he8217ll certainly have skepticsafter missing 11 games last season with groin and abdomen injuries and eight games in 2009 with a concussion. Portis also turns 30 8212 a dreaded threshold for running backs 8212 early next season. History just isn8217t on his side.NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger checked in with his scouting report on Portis.8220He8217s clearly a declining player,8221 Baldinger said. 8220If you look at his career carries, that8217s a lot of wear and tear on a body as an everydown back. He really never split carries, and the injuries have taken their toll. He8217ll always be a very tough guy, but he8217s not going to make anyone miss, which is crucial in the NFL. He8217ll get you the yards that are there, but probably little else. Idon8217t think he8217ll regain the level he wants no matter how he feels.8221To Baldinger8217s point, Portis has racked up 325 carries or more in each of the last four seasons in which he played close to a full schedule. His 2,230 career carries rank 26th alltime and put him fifth among active backs.While it remains to be seen what type of market might exist for Portis8217 services, teams don8217t hand out big contracts for veteran backs when younger, cheaper options comevia the draft or off the street see LeGarrette Blount, Arian Foster. Even if Portis proves to be completely healthy, he8217s likelylooking at a situational role 8212 much like LaDainian Tomlinson a year ago 8212 at this point in his career.Portis might have to wait awhile for a chance to prove any of his doubters wrong.8211 Frank TadychPittsburgh LBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley weren8217t exactly shy in voicing their opposition this week to what8217s now known as the 8220Steelers Rule.8221Harrison referred to the people behind the crackdown as 8220idiots8221 via Twitter. Woodley told SiriusXM NFL Radio the fines over flagrant hits were 8220stupid8221 because they were taking away from the game.NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp, never one to bite his tongue on such matters, was equally open
ting title in 1991, the first round provided some serious drama.Julio Jones joins an Atlanta team that sorely needs a strong complement to Roddy White on the outside. He also followed what may have been one of the more underrated surprises of the draft 8212 the Bengals eschewing a quarterback for Georgia wideout A.J. Green.With the Chiefs drafting Jonathan Baldwin later in the night, three wide receivers total were taken in Round 1. That a hair lower than the 10year trend, which reflects four wideouts per year being selected that early. While that a relatively small incremental change, the defensive line saw the biggest move from the previous 10 drafts.In all, 12 guys were plucked where an average of just under eight were taken in years prior. Running back also reflected a strong variation, with only one  Alabama Mark Ingram going on Day One, and very late at that 28th overall. That a big drop considering about three runners typically go in the first round every year.Notice the plight of safety and tight end, positions that didn get a sniff Thursday night.8211 Elliot HarrisonNEW YORK 8212 On the clock with the No. 17 overall pick in the draft, the Patriots saw the chance to take their left tackle of the future. They didn8217t pass on a value pick that also fills a need.Considering Stephen Neal8216s retirement, Matt Light8216s pending freeagent status and the unhappiness of guard Logan Mankins over his contract situation, the Patriots added a muchneeded piece to an offensive line undergoing changes. NFL Network8217s Michael Lombardi reported the Patriots were worried another team would jump ahead of them for the right to take Solder.Solder, who arrived at Colorado as a tight end before transitioning to left tackle, isknown to be a tremendous athlete.o me, he one of the most gifted tackles Ie seen in the last couple of years from a foottechnique perspective,8221 NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock noted. 8220However, I think he underpowered. He has a tremendously high ceiling. It makes sense form a left tackle