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Jadeveon Clowney is one big question and answer for the Houston Texans. Womens Fluorescent Green Nike Roshe Run Mesh Shoes UK . The 6-foot-5, 266 lbs. linebacker exploded into the mainstream with the infamous bone-jarring hit on former Michigan running back Vincent Smith during the 2013 Outback Bowl – one of South Carolinas three straight bowl victories from 2011 to 2013. He collected 24 sacks in three seasons with the Gamecocks but had his work ethic called “OK” by college coach Steve Spurrier before the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He responded to the criticism with a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, best among defensive linemen, a 42-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump, both second among defensive linemen. But poor results in the bench press – 21 reps was less than Miami punter Pat ODonnell (23) – resulted in another knock on Clowneys pedigree. NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was less kind with his criticisms during an NFL Network segment in April, months after the combine. “I look at Jadeveon Clowneys (game) tape and I dont see a guy that is playing the game with his hair on fire, making plays, running up and down the field sideline to sideline, doing all of the things," Sapp said. Clowneys answer? Although it wasnt his decision, the 21-year-old did enough to make the Texans believe he had the assets worthy of the No. 1 overall pick at the 2014 NFL Draft in May. The question Clowney has to answer next is whether the Texans made the right choice with the top pick and a subsequent five-year deal. First of all, Clowneys “lack of effort” could be in large part due to a sports hernia injury he admitted to playing with in his final season with the Gamecocks. He had groin surgery in June to deal with the nagging problem. The admission in itself is enough to take the work ethic jabs off the table, for now at least. His natural blend of tremendous size and speed makes him a pass-rushing nightmare. His 24 sacks in three years at South Carolina amassed a total of 147 yards lost – an average of 6.1 yards lost per sack. Despite a lackluster showing of three sacks in his final year of college – with the alleged injury – Clowney wreaked havoc when he did get to the quarterback, averaging 8.6 yards lost per sack. Developing a strong partnership with defensive end J.J. Watt – 31 sacks in the last two seasons – could result in a lot of pain for opposing QBs. The Texans were tied for 29th in the NFL last season with 32 sacks, a far cry from the fifth-highest total of 44 in 2012. A little less pressure on Watt to carry that load could be good for him. Clowneys physical gifts also make him a bandage against opposing ground attacks. Using the sample size available against relative competition, which Vincent Smith can attest to, Clowney has shown the ability to drive right through the offensive line. Though its not always enough to keep the ball in the hands of the quarterback, there is often little space between a handoff and Clowneys 83-inch wingspan. Not surprisingly, he can be overwhelming to block. If by chance an offensive line can keep him out of the backfield that wingspan is more than capable of plugging holes in the blink of an eye. Houston allowed 122.4 yards per game on the ground last season, the 10th highest total in the league. Its tough to argue Clowney wont help lower that figure. The questions remain. Answers pending. POWER SURGE? J.J. Watt needs help. The 6-foot-5 Wisconsin product has accounted for 47 per cent of the Texans sacks over the last two seasons. When Watt is flying – see his league-leading 20.5 sacks in 2012 – life is good. He was named Defensive Player of the Year and the Texans finished the 2012 campaign fifth in the NFL with 44 sacks. But when he slows down – just 10.5 sacks in 2013 – it reverberates through the lineup. Houston finished tied for 29th with 32 sacks last season. Watt can carry the line. He has before. But if the Texans want to be feared across the NFL, the rest of the line will have to carry Watt sometimes. EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing something right. Despite ups and downs at every turn in his career, the Harvard graduate continues to find a job. The Texans are hoping for the quarterback who threw more than 20 touchdowns for three straight seasons from 2010-2012 with the Buffalo Bills, well, without the 54 interceptions he threw over the same span. In his favour is the presence of Andre Johnson, miles away the best receiver Fitzpatrick has ever thrown to. But throwing to Johnson should be the least of Fitzpatricks concerns. The Texans receiving corps features six rookies (two TEs, four WRs) and 13 players with less than four years of NFL experience (three TEs, 10 WRs) A Harvard education cant be a bad thing in this situation. Red White Roshe Run Womens Nike Shoes UK . Abbott played one NHL game last season and spent most of 2013-14 with the AHLs Toronto Marlies. Dark Grey/Black/White Nike Free 3.0 Womens V3 Running Shoes . -- A horse with a humble pedigree. CHICAGO -- The family of former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson filed a wrongful death suit against the NFL on Thursday, claiming the league didnt do enough to prevent or treat the concussions that severely damaged his brain before he killed himself last year. The suit was filed in Chicago on behalf of Duersons son, Tregg, and three other children. Duerson died on Feb. 17, 2011, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest at his home in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. Duersons family wants to know more about the NFLs handling of concussions during his career, according to his son. "If they knowingly failed to inform and implement proper safety concussion procedures, then their indifference was the epitome of injustice," Tregg Duerson said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. "The inactions of the past inevitably led to the demise and death of my father. The lawsuit accuses the NFL of negligently causing the brain damage that led Duerson to take his own life at the age of 50 by not warning him of the negative effects of concussions. Attorney Thomas Demetrio, who is representing Duersons family, said the NFL should have been a leader in educating current and former players about head injuries. "They not only dropped the ball, they maintained until current times that there was no connection between playing football, receiving concussions and brain damage," Demetrio said. "Thats wrong." The NFL said in a statement that it had not yet seen the lawsuit. "Dave Duerson was an outstanding football player and citizen who made so many positive contributions but unfortunately encountered serious personal challenges later in his life," the NFL said. "We sympathize with the Duerson family and continue to be saddened by this tragedy." The suit also names helmet maker Riddell Inc., alleging that the helmets didnt adequattely protect players from concussions. Nike Free 5.0 Orange/White Womens V4 Running Shoes UK. The company declined comment. A native of Muncie, Ind., Duerson was a third-round draft pick by the Bears in 1983 out of Notre Dame and played 11 seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1993. He won Super Bowls with the 1985 Bears and 1990 Giants, and played in four Pro Bowls. The lawsuit was filed less than a week after nearly a dozen former NFL players living in Louisiana sued the NFL over their own concussions. Several former New Orleans Saints players are among the 11 ex-players named as plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in New Orleans. The lawsuit says each of them has developed mental or physical problems from concussions or concussion-like symptoms. Several suits blaming the NFL for concussion-related dementia and brain disease already have been consolidated in Philadelphia. Duerson had at least 10 concussions in his NFL career, according to his family, and lost consciousness during some. He left notes for his family asking that his brain be donated to science, and researchers at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston Universitys School of Medicine concluded he had "moderately advanced" brain damage and CTE related to blows to the head. The damage started to manifest itself about 10 years before his death, his son said, though the changes were gradual. "It was slow deterioration, day after day," Tregg Duerson said. "You can see his mannerisms change toward the end of his life." The lawsuit says brain damage affected his judgment, inhibition and impulse control. "My dad donating his brain as his last plea, we feel as though were taking that to the next level," Tregg Duerson said. "We believe that he wouldve wanted us to pursue this, and because of that belief, we feel obligated to do so." Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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