Spring SEC football coaches teleconference

For all the snap judgments from this morning’s SEC teleconference, swing on over to the Daily Bama Blog’s home on Twitter.

That address is twitter.com/DailyBamaBlog.

Bama, or at least Saban, has friend at NCAA

Props go to Gentry Estes, former Daily Alabama beat writer currently with the Mobile Press-Register for making the connection and doing the research on this one.

Turns out, the new NCAA president, Mark Emmert, hired Saban at LSU in 2000 and the two have remained friends.

Check out this link, which I found in Estes’ posting, that details the friendship between Saban and the newly minted most powerful man in college sports.

And now, in the spirit of spring weather, here is your Kige Ramsey video of the day along with a bonus video that our friend Kige posted today.

McElroy wins Paul W. Bryant Award

Quarterback Greg McElroy joined gymnast Kassi Price as recipients of the Paul W. Bryant Award that goes to Alabama’s top male and female student-athletes.

Being a national championship winning quarterback is only part of the award. McElroy got his degree in three years and is currently working on his masters in sports administration. In December, he told us that he’d only received one B in college, fittingly in a leadership course.

Price has a 4.0 GPA with a double major in marketing and advertisement and a two-time academic All-American.

And now, your daily Kige Ramsey video. Remember it is from two years ago.

Ingram might get road named for him

 Photo courtesy of Alabama media relations

The “positive self gratitude” just keeps rolling in for Mark Ingram, pictured above throwing out the first pitch at yesterday’s Alabama baseball game.

According to this report in the Detroit Free Press, the Heisman Trophy winner might be getting his name some roadway back in his native Flint, Mich.

Winning the Heisman is one thing, but this is something usually reserved for presidents, governors and such. Not bad for a college kid.

And now, in a new Bama Blog feature, please enjoy this video by fellow Western Kentucky University product Kige Ramsey. This will be a semi-regular feature as requested by a loyal reader.

Updating drafted/free agent list

This will evolve as we confirm more signings. As of now, there are nine members of the Tide defense who has been either drafted or signed to free agent deals. Here is the list as of 4:36 p.m.:

Draft picks
Round 1: Rolando McClain (No.8) Oakland Raiders
Round 1: Kareem Jackson (No. 20) Houston Texans
Round 2: Javier Arenas (No. 50) Kansas City Chiefs
Round 2: Terrence Cody (No. 57) Baltimore Ravens
Round 3: Mike Johnson (No. 98) Atlanta Falcons
Round 7: Marquis Johnson (No. 211) St. Louis Rams
Round 7: Brandon Deaderick (No. 247) New England Patriots

Free agent signings
Colin Peek, Atlanta Falcons
Cory Reamer, New York Jets
Eryk Anders, Cleveland Browns
Lorenzo Washington, Dallas Cowboys

Anders signs with Browns

The day after the draft, the free agent signing news is rolling in. Eryk Anders’ agent John Phillips just confirmed his client signed a deal with the Browns.

Anders also spoke with the Giants and Bears before deciding Cleveland was the right place for him.

There are also reports indicating Cory Reamer signed with the New York Jets and Colin Peek did so with the Atlanta Falcons.

Brandon Deaderick makes it seven

Barely escaping the title of “Mr. Irrelevant,” former Tide defensive end Brandon Deaderick became the seventh Alabama player taken in the NFL draft when the New England Patriots took him with the 247th pick. Only eight players followed Deaderick.

The seven picks makes this the most Alabama-heavy draft since it shrunk from 12 rounds to seven in 1993.

Still, several hopefuls went undrafted including Lorenzo Washington, Leigh Tiffin, Colin Peek and Justin Woodall.

Stay tuned for any free agent news.

Marquis Johnson drafted in seventh round

Yet another Alabama defensive back will be a pro.

The St. Louis Rams picked up Marquis Johnson with the 211th pick of the draft in the seventh round. He joins former teammates and DBs Kareem Jackson and Javier Arenas in the NFL.

Still available: Leigh Tiffin, Lorenzo Washington, Brandon Deaderick and a few more draft hopefuls without a home yet. Stay tuned for more.

Report: Tide lands basketball commitment

According to the recruiting gurus over at BamaOnLine.com, Anthony Grant landed a big body to help his restructuring in the Alabama basketball program.

It looks like 6-foot-8 Jason Carter has chosen the Tide over Ole Miss and will sign to make it official sometime soon. He will be the third to make it official with Grant, joining guards Trevor Releford and Charles Hankerson.

Read more about the Carter, a native Texan, by clicking here.

Mike Johnson closes out third round

No, not Mr. Irrelevant, but Mike Johnson was the final pick of the NFL draft’s second day. He’ll be heading to Atlanta as the 98th overall pick, rejoining John Parker Wilson for whom he blocked for two seasons with the Tide.

That’s it for the day.

Stay tuned stating at 9 a.m. Saturday to see if Colin Peek, Brandon Deaderick, Roy Upchurch, Eryk Anders, and/or Cory Reamer land in one of the final three rounds.

Terrence Cody to the Ravens

I called it, but no one was around to hear it. With Baltimore’s 3-4 defense and its history of bigger than big defensive linemen, it wasn’t a shock they took Terrence Cody with the 57th pick of the drafter.

It was yet another Alabama pickup for Tide legend Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens’ general manager.

Who is next for the Tide? Mike Johnson is the best bet. Stay tuned

Javier Arenas is now a Chief

Cornerback/kick returner Javier Arenas just went to the Kansas City Chiefs with the 50th overall pick becoming the third Alabama player taken in the draft.

The ESPN talking heads are giving him plenty of love, even comparing him to Ronde Barber.

Terrence Cody remains on the board and there is no good prediction as to where he’ll go.

McClain: Gone with the autumn wind

 Daily photo by Jeronimo Nisa

Now that the morning after is almost over, let’s talk a look at what everyone is saying about Rolando McClain’s new football home, Oakland. I recommend listening to this and this while digesting what is to follow. 

“Rolando McClain is a physical, savvy leader at linebacker, which matches the philosophy Raiders Coach Tom Cable is trying to instill in Oakland.” Matt Waldman, New York Times

“The first twist came at No. 8, when the unpredictable Oakland Raiders took Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, who most people had predicted would go in the teens. That drew raucous boos from the Giants fans in the balcony section of the theater because they were hoping McClain would be around when their team picked in the middle of the round.” Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times

“At 6-foot-3, 254 pounds, McClain has the body of Junior Seau — and, by all accounts, the passion, dedication and inspirational presence of Ray Lewis.” Monte Poole, San Jose Mercury News

“Al Davis doesn’t care if he upsets Raiders fans with his draft picks. So it’s no surprise that Davis fails to honor Raider Nation wishes by drafting a new owner. Instead he goes with a linebacker, Rolando McClain.” Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle 

“Great common sense pick by Raiders. Unlike last year, where DHB pick was greeted with laughter, most everyone nodded their heads and seemed pretty impressed by selection of McClain.” Jerry McDonald, Oakland Tribune

Here is a Q&A McClain did with the Oakland Tribune, an other with Raiders coach Tom Cable.

I wrote this story and this story (also found here) for today’s paper and Daily photographer Jeronimo Nisa produced this photo gallery.

Kareem Jackson picked

Another Alabama junior just went earlier than expected. The Houston Texans just picked up Kareem Jackson with the 20th pick in the first round.

No time to blog, though. Cranking out print stories. Read them Friday.

And Rolando McClain goes to the …

… the Oakland Raiders who surprised many by taking him with the eighth pick in the draft.
 
Check back later for more.