BUILDING A STRONG CASE TO BE NO. 1
Hall of Fame QB Kelly says tests reveal return of cancer
Do-it-all Penn State running back Saquon Barkley could become the first running back to be the top overall NFL draft pick since 1995.
INDIANAPOLIS — John Dorsey might make a deal for the top pick in this year’s NFL draft — if the price is the right.
At the league’s scouting combine on Thursday, the Cleveland Browns general manager took his sales pitch public.
“There are a lot of things we can do at No. 1 and not just get a quarterback,” Dorsey said. “If someone wants to come up and make a trade, I’d make a trade, too. Just give me a call and see what’s up.”
Cleveland’s constant quest to find the right quarterback has become perhaps the mostwatched show in the league.
They’ve used 28 different starters since 1999, and it’s unclear if they’ll cast aside yet another youngster, DeShone Kizer, after he led the league in interceptions and went 0-15 as the starter.
Dorsey has the advantage of having watched Kizer perform in the final four games of 2017.
“What I really liked was how much he improved from week to week,” Dorsey said. “I think I’ve told you that a young quarterback usually makes exponential growth from Year 1 to Year 2.”
Back home, anxious fans are still clamoring to find that elusive franchise quarterback.
They’re frustrated after watching Cleveland whiff on Johnny Manziel in 2015, trade the No. 2 pick to Philadelphia in 2016 that allowed the Eagles to choose Carson Wentz and pass last year on Deshaun Watson. Instead, they took Kizer in the second round.
And with a deep quarterback class and two of the top four picks in April, some think this could finally be the time. Dorsey might not see it the same way.
After acknowledging the Browns interviewed an unnamed quarterback on Wednesday night and intend to meet all of the big names before the bulk of the combine work wraps up Sunday, he dropped no hints about what the Browns might do with either pick.
Instead, he’s looking for long-term solutions.
KELLY: Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly has once again been diagnosed with oral cancer.
Kelly released a statement Thursday through his publicist saying he is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news, and vows to once again fight to overcome the disease. He did not go into specifics on the diagnoses except to say the cancer was discovered following a test.
“As our family has faced many trials and triumphs throughout the years, you have blessed us with your prayers. We are asking for those prayers once again,” Kelly said. “With all of you by my side, we will fight and win this battle together.”
Kelly then closed his statement by saying: “Staying ‘Kelly Tough’ and trusting God will carry us through this difficult time.”
The diagnosis comes a few weeks after Kelly celebrated his 58th birthday.
Kelly had been cancer-free since September 2014 , but had been required to undergo routine follow-up testing.
PLAYER HEALTH GUIDE: The NFL Players Association has created a medical guide for players, a 107-page reference book written by scientific professionals with extensive material on concussion detection, treatment and the league’s game-day protocol for head injuries.
The union’s inaugural “health playbook” was distributed electronically to NFLPA members this week.
Speaking at a head, neck and spine committee meeting during the league’s scouting combine, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills revealed a 16 percent rise in diagnosed concussions, from 250 in 2016 to 291 in 2017. Sills said the data was a “call to action” to the NFL for greater prevention.
The NFLPA health playbook also includes information on joint injuries and wear and tear, high blood pressure and cholesterol, plus performancerelated topics such as sleep, nutrition and mental health.
JAGUARS: Defensive end Dante Fowler has been sentenced to a year of probation and 75 hours of community service for a parking lot attack on a man.