The NFL will hold its annual draft in May next year. (Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that the league will hold its annual draft in May next year and that in following years it could be held outside of New York City because of scheduling conflicts.

The Draft will be held at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan in May 2014. After that, the league says it has no idea where the draft will be held.

“If we want to move the draft back into the April period, we’re going to have to look at other alternatives. Other cities, other venue,” Goodell said, via NFL.com.

Radio City Music Hall is planning a spring show which could conflict with the draft for the next couple of years. .  The tentative dates for the draft could be May 8-10 or May 15-17.

“We haven’t found the location in New York that meets our requirements and where we think we can continue to grow the event. If we do, that will be one of the alternatives. I think one of the things we have to do at some point is start looking at other cities,” Goodell said.

Goodell said in addition to the draft that proposed changes to the rest of the offseason schedule were still being discussed with the NFL Players Association.

Geno Smith fired his agents four days after falling to the second round of the NFL Draft. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

While Geno Smith has declared that his decision to fire his agents was not a result of his dropping to the second round of the draft, sources from NFL teams have revealed other reasons why one of the draft’s highest-rated quarterbacks found himself stuck in the green room Thursday night.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports via sources that Smith acted aloof, disengaged and displayed a general bad attitude during pre-draft meetings. Sources were critical of Smith spending much of his visits on the phone, reading Twitter and texting friends.

From Yahoo! Sports:

“All these other players who were in there were talking to the coaches, trying to get to know people and he was over there by himself,” one source said. “That’s not what you want out of your quarterback.”

“He doesn’t have much presence, not much of a leader,” one executive who studied Smith said. “I don’t think he’s a bad person, but that’s not enough to be a quarterback in this league.”

Cole’s report also includes reports of Smith, two days before the draft, toasting and thanking his agents, calling them “family” and saying they would represent him his entire career.

“His biggest problem is that he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know,” said a league executive, who spent extensive time assessing Smith before the draft. “I’m not sure he knows how to take instruction because he pretty much wouldn’t listen or talk to our coaches … he’s talented. He can sling it, he can fit it into tight spots, he can do a lot of things and I think he wants to be good. But you can’t tell him anything right now. He’s tuned out because he thinks he’s got it all down.”

Deadspin’s Barry Petchesky cited a person close to Smith as saying his decision to fire his agents was based on the agency’s failure to successfully promote his value when it became apparent he might fall out of the first round. Smith was also unhappy with the negative fallout from not playing in the Senior Bowl — a decision his agents pushed.

Smith, taken by the Jets in the second round, said his goal is to become the team’s “franchise quarterback” but realizes that he has a lot of work to do.

Four days after he was picked in the second round of the NFL Draft, rookie quarterback Geno Smith has left his agents, reports Sports Business Journal‘s Liz Mullen on Twitter.

Source: QB Geno Smith has left his agents at Select Sports. Smith, 2nd round pick of NY Jets, cannot hire another agent for 5 days. #NFL

— Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen) April 30, 2013

Smith, the former West Virginia standout, was expected by most draft pundits to be the top quarterback taken this year. His name was floated as an early first-round pick, though a fall into the second round started to look like a possibility closer to the draft. The New York Daily News‘ Manish Mehta reports that fall is the reason Smith left Select Sports.

How about this: Geno Smith thought he would be & should be the No. 1 overall pick, I’m told. That’s why he fired his agents. #nyj

— Manish Mehta(@MMehtaNYDN) April 30, 2013

Smith later denied that he fired his agent “because of the whole draft experience.”

#Jets QB Geno Smith on Firing Agent: I don’t want to shed too much light on it but it’s not because of the whole draft experience.#SXMSports

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 30, 2013

The Jets grabbed Smith and turned their quarterback situation into an even bigger circus. The team took a first step toward solving its issues by releasing Tim Tebow on Monday. Whether the team holds on to starter Mark Sanchez or hands the reigns to Smith remains to be seen.

Mehta also reported that Smith won’t join Jay-Z’s stable of clients, which already includes Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.

The Chiefs are still looking to trade tackle Branden Albert. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Chiefs still believe they can trade offensive tackle Branden Albert, despite the fact that the team was unable to close a deal before or during the NFL draft.

Yahoo Sports’ Jason Cole reported Sunday that the Chiefs will now turn trade talks to a 2014 draft pick. Cole reported that the Chiefs still think they could acquire a second-round pick in the 2014 draft in exchange for Albert, who is unhappy with his status as the team’s franchise player and has expressed a desire to sign a long-term deal.

The Chiefs could get interest from the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Arizona Cardinals, according to Cole, because they all still have needs for offensive tackles even after the draft.

The Miami Dolphins could also get back in the mix after being the Chiefs’ most serious potential trade partner in the last round of negotiations. The Dolphins said they were willing to meet Albert’s contract demands, which were similar to the six-year, $53.4 million extension that was signed by Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown last year.

The Dolphins, though, shelved a potential trade with the Chiefs when they shipped a high second-round pick to the Oakland Raiders in order to select Dion Jordan with the third overall pick.

Albert, 28, has signed a franchise tender worth $9.82 million next season, but he has not participated in the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason program.

Two days after New York Jets general manager John Idzik would not say whether much-maligned starting quarterback Mark Sanchez would remain on the team through training camp, Newsday’s Bob Glauber reported that the team intends to keep him at least through the preseason.

Glauber also reported that the Jets will give Sanchez a shot to compete for the starting job, along with former Jaguars quarterback David Garrard and the newly drafted Geno Smith.

Glauber’s report isn’t particularly surprising. But after the Jets selected Smith in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Idzik wouldn’t say if Sanchez would remain on the roster through training camp — or even throughout organized team activities.

The Jets, though, have no reason to part ways with Sanchez at this point. Thanks to the contract extension he signed after the Jets failed to court Peyton Manning last year, they will have to pay him $8.25 million this season whether he is on their roster or not.

League source: #Jets expected to retain QB Mark Sanchez into preseason, let him compete for starting job. Sanchez to show up for work tomw.

— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) April 28, 2013

Hall-of-Fame receiver Cris Carter’s son Duron could follow in his father’s footsteps after being invited to try out for the Minnesota Vikings, according to multiple reports.

Duron Carter went undrafted following a troubled collegiate career after spending last season practicing with Florida Atlantic. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound wide receiver has been invited to both the Vikings’ and Ravens’ rookie camps, according to USA Today‘s Mike Garafalo.

He left Ohio State after his freshman season after being ruled academically ineligible, played at Coffeyville Community College (Kansas) in 2010, and transferred to Alabama but was never ruled eligible to play.

Though ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Carter had signed with Minnesota, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman clarified that he has merely been invited to camp this week.

Confusion here on the Duron Carter front. He hasn't signed with Minnesota. He's been invited to try out, as Rick Spielman told @TomPelissero—
Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 28, 2013

Cris Carter spent 12 seasons in Minnesota, making eight Pro Bowls. The 47-year-old, who was drafted by the Eagles out of Ohio State in the fourth round of the supplemental draft in 1987, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February.

Carter’s ESPN coworker Mike Golic saw his son — Mike Golic Jr., an undrafted offensive lineman out of Notre Dame — sign with the Steelers this weekend.

Carter told The Minneapolis Star-Tribune‘s Mark Craig that Duron’s strengths are his hands, size and route-running ability.

From Craig’s report:

The Vikings newest Pro Football Hall of Famer was overjoyed. His great year had just gotten a whole lot better. He said his former team would be signing his son, Duron, as an undrafted rookie free agent. It turns out it’s actually an invitation to try out during the team’s rookie minicamp this weekend.

“I’m just so happy for him that he’ll get an opportunity to continue doing what he loves to do,” Carter said. “For him to get that opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings, a team I played for and love, it’s just a blessing.”

…

“Very few have taken the route to the NFL that he’s taken,” Carter said. “Minnesota presents the best opportunity for him.”

After rushing for more than 1,700 yards in his first two seasons, running back LeGarrette Blount fell out of favor with Bucs coach Greg Schiano. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to an NFL Draft-day trade that sent running back LeGarrette Blount to the Patriots in exchange for running back Jeff Demps and the 229th pick.

Blount, a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie in 2010, headlines the trade, giving New England a physical presence out of the backfield. Demps, a former Olympic sprinter, did not register a carry last season.

Both players were previously reported to be on the trading block — Blount after losing his job to rookie sensation Doug Martin last season and Demps after announcing that he wanted to resume his track career.

From The Boston Globe:

New England signed Demps as a rookie free agent last August, just a couple of weeks after he was a member of the silver medal-winning 4 x 100-meter relay team for the United States at the Olympics.

But after playing in the Patriots’ final two preseason games, he was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.

Then last month, news came that Demps wanted to resume his track career, but play football as well. That apparently did not sit well with coach Bill Belichick, who places commitment to football very high on the list of what he’s looking for in a player.

Blount’s carries, yards and yards-per-carry average have each dropped in his three seasons. The former Oregon running back, who went undrafted after punching a Boise State player after a game during his senior year, rushed for just 151 yards on 41 carries last season.

Denard Robinson rushed for 4,495 yards and 42 touchdowns during his four-year Michigan career.(Diamond Images)

Denard Robinson amassed 4,495 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns as a quarterback at Michigan during his four-year NCAA career.

Now, he will attempt to make the transformation into a full-time running back after being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the second pick (135th overall) in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.

The Jaguars announced Robinson, 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, as a running back, though many have speculated that he could wind up at wide receiver.

The Deerfield Beach, Fla., native caught just three passes in his collegiate career and never returned a kick, as Big Ten Network’s Tom Dienhart wrote, but ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Jaguars take Denard Robinson, running back from Michigan.—
Jacksonville Jaguars (@jaguars) April 27, 2013

Denard Robinson caught 3 passes at #Michigan and returned no kicks or punts.—
Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) April 27, 2013

Despite passing for 6,250 yards and 49 touchdowns at Michigan, Robinson is not viewed as a quarterback prospect because of his lack of size and arm strength.

Instead, he will join running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Justin Forsett in the Jacksonville backfield.

The New York Jets traded their 2013 fourth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for running back Chris Ivory, according to multiple reports. The Saints received the 106th overall pick in exchange for Ivory.

The Jets’ addition of Ivory follows the 39th overall selection of West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.

In six games with the Saints last season, Ivory rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns with an average carry of 5.4 yards. The Jets offense was one of the worst in the NFL last season. The Jets offense ranked last in yards-per-game (299.2 yards), last in passing yards-per-game (18o.7 yards) and 28th in points-per-game (17.6 points).

Jets traded for former Saints RB Chris Ivory — now official.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2013

Talked about the Chris Ivory trade just now: Saints win by getting a 4th rounder. Jets should have Ivory locked up long-term soon. RFA now—
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2013

Manti Te’o was selected with the 38th overall pick by the San Diego Charges in the 2013 NFL Draft. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The San Diego Chargers selected Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o with the 38th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Te’o was the center of a media frenzy surrounding his fake girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, in January. Her alleged death and existence was later found to be a hoax. 

The Chargers traded with Arizona to move up seven spots to move into position to take the Notre Dame linebacker.

Te’o had poor showings at the NFL Draft Combine, which dropped him out of the first round. The All-American linebacker had reportedly visited and worked out with the Miami Dolphins earlier in the month before being selected by the Chargers on Friday night.

The Chargers also selected offensive tackle D.J. Fluker from Alabama with their first round pick. Te’o joins a Chargers defense that allowed 21.9 points a game last season.

Alabama coach Nick Saban isn’t happy with the media making an immediate comparison of Dee Milliner and Darrelle Revis. Milliner, Saban’s former cornerback, was selected ninth by the Jets in the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Milliner as a replacement to the recently departed Revis is on everyone’s mind, which doesn’t sit well with Saban.

From ProFootballTalk’s report:

“I can already tell the tone of what you all are doing,” Saban told reporters. “What’s Revis got to do with Dee Milliner coming here? Just let Dee Milliner be Dee Milliner. Let Dee Milliner play like Dee Milliner plays. Whether Revis used to play there or not, what’s that got to do with Dee Milliner? Why do you want to make comparisons and make it like a circumstance for the guy before he ever gets a chance to go on the field? I think Dee has a vision for the kind of player that he wants to be, and I think he’ll be a very, very good player for a long time.”

Saban told the media that comparing Milliner to Revis, who was recently traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, would be counterproductive for Milliner and the team.

“People have a much better chance of helping Dee Milliner be successful by being positive and supportive rather than being difficult on him,” Saban said.

While it’s true that it would be better for New York to see Milliner as a new cornerback — and a top 10 pick — fans will undoubtedly consider Milliner the heir apparent to Revis.

Former LSU cornerback and NFL Draft prospect Tharold Simon was arrested in Louisiana Thursday night for allegedly intimidating a police officer, reports KATC, Lafayette, La. television station.

Simon is expected to be selected in the mid to late rounds of this weekend’s NFL Draft. Simon started all 13 games at cornerback last season for the Tigers, leading the team in pass breakups with nine and in interceptions with four. He also finished with 45 tackles.

Eunice, La. city officials are scheduled to proclaim Friday “Tharold Simon Day” during a ceremony this evening. Eunice Mayor Rusty Moody says the ceremony will go on as planned. ”In the United States, our justice system says everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” Moody said.

More from KATC:

According to police records, Tharold Simon’s car was blocking Beulah Street when an officer asked him to move it. According to the report, Simon told the officer, “I own Eunice,” and “I’m gonna buy these projects and you are gonna be mine,” (sic) before finally moving his vehicle. The officer noted in the report that Simon spun his wheels and “backed the vehicle in an aggressive manner” and turned his radio “all the way up” while moving his car. The report also says Simon told the officer that “the mayor was on [his] side” and that the officer would be fired if he wrote a ticket. Simon is charged with public intimidation, resisting an officer, and unnecessary noise violation. He was released on bond.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was left waiting in the the NFL Draft green room at the end of Thursday night’s first round. Will he go early in the second round? Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweeted the Jets will consider selecting Smith with the seventh pick of the second round, No. 39 overall.

Smith told the New York Post the Jets were among the teams interested in him, after having dinner with the Jets’ offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and senior personnel evaluator Terry Bradway the night before his March 14 Pro Day at West Virginia.

The Jaguars, holding the first pick of the second round, Eagles and Cardinals are also considered to be interested in drafting a quarterback in the second round.

BURKE: Grading every first-round pick

Smith originally told ESPN he would not be around to take the stage at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, electing not to attend the second and third rounds. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Smith changed his mind Friday morning.

BANKS: Snap judgments on Draft day

Jets will take a good, hard look at Geno Smith today. #NYJ has seventh pick of the 2nd round (No. 39 overall)—
Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) April 26, 2013

West Virginia QB Geno Smith has decided to remain in New York and will be attending the draft tonight in Radio City Music Hall.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2013

The Dolphins reportedly are willing to meet Branden Albert’s contract demands. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

The anticipated Dolphins-Chiefs trade involving Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert has been tabled until after both team make their first-round selections in Thursday’s NFL Draft, according to ESPN.com.

Albert, 28, has signed a franchise tender worth $9.82 million next season but has held out of the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason program under new head coach Andy Reid. Albert reportedly wants a contract paying between $8 and $9 million per season in a long-term deal.

Albert has been linked to the Dolphins — who are reportedly prepared to meet his contract demands — after Miami refused to match the Rams’ $8.5 million offer to tackle Jake Long.

The Chiefs reportedly are looking for a second-round pick as compensation in a potential trade and the Dolphins have two picks available to deal.

The Chiefs are expected to make Albert expendable after selecting Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher or Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel with the first pick of the draft — that is looking more and more to be Fisher.

The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly have made their choice between offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel.

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweeted that the Chiefs have informed Joeckel that they will take Fisher with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft.

ProFootballTalk.com reports the Chiefs will take Fisher per a source with knowledge of the team’s plans.

BURKE: More rumors on NFL Draft day

Joeckel apparently has been told by KC that Fisher is their pick.—
Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) April 25, 2013

Chiefs will take LT Eric Fisher with the first pick in the draft, per source with knowledge of the team's plans.—
  (@ProFootballTalk) April 25, 2013

Oregon linebacker Dion Jordan and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner are expected to open training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The two are among the highest rated defensive players of this year’s draft, and both underwent surgeries for torn labrums during the offseason.

For Milliner, it was his fifth surgery, which may affect his draft stock. His other surgeries include a right knee scope, sports hernia, right tibia stress fracture, and shoulder.  The Browns and Jets have both shown interest in the cornerback, and the Jets may look to use Milliner as a replacement for the recently traded Darrelle Revis.

Oregon LB Dion Jordan and Alabama CB Dee Milliner, who underwent off-season labrum surgery, are expected to open training camp on PUP list.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2013

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is rethinking his “first round draft party”.

Earlier Wednesday, someone promoting the 2013 NFL Draft Party featuring first round draft pick Tyrann Mathieu hit the web, and by mid-afternoon, the “Honey Badger” was backpedaling from that party like a good cornerback should.

He later tweeted out a response that said he was not associated with the party.  But the tweet came from his official Twitter account.

“No, it’s crazy. I don’t understand it. It was a miscommunication, that’s all. … I never signed off on the party,” Mathieu said to reporters at the NFL Draft party on Wednesday night. ”I expect to go in the first round, yes I do. I think I’m a first round talent. But I think l’ll fall to the second.”

He has not shown up in any of the draft experts mock drafts as a first-round talent, and is expected to be a second or third rounder.

There will be no party for Tyrann Mathieu!!—
Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) April 24, 2013

Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey says the organization has fielded phone calls from teams willing to trade up to the No. 1 spot, reports NFL.com.

The Chiefs own the top pick in the NFL Draft, which starts tomorrow night. Dorsey did not say which teams have inquired about the pick.

The team is also trying to decide what to do with left tackle Branden Albert.  Dorsey confirmed that the Miami Dolphins and the Chiefs are stalled on a deal because they are trying to work out compensation.

More from NFL.com:

The guess here is that teams in search of an elite offensive tackle such as the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers have called to get a better idea of the Chiefs’ asking price.

Dorsey obviously hasn’t received an offer to his liking. It’s a long shot that he will get one that entices him to pull the trigger by Thursday evening. It’s expected that the Chiefs will keep the pick and choose either Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher.

Hall of Famer Warren Moon spent six years in CFL before getting a chance to quarterback in NFL. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Warren Moon believes criticism directed at NFL draft prospect Geno Smith is evidence that bias against black quarterbacks remains prevalent.

Moon, who was forced to play six years in the Canadian Football League before proving he could be a record-setting NFL passer and Hall of Famer told Jarrett Bell of USA Today Smith is another example of a black quarterback being victimized by his race.

“It sounds the same as two years ago,” Moon told USA Today. “It just shows that there are a lot of people in society who have the biases and stereotypes. And most of it is about your integrity or leadership or work ethic — all of these intangible things.”

A recent Pro Football Weekly scouting report on the draft’s top quarterback prospects downgraded Smith — widely predicted to be the first quarterback selected in Thursday’s first round — was critical in many areas, describing him as ”a cross between Akili Smith and Aaron Brooks.”

“Not a student of the game.  Nonchalant field presence — does not command respect from teammates and cannot inspire.  Mild practice demeanor — no urgency.  Not committed or focused — marginal work ethic.”

Smith, who passed for more than 8,500 yards and 73 touchdowns with just 13 interceptions in his last two seasons at West Virginia, defended himself against the report by saying the evaluation was “untrue in all things.”

Many NFL draft analysts came out to defend Smith’s talents and potential.

“The Pro Football Weekly report should be discarded,” Trent Dilfer told USA Today. “It’s almost laughable, the stuff he put in there.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that the NFL draft will begin with a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, reports USA TODAY‘s Jim Corbett.

“We will have a moment of reflection for both the victims in Boston and in Texas,” Goodell said, according to Corbett’s report.

The commissioner also said that there will be increased security at the draft, including the banning of backpacks. The draft starts Thursday.

The Jets are reportedly interested in quarterback Ryan Nassib. (Nate Shron/Getty Images Sport)

Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is “very high” on quarterback Ryan Nassib, ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reported Wednesday (via Rotoworld).

Nassib, out of Syracuse, is one of the top prospects in what experts say is a weak quarterback class. Most mock drafts have West Virginia’s Geno Smith as the first quarterback off the board. Nassib, USC’s Matt Barkley, Florida State’s E.J. Manuel and NC State’s Mike Glennon are also expected to go in the first three rounds of this week’s draft.

The Buffalo Bills have been linked with Nassib from the beginning of the draft process. Nassib’s college coach, Doug Marrone, was just hired as Buffalo’s coach.

KING: Breaking down the quarterback class

Initially, it looked like Buffalo might be able to wait until the second round to pick the quarterback, if they are interested in him. But Nassib’s stock seems to be rising, and the Bills may need to act sooner.

“The Buffalo Bills want Ryan Nassib,” Paolantonio reported. “But they’re very concerned the Jets will take him later in the first round. So the Bills may be forced to take him at No. 8.”

The Jets, with the No. 9 and No. 13 picks in the first round, have a lot of options — and a lot of needs. The team’s interest in Nassib could be sincere. Mark Sanchez struggled last season, and general manager John Idzik may think the team needs a new quarterback to start the rebuilding process.

DEITSCH: ESPN, NFL Network unveil NFL draft plans

But this could also be a smokescreen from the Jets. This close to the draft, it can be hard to tell what’s true. The Jets may be leaking their supposed interest in Nassib to try to pressure Buffalo into selecting him with the No. 8 pick. If Buffalo did pick Nassib there — and the Jets weren’t actually interested in the quarterback — New York’s chances of getting the players they want with their two first-round picks would increase.

Geno Smith took to Twitter to slams his critics. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith took to social media on Tuesday afternoon to once again slam draft critics who said he won’t make it in the NFL and who also criticized his skills and work ethic.

Smith is referring to a report in Pro Football Weekly published earlier this month that described him as ”a cross between Akili Smith and Aaron Brooks, Smith is a gimmick, overhyped product of the system lacking the football savvy, work habits and focus to cement a starting job and could drain energy from a QB room.”

Smith said the report was ”untrue in all things.”

The unflattering report also said Smith had a mild practice demeanor, no urgency and that he was not committed or focused and had a marginal work ethic.

Smith is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in the Draft which starts Thursday.

Just want to thank all those so called "experts" who say I can't be an NFL QB. Thursday will be a special day but the work has only begun—
Eugene Geno Smith (@GenoSmith_12) April 23, 2013

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be joined by a St. Jude cancer patient during one first-round pick of the draft. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

A cancer patient at St. Jude hospital in Memphis will announce a draft pick during the first round of this year’s NFL draft, reports Outkick the Coverage.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a leader in finding cures and treating children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital has had an ongoing partnership with the NFL, and one patient will join NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on stage during the draft.

Former USC quarterback Matt Barkley and future draft pick visited the hospital and spoke about the experience. From the Outkick the Coverage report:

“The research they’ve been doing with cancer and other diseases, it’s unbelievable,” Barkley said, “And to see the actual healing that’s going on with kids and to see how joyful these kids are knowing that a cure’s in sight, it’s been very encouraging.”

The draft will take place at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday.

The Miami Dolphins are prepared to meet the contract demands of offensive tackle Branden Albert, for whom they are looking to trade before this week’s NFL Draft.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Dolphins are willing to give Albert a similar contract  to the six-year, $53.4 million extension that was signed by Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown last year.

That stands in contrast to a report Sunday that said the deal was on the verge of falling apart unless Albert lowered his demands. The Dolphins refused to match a deal the St. Louis Rams gave to tackle Jake Long, which pays about $8.5 million per season.

Albert, 28, has signed a franchise tender worth $9.82 million next season, but he has not participated in the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason program. The Chiefs are looking for a second-round pick as compensation in a potential trade, and the Dolphins have two.

From TA: My understanding is #Dolphins are willing to meet Branden Albert’s contract demands of similar $$ to Duane Brown. Waiting on KC

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 22, 2013

The Steelers could draft a quarterback in this year’s draft, to groom an eventual Roethlisberger replacement (Diamond Images/Getty Images)

The Steelers haven’t taken a quarterback since 2008, when the team drafted Dennis Dixon in the fifth round. But the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said the team was open to the possibility of drafting a quarterback this year.

The Steelers have a need for solid backup QBs, with Ben Roethlisberger out with injuries a little too frequently. Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team isn’t looking for someone to replace Big Ben in the near future. Instead, the team is interested in a developmental prospect to groom over several years while Roethlisberger remains in charge.

The Steelers believe Tennessee’s Tyler Bray is the most talented quarterback in this year’s draft class, but not yet quite ready for the NFL. Bray, needing some time to develop and mature, could fit well into the Steelers’ plans for a drafted quarterback.

With Bruce Gradkowski signed to be a backup and John Parker Wilson on the roster, if the Steelers do draft a quarterback, it would likely be the end of Charlie Batch’s time with the Steelers.

Darrelle Revis saluted Jets fans on Twitter Sunday night,  hours after the team finalized a trade to send the star cornerback to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for this year’s 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft and another selection next year.

The full message is below:

“Ibeen sitting around for the last hour trying to figure out what to say to the Jet Nation & I came up with this. The six years I played for the New York Jets were unbelievable. I put my body on the line everyday & did everything could to help the team win. I experienced a lot & & learned a lot. The memories I had in New York I will keep dearly to my heart. I want to thank all the jets fans for making me feel welcome.”

Not everyone in the Revis camp was as sentimental after his departure. One source close to Revis told the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta that the “organization is not committed to winning.”

Here are Revis’ tweets:

I been sitting around for the last hour trying to figure out what to say to the Jet Nation & I came up with this. The six years I played for

— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) April 21, 2013

the New York Jets were unbelievable. I put my body on the line everyday & did everything could to help the team win. I experienced a lot &

— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) April 21, 2013

& learned a lot. The memories I had in New York I will keep dearly to my heart. I want to thank all the jets fans for making me feel welcome

— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) April 21, 2013

Branden Albert is reportedly seeking a contract of $8 million to $9 million annually. (Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert is seeking between $8 million and $9 million annually in a new contract, complicating a potential trade to the Miami Dolphins ahead of this week’s NFL Draft.

Yahoo Sports’ Jason Cole reported Sunday that a trade would only happen if Albert, who is currently signed to a one-year franchise tender, brings down his contract demands significantly. The Dolphins refused to match a deal the St. Louis Rams gave to tackle Jake Long, which pays about $8.5 million per season.

The Chiefs are looking to swing a deal with the Dolphins for a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. But Cole points out that the move would seem “counterintuitive” for the Dolphins given Albert’s current demands, since they just let Long walk away in free agency for less money:

To overpay for Albert and give up a second-round pick to get him would be pretty questionable for the Dolphins. Then again, the idea of having Jonathan Martin at left tackle could force the Dolphins to panic.

Albert, 28, has signed a franchise tender worth $9.82 million next season, but he has not participated in the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason program.

Adam Schefter of ESPN has put names to two players linked to reports of trashing a Indianapolis hotel room during the NFL Combine in February.

Schefter reports via Twitter that the room belonged to Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Rutgers wide receiver Mark Harrison.

Dan Pompeii of National Football Post initially reported the incident on Sunday.

On Monday, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported confirmation of the trashed room from NFL Football Scouting president Jeff Foster. The report described conditions that included urine and feces scattered about the bathroom, toothpaste on the mirror and garbage, including partially eaten food left on the bed and throughout the room.

The players to whom the room was registered have denied their involvement to NFL team representatives who have questioned them at their respective pro days, according to Foster and other sources close to the situation.

Foster said both agents for the respective players called shortly after their players had checked out of the room to give their denials. When Yahoo! Sports contacted two agents who were identified as the athletes’ representatives, the agents denied their players were involved. There’s a belief that such an embarrassing situation coming up so close to the draft could significantly impact their player’s draft status.

Hopkins, considered a high first-round prospect, has dealt with tragedy before starring at Clemson.

A trashed hotel room at Indy scouting combine that Yahoo reported on belonged to Clemson WR DeAndre Hopkins and Rutgers WR Mark Harrison.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 18, 2013

BYU’s Ziggy Ansah is expected to be a first-round pick. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

There have been questions about BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah’s age since he had a breakout season in 2012.

ESPN.com is reporting that Ansah’s listed age of 23 has been the focus of some NFL personnel departments.

A copy of his passport that was sent to teams last week shows Ansah will be 24 on May 29. Ansah had 60 tackles with 4.5 sacks and one interception last season for the Cougars. The 6-foot-5, 271 pounder is expected to be a first-round pick in next week’s NFL Draft.

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The Ghana passport was issued on March 1, 2008, the same year Ansah traveled to the United States after being converted as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to attend BYU, the Mormon-based college in Provo, Utah.

Some scouts have stated privately that Ansah appears older than 23, but the same scouts have not indicated if it was a major stumbling block to his draft rating.

Manti Te’o is projected to be a first-round draft pick.(Joe Raymond/AP)

Most NFL teams give former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o a first-round grade heading into next week’s NFL Draft, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said Wednesday on SportsCenter (via Rotoworld).

“At least half the teams in this league have solid first-round grades on Te’o,” Mortensen said. “I have heard ‘undersized’ a bit. (But) most teams do see that he’s going to go somewhere in the first round.”

Te’o was a star for Notre Dame on its run to the national championship game and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. But his draft status became a question mark after Deadspin reported in January that his “girlfriend,” who had supposedly died during the season, did not exist and was actually a hoax perpetrated on Te’o.

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At the NFL Combine, media packed into Te’o's news conference, and he faced a barrage of questions over the incident. He also struggled in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, posting a time of 4.82 seconds.

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But according to Mortensen, he “aced” the interviews with teams. A month later, at Notre Dame’s Pro Day, he ran 4.71 in the 40 — not scorching, but not worrisome.

Now, Te’o looks to be a strong fit for teams like the Bears and Ravens in the bottom half of the first round. SI.com’s Don Banks had the Vikings selecting Te’o with the 25th pick in his most recent mock draft.

The NFL has plans to beef up its security for the draft at Radio City Music Hall. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

For the next week, the NFL will be reviewing and enhancing its security plans for the draft in light of the recent event in Boston, reports ProFootballTalk. The draft is scheduled to begin next Thursday, April 25 and will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

From the ProFootballTalk report:

“The NFL and its clubs have operated with a very high level of security since 9/11 for all of our games and events,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells PFT via email. “For next week’s NFL Draft, we will review and enhance our already comprehensive security plans with the NYPD, Radio City and our private security partners. We will advise the public more specifically next week prior to the Draft.”

A red carpet arrival is now a part of the draft, and people often line up near Radio City Music Hall to watch draft picks and others enter, creating the need for careful security.

The Dolphins have reportedly been impressed with Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson. (R. Yeatts/Getty Images

The Miami Dolphins have 11 picks in the NFL Draft that is less than two weeks away, and have the No. 12 pick in the first round.

Don’t be surprised to see them jump up to try to secure a top three spot.

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said this week that his team could trade up if they wanted to and could secure the No. 1 overall pick, which held by the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I’ve got enough ammunition to get to the first pick if I wanted to, but I don’t see myself doing that, personally,” Ireland said to the Palm Beach Post. “If I get another [Mike] Pouncey and another Jake Long, I would do it every draft. I wish I had a whole team full of Mike Pounceys and Jake Longs, to be honest with you. I know what I’m getting every single day with those guys.”

The team lost left tackle Jake Long to the St. Louis Rams in free agency, but the Dolphins could be on the lookout for a new offensive tackle. Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher  Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson figure to go high in the first round in the Draft, which starts April 25.

Ex-LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu reportedly told NFL teams that he failed more than 10 drug tests in college. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Former LSU All-American cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is busy preparing himself for the NFL Draft in two weeks by visiting different teams around the league.

And what he has told some teams during those visits may come as a bit of a surprise. When the subject came up about Mathieu’s well-documented drug use at LSU, he was asked by an assistant coach for an unidentified NFL team how many times he failed a drug test in college, which ultimately got him booted from the team before the 2012 season.

According to an assistant coach for the team, Mathieu responded: “I quit counting at 10. I really don’t know,” reports USA Today.

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The coach, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to comment about the evaluation, doesn’t dump all of the blame on Mathieu. He points a finger at LSU.

“If he flunked 10 tests before they suspended him, it shows that he got no kind of help,” the coach said.

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Manti Te’o has seen his NFL draft stock fall after a disappointing BCS Championship Game and the scandal surrounding his fake girlfriend. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Manti Te’o is on the Dolphins’ draft radar, at least to the point of bringing in the former Notre Dame linebacker as one of their 30 official visits.

Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post reports Te’o is traveling to South Florida to visit the Dolphins facility Wednesday evening and Thursday.

Te’o was considered a high first-round prospect before suffering through a poor performance against Alabama in the BCS Championship Game and the scandal surrounding his fake girlfriend. A less than impressive showing at the NFL Combine didn’t help his stock, but he reportedly has added the Dolphins to his list of visits that includes the Bears, Chargers and Lions.

SI.com’s Don Banks’ latest mock draft has Te’o going off the board at No. 25.

The Dolphins roster already features linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler, but Volin reports the team could draft Te’o to compete with Koa Misi for the third linebacker spot.

Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain is close to a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter.

McClain would give Baltimore flexibility at linebacker, where the team has lost depth this offseason. Ray Lewis retired after Baltimore won the Super Bowl, and Paul Kruger signed with the Cleveland Browns. Baltimore already added Elvis Dumervil at outside linebacker. McClain would help fill the opening inside.

While no one expects McClain to suddenly match Lewis’ production and leadership, he could be a temporary solution. Plus, at only 23 years old, the former first-round pick may still have upside. McClain started 38 games in his three seasons with Oakland. In 2011, he had 79 tackles.

But last season, he lost his starting job and was suspended two games for conduct detrimental to the team. Oakland released him earlier this offseason.

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The Ravens may still address linebacker early in the NFL Draft. But if they can sign McClain, Baltimore would avoid having to reach for a player out of need.

Former Raiders LB Rolando McClain is nearing deal with Ravens. Two sides scheduled to talk today to see if they iron out unresolved issues.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2013