Ricky Williams eludes the Lions in 2010. (Getty Images)

Sometimes, the best way to deal with a problem is to pretend that it doesn't exist. At least, that's the impression put across by former NFL running back Ricky Williams when he discussed the recent concern about concussions in football with ESPN's Dan Le Batard. Williams, who played for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens during an 11-year career in which he gained over 10,000 rushing yards, retired in February. And when it comes to the possible effects of the game as he enters a new phase of his life ... well, Williams can't really be bothered.

"I have no idea, and I'm not a really big fan of the way the NFL is handling concussions," Williams said on Tuesday. "Maybe I'm stupid or whatever, but if I got a concussion, and I could see straight and I could carry a football, I'm not telling anybody ... From what I've seen, [the NFL is] all about prevention -- but can you prevent a concussion? I mean, you can definitely have safer helmets, and I had what I think was the safest helmet when I played, and I think you can definitely pay more attention. But ultimately, it's about the players. And I think all this attention given to prevention -- it seems like they haven't done anything, because they don't believe they can actually treat a concussion."

[Related: Concussion worries lead Andrew Sweat to choose law school over NFL]

When Le Batard said that he didn't understand Williams' statement (put us in that camp as well), Williams elaborated.

"Most of the research around concussions is to find that 100 percent of football players have brain trauma. Well -- I don't want someone to tell me that, right? I don't want someone to tell me that, because if it's a 'doctor' [Williams used air quotes when he said the word 'doctor'], I don't buy it."

The now incredulous Le Batard asked Williams to clarify his stance -- did he believe that there is not a link between football and concussions?

"I don't buy it. I'm only speaking from my personal experience, because I haven't allowed myself to buy it, and I haven't been affected. Yes, I'm aware that football is a rough sport, but instead of saying, 'Oh -- I'm doomed to brain trauma,' I said, 'What can I do about it?' And I just started taking care of my body. I found people, places and things that really helped me -- again, I don't know what's going to happen to me in 10 years, but I look at the other things I've learned about, and the way I see the world.

"And to me, it's like -- OK, yes. If we're going to spend six months brutalizing our bodies, I said, 'That makes sense. I'm going to spend six months taking care of my body.' I started to equip myself with tools. I started practicing yoga, and I started learning some hands-on healing stuff. I found really good chiropractors and massage therapists, and I found that I was able to peel off layers of trauma on my body. I actually move better now than I did [when I played]."

When asked about the science of brain trauma, Williams passed it off. "Science is the deity, but should it be?"

Wes Welker has done a lot of this over the last five years. (Getty Images)

Since he came to the New England Patriots in 2007, Wes Welker has been about as productive as a receiver can be. In five seasons, he's caught 554 passes for 6,105 yards (an 11.0 yards-per-catch average) and 31 touchdowns. He's redefined the role of possession receiver in some of the most productive offenses in league history, and he's far from done. In 2011, Welker caught 122 passes -- the second most in his career, and good enough to lead the NFL in receptions for the third time in the last five seasons.

So, it was a bit surprising when the New England Patriots decided to place the franchise tag on Welker instead of signing him to a new long-term contract. "I'm pretty certain I'll be playing there this next year, and I'm looking forward to that," Welker told Shutdown Corner in April. "Like everybody else, I'd like a long-term deal, but at the same time, I'm just focused on going out there and playing the best I can."

After biding his time, Welker signed his tender on Tuesday, and announced it on Twitter.

@WesWelker

Confident that a new deal is around the corner, and unwilling to  create distractions as organized team activities begin soon, Welker is now looking forward to what he perceives to be a willingness on both sides to get that new contract hammered out.

"I think we are all on the same page," he told WEEI on Monday. "We're all trying to collectively come together and make something happen. I think everybody just seems to know we're all on the same page and we're trying to work towards something.

"I think anybody that plays for any organization that has done a good job over the years wants to be rewarded for it. I think I'm no different from any other guy that's in the league. The main thing is just trying to keep a level head about it and make sure you're making the best decisions for yourself, but at the same time put yourself in a position where you can play for a great team and hopefully do some great things in the future."

Better equipment won't eliminate scenes like this, but we have to start somewhere. (Getty)

One of the more far-reaching ramifications of America's increasing concern with football safety is the increasing percentage of parents -- including former NFL players -- who would hesitate to let their sons play football. As we discussed in February, the fact that there could be millions of young men suffering from concussions at the sub-college level may erode the sport by providing a diminishing talent base as more potential young stars are driven to other sports by the inherent risks of the game.

[Related: Ohio State linebacker Andrew Sweat chooses torts over tackles]

Though the NFL has been reactionary at best on this subject, a new initiative put forth by the league, the Players Association, and other organizations provides a source of reason and hope. As the NFL Communications press release states:

The initiative will remove helmets that are 10 years old or older and replace them with new helmets at no cost to the beneficiary leagues and will provide coaches with the latest educational information to help keep their young athletes safer and healthier.

In its first year, the program is being piloted in four markets: the California Bay Area, Gulf Coast region, Northern Ohio, and the tri-state region around New York City.  The NFL, NFLPA, NCAA and NOCSAE have committed a combined total of approximately $1 million to the program in its first year. The pilot program is designed to provide valuable information on the state of youth football helmets, including the number of helmets 10 years old or older in use.  As of 2012, NAERA members will no longer recondition or recertify any helmet that is 10 years of age or older.  NOCSAE will collect the helmets when removed and use them for ongoing research programs.

The program, initiated by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, will educate thousands of coaches on concussion awareness, and distribute more than 13,000 helmets to low-income areas.

"The time has come to accelerate the culture change needed to improve the health and safety of youth football players," Tenenbaum said.  "Even with our push for improved safety equipment, it is vital that parents, coaches and players understand that there is no such thing as a concussion-proof helmet.  The best answer is safer and smarter play, which is why this game-changing program is aimed at reducing hits to the head and trauma to the brain.  I want to thank everyone involved in this initiative for joining together in a common commitment to youth player safety."

In addition to the NFL, NFLPA and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, involvement comes from USA Football, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association, the NCAA, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), and equipment manufactures Rawlings, Riddell, Schutt and Xenith.

Brandon Weeden is building from the ground up, with limited construction time. (Getty)

Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. Our next entry: Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns.

Overview: As you may have heard, Weeden played baseball for a while and came to college football a bit late, which means that he was a 28-year-old senior draft prospect. You will hear that Weeden's age is a positive, because it gives him a maturity other rookies don't have. You will hear that Weeden's age is a negative, because he'll be 29 when his first NFL season starts, and if he's not ready right away, the clock is already ticking at an accelerated rate. The data on quarterbacks entering the league at a later age is about as conclusive -- Chris Weinke (29) and John Beck (26) were past the aggregate when they started their NFL careers, and the results were not spectacular. Warren Moon started his NFL career at that age due to the idiocy of scouts and personnel executives in the late 1970s, and he tore it up in the NFL after winning five straight Grey Cups in Canada.

So, age ain't nothin' but a number with Weeden -- most likely, it's not a decisive indicator of success or failure. A hard look at his senior tape is far more revealing, but we'll start with the stats, because they're pretty darned impressive. In 2011, Weeden blasted through the Oklahoma State record books with 4,727 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and a completion percentage north of 72 percent. Add in his performance in the Cowboys' win over Stanford in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, and an impressive Senior Bowl week, and it would appear that Weeden is ready to beat the age curve and hit the big time. What does the film say?

Strengths: Weeden has great command of the offense out of shotgun right after the snap -- he sells play action well, rolls out from different backfield sets, and targets one-read half-side passing schemes with great consistency. Reads blitzes well and gets the ball out quickly under pressure. Good touch thrower in the abstract -- he isn't always accurate when he takes a little off the ball, but he gets the concept. Good enough arm to zing it downfield on posts and go routes, and will place the ball well against wider zones. Sells play action well enough out of the shotgun to have defensive backs cheating up or looking back, which allows him to further exploit this strength. Gets set quickly to fire out in shorter patterns.

Weaknesses: The most glaring issue with Weeden's play overall could really set him back at the NFL level is that he's what I call a "zone thrower," which means that he's often throwing to gaps and areas without a great deal of anticipation or adjustment. That's fairly common with spread quarterbacks, but Weeden's problem is that he will tend to throw to that area even after his primary receiver (usually Justin Blackmon) has been redistributed by aggressive press coverage. You will also see him struggle against more advanced defenses (Stanford, for example) who disguise their coverages.

His Chadness asking Roger Goodell a question at the Super Bowl XLV presser. (Getty)

With current and former NFL players lining up on either side of the debate about player health and safety, you may have been wondering, "What the heck does Chad Ochocinco think about all of this?" Fear not, intrepid readers -- because Chad has the OCNN Network and a corresponding website, he's laid it all out for us in a very heartfelt letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Straight from OCNNRepoort.com:

Many of you know I have a father-son relationship with Roger Goodell. I love him and just had to reach out to him with all that is going on. We are at a crucial point in the history of football. The foundation of the game is in jeopardy based on all these factors and the future of the game is going to be shaped by him.

Dear Dad,
I know it has been a rough week, so I wanted to reach out. Players dying, players suing and on top of that my peers are just going off on you in the media. It does not help that ESPN has all of a sudden become Medical TV with damn near every brain expert on the planet. This has got to be the worst week[s] ever. Since no one is showing any support, I figured I would be the first. You are in one big-ass catch 22 and quite frankly, I am not sure there is any solution. One thing I think can help is killing the NFL PR machine.

Y'all do a darn near perfect job at portraying this game as one played by heroes.

But let's be real dad. This is a nasty, dirty and violent game with consequences. Sign up or go get a regular job. Watch it or turn off the TV and go fishing with your kids. It is really that simple. I know there are probably legal and financial implications that prevent this blunt depiction, but am not sure if you have a choice. If you don't say it now, the mounting evidence being revealed publicly will say it for you very soon. In all, I love you and if anyone can lead us out of this mess, it will be you. Oh by the way, I have a deal for you. Am having a rebound year and plan to do a lot of celebrating in the end zone. Can my fine money go to supporting ex-players suffering?

Sincerely,
Chad

Goodell has not responded in a public manner at this time.

Ochocinco and Goodell hug at Chris Henry's funeral in December, 2009. (Getty)

[Prep Rally: Cleveland Browns' Joe Haden takes jilted teen to prom]

Many interesting points here.

A.J. Jenkins might be hitting the elliptical a bit harder from now on. (Getty)What we noticed while wondering just how much we could take away from non-contact minicamps involving nothing but rookies, and a few veterans per team who were allowed to participate because they didn't get a vested year last season:

49ers first-round pick A.J. Jenkins shows up out of shape? It's kind of like abandoning your pro day, or testing positive for something unwise at the scouting combine -- showing up for your first NFL OTA and getting gassed immediately isn't the smartest thing anybody will ever do. You know it's coming, and what were you doing on your own? From Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee:

Jenkins was observed doubled over from about the midpoint of the hour-and-a-half session onward. Afterward he was in the locker room with bags of ice on both his hamstrings and quadriceps. "I'm back home [in Jacksonville] and thinking I'm in shape -- working out in the morning time," Jenkins said. "You definitely see [this] is a totally different ball game, so you've got to get your mind right."

On the other hand, undrafted Stanford receiver Chris Owusu, who didn't hear his name called during draft weekend due to a serious history of concussions, looked good during camp because he understood the drill -- he's obviously seen 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh before.

"I played with coach Harbaugh for three years," he said. "I know what he expects from his players. I know his mentality, I know his philosophy. And part of it is, you can't be competitive if you're not in shape. I wanted to come in here and be in shape."

Jenkins will be tasked with turning the 49ers receiver group around, but first, he'll need to catch his breath. Owusu has the literal headstart.

Seahawks' "reach picks" could provide immediate dividends. As we wrote Sunday night, Bruce Irvin and Russell Wilson might be on your TV screens a lot sooner than expected -- even after the preseason ends. Wilson, the notably height-impaired quarterback from Wisconsin, impressed the Seahawks' brass enough to make Pete Carroll declare that the third-rounder will be in competition for the starting job right away. If Wilson could pull that off, he'd be the second third-round rookie in NFL history to do so -- Buffalo's Joe Ferguson was the first in 1973.

[Shutdown Corner: Giants' Osi Umenyiora sent Mother's Day greetings to Eagles' LeSean McCoy]

Bears planning to attack defenses with Jeffery. Matt Bowen of the National Football Post has a great read on how he would use rookie receiver Alshon Jeffrey to get downfield against press coverage. The Bears are looking to revamp a receiver corps that has been less than impressive in the last few years.

Vontaze Burfict (55) would like you to know that there's more to him. (Getty)

Vontaze Burfict is looking to turn things around. When a horrible combine folded into a penalty-filled time at Arizona State in the minds of NFL personnel executives, the grades started to come back on linebacker Vontaze Burfict: Undraftable. After Burfict was shut out of the draft process, he contacted teams and asked for a chance. The Cincinnati Bengals took a shot, and head coach Marvin Lewis is hoping for a steal in Burfict on top of a very strong draft class. "He's a better conditioned athlete now than he was at the combine and at ASU in March. If he continues to go down that path, he seems bright enough to learn. He seems willing to want change this image people have of him," Lewis told Joe Reedy of Cincinnati.com. "He can be a good football player. Learn to bend his knees, play behind his pads, strike people within the whistles and life is good."

Bruce Irvin (51) battles veteran tackle Alex Barron during the Seahawks' recent minicamp. (Getty)

RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks raised eyebrows with two of their draft picks in 2012, but it appears that both players -- first-round defensive end Bruce Irvin of West Virginia and third-round quarterback Russell Wilson of Wisconsin -- could be raising eyebrows in a far more positive sense sooner than expected.

While Irvin (the 15th overall pick) impressed through the Seahawks' 2012 rookie minicamp, the real news came via Wilson, who showed impressive command of an NFL offense in his first opportunity to do so. Despite standing 5-foot-10 5/8 -- a fact that had a lot of draft experts rating him as a fourth-round prospect -- Wilson displayed many of the positive aspects required for his position. He was consistently nifty in the pocket, rolled out to throw very well, threw his receivers open downfield over and over, and sold play-action like a pro. Head coach Pete Carroll was beyond impressed -- with Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson and Josh Portis already on the roster, Carroll insisted that Wilson had already done enough to be in the running for the starting quarterback competition. If Wilson won the job before the season started, he would be just the second third-round quarterback in NFL history to claim that prize -- Buffalo's Joe Ferguson did the same in 1973.

Russell Wilson has impressed beyond expectations. (Getty)"He did an excellent job of demonstrating that he prepared for this and there was — we think, in the three days — there was one call that he stumbled with the verbiage on," Carroll said. "And you saw him, he probably threw close to 400 passes and he took over 500 snaps. I don't know what it was with the running game stuff.  So that's an amazing load we threw on him, but he handled it like he's been here. That was a great first sign just about his willingness to prepare and his ability to hold on to the information and use it quite well.

[NFP: Seven NFL teams poised for turnaround seasons in 2012]

"Here's what I'm going to say about it: He's going to be in the competition. He showed us enough. That is going to tax us, as we know. But he's showed us enough that we need to see where he fits in with these guys. It won't be because he doesn't understand or that he can't learn it or any of that. And it isn't going to be because he can't throw a football — because he can. He's got a terrific arm. So we'll just have to see how he fits as the time goes on."

Carroll had a three-way race for starter at USC once; a competition Matt Barkley eventually won. That made him open-minded enough to consider Wilson for that same position ... despite the obvious and oft-mentioned height disadvantage.

"It's been an issue all along for him since he was a little kid," Carroll said of Wilson's height on April 27; the day he was selected. "He's always been the smaller guy playing since he was a freshman at NC State and he was the first guy in the history of the ACC to be an all-league quarterback as a freshman. He started right from the beginning of setting records and doing things that people can't imagine. We know that he's found his way. Interesting statistics about the guy — his number of knockdowns last year I think was four for the season. Everybody would think it would be on the other end of the spectrum — it wasn't. Then just his game-winning ways and stuff makes him off the charts.

"Frankly, this is something [where] I called Bud Grant, an old friend and mentor, and I talked to him. To me it was really an interesting conversation. We had a long talk about, 'How did Fran [Tarkenton] do it? How could he be so extraordinary?' And it just gave me a sense that it supported what [Seahawks general manager] John [Schneider] had seen and studied over the years and followed this kid along. We just really felt we had a great guy."

[Also: Saints rookie Corey White gets reality check from Drew Brees]

Grant didn't have Tarkenton as a rookie -- he didn't coach the Vikings until 1967 and didn't get Tarkenton back from the New York Giants until 1972 -- but he was able to help make a future Hall of Famer out of a player who had been cast aside by conventional wisdom. In the 1960s, Tarkenton's mobility was considered a fatal flaw, and his 6-foot stature didn't fit the NFL suit. Despite those perceived impediments, Tarkenton started 10 of 14 games for the expansion Vikings in 1961, and his first regular-season game -- which he didn't technically start -- saw him complete 17 of 23 passes and throw four touchdown passes in a 37-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Of course, when Tarkenton did start the next game, he went 8 of 24 for 117 yards, no touchdowns and two picks against the Dallas Cowboys.

So, no matter how impressive Wilson may have been over the weekend, it's still a process.

As for Irvin, thought to be a second-round prospect by many because of his size as a pure pass-rushing defensive end (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) and projected inability to be an every-down player, there were few concerns among the coaching staff when they finally got Irvin on the field. One play in particular stood out on Friday -- one doesn't often use the term "closing speed" when describing a defensive end, but Irvin trucked around the left tackle, ran across the formation, and caught up to the athletic Wilson. Had they been participating in contact drills, Wilson may have had his bell rung a bit.

"I just like to run," Irvin said when I asked him about that play. "If the play is 20 or 30 yards downfield, I just love to run so much that I'm going to chase it down. I might not have a chance to get him, but I just love to run. That's what I do. I have great closing speed and I look forward to showing that more often."

Corey White gets fast at the 2012 scouting combine. (AP)Rookie minicamp is a time for the new kids to come into a new team facility and basically learn where to line up. Running in the right direction is considered a plus, and anything else is gravy in what is basically a series of glorified  workouts. Everyone tends to look good -- especially quarterbacks, who get to zoom the ball around without the fear of contact against a bunch of undrafted tryout guys who will -- in some cases -- have this to remember as their first and last NFL experience.

Most rookies deal with this transition by way of the standard "Yes sir, no sir" dialogue, though you will get the odd draftee who pops off and shows an elevated level of confidence. So it was for New Orleans Saints cornerback Corey White, the team's fifth-round draft pick out of Samford. White ran a 4.39 40 at his Pro Day and impressed on tape with exceptional leaping ability, but he jumped to a questionable conclusion when asked about his NFL future.

[NFP: Seven NFL teams poised for turnaround seasons in 2012]

"It's going to be fun picking off some balls from Drew Brees," White told NOLA.com on Friday. "It is going to be real fun. I am real confident in my game. You have to be confident to play this game."

Well, yes ... but throwing smack at the man who broke Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage record last year? Brees' response came via his Twitter account:

@drewbrees

This is very true. Actually, it's more like two for every hundred.

White is a player, no doubt -- in a 44-game collegiate career, he amassed 140 tackles, seven picks, 18 passes defended, four forced fumbles and a blocked kick. But when he does go up against Brees, we suspect it'll be a bit tougher for White than it was when he was dealing with the starting quarterbacks from Elon, Wofford and West Alabama. Last year, Brees had just 14 interceptions in 657 attempts -- a 2.1 percent interception rate that has been fairly commonplace for him through his career. If White wants one of those footballs, he's really going to have to work for it.

You'll forgive Mr. Brees and his friends if they find this a bit humorous. (Getty)