ESPN Search

I once thought Ryan Leaf had the makings to become a top NFL quarterback and that the gap between Leaf and Peyton Manning wasn't all that significant. "Maturing stock adds to Leaf's net worth" was the headline for a Sporting News piece I wrote in ...

FALLING 1. John Skelton, Cardinals QB. Skelton avoided joining Ryan Leaf as the only quarterbacks to toss interceptions in 13 consecutive appearances. That was good. How Skelton avoided the streak was bad. The Cardinals benched him after Skelton m...

The Arizona Cardinals have benched John Skelton after the quarterback missed a wide-open Larry Fitzgerald in the end zone Sunday. Skelton entered this game against the Atlanta Falcons needing one interception to tie Ryan Leaf's NFL record for most...

Regular blog commenter 4949Centennial hit the NFC West mailbag after watching the San Francisco 49ers' defense struggle against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the team's third preseason game. "How concerned 49ers fans should be after Den...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The St. Louis Rams have not given up on 2009 first-round draft choice Jason Smith. Their new coach, Jeff Fisher, and new general manager, Les Snead, said during the NFL scouting combine that they hoped to bring back Smith following...

Trent Dilfer's latest Insider piece should interest those wondering whether the 2011 San Francisco 49ers resemble the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl-winning team from 2000. Dilfer was the "game manager" at quarterback for that Ravens team. He finds ...

In one month's time, we've gone from discussing the St. Louis Rams' playoff prospects to how they might handle the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft. The chances suddenly appear very real. The Rams are 0-4 heading into their bye week. Their top rec...

Two notes while on the subject of quarterbacks and when teams select them: Teams drafted quarterbacks first overall 14 times in the last 24 drafts. The list: Sam Bradford (2010), Matthew Stafford (2009), JaMarcus Russell (2007), Alex Smith (2005)...

Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated checks in with Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who says he's never been this excited about an upcoming season. Jenkins: "In a league desperate for quality quarterbacks, Leinart is a rarity -- a pedigreed passer w...

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com points to one indicator suggesting Matt Leinart should succeed as the Cardinals' starting quarterback. Urban: "The idea? If a guy scored at least a 26 on the infamous Wonderlic exam at the combine, had at least 27 c...

Rams general manager Billy Devaney survived the Ryan Leaf fiasco from his days in San Diego to become an NFL general manager. He didn't lose his career or his sense of humor. Devaney can be pugnacious, but he's also willing to laugh at his own expens...

The chart shows quarterbacks drafted by Billy Devaney's teams since the Rams' general manager entered the NFL with San Diego in 1990. The selection of Sam Bradford marks a departure from form. Billy Devaney file: QBs drafted Draft Rou...

The St. Louis Rams' decision to select Sam Bradford makes just about everyone 1-for-1 in their mock drafts through the first pick. BradfordThis decision could buy time for general manager Billy Devaney and coach Steve Spanguolo. Bradford gives the...

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News quotes Roger Craig as saying the 49ers would be better off with Frank Gore sharing carries, a concept Gore has resisted. Craig: "I think (Gore) needs to take a step back and realize it's about the team...

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch came away from Sam Bradford's workout thinking the Rams should draft the Oklahoma quarterback first overall. Burwell: "I am the noted defender of Ndamukong Suh. I have been pounding his drum since the late...

The Rams should feel better about Sam Bradford's prospects as the No. 1 overall choice in the 2010 draft after watching the quarterback work out Monday at the University of Oklahoma. The session, which begins at noon ET, is a setup. That's the rea...