NFL DRAFT BIBLE DAILY DOSE 3/21

MARTIN RUCKER PRO DAY UPDATE
Daniel Mogollon reports University of Missouri TE Martin Rucker worked out at his school's Pro Day Thursday, March 20. Rucker ran a 4.71 40-yard dash, had a 37-inch vertical jump and a nine-foot, eight-inch broad jump. He said that he ran slower than he expected but his vertical was impressive. Rucker did not perform at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine and his vertical jump of 37-inches would have placed him second. Scouts view the vertical jump as the most important drill for tight ends because it measures explosiveness.

HARVEY CREATES BUZZ
Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey showed great burst in pass rush drills, and enough agility during his Pro Day, that scouts from teams utilizing the 3-4 alignment have already begun scheduling private workouts, according to Yahoo! Sports. While Harvey's burst makes him an intriguing fit as a 3-4 rush linebacker, his size, strength and long arms (82-inch wingspan) have most teams still viewing him as a better fit as a traditional 4-3 defensive end.

DAN CONNOR PRO DAY UPDATE
Penn State LB Dan Connor indeed was timed in around 4.7 seconds for the 40 at the school's on-campus workout earlier this week. Connor had once been considered one of the top two LBs in the 2008 draft and a likely top 15-20 pick but his stock has slipped of late and that time in the 40 isn't likely to help. At the same time, though, Connor was quicker in some of the other drills; in fact, his time in the three-cone drill (6.78) would have been the third fastest among OLBs at the combine, while his time in the short shuttle (4.25) would have been in the top 10 for OLBs.

JORDON DIZON PRO DAY UPDATE
University of Colorado LB Jordon Dizon worked out at his school's Pro Day Wednesday, March 19. Dizon ran a 4.63 40-yard dash, had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 4.51-second short shuttle, a 6.78-second cone drill and completed 12 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press. He measured in at 6-foot and 225 pounds.

QUINN GRAY TOUR CONTINUES
Quinn Gray will visit with the Houston Texans this weekend, according to Pro Football Talk. Gray has also visited with Oakland and Green Bay recently, but wasn't offered a deal by either club.

49ERS QB UPDATE
San Francisco coach Mike Nolan made it clear earlier this week that there will be an open competition for the team's starting quarterback position in training camp and the preseason between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, according to NFL.com. "I have no favorites, I have no favorites at all," Nolan said. "You want to get the best one out there, because the players are looking. You're a football team, it's about winning. And your football team performs better when they know that jobs are won or lost on the field. That's where this will happen."

STEELERS CUT WIDE OUT
The Pittsburgh Steelers have released wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, according to the Sports Network. Wilson signed with the Steelers as a free agent before the 2005 season after spending his first four seasons in the NFL with San Francisco. In three campaigns with Pittsburgh, he totaled 81 receptions for 1,162 yards and two touchdowns.

DAVIS DRAWS PRAISE
Vernon Davis has gained praise from Coach Nolan, according to the SF Chronicle. Nolan was asked about Davis' route running skils and replied, "He's a wild horse kind of player rather than a polished tight end. Davis still has a lot to learn, but is better after the catch than Gates and Gonzalez. In terms of blocking, Davis is better than the other two could ever dream of being."

GROSS AGREES TO TERMS
Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross, the team’s franchise player for 2008, has accepted his one-year tender. As a result, Gross will earn a fully-guaranteed, one-year salary of $7.455 million.

PATS TRY AND FILL NEED
The New England Patriots have begun the process of rebuilding a secondary depleted by free agency by signing free agent cornerback Fernando Bryant.

REPORT: PACMAN A COWBOY
According to RotoTimes sources, Pacman Jones and the Cowboys have agreed to terms on a deal that would allow the talented defensive back/special teamer to play in Dallas this season.

VIKINGS SIGN BOULWARE
The Minnesota Vikings and safety Michael Boulware have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "This team has a lot of potential and is headed in the right direction," Boulware said. "So I'm definitely happy to be a part of it." The Vikings also added defensive tackle Kendrick Allen.

PANTHERS INK VET
The Carolina Panthers have signed safety Terrence Holt to an undisclosed contract, according to the Rock Hill Herald.

ELAM AS GOOD AS GONE
Free-agent kicker Jason Elam is expected to negotiate contract terms with the Atlanta Falcons today, according to the Denver Post.

MORE TROUBLE FOR THE DEFUNCT AAFL
The Detroit News reports that Ford Field is suing the All American Football League for nearly $1 million for canceling games after it had committed to playing in the stadium. Stan Edwards, a former University of Michigan and NFL player and the father of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, had signed on as president of Team Michigan.