The Carolina Panthers appear to be enamored with quarterback Cam Newton while the Denver Broncos surprisingly have indicated to the media that they are interested in linebacker Von Miller.

While the first projection makes sense since Newton is widely believed to be the best player in the draft and the Panthers are in dire need of a quarterback, the second pick overall doesn’t make as much sense.

There’s no question that Miller is a stellar linebacker and would be well-deserved of the slot if he was taken there, but most NFL futures odds have him married to the Buffalo Bills a spot lower.

The Broncos had been linked to Alabama’s Marcell Dareus to this point but NFL Network’s Mike Mayock revealed that he has the Broncos taking Miller.

In some ways, it makes sense. Dareus is a defensive tackle in the crop of defensive lineman is much deeper than the grouping of linebackers. The Broncos definitely need to rebuild their defense but what they might do is target a linebacker first and then swing back and pick up a defensive tackle in the latter rounds.

The other thing that could be coming into play is the fact that the Broncos are just throwing out a smokescreen. They very well know that the Bills want Miller and by threatening to draft him, it may compel the Bills to trade up and take him, thus giving the Broncos at least a little bit more value.

The 2011 NFL Draft is set for Thursday night, so we’ll have the answers very shortly. Tune in to see how it all plays out.

Sure it was a disappointing season as the Seahawks were everyone’s pick to rebound after a rough 2008 season but to fire a coach after one season?  Surprising. 

But maybe it was all because they wanted and knew they could get Pete Carroll, the head coach at USC.  Carroll has been rumored for almost every job in the NFL over the past 5 years but has always ended up staying put in Southern Cal. 

Now it seems as though he is ready to make the move back to the NFL.  In 1994 he coached the Jets and from 97-99 he coached the Patriots going 33-31 and having a 1-2 record in the playoffs.  You can’t really say he was a bad NFL coach as he seemed to do okay if not memorable.

But leaving USC?  Don’t get me wrong I love this move.  I am so tired of USC dominating the recruiting, polls, and discussions during the season.  Everyone thinks they are so good all the time that they get too much respect based on nothing.  Look at this past season.  How a team replacing everything they had to replace started the season in the top 10 and remained there for much of the season I will never know. 

Sure they have all the talent in the world but even the best teams have a down year from time to time.

Is Carroll’s decision because he feels the days of USC dominating are over and wants to get out before things fall apart?  Maybe.  They have been winning nonstop for the past almost 10 years so eventually it has to end at least a little.

All these big coaches want another challenge and Carroll is surely no different.  He will be given full control over the Seahawks and will surely get at least 3 years to turn them around.  Some of the pieces are in place but much needs to be done yet for them to challenge in the NFC again.

Either way I like this move.  Seattle gets a guy that while he wasn’t a blow them out of the water kind of success he was still successful in his previous NFL stints and USC loses their king.

Win Win for most of us.

First of all this will mainly be a NFL blog.  Occasionally I might mention another sport depending on the headlines of the day but overall this is all NFL all the time.

Second all of my old posts are staying where they are…which is here if you want to see them.  I have decided to make a fresh start and well that is what I am doing.

Third this is only me here.  At the old Jumping Offsides I had a coauther and cohost of the podcast…Verb…but he is no longer writing with me.  He might add a guest post once in a while or join me for a podcast sometime but for now it is just me.

Fourth…well there really isn’t anything new.  I hope to post here with substantial regularity…meaning daily.  I plan to have certain topics covered certain days and will let you know more about that when I know more about that.  I do have a page listed at the top there (Power 12) that you should check out.  It is updated as of today and will be updated weekly for the remainder of the season.  It is my version of power rankings although not really the same as what you might expect.

Other than that just enjoy what I write…comment often…and lets have some fun.