With the news that the Dallas Cowboys released left tackle Flozell Adams(notes) and safety Ken Hamlin(notes) on Friday, the team's draft and other future plans may have come more into focus. Adams, who was drafted in the second round out of Michigan State in 1998, has multiple Pro Bowl berths in his past, but as ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth is fond of saying, "Adams retired three years ago and didn't tell anybody." That's a little harsh, but there's no doubt that his performance has been less than stellar of late. Adams was going to get a $2.5 million roster bonus in June, which is why most people predicted his departure.

Hamlin signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in 2007 after four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He made the Pro Bowl in that first year and was rewarded with a six-year, $39 million deal. Hamlin had been losing range of late, and he was never the most disciplined player -- he was always prone to falling for pump fakes and misdirection, even at his best.

The idea

While most of his Chargers teammates were working out in offseason programs, San Diego endbacker Shawne Merriman(notes) was in L.A. at the NFL Network's studios, guesting on "Total Access" because he hasn't signed the first-and-third-round tender the Chargers put on him. It's been an interesting offseason for Merriman -- he's the subject of trade rumors, and is considering a future in professional wrestling.

When he hit the "TA" set with host Rich Eisen, he may have forgotten that it was April Fool's Day. Eisen brought that fact into sharp focus by spoofing Merriman with an official-looking memo decreeing that the league was setting stricter penalties in motion for any planned on-field celebrations. Merriman, whose "Lights Out" dance is a legend in the originator's own mind, was not amused.

The best part might be Merriman's assertion that the players and teams copying his celebration are the ones who should be fined. What does he want, a royalty? In any case, Merriman was a good sport

Despite all the folderol about Tim Tebow's recent Pro Day ("ZOMG! He can actually sort of throw overhand now!"), the most important private workout for NFL scouts in 2010 took place in Norman, Oklahoma on the 29th. In proving that he had fully recovered from the shoulder injuries that ended his 2009 season, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford set the draft boards in motion and gave some certainty to what had been a very fluid process. If he hadn't looked as good as he did, Bradford might have set the wheels turning for one of two defensive tackles to hear their names called with the first overall pick. We begin the second part of this mock with the quarterback rated behind Bradford on every list.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) -- QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame: Aaron Rodgers(notes) and Brady Quinn(notes), say hello to Jimmy Clausen. He might drop down the first round just like you did. The recent explosion of spread offense quarterbacks who find professional transitions difficult

Despite all the folderol about Tim Tebow's recent pro day ("ZOMG! He can actually sort of throw overhand now!"), the most important private workout for NFL scouts in 2010 took place in Norman, Okla., on Monday. In proving that he had fully recovered from the shoulder injuries that ended his 2009 season, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford set the draft boards in motion and gave some certainty to what had been a fluid process. If he hadn't looked as good as he did, Bradford might have set the wheels turning for one of two defensive tackles to hear their names called with the first overall pick.

1. St. Louis Rams -- QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma: Going 62-of-63 in any endeavor is impressive. Throwing a football for NFL personnel people, and doing so in a public setting for the first time in months, might be nerve-wracking for some. But Bradford looked completely comfortable throwing in his private workout on Monday. He threw to all angles and to all depths, answering many questions about the

Despite his lifetime adherence to an almost military level of discipline, Vince Lombardi understood that different players must be treated differently, and that quarterbacks are a different breed of cat. Early in their time together in Green Bay, Lombardi let Bart Starr have an earful over an interception that he thought Starr was responsible for. Starr corrected the coach, telling him that the ball was tipped, and let him know what he could do with that earful. It was the last time Lombardi raised his voice to Starr. Quarterback and coach went on to win five NFL championships and two Super Bowls together.

Current Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, who fancies himself quite the disciplinarian, emerged from the Bill Belichick school with the idea that all players must be held to the same standards at all times, under any circumstances. This notion led to McDaniels going through personnel in his first year in Denver like a bull in a China shop. From jettisoning Jay Cutler(notes),

As New York Jets coach Rex Ryan prepares to become cable's most well-regarded Jersey-based capo since Tony Soprano, he's made some fairly serious lifestyle adjustments. Formerly the rather rotund consumer of up to 7,000 calories per day, Ryan recently underwent lap-band surgery, a procedure which would limit his impressive intake. He looked svelte at the recent Owner's Meetings, and claimed to have no interest in the breakfast spread.

The breaking point may have been the Jets' announcement that they were to be the next team featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" series, which will follow Ryan and his team through training camp. An all-eyes-on reality show, "Hard Knocks" goes everywhere - players and coaches meetings, on the practice field, even in the coach's office when players get cut. While Ryan will no doubt continue to be the same defensive genius and shoot-from-the-hip quotemaster he's always been, he'll now do it healthier, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.

As HBO Sports

Every year, it's the same – only one team does not end its season with regret. For all the teams who don't win the Super Bowl and must spend the offseason wondering what could have been, the draft is the time to fill the holes that prevented the ultimate victory. Of the 2009 runners-up, here are perhaps the 10 most likely to succeed in 2010, and the positions (and players) that might bridge the gap in the draft.

Indianapolis Colts – Offensive line: After Indy's loss to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, team president Bill Polian singled out the efforts of his offense's front five, claiming that New Orleans' defensive line "outplayed" his players. Changes have already been made – guard Ryan Lilja(notes) is gone, and left tackle Tony Ugoh(notes) has been an unequivocal disappointment. Most of the heavy hitters will be gone by the time the Colts pick at 31, but there are some sleepers in a deep draft for tackles. USC left tackle Charles Brown has the experience with a pro-style offense

Since nothing's confirmed, the players taken in this mock are based on the assumption that the rumored Donovan McNabb(notes)-to-St. Louis trade (which the Rams are now shooting down) will not come to pass. If it does, that would obviously throw a big kink in the first few picks - but hey, that's why we're doing mocks all the way up to draft day, right? At the just-concluded Owner's Meetings, Andy Reid said that the Eagles are entertaining offers for all their quarterbacks, but the alleged deal that has McNabb going to the Rams for the 33rd overall pick and safety O.J. Atogwe seems to have the most legs. In the meantime, we'll add some comments from other coaches during the media breakfasts in Orlando this week, and see what might be revealed. Here are picks 17-32; the first half of the first round can be found here.

17. San Francisco 49ers: RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson -- The Niners have tried to find a complementary back for Frank Gore(notes) for years, and they finally strike gold with