NFL News and Notes: Terrelle Pryor To become an Oakland Raider? Troy Polamalu The NFLs Most Overrated Player

The lockout is drowning out some fan interest and it is certainly killing some N.F.L. Mojo. In most places you won’t be able to find anything interesting to read, but I’m hoping to give you a little something something to enjoy.

Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune writes that the Oakland Raiders will consider drafting Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft.

It’s a debate that really isn’t a debate at all. More of a slam dunk, really. (…) Early speculation is that teams are looking at Pryor at some point after the third round. That means Pryor essentially becomes a third-round pick (or later) in the 2012 draft for the team that selects him. (The Raiders are without second- and fourth-round picks because of previous trades, meaning they don’t have a supplemental pick in those rounds. The 49ers have their full complement of picks.)

That’s great value for a player who in a lot of ways resembles Cam Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Auburn and soon-to-be multimillionaire taken No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in April.

The truth is, Pryor, at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, has considerably more experience as a college quarterback than Newton, with a 31-4 record and MVP awards in BCS wins in the Rose and Sugar bowls.

A few tidbits from Profootball Weekly There are more if you click on the link.

Cardinals first-round CB Patrick Peterson‘s value is enhanced by his quality kick-return ability, but team insiders do not believe he will be taking on any starting kick-return duties. “Since they expect him to be an elite, every-down corner, I think they will be very judicious as far as using Peterson as a returner,” one team insider said. “I think they will use him in spot situations, but I think Andre Roberts will remain the starting punt returner, and LaRod Stephens-Howling will definitely remain the starting kickoff returner.”

We hear no player did a better job of passing the eyeball test conducted by observers of the 49ers’ four-day players-only workout last week than OL Adam Snyder, who had his weight down to right around 300 pounds and appeared to be in tip-top shape. Normally a guard-tackle, Snyder assumed center duties at the camp — a role he said hopes will increase his value with veteran C Eric Heitmann still rehabbing the neck injury that sidelined him last season.

• Veteran Panthers players, including MLB Jon Beason, said rookie QB Cam Newton was impressive during workouts last week and Newton quickly appears to be earning respect from his teammates. We’re told Carolina still would like to add a veteran quarterback with the ability to open the season as the starter ahead of Newton, though. Re-signing Matt Moore is a possibility, but we hear the team would rather bring in a more experienced quarterback to help ease Newton into the pro ranks.

John McClain said on twitter that Demeco Ryans is ahead of schedule in his rehab. “Spoke to DeMeco Ryans. He says if lockout is over in time for training camp, he’ll be ready to go. His Achilles injury is ahead of schedule.”

Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post writes that DeAngelo Williams will get long looks from the Denver Broncos to play in the backfield. At that link he also takes a quick look at the rest of A.F.C. West.

CBS Takes a Look at the overrated and underrated players from each team.

And his most overrated player in the entire league might be surprising.

They love his name. They love his game.

Troy Polamalu is an NFL darling.

He’s also the league’s most-overrated player.

There, I said it.

He was selected as the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 — an award I couldn’t figure out — and then disappeared in the playoffs, even getting trucked by Ray Rice of the Ravens in the playoffs.

He was a spinning top in the Super Bowl, trying to cover Packers receivers and instead watched them rip off big gains and two touchdowns on his watch.

The Packers exposed the reason I think Polamalu is overrated. He isn’t great in coverage and the NFL is now a cover game.

He’s a good player. He’s just not great.
Last one I have for you today is a quick hit from Ravens Insider:

if, as expected, Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha becomes an unrestricted free agent, the Ravens will have an interest. The Ravens might not be able to pay the price for Asomugha, regarded as one of the best cover corners in the league, but they will at least pursue him when or if the free-agent market opens.

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