The wide receiver was released from jail Monday after seven days behind bars. Johnson’s original 30-day sentence stemmed from an incident where Johnson patted his lawyer’s backside in a court appearance, and Judge Kathleen McHugh did not take kindly to Johnson making a mockery of her courtroom. Johnson was released early thanks to an apology he issued to McHugh.

Upon Johnson’s release from jail — where he was visited by fellow free agent Terrell Owens — he acknowledged that the stint gave him time to slow down and think about where his life was headed. He even went as far as to say that he loves McHugh “to death” for putting him in the position to turn his life around.

Hear what else the contrite Johnson had to say in the video below.

Johnson, whose playful slap of his lawyer’s backside landed him behind bars, had his prison sentence trimmed to seven days and was released after a hearing on Monday, according to The Associated Press.

The man formerly known as Ochocinco offered Broward County, Fla., Jude Kathleen McHugh, who slapped him with the sentence in the first place, a heartfelt apology during the hearing, which was the reason behind his release.

Johnson’s initial court appearance was a result of a probation violation, stemming from his altercation with ex-wife Evelyn Lozada.

Johnson hasn’t played in the NFL since a stint with the Patriots in 2011. He was released by the Dolphins during training camp last season.

Quinton Coples

The 6-foot-6, 285-pound pass rusher thinks covering new Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller and Rob Gronkowski will be no problem for him and the Jets. In fact, he makes it sound simple.

“Dustin Keller? I wouldn’t let him get off the line,” Coples told Seth Walder of New York Daily News. “That’s the best way to cover, ain’t it?”

Coples had a similar plan with Gronkowski.

“Yeah. Just don’t let him get off the line,” Coples said. “I won’t just be one-on-one with him, I’ll have help.”

It’s amazing that Coples is the first person to come up with this game plan. If only someone had thought of it sooner. Then Gronkowski couldn’t have piled up 187 receptions for 2,663 yards and 38 touchdowns in 43 career games.

Coples racked up 5 1/2 sacks in 2012 playing five-technique defensive end in the Jets’ 3-4 alignment. He also had nine quarterback hits and 14 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.

Kanaan drove past Ryan Hunter-Reay on a restart with three laps to go, then coasted across the finish line under yellow when defending race winner Dario Franchitti crashed far back in the field.

It was a hugely popular victory at the speedway, where Kanaan had endured so much heartache. The Brazilian had led 225 laps coming into the race, more than any other non-winner besides Michael Andretti and Rex Mays, yet had never taken the checkered flag. He finished second in 2004 and twice finished third.

Now, his face will go on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Kanaan is an Indy 500 champion, coming through on a cool day of thrilling competition that smashed the record for most lead changes and most leaders.

A Broward County judge ordered Johnson jailed Monday until he posts a $1,000 bond. Another hearing was set for June 3. An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month when Johnson failed to meet his probation officer.

The six-time Pro Bowl player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco is serving a year of probation after Lozada said he head-butted her during an argument last August. She quickly filed for divorce. They had been married only since July 4.

Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins after the incident. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.

Lozada is on the Basketball Wives TV show.

Check out Johnson’s mugshot from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office below.

Brian Hartline

The Dolphins’ additions of Mike Wallace and Dustin Keller this offseason give quarterback Ryan Tannehill the weapons necessary to compete with Tom Brady and the Patriots’ offense. With his new teammates now in place, Hartline thinks the Dolphins have better receivers than the Patriots and the other two teams in the AFC East.

“Absolutely, I think we are [the best],” Hartline said in an interview on NFL AM on Monday. “The whole passing game is an advantage of ours.”

Hartline’s claim may seem pretty bold, considering the Patriots led the NFL in total offense and finished fourth in passing offense — 22 spots higher than Miami — last season. But the Patriots also redid their receiving corps during the offseason, and to far less fanfare. Sure, Brady is still the best quarterback in the division by a wide margin, but Hartline seems to believe Tannehill can trim that gap.

“A lot of [Tannehill's growth] has been the communication and the development between player and coach,” Hartline said. “You can see coach [Joe] Philbin coming into his own as well, Mike Sherman feeling just more comfortable as coaching staff. Being able to use all different parts … we have a lot of new parts. Although very important that we got them, it’s also very important that we mesh and work together … and that is something that we are working on now.”

The Dolphins can continue claiming their superiority after such an exciting offseason, but they’ll still need to prove it against their division foes out on the field. They’ll get their first shot against the Bills in Week 7 followed by a trip to New England in Week 8.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

On Friday, Miami lawmakers ended a 60-day legislative session without coming to an agreement over funding renovations to the stadium, reports The Miami Herald. The move could put future Super Bowls at the Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium in doubt.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross subsequently released a harshly worded statement, condemning Florida house speaker Will Weatherford, accusing him of dishonesty. Weatherford had rejected the pleas of lawmakers to consider a last-minute-amended version of a bill to finance the planned improvements to the stadium.

“He put politics before the people and the 4,000 jobs this project would have created for Miami Dade, and that is just wrong,” Ross said.

The rejection of the bill had immediate implications for both the Dolphins and across Florida. A vote which would have been held on May 14 for Miami-Dade County voters to give the referendum a thumbs up or down has been scrapped, at a cost to the Dolphins, themselves. Ongoing renovations to the stadium have been immediately halted, and the team says it has no plans to invest its own money into the 26-year-old facility.

“We cannot do this without a private-public partnership,” said team CEO Mike Dee.

While the renovations to the stadium were looked at as “comprehensive upgrades” which would keep the stadium viable for years to come, there were other mitigating factors. Not only is Miami still reeling from its funding of the Marlins’ new ballpark, which has failed to attract significant attendance increases, but the Dolphins are still in debt $230 million from the last round of upgrades to Sun Life Stadium.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Sun Life Stadium

The team’s response to Rosenhaus’s comments? Basically the same as every other team that has reportedly been linked to Tebow this offseason: absolutely not. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald cites a team source saying that rumors of Miami’s interest in the mechanically challenged signal caller “totally untrue.”

The Dolphins are relatively set at the quarterback position, with promising second-year pro Ryan Tannehill and proven veteran Matt Moore occupying the top two slots on the depth chart.

See Miami’s rebuttal of the Tebow rumors in the tweets below.

Tim Tebow, I ask high ranking Dolphins source? "No ... totally untrue."

—
Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) May 02, 2013

Tebow not visiting, not on radar, not going to be signed to sell tickets. Not happening. RT @RapSheet: what's untrue?

—
Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) May 02, 2013

Another text from Dolphins source: "Our QB situation is set."

—
Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) May 02, 2013

Boyce told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the Dolphins had called to say they were taking him with their first pick in the fourth round. Soon after he got off the phone with Miami, the Patriots came calling. New England took Boyce No. 102 overall.

The former Horned Frogs wideout is a natural fit for the Patriots. Boyce ran an unofficial 4.34-second 40-yard dash (the official time was 4.38 seconds, but the unofficial times are typically more accurate to what NFL teams have), 6.68-second three-cone drill and 4.10-second short shuttle at this year’s NFL scouting combine — all on a broken toe.

It will be interesting to follow the career paths of Boyce and the player that Miami wound up taking No. 104, Florida linebacker Jelani Jenkins, to see who got the better end of the theft. Boyce has a chance to get solid playing time in New England this year with a shallow depth chart at wide receiver.

(H/T to CSNNE.com)

Photo via Facebook/TCU Football from B/R

On Tuesday, as part of a slideshow that included pictures of the Jaguars’ new uniforms, photos of the Dolphins’ and Vikings’ new jerseys were also accidentally unveiled. Luckily, a UniWatch.com reader snagged those pictures before they were taken down and now we can all have a glimpse at Miami and Minnesota’s new unis.

Check out the Dolphins’ and Vikings’ updated looks below.

Photos via Twitter/@UniWatch

All of the workouts are over, the evaluations are done and now we play the waiting game. Only 29 of the 32 NFL teams currently have first-round picks, but that doesn’t mean just 29 teams will be making picks on Thursday night. In 2012 only 27 teams ended up picking in the first round, but in 2011 31 of the 32 teams selected a player in the first round. So, don’t be surprised if teams trade out of the first or back into the end of the round on Thursday.

As for the actual picks, Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel appears to be the consensus for the Chiefs at No. 1 overall, but Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher is still in contention for the honor. But after those two, predicting the rest of the first round is very much a crapshoot. Defenders like Oregon’s Dion Jordan and Florida’s Sharrif Floyd have piqued the interest of many teams, but either could come off the board anywhere from No. 2 all the way into the mid teens.

The big position of question continues to be the quarterbacks, though. Geno Smith tops most boards, but there have been a lot of rumors about Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib and USC’s Matt Barkley in recent days, making the possibility of multiple quarterbacks going in the first round even more likely.

The Patriots, meanwhile, will sit and wait patiently well into the first night before even taking a stab at their draft board. Wide Receiver, secondary and defensive line are all glaring needs that they will have to address at some point but, with just five picks to their name heading into this weekend, don’t be surprised if they trade out of the first round altogether this year. Sorry, Patriots fans.

With so many prospects to sift through and more uncertainty than in any year before, let’s dive right in and see what the final mock draft of 2013 has in store.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel has been the pick all along. The Chiefs know what they’re doing.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The Jaguars need some fresh faces to fill out their new uniforms and Jordan will look damn good throwing down quarterbacks while sporting the black and teal.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Quick, name three players on the Raiders defense… Give up yet? Yeah, they need Floyd.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Lane Johnson is the so-called “perfect fit” for Chip Kelly‘s offense, but Fisher is still the better player.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
If the Lions don’t trade out of here, which has been rumored, then Johnson would make the most sense.
Previous pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Pairing Milliner with Joe Haden will create some excitement for Browns fans, who can forget about Jimmy Haslam‘s problems for at least a few hours.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The left tackles are all gone, so getting a defensive playmaker like Ansah should be next up on  Bruce Arians‘ priorities list.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Doug Marrone may be inclined to trade back into the back of the first round for Ryan Nassib to find his quarterback, making offensive line the next big need.
Previous pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

9. New York Jets (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
If Milliner falls maybe they snatch up Darrelle Revis‘ replacement. If not, Geno gives them a quarterback to compete with Mark Sanchez.
Previous pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
The Titans could use an athletic defensive end, too, but Lotulelei is just too tempting to pass up here.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
D.J. Fluker is also an option here, but his Alabama line mate is still the better pure lineman.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Replacing Jake Long is the real concern, but getting a strong right tackle is pretty important too.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

13. New York Jets [via Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)]: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Jets waited on Mingo at No. 9, but the risk pays off as he lands in New York anyway.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
The Panthers couldn’t stop the run in 2012, but Richardson should help change that.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Trufant’s speed should help the Saints against the pass.
Previous pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Austin is the best offensive playmaker in this draft and Sam Bradford can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
The Saints could grab Jones two picks before, but the Steelers won’t let him pass if he’s sitting here at 17.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
Jerry Jones may be tempted to get Tony Romo a new toy on offense, but in the end he goes with a need over a want.
Previous pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

19. New York Giants (9-7): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Osi Umenyiora and Chris Canty left a big hole in the Giants’ defensive line, forcing their hand to address it through the draft.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
The Bengals seem to think they’ll have tackle Andre Smith back on the roster next season, turning their attention to the next biggest need this offseason: the secondary.

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The Rams could use a heavy hitter to set the tone in their secondary. Boom, Elam it is.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
The Vikings don’t appear intent on signing Brian Urlacher after all. So, Ogletree could address their need at inside linebacker.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Indy is all set passing the football on offense, but they’re still having trouble defending it. Rhodes should provide a big boost in the secondary.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
Te’o may be surrounded by controversy, but the Vikings know he still has the talent to be a
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
There is no way the Packers trade up into the top-10 to get one of the big three, but Watson is a sturdy tackle with lots of potential. Plus, he can help Aaron Rodgers right now.
Previous pick: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Matt  Barkley, QB, USC
I’m not necessarily saying the Texans will take Barkley — though Matt Schaub may not be the franchise quarterback they once thought — but this is a prime spot for the Bills, Cardinals, Browns or any number of teams to trade back into the first round and get their man.
Previous pick: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Elvis — Dumervil that is — has left the building, and the Broncos need a replacement in the pass rush. Look no further than the talented UCLA end.
Previous pick: Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State
There is a good chance the Patriots trade back with a team looking to get a quarterback. If they do stay here, though, Carradine would give them a good complement to Chandler Jones.
Previous pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
Hayden ran in the low 4.4s at his Houston pro day and seems to be fully healthy, making him a steal at this point in the draft.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
The 49ers are positioning themselves to move up but, without predicting a trade, Hunt seems like a great fit to replace Justin Smith.
Previous pick: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Keenan Allen, WR, California
They don’t have Anquan Boldin anymore, so why not take the closest thing this draft has to offer.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Dropped: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State; Matt Elam, S, Florida; Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama;

Newcomers: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina; Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame; Matt  Barkley, QB, USC; D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston; Margus Hunt, DE, SMU;

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Previous Mock Drafts: Mock Draft 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0  | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.0

Photo via Facebook/Oregon Ducks Football from B/R

The new jerseys received a visual overhaul but still maintained the black, teal, gold and white color scheme Jacksonville has sported since the team’s inception in 1995 — though the new threads do feature more gold than the previous set. The helmets, however, are like nothing the league has ever seen before.

This season, Jacksonville players will be wearing two-tone headgear that is matte black on the front half and metallic gold on the rear. Multi-colored and matte-finished helmets have made their way into the college ranks over the past few years, but the Jags will be the first to debut this style in the NFL.

Check out some photos from the unveiling below.

via Twitter/@APMarkLong

via Twitter/@YahooSports

via Twitter/@NFLONFOX

via Twitter/@jnsanchez

via Twitter/@jnsanchez

Though the Jaguars’ set is the only one that have been officially released, Uni Watch’s Paul Lukas got an early look at the yet-to-be-announced new uniforms for the Vikings and Dolphins, which can be seen below.

via Twitter/@UniWatch

]]> http://nesn.com/2013/04/jaguars-officially-unveil-new-uniforms-featuring-two-tone-helmet-new-looks-for-vikings-dolphins-also-leaked-photos/feed/ 0 Jaguars helmet nesnzcox Jaguars helmet Jaguars uniforms Jaguars home Jaguars away Jaguars alt Dolphins Jaguars Vikings http://nesn.com/2013/04/patriots-turn-to-versatile-wide-receiver-in-nfl-mock-draft-13-after-losing-out-on-emmanuel-sanders/ http://nesn.com/2013/04/patriots-turn-to-versatile-wide-receiver-in-nfl-mock-draft-13-after-losing-out-on-emmanuel-sanders/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:44:35 +0000 Luke Hughes http://nesn.com/?p=165161 ]]> Losing out on the Emmanuel Sanders sweepstakes leaves the Patriots with just one more need they’ll now need to address come draft weekend.

There was a good chance the Patriots would find a receiver at some point on draft day when Sanders was still a possibility, but now that he’s out the pressure to find a playmaker only increases.

Fortunately for Tom Brady and company, this year’s draft offers an array of talent on the outside and the Patriots should have some good talent to choose from at the end of the first round.

Tavon Austin and Cordarrelle Patterson are projected as the top two wide receivers to come off the board, but there is still no telling whether they’ll be taken before the Patriots pick at No. 29. Either way, players like Tennessee’s Justin Hunter, California’s Keenan Allen and Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins are also available and could fit into the Patriots’ offensive system.

With all that in mind, let’s jump into this week’s mock draft and see who the Patriots and the rest of the league could have coming their way next Thursday night.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel has been the pick for almost every one of these mocks, and there’s a reason: he’s the best player available.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The rumors about interest in Geno Smith sounds more like the Jags trying to stir up interest in the pick. If they keep it, Jordan makes the most sense.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Oakland needs a playmaker on defense. Floyd would give them a building block for the future.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
I still think Chip Kelly‘s eyeing EJ Manuel over Geno. So, drafting on defense and waiting another round for the quarterback seems like the right play.
Previous pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Fisher falls out of the top four, but he won’t last long. The Lions need some help on the offensive line after losing Gosder Cherilus.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Milliner would give the Browns the best young cornerback tandem in football. Joe Haden would be jumping for joy.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Rumor has it that Bruce Arians is very high on Johnson. So, he’ll get his man at left tackle.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Kevin Kolb said he’s in Buffalo to win a Super Bowl, but he may not even have the chance with Geno in town.

9. New York Jets (6-10): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
The Jets may have a chance to get Rhodes at No. 13, if they send Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers. Either way, they need to replace him somehow.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
There might be a little too much hype surrounding Ansah, but the Titans would be foolish to pass on his talent at No. 10.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Chance Warmack has the better grade from most scouts, but Cooper is more athletic and seems like a better fit for Mike McCoy‘s offense.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
The tackles are all gone, but the Dolphins still need help in front of Ryan Tannehill.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
With Milliner and Rhodes gone, the Bucs may jump on Trufant early to fill their need on the outside.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
Richardson is a beast in the middle, and the Panthers will benefit from his big frame in trying to stop the run.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo’s pass rushing will help ease some of the Saints’ woes in the secondary.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Jeff Fisher may literally jump for joy if Austin falls to them here. He’s the best receiver in this draft and Sam Bradford desperately needs a playmaker like him.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Jones is looking more and more like a fit in the Steel city.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
The Cowboys could be tempted by Cordarrelle Patterson, but addressing a major issue on the defensive line seems more important.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

19. New York Giants (9-7): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
I don’t know if Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese can stay away from the defensive side of the ball, but if they do then getting a right tackle is first on the agenda.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Ogletree could be the best linebacker in this draft five years from now.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Matt Elam, S, Florida
The Rams could use a heavy hitter to set the tone in their secondary. Boom, Elam it is.
Previous pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The Vikings don’t appear intent on signing Brian Urlacher after all. So, Ogletree could address their need at inside linebacker.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Reggie Wayne is getting old and Andrew Luck needs a new toy.
Previous pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Allen’s slow 40 time (4.72 seconds) might have turned many teams away from taking him in the first round. Then again, the Vikings were interested in Anquan Boldin earlier this offseason, and the two do have some similarities.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Instead of reaching for a safety, the Packers grab a corner who is built like a safety. Who knows, maybe that’s where Banks ends up playing.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Rather than getting Matt Schaub a receiver, the Texans find him some help on the right side of the offensive line.
Previous pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State
Seminoles go back to back. Carradine is an injury risk, but if he pans out the Broncos will have themselves a steal.
Previous pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

29. New England Patriots (12-4): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Emmanuel Sanders didn’t end up in New England after all, which means the Patriots need a playmaker ready to come in and contribute immediately.
Previous pick: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Losing John Abraham hurts, so the Falcons will look to replenish with a playmaker in the draft.
Previous pick: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
The 49ers are a prime target to trade out of this pick, given their abundance of selections on draft day. But, for the time being, Williams seems like a good fit in Jim Harbaugh‘s defensive scheme.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International;

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
They just got Elvis Dumervil to bolster the pass rush, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for more help off the edge.
Previous pick: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

Dropped: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International; Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse;

Newcomers: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State; Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama;

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Previous Mock Drafts: Mock Draft 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0  | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0

Photo via Facebook/DeAndre Hopkins

Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Dion Jordan appear to be the three finalists for the coveted top spot, but it might take another week or so before we finally figure out which player Andy Reid plans to build around. That decision will determine the approaches that the Jaguars, Raiders and Eagles will take with the following three picks as well as much of the top 10.

While the top of the draft continues to figure itself out, the rest of the first round deals with their own draft-day dilemmas, including the Patriots at No. 29.

Bill Belichick and the Patriots only own five selections in this year’s draft, and that might mean trading out of the first round to acquire more picks is again a possibility. That strategy has benefited them in the past. Then again, they do have glaring needs at wide receiver, cornerback and on the offensive line.

There is still plenty of posturing, positioning and pondering left to do over the next three weeks, but in the mean time let’s get down to business on this week’s mock draft.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Dion Jordan is technically in the mix, but this pick will come down to Joeckel or Eric Fisher. As has been the case for months now, Joeckel is still the better option.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
Jordan may not solve the Jags’ pass rush problems immediately, but he will add a big jolt.
Previous pick: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
After all of their offseason moves, it would be difficult to mention even one playmaker the Raiders have on defense. Floyd can change that.
Previous pick: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Chip Kelly needs an athletic offensive line to run his fast-paced offense.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Gosder Cherilus‘ departure left some chaos on the Lions’ offensive line. Johnson would help restore order.
Previous pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Joe Haden is one of the league’s top five cornerbacks. Give him a running partner like Milliner and opposing quarterbacks will have nightmares about playing the Browns.
Previous pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
With all the tackles already gone, the Cardinals must resort to the best offensive lineman in this draft.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Kevin Kolb is an upgrade over Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’s still only a stopgap on the way forward.

9. New York Jets (6-10): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Darrelle Revis appears to be on his way out, but adding Rhodes should keep their secondary in good shape.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
The Titans need to improve their defense and Lotulelei might be the best defender in this draft.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
The run on offensive linemen forces the Chargers to jump at the chance to take Cooper.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
If Ansah lasts this long, the Dolphins would be foolish not to snatch him up. Here’s to hoping they’ve learned a thing or two this offseason.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
This pick would be forfeited in a potential Revis trade, but if the Bucs do manage to hang onto it then Austin would be a no brainer.
Previous pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Cam Newton and the Panthers know how to run the ball — we know that. But can they stop other teams from doing it?
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Saints need help defending the pass, and rushing the passer will be a key to improvement.
Previous pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Both guards are gone, making wide receiver an even more obvious need for the Rams.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
James Harrison wasn’t the quickest or most athletic pass rusher, but he still managed to make a consistent impact. The Steelers will hope for more of the same from Jones.
Previous pick: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Tony Romo is locked up for quite some time. Now, the Cowboys need to protect him properly.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

19. New York Giants (9-7): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
With Osi Umenyiora and Chris Canty gone, the Giants will need a few new faces in the pass rush.
Previous pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
Ogletree could be the best linebacker in this draft five years from now.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Jeff Fisher goes offense with the first pick, but may want to address his defense with St. Louis’ second first-rounder.
Previous pick: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Keenan Allen, WR, California
Greg Jennings gives the Vikings a consistent receiver outside the numbers. Now, all they need is a big target over the middle.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
The Colts aren’t good against the run. Hankins will make them better.

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Jones can bring the heat, which should take some pressure off of Jared Allen.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Matt Elam, S, Florida
Charles Woodson is gone and the Packers need a heavy-hitting replacement to roam over the top of that secondary.
Previous pick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

27. Houston Texans (12-4): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
He’s big, physical and will give Matt Schaub another reliable target opposite Andre Johnson.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Remember that Joe Flacco throw in the playoffs? John Fox certainly does.
Previous pick: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
The Patriots’ biggest need still lies at the wide receiver position. Hunter’s size and athleticism bring back memories of Randy Moss, which Patriots fans won’t fuss about.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are gone, making cornerback an area of need in Atlanta.
Previous pick: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International;
Cyprien has been darting up draft boards, and the 49ers do have a need at safety without Dashon Goldson.
Previous pick: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse
Pugh can play tackle and guard, making him a desirable swing option on the offensive line.
Previous pick: Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

*Dropped: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama; Kawann Short, DT, Purdue; Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State; Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

*Newcomers: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee; Matt Elam, S, Florida; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson; Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

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With less than 10 seconds to go and the Heat trailing by one, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra stood on the sideline, hands on his hips. He stood that way as Ray Allen advanced the ball up the court — after Spoelstra had waved him in that direction, emphatically — and even as Allen dribbled into trouble and two Spurs defenders had an opportunity to trap him along the opposite sideline. Spoelstra watched as Allen swung the ball to Chris Bosh at the top of the key, where the forward gathered the pass, rose up over a scrambling Tim Duncan and netted the game-winning 3-pointer.

It was a crazy end to March, when basketball briefly becomes America’s most popular sport and guys like Jim Boeheim, Rick Pitino and Jim Calhoun have become legends. Yet unlike his counterparts in the college game, and even some of his colleagues in the NBA, Spoelstra refrained from over-coaching in a refreshing change of pace from the self-important bench bosses who typically dominate such clutch situations.

“I loved it,” Heat forward Shane Battier told ESPN of Spoelstra’s decision not to call a timeout. “End-of-game situation, you’re down and needing a bucket, do not let the defense set. You go and attack. Calling timeout would allow the Spurs to sub and get their defensive squad in, and we had a much better chance of scoring. All coaches want to show that they know their stuff and can win games with drawing up a play at the end of games, but it takes a lot for coaches to take their imprint off the situation like that.”

What is right for Spoelstra and the Heat is not necessarily right for everyone. For a lot of college teams (but not as many as the coaches would have you believe), calling a timeout to draw up a designed play and give the players a chance to exhale makes sense. Likewise, some NBA coaches, like the the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, the Celtics’ Doc Rivers and the Mavericks’ Rick Carlisle, are so good at out-of-timeout situations that whatever they scribble down is likely to be at least as effective as whatever their future Hall of Fame stars would do on their own.

Spoelstra, with his hands-off approach to the final possession on Sunday, demonstrated that he knows his strengths and weaknesses. He is exceptional at adapting his system to his talent, and the way he subtly nudged LeBron James into becoming more post-oriented last season was a masterful work of coaching psychology. Even with James and Dwyane Wade sitting out on Sunday — which opened a whole ‘nother can of worms — Spoelstra swallowed his ego and trusted his remaining players to make the better play.

On Miami’s final play, Battier was responsible for calling a timeout if the Heat got into trouble, which they never did. Allen and Bosh executed a quick pick and roll on the perimeter, and when both Tiago Splitter and Danny Green chased Allen outside the 3-point line, Allen flipped the ball to a wide-open Bosh. For all anybody knew, that was a situational play the Heat have diagrammed for just those conditions, except Spoelstra admitted it was not.

“It was probably a better look than anything we could’ve diagrammed,” Spoelstra told reporters.

Granted, this was a regular-season game. Maybe in the pressure of June, when every move is analyzed more harshly, Spoelstra will take the safe course and call a timeout, just to make it look like he is doing something. Maybe not, though. In that event, the Heat presumably would have James and Wade on the court, giving Spoelstra two more proven pros who know how to handle those situations.

The next time the last 30 seconds of a game takes 15 minutes in real time, remember the way Spoelstra handled the end of Sunday’s game. Another coach may feel the need to prove to people that he is the genius in charge. Spoelstra apparently is content with just winning.

Have a question for Ben Watanabe? Send it to him via Twitter at @BenjeeBallgame or send it here.

Brent Grimes

The one-time Pro Bowler was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL in 2010 before missing four games in 2011 and the entire 2012 season with injuries. The 29-year-old will be able to prove himself on a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, though. Grimes agreed to terms on a $5.5 million contract with $3 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Not only is Grimes coming off a torn Achilles, but this is also one of the toughest markets for free agent cornerbacks. Aqib Talib was only able to get a one-year, $5 million contract with the Patriots and Sean Smith, who Grimes will be replacing in Miami, was only able to sign for three years and $16.5 million with the Chiefs. All things considered, Grimes was smart to wait out the market. He’s making more than Talib and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who also got a one-year, $5 million contract.

Photo via Facebook/Atlanta Falcons from B/R

The Dolphins have been considering logo changes for some time, and the new design was leaked in recent weeks. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald now reports that, according to various sources, that is definitely the new logo for the Dolphins.

Salguero had some other tidbits about Miami’s uniform change. He said the facemasks on the helmets will be all white for the first time in franchise history, rather than the customary aqua.

The team will unveil the new uniforms April 25, on the first day of the NFL Draft, Salguero reports. Miami’s newly drafted members will get to show off the look when they are welcomed by the team at draft festivities.

“The Dolphins’ new logo comes straight from the top of the organization,” he said while describing the expected backlash for the change.

While the team’s head honchos have not commented on the logos, Salguero said merchandise with the new look is already circulating.

Photo via Twitter/@uniwatch

The decision will likely come down to either Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher for the No. 1 overall pick, but don’t count out Florida defensive tackle Shariff Floyd, who the Chiefs have already worked out.

As the draft goes on, one interesting position to watch will be the wide receivers. Right now, Tavon Austin seems like the player who has established himself most, but Cordarrelle Patterson is easily the best athlete of the group and seen as more of the traditional deep threat.

With teams like the Vikings, Rams, Texans and Patriots all in need of wideouts but some major questions still lingering with the talent, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw as many as seven or as few as two selected in the first round. This mock features just three of the primary receivers coming off the board, but one is to the Patriots, who could use some depth and might find an Anquan Boldin clone drop to them at No. 29.

There’s plenty of moving left to be done over the next month ahead of the draft start on April, 25, but in the meantime here is where the prospects are lining up.

Editor’s Note: This reflects the official draft order.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Getting Alex Smith ruled out Geno Smith at this spot, and getting rid of Eric Winston only made offensive tackle more of a need. They’ll fill it.
Previous pick: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida
The Jaguars have a glaring need on the defensive line, so taking the best defensive player available just makes sense.
Previous pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The Raiders need an athletic pass rusher. Look no further.
Previous pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Geno Smith will tempt Chip Kelly here, but E.J. Manuel might be a better value quarterback later in the draft. Plus, Fisher is the best player available.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
The Lions have done a lot to improve their defense in free agency, adding Milliner might just put them over the top.
Previous pick: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Browns signed Paul Kruger to improve their pass rush, why not take it one step further and draft the most versatile pass rusher available.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Bruce Arians sounds content with the quarterbacks he has in Arizona — Brian Hoyer, Drew Stanton included — for the time being. But his offensive line remains a question mark.
Previous pick: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Buffalo is already wining and dining Smith. So, I’d say they’re interested.
Previous pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

9. New York Jets (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
If Star falls this far, the Jets would be foolish not to take him — medical questions and all.
Previous pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The Titans beefed up a number of areas through free agency, but they could still use a skilled pass rusher off the edge.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
Joeckel, Fisher and Johnson are gone, so why not go away from tackles and take the best offensive lineman in the draft?
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Cameron Wake is one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, but adding Werner would make for an intimidating tandem.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
They picked up Dashon Goldson in free agency to pair with Mark Barron, now snag Rhodes and you’ve got yourself a talented young secondary to build around.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Cooper is the quickest guard in the draft, and the Panthers could use a shifty blocker up front to keep Cam Newton upright and get that running game going again.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Jarvis Jones might be the best pass rusher on film, but his pro day did not go over well. Then again Terrell Suggs didn’t have the greatest pro day, and he’s done alright for himself — just saying.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Sam Bradford needs weapons, and Patterson is the most talented wide receiver in this draft.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
The Steelers have little to spend this offseason, meaning they better be able to fill their needs in the draft.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Monte Kiffin is a master of the 4-3 defense so the Cowboys might want another defensive end to use in their rotation.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

19. New York Giants (9-7): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Kenny Phillips is gone, but the Giants find a new starting safety staring them in the face at No. 19.

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
The Bears gave Jay Cutler a new left tackle, now all he needs is a new tight end to keep him happy.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Andre Smith is close to returning, but Andy Dalton could always use one more starting tackle.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse
Jake Long improves the Rams’ offensive line, but adding Pugh would make Bradford even more comfortable.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
The Vikings lost maybe the NFL’s best pure playmaker in Percy Harvin, but they can replace him with next best thing.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Hankins will clog up running lanes like no Colt could in 2012.

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
Brian Urlacher is in the mix to take over in the middle for Minnesota, but Ogletree is a younger and overall better option.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
The Packers didn’t bite on Steven Jackson and have yet to improve their running game. Some capable veterans remain on the market, but Lacy is a good alternative.
Previous pick: Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Ed Reed will improve their secondary, but the Texans can still use another cornerback to solidify things.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
Peyton Manning got Wes Welker, now John Fox needs to find someone to stop the run.

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Keenan Allen, WR, California
They missed out on Anquan Boldin four years ago, Bill Belichick won’t miss out on the second coming.
Previous pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
Tony Gonzalez is back, Steven Jackson is signed, and Osi Uemenyiora seems like the next domino to fall. Now, the focus shifts to cornerback.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
They might miss out on Nnamdi Asomugha. If so, Banks is the perfect alternative.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU
Minter is a superior option to Manti Te’o, and the Ravens need help rebuilding a now depleted defense.
Previous pick: Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Dropped: Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff; Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International; Matt Elam, S, Florida

Newcomers: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama; Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State; Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State; Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

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Photo via Facebook/Keenan Allen

Duper, who starred for the Dolphins from 1982 to 1992, spent a night in jail after his arrest Wednesday on one count of felony child abuse. He was released Thursday afternoon after posting a $5,000 bail, police in Jacksonville said.

Authorities say Duper attacked his son, Marcus, three times and knocked him out twice.

Messages left on Duper’s cellphone by The Associated Press were not returned Thursday. He told The Miami Herald that the fight was “a family matter.”

“This is not an open book. I have to deal with this within my family,” he was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Duper caught 511 passes for 8,869 yards and 59 touchdowns in his 11-year career with the Dolphins. Duper, who legally changed his name to Mark Super Duper, was named to three Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro selection. He is a member of the Dolphins Honor Roll.

Former Dolphins defensive end Hugh Green told The Associated Press by telephone that he witnessed the brawls. He said Marcus Duper started the fights, thinking he could “beat his father.” Green and his 18-year-old son had stopped to visit Duper and his son after attending a charity golf outing in Miami earlier in the week.

“I saw Mark defending himself after a young son was defiant,” Green said.

Green said Duper’s wife, the mother of Marcus, died several years ago.

According to Jacksonville police records, the first fight allegedly began when Duper learned his son had sent a threatening text to the teen’s former girlfriend. The younger Duper denied he had done anything wrong. Police said that started an argument between the two that led to fisticuffs.

The police report said Duper “punched his son in the face one time because he wouldn’t listen to him about picking up his hat.” The report said Duper then “took his son to the ground, grabbed him, then picked him up several times and slammed him to the ground, causing him to lose consciousness for a short period of time.”

Duper then ordered his son out of the house, according to authorities. The son left but returned to get a jacket, the report said, which resulted in a second fight.

Green stepped in to break up the fight and, the report says, discovered that Marcus Duper “lost consciousness once again for a short period of time.”

Green said he then escorted Marcus Duper out of the house. The teen then “pushed his bike into his father’s vehicle” according to the police report.

The elder Duper saw him and went outside to confront his son a third time. Police say Duper “climbed on top of his son, grabbed his son by the neck and began choking his son.”

Green again intervened and the younger Duper went to a friend’s residence.

No date has been set for Duper’s next court appearance.

Paul Lukas of UniWatch recently revealed what the new Dolphins logo will likely be, as seen in the tweet below.

Here's the most convincing leak so far of what appears to be the new Dolphins logo: http://t.co/DKkcA20Ite

—
Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) March 19, 2013