Michigan RB Mike Hart spends draft day relaxing at home
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(AP) - The NFL draft is approaching, and a diverse group of college football players will blog with their thoughts and expectations heading into the first big day of the 2008 NFL season:
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SATURDAY, April 26:
Michigan running back Mike Hart:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. _ I'm just relaxing at my mom's house. Well, relaxing about as much as you can while listening to my brother and mom argue about cleaning the house. After taking a shower, I'm going to get something to eat and don't plan on doing much today. I'm not expecting to get drafted today, but I'm going to watch it on TV and I'll flip to the NBA games between picks.
I talked to Jake Long yesterday, and I'm really happy for him that Miami took him No. 1 overall. He deserves it and he's going to be great because he doesn't have an ego and he has a great work ethic. He did a great job blocking for me for four years. Who knows, maybe he'll block for me in Miami!
Since leaving Ann Arbor earlier this week, I've been working out at Strength In Motion, the gym I've been working out since I was in the 10th grade. I've had teams calling me, making sure they've got the right phone numbers for me this weekend. A bunch of teams have talked to me at some point during the process: Baltimore. Pittsburgh. Carolina. Denver. Cleveland. Green Bay. San Fran. Washington. And both New York teams. Probably some teams I'm missing. But I have no clue what team is going to draft me. If I had to guess, I'd say I'll go between the middle to the late part of the third round.
There's a lot out there about me being too short (5-foot-9) and too slow (4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash) but I'm not worried about that. It's the same story, different chapter. I've been hearing that stuff my whole life. People didn't think I'd make it at Michigan, and I did. Making it in the NFL will silence all of my critics. I can't wait to conquer that mountain.
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Minnesota defensive back Dominique Barber:
Now it's Saturday, and the draft is beginning.
I don't know if I'm nervous or what it is that I'm feeling but I'm just happy to be in this situation. I can't explain how long I have waited for this opportunity. Being with all my family, seeing everything, just being able to be a part of this makes me so happy. I'm so thankful for my family _ they make me who I am today.
Even though I may not get drafted today, I know my time will come soon, and I know that when my opportunity is here I will take advantage of it.
My weekend feels a lot different from others. I mean, this is my life coming up, the way I'm going to provide for my family. I just can't believe that the weekend is finally here.
I know tomorrow I'm going to have a bunch of friends and family come over, and my dad and uncles are all going to be cooking on the grill, and there's just going to be a lot of food here at the Barber household, and I'm excited.
I'm just blessed to be in this situation and whatever happens, happens. I don't really look into the experts, the Kipers or anything like that, because when it comes down to it, it's the coaches and the GMs that have the final say.
That's the best and only way I look at it.
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Wisconsin kicker Taylor Mehlhaff:
ABERDEEN, S.D. _ This week was a busy week.
On Tuesday morning I went to visit Chavez Elementary School and read to a group of kindergarteners and had a great time. They asked some good questions and also told me some interesting items _ like about their Hot Wheels and how they like to play soccer.
They were awesome!
That night I studied pretty hard for my accounting exam that ended up going very well so I was pleased with that.
It was a little difficult to get out of town because I was also doing a lot of interviews with both Madison and hometown media.
Early Friday morning I left to come home to spend time with friends and family for the draft. We were planning on golfing today but it ended up snowing _ that was a bummer _ so basically I'm hanging out with some high school friends. My friends made these t-shirts with the Top 10 Moments Visiting Madison which is pretty cool.
Today, as I'm watching the draft, I'm definitely starting to get anxious and just ready for tomorrow to come.
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WEDNESDAY, April 23:
University at Buffalo center Jamey Richard:
As this week winds down, I have been reflecting on my football past, and what has led me to this point.
As a little kid I can still remember getting fake football pads as a present and running around wearing them all the time. In fourth grade, I decided it was time to start playing, and at that time, my hometown of Weston, Conn. didn't have a Pop Warner team, so I was forced to play out of town in Wilton.
I was a big kid so I always had to play with the older kids until about eighth grade when I had to drop 20 pounds to play. When I entered high school I weighed about 160 pounds, and I knew I wanted to continue to play football, so I made a commitment to get bigger. By the time I played my senior year, I weighed 275 pounds and was looking to play division one college football.
Along the way I encountered a lot of haters, people who told me I wouldn't play Division I football because I wasn't good enough. Those are the same people who I could hear quietly whisper behind my back once I did get my scholarship that I would never make it to this point.
I believe I am here today with this opportunity because of all the great coaches I have had along the way, starting with my Pop Warner coaches, most notably Bobby Cordisco, to all my high school coaches, especially my head coach Bob Zito who I truly believe is the reason I played college football at all.
Finally, my college O-line coaches starting with Roy Istvan, who was the main reason I chose Buffalo, Angus McClure, a great coach who I was sad to see leave so quickly, and last but not least, Allen Mogridge, who coached me through the best season of my career.
Not to mention all the other great coaches at Buffalo who have had an impact on my career. I also want to thank Jim McNally who has selflessly given his time to work with me in the last couple of months.
Of course the most important people through all of this would have to be my parents, who have loved and supported me my whole life, and I can't forget to mention the support of my fiance Theresa and my agent Dave Butz.
So I guess this isn't really as much insight into my head this week as it is me taking this opportunity to thank all the people who have made it possible for me to be here over the years and those who continue to support me to this day.
Thank you.
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TUESDAY, April 22:
Utah State offensive lineman Shawn Murphy:
Not much has changed since the last time I checked in. I visited the Carolina Panthers last week and enjoyed the chance I was given to interview with various members of their staff. It was a good experience.
It was also a tiring experience.
It was a one-day trip so I woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning and got home at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. I caught a total of 4 flights that day and flew a couple thousand miles only to get home that late and find my car with a flat tire. It was a long day to say the least.
It's nothing to complain about though, I can only be grateful for the chance to interview with another team.
Other than that trip, I've maintained the same schedule I've been on since my pro-day. My workouts have been going pretty good and I'm still taking calls from a wide variety of scouts and coaches.
There's only a few days left until the draft now and the anxiety is starting to set in. It's weird to think that what happens this weekend could determine the course of the rest of my life.
A lot of people ask what I'm doing on draft day. To be honest, I want this weekend to be as low-key as possible. I'm going to drive to my parent's house and hang out with my family on Saturday and Sunday and probably keep the TV off.
I don't think I even want to bring down any of my friends or teammates for the weekend. For some reason I think that would only add to the anxiety. Maybe I'll change my mind though. I guess we'll see in a few days.
I'll check back with you soon.
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Minnesota defensive back Dominique Barber:
It's a few days now until the draft. I can't get any more excited than I am. I have been enjoying this like a little kid.
I've received a few calls from teams, making sure they have the right number to contact me. Everything is done now, I have done all my workouts, and now I'm at the point where it's in God's hands and the plan He has for me is going to be great.
I have been talking with my brother and he has been telling me to have fun with this, enjoy every moment because it only happens once. That's all I have been doing, taking it a step at a time and have fun.
I have family coming in soon, and there is nothing better but to spend this time with your family. I just hope to continue to keep doing and enjoying this time.
I'm not really nervous, more excited for what is about to happen. Again, I'm just going to continue to workout and be ready for when my name is called.
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MONDAY, April 21:
Michigan Running Back Mike Hart:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. _ I went bowling last night with Adrian Arrington and Brandent Englemon (teammates at Michigan). We think we're professionals. I'm not great, but I'm pretty good. My average is about 185.
I'm going home to Syracuse soon. My 18-year-old brother, Eric, is here to make the 7-hour drive back with me. We'll listen to R&B the whole way and we'll sing the whole time, even though we can't sing. I can't get a speeding ticket because I got one yesterday, doing 10 over on the highway driving to an autograph signing.
I've had about seven teams call me, asking for my numbers to reach me on draft day. You can't work out for teams in the two weeks leading to the draft, so there's really not anything to do but wait.
I'll be at my mom's house with my two brothers and sister. I'm the second-oldest. There's Val, who's a year older, and my 19-year-old brother, Chris, and Eric. My little sister, Katie, died when she was 2 and I was 10. She drowned in a pool. I have a tattoo of her face with the words, "Never Forgotten," on my left shoulder. I think about her every day, especially when I look at my shoulder. But I'm not down about it all the time anymore.
I'm going to send in my last paper for school later this week from home, and then I'll be done. I'm not going to walk at graduation because I'll probably be home.
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Wisconsin kicker Taylor Mehlhaff:
MADISON, Wis. _ The draft is less than a week away now. This last week or so has actually been pretty quiet. I have a workout tomorrow morning with the New Orleans Saints right here in Madison.
We finally have some decent weather up here in Wisconsin and looks like we'll be able to get some kicking in. I'm starting to get really anxious to see what's going to happen.
This whole pre-draft process has been an awesome experience.
Surprisingly, this last month or so really flew by. I've stayed busy with school work to kind of keep my mind off of football a bit. It's hard to believe I'm already graduating next month. I've really enjoyed my four years in Madison, but I'm ready to move on.
I'm excited for the next chapter in my life and for what's ahead of me.
One thing I'll miss most about my time here is running out of that tunnel on game day at Camp Randall Stadium. The first time was no different than the last, I got goosebumps everytime.
I was so fortunate to be able to play in front of one of the best crowds in the country week in and week out. The atmosphere inside our stadium is unbelievable, especially those night games.
Our student section is one-of-a-kind.
Although it takes them most of the first quarter to actually make it into the game, they definitely show their love. They're known for their unique cheers and singing, as well as the famous "Jump Around" before every fourth quarter.
The entire student section jumps up and down while the House of Pain song is played over the loud speakers.
I love watching the opposing team during the "Jump Around" because they all just stare up at the student section in awe. In Madison, Saturdays in the fall are much more than just the actual football game, it's the whole experience.
Hopefully next fall I'll be kicking for a new crowd of fans.
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THURSDAY, April 17:
Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm:
I've been preparing for the NFL draft basically since I was a little kid, when my dad and my brothers had me in the backyard doing quarterback drills when I was seven or eight years old. It's amazing to me how fast time has flown by _ four years of high school, four years of college and now it's finally here.
There are only nine days left until the first day of the NFL draft, and I couldn't be more excited to finally find out where I'm going to live and who I'm going to play for. The past few months have been awesome as I've never put my body and mind through the types of things I've gone through since December, and hopefully it will all work out next Saturday.
I spent about three months living in southern California and training everyday at my agents' (Athletes First) facility in southern California. As someone who grew up in Louisville, Ky., it was awesome to wake up every morning to sunshine and 70 degrees!
For basically three straight months, everything I did _ my workouts, the food I ate, the meetings with sports psychologists and interview experts, the throwing program I was on, even the radio and television interviews I did _ were all part of a plan to maximize my potential as an NFL quarterback and perform to the best of my abilities at the NFL Combine, my Pro Day at U of L and all of the individual workouts that I've had over the past month or so. It's been a wild ride!
The last few weeks have been great.
I've had several private workouts with NFL teams, and I've had the opportunity to meet the GMs, coaching staffs and in a few cases, the owners of several different NFL franchises.
It has been a humbling experience to meet people in the game who have accomplished so much and be able to sit with them, if only for an hour or two, to watch film and pick their brains about what it takes to succeed at the next level.
Growing up as the son of a college quarterback and the brother of an NFL quarterback (my brother Jeff played in the league for seven years), I feel like I'm in a unique position to understand what it takes to be a successful NFL quarterback, though I've got a lot to learn. I spend hours daily in the film room studying defenses and trying to program my brain to know exactly where I should go with the football in a split second. The speed of the game at the next level is incredible, and I'll be expected to spend just as much time in the film room as I do on the practice field.
I have one more NFL visit scheduled, and then it becomes a waiting game to see which team feels I would be the best fit for their system.
I'm excited about this opportunity and am so thankful that I've been given the ability to realize my childhood dream and play in the NFL. I'll check back with all of you next week. Thanks for all the support!
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WEDNESDAY, April 16:
University at Buffalo center Jamey Richard:
Over the past couple of weeks I have had four personal workouts with the Bills, Patriots, Bengals, and Saints. In every workout that I had, I felt that I performed very well. Every coach that came to see me told me what a good job I did, and how they would like to coach me.
These workouts help to ease the draft anxiety once you are able to get out on the field and show the coaches what you're all about.
On top of all of my draft preparations in the weight room, I have been working out on the field doing position work with one of the NFL's most knowledgeable O-line coaches, the recently retired Jim McNally. He's been giving me insight into what's going to be expected of me on the next level and how to accomplish it.
Since I am finished with my degree, this is how I fill my days: I work out for a few hours and then try to find something to do that takes little energy and takes my mind away from what the future holds for me - mostly it is a mixture of watching TV, playing Call of Duty (Xbox) and hanging out with my fiance Theresa. (She helps to keep me sane.)
Every day I wake up with a mixture of anxiety and excitement about the upcoming draft.
I am at the point that I don't want to think about the draft anymore. Every day is filled with questions from former teammates, friends and family members about where I think I am going to go, or what team likes me the most, what round I will be drafted in, what team I would prefer, and so on. What people don't realize is that I have no idea, all these questions will be answered in two weeks, until then it is all a guessing game on my behalf.
All I can do now is just continue to work out and stay in shape, and by this point in the game my fate is all but decided as far as the draft goes.
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TUESDAY, April 15:
Utah State offensive lineman Shawn Murphy:
It still hasn't hit me that I'm going to be given the chance to work in a profession related to my father's.
I know there's a long, hard road ahead of me and that becoming a successful professional athlete requires more than talent and hard work. I know that it requires being given the right opportunity at the right time.
In a few weeks, I'll surrender myself to the chaos of the NFL draft. The way I see it, if you're not a guaranteed first or second round pick then your future is up in the air. I don't have time to sit back and wonder what analysts or sportswriters or fans are saying about where I'll be picked or what my future in the NFL looks like.
I could go mid-round, late-round or even undrafted, but all I can focus on right now is being as prepared as I can be for any opportunity that is given to me.
It's been several weeks since I returned from the Combine and it's been nice to be able to stop worrying about start techniques in 40-yard dashes and cone-drills. I spent months getting ready for the combine and I know that the preparation and time I put in was important, but I feel that these weeks since the Combine and the next weeks leading up to the draft are even more important.
I'm trying my hardest to get in the best possible shape before the draft. I'm still doing several workouts a day but have shifted the focus of the workouts into a more football-specific direction.
On Tuesday, I'll fly to Carolina for a day of interviews with the Panthers. Things are starting to get busy and I'm starting to get excited, but I'm still trying to keep my head down and focus on doing everything I can to be prepared for whatever happens.
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Minnesota defensive back Dominique Barber:
MIAMI _ It's Monday evening and my last week left of workouts.
It seems like I have been training here in Miami for my entire life. Long days, short sleeps, but I'm enjoying every minute of this experience. I look at it like what my family says _ you only have to go through it once _ and to be honest with you it's not as bad as it seems.
I'm excited for the next week because it is the time that I have been waiting for since I was a little kid. I dreamed about playing in the NFL and the time is now.
Going into the draft, I'm not really worried about anything, _ I know that God has a plan for me and I'm willing to follow it every step of the way.
I'm more excited for this to be over because the worse part is waiting _ and waiting _ to figure out where you're going to end up going.
Having two people in my family go through this makes things that much easier. They tell me everyday to just be ready for your name to be called. When it is, make sure you take advantage of the opportunity when that comes around also.
College was a great experience for me, it taught me a lot about myself. You're on your own, you have to depend on yourself for waking up for class, going to workouts and practice, doing your homework. And that's pretty much what the NFL is at a more intense level. Wake up for film, going to workouts, going to practice, watching more film, and getting your head in your playback after your long day of work.
But what I have heard from players in the NFL now that, if you do the right things, everything falls in place for you. It's not as hard as it sounds, you have to want to do it, and do it with passion.
I had to go through something similar to this 4 years ago when my brother was getting drafted. Marion and I are very close and it was a hard time for us to sit and wait for his name to be called. I look at his situation and things couldn't have fallen in a better place for him _ playing in the great state of Texas where they live football.
Even though he went in the fourth round, he has become a great football player. I look at him as my example _ where it doesn't matter where you go in the draft. It's all about your opportunity when it comes around.
If you take advantage of it you will be greatly rewarded.
Thats it for now. Talk to you in a week or so.
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MONDAY, April 14:
Michigan running back Mike Hart:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. _ I'm anxious about the draft, but the thing I'm focusing on right now is finishing school. I have two more classes before I graduate. I'm working on a 20-page paper on global warming for my geoscience class. My other class is Roman culture and we're learning about leaders like Julius Caesar and how leadership affected so many changes.
I'm anxious, though, because I prepared so much for the combine and pro day. Once those are over, you have about four weeks to relax. But you can't. I've heard so much good and bad, so I just can't wait for the 26th _ or 27th _ to come.
I know there are a lot of naysayers out there, but they're not going to be trying to tackle me in the league. If they were, I would try to run them over. I wouldn't juke. I'm hearing I could go in the second or third round. Reporters are saying second to fifth.
I'm hoping to go late second because that's my goal. I would also get more guaranteed money. I won't get $20 or 10 million like some guys, but a late-second pick will probably get $800,000 guaranteed. A fourth or fifth-round guy might see that drop to like $200,000.
Some guys borrow a lot of money from their agents before the draft, but I just took a couple thousands from my agent (Lamont Smith). I've got some marketing money coming in from autographs and car deals. I actually just got done signing 3,000 stickers for Topps and I've got 2,000 to go. I don't want to say how much I'm getting from all the card companies, but it's about seven years of my mom's salary.
My mom (Rory Rushlow) still lives in my hometown, Syracuse, N.Y. and I'm looking forward to seeing her soon. I haven't been home in a while, but I'll be there for the weekend of the draft.
I'm not doing anything big with a lot of reporters. The first day is only the first and second round, so I don't want to have a bunch of people around if I don't go in the second.
It'll be my mom, me, brothers, sister, nieces, a couple friends from high school and my grandparents.
Should be interesting.
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Wisconsin kicker Taylor Mehlhaff:
MADISON, Wis. _ After the Outback bowl on Jan. 1st, I was excited to get back home and start training for the East-West Shrine game and NFL Combine. I worked out with our Strength and Conditioning staff right here at the University of Wisconsin.
I stayed here because we have a great training program here at the UW and because I'm finishing up the last 12 credits of my Business Management degree this semester.
The Shrine game was a great experience. Dick Vermeil and his staff stressed the importance of preparation at the next level.
One thing he said that will always stick in my mind is, "An NFL career is very fragile, treat it with great respect!"
After a successful week down in Houston for the All-Star game, I came home and began preparation for the combine. I was lifting 4 times a week and kicking 3-4 times a week.
Ignacio Brache, who I consider (my) kicking coach, flew out from L.A. to help me fine-tune some things with my kicking the weekend before the combine.
The combine was also quite the experience. I thought it was a great opportunity to get to speak with a number of the special team's coaches as well as show them what I can do on the field.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my performance there. I'm the kind of person that is never satisfied with where I'm at with my kicking. I'm always striving for perfection. I really expect a lot out of myself when it comes to my kickoffs and feel like I didn't quite hit them as well as I'm capable of hitting them.
The plus side to that is I had a great season kicking off and hopefully the coaches can see that on film. I received a lot of positive feedback from the coaches. Nearly every team I met with told me I was their guy if they decided to pursue a kicker in the draft.
After the combine, I continued my training in preparation for our Pro Day on March 5th. Even though our indoor facility isn't quite high enough for me to hit my kickoffs, I was prepared to kick if anyone wanted to work me out that day. There were no special teams' coaches that attended our pro day, so I did not do any kicking.
I did however do the bench press, and squeezed out 14 of them. Since then, I've had a few teams express that they'd like to come up for individual workouts.
We wanted to schedule them in early April but the weather has not been cooperating.
Weather permitting _ we'll see if we can still get them in.