Week 13 NFL Recap

     As the NFL season gets closer to the end many players nurse injuries or get worn down. Then there are others that seem to get better and better. The Baltimore Ravens' Arthur Jones has been that guy. Over the past two weeks he has recorded 3 sacks and multiple quarterback hits. Here is what Jones and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Pittsburgh 23 Baltimore 20
-Defensive end Arthur Jones recorded 4 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 quarterback hits for the Ravens. His teammate Jameel McClain 5 tackles, including 2 for loss in the defeat.

Indianapolis 35 Detroit 33
-Andrew Luck brought the Colts back in the 4th quarter to take the victory. Delone Carter played and did not record a carry. Dwight Freeney got the start and did not record a tackle.

Kansas City 27 Carolina 21
-The Chiefs won an emotional game after the shocking events of the past week. The Panthers' linebacker Doug Hogue was inactive.

New England 23 Miami 16
-Chandler Jones was out again with an injury for the Patriots. Safety Steve Gregory started for New England  , but did not record a tackle.

Denver 31 Tampa Bay 23
-Receiver Mike Williams had another great day for the Buccaneers. He had 6 catches for 93 yards, including a 5 yard touchdown reception from Josh Freeman.

-Running back Curtis Brinkley was released by the Chargers on Thursday.

Week 12 Recap

   Arthur Jones had a great day on Sunday. Jones recorded his first two sacks of the year. He was able to put Phillip Rivers on his back multiple times in a hard fought Ravens victory. Here is what Jones and the rest of the Syracuse Pros this week.

Baltimore 16 San Diego 13
-Arthur Jones had a great day with 5 tackles and 2 sacks. His teammate Jameel McClain had 7 tackles. Running back Curtis Brinkley was inactive for the Chargers.

New England 49 New York Jets 19
-Safety Steve Gregory also had a monster day for the Patriots. He returned a fumble for a touchdown, forced another fumble, and intercepted a pass. He ended the day with 5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. Chandler Jones was inactive with an injury.

Indianapolis 20 Buffalo 13
-Dwight Freeney did not record a tackle, but was credited with a quarterback hit. Delone Carter did not have a carry, but he did have one special teams tackle.

Atlanta 24 Tampa Bay 23
-Receiver Mike Williams had 3 catches for 28 yards. He also threw one pass that was completed for a 28 yard gain.

Carolina 30 Philadelphia 22
-Doug Hogue was active for the Panthers and played on special teams.

Week 11 Recap

     Injuries may have slowed the start to Delone Carter's season. Slowly but surely he has been getting back into the Colts' stocked running back rotation. Early in the first quarter, Carter took a hand off from Andrew Luck and went behind the left guard for a touchdown. He ended the day with 2 carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. Here is what Carter and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

New England 59 Indianapolis 24
-Delone Carter scored a touchdown and Dwight Freeney had one tackle, which was for loss. For the Patriots, Steve Gregory had 3 tackles and a pass defensed. Chandler Jones started, but did not record a tackle.

Baltimore 13 Pittsburgh 10
-In what was an incredible defense battle, two Syracuse alumni had great games for the Ravens. Arthur Jones had 4 tackles for his defensive end spot and Jameel McClain ended the day with 9 tackles.

Denver 30 San Diego 23
-Curtis Brinkley entered the game for the Chargers, but did not have a carry.

 Tampa Bay 27 Carolina 21
-Tampa Bay came back in dramatic fashion to take the victory. Mike Williams had 3 catches for 29 yards for the Bucs. Doug Hogue played on special teams for the Panthers, but did not record a tackle.

Smith Has Solid First Season in Canada

     If this year was a movie it would be, "Mr. Smith Goes To Saskatchewan." Early this year Smith decided to sign with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders. Throughout the year he became a bigger threat at wide receiver for the Riders. Smith is even up for the TSN play of the year on an incredible catch he made against Edmonton. He even helped Saskatchewan reach the playoffs this season. Here is a look at some of the highlights of Smith's season.

     Smith is on the ballot for TSN's Play of the Year for 2012. He made an incredible catch against Edmonton on a pass that bounced off a foot, then off a defender and then into his hands for a huge gain. Arguably his best game of the season was against Edmonton as well. In a week 16 loss Smith ended up with 6 catches for 98 yards.

     Smith played an important role in the playoffs against Calgary. He made two clutch catches to move the chains for the Roughriders. He was an essential part of their scoring drives. He ended the day with 4 catches for 81 yards, including a 40-yard reception.

     Taj Smith ended the season third among the Riders' receivers. He had 47 catches for 690 yards and 2 touchdowns. He proved to all the people in Canada that he is a very solid football player and through covering him I can now spell Saskatchewan.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 10 Recap

     Jameel McClain had a huge day in the Ravens' blowout win against the Raiders. McClain was all over the field in the victory. He ended up with 10 tackles. Here is what he and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Baltimore 55 Oakland 20
-Jameel McClain had 10 tackles for the Ravens. Arthur Jones started at defensive end and recorded two tackles.

Indianapolis 27 Jacksonville 10
-Dwight Freeney started for the Colts, but did not record a tackle. Delone Carter had 2 carries for 7 yards.

Denver 36 Carolina 14
-Doug Hogue recorded a tackle on special teams for the Panthers.

New England 37 Buffalo 31
-Steve Gregory returned from injury and recorded 5 tackles for the Patriots. Chandler Jones recorded one tackle.

Tampa Bay 34 San Diego 24
-Mike Williams had 2 catches for 64 yards including a 54-yard catch for the Buccaneers. Curtis Brinkley was active for the Chargers, but did not have a carry.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 8 Recap

 In week 8 a couple of Syracuse Pros shined. Mike Williams caught another touchdown pass this week. He has now caught touchdowns in 4 of the first 7 games. Here is what Williams and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Tampa Bay 36 Minnesota 17
-Mike Williams had another great day with 6 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. He now has 4 touchdowns this season, surpassing last year's total of 3.

Chicago 23 Carolina 22
-Doug Hogue made his debut with the Panthers and had a good one. He was able to make two tackles on special teams for Carolina.

Cleveland 7 San Diego 6
-Curtis Brinkley was inactive for the Chargers.

New England 45 St. Louis 7
-Chandler Jones had another sack for the Patriots, bringing his season total to 6. He also had two tackles. Safety Steve Gregory was inactive.

Indianapolis 19 Tennessee 13
-Delone Carter may have only had 2 carries for 8 yards in the game, but he made them count. Late in the fourth quarter Carter blasted into the end zone to tie the game for the Colts. It was his first touchdown of the year.

Toronto 31 Saskatchewan 26 (CFL)
-Receiver Taj Smith led the Roughriders in receiving again with 7 catches for 99 yards, but it was not enough as Toronto held onto win.

News and Notes
-Quinn Ojinakka was released by the Rams
-Arthur Jones and Jameel McClain along with the rest of the Ravens enjoyed a bye week.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 7 Recap

Week 7 was a good week for Delone Carter. He was slowed by injuries earlier in the season and this week he finally got significant playing time. He had 11 carries on Sunday. This is what Carter and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Indianapolis 17 Cleveland 13
-Delone Carter saw substantial playing time this week and helped the Colts control the clock. He had 11 carries for 41 yards. Dwight Freeney had 1 tackle, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 quarterback hit.

Houston 43 Baltimore 13
-In the blowout loss Arthur Jones also had some significant playing time. He ended the day with 6 tackles. Jameel McClain had 4 tackles.

Green Bay 30 St. Louis 20
-Guard Quinn Ojinnaka did not start this week, but did have some action on the field in the loss.

New Orleans 35 Tampa Bay 28
-Receiver Mike Williams had 4 catches for 36 yards in the loss for Tampa Bay.

New England 29 New York Jets 26
-Chandler Jones was blocked very well this week as teams are beginning to account for him on every play. He was only able to make 4 tackles this week. Safety Steve Gregory was inactive with an injury.

Montreal 34 Saskatchewan 28
-Receiver Taj Smith continued his great play as the Roughriders nearly had a great comeback late in the game. Smith was the leading receiver for the Roughriders with 4 catches for 52 yards.

-Note: Doug Hogue was released by Detroit and picked up by Carolina. The Panthers were the first team that had the opportunity to claim him.

-Curtis Brinkley and the Chargers had a bye this week.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 6

     Mike Williams had a big week against the Chiefs this week. He had a 62-yard touchdown catch from Josh Freeman in the first quarter to put the Bucs up 7-0. He ended the day with 4 catches for 113 yards. Here is what the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Tampa Bay 38 Kansas City 10
-Receiver Mike Williams had a huge day with 4 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in the rout of the Chiefs.

Baltimore 31 Dallas 29
-Jameel McClain had 8 tackles and Arthur Jones had one tackle as the Ravens squeaked by with a victory.

New York Jets 35 Indianapolis 9
-Delone Carter saw his first carries of the year this week. He had 4 carries for 13 yards. Dwight Freeney had one tackle in the loss.

Detroit 26 Philadelphia 23
-The Lions kicked a field goal in overtime to win the game. Linebacker Doug Hogue played for the Lions, but did not record a tackle.

Seattle 24 New England 23
-Chandler Jones continued his great play. He was all over Russell Wilson all day, including forcing a fumble. He ended the day with 9 tackles and 2 sacks. Safety Steve Gregory was out with an injury.

Denver 35 San Diego 24
Running back Curtis Brinkley was back in action this week, but did not have a carry.

Miami 17 St. Louis 14
-Quinn Ojinnaka started at left guard for the Rams.

Smith Shows Big Play Ability In Roughriders' Win

     Some players just flat out have a knack for big plays. One of the Syracuse Pros that we follow shows that big play ability just about every week. Taj Smith has had a fine season for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders. He has had catches of 56 yards and 74 yards this year. His 14.7 yards per catch is one of the best on the team. He has 30 catches for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns up to this point in the season. His big play ability set the Roughriders on fire in yesterday's game.

     After the Riders kicked a field goal, they forced the Toronto Argonauts to punt. The Riders took the field for their second possession and that is where Smith came in. Quarterback Darian Durant hit Smith in stride on the sideline for a 56-yard catch. This left the ball at the Argonauts' 3 yard line. Backup quarterback Drew Willy later scored on the possession to make the score 10-0. The Riders never let up winning 36-10. Smith ended the game with 4 catches for 79 yards.

     The Roughriders have a 3-game winning streak, which brings their record to 8-6 on the season. They face Edmonton this Saturday.

   

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 5 Recap

      It is now week 5 of the NFL season and injuries are starting to mount. Patriots safety and Syracuse alum Steve Gregory was inactive this week with an injury he sustained in last week's game. Other Syracuse alumni who did not see action were Curtis Brinkley (Chargers-inactive), Mike Williams (Buccaneers-bye), and Doug Hogue (Lions-Bye). Here is what the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

Baltimore 9 Kansas City 6
-The Ravens defense had one of its most stout performances of the year. Jameel McClain had 7 tackles, including 2 for loss for the Ravens. Arthur Jones had his best game of the year with 3 tackles and he also forced a fumble.

Indianapolis 30 Green Bay 27
-Dwight Freeney returned from injury and had 2 tackles. He also had a nice sack of Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Delone Carter also returned to action, but did not record a carry.

St. Louis 17 Arizona 3
-Quinn Ojinnaka started at guard again for the Rams and made some key blocks to help the Rams win an important division game.

New England 31 Denver 21
-Chandler Jones had a busy day for the Patriots. He made just one tackle, but had 2 hits on the quarterback and even had a pass defensed in the victory.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 4 Recap

    In week 4 of the NFL season the New England Patriots were able to redeem themselves. After falling behind Buffalo at the beginning of the third quarter, New England went on a tear and destroyed the Bills 52-28. Chandler Jones had another fine game. Here is what Jones and the rest of the Syracuse Pros did this week:

New England 52 Buffalo 28
-Chandler Jones had 5 tackles and 1 sack bringing his sack total to 3 for the season. Steve Gregory added 4 tackles for the Patriots.

Baltimore 23 Cleveland 16
- Jameel McClain had 5 tackles and Arthur Jones added 1 tackle in a fine defensive effort by the Ravens.

Minnesota 20 Detroit 13
-Doug Hogue played on special teams for the Lions, but did not make a tackle.

San Diego 37 Kansas City 20
-In a game the Chargers dominated, running back Curtis Brinkley was inactive.

St. Louis 19 Seattle 13
-Quinn Ojinnaka started at guard for the third straight game in the Rams' win.

Washington 24 Tampa Bay 22
-Mike Williams had 4 catches for 115 yards in the loss. Williams caught a 65-yard bomb from Josh Freeman in the game

The Indianapolis Colts had a bye. (Dwight Freeney and Delone Carter)

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 3

     Week 3 of the regular season has passed and we wanted to take a minute to feature one of the former Syracuse players making noise in the Canadian Football League. Taj Smith's final year in Syracuse was a fine one. In the 2007 season he had 44 catches for 822 yards and 5 touchdowns. He now finds himself in the Canadian Football League playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Here is what Taj Smith and the rest of  the Syracuse Pros in the NFL did this week:

Saskatchewan 30 Calgary 25
-Quarterback Darian Durant found Taj Smith for a beautiful 30-yard touchdown strike in what was a huge 3rd quarter for the Roughriders. Smith ended the game with 3 catches for 55 yards.

Dallas 16 Tampa Bay 10
-In a game dominated by the defenses, wide receiver Mike Williams had 2 catches for 33 yards.

Jacksonville 22 Indianapolis 17
Blaine Gabbert threw an 80 yard touchdown strike to give the Jags the win. For the Colts, Dwight Freeney (injury) and Delone Carter (coach's decision) were both inactive.

Tennessee 44 Detroit 41
-An impressive offensive output by both teams, but the Titans had just a bit more. Linebacker Doug Hogue played for the Lions, but did not record a tackle.

Atlanta 27 San Diego 3
-Atlanta dominated the undefeated Chargers. Running back Curtis Brinkley had his playing time cut down with the return of Ryan Matthews. Brinkley ended the day with 1 carry for 5 yards and 2 catches for 12 yards.

Chicago 23 St. Louis 6
-Quinn Ojinnaka started his second game at guard for the Rams.

Baltimore 31 New England 30
In a matchup of the Jones' brothers, the Ravens were able to squeeze by with a one-point victory. Chandler Jones ended the day with 2 tackles for the Patriots. Brother Arthur Jones played for the Ravens, but did not record a tackle. Jameel McClain had 2 tackles for the Ravens. Steve Gregory had 4 tackles for New England. Gregory also recorded an interception of Joe Flacco and returned it 36 yards to give the Patriots great field position.

NFL Season Week 2: Tuesday Tidbits

     Week 2 of the NFL season was a productive one for former Syracuse players. Players like Curtis Brinkley and Mike Williams made significant contributions to their teams. Here is your team by team recap of the week:

San Diego 38 Tennessee 10
-Curtis Brinkley touched the ball 22 times in the victory. He ran the ball 18 times for 43 yards and caught 4 passes for 23 yards.

New York Giants 41 Tampa Bay 34
-Receiver Mike Williams made 3 catches for 59 yards. The Bucs wideout made one of the best grabs of the year on a 41 yard bomb from Josh Freeman for a score. Williams dropped one pass in crunchtime that would have put the Bucs in the red zone. The play was initially ruled a catch and after further review it was determined incomplete.

Indianapolis 23 Minnesota 20
-Dwight Freeney was out with a high ankle sprain and Delone Carter was inactive for the second straight week.

Arizona 20 New England 18
-In what may have been the upset of the week the Cardinals pulled out a big win in Foxboro. It was not for a lack of effort by Chandler Jones though. Jones had another exceptional game for the Patriots forcing a fumble and ending the day with 5 tackles. Steve Gregory started at safety and recorded 5 tackles.

Philadelphia 24 Baltimore 23
-The Ravens had a chance to win, but the Eagles' defense held strong in the final minutes to take the win. The Baltimore defense played well, including Jameel McClain who had 5 tackles. Arthur Jones played, but did not record a tackle. Jones was involved in a pregame scuffle with DeSean Jackson after Jackson got in the face of a teammate.

St. Louis 31 Washington 28
-RG III could not propel the Redskins to a victory again this week. Quinn Ojinnaka was brought back by the Rams after being cut just before the regular season. He started at guard for the Rams.

San Francisco 27 Detroit 19
-Doug Hogue made a great special teams tackle for the Lions, but it was not enough as Detroit took the loss. Hogue ended the game with 2 tackles.

Tuesday Tidbits: Week 1 Regular Season Recap

     It is that sweet time of year again. The regular season has begun. Now through week 17 we will have a Tuesday Tidbits, recapping the week's action with all of the Syracuse alumni in the NFL.

Chicago 41 Indianapolis 21
-Dwight Freeney began his season at linebacker in the new look Colts' defense. He was injured early on and did not record a tackle. His MRI did not show any major injury to his ankle and he should be back next week. Delone Carter was inactive with an injury.

Detroit 27 St. Louis 23
-Doug Hogue began his regular season after a great preseason for the Lions. He played on special teams, but did not record a tackle.

New England 34 Tennessee 13
-Chandler Jones had a great game. He stripped Jake Locker in the second quarter and his teammate picked the fumble up resulting in a touchdown. He ended up with 5 tackles and 1 sack. Steve Gregory started at safety for the Patriots and recorded 2 tackles.

Tampa Bay 16 Carolina 10
-Mike Williams caught a 6 yard pass from Josh Freeman for a touchdown early in the first half. He ended the game with 2 catches for 12 yards for the Buccaneers.

Baltimore 44 Cincinnati 13
-Jameel McClain started for the Ravens and had 2 tackles along with a pass defensed. Arthur Jones played very well on the rotating Ravens defensive line and had 4 tackles in the impressive victory.

San Diego 22 Oakland 14
-Curtis Brinkley had a solid debut at running back for the Chargers. He split time with Ronnie Brown in the backfield. He ended up with 10 carries for 12 yards and caught 3 passes for 28 yards.

Check back each Tuesday as we recap the week in action for all of your favorite 'Cuse alumni.

Chandler Jones Earns High Praise In Regular Season Debut

     Bill Belichick hoped his rookies would make an impact immediately for his defense. Little did he know they would team up on week 1 and provide a spark. Early in the second quarter Jake Locker dropped back to pass and Chandler Jones was coming right at him. Jones stripped the ball as he was bringing down Locker and fellow rookie Dont'a Hightower scooped up the ball. Hightower then returned the fumble six yards for a touchdown and put the Patriots up 14-3 in a game they eventually won 34-13.
     When Jones was asked about the play he said, "I did an outside move, beat (Roos) on the outside move and capitalized on what they gave me." Jones was looking to keep it simple in his first NFL start. "My thing was to get out there and execute my job, that was my main goal, to go out there and do what I was told to do. That's what I tried to do every play." He ended the game with 5 tackles and 1 sack.
     Bill Belichick was happy with his defense making big plays all day and had this to say about Chandler Jones' play. "We had Chandler Jones with the strip sack and fumble recovery so that was a huge play in the game."
     Belichick also had this to offer about his two rookies today. "I think both players have recently done a good job of that. They're both smart. They've worked hard. And they've both been out there, they've both gotten a lot of reps on the field. So that's always a good way to learn, to experience it, go through it, make a mistake, correct it, and go out there and do it again and get it right. There is a lot to be said for that, and those guys -- really, a lot of our young players -- have had the opportunity to do that. That's been positive."
He ended saying, "Those two guys, they've done a good job there."
     Chandler Jones and the Patriots are back in action next Sunday against the Cardinals.

10 Former Orange Ready For NFL Season

     Then there were 10. That is the number of players Syracuse has on NFL rosters this season. Here is our yearly preview on each player in the league.

Steve Gregory, Safety, New England Patriots
-Gregory was brought in to provide a boost to the Patriots underwhelming defense. He intercepted a pass this preseason and is poised to make an impact. Expect him to put up solid numbers in his first year in New England.

Chandler Jones, Defensive End, New England Patriots
-Jones has been predicted by several media persons to be the defensive rookie of the year. The first-round pick will start at end in the revamped Patriots defense. Expect him to come close to double digit sacks.

Jameel McClain, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
-McClain re-signed with the Ravens after becoming a free agent in the offseason. He had his best season as a pro a year ago. Expect him to be even better this year. Don't be surprised if he finds himself in the Pro Bowl.

Arthur Jones, Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens
-Chandler's big brother should start for Baltimore this year. He played sparingly for the Ravens last year. Expect him to become a solid addition to the perennially great Ravens' defense.

 Dwight Freeney, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
-No, that is not a typo. Freeney is becoming a linebacker in the new look 3-4 Colts defense. He will be a pass rushing linebacker the majority of the time. Expect him to come near double digit sacks.

Delone Carter, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
-Carter played well in his rookie season, but fell out of favor with coaches after he had a fumbling problem. Carter was injured early in preseason. He should get a few carries in Indy, but playing time may be hard to come by.

Curtis Brinkley, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
-Brinkley had a solid year in a backup role last season. He will retain that role and should provide a good spark to the Chargers' offense.

Doug Hogue, Linebacker, Detroit Lions
-Hogue had a very impressive preseason where he was third in tackles in the NFL. Hogue will play on special teams and will play if any of the Detroit linebackers go down with injury.

Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-Williams had a mediocre year after a great rookie season in Tampa. New addition Vincent Jackson should draw plenty of coverage off of Williams. Do not be surprised if Williams puts up Pro Bowl worthy numbers this year.

Quinn Ojinnaka, Guard, St. Louis Rams
-Ojinnaka played for the Colts last year and did not play much. He signed as a free agent with St. Louis and earned a starting job in camp.

Other former Syracuse players that are on IR: Will Allen, Andrew Tiller, Ryan Durand
Suspended: Tanard Jackson
Exempt: Tony Fiammetta

15 Former Orange Survive First Round Of Cuts

     The first round of NFL cuts took place this past weekend. 15 former Syracuse Orange players made it past the first cut. Unfortunately others were not so lucky. Here is a quick rundown of players currently on NFL rosters.
-Steve Gregory, Safety, New England Patriots
     Gregory has had a solid preseason and looks to be the starting safety for the New England Patriots.
-Chandler Jones, Defensive End, New England Patriots
     Jones achieved his first NFL sack against Tampa Bay and figures to have many more. He will start for the Patriots and is mentioned among the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
-Kevyn Scott, Defensive Back, Miami Dolphins
     Scott is an undrafted free agent trying to make the team. He was considered a long shot by many, but a solid camp has kept him on the roster thus far.
-Dorian Graham, Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens
     Graham, also an undrafted free agent, has been a solid surprise for Baltimore. He has played sparingly, but well for the Ravens. His unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.2 seconds excited several teams.
-Arthur Jones, Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens
     Jones has overcome injuries in camp and figures to be the starter come opening day.
-Jameel McClain, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
     McClain re-signed with the Ravens after becoming a free agent in the offseason. He will start for Baltimore and do not be surprised to see him in the Pro Bowl this season.
-Delone Carter, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
     Carter has overcome a rib injury and figures to get a decent amount of playing time for the Colts. He is attempting to become the backup for starter Donald Brown.
-Dwight Freeney, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
     Freeney is in his first season as linebacker for the Colts after the team switched to a 3-4 defense. He will start and looks to continue being the sackmaster in the AFC.
-Ryan Durand, Guard, Tennessee Titans
     Durand has spent bits and pieces of the last couple seasons with the Titans. This year he hopes to make it on the roster full-time as a reserve lineman.
-Curtis Brinkley, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
     Brinkley had a very good first preseason game against the Packers, scoring a touchdown. Since he has played sparingly, but nonetheless figures to get plenty of playing time out of the backfield in San Diego.
-Tanard Jackson, Safety, Washington Redskins
     Jackson spent his whole career up until this season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He signed as a reserve in Washington, but a solid preseason so far could be cause for a starting job for Jackson.
-Phillip Thomas, Defensive Back, Philadelphia Eagles
     Thomas is another undrafted free agent looking to make a team. He had an excellent game last week and with another fine performance in game 4 could find himself with a roster spot.
-Doug Hogue, Linebacker, Detroit Lions
      Hogue was used little last season in Detroit. This season he has made a case for more playing time. He has had 16 tackles so far in the preseason.
-Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
     Williams will be the starter this year for the Bucs. Newly signed Vincent Jackson should draw plenty of coverage away from him and offer him a chance to become a superstar.
-Quinn Ojinnaka, Offensive Line, St. Louis Rams
     Ojinnaka has started each of the 3 games for the Rams and will most likely be the starter on opening day.
     The following players were released by their respective teams: Derrell Smith-Texans, Mike Holmes-Jaguars, Aaron Weaver-Chiefs, Antwon Bailey-Redskins, Olindo Mare-Panthers, and Micheal Hay-Rams.
     The following were placed on IR or Exempt lists: Tony Fiammetta-Patriots, Andrew Tiller-Saints, Will Allen-Patriots.

NFL Weekend Preseason Preview: Syracuse Style

      Preseason continues to roll along with most teams playing their third game. Playing time is usually tough to come by for some reserves in week 3. Most teams will play their starters for the majority of the game. Here is a quick look at where the former Syracuse players will be this week:

Jacksonville vs. Baltimore 7:30PM Thursday

-Mike Holmes looks to see his first action of the preseason at cornerback for the Jaguars. Arthur Jones and Jameel McClain are expected to start for the Ravens. Dorian Graham will continue to get opportunities at wide receiver for Baltimore. 

Arizona vs. Tennessee 8PM Thursday

-Guard Ryan Durand will continue to fight for a roster spot for the Titans. 

Philadelphia vs. Cleveland 7:30PM Friday

-Defensive back Phillip Thomas should continue to see time on special teams and possibly on defense for the Eagles. 

Atlanta vs. Miami 7:30PM Friday

-Cornerback Kevyn Scott should continue to see some playing time as he fights to make the Dolphins roster.

New England vs. Tampa Bay 7:30PM Friday

-Chandler Jones and Steve Gregory are expected to start for the Patriots. Cornerback Will Allen will try to continue his impressive preseason as he fights to become the Patriots nickle corner. Wide receiver Mike Williams should start for the Buccaneers. Williams only catch last week was for a touchdown. 

Seattle vs. Kansas City 8PM Friday

-Wide receiver Aaron Weaver will look to see some playing time after not playing in last week's game. 

San Diego vs. Minnesota 8PM Friday

-Chargers running back Curtis Brinkley will continue to get time as the backup running back. 

Indianapolis vs. Washington 4PM Saturday

-Running back Antwon Bailey looks to redeem himself after fumbling last week for the Redskins. He will look to continue to see some carries. Safety Tanard Jackson should see more time at safety for Washington. Linebacker Dwight Freeney should start for the Colts. Delone Carter may play after sitting out last week with an injury. 

Detroit vs. Oakland 7PM Saturday

-Linebacker Doug Hogue leads the Lions with 15 tackles this preseason. Look for him to continue to shine for Detroit. 

St. Louis vs. Dallas 8PM Saturday

-Guard Quinn Ojinnaka will start for the Rams. 

Houston vs. New Orleans 8PM Saturday

-Fullback Derrell Smith will see time on special teams and at fullback for the Texans. 

Carolina vs. New York Jets 8PM Sunday

-Kicker Olindo Mare will continue his battle for the job against Justin Medlock. He should continue to see half of the kicking workload. 

Donte Greene Agrees To Sign With Brooklyn Nets

   
     According to Marc J. Spears former Syracuse forward Donte Greene has agreed in principle to sign a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Greene played the last four seasons with the Sacramento Kings. Last season he average 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 53 games.
     Greene played one season at Syracuse, but it was a spectacular season. The 6'11" forward averaged 17.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He entered the NBA draft in 2008 and was drafted 28th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.

      Playing time could be tough to come by in Brooklyn. With the recent acquisition of Joe Johnson and the resigning of Gerald Wallace, the small forward position is stacked for the Nets. The Nets kickoff their preseason on October 13th against the Philadelphia 76ers.
   

Syracuse Pros: Week 2 Preseason Recap

Here is how all of the Syracuse Alumni did in week 2 of the preseason.

Lions 27 Ravens 12
Doug Hogue had another impressive day for the Lions. He led the Lions with 8 tackles. He has 15 tackles so far in the preseason for Detroit. Arthur Jones got his first taste of preseason action for the Ravens and had 2 tackles. Jameel McClain also made 2 tackles for the Ravens. Dorian Graham had 2 catches for 21 yards.

Titans 30 Buccaneers 7
Mike Williams caught a two yard touchdown pass and that was the Bucs only score of the game. Williams ended the game with that lone catch for 2 yards. Ryan Durand played at guard for the Titans.

Panthers 23 Dolphins 17
Kevyn Scott played in the game for the Dolphins, but did not record a tackle. Olindo Mare continued his kicking battle with Justin Medlock. Mare hit a 44 yard field goal and hit an extra point. Each of his kickoffs went in the end zone.

Jaguars 27 Saints 24
Cornerback Mike Holmes, who signed earlier in the week, did not play for Jacksonville. Saints guard Andrew Tiller was placed on injured reserve.

Bears 33 Redskins 31
Antwon Bailey got some time at running back for the Redskins. Bailey had 3 carries for 10 yards. Unfortunately he lost a fumble in the game. Tanard Jackson made 2 tackles at safety for the Redskins.

Texans 20 49ers 9
Fullback Derrell Smith played in the game for the Texans. He did not have a carry or catch a pass.

Rams 31 Chiefs 17
Wide receiver Aaron Weaver did not play for the Chiefs. Quinn Ojinnaka started at guard for the Rams and appears to be the favorite to be the starter at that position.

Chargers 28 Cowboys 20
Running back Curtis Brinkley had 4 carries for 4 yards. The Chargers running back also caught one pass for no gain.

Steelers 26 Colts 24
Running back Delone Carter did not play for the Colts due to injury. Dwight Freeney made one tackle at linebacker for the Colts.

Eagles 27 Patriots 17
Defensive back Phillip Thomas played for the Eagles, but did not make a tackle. Steve Gregory and Chandler Jones started on defense for the Patriots. Neither player made a tackle.  Cornerback Will Allen made 5 tackles for New England.

Taj Smith Making Most of CFL Opportunity

     Taj Smith had a great career for the Syracuse Orange. In 2007 he caught 44 passes for 822 yards. He also scored 5 touchdowns. He went undrafted, but spent time with the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts. His brightest NFL moments came on special teams. At a crucial moment in the season for the Colts Smith blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown against the Cowboys. The next week against the Titans he recovered a fumble after the ball was snapped over the punter's head. Unfortunately at the end of the 2011 preseason Smith was waived by the Colts.
     On January 30, 2012 Smith signed a contract with the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders. Smith was added to the active roster for the last few weeks and has shined. Smith, the only former Syracuse player in Canadian football, has averaged 30 yards per catch. He had a 74 yard touchdown earlier this season and has made some amazing plays thus far. This week he was featured in the Canadian Football League's Top 10 plays.
     We had the chance to ask him about his CFL season so far. Smith said, "Just enjoying the opportunity to be playing. I'm loving every bit of it." Smith and his Roughriders team will take on the BC Lions on Sunday.

Friday Night Preseason Preview Syracuse Style

     Friday night's NFL preseason action features six games. Four of those six games will feature Syracuse alumni. Here is our preview for the action:
Tennessee at Tampa Bay 7:30PM
For the Titans, guard Ryan Durand looks to get some playing time on the offensive line. Wide receiver Mike Williams will try to continue his solid training camp as he is expected to start for the Buccaneers.
Detroit at Baltimore 8PM
On the Ravens defense two Syracuse players are expected to start, Jameel McClain at linebacker and Arthur Jones at defensive end. This could be Jones' first preseason game action. Wide receiver Dorian Graham looks to continue to get time on the offense and will possibly return some kickoffs for the Ravens. For Detroit, linebacker Doug Hogue looks to build upon his solid start to preseason after recording seven tackles in the game last week for the Lions.
Miami at Carolina 8PM
Cornerback Kevyn Scott looks to get some time in for the Dolphins on defense and possibly on special teams. For the Panthers, Olindo Mare will continue his kicking battle against Justin Medlock.
Jacksonville at New Orleans 8PM
Cornerback Mike Holmes looks to make his debut in a Jaguars uniform after signing this week with the team. Guard Andrew Tiller will not play for the Saints. He was placed on injured reserve.

Injuries Mounting For Former Syracuse Players

   

     The grind of the NFL training camp seems to be hitting former Syracuse players pretty hard this year. Last night Delone Carter of the Indianapolis Colts seemed to be having a great start to preseason. He had 5 carries for 17 yards including a one-yard touchdown run. He was just getting started when the injury bug hit him. He suffered a rib injury and left the game. It is unsure at this time when he will return.
     Arthur Jones of the Baltimore Ravens was entering camp number one on the depth chart at the defensive end position. Jones was excited for the opportunity to get more playing time. He then came down with a hip flexor injury that kept him from practicing. Sunday he was back on the field for practice, participating in the full-team exercises.
     Tony Fiammetta signed with the New England Patriots after a successful season with the Dallas Cowboys. Fiammetta was most likely going to be the starting fullback in New England. Unfortunately he had to leave the team due to undisclosed family reasons. He is not expected to return until next season.
     The good news is we still have a few weeks until the regular season gets started. Hopefully this will be sufficient time to see all of the former 'Cuse stars get back on the field.

Carmelo Anthony Brings Home Gold and an Olympic Record

 
   Carmelo Anthony said that it was "a lot easier". Kevin Durant sure was good at it too. The three-point shot help the United States bury most teams. On Sunday the US team was able to hit 15 three-point shots against Spain, who only hit 7. This type of shooting helped them go undefeated in the Olympics and bring home the gold medal from the London games.
     According to FIBA rules, the governing body over basketball in the Olympic games, the three-point line is 22 feet, 1.7 inches. The NBA three-point line is 23 feet, 9 inches, except in the corner where it is 22 feet. It is much easier for NBA players to drain these shots consistently. Carmelo Anthony said, "In our league, that's a normal shot. That's my range. That's a shot I take on a consistent basis and feel comfortable making."
Against Nigeria Carmelo shot an amazing 10 of 12 from long range en route to an Olympic record 37 points in one game. On Sunday he only hit 2 of 6 three-pointers and ended with 8 points. Kevin Durant shouldered much of the load with 30 points in the 107-100 victory in the gold medal game.
     Carmelo Anthony had the pleasure of having his former college coach Jim Boeheim as one of his assistant coaches. Boeheim won yet another gold medal with Team USA. His tandem with Coach K has been one of the most successful in Olympic history. The only drawback, coaches do not get medals just players.

Mare-Medlock Battle For Panthers' Kicker Heating Up

    It was no secret Olindo Mare struggled last season. He missed two game tying/winning fourth quarter field goals last season. Overall he was just 22 of 28 in field goals, which comes out to a dreadful 78.6%. This performance led the Panthers to sign Justin Medlock to a contract. 

     Mare kicked for Syracuse in the mid-90's and the New York Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent after his Orange days were over. His most successful years were with the Miami Dolphins where he played for 10 seasons. He is no stranger to training camp competition, as in 2008 when he had to win the Seattle Seahawks' kicking job in camp. In 2009 he made a franchise record 21 field goals for the Seahawks. 

     Justin Medlock had a superb college career at UCLA where he ended up an All-American. After graduating college Medlock has bounced around the UFL, NFL, and CFL. His last gig before signing with the Panthers was with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

     Tonight marked the first preseason battle between the two kickers. Mare drained his first kick which was  a 33 yard field goal and later hit an extra point. Medlock countered that performance by hitting a 48-yard attempt. The Charlotte Observer reported that Mare had a great start to camp, but has struggled since. The battle continues next week as the Panthers face Miami Dolphins. 

Hogue Impressive In Lions' Preseason Debut

Syracuse fans must remember Doug Hogue. The giant outside linebacker who was a standout All-Big East First Team selection in 2010 then went on to be drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2011. He did not play much in his rookie year, but he made the most of his time tonight.
Despite taking a 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on a last second field goal Detroit fans have something to be excited about. Doug Hogue was all over the field Friday night. He was second on the team with 7 tackles. Hogue is playing hard in the search of some well deserved playing time come regular season. If Friday was any indication, he will find his way on the field easily.

Gregory Shines In Patriots Win

In the first preseason game of the year for New England, the Patriots survived a defensive battle beating the New Orleans Saints 7-6. Several Syracuse alumni played in the game including Chandler Jones who made his debut.
No former Orange may have shined brighter than Steve Gregory. Gregory signed as a free agent in the offseason and made his debut in a Pats uniform. He was able to intercept a pass off the Saints, one of two picks for New England. He also made 2 tackles. Will Allen also had 2 tackles for the Patriots.
Chandler Jones, the Pats first-round pick, made his NFL debut. He played well and was able to make 2 tackles in his first bit of action.
Former Orange standout Doug Hogue will make his preseason debut at linebacker for the Detroit Lions tonight as they face off against the Cleveland Browns.

Syracuse Alumni In London 2012 Olympics

   

     The 2012 Summer Olympics in London won't take place without a Syracuse presence. The Syracuse Orange have 5 athletes and 1 coach that are alumni.
     In basketball Team USA will have Carmelo Anthony again in men's basketball and his head coach in college and current Syracuse head coach, Jim Boeheim, is an assistant for the men's team. The team was undefeated in exhibition play, never even coming close to losing a game. They won their opening round game against France. They are huge favorites to come away with the gold.
     In other sports, Shannon Taylor will take the field for Team USA in field hockey. Taylor was an All-American in college. In rowing Mike Gennaro is on the Team USA men's team and Natalie Mastracci is on Canada's women's rowing team. Uhunoma Ozazuwa will compete in the heptathlon for Nigeria. She was a 2-time Big East champion in the event.

     The Summer Olympics opened on July 27th and will conclude on August 12th.

Carmelo Anthony Keeping Team USA In Game vs. Spain

    Although relegated to the bench by Coach K for team USA, Syracuse great Carmelo Anthony is not letting that get him down.
  The Dream Team struggled against international power Spain early in the first half until Anthony entered the game.
    Anthony is getting ready to play in his third Olympics, and his familiarity with the shorter three-point line showed as he connected on 5 threes in the first half. He leads the game with 23 points.
  Team USA turned up the pressure defense during the second quarter to come from behind to gain a 48-40 lead at halftime.

Joseph, Melo Have Solid NBA Summer League

      The NBA's Orlando Summer League wrapped up yesterday with yet another victory for the Boston Celtics.  Two former Syracuse players, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph, helped lead Boston to a 4-1 record in the 5-day summer league session. Here is a look at what each player did.
      Kris Joseph, the Celtics' second round pick, had a very impressive week for Boston. He ended the week averaging 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 75% from the free throw line and shot 39% from the field. He averaged 21.6 minutes per game while making 3 starts in the five games played. His most impressive game came against Detroit on Thursday where he had 17 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to the Pistons. Overall a very good week for Kris Joseph.
     Fab Melo, one of the Celtics' first round picks, showed his defensive ability in the 5 games he played. Melo averaged 1.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 assist per game. He had a rough go of it from the field only shooting 29%. He made 2 starts in the 5 games and averaged 15.8 minutes per game. His best game was Friday against Orlando where he had 5 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals. Although he did not play a ton this week he showed glimpses of his defensive abilities.
     The Las Vegas NBA Summer League started yesterday and will run until July 22nd. The Vegas league will feature former Syracuse alumni Wes Johnson, Dion Waiters, as well as Fab Melo and Kris Joseph.  

Joseph And Melo 2-0 In Summer League Play

     In Orlando the annual NBA summer leagues began on Monday. Fab Melo and Kris Joseph took the court for the Boston Celtics. On Monday the Celtics defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder and today they defeated the Brooklyn Nets. Summer League teams are mainly made up of rookies and second-year players looking for experience with the occasional veteran trying to keep the NBA dream alive. Joseph, Melo, and fellow draft pick Jared Sullinger played significant roles in the Celtics victories.
     Kris Joseph, the Celtics second round pick out of Syracuse, had the most significant contribution among Syracuse alumni. On day one Joseph had 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals as the Celtics won 73-65. He shot 3 of 8 from the field and played solid defense. On day two Joseph earned a start. In over 25 minutes of action he had  11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and a blocked shot. He continued his stat stuffing ways helping the Celtics win 82-73. He shot 4 of 9 from the field and made all 3 free throw attempts.
     Fab Melo played solid defense in his first two games of action. In his first game he had 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots. In today's game Melo did not score, but had 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and a blocked shot. He has averaged just under 14 minutes per game thus far.
     Summer league action continues in Orlando until July 13 and the Las Vegas summer league runs from July 13-22.

NBA DRAFT PREVIEW: Kris Joseph

     Kris Joseph had a stellar four-year career with the Syracuse Orange. This past season he led the Orange to the Elite 8 and helped the Orange break the school record for wins. Joseph put up solid numbers in his senior season averaging 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Joseph measures in at 6'7" tall and weighs 215 pounds. After several workouts with NBA teams he is ready for Thursday night's NBA draft. Here is our preview for Kris Joseph.
     PROS: At 6'7" tall Joseph has sufficient size to play small forward in the NBA. He is a solid rebounder for his size. He is a very smart player and usually stays out of foul trouble. A solid defender capable of guarding the other team's best player. A solid 3-point shooter with a good overall offensive game.
     CONS: Joseph rarely takes over a game. He has the ability to do so, but sometimes takes a more passive approach. Needs to be more of a force on the offensive end.
     Most draft boards have Joseph going in the mid-to-late second round. Possible teams are Atlanta or Toronto, but never rule out trades on draft day. Joseph will most likely have to prove himself in order to get playing time in his rookie season.

Joseph Shoots Well In Bobcats Workout

    Kris Joseph had a successful workout with the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday. Joseph worked out alongside the potential number two pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and another potential lottery selection Bradley Beal. Mike Scott of Virginia, Quincy Acy of Baylor, Bernard James of Florida State, and Darius Johnson-Odom of Marquette also worked out for the Bobcats.
    Joseph had a successful career for Syracuse. The 6'7" forward led the Orange in scoring in his senior season. He led the team to the Big East regular season title as well as an Elite 8 berth.
    Joseph said in a bobcats.com interview that he wanted to show the team that he could "shoot the ball consistently". He then added, "I shot the ball pretty well today, even in our spot shooting and in the drills." The players were involved in 3-on-3 drills where Joseph was able to showcase his skills against top tier talent.
    He is expected to be a mid-to-late second round pick this year. Charlotte has picks number 2 and 31 in the draft. They have made deals in the past to acquire more draft picks. When asked about playing for the Bobcats Joseph said, "They need some help and I would be willing to be the guy to help this organization out."

NBA Draft Preview: Fab Melo

   After a drama filled sophomore season Fab Melo decided it was time to turn pro. Melo was not allowed to play in the NCAA tournament after the school deemed him ineligible. He ended the year averaging 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. His defensive performances helped him earn the Big East Defensive Player of the Year crown. Melo is measured at 7' tall and weighs 255 pounds.
   Pros: At 7 feet tall Melo is a hot commodity in the NBA. In a league where you can never have enough big men, his size is his best asset. He has an overall nose for the ball. He defends extremely well and alters shots consistently. He disrupts players from getting clean drives to the rim, a good help defender. He is a great rebounder.
   Cons: Melo is a work in progress on the offensive end. He has no jump shot. His back to the basket game is satisfactory, but not NBA caliber. He is prone to get in foul trouble.
   Overall Melo is a young enough player that some of these skills can be learned. He has tremendous talent and appears to have a tremendous upside. Most mock drafts have Melo going between pick 22 and 28. There may be a chance a team would trade to get him, but there are some playoff teams in the late first round   that would love to have a defensive 7 footer. I don't see him being a superstar of any kind, but he could develop into a solid center for a team.
   Coming up in the near future will be the Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph draft previews from Syracuse Pros.

Waiters A Possible Guaranteed Lottery Pick

According to a sportingnews.com report Syracuse sophomore Dion Waiters has cancelled all of his remaining workouts. It has been rumored that he has been guaranteed to be picked, possibly by Toronto at No. 8.
Toronto could be a great fit for Waiters. The Raptors have a solid point guard and good inside presence, but they lack at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He could get big minutes in Toronto.

Dion Waiters NBA Draft Preview

Our first in a series of draft articles here at Syracuse Pros features Dion Waiters. Waiters, who after struggling as a freshman, turned it on this past season becoming arguably the best sixth man in the country. After a solid season in which he averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds, Waiters decided to turn pro. 

PROS: Waiters can put a spark into a team quickly. Consistently over the course of the season Jim Boeheim used him to get the Orange back into the game. He doesn't have to start, which can increase his value in the NBA where the teams with better bench players are often the teams that win games. He shot 48% from the field this past year. His jump shot could use some work, but he can still keep teams honest with it. He can drive the ball and create his own shot. His defensive ability is solid. He is a great anticipater and a gifted athlete.

CONS: Waiters is only 6'4". He would be a small shooting guard based on NBA standards. Although Gerald Henderson has proved you don't have to be huge to effective. Waiters was a 36% 3-point shooter. That percentage is not awful, but you would like to see your shooting guard be in the low 40 percent range. He struggles in the half court against good defenses.

Overall I think Waiters can turn into a very solid pro. He has all the skills and with some hard work can improve his weaknesses. Mock drafts have put him anywhere from 8 to 18. I see him going in the early to mid teens. This is a very talent rich draft and there are some great players in front of him.

Stay connected with Syracuse Pros as we continue our Syracuse draft previews!  

NFL Draft Recap 2012: Syracuse Style

 Seven rounds of the draft have been completed and many of the undrafted free agents have signed. Here is a small recap of where the players from Syracuse are now.
  Chandler Jones was drafted in the first round of the draft, pick number 21 by the New England Patriots. Jones should have a shot to start right off the bat at either defensive end or possibly as a linebacker. Look for big things from Jones and the Patriots this year.
  Andrew Tiller was the only other Syracuse player picked in the draft. The 6'5"guard did not have a great combine which hurt him in the draft. It appears that most likely he will end up as a reserve for the New Orleans Saints.
  Antwon Bailey signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent. Bailey had a fine year for the Orange rushing for over 1,000 yards. Bailey grew up in the DC area and is expected to compete for a roster spot as the team's third running back.
  Dorian Graham signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Graham had the fastest reported time in the 40-yard dash during workouts, somewhere in the low 4.2 range. Graham is a longshot to make the team, but his value as a returner always gives him a shot.
  Kevyn Scott signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins. Scott was not invited to the combine this year. He will need to shine on special teams for the Dolphins in the preseason in order to make the team.
  Micheal Hay signed a free agent deal with the St. Louis Rams. Hay a 6'5", 280-pound right tackle came to Syracuse along with Andrew Tiller after playing at Nassau Community College together. He will have to work hard in preseason to make the team.
  Nick Provo signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Provo was predicted by many experts to be drafted this year. He had a fine year with the Orange last year, finding his way into the school record books. Provo should be able to compete for the third tight end position on the Ravens' roster.
  Phillip Thomas signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Thomas was also expected  to be drafted. Thomas led the Orange in tackles a season ago in just 10 games. Thomas should compete for a roster spot, most likely playing special teams.
 Stay with Syracuse Pros all year long as we follow each player's journey to the NFL.

Chandler Jones Drafted 21st By New England Patriots

   Chandler Jones has made 'Cuse nation proud yet again. The former Orange standout was drafted in the first round last night by the New England Patriots. The Patriots traded up to the number 21 pick and selected Jones. The Patriots were rumored by several media outlets to be interested in Jones after the Super Bowl.  Jones was limited to just 7 games last year, but still was able to record 4.5 sacks. Mel Kiper Jr. said that he would've likely been a top ten pick if he'd been healthy the entire year.
   Jones was extremely excited to get selected in the first round saying, "To hear Roger Goodell say my name, that's just a dream come true, I'm excited to be a Patriot." Jones may play both linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, as well as rush as a down lineman. For Bill Belichick and the Patriots to trade up for a player is quite significant. The Patriots are usually the team to move down in the draft in recent years.
    Chandler Jones did give credit to another Syracuse alum and former Orange star, his brother Arthur Jones. He said, "He was basically telling me the way I carry myself off the field, I'm not just representing myself, I'm representing the organization. I feel like having a brother in the NFL is a great advantage." Arthur   Jones currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens.
    Continue to follow Syracuse Pros for continuing coverage on Chandler Jones and the rest of the Syracuse players in the 2012 NFL draft.

Carmelo Records 2nd Career Triple Double In Win

The New York Knicks kept their Atlantic Division title chances alive with a 118-110 victory over the Boston Celtics. The Knicks were red hot from beyond the arc as they hit an NBA record 14 three-pointers made in the first half. They ended the game 19 of 32 from three-point distance. Steve Novak and J.R. Smith were the recipients of some great assists by Carmelo Anthony who ended the game with 10 assists and opened the way for several three's by Smith and Novak.

Carmelo Anthony, a former Syracuse player and national champion, had his second career triple-double in what former NBA player and ESPN analyst Tim Legler called, "the best game of his career". Anthony ended the game with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for the playoff-bound Knicks. He was 13 of 24 shooting and played 40 minutes in the victory. The most impressive part of his game had to be the ability to find the open man after drawing multiple double teams. He left open shots for his teammates all night.

The victory was pivotal for the Knicks as they moved within 3 games of the division lead. A Celtics victory on Tuesday night would have clinched the division. The Knicks and Carmelo Anthony will take on the New Jersey Nets tonight at 7:30pm.

Fab Melo Enters NBA Draft

  Syracuse center Fab Melo has declared he will enter the NBA Draft. This past season, Melo earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors while being suspended twice.
  "Being able to play professional basketball has been my dream since I first starting playing this game and now I have the opportunity to accomplish that dream," Melo said in a statement released by the school.
  He averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds for Syracuse this past season and led the Big East in blocks per game.

Tony Fiammetta Signs With Patriots

After a very impressive season with the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Fiammetta has signed a new contract with the New England Patriots. Last year he paved the way for Felix Jones and Demarco Murray. Jones and Murray's production showed a considerable decline while Fiammetta was out with an illness. He spend the first two years of his career with the Carolina Panthers.

Fiammetta had a very solid career playing fullback at Syracuse. Pro Football Weekly named him a first-team All-American in 2008. He had a solid combine and ended up getting drafted in the 4th round by the Carolina Panthers.

Look for the Patriots running attack to improve with Fiammetta in the backfield as a proven blocker. He is also a very solid receiver which could add another weapon at Tom Brady's disposal.

3 Former Syracuse Players Ink Free Agent Deals

In the mad dash to sign we call free agency 3 former Syracuse players have inked new deals. Jameel McClain has signed a new 3-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. According to nfl.com he was being courted by the Ravens and the New York Giants. This is a far cry from years ago when McClain went undrafted and had to sign a unguaranteed deal with the Ravens. Through hard work and great performance in spot duty McClain finally earned a spot in the starting lineup next to greats like Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. This past year he had a career high 84 tackles and recorded his first career interception. At Syracuse he recorded 21.5 tackles for loss which ranks 11th in the school history books.

The St. Louis Rams agreed to a deal with former Syracuse tackle Quinn Ojinnaka. Ojinnaka played for the Colts previously. Look for him to compete for a starting tackle job in camp for the Rams. At Syracuse he started 23 games in his four year career.

The New England Patriots announced a deal with safety Steve Gregory. The deal is said to be 3 years, $2.5 million dollars per year. Gregory was also an undrafted free agent picked up by San Diego. This past year he recorded 67 tackles and his lone interception was returned for a touchdown. The Patriots were looking to add depth on the defensive side of the ball.

Stay with Syracuse Pros all year to find out how your favorite former Syracuse alumni are doing in the pros!

Syracuse "FABuless" Going Into Tournament

Syracuse University officials announced today that Center Fab Melo "will not take part in the NCAA Tournament due to an eligibility issue." Due to the federal student privacy laws the reason for the suspension cannot be disclosed. It has been speculated that it could be another academic issue.

Melo was suspended earlier in the year for three games for academics. He came back and was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks for the number one seeded Orange.

According to a syracuse.com report Melo is most likely finished at Syracuse. He could enter the NBA draft and give teams considerable help on the defensive end.

So what does this mean for Syracuse in the big dance? It should not affect the Orange in the opening round and possibly the second round matchup. With Syracuse's depth they should be able to beat the opponents with less depth. Later on in the tournament it will get harder as Ohio State with Jared Sullinger are in the same region as 'Cuse. Their size could provide major defensive matchup and rebounding problems. Baye Keita and Rakeem Christmas should take a bigger role for the team.

Cheer on the Orange as they begin the Big Dance at 3:15 on Thursday against UNC-Asheville!

Chandler Jones Visits Panthers

In what was his first visit with an NFL team, Chandler Jones today visited the Carolina Panthers. According to Jones twitter account he said, "Thank you @Panthers for having me! My first NFL visit will never be forgotten!" He also added a photo of the field at Bank of America stadium.

So the question lies, what is the likelihood that Jones would become a Carolina Panther? Jones, the 6' 5", 247 pound defensive end from Syracuse would be a nice fit for the Panthers. Carolina has one defensive end in Charles Johnson whom last year was given a large deal and has proven himself as a solid contributor. The other side of the line has been a question. Greg Hardy started much of last year with very underwhelming numbers, granted the defensive tackle position was a nightmare last season for the Panthers. They could use a big, fast, athletic end to go with Charles Johnson.

The other side of the story is this. The Panthers have plenty of other needs on the defensive side of the ball. Owner Jerry Richardson is known for not doing much in free agency, he likes to build through the draft. So what I am thinking is if Jones were to fall to the third round I think the Panthers would snatch him in a heartbeat.

Stay with Syracuse Pros throughout the draft as we continue to monitor all of the soon to be Syracuse Pros!

Another Syracuse Basketball Scandal

  A Yahoo Sports investigation today revealed that as many as 10 former Syracuse basketball players have tested positive for recreational drugs. The investigation claims that four sources close to the program have said at least 10 players were allowed to play when they should have been suspended because of violations.
  Syracuse officials released a statement saying they have self reported potential issues to the NCAA and there is an ongoing inquiry. Reports say this could affect the seasons all the way back to 2001 including the National Championship season.
  In the three month long investigation it was revealed that school's drug policy required the head coach and parents of the player involved to be notified of violations.
  Jim Boeheim commented in a typical "Boeheim" way saying, "I don't know anything about it, I would not comment on anything like that. Good luck with your story."
  This scandal comes just months after the allegations against former assistant coach Bernie Fine, who was said to have sexually abused a former ball boy.
  In my opinion this potential "scandal" will not hurt the program. The Fine scandal came out early in the season and affected the players personally. Fine was a guy they saw everyday at practice. The result after the scandal:, a 30-1 regular season.
  This investigation affects no player personally. The school has said no current student athletes are involved. Boeheim obviously feels strongly about the situation and knows how to block these things out.
  Please continue to check back in with Syracuse Pros as we monitor the NCAA inquiry.

NFL Draft Preview & Combine Recap: Nick Provo

Every Syracuse fan remembers what Nick Provo did against West Virginia this year. The highly ranked Mountaineers came into the dome and Provo was ready. When it was all said and done he had 6 catches and 3 of those were touchdowns. It was a great performance by the senior. Provo had what was quite possibly one of the best seasons ever by a Syracuse tight end. He had 51 catches which set the school record for receptions by a tight end. He also owns the career reception record for tight ends at 92. He also had 7 touchdowns on the season and earned All Big East First Team accolades.

Nick Provo was invited to the NFL combine, but the only thing he participated in was measurements. Provo was coming off surgery and chose not to participate in drills. Provo measured in at 6'3" tall, 237 pounds, arm length of 31.75", and hand size of 9.5". His athletic ability and good hands make him a great target in the passing game. Provo is an average blocker in both the pass and run game.

So the final question is, where will he be drafted? Unfortunately it is a talent rich draft as far as tight ends go, but Provo should still get drafted in round 6 or 7. Stay with Syracuse Pros for continuing draft coverage of your favorite 'Cuse alumni.

NFL Combine Recap: Chandler Jones

The now famous NFL combine has now come and gone for Chandler Jones. The combine gauges all of the physical skills each player has. Every single NFL comes to this event each year in Indianapolis. Sometimes a player's stock will jump considerably and other times it will fall considerably. Chandler Jones was invited and participated in the drills put forth by the league. Jones has been predicted by several sources anywhere from the late 1st round to as far back as the late 3rd round. I firmly believe after the effort shown by Jones that he has solidified himself as being no worse than a 3rd round draft pick.

The scouts always measure a prospect before the drills begin. Jones officially measured at 6 feet 5 inches tall. His weight was 266 pounds. His arm length was 35 and a half inches, with his hand size being 9 and three-quarters inches. NFL.com has said, "he has a good wingspan and is a long strider.....which will give him great range".

As far as the ever important drills go, Jones took part in 6 different drills. Each drill had its specific measure for each skill. In the 20 yard shuttle Jones ran it in 4.38 seconds. In the 3 cone drill he ran a 7.07 seconds time. He had a 120" broad jump and a 35" vertical jump, both of which made scouts impressed and made them eye Jones. He ranked in the top 5 in both of the jump drills among all defensive ends. He did 22 reps on the 225-pound bench press. In arguably the most important drill of all, the 40-yard dash, Jones ran a 4.82 seconds time. So these results tell us that Jones is a well rounded prospect with a few things to work on, as all rookies have. The undeniable thing is the athleticism that Jones has.

Stay with Syracuse Pros throughout the draft season as Chandler Jones and other Syracuse players jump to the NFL. Check back Saturday for a Nick Provo combine recap!

NBDL Spotlight: Eric Devendorf

  I am sure you can remember the marathon game Syracuse played a few years ago against Connecticut. At the end of regulation the man above, Eric Devendorf, hit the game winning shot and hopped on the scorer's table celebrating. A few minutes later the shot would be called off because it was released a few tenths of a second too late.
  In the early morning hours of the next day Syracuse would eventually take the win.
  Now Devendorf is what we here like to call a Syracuse Pro. In 2010 he played briefly in the New Zealand National Basketball League. He scored 49 points in his season debut.
  Nowadays, you can find him in a Reno Bighorns jersey of the National Basketball Developmental League. He has had a decent season coming off the bench averaging 8.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and .9 assists per game. His best game of the year was against Iowa on December 30th when he had 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.
 One glaring stat for Devendorf is his efficiency, a stat which measures the total point differential that the team averages when the particular player is in the game. Devendorf's efficiency is a +6.96, a very impressive number for a player off of the bench.
  The next game for the Bighorns will be against Bakersfield on March 3rd, the first game after the NBDL All-Star break. Continue to check back with Syracuse Pros for updates throughout the NBDL season.

Linsanity Not So "Melo" Dramatic

A few weeks ago "Linsanity" hit the NBA. Media outlets and people everywhere could not get enough of the former Harvard and NBDL alum. Jeremy Lin has recharged the NBA after the lockout. To his credit, Lin has had several 20 point and 10 assist games en route to a huge winning streak to get the Knicks back to .500. The amazing thing is that he did much of this without stars Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. All of this craze left everyone asking, will this team be worse with Carmelo Anthony back in the lineup?

Last night the Knicks took the court against the New Jersey Nets with former Syracuse alumni Carmelo Anthony back in the lineup. The Knicks were defeated 100-92. Jeremy Lin had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. His opponent Deron Williams had 38 points. Carmelo Anthony had 11 points on 4 of 11 shooting along with 3 rebounds and 6 assists. Not too bad for somebody who has missed much of the last 2 weeks with a groin injury. So naturally the talk is going to begin about the Knicks being a worse team with Carmelo back. Not so fast and here are my reasons why.

First of all, Deron Williams absolutely torched Jeremy Lin. In the postgame news conference Williams said, "this all started on me", referring to the game which Linsanity began to break out. Like a true superstar Williams took it upon himself not to be embarrassed again by a young, up and coming star. After the game Lin said that the Knicks lacked "defensive energy". You can tell Lin wants to improve his game each night, always honest after the game. Second of all, Amare Stoudemire has not been the same since returning from the death of his brother and Carmelo Anthony was clearly rusty after returning from a groin injury. Anthony said after the game that "it was one of those games I had to get the rust off". My next point is that you have to believe that Carmelo Anthony is going to change the way he plays. Case in point he had 6 assists in his first game back, 2 more than his 4 a game average. Anthony said, "Passing the ball, find the open man, making the right play. I felt good with that.". He has said he wants to play his game within the system that the Knicks have been playing in the past few weeks. After all how can a team be worse when a superstar comes back, especially one that came from the Jim Boeheim school of basketball.

NBDL Spotlight: Paul Harris

Every team needs that one player who can simply do a bit of everything on the court. A few years ago you might remember that player in the Carrier Dome who donned number 11. Paul Harris is the former Syracuse player that I speak of. Harris enjoyed a solid career at Syracuse putting up good numbers. The "bit of everything" player that he was reflected in his stats. In his last two seasons at Syracuse he averaged at least 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. In 2008 he was All-Big East second team. He was definitely one of those guys Jim Boeheim loved to have on his team.

So the question is, what is Paul Harris doing now? He finds himself playing professionally for the Maine Red Claws of the National Basketball Developmental League, which is the minor league of sorts for the NBA. Naturally Harris continues to do it all regardless of where he plays. This season in 16 games thus far he is averaging 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. His season has been full of bright spots, but none better than December 18th against the Erie BayHawks. In this game Harris was able to get to the line 17 times and with the "do it all" attitude nearly had a triple double. He shot 9-15 from the field and ended the game with 30 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. If anyone thought that was a fluke he ended the next game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. All this just reaffirms his "bit of everything" style.

Harris continues to work hard at taking the next step to get into the NBA. Check back with Syracuse Pros for updates throughout the D-League season!

Tom Coughlin Wins Second Super Bowl

It has been simply amazing what Syracuse Alumni have done......in the past two days. Yesterday Syracuse Head Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim tied Dean Smith on the all-time wins list at 879 wins, but today Head Coach Tom Coughlin led the New York Giants to a Super Bowl Victory. Coughlin played halfback at Syracuse with the legends Floyd Little and Larry Czonka. In 1967 Coughlin set the school record for pass receiving yards. These days he hoists Super Bowl trophies.

The game itself was much like 2008 when the Giants beat the Patriots on a tremendous catch by former Syracuse player David Tyree. This year Eli Manning threw a tremendous ball on the sideline to Mario Manningham during a fourth quarter drive to set up an Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown. Bradshaw thought about kneeling to the turf with only 57 seconds left to try to drain more clock and then thought better of it. The Giants took the lead 21-17 and Tom Brady was unable to work his heroics allowing the Giants to capture their second Super Bowl victory in the last four years.

Coughlin has become the 13th coach in history to win multiple Super Bowls. With this victory he has elevated himself to one of the elite coaches of all time. Congratulations to the Syracuse Pro Tom Coughlin on making us Orange proud yet again.

Orange Alumni NBA Update

It's hard to believe that the NBA season is already one-third of the way through. In our first update of the year we will let you know how five former Orange are doing in the NBA this season.
Carmelo Anthony-New York Knicks
He has had a strong statistical year despite the Knicks woeful 8-15 record. He is averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this year. He was also named to yet another All-Star team.
Jonny Flynn-Houston Rockets
The Rockets are off to a surprisingly good start at 13-10 thanks much to the play of guard Kyle Lowry. Unfortunately for Flynn, Lowry has logged much of the minutes for Houston. So far Flynn is averaging 3.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for the Rockets.
Donte Green-Sacramento Kings
The Kings have been an inconsistent team at 7-15 this season. Green has also been inconsistent as well. His bright spot of the season was a 21 point output against the Grizzlies earlier this season. His totals for the year are 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and .6 assists.
Wesley Johnson-Minnesota Timberwolves
Johnson may be in a sophomore slump of sorts. The Wolves are 11-12 this year, which is considerably better than recent memory. Johnson has been very assertive on the offensive end, but has maintained strong defense. His stats so far are 5.8 points, 3 rebounds, and .9 assists per game.
Hakim Warrick-Phoenix Suns
The Suns are off to a poor start this season at 8-14. One of the bright spots has been Warrick off the bench. He has averaged 8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and .9 assists per game.
Stay tuned throughout the season for more updates about your favorite Syracuse Pros.