggest fantasy impacts of any 2011 rookie.
Emmitt Smith, he is not. But Mark Ingram can be a high-quality RB in this league if he stays healthy. Those in keeper leagues have to be excited when thinking about what he could do behind Drew Brees in New Orleans.

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Cam Newton is headed to Carolina as the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Newton, the Heisman Trophy-winning Auburn quarterback, has just become the most important player on a franchise that desperately needs a star. Although he’s one of the most controversial players in college football history — and was booed by the fans…

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Tim Tebow might not be the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback, but he will have something else that incumbent Kyle Orton doesn’t — a statue erected in his honor at his alma mater.

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