Leighton caught in nasty Catch-22

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor

Michael Leighton is nothing more than a plaything to the Philadelphia Flyers front office. And though it's high time he woke up and demanded something better, it may not be possible.

On Sunday, after all of one disastrous start -- which came two weeks ago in a 5-1 road loss to the high-octane Tampa Bay Lightning -- the club placed him on injured reserve with an upper-body injury of unknown origin that will conveniently keep him out of action for 7-to-10 days.

Read between the lines, and you see a pattern of tweaking the system to reward a good soldier. Only it's Brian Boucher, not Leighton himself, who will benefit.

What a way to thank the guy who pretty much rescued an entire magical playoffs.

Almost three years ago, when Boucher's postseason ended the second Ryan Parent dropped his entire weight on the starter's leg in the crease at Boston in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Leighton stepped in cold and took the Flyers within two games of winning the franchise's third Stanley Cup.

He wasn't left to wait very long until Paul Holmgren, unwilling to find another suitable backup at an inflated price, inked him to a $3.1 million deal over two years on the eve of free agency.

Leighton's reward? Being shipped up to Glens Falls to play for the Adirondack Phantoms while Boucher spelled rookie sensation Sergei Bobrovsky. Though he played well in the AHL, going 14-12-3 with a 2.55 goals-against average and five shutouts, his lone NHL re-audition was a 7-4 win at Los Angeles on December 30, where stopping 32-of-36 shots apparently failed to impress Holmgren enough for him to get another crack at sticking with the big boys.

Even worse, Holmgren was forced to eat some more crow and call Leighton back to Philly when Peter Laviolette completely bungled the goaltending situation through a seven-game first-round series against Buffalo that April. History didn't repeat itself, and Leighton was 0-1 with a 3.43 GAA in two appearances as the Flyers were ultimately steamrolled by the Bruins in a sweep on their way to the 2011 title.

So, back to the minors it was for the Chicago-area native, and he finished 28-26-1 with a 2.58 GAA and two whitewashes as the primary man for the Phantoms last season. Debate continued on whether or not he was fit to return to the NHL, or be doomed to exist as a "quad-A talent," destined to be bounced back and forth.

Nonetheless, Leighton was brought back nine days after Holmgren jettisoned the now disappointing Bobrovsky, thanks to a $900,000 deal for one year. In a bizarre twist, Holmgren decided to keep stockpiling bodies, dealing to recover Boucher from the Carolina Hurricanes just days before the start of the 2013 schedule.

So now that Leighton has been removed from the equation for the majority of the duration of this upcoming six-game road trip that begins in Toronto later this evening, you've got the makings of another needless goaltending controversy.

Leighton being on a one-way deal would not deter the Flyers' front office, which seems to have ADD when it comes to short-term rewards for good performance, from giving him a one-way ticket up Interstate 87. Plus, there's no more re-entry waiver provision in the new CBA for players to be sent down. As could be reasonably expected, if Boucher performs well on this road swing when Bryzgalov needs a rest, why wouldn't he be kept in Philadelphia?

It's a devious, backward and unnecessary plan just to put Boucher where they wanted him. Why go through the trouble of signing Leighton for a second time, setting him up to fail by evaluating his worth in one game only and then being secretive about an injury that serves to promote his competition?

I believe Holmgren and others in the organization really don't care what happens to Leighton, while harboring some weird crush on Boucher. But I also believe that it's an implied dare in Leighton's direction to find more work in the NHL without the Flyers dangling that line of a potential comfy spot somewhere within their ranks.

Except next time, Leighton should take the bait. Should Boucher play well enough to be considered for backup to Bryzgalov, he should request waivers or a buy-out from Holmgren just to extricate himself from this carousel of ridiculousness -- just to mess with the club that essentially has him trapped after releasing the disappointing Niko Hovinen from his contract.

Remember how Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams, Dennis Seidenberg and Rod Brind'Amour fared once the organization did what they felt they had to do to move on? While nowhere near a difference-maker, I have no doubt that Leighton will be a valuable insurance policy for a playoff hopeful and could be a minor-league presence for Stanley Cup contender -- but do the other 29 teams actually feel this way?

Who would take a chance on a 31-year-old journeyman that has played exactly two NHL-level games in the last three seasons and has never appeared in more than 34 games in any one season?

Leighton holds 105 games of professional service spread out over 10 seasons with four teams, has a losing record (35-41-4 with 10 ties), a save percentage barely within acceptable range (.901) and goals-against bordering on unreliable for this era (2.97).

He could land in Calgary, but with Miikka Kiprusoff taking all but a few starts, it would be a similar situation than the one here regarding a backup's playing time.  Columbus is deep enough into rebuilding, but three mediocre goaltenders, two of them ex-Flyers, would be foisting the same problem there as it is here. Tampa Bay had Dwayne Roloson for a deep playoff run two years ago, but are the Flyers going to bite the bullet and deal with a "conference rival" despite the Bolts' need for better goaltending that Mathieu Garon and Anders Lindback?

Forget about any lingering feelings over the worst goal to be given up at a crucial time in Flyers history, Leighton deserves better than this. The organization has been up front about accommodating athletes who need more playing time by sending them to another franchise, so why should this be any different?

Union to introduce 2013 team at Xfinity Live!

Chester, Pa. – The Philadelphia Union will officially unveil their brand new third kit at a season kickoff event at the Union’s newest pub partner – Xfinity Live! on Tuesday, February 26. 

The event, which includes the entire Union roster and technical staff, is free and open to the public from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.  Union season ticket holders will have exclusive access from 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Attendees will not only get a preview of the new kit that the Union will officially debut in their season opener on March 2, but they will also have the opportunity to mix and mingle with their favorite Union players while enjoying all that XFinity Live! has to offer.  Union merchandise, including the third kit and other new items for 2013, will be available for purchase.

The Union kick off the 2013 season at PPL Park on Saturday, March 2 against Sporting Kansas City at 4:00 p.m. ET on 6abc.

Kinch tops Miranda in Allentown

ALLENTOWN, PA - This past Saturday night at the Rodeway Inn, Kings Boxing Promotions put on a terrific night of both amateur and Professional boxing that was highlighted by big wins by Keenan Collins, Aaron Kinch and John Thompson.

In the final bout of the evening, Aaron Kinch scored a six round William Miranda in a Heavyweight bout.

The two waged an action packed war with both landing thunderous power shots.  It was Kinch who landed the more significant blows that opened a nasty cut over the right eye of Miranda and caused swelling on the face.  Miranda took some great shots and showed a heart of steel to continue to press the action.  It was the scoring blows of Kinch that carried him to the victory of 60-54 on all cards.

Keenan Collins scored a stoppage in the eighth and final round over George Rivera in a rematch of a draw that took place ten months earlier.

It was Rivera who jumped out to the early by boxing well over the first half of the fight.  Collins came back and started to land some hard power shots that started to wear down Rivera.  In round eight Collins dropped Rivera twice that led to the stoppage at 2:16 of the final round.

Impressive Jr. Middleweight John Thompson scored a stoppage at the end of round five of his scheduled six round bout over Grayson Blake. 

Thompson worked a quick jab that started carving up the nose and face of Blake and continued that pinpoint punch for much of the fight.  Thompson would occasionally mix in a right hand that would land as Blake would come in.

Frankie De Alba was impressive in taking all six rounds from Isaac Suarez in their Lightweight bout.

The southpaw from Reading, PA landed some solid power punches that backed Suarez up and De Alba was in control for most of the fight.

Mark Rideout of Philadelphia remained undefeated with a four round split decision over Eric Newell in a Heavyweight bout.

There was noy much sustained action in this bout the featured a lot of fighting on the inside.  Scores were 39-37 on two cards for Rideout.  While Newell grabbed a third card 39-37.

In the opener, Sammy Quinones got his first victory in style as he scored a third round stoppage over Charles Mack in a scheduled four round Jr. Welterweight bout.

FULL RESULTS

6 Rounds—Heavyweights—Aaron Kinch (5-1-1) 259 lbs from Newark, NJ UDEC over William Miranda (6-6-2) 231 lbs of Allentown, PA…Scores were 60-54 on all cards

8 Rounds—Middleweights—Keenan Collins (15-7-3, 10 KO’s) 159 lbs of Reading, PA TKO 8 (2:16) over George Rivera (13-8-1) 160 lbs of Charlottesville, VA

6 Rounds—Middleweights--John Thompson (11-0, 4 KO’s) 157 lbs of Newark, NJ TKO (End of 5) over Grayson Blake (5-2) 156 lbs of State College, PA

6 Rounds—Lightweights—Frank De Alba (6-1-2) 130 lbs of Reading, PA U DEC over Isaac Suarez (7-3) 129 ½ lbs of Lancaster, PA…Scores were 60-54 on all cards

4 Rounds—Heavyweights—Mark Rideout (3-0) 245 lbs of Philadelphia, PA S DEC over Eric Newell (4-2-1) 246 lbs of Bethlehem, PA… Scores were 39-37 on two cards for Rideout and 39-37 for Newell

4 Rounds—Jr. Welterweights—Sammy Quinones (1-1, 1 KO) 140 ½ lbs of York, PA KO 3 (1:42) over Charles Mack (0-1-1) 140 lbs of Philadelphia

The next card for Kings Boxing will be Saturday night March 16th at the Valley Forge Casino Resort

Eagles name Peduzzi head athletic trainer

The Eagles have named Chris Peduzzi as the team’s head athletic trainer.

Peduzzi, 41, has spent the past 14 seasons on the Eagles athletic training staff. He joined the team from West Chester University in 1999, where he served as the school’s head football athletic trainer.

Peduzzi also worked as an intern for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996-98, and also spent time with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in the spring of 1997. The Johnstown, PA, native played linebacker at Virginia Tech from 1990-94 while earning a B.S. in athletic training and a M.A. in education.

Holiday adds Skills Challenge to All-Star duties

Sixers All-Star guard Jrue Holiday was selected as a participant in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, which takes place February 16, at Toyota Center in Houston as part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night.

The competition features a six-man field comprised of defending champion Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, Brandon Knight of the Detroit Pistons, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets, and Jeff Teague of the Atlanta Hawks.

The 22-year-old Holiday was selected to his first All-Star Game on January 24, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to accomplish the feat in the process.  This season, he ranks 12th in the league in scoring (19.3 ppg) and fourth in assists (8.9 apg).

Sixers' Richardson done for season

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jason Richardson will undergo surgery on his left knee and will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season.

A date and time for surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Jonathan Glashow of Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, is still being established.

Richardson started 33 games for the Sixers this season, averaging 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.21 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.  He recorded 40 steals with just 26 turnovers and would rank third in the NBA in steal-to-turnover ratio (1.54) if he qualified.  Richardson missed the past eight games with left knee synovitis.

Leighton to IR; Boucher recalled

It wouldn't be the Philadelphia Flyers on a Sunday without a bit of intrigue.

Following a 3-0-1 homestand and just prior to opening up a six-game road swing tomorrow, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren announced that Michael Leighton will miss 7-to-10 days with an unknown upper-body injury which will apparently keep him sidelined.

Leighton has only played in one game this season, a 5-1 loss at Tampa on January 27.

That means everyone gets bumped up a notch. Brian Boucher was recalled from the Adirondack Phantoms, and Cal Heeter was brought up from Trenton of the ECHL to take his place.

The 36-year-old Boucher went 2-4-0 with a 2.71 goals against average in six appearances since the Flyers brought him back into the organization. He will be wearing his familiar No. 33.

Philadelphia starts its sojourn in Toronto on Monday night.

Briere's OT winner gets Flyers past Hurricanes

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor 

Sometimes all it takes is a little luck to push things in the right direction.

After a listless third period which saw the Carolina Hurricanes tie the score and send the game into overtime, Danny Briere's fluke tally at the 1:47 mark of the extra session sent the Philadelphia Flyers home victorious on Saturday afternoon.

Briere was walled off as he skated from the left wing into the slot, but shot anyway, and the puck deflected off the near post, then caromed off the back of Cam Ward, before trickling over the goal line.

His second goal of the season, and second in the span of a week and both coming against Carolina sent the hosts to a 3-0-1 homestand just prior to a six-game road trip.

"Some of the bounces didn't really go our way, but overall I thought it was a pretty good game," Briere said. "When I cut to the middle, like I did at first, my plan was to drop it. I realized that their defenseman was up, and the second defenseman and forward were backchecking, lunging to go toward Kurtis (Foster), as well, so I decided to keep the puck. There was a little opening in the slot to shoot it in."

Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 30-of-33 shots for the win. Brayden Schenn, Matt Read and Jakub Voracek also lit the lamp for Philadelphia, which was coming off a shootout loss to Florida on Thursday.

Ward allowed four goals on 32 shots in defeat, less than 48 hours after posting a season-high 45 saves in a victory at Ottawa. Jiri Tlusty, Jeff Skinner and Joe Corvo lit the lamp in the loss.

We were skating better, moving the puck better, creating a higher tempo (in the third period)," said Carolina head coach Kirk Muller about his team elevating their play. "We talk about being a team that plays 60 minutes...but this is always a tough place to play. We need to win more one-on-one battles, that was the strength of their hockey club. But to pick up a point on the road, during a long road trip, is a positive sign."

Carolina silenced the crowd only 17 seconds after the opening faceoff, when Tlusty banged home the rebound of a Corvo right point blast. Eric Staal set up the play by winning a right-circle draw back to the slick blueliner, and the goal-scorer took advantage of a seam in coverage.

The masses were moved at the 6:34 mark, when Carolina's Tim Wallace unleashed a vicious check from behind on Tye McGinn along the right wing in the Flyers' defensive zone. The aggressor was shown the gate on a major for boarding and game misconduct, and the hosts got a three-minute power play after Braydon Coburn was sent off for roughing when he tried to answer for his teammate.

A short time later, a tripping call to South Jersey native Bobby Sanguinetti produced a 4-on-3 which then became a two-man advantage for 1:37. Timonen hit the near post from the left circle early into the 5-on-3, then Claude Giroux rang one off the pipe and Ward was strong during two other scrambles in the crease.

"We got what we wanted, but the pipe got in the way," said Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette of the puck motion on the two-man edge which didn't result in a score. 

The Flyers did even the score with 6:08 remaining as Schenn moved from the slot to the left circle for a redirection to the far side of a Timonen wrister at the left point. 

Read put the hosts on top with 1:33 played in the second period. Forechecking deep in the Hurricanes' zone, Mike Knuble was in perfect position to force a bad clear on the right wing by  Staal, and the puck found the sophomore, who skated in and beat Ward with a wrister from the slot.

Skinner tied the game once more during a 4-on-4 situation on a wraparound attempt which snuck through the crook of Bryzgalov's arm as he tried to seal off the crossbar at 11:17, but 15 seconds later, Voracek tipped home a pass to make it 3-2.

Schenn's rush up the left-wing side had the 'Canes backing in, and he zipped a pass across the ice just in front of the stick of Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason for the easy score by the Czech winger.

The visitors tied the game, 3-3, at 7:58 of the third period, when Corvo's high wrister from the right point caromed off bodies in front of the Philadelphia net and trickled over the goal line.

Bryzgalov made his biggest save of the contest seconds into a Nicklas Grossmann elbowing minor with just under eight minutes to play, gliding across his crease to shut off a Staal one-timer from in close. 

Read had two golden chances to end it with seconds to go in regulation. Voracek had a step on a defender in the Carolina zone, but turned back in the right circle to find Sean Couturier, who fumbled the puck a bit before slipping a blind, backhand pass to his teammate, all alone on the left side.

Ward closed the pads on the first shot, but the rebound came out to the near post, and Read lifted his next chance high and wide of the near side as time expired. 

"Ithought we played pretty solid for two periods and then they got better a little bit in the third," Voracek said. "I think we were a little bit lucky to get it to overtime."

Notes: Schenn added two assists for his first 3-point effort of the season, and first since his goal and two assists in a 4-3 OT win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 11, 2012 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in Pittsburgh...Briere's OT strike was his first since January 7, 2012 in a 3-2 OT win against Ottawa, where he finished off his hat trick with the game-winner...Wayne Simmonds returned to the lineup after a three-game absence, playing 15:41, generating two shots and two hits... Sanguinetti, along with Jay Harrison, were game-worst minus-threes, while Schenn was a game-best plus-three...The Flyers begin their road swing on Monday in Toronto, where Luke Schenn returns for the first time since the offseason deal which saw him come to Philadelphia for James van Riemsdyk...The Flyers improved to 20-4-3 with three ties against Carolina at home since the franchise relocated from Hartford in 1997, and have won  eight of their last nine as the host against the Hurricanes...Tlusty's opening score was the quickest allowed by the Flyers since Sidney Crosby tallied 15 seconds into Game 2 of the Eastern quarters in Pittsburgh...Skinner and Corvo led all players with seven shots apiece.

One more time: Timonen here for 2013-14

What once was a rumor circulating last night, has become a reality. The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they agreed to extend the contract of their most reliable defenseman for next season.

“We are pleased to announce that we have signed Kimmo Timonen to a one-year contract extension,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said.  “Kimmo’s presence on the ice for us and in our locker room is invaluable. We look forward to him continuing his all-around play for us.”

No financial terms were disclosed, but multiple previous reports stated it is a $6 million deal. According to the Daily News, Timonen also retains his no-movement clause in the contract.

Currently in his 14th NHL campaign and sixth with the Orange and Black, the 37-year-old native of Finland  has posted 211 points on 28 goals and 183 assists, and has gathered a plus-38 rating along with 244 penalty minutes over 407 games.

"I talked to Kimmo during the Summer, I talked to him during the lockout to see how he felt. This was an ongoing thing, and it came to a (finishing) point this morning," Holmgren added. "We're going through a systematic change in the way we play, but Kimmo plays in all situations for us, he logs a lot of minutes, he's just a key guy for us."

Timonen has endured a bit of bad luck in the early going, partly responsible for a broken foot sustained by former Nashville Predators teammate Scott Hartnell back in late January.

Coming from offseason back surgery, he has recorded one goal and five points in 10 games thus far in the truncated 2013 schedule.

Timonen offered his perspective shortly after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers, saying,  "I talked with Paul before the season started and he wanted to know where I'm at with playing one more year, and I said well coming off the lockout, coming out from back surgery, give me about 10 games. I want to see how I feel. I want to still feel like I can play [at a] top level and a couple days ago I talked to [Paul Holmgren], I said I feel pretty good and it was pretty easy after. Ninety-nine percent sure that's my last."

Union announce local TV sked

Chester, Pa. –  The Philadelphia Union and broadcast partners 6ABC, Comcast SportsNet and the Comcast Network will again team to televise those Union games that are not shown nationally, the club announced today.

WPVI-TV/6ABC continues in its fourth season as the Union’s official broadcast partner and will air three of the team’s 34 total matches this season, while the April 6th match at Columbus will be shown on the Live Well Network. 

Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network, now in their third season, will air 20 matches.  All matches will be broadcast in high definition.

"We are very excited about our expanding team of broadcast professionals and looking forward to what will be a new look and format to Union broadcasts,” said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz.  “We've listened to our viewers and have worked very hard in the off season to provide the best possible viewing experience for Union fans.”

Veteran broadcaster JP Dellacamera returns for his fourth season as the Union’s play by play man and will be joined this season by former Philadelphia Union and Venezuelan National Team forward Alejandro Moreno.

Moreno, a Union original, netted 52 goals in 272 appearances over his 10 year Major League Soccer career and won three MLS cups and three Supporters Shields.  Born in Venezuela, Moreno earned 41 caps for his National Team, scoring three goals.    

“Philadelphia Union is a great partner to 6abc and we’re thrilled to broadcast the 2013 season opener,” says 6abc President & General Manager, Bernie Prazenica. “We’re ready to bring soccer fans in the Delaware Valley another great season of Union Soccer.”

MLS veteran radio and television announcer Tony Limarzi and former Philadelphia KiXX goalkeeper Peter Pappas will host the Union’s 30 minute pre-game show as well as a halftime segment during all home matches.  Union Academy Director and former Scottish International Iain Munro is slated to make guest appearances on both the pregame and halftime shows.

“Local soccer fans can once again count on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network to provide unparalleled Philadelphia Union coverage, with 20 high definition games and the return of the “State of the Union’ magazine show,” said Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia President Brian Monihan.

The Union’s weekly magazine show entitled “State of the Union,” which airs bi-weekly on Friday nights on The Comcast Network and Comcast SportsNet returns for its third season. Air times are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on The Comcast Network and 11:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet.

Eagles name Davis defensive coordinator

The Eagles have named Billy Davis as their new defensive coordinator.

Davis was most recently the linebackers coach under new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in Cleveland. He was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 through 2006 and with Arizona in 2009-10.

For those asking Davis is a 3-4 guy and it appears the Eagles will be making that much-talked about switch.

Sixers sign Pargo to 10-day deal

The 76ers have signed guard Jeremy Pargo to a 10-day contract and announced he second 10-day contract guard Shelvin Mack signed on January 28 has expired. 

Pargo (6-foor-2, 219) was not selected in the 2009 NBA Draft and played overseas until signing as a free agent with Memphis prior to the start of last season.  He appeared in 44 games with five starts for the Grizzlies in 2011-12 and was traded to Cleveland on July 25, 2012.

The Gonzaga product saw action in 25 games with 11 starts for Cleveland this season, averaging 7.8 points, 2.6 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game.  He was waived by the Cavaliers on January 22 in conjunction with Cleveland’s trade with Memphis.

Pargo took advantage of an injury to Cleveland’s All-Star guard Kyrie Irving earlier this season and averaged 14.5 points and 4.4 assists over an 11-game span from November 21 through December 8.  Pargo scored 20-plus points three times during that stretch, including a career-high 28 points against Philadelphia on November 21.

In 69 career games with 16 starts, Pargo is averaging 4.7 points, 1.7 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.  His older brother, Jannero, is currently playing for the Atlanta Hawks.

Temple signs 23 to LOI

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University Football Program, under the leadership of first-year head coach Matt Rhule, signed 23 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

Geographically, the states best represented in the Owl class are Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ten student-athletes list their hometowns in the Keystone state, while 10 hail from the Garden state.

Additionally, two signees call New York home; one signee comes from Virginia.

Temple’s 2013 recruiting class is ranked in the BIG EAST Conference at No. 7 by Rivals.com and No. 9 by Scout.com. The Owls’ earned the top ranking in the Mid-American Conference in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2012.

Ten of the 19 high school signees attended the Temple Football Camp (53%). Over the past four years (2010-13), 71 percent of the signees have attended the Temple Football Camps.

Seven of the signees—Dion Dawkins, Paul Layton, Jihaad Pretlow, John Rizzo, Averee Robinson, Adrian Sullivan, and Kiser Terry— enrolled in classes in January 2013. Layton is a transfer student from the University of Albany.


2013 Temple Football National Letter of Intent Signees



Name                                  Pos.       Elig.      Ht.      Wt.           Hometown                             High School / Other

Jarred Alwan                       LB         Fr.       6-1      215          Cherry Hill, N.J.                     Camden Catholic

Matt Barone                       OL         Fr.       6-3      280          McKees Rocks, Pa.               Montour

Buddy Brown                      LB         Fr.       6-2      205          Williamstown, N.J.                Williamstown

Brian Carter                        DL         Fr.       6-4      280          Harrisburg, Pa.                      Harrisburg

Jim Cooper, Jr.                  PK/P       Fr.       6-1      205          Linwood, N.J.                         Mainland Regional

Dion Dawkins $                  OL         Fr.       6-5      330          Rahway, N.J.                          Rahway / Hargrave

Sharif Finch                         LB         Fr.       6-4      210          Henrico, Va.                          Henrico    

Artrel Foster                       DB         Fr.       6-0      170          Meadville, Pa.                       Meadville

Tyler Haddock                    DL         Fr.       6-2      290          Pittsburgh, Pa.                      Montour  

Todd Jeter                           DB         Fr.       6-0      169          Monroeville, Pa.                   Gateway   

Leon Johnson                     OL         Fr.       6-6      300          Plainfield, N.J.                       Bound Brook

Paul Layton $ #                    P          Sr.       6-1      215          Burnt Hills, N.Y.                     Ballston Lake / Albany

Jihaad Pretlow $                DB         Fr.      5-11    185          Elizabeth, N.J.                        Blair Academy

Shane Rafter                       OL         Fr.       6-4      282          Moorestown, N.J.                 Moorestown

Semaj Reed                         OL         Fr.       6-7      270          Philadelphia, Pa.                   Haverford School

John Rizzo $                        FB         Fr.       6-1      221          Johnstown, Pa.                      Richland

Averee Robinson $           DL         Fr.       6-1      285          Harrisburg, Pa.                      Susquehanna Twp. / Milford

Adrian Sullivan $                OL         Fr.       6-5      270          Babylon, N.Y.                         Babylon / Worchester Academy

Jullian Taylor                       DL         Fr.       6-5      230          Glenside, Pa.                         Williamstown (N.J.)

Kiser Terry $                       DL         Fr.       6-3      260          Feasterville, Pa.                    Neshaminy / Milford

Jahad Thomas                     RB         Fr.      5-10    170          Elizabeth, N.J.                        Elizabeth

P.J. Walker                          QB         Fr.       6-1      200          Elizabeth, N.J.                        Elizabeth

Zaire Williams                     RB         Fr.      5-11    188          Sicklerville, N.J.                     Timber Creek          


$ Mid-year enrollees

# Transfer student



Signee Biographies

Jarred Alwan

Linebacker • Freshman • 6-1 • 215

Cherry Hill, N.J. • Camden Catholic HS



High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … ranked the No. 23 player in the state of New Jersey … played for coach Gil Brooks at Camden Catholic HS … participated in the North-South Game … selected Temple over Boston College and West Virginia.



Personal:  Jarred Alwan … born November 30, 1993 … parents are Narci and Gamal Alwan … plans to study risk management and actuarial science in the Fox School of Business.





Matt Barone

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-3 • 280

McKees Rocks, Pa. • Montour HS



High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … ranked 13th nationally at center … played for coach Lou Cerro at Montour HS … team went 35-6 during his prep career with a WPIAL title and a runner-up finish … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … as a junior, team went 12-3 and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state semifinals in 2011.



Personal:  Matt Barone … born March 2, 1995 … Montour teammate Tyler Haddock is a fellow Temple signee.





Buddy Brown

Linebacker • Freshman • 6-2 • 205

Williamstown, N.J. • Williamstown HS



High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played for coach Frank Fucetola at Williamstown HS … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … as a junior, had 87 tackles, six sacks, and four forced fumbles … participated in the North-South Game… selected Temple over more than 20 other BCS offers, including Rutgers, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.



Personal:  Shawn Brown, Jr. … born July 13, 1994 … parents are Tiffany and Shawn Brown, Sr. … has two sisters— Destiny (21) and Brianna (16) … father is a retired police officer … loves history … Williamstown teammate Jullian Taylor is a fellow Temple signee … considering a double major in kinesiology and business.





Brian Carter

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-4 • 280

Harrisburg, Pa. • Harrisburg HS



High School: Two-way lineman for coach Calvin Everett at Harrisburg HS … three-year starter … 2012 first-team All-Mid-Penn Conference honoree on offense … selected to participate in the Big 33 Game … selected Temple over Connecticut.



Personal:  Brian Carter … born November 7, 1994 … parents are Melody Fleming and Melvin Washington … guardian is Tracey Smith.





Jim Cooper, Jr.

Placekicker/Punter • Freshman • 6-1 • 205

Linwood, N.J. • Mainland Regional HS



High School: U.S. Army All-American … three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played for coach Robert Coffey at Mainland Regional HS but kicking coach was his father, Jim Sr. … participated in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.



Personal:  James Cooper, Jr. … born October 19, 1994 … parents are Marie and James Cooper, Sr. … father was also a kicker at Temple (1983-86) under head coach Bruce Arians.





Dion Dawkins

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-5 • 330

Rahway, N.J. • Rahway HS • Hargrave Military Academy



Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.



Postgraduate: Played offensive tackle for coach Troy Davis during the 2012 season … bolstered an o-line that helped the Tigers rush for more than 150 yards per game … selected Temple over Cincinnati.



High School: Played offensive and defensive tackle for coach Gary Mobley at Rahway HS … graduated in 2012 … participated in the North-South Game.



Personal:  Dion Ray Dawkins … born April 26, 1994 … parents are Lisa Dawkins and Eric Dawkins.







Sharif Finch

Linebacker • Freshman • 6-4 • 210

Henrico, Va. • Henrico HS



High School: Played linebacker for coach Roger Brookes … as a senior, had 84 tackles and five sacks … as a junior, had 161 tackles and 10.5 sacks … selected Temple over Miami and East Carolina.



Personal:  Sharif Finch … born October 1, 1995… parents are Wendy Finch and Greg Finch … originally from Queens, N.Y.





Artrel Foster

Defensive Back • Freshman • 6-0 • 170

Meadville, Pa. • Meadville HS



High School: Played cornerback and running back for coach Mike Feleppa at Meadville HS … four-year varsity starter … in prep career, had 4,248 all-purpose yards, including 3,249 rushing yards on 499 carries, 37 touchdowns, 130 tackles, and six interceptions … 2012 District 10 Region 5 first-team honoree on defense, second-team honoree on offense  … rushed for 101 yards in 2012 season opener against Northwestern … named one of the Top 100 juniors in Pennsylvania … 2011 District 10 Region 5 first-team honoree on defense, second-team honoree on offense  … rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior and sophomore … as a junior, had three interceptions  … also a 2012 first-team All-Region honoree in basketball on defense and second-team All-Region on offense … attended the 2012 Temple Football Camp … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … also played basketball … selected Temple over Cincinnati and Penn State.



Personal:  Artrel Jonte Foster … born June 24, 1995, in Meadville, Pa. …. parents are Tammy Foster and Art Bell … has an older sister, Asia Foster (24), and a younger brother, Armoni Foster (13) … cousin is Wade Manning, former WR/CB (1979-82) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos … considering a career in graphic design or athletic training.





Tyler Haddock

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-2 • 290

Pittsburgh, Pa. • Montour HS



High School: Three-year letterwinner at defensive tackle for coach Lou Cerro at Montour HS … unanimous All-Parkway Conference selection as a two-way player … team went 35-6 during his prep career with a WPIAL title and a runner-up finish … in prep career, had 120 tackles and 15 sacks … as a junior, team went 12-3 and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state semifinals in 2011 … totaled 100career  tackles, 26 TFL, 15 sacks, and three fumble recoveries at the end of his junior season … also a three-year letterwinner in wrestling … went 60-29 … attended the 2012 Temple Football Camp … started in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … Honor Roll student … active with Big Brothers/Big Sisters … selected Temple over Georgia Tech and Rutgers.



Personal:  Tyler James Haddock … born December 16, 1994, in Pittsburgh, Pa. … parents are Sharon Jones and John Jones (stepfather) … Montour teammate Matt Barone is a fellow Temple signee … intends to study sports management.





Todd Jeter

Defensive Back • Freshman • 6-0 • 169

Monroeville, Pa. • Gateway HS



High School: Played wide receiver and defensive back for former coach Terry Smith, now at Temple, at Gateway HS … also returned punts … 2012 All-State selection … 2012 Quad East All-Star … 2012 second-team All-Foothills Conference honoree on defense … helped the Gators to a 9-2 record in 2012 en route to a Quad East championship with a perfect 8-0 record … team advanced to the WPIAL AAAA playoffs … as a senior in 2012, had 322 receiving yards and two touchdowns while making 27 tackles and two interceptions …  averaged 20 yards per catch … played for the North squad in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … selected for the 2013 Big 33 Game.



Personal:  Todd Jeter … mother is Renee Boswell.





Leon Johnson

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-6 • 300

Plainfield, N.J. • Bound Brook HS



High School: Two-way lineman for coach Dom Longo at Bound Brook HS … as a senior, had 20 tackles, including 15 solo stops … also played center for the Crusaders’ basketball team … selected Temple over South Florida and Ohio State.



Personal:  Hubert Leon Johnson … prefers middle name … born June 4, 1995 … mother is Valerie Graves.





Paul Layton

Punter • Senior • 6-1 • 215

Burnt Hills, N.Y. • Ballston Lake HS • Albany



Transfer student from the University at Albany … enrolled at Temple in January 2013 ... graduated in December 2012 … has one season of eligibility.



Honors: 2012, 2011, and 2010 first-team All-Northeast Conference honoree … 2012 College Football Performance FCS Punter Watch List ... 2012 All-Northeast Conference Preseason Team … named the 2011 Great Danes' Most Valuable Special Teams Player (team award) ... named a 2011 ECAC Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Special Team All-Star ... Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (twice) … 2010 NEC Academic Honor Roll … 2009 Capital District Student Scholarship.



College: Three-year letterwinner at punter for head coach Bob Ford at the University at Albany … averaged 41.0 yards in career. 2012: Played in all 11 games at punter … averaged a league-best 40.4 yards per punt, including a program record 82-yarder vs. Wagner (11/3) … punted 46 times with 11 sailing 50-yards or longer … dropped 15 within the 20-yard line.  2011: Averaged 42.6 yards per punt, ranking 9th among the national leaders ... booted 17 kicks of 50 or more yards. 2010: Averaged 40.1 yard per punt as a redshirt freshman ... ranked 31st among the national leaders and third in the Northeast Conference ... placed 14 punts inside the 20-yard line, including seven for touchbacks ... booted 50-plus yard punts 12 times ... tied 13th-longest punt in school history with 69-yarder in season finale against Monmouth ... kicked a 63-yard punt at Duquesne and a 61-yarder at Maine. 2009:  Redshirted. Selected Temple over Penn State and Notre Dame.



High School: Four-year letterwinner for coach Matt Shell at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS … 2008 Class A first-team All-State selection by New York State Sportswriters Association as a kicker ... made 68 of 69 PATs and three field goals ... third on all-time Section II kicking list with 77 points ... averaged 42 yards per punt ... all-time leader in Section II history with 172 career kicking points ... 2008 Large School Offensive Player of the Year by the Albany Times Union ... first-team All-Area by Daily Gazette and Troy Record ... led high school to state championship game as a quarterback ... passed for 1,302 yards and 14 touchdowns ... rushed for 1,186 yards and 20 TDs ... BHBL won second sectional title in last three years ... consensus All-Area punter as a junior, when he averaged 41 yards per attempt ... earned third-team All-State honors as a quarterback ... career stats: 2,861 passing yards, 34 passing TDs, 2,002 rushing yards, 28 rushing TDs ... four varsity awards as basketball guard ... two-time team captain … National Honor Society member … Math Honor Society member … Business Honor Society member … participated in Big Brothers.



Personal:  Paul K. Layton … born November 5, 1990, in Burnt Hills, N.Y. … parents are Karen and Jim Layton  … has two older sisters, Jessica (32) and Lauren (26), and an older brother, Steve (30) … all siblings were college athletes … brother played tight end at Union College … Jessica played soccer at Syracuse, and Lauren played field hockey at SUNY Oswego … graduated from Albany in December 2012 with a degree in business administration… pursuing a master’s degree in marketing.



LAYTON’S PUNTING STATS

Year                       GP           No.             Yds            Avg            Long           TB             FC          I20         50+       Blkd

2010                        11             62         2,485            40.1                 69              7             10           14           12              2

2011                        12             51         2,174            42.6                 70              7             11           21           17              0

2012                        11             46         1,860            40.4                 82           10             11           15           11              1

Totals                     34           159         6,519            41.0                 82           24             32           50           40              3              





Jihaad Pretlow

Defensive Back • Freshman • 5-11 • 185

Elizabeth, N.J. • Blair Academy



Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.



High School:  Played running back for coach Jim Stone at Blair Academy … as a junior, rushed for 838 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Bucs went 7-0 overall … also made four interceptions as a defensive back … played two seasons with nationally ranked basketball team … selected Temple over Connecticut, Penn State, and Rutgers.



Personal: Jihaad Pretlow … born March 15, 1994 … parents are Bayyinah Pretlow and Malik Jackson … father played football at Rutgers in the early 1990s … played Pop Warner football with fellow Temple signee P.J. Walker.





Shane Rafter

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-4 • 282

Moorestown, N.J. • Moorestown HS



High School: Played offensive and defensive tackle for coach Russ Horton … three-year letterwinner … 2012 All-County honoree on defense  … helped the Quaker to the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs … as a junior, had 61 tackles and three sacks … the first player to commit to Temple in the 2013 class … participated in the 2011 National Underclassmen Combine … also a two-year letterwinner in track and ice hockey … selected Temple over Connecticut, Rutgers, and Syracuse.



Personal:  Shane Rafter … born July 7, 1994 … parents are John and Barb Rafter … has a sister, Jamie.





Semaj Reed

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-7 • 270

Philadelphia, Pa. • Haverford School



High School: Played defensive end for coach Michael Murphy at the Haverford School … also played basketball … selected Temple over Buffalo and Maryland.



Personal:  Semaj Reed … mother is Jacqueline Reed … originally from Newburgh, N.Y. … interested in political science, criminal justice, and business.





John Rizzo

Fullback • Freshman • 6-1 • 221

Johnstown, Pa. • Richland HS



Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.



High School: Played running back for coach Brandon Bailey at Richland HS … 2012 Tribune-Democrat first-team All-Area … as a senior, rushed for 1,769 yards and 20 touchdowns … played in the East-East Game … three-time state heavyweight wrestling champion … selected Temple over Penn State, Pitt, and Georgia Tech.



Personal:  John Rizzo … born February 13, 1993 … parents are Lynda and Tony Rizzo … has six siblings— Anthony (26),  Marlena (24), Frank (23), Joe (21), Christina (15), and Mario (14).





Averee Robinson

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-1 • 285

Harrisburg, Pa. • Susquehanna Township HS • Milford Academy



Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013 … originally signed National Letter of Intent with Temple in February 2012.



Postgraduate: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played the 2012 season for coach Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy.



High School: Played defensive tackle for coach Joe Headen at Susquehanna Township HS … 2011 Harrisburg Patriot-News first-team Defensive All-Star … as a junior, had 46 tackles and eight sacks … also wrestled … won consecutive PIAA heavyweight wrestling championship in 2012 and 2011… attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp.



Personal:  Averee Robinson … born October 17, 1993 … parents are Terry and Adrian Robinson, Sr. … older brother is former Temple Owl and three-time first-team All-MAC DE Adrian Robinson (2008-11) who just finished his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.





Adrian Sullivan

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-5 • 270

Babylon, N.Y. • Babylon HS • Worchester Academy



Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.



Postgraduate: Played one season for coach Tony Johnson at Worcester Academy (Mass.) … Honor Roll student.



High School: Played offensive tackle and defensive end for coach Rick Punzone at Babylon Junior-Senior HS … team went 15-6 his last two seasons … named to the 2012 Best Players on Long Island Honor Roll for basketball.



Personal:  Adrian Sullivan, Jr. … parents are Sonja Stewart and the late Adrian Sullivan, Sr. … uncle is former Temple and current San Diego Chargers assistant coach Andrew Dees.





Jullian Taylor

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-5 • 230

Glenside, Pa. • Williamstown (N.J.) HS



High School: Versatile athlete … played defensive end, tight end, and linebacker for coach Frank Fucetola at Williamstown HS … 2012 All-State, All-Mid Athletic, All-Group 5, and All-South Jersey honoree … team went a perfect 12-0 en route to the 2012 state Class 5 championship as a senior, had 60 tackles and 14 sacks … participated in the North-South Game … volunteered for Mastery Charter School’s beautification project … selected Temple over Iowa and Virginia Tech.



Personal:  Jullian Patrick Taylor … born January 30, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pa. … parents are Rufus Taylor and Rolanda Brewer … has a younger brother, Jay (8), and a younger sister, Mia (8) … father is a Temple alum who was a walk-on the men’s basketball team in 1989 … Williamstown teammate Buddy Brown is a fellow Temple signee … intends to study business.





Kiser Terry

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-3 • 260

Feasterville, Pa. • Neshaminy HS • Milford Academy



Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013 … originally signed National Letter of Intent with Temple in February 2012.



Postgraduate: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played the 2012 season for coach Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy … saw action at defensive end.



High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … selected to play in the 2012 Big 33 Game and the 2011 Chesapeake Bowl … team captain … played defensive end and tight end for coach Mark Schmidt at Neshaminy HS … 2011 PA Football News Honorable Mention All-State honoree … 2011 EasternPAFootball.com Honorable Mention All-State selection … 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer first-team All-Southeastern PA pick … 2011 Suburban One first-team All-Conference honoree … 2011 Neshaminy Mr. Lineman coaches’ award recipient … 2010 second-team All-Conference selection … Redskins went 12-2 in 2010, his junior season, and advanced to the District 1 AAAA championship game … as a junior, had 47 tackles, including 40 solo stops, a team-best six sacks, and three forced fumbles.



Personal:  Kiser Terry … born August 11, 1993 … mother is Betty Terry … older brother Terrell Channell lettered in football at Temple in 2006.





Jahad Thomas

Running Back • Freshman • 5-10 • 170

Elizabeth, N.J. • Elizabeth HS



High School: Ranked the fourth-best running back in the state of New Jersey … all-purpose back for coach John Quinn at Elizabeth HS … helped team to the 2012 state title … participated in the North-South Game … captained two sports as a junior … starter on the nationally ranked basketball team.



Personal:  Jahad Thomas … born November 6, 1995 … parents are Connie Thomas and Eddie Roberts … Elizabeth HS teammate P.J. Walker is a fellow Temple signee.





P.J. Walker

Quarterback • Freshman • 6-1 • 200

Elizabeth, N.J. • Elizabeth HS



High School: Dual-threat quarterback for coach John Quinn at Elizabeth HS … 2012 Newark-Star Ledger State Offensive Player of the Year … helped team to the 2012 state title … as a junior, one of the state’s most accurate passers … went 120-of-189 (63.5 percent) for 2,168 yards and 18 touchdowns … in the NJSIAA sectional final against Piscataway, threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 199 yards and a touchdown … four-year starter … participated in the North-South Game … also played basketball … team reached the 2012 Group 4 final … selected Temple over Connecticut and Rutgers.



Personal:  Phillip Walker, Jr. … born February 26, 1995… parents are Tamicha Drake and Phillip Walker, Sr. … Elizabeth HS teammate Jahad Thomas is a fellow Temple signee … played Pop Warner football with fellow Temple signee Jihaad Pretlow.


Zaire Williams

Running Back • Freshman • 5-11 • 188

Sicklerville, N.J. • Timber Creek HS



High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … ranked by Rivals as the No. 36 overall running back and New Jersey’s 16th-best player overall … played for coach Rob Hinson … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … selected Temple over West Virginia.



Personal:  Zaire Williams … born October 25, 1994 … father is Bruce Williams.


FAST FACTS



Across State Lines

The 2013 Class represents four states-- Pennsylvania (10), New Jersey (10), New York (2), and Virginia (1).  All but four of the signees live within 200 miles (or less) to campus. Eight players live less than hour’s drive from campus.



Home Grown Talent

Ten new Temple Owls call Pennsylvania home.



Gone Camping

Ten of the 19 high school signees attended the Temple Football Camp (53%). Over the past four years (2010-13), 71 percent of the signees have attended the Temple Football Camps.



Grappling onto Gridiron

Four new Owls—Jarred Alwan, Tyler Haddock, John Rizzo, and Averee Robinson— also wrestled for their high school teams.  Rizzo is a three-time state champion, while Robinson is a two-time state champion.



Hoop Dreams

Seven new Owls—Sharif Foster, Leon Johnson, Jihaad Pretlow, Semaj Reed, Adrian Sullivan, Jahad Thomas, and P.J. Walker— split their time between the stadium and the gymnasium as members of the basketball team.



Quick Hits

-- LB Buddy Brown and DL Jullian Taylor hail from Williamstown (N.J.) HS.  The Braves’ teammates headline the defensive signees for the 2013 Temple Class.



-- DB Jihaad Pretlow and QB P.J. Walker played Pop Warner football together.



-- DL Averee Robinson is the younger brother of three-time first-team All-MAC DE and current Pittsburgh Steeler Adrian Robinson (2008-11).



-- OL Adrian Sullivan is the nephew of former Temple assistant coach Andrew Dees who is currently coaching with the San Diego Chargers.



-- QB P.J. Walker (2012) is the second consecutive Newark Star-Ledger State Offensive Player of the Year that has signed with Temple.  Sophomore WR Khalif Herbin, who signed last year, earned the honor in 2011.



-- Fifteen signees played in All-Star Games following their senior season:

      U.S. Army All-American Bowl [Jim Cooper, Jr.]

      Chesapeake Bowl [Matt Barone, Buddy Brown, Artrel Foster, Tyler Haddock, Todd Jeter, Kiser

      Terry, Zaire Williams]

      North-South [Jarred Alwan, Buddy Brown, Dion Dawkins, Jullian Taylor, Jahad Thomas, P.J.

      Walker]

      Big 33 [Brian Carter, Todd Jeter, Kiser Terry]

      East-West [John Rizzo]

Eagles release Bell, sign ex-CFL DE McCoy

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles made a pair of personnel moves on Wednesday signing defensive end Chris McCoy to a three-year contract and releasing disappointing tackle Demetress Bell.

McCoy (6-foot-3, 261) is coming off of a two-year stint with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, where he registered 29 tackles and five sacks. He was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 7th round of the 2010 NFL Draft and spent his rookie season on the practice squads of the Dolphins, Seahawks and Texans. He then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 offseason, but was released prior to the season opener.

McCoy, 26, is a native of Valla Rica, GA and played collegiately at Middle Tennessee State, where he was the Sun Belt Co-Defensive Player of the year in 2009. Overall, he played in 45 games with the Blue Raiders and compiled 107 tackles and 11 sacks.

Bell was signed to a big money deal last offseason as a replacement for the injured Jason Peters but proved to be a bad fit for Howard Mudd's zone-based blocking schemes.

Extra Points: Mock Draft version 1.0

By John McMullen

PHILADELPHIA - The Baltimore Ravens' coronation as Super Bowl XLVII champions puts the lid on the 2012 NFL season and is the unofficial kickoff to the league's offseason, specifically free agency and the draft.

For the 31 teams looking up at the Ravens on the mountain top, it's the first opportunity to close the gap and begin their climb toward the game's ultimate prize.

With that in mind and the Indianapolis scouting combine on the docket for later this month, it's time to take our first look at the 2013 NFL Draft set for April 25-27 in New York City's famed Radio City Music Hall.

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M - A lot of Andy Reid's success in Philadelphia was tied to Donovan McNabb, but don't underestimate the bookend tackles Big Red had for years in the City of Brotherly Love, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan. The guess here is Reid doesn't think a signal-caller is worthy of the No. 1 spot, so it's either about trading down or taking Joeckel, the Aggies' left tackle who should step in and play at a high level for the next decade.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State - The Jags are concerned with their pass rush, specifically their lack of a consistent one meaning Georgia hybrid Jarvis Jones, who may be the most athletic edge player in the draft will get a long look. Werner, however, is the far more consistent and well-rounded option for Jacksonville's new management team of general manager David Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley.

3. Oakland Raiders - Star Lotuleili, DT, Utah - The Raiders were awful against the run in 2012 and Lotuleili is the draft's best interior lineman, a strong, physical player who fits in playing multiple techniques and should develop into an elite run stuffer.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia - Philadelphia needs help all over, but Chip Kelly wants a quarterback with movement skills and the ability to handle his up-tempo philosophy. That's not Nick Foles. Smith has an intriguing blend of size and arm strength along with athleticism to handle Kelly's read-option calls.
5. Detroit Lions - Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU - The Lions could be in the market for Cliff Avril's replacement and Mingo seems like a slightly better fit in a traditional 4-3 than Jones. The LSU product is raw but has great size and the athleticism to excel in a zone-blitz scheme.

6. Cleveland Browns - Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M - New Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton ran the 3-4 in Arizona, but Cleveland has been running the 4-3 and has some pieces it doesn't want to scrap. That is likely good news for Moore, who seems more versatile than Jones and can fit either scheme as an edge player thanks to an elite first step.

7. Arizona Cardinals - Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California - Maybe Barkley is a bit of a reach here, but it's time to move on from the Kolb-Skelton-Lindley nonsense which derailed the Cards and Ken Whisenhunt last season. New coach Bruce Arians did wonders with a rookie quarterback in Indianapolis last season and while Barkley is no Andrew Luck, he is still the most NFL-ready signal- caller among this year's group.

8. Buffalo Bills - Mike Glennon, QB, North Carolina State - Another quarterback -desperate team makes the leap here with Glennon. The Bills simply can't sell Ryan Fitzpatrick to their fan base again and Glennon certainly has NFL size and arm strength but must improve upon shaky mechanics.

9. New York Jets - Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia - The Jets get lucky when Jones drops into their laps, giving Rex Ryan the elite pass rusher he has lacked in North Jersey.

10. Tennessee Titans - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama - The draft's best cornerback, Milliner could join Alterraun Verner in the Tennessee defensive backfield and give the Titans an elite pair on the outside. Milliner has smooth hips, gets his head around quickly and has great ball tracking ability.

11. San Diego Chargers - Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan - The main reason Philip Rivers took a huge step back last season was the ineffectiveness of his offensive line. The 6-foot-7 Fisher is clearly the second-best left tackle on the board with the wingspan and athleticism to excel. He just needs to add strength in order to deal with the bull rush.

12. Miami Dolphins - Keenan Allen, WR, California - The Dolphins want playmakers for Ryan Tannehill, and Allen is the most well-polished receiver on the market. Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson has more speed and the bigger ceiling, but Allen is quicker and projects as an elite route runner in time.

13. Tampa Bay Bucs - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington - A great Senior Bowl week gets Trufant into the top half off the first round. The Bucs weren't able to stop anyone through the air in 2012 and still need Aqib Talib's replacement. Trufant has experience in both man and zone concepts, so he should be a nice fit for Greg Schiano.

14. Carolina Panthers - Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri - The Panthers need to sure up their run defense and Richardson is a big body with a knack for penetration while playing the 3-technique. That ability to slice into the backfield could keep opposing offensive lineman off Luke Kuechly.

15. New Orleans Saints - Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU - The Saints need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball and Ansah has one of the highest ceilings in the draft -- an athletic, explosive talent who some have compared favorably to Jason Pierre-Paul.

16. St. Louis Rams - Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama - The Rams need more playmakers for Sam Bradford, but they also need to sure up the offensive line in front of him. Warmack is far quicker than his body indicates and excels at getting to the second level and walling off linebackers.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State - Casey Hampton now has 12 NFL seasons under his imposing belt, so getting the heir apparent is imperative and Hankins has excellent feet and the natural size to carry more weight, two keys when projecting nose tackles.

18. Dallas Cowboys - Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama - Whether Jay Ratliff is back or not, the Cowboys need help on the interior of the defensive line since they will be moving to a 4-3 under Monte Kiffin. Williams is the type of player who is a handful at the point of attack.

19. New York Giants - Dion Jordan, DE/LB, Oregon - When the Giants have been successful, it's usually because of their pass rush and the need to replenish there after a down season is imperative. Jordan needs to add strength and fill out, but has rare athleticism for his size and could be a good value pick here if his balky shoulder is OK.

20. Chicago Bears - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma - The Bears need to address their offensive line woes and will likely chose Johnson, a left tackle prospect over Alabama's D.J. Fluker, who projects on the right side. Even though there is a new regime in the Windy City, Gabe Carimi should get another shot at right tackle while the team absolutely must upgrade over J'Marcus Webb on the left side. Johnson was once a high school quarterback, so he understands the passing game and mirrors well. He will need to continue to add strength, however.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia - The Bengals will be looking linebacker or defensive end since Michael Johnson is a pending free agent. A former safety, Ogletree has rare range for a linebacker and could be a three-down guy early in his NFL career.

22. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee - After helping Bradford on the offensive line the Rams will get their quarterback a deep threat in the rangy Patterson, who will really develop into something if he can focus more and stop rounding off his routes.

23. Minnesota Vikings - John Jenkins, DT, Georgia - The Vikings would love to get receiver help for Christian Ponder, but with Patterson off the board, they will look to fortify the interior of the defense, where Kevin Williams is slipping at under tackle and Letroy Guion has underachieved on the nose. At 6- foot-4 and nearly 360 pounds, Jenkins will remind some Minnesotans of Pat Williams, a virtually immovable object who can tie up two blockers at will.

24. Indianapolis Colts - Datone Jones, DE, UCLA - Jones looks the prototypical base end for Chuck Pagano's 3-4 scheme. Jones has a long arms, a lively body and a good first step which helps him occupy blockers.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Alex Okafor, DE, Texas - Chris Clemons' ACL injury in the postseason means the Seahawks will be looking at pass rushers, and Okafor would be a solid pick at this stage. A high motor guy with great strength, Okafor was the best two-way defensive end in the country last season. He isn't a natural speed rusher, however, and his long-term future may be as a base left end.

26. Green Bay Packers - Barrett Jones, OG, Alabama - The Packers could go a number of ways. They could finally solve their running back woes by taking Alabama's Eddie Lacy or snare either Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert or Zach Ertz of Stanford at tight end if they waive goodbye to Jermichael Finley. That said, the offensive line is still the main concern in Titletown, or at least it should be. Fluker could be an option if they want a natural tackle, but Jones is more versatile and could be ideal at a number of positions, giving Mike McCarthy more options.

27. Houston Texans - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia - The Texans really need to get a complement to Andre Johnson and Austin may be the best slot receiver in the draft. Although undersized at 5-9 and 175 pounds, Austin was a running back in high school and enjoys the physicality of the game.

28. Denver Broncos - Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame - Jacob Tamme and Joel Dressen were solid players for the Broncos in 2012, but Eifert is a difference maker at tight end. He has the hands to be a security blanket, is a plus blocker in the running game and high points the football better than just about anyone on the pro level.

29. New England Patriots - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas - Center field has been an issue for the Patriots, and Vaccaro has the ideal combination of size and athleticism to roam from sideline to sideline as an NFL free safety.

30. Atlanta Falcons - Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford - The Falcons will try to convince Tony Gonzalez to play one more season, but even if they can do it, they must start thinking about the future, and Ertz is too good to pass up at this point. Ertz is a very good blocker and understands how to use his body to shield defenders.

31. San Francisco 49ers - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson - Randy Moss is likely history in the Bay Area, so adding Hopkins opposite Michael Crabtree should make Colin Kaepernick even more dynamic in 2013. Hopkins has strong hands and plucks the ball out of the air, but is a lot like Patterson in that he needs to sharpen his routes.

32. Baltimore Ravens - Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame - A poor national championship game against Alabama along with his bizarre personal scandal has sent Te'o plummeting, but the Ravens are a perfect fit. They can afford to take a chance, and with Ray Lewis retiring, Baltimore needs an inside linebacker. Te'o, of course, is best-suited for a 4-3, but if he runs well enough at the Combine, the Ravens should take the leap.

Other players with first-round grades:

Eddie Lacy - running back - Alabama

Jonathan Cooper - offensive guard - North Carolina

D.J. Fluker - offensive tackle - Alabama

Sam Montgomery - defensive end - LSU

Sharrif Floyd - defensive tackle - Florida

Kevin Minter - inside linebacker - LSU

Xavier Rhodes - cornerback - Xavier

Jonathan Banks - cornerback - Mississippi State

Matt Elam - safety - Florida

John McMullen recaps Super Bowl XLVII live from NOLA

BC and Northeastern win, head for Beanpot final

Boston, MA -- Quinn Smith tallied twice and Boston College advanced  to its  fourth consecutive  Beanpot final  with a  4-1 victory over Harvard at TD Garden on Monday night.

"It was really neat to score two goals in this game," said the sophomore Smith. "You always want to help your team and we have a lot of kids on this team that can score goals, and tonight was just my night.”

Michael  Matheson and Steven Whitney also lit the lamp for the Eagles, who are the three-time defending champions and face Northeastern one week from now looking for an unprecedented fourth straight championship.

Parker Milner stopped 19-of-20 shots for the win, as BC's seniors improved to 7-0 in Beanpot competition.

"The best of our three periods was the second period," said BC head coach Jerry York. "We feel excited to play for the trophy next week."

Danny  Biega notched the lone score for the Crimson, who were bidding to reach their first Beanpot title game since 2008.

Raphael Girard played well in defeat, making 42 saves.

BC  and Northeastern  battled in  the  final two  years ago,  with the  Eagles winning by a 7-6 count in overtime.

Girard  did his part  to keep Harvard in a one-goal game until the late stages of  the second  period, when Smith and  Matheson scored in a 51-second span to provide a 3-0 edge for BC.

In  the earlier  semifinal, freshman  Kevin Roy  earned his  first career  hat trick,   leading  Northeastern   to  a  surprising  3-2  victory  over  Boston University.

With his outburst, Roy now leads all Division-I rookies in goals (15) and points (30).

“I think it is different every year, so you can’t look back at the history and try and predict what is going to happen that specific year. I think we proved history wrong because we won today," Roy said.

Garrett  Vermeersch  added two  assists for  the Huskies,  who advanced to the second Monday of this tournament for the third time in the last five seasons.

Chris  Rawlings  made 32  saves for  Northeastern, which  hasn't won out since the last of its four titles in 1988.

"It doesn't matter what you did before or what you can do, it's about now..it's all about who wants it more on Monday night," said Rawlings about the potential for ending a 25-year drought.

Danny  O'Regan and  Sahir Gill tallied for the Terriers, who haven't triumphed in  the tourney  since 2009, and were coming  off a 3-2 overtime loss to BC in last year's championship.

Matt O'Connor allowed three goals on 26 shots in defeat.

College Hockey Round-up: Beanpot time again

by Bob Herpen 
Phanatic Hockey Editor

Ordinarily, the Monday after the Super Bowl is a powering-down for a significant portion of the sporting public.

But for hard-core hockey fans and alumni/alumnae of the four Boston-area Division I universities, things are just heating up.

It's the traditional first Monday of the Beanpot, whose 61st annual edition kicks off later this evening at Boston's TD Garden with a pair of contests: Boston University pairs up with Northeastern in the early game, slated for 5 p.m. (et) and Boston College squares off with Harvard at 8 p.m.

Three schools (BC, BU and Northeastern) located within the boundaries of the City of Boston are the pride of Hockey East and Harvard (out of Cambridge) holds it down for ECAC Hockey.

Though the tournament, which has come to be called the "BU Invitiational" for the Terriers' stretch of dominance for the last two decades, it is BC which holds the crown as three-time defending champions and winners in four of the last five years.
Boston and Philadelphia have traditionally shared the stigma of being called "provincial" in its collective mindset. While Philadelphia has done quite a bit in recent years to reshape its image and shed that moniker, it is largely alive and well in the Hub, and its college hockey scene is one of the embodiments of that ethos.

The Beanpot is to Boston what the Big 5 was to Philadelphia -- a collection of individual schools competing against one another, but at the same time collectively raising the profile in the sport in the city while also providing a feeder system for the pros. The rivalries are intense, full of pride and passion, pain and prominence. In Philly as in Boston, there is an issue of class in which school you either attended or support.

You're just as likely to find friends who attended BC and BU cursing each other during the 'Pot then sharing a beer after the game as you are to find St. Joe's and Villanova alums doing the same after the Holy War. The colors and the loyalty run deep.

Think Eagles fans are a ribald bunch? How about the potential of 60,000 students ages 18-25 who have the rivalry tattooed on their chromosomes.

Still, college hockey has little significant foothold in Philadelphia, and though the Frozen Four is coming here in next April, we will be besieged with what equates to foreigners on friendly shores.

The invading hordes from every small Northern town from Orono to Colorado Springs will be upon us, so I'm trying to rope in some new initiates before then. Knowledge of the Beanpot is a great way to start.

Regarding the bona fides: Boston University has won the most, with 29 titles -- but only once in the last 5 years. Perennial rival BC is next with 17. Harvard has won 10 and Northeastern, the red-headed stepchild of the bunch, clocks in with just four crowns. The Eagles hadn't won three straight since taking three in a row from 1963-65, and can set a school record with a fourth consecutive title if they happen to win out. The Crimson haven't been triumphant since 1993 and the Huskies are still looking to regain the magic from the 80's, when they took their entire allotment ('80, 84-85, '88).

The winners of this Monday's contest will play for the Beanpot title at 7:30 p.m. next Monday in Boston. The losers compete in the consolation game which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. that day.

If everything goes according to plan, there will be yet another clash between Jerry York-led Boston College and BU-driven Jack Parker in the finals.

But then again, some years things are turned on their heads and the least-likely suspects come to the forefront -- like the year Harvard rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to beat eventual conference champion and national finalist BC in overtime during a first-round game. Or having BC and Northeastern combine for 13 goals two years ago that could have easily been 20.

Former Beanpot participants who have played/coached for the Flyers include: Harvey Bennett, Tony Amonte, Freddie Meyer, Kevin Stevens and Joe Mullen.

For a full work-up, visit the official site.

Flyers regain footing, beat Hurricanes; Simmonds concussed

 

by Bob Herpen

Phanatic Hockey Editor 

Mike Knuble scored his first goal of the season and his first during his return to the Orange and Black in the second period and Claude Giroux added another tally in the frame, as Philadelphia topped Carolina, 5-3, on Saturday.

Kurtis Foster, Braydon Coburn and Danny Briere lit the lamp in the opening 20 minutes for the Flyers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid.

"Early in the season, it seemed our starts were not where we wanted to," Briere admitted after his club limped to a 2-6-0 record. "Tonight, it was very good. Overall, that first period was much better."

Ilya Bryzgalov continued his solid play, stopping a season-high 39 shots. The win came mere hours after the NHL handed down a three-game suspension to Capitals defenseman John Erskine for his elbow to the head of Wayne Simmonds in last night's 3-2 loss in Washington.

Simmonds was proclaimed out for the contest with head and neck issues in a pregame update, but Flyers GM Paul Holmgren disclosed later on that the diagnosis is a concussion with no timetable for return.

Joni Pitkanen, Eric Staal and Patrick Dwyer tallied for the Hurricanes, who opened up a six-game road trip with their second loss in three outings overall.

Dan Ellis was pulled after yielding four goals on 12 shots in just under 21 minutes of play. Cam Ward finished with 11 saves in relief.

arolina closed within 5-3 on a power play as Staal fed Dwyer at the right post with 3 1/2 minutes gone in the third period, but the Hurricanes failed to click on three successive manpower edges. The struggling club still couldn't solve Bryzgalov down the stretch despite a significant shot advantage and territorial edge.

Ward was called to the bench with 1:39 to play, and coincidental penalties seconds later made it a 5-on-4 for the visitors. Nonetheless, the Flyers avoided turnovers and gave Carolina little in the way of quality chances.

"It's pretty obvious where we need to be stronger and that's special teams," Staal admitted. "Our penalty kill wasn't good enough and our power play wasn't good enough and that's going to win games for you in this league and it did for them tonight."

Foster's blast from the right point on the game's first power play just over five minutes into the contest provided a 1-0 lead for the hosts, but Pitkanen evened the score on a wrister from the left circle at 8:47.

Coburn made it 2-1 when he joined a rush and crashed the net to fuel a 3-on-1 break, and shoveled home the rebound of Jakub Voracek's initial chance at 14:27.

After some interesting moments preventing Carolina's short-handed chances, the Flyers went up 3-1 on a power-play opportunity 58 seconds later as Briere poked home a Giroux pass from inside the crease for his first of the year.

"When everyone knows what they're doing on the ice, I think it's a lot easier. We've been working hard on it," said Giroux about new line combinations clicking suddenly.

Staal, though, converted a turnover and slipped a backhander past Bryzgalov for a 3-2 game just 33 seconds after Carolina stared down a two-goal deficit.

Knuble's first since returning to Philly made it 4-2 at the 52-second mark of the second period and Ellis was benched for Ward. Matt Read did the work which led to the score, stripping 'Canes defenseman Justin Faulk and feeding to the 40-year-old in front.

"I wouldn't say 'must-win', but you've got to start making progress," Knubles said about the importance of such an early-season matchup with an equally- struggling opponent. "We've got to climb the ladder. It was good to come out and respond with a win."

Giroux then put the Flyers up 5-2 when he unleashed a wrister from the bottom of the left circle for another man-advantage score with 7:17 left in the period.

Notes: Knuble's last regular-season goal with Philly came on Apr. 11, 2009 in a 3-2 win at Nassau Coliseum over the Islanders... he Flyers scored a season-high three power-play goals on three attempts...Carolina was credited with 91 attempted shots, with the Flyers blocking 32 of those for a possible record, according to Elias, which cannot find an instance of a higher number since it began tracking the stat in 2005...With the Schenn brothers (Luke & Brayden) facing the Staals (Eric & Jordan), it marked the first time in Flyers history since an Apr. 1, 1986 game between Philadelphia and the New York Islanders (Sutter brothers Rich, Ron, Brent, Duane) that two sets of siblings played against each other ...Ellis had recorded his first shutout since 2010 in his last start, a 1-0 decision against Ottawa on Friday...Bryzgalov's last performance of 39 saves or more came on March 29, 2011 with Phoenix when he stopped 45 shots in a 2-1 win vs. Dallas.

Erskine suspended three games for Simmonds hit

New York, NY  -- The National Hockey League issued a three-game suspension to Washington Capitals defenseman John  Erskine on Saturday for his actions in Friday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Erskine was punished for his hit to the head on Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds late in the first period of a 3-2 Capitals victory. He was not given a penalty on the play, while Simmonds left the game and did not return.

Below is the video explanation for the ruling, given by Brendan Shanahan:





Erskine, a first-time offender, will forfeit $24,324.33 in salary, which automatically goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

He will be eligible to return to action when the Caps host the Florida Panthers on Feb. 9.

Simmonds out, Erskine decision to come

Philadelphia, PA --  As his teammates look to avoid the worst start to a season in franchise history, the  Philadelphia Flyers announced they will have to play without forward Wayne Simmonds for Saturday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

"Wayne  will not  play in  tonight's game  because of  head and  neck injuries suffered  in last  nights game. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren prior to the contest.

Simmonds  left late in the first period of Friday's 3-2 loss in Washington and did  not return after  absorbing a hit to the head by Capitals defenseman John Erskine.

Erskine   was  not   penalized  on   the   play  and   faced  a   disciplinary hearing in New York Saturday afternoon.

"It's certainly disappointing, because we could use him in the lineup, because of his scoring, his physical presence, his roles in situations and the minutes he plays," said Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette.

At 2-6-0 thus far, the hosts are one regulation loss away from setting a dubious record. The Orange and Black's previous slowest start was a 2-6-1 mark to begin the 2006-07 season, one which ended as the league's worst club.

Flyers prospect Cousins named OHL's best for January

Scarborough, ON -- Nick Cousins, a forward who plays for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, was named Player of the Month in the Canadian junior division for the month of January.

The former third-round pick of the Flyers in 2011 finished the first month of 2013 tied for the league lead in scoring with 20 points in 11 games -- including three goals with a league-high 17 assists and a plus-9 rating.

He collected points in nine contests which included eight multi-point games to help the Soo pick up seven wins last month.  Three of those wins were recorded when Cousins picked up three assists including back-to-back games January 12 in a 3-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads, and the following day in a 4-2 win over the London Knights.

The 19-year-old left-hander also picked up three helpers when the Greyhounds closed out the month with a 6-4 victory over the Oshawa Generals.

It's been a decent return to hockey for the Ontario native, who was arraigned in late August on suspicion of sexual assault along with three teammates. Cousins has lit up the OHL, striking for 19 goals, a league-high 57 assists and places second with 76 points in only 49 games as the 'Hounds hold third place in the Western Conference's West Division with a 26-19-4 record.

VA linebacker commits to Temple

Philadelphia. PA -- Sharif Finch, a senior linebacker at Henrico High School in Richmond, Virginia, has given a verbal commitment to play at Temple on Friday afternoon.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder will sign a binding national letter of intent on Wednesday. Finch recorded 84 tackles, five sacks forced five fumbles, blocked two punts and a field goal, and was also credited with a safety during his senior season.

Finch also received offers from Western Michigan, East Carolina, James Madison, Old Dominion, Richmond, Hampton, Norfolk State, Elon and William & Mary.

The native of Queens, NY also posted 161 stops and 10 1/2 sacks as a junior.

Below are some video highlights: