Miami Dolphins 01/23/2009 7:59 AMThe Palm Beach Post reports if the Dolphins decide to get bigger at wide receiver during the NFL draft in April, they might begin by thinking small. Division I-AA record-setter Ramses Barden arrived at Senior Bowl via Cal Poly without a big-school resume or name recognition. But the 6-foot-6, 227-pound Barden quickly has made an impression on his coaches, teammates and those watching from the sideline and stands. "He's not wide-eyed here - he belongs," said Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard, a member of the staff coaching the North squad. "The overused word on him between now and the draft will be 'raw' because people will say small school and this, that and whatever. "He's better than raw."Read more
Detroit Lions 01/23/2009 7:59 AMThe Detroit Free Press reports Lions coach Jim Schwartz is expected to hire former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik to be the team's secondary coach, according to a Rocky Mountain News report. Slowik, 54, would join new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. The Lions have not confirmed nor denied the report. Slowik has spent the past four seasons with the Broncos, the last two as defensive coordinator. Slowik, who has 17 years of NFL coaching experience, also served as defensive coordinator for the Packers (2004), Browns (1999) and Bears (1993-98). Many Denver assistants are scrambling for jobs after coach Mike Shanahan was fired.Read more
Atlanta Falcons 01/23/2009 7:58 AMThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the San Francisco 49ers announced Thursday the signing of former Falcons defensive back Jimmy Williams. Williams (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) was originally drafted by the Falcons in the second round (37th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. In two seasons (2006-07), Williams had 40 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed in 27 games. He spent the 2008 season out of football.Read more
Minnesota Vikings 01/23/2009 7:57 AMThe Pioneer Press reports Minnesota Vikings special-teams coordinator Paul Ferraro apparently is leaving to become an assistant coach with the St. Louis Rams. According to two people close to the situation, Ferraro has said he has found a new job and will coach linebackers for the Rams.Read more
