Tharold Simon at the 2013 scouting combine. (Getty Images)RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks selected LSU cornerback Tharold Simon in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft, and normally, that wouldn't merit a blip on the radar. But it did in this case, because Simon was arrested last Thursday in his hometown of Eunice, La., for public intimidation, resisting an officer and unnecessary noise violation. In addition, according to local police, Simon threatened an officer. There were plans in Eunice to have a "Tharold Simon Day," and according to Mayor Rusty Moody, the ceremony would go on.

"In the United States, our justice system says everyone is innocent until proven guilty," Moody said.

Simon's agent, Peter Shaffer, disputed the allegations, and said that he's considering legal action against those involved.

During a phone interview with Seattle reporters after the pick, Simon was asked to recall his version of the details. And, well, the floodgates opened.

"It's my fault. I mean, I shouldn't have been parked on the side of the road. But I was just chillin' in my grandmother's house. And my car was parked on the side of the road by my grandmother's house. And I seen a car pull up, and it looked like a cop car.

"So I went out there. And when I went out there, he told me to move the car. And then I moved the car. And when I turned the car on, the music was up. And so when I pulled up in the driveway, he told me to give him my license. And I gave him my license.

"And then I just sat on my car. He was running my license through. He called another cop to bring him a ticket book, because I guess he was going to write me a ticket. And one of my friends had come to congratulate me on the draft that was going on and stuff. And he told my friend to move around. And then I had got out the car and I was like, 'Man, you trippin' for nothing. I mean, there's nothing serious really going on around here.'

"And I guess he said my pants was low. So he was like 'Pick your pants up before I take you to jail.' And I picked my pants up. And then he just grabbed me and said, 'You know what, matter of fact, put your hands behind your back.'"

"I never ran. I never flinched or moved or nothing. I'm a humble guy. I'm embarrassed about what happened. It shouldn't have happened. But like I said, everything happens for a reason. And right now my focus is to get up to Seattle and go compete."

Seahawks general manager John Schneider talked a bit about the process in which the pre-draft work on a prospect has to be accentuated by vetting the player after an arrest.

(Getty Images)

Former Green Bay Packers safety Leroy Butler played all 12 of his NFL seasons in the Frozen Tundra from 1990 through 2001. He was a key cog in the Pack's Super Bowl XXXI-winning team, is credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap, and grabbed 38 interceptions in 181 games and 165 starts despite childhood disabilities that forced him to wear leg braces. Since Butler's NFL career ended, he's been pretty tireless with his philanthropic work, heading up the Leroy Butler Foundation. Butler works with churches in the Wisconsin area, but there's one local church that decided to cancel his scheduled appearance.

Why? Apparently, because Butler dared to congratulate basketball player Jason Collins for coming out last week.

Congrats to Jason Collins

— leroy butler (@leap36) April 29, 2013

Butler went through the timeline of events on his Twitter account.

So, the 2013 draft is just over, and we're already talking about the Class of 2014? Well, sure. While the 2013 draft roster featured a lot of outstanding linemen on both sides of the ball and a relative lack of truly elite skill position guys, next year's group looks to have a great deal of talent at just about every position -- and a far more impressive set of quarterbacks at or near the top. We'll be writing much more about these gentlemen, of course, but here are 10 to watch for the 2014 draft -- and our buddy Frank Schwab has 10 more prospects of interest.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: Clowney is primarily known for this unblocked hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl (and it is a magnificent play), but this is no one-highlight wonder. NFL teams watching his tape on a game-to-game basis have to be champing at the bit for Clowney to make himself eligible for the 2014 draft. Not only does he attack the line and move to the pocket with terrifying speed, he also has a fully-grown bull rush, a spin move that seems to defy physics, and amazing agility to get around blockers. Brings an embryonic array of hand moves, and once in a while, will pull out a rip or swim move that just devastates the poor soul trying to block him. Clowney is the most impressive NCAA defender I've seen since Ndamukong Suh, and the first since Suh where I have to keep pulling back to the previous play to insure that I saw what I thought I saw -- put simply, he does things on the football field that no 6-foot-6, 268-pound person should be able to do.

2. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: Aggies fans aren't mourning the loss of Luke Joeckel when it comes to the left tackle position, because Matthews, the son of Hall of Famer Bruce, has been groomed to take over that spot. The scary thing is, Matthews might be even better than Joeckel over time -- he's already quicker to a spot and more agile in space, and his ability to strike defenders is truly special. I'd like to see him sustain blocks a bit longer, and he's going to have to refine his pass-pro arc at his new position, but Matthews has everything it takes to be the first offensive player taken in the 2014 draft.

3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: ...unless Bridgewater continues to progress and takes that spot away from him. I'm of the belief that the Louisville star would have been the top quarterback in the 2013 class, just ahead of Geno Smith -- Bridgewater is more functionally mobile, has a more dynamic downfield arm, and makes better decisions. Like Robert Griffin III at Baylor, Bridgewater has far better on-field intelligence and is able to do many more things than your standard, stereotyped "read-option" quarterback.

4. Marqise Lee, WR, USC: With Matt Barkley and Robert Woods off to the NFL, it's Lee's time to shine as never before. He's already established himself as one of the NCAA's most dangerous playmakers, and depending on how USC's quarterback situation pans out, could have more success on the deep routes Barkley didn't often throw. Lee freelances too much and needs to get that under control, but there are few targets in the college game better able to alter a defense's game plans.

5. Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame: Nix was perhaps the most impressive part of Notre Dame's outstanding defense in 2012, no matter what some say about that linebacker guy. At 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, Nix possesses NFL-level strength at the line, impressive speed to close, and a preternatural understanding of how to use angles to disrupt. Can play anywhere from the nose tackle slot (where he succeeds despite double and triple teams) outside to end.

6. Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: Perhaps the best pass-rushing "endbacker" among the 2014 draft-eligibles. Barr shows great speed around the turn and to the pocket, but that's not all he's able to do. Like Oregon's Dion Jordan (who went third overall to the Miami Dolphins), he has a rare ability to cover from the line out to the slot. Also like Jordan in college, Barr needs to pack on a a little weight and address some game fundamentals. But he's already shown some pretty special traits on the field. Recorded 13.5 sacks in 2012 and could move up this list with a quickness if he's able to escape the "one-year wonder" designation.

12-year NBA veteran and current free agent Jason Collins altered the sports landscape on Monday with his courageous announcement that he is gay. As the first player in one of the four major sports to do so (though we seem to forget that Martina Navratilova did so when it was a lot less acceptable), Collins put himself in the middle of one of the most important stories of the last few years, regardless of subject. And the athletic community, for the most part, has been supportive -- realizing that it's a new era, or understanding that their true feelings about the subject would just backfire on them at this point.

Then, there was the twitter reaction of current Miami Dolphins and former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace, via Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post:

[Also: ThePostGame: The road to Jason Collins' revelation]

??? RT @wallace17_dakid: All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys SMH...

— Ben Volin (@BenVolinPBP) April 29, 2013

We had to get the tweet from Volin, because Wallace wisely either deleted it, or it was made clear to him that his response was not going to go over too well.

The Dolphins quickly responded with a statement.

“Mike Wallace has apologized for his comments, and we have addressed the matter with him. Mike’s comments do not reflect the views of the Miami Dolphins. We believe in a culture of inclusiveness and respect, and any statements to the contrary are in no way acceptable to our organization.

“We will address the entire team about our policy of inclusion and make sure they all understand the importance of respecting individual choices.”

Wallace later tried to engage in a bit of damage control, which reflected a more interesting -- and probably fairly common -- point of view in the NFL community.

Matt Elam isn't the next Ed Reed, but the Ravens would settle for Bob Sanders. (Getty Images)

I'm not sure if giving grades out right after a draft is more like critiquing a meal right after you've ordered it, or reviewing a book just after you've cracked Page 1. At the very least, it will take one full season before a team's selection process can be accurately assessed in the long-term view. As to the validity and accuracy of immediate grades, you should ask the guys who didn't know who Tom Brady was in 2000, or saw Russell Wilson as a third-round waste pick in 2012. So, with that in mind, consider this a series of early reflections, more based on how the players performed in college, potential scheme fits, and overall team quality.

Baltimore Ravens: 32. FS Matt Elam, 56. ILB Arthur Brown, 94. DT Brandon Williams, 129. OLB John Simon, 130. FB Kyle Juszczyk, 168. OT Ricky Wagner, 200. DE Kapron Lewis-Moore, 203. OT Ryan Jensen, 238. WR Aaron Mellette, 247. CB Marc Anthony.

In the first two rounds of their draft, the Ravens replaced the two most important players in franchise history in some interesting ways. Florida safety Matt Elam, the team's first-round pick, played a lot on the slot for the Gators, but he has the coverage range and hitting ability to do some of the things Ed Reed did. Not that Elam is going to be the next Reed -- he's not quite that long and athletic, but I think there are some elements of his game that bring Bob Sanders to mind, and Baltimore has an enforcer in their defensive backfield again. With their second-round pick, the Ravens took Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown, perhaps the best and fastest coverage linebacker in this draft class. With Ray Lewis and Dannell Ellerbe out the door, Baltimore needed to redefine its idea of what inside linebackers do. I was amazed that the San Francisco 49ers didn't exploit the Ravens' slow inside game with their passing attack -- they may have won the Super Bowl had they done so. Brown will make plays in space that Lewis didn't over the last five years of his career.

Missouri Southern defensive tackle Brandon Williams is a stout run-plugger who can move around the line, fitting the team's concepts of defensive positional versatility. Ohio State outside linebacker John Simon is a longtime coach's favorite because of his utterly relentless attitude about the game. Two Senior Bowl stars who bear watching: Harvard fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Elon receiver Aaron Mellette. Juszczyk blocks with force and aggression, but can also contribute in the passing game. Mellette is a sneaky-fast player who should find a place in Jim Caldwell's more expansive route concepts.

Cincinnati Bengals: 21. TE Tyler Eifert, 37. RB Giovani Bernard, 53. DE Margus Hunt, 84. SS Shawn Williams, 118. LB Sean Porter, 156. OT Tanner Hawkinson, 190. RB Rex Burkhead, 197. WR Cobi Hamilton, 240. OT Reid Fragel, 251. C T.J. Johnson.

If Andy Dalton doesn't get to the mythical next level in the NFL, it won't be for lack of targets. Adding Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert in the first round should do a lot for the Bengals' passing game. He can line up all over the formation effectively, brings good functional speed to the game, and will be an outstanding jump-ball target. North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard isn't a speed-burner, but he runs with great leverage and power -- attributes the Bengals prefer in their backs. He has a shot to get serious playing time right off the bat. SMU defensive end Margus Hunt may take a little while longer to find his place in Mike Zimmer's defensive line, but the Bengals will want to use Hunt on special teams from Day 1 -- the 6-foot-8 Estonian and former Olympian blocks field goals and extra points at a freakish rate. The Hunt pick makes sense for this team -- he reminds me of Michael Johnson, who came out of Georgia Tech with some finishing work to do, but with the athletic ability to be special over time.

Texas A&M outside linebacker Sean Porter replaced Von Miller as the Aggies' "Joker" (the move defender who could do a lot of different things), and should see a lot of time in that same role for a team that still needs a lot of coverage help between the hashmarks. Georgia safety Shawn Williams, with his intriguing blend of toughness and coverage range, can help a defense with serious holes at the safety positions. Arkansas receiver Cobi Hamilton was a productive, if inconsistent, target for Tyler Wilson over the last couple of years. Could be a good complementary target if he gets his mental game together.

Someone may get a major bargain in Da'Rick Rogers. (Getty Images)Every year, right after the draft is over, NFL teams get on the phone with hundreds of kids who didn't hear their names called during the actual selection process. For any number of reasons, there are times when teams miss out on potential, or develop it later, and benefit from the ultimate bargain score -- the undrafted player who turns into a starter -- and, on occasion, a Pro Bowl or Hall of Fame-level asset. From Kurt Warner to John Randle to Rod Smith to Antonio Gates to Wes Welker to London Fletcher and on and on, there's always enough of a chance that a few of these payers will hit on the bigger gamble to make them worth monitoring.

Here, based on what we've seen, are the best players still left standing once the 2013 NFL draft was done, and the teams they've signed with in parentheses.

Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech: A Greg Cosell favorite. NFLDraftScout.com gave him a third-round grade. Was suspended indefinitely from the Tennessee squad for violations of team rules and subsequently transferred, but dominated at the bigger-school level, as well. Big kid (6-foot-3, 217) with 4.5 speed and interesting after-catch abilities. If he gets his act together, could be a legitimate starter. (Buffalo Bills)

Matt Scott, QB, Arizona: Mobile quarterback with some pretty serious mechanical fixes ahead of him, but he really intrigues as an athlete and thrower. Not just a guy who runs around in the pocket -- has the speed to threaten upfield. Could be a long-term NFL backup and spot starter in the Seneca Wallace mold, and perhaps more than that with a team willing to take the shot on developing him over time. (Jacksonville Jaguars)

[Related: Winners, losers from 2013 NFL draft]

Alvin Bailey, OG, Arkansas: Big but agile blocker with the ability to protect in space and at the second level, but can also bring it with power at the line. Can play right or left guard. Struggles with more advanced defensive concepts and is erratic in play-to-play blocking consistency. Needs an NFL team that understands how to bridge the gap between potential and performance. (Seattle Seahawks)

Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee: Impressive arm talent with question marks just about everywhere else. Annoyingly erratic thrower who benefited from a great deal of receiver talent. Not an effectively mobile player when he needs to be and doesn't really have a gauge with his arm strength. Has some reported off-field concerns, and there could be more underneath the surface. Buyer beware, but someone will fall in love with the cannon and try to deal with all the other stuff. (Kansas City Chiefs)

Kwame Geathers, DT, Georgia: Father, uncle, and brother played, or currently play, in the NFL. Massive run-stuffer with surprisingly quick feet and a certain level of burst off the snap. Dropped because he's got a lot of technique work to do -- he loses power a lot on leverage, doesn't show a lot of effective hand movement, and disappears for long stretches of time. Rotational guy at the NFL level. (San Diego Chargers)

Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford:

With the 254th and final pick of the 2013 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected South Carolina tight end Justice Cunningham, this year's Mr. Irrelevant. It's the second straight year in which the Colts got the final pick of the draft -- in 2012, they took Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish. Cunningham was a somewhat productive target in the last two seasons, finishing his four-year stint with 50 catches for 581 yards and a touchdown.

He majored in sport and entertainment management, and has three siblings: a brother named Power, and sisters named Promise and Sincere.

In 2012, Cunningham caught 23 of those passes for 324 yards. But he's more of a blocker, and with Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen already in the game plan, one wonders where Cunningham might fit. Then again, new Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton ran a few three-TE sets at Stanford, so you never know.

For his role as Mr. Irrelevant, Cunningham will be the star of "Irrelevant Week XXXVIII," which is a thing that actually happens. From the official event site:

Founded by Paul Salata in 1976, Irrelevant Week is a 38-year-old philanthropic tradition within the Newport Beach community that commemorates the final National Footbal League draft pick each season while simultaneously raising money for charitable organizations. During the summer following the draft, Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to participate in a host of events throughout Orange County.

This year, Irrelevant Week XXXVIII is proud to support Special Olympics Southern California.

So, it's a fun event for a good cause. Fortunately, the players seem to have a sense of humor about it, and get into the feel of things. Harnish actually tweeted a succession welcome to the newest member of the club:

Proud to pass the Mr. Irrelevant torch over @justiceivall87 . Congrats and welcome to the Colts!

— Chandler Harnish (@C_Harnish) April 27, 2013

Believe it or not, some of these Misters Irrelevant have made tracks in the NFL.

(Getty Images)

The process by which former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has endeavored to become future NFL receiver and special teamer Denard Robinson took a big step forward on the third day of the NFL draft. With the second pick in the fifth round (135th overall), the Jacksonville Jaguars took Robinson, and will work him in as a moveable chess piece. The Jags also took ultra-fast South Carolina receiver Ace Sanders in the fourth round, so they're clearly looking to diversify the ways in which they attack enemy defenses.

Robinson completed 427 passes in 747 attempts over four years for the Wolverines for 6,250 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions. But it was really as a runner that he made his bones in the NCAA. He ran 723 times for 4,495 yards (a 6.2 average), and 42 touchdowns. One wonders if the Jags have some read-option packages in mind -- most certainly, Blaine Gabbert hasn't established that he deserves to be the team's pre-emptive starter at the quarterback position, and we've seen many NFL teams expand what they do in the backfield option game.

At the Senior Bowl, Robinson was still recovering from a hand injury, and he looked raw in receiver and return drills, to say the least.

[Also: Geno Smith faces rough road in New York]

Through the North team practices, Robinson has struggled mightily with the most basic elements of his new proposed position. Recruited as a potential cornerback or receiver by several colleges out of Deerfield Beach High School in Florida, Robinson instead went to Michigan to run Rich Rodriguez's spread offense as a running quarterback and eventually excelled under Brady Hoke as head coach and Al Borges as offensive coordinator. That's what he did before, and the results were spectacular at times. But this week in Mobile, Robinson has also proved when so many receivers new to the NFL have told me through the years -- once to hit NFL-level talent, it's about much, much more than the ability to run fast.

At the scouting combine less than a month later, however, Robinson caught the ball far more consistently, and showed that there's something behind his embryonic efforts to change positions.