Lunch at Boston Market in Manhattan

Cleveland Browns' Owen Marecic and other NFL fullbacks fighting for their place in evolving game
BEREA,Rex Ryan, Jets motivated by lowly predictions, Ohio Fullback Owen Marecic spent the first three days of Browns training camp idling among a cluster of players during first- and second-team 11-on-11 drills.
Like a telephone book publisher in the age of iPhones,49ers coach Jim Harbaugh knows his Shakespeare, Marecic knows the service he provides is no longer in high demand. Such is the evolution of the NFL game with its increased emphasis on spread offenses, shotgun formations and versatile tight ends.
Many of the Browns training-camp reps have featured one-back sets. When they employ a second back it s often Christian Ogbonnaya, who s no one s definition of a fullback. Tight end Gary Barnidge also is seeing time as an H-back.
Marecic, a 2011 fourth-round draft pick, tried putting a positive spin on the developments.
It s an exciting time in the NFL, he said. Now, more than ever you have to be able to do more than one thing. A lot of what the game comes down to is matchups. I don t want to say it s position-less, but if a guy can play a lot of positions within one position -- if that make sense -- he s going to contribute a lot more.
Marecic s disappointing play last season he fell out of favor with the previous coaching staff and earned just 115 snaps makes him a possible roster casualty. But the role of many fullbacks is diminishing league wide. The Baltimore Ravens unloaded Vonta Leach,The Rookies- Why Atlanta Falcons' Brian Banks Has the Mo, a three-time All Pro, and his $3 million salary in June. Lawrence Vickers, who preceded Marecic in Cleveland, was released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month.
While Marecic contends the position has not been devalued,Terrelle Pryor said he never knew how to throw a football be, USA Today s Tom Pelissero noted that just eight NFL fullbacks now earn over $1 million. ESPN s John Clayton observed the average fullback salary of $1.1 million is less than that of kickers and punters and on the level of veteran long snappers. Leach will sign somewhere, but probably at a reduced rate.
Both Leach and Vickers are tremendous fullbacks, Marecic said. And guys would look to them and say, If I could play like that it would be awesome.
The game has transformed dramatically since the bruising likes of Larry Csonka, John Riggins and Mike Pruitt recorded 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Marecic has four carries for eight yards in his two-year Browns career.
How much have times changed? The Pittsburgh Steelers went about three seasons without a fullback on the roster toward the end of the last decade. Their current one, Will Johnson, is a converted tight end and his role could decrease if the Steelers rely more on zone-blocking schemes.
As the presence of fullbacks wane, teams are making greater use of tight ends lining them up in the slot and the backfield. Their hybrid value is reflective in escalating salaries. Before Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder, he and Rob Gronkowski were due a combined $16 million this season.
Barnidge and Brad Smelley are Browns tight ends who could see time at the H-back position. The club also recently signed fullback Brock Bolen, who s nursing a calf injury.
Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner has coordinated fullback-friendly offenses over the years, but it s too early to tell what place they might play in Cleveland.

We've used a variety of different styles of fullback and have been very productive, and I can go all the way back into the mid-(1990s) where we had a converted tailback playing fullback with the (Washington) Redskins and Terry Allen rushed for 1,500 yards, Turner said.
We're going to make due. We're going to take the guys that we have and find out what they do best and give them a chance to do that. I believe we will end up with a traditional fullback in our offense and how much we'll use him will depend on the style of offense we end up running,WR Edelman works his way back for Patriots.
Marecic, who s due , hopes he gets another shot at blocking for Trent Richardson. He might need a big camp just to make the club, however. He s working on his pass catching he dropped four of five balls intended for him last season and trying to make himself more versatile.
The more a guy can do, the greater his value to the team will be, Marecic said.
But in an era of three-receiver, multi-tight-end formations Marecic realizes evolution is not on the side of the fullback.

Kristin Cavallari Designs NFL Women’s Collection,NFL Network covering Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday! See Flirty Football Line Featuring Husband Jay Cutler’s Jersey Number (PHOTOS)
In a sneak peek of Cavallari’s NFL collection, four of the Laguna Beach star’s designs show sexy spins on classic fan-wear. In honor of her husband,Green Bay Packers- Will Nick Perry complement Clay Matthews-, Jay Cutler, who is quarterback for the Chicago Bears,NFL owners destroyed the players in CBA negotiations, Cavallari designed a sleek blue racer-back dress touting the NFL player’s jersey number, 61. The former reality star unveiled an edgy ensemble for Denver Broncos fans,Aaron Hernandez appears to be holding a gun in gra, a similarly short dress in a checkered pattern in the team’s colors.
Cavallari’s spin on the Texans T-shirt was a sexy crop top in the team’s red,Gay former NFL players Esera Tualo and Wade Davis write letters to their younger, white and blue colors, while the Vikings design incorporated this season’s asymmetrical trend with a sleek black dress featuring purple and yellow cap sleeves. The previews of Cavallari’s line certainly appear to be promising, especially given the other A-list names that will promote the football collection. In June, it was announced that Stacy Keibler, who was once a cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens, and supermodel Karolina Kurkova will both star in ads for Cavallari’s NFL pieces.

Kristin Cavallari has seen much success as a designer, and she gushed that being recognized for her Chinese Laundry shoe collection feels amazing.

CORTLAND, N.Y.: Winslow looking for big rebound with Jets
CORTLAND, N.Y. Kellen Winslow Jr.'s arms and shoulders are covered in tattoos he wishes he never got.Especially the one on his left arm of a menacing skull with a Native American-style headdress."I'm going to cover this up someday with something that looks a little better," the New York Jets tight end said after practice Thursday. "I'm Indian, so I got that there. I'm black, white and Indian. But, it's just dumb stuff,It Is What It Is NFL Players Association reportedly ask for Dr. Thoma, you know? I got it when I was 22."Winslow's right arm is decorated with several tribal tattoos and even a green and orange "U" in honor of his Miami Hurricanes days. The one he says he'll always keep, though, is on his left forearm in big, black capital letters:"WITHOUT STRUGGLE,Vince Young is being forced to auction off possess, THERE IS NO PROGRESS."They are the words of the late abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and perfectly summarize Winslow's NFL career.There has been criticism for questionable comments "I'm a soldier" during his college and pro career, a serious motorcycle accident in 2005, career-threatening injuries and doubts about his football future."There have always been questions, every season," Winslow said. "You've got to prove yourself every time, every day. You have to do things the right way all the time. Every season, there's something said about somebody that they can't do something. That's what motivates people."At 30 years old, Winslow believes he still has plenty of football left in him. That's why he is setting his sights high for the Jets despite having played just one regular-season game since 2011."My goal is to have 100 catches," he said. "Will I have 100? I don't know. I might have 20, you know? But that's my goal. You play this game for something, and I know at the end of the day that's going to help my team win because that's what I do best."That's a lot of first downs for the team."And a far cry from where Winslow was nearly a year ago.The former Pro Bowl tight end had a solid training camp with Seattle, but was released after training camp"They cut me over money," he said. "And they put me in a bad situation."It's also something that still clearly bothers him."It's the past and ... you just don't do a vet like that," he said. "That's pretty much it."Winslow, who reportedly didn't want to restructure his contract with the Seahawks, later signed with New England. He lasted one game one catch for 12 yards before asking to be released."I saw the situation over there and got a lot of respect for them over there," he said. "But, you've got to learn the playbook and you need time to learn those plays in training camp. You can't come in in Week 3 and, with those guys over there, think you're going to get in."It wasn't worth me being there sitting because I know what I can do."But Winslow ended up out of the game the rest of the season, wondering if he'd get another chance.After the Jets allowed Dustin Keller to leave as a free agent and sign with Miami, they offered Winslow a tryout during minicamp. Winslow was impressive enough to warrant being signed by the Jets, whose new general manager John Idzik was in of all places Seattle's front office last year."That wasn't him at all," Winslow said. "There was another GM there,Washington Redskins Hidden Roster Gems For 2013 NF, and John gave me a chance to come here and do my thing. Much props to John, and he knows what I can do. And I'm going to do it for him."Winslow, the son of Hall of Famer and former Chargers star Kellen Winslow, was a first-round draft pick of Cleveland in 2004 and has 438 career receptions. The other tight ends on the Jets' roster Jeff Cumberland, Konrad Reuland, Hayden Smith, Mike Shanahan and Chris Pantale have a combined 44 NFL catches.Winslow, who rides a bike to and from practice, acknowledged that he is still working himself into football shape, and the Jets have him on a so-called "pitch count." That means Winslow,How Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Improbably Became a Top NFL Talent, who has a history of knee issues, gets rest days from practice during training camp to make sure he doesn't overdo it physically."He'll practice," tight ends coach Steve Hagen said. "He's played a lot of football. He's not a knucklehead. He gets the game and he knows the game. He's in every meeting. It's not like he's off playing poker when we're meeting. He's on the schedule, and it's been great having him here."Hagan likes the enthusiasm from Winslow, who gets fired up on the practice field."He's passionate about the game," Hagen said. "You can see when he's in there and he's making a play, he's talking and piping off. He's like a thoroughbred horse that you hold in the gate, and you have to hold him in the gate or he'll just run, run, run and run."This stint with the Jets has reunited Winslow with one of his best friends in the game, wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Winslow was Cleveland's first-round draft pick in 2004, and Edwards was the Browns' top pick a year later."We have a great chemistry, just in life," Edwards said. "We like a lot of the same things and he's a great guy, and he loves his wife and his son. Having him and him being around is fun. It's something familiar and cool."He's been through a lot in the last year and a half, obviously with Seattle, thinking that was going to be a home and the situation that happened there and then going out to the Patriots and leaving there. I think this is a good opportunity for him."Both Winslow and the Jets certainly hope so."It's fun, man, but we've got a long way to go,Eagles coach Kelly not worried NFL may try and slo," he said. "Everything's fun, but training camp tells you a lot about yourself and we've got a long way to go."
NOTES: CB Dee Milliner, the Jets' first-round pick who signed Monday, participated in about 10 plays in 11-on-11 team drills. It was his first significant practice time since being drafted after he underwent shoulder surgery in March. "I thought he looked pretty good," coach Rex Ryan said. "We'll see how he feels with that shoulder and things. Certainly, we're going to make sure he's healthy before you put him out there. I like what I saw from him, the little bit today." ... DL Sheldon Richardson, the team's other first-rounder, didn't participate in team drills after having a root canal Wednesday. ... RB Chris Ivory hasn't participated in team drills yet while dealing with hamstring tightness. ... S Rontez Miles was removed from the physically unable to perform list.

1 Move Each NFL Team Should Make Before the Regular Season Begins
One Move to Be Made:Sign a veteran safety,(Un)proposed NFL rule changes.
Few teams boast as complete a roster as the Green Bay Packers do. They have talent on both sides of the ball,Miguel Maysonet trying to run his way on to Clevel, including two of the best players in the NFL in quarterback and outside linebacker Clay Matthews.
Still,Aaron Hernandez Update- Photos show ex, if there is one weakness on this roster, it's the safety position.
While safety Morgan Burnett has shown flashes of huge potential,YouTube Sensation 'Kickalicious' Impresses at NFL Training Camp, the Packers lack talent next to him.
With Burnett earlier this week, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, he's clearly a part of the franchise's future. However,Seattle Seahawks NFL training camp 2013 snapshot, neither M.D. Jennings nor Jerron McMillian made much of an impact last year.
Bringing in a veteran safety like Kerry Rhodes would allow the Packers to let Jennings and McMilliansit on the bench and develop another year. It would also allow Burnett to play his more natural position of strong safety.
This is a win-win situation for the Packers and a move that could push them over the hump in the extremely talented NFC.

NFL revamping Pro Bowl, ditching AFC vs. NFC for fantasy
(USA Today Sports Images)
Instead of dumping the Pro Bowl, the NFL is trying to jazz it up with a new format.
The traditional AFC vs. NFC matchup has been eliminated. It will be replaced by a fantasy-style draft,Braves trade for veteran pitcher Garcia; Beachy on, with captains and Deion Sanders,Big Ten preview- Northwestern, Pro Bowl team captains and two NFL.com fantasy football champions picking the two teams from a pool of players that was voted in, . ESPN was first to report the format change.
The question is: What will more people be interested in, the Pro Bowl draft, or the Pro Bowl game?
This could revitalize the Pro Bowl, which has been plagued over the past couple years with terrible effort from the players and threats from Roger Goodell that he might do away with the game. The Pro Bowl still gets great ratings, so there was obviously a lot of desire to keep the game going.
The players will be voted into the game by fans, coaches and players, but not by conference. The top six quarterbacks will be voted in, like normal,Feds- Man jailed in bizarre murder plot tried to have witness killed_0, but all of them could come from the same conference.
The draft will be Jan. 22 next year and televised on NFL Network,Fantasy Football Rankings- Combination Scoring -- KFFL_0, and the game will be Sunday, Jan. 26.
The NFL also said it is having a two-minute warning at the end of the first and third quarters and possession will change at the end of every quarter, giving fans more opportunities to watch teams play in the two-minute drill. There are also a few other changes, such as kickoffs being eliminated,The inevitable Clayton Kershaw contract extension, zone coverage by defensive backs being allowed and a shorter play clock.
With the draft format, now the game has an interesting wrinkle, much like the way the NHL all-star game drafts its teams. The debate over which quarterback gets taken first or any surprise pick by either team should get more attention than the Pro Bowl has had in many years.
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