Niners’ Harbaugh: David Fales is top-5 QB in draft

Is David Fales one of the top-five quarterbacks in the draft? Jim Harbaugh says yes. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro days | Top free agents

In three seasons as an NFL head coach, Jim Harbaugh has proven at least one thing: He knows a good Mountain West quarterback when he sees one.

Take former Utah quarterback Alex Smith for example. When Harbaugh arrived in San Francisco in 2011, Smith had already been with the 49ers for five pretty unsuccessful seasons. Before Harbaugh's arrival, Smith went 19-31 in 50 starts.

Instead of dumping Smith right away though, Harbaugh kept him around for two seasons and the former No. 1 overall pick went 19-5-1 in 25 starts under Harbaugh. And just in case you're wondering, during Smith's college years, Utah was in the Mountain West.

In 2011, the 49ers coach plucked former Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick out of the second round of the NFL Draft.

This year, Harbaugh thinks there's another Mountain West quarterback who could do some damage in the NFL: Former San Jose State quarterback David Fales.

"I'm a big fan," Harbaugh said of Fales, via the San Jose Mercury News. "My personal quarterback evaluation of this class has David in the top five."

Harbaugh didn't list his top-five, but he did list the reasons why he likes Fales.

"I think he sees the field. I think he throws the ball downfield," Harbaugh said. "A lot of quarterbacks are doing what they're taught in their systems. He's a guy that is an example of a quarterback who throws to the outside lanes. He throws the ball in the seams and gets it downfield and sees the field well. He's got a real savviness about the position."

In CBSSports.com's latest draft rankings, Fales is currently listed as the 10th best quarterback available. One of the knocks on Fales is his arm strength, but Harbaugh didn't see that while watching him at the 49ers' local Pro Day on Friday.

"You see a very compact throwing motion, more compact than I saw during his career," Harbaugh said. "But he was still throwing the ball 50-55 yards downfield, throwing the deep comebacks, the outside lanes like he threw in college. Easily, accurately and on a line. We talked a little after the workout. I don't see any deficiencies that way."

Fales is currently projected to go in the fifth or sixth round of the draft, but if other coaches are seeing what Harbaugh's seeing, the former San Jose State quarterback might end up shooting up a few rounds in May.

NFL Hot News

Colts TE Dwayne Allen fully cleared for action following hip surgery



Colts tight end Dwayne Allen said last month that he is "back to 100 percent" following season-ending hip surgery last October. Now we know that Indy's medically team agrees. Allen said Wednesday that he has received medical clearance to "participate in everything" during the Colts' offseason workout program. He said it "felt great" to run around and catch some passes this week.Allen played in one game last season and caught one pass, a 20-yard touchdown.



Allen is very physically gifted, and it helps that tight-end whisperer Rob Chudzinski is now on the Colts' coaching staff. But I'm not as high on Allen as others are just because of all of the mouths that Andrew Luck needs to feed in this offense. Reggie Wayne expects to be healthy for the start of this season following last year's ACL tear. There's T.Y. Hilton, fellow tight end Coby Fleener, and the Colts added Hakeem Nicks in free agency. Plus, you figure that the Colts will, you know, run the ball at some points.Injuries to some of these pieces could really open things up for Allen to have a breakout year. But until that happens, I think he's more of a wait-and-see draft pick in the middle rounds. The upside is quite large, but things out of Allen's control need to happen for him to truly fulfill it.

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Report: Seahawks hire ex-GM Ireland as consultant

Jeff Ireland is headed to Seattle to do some pre-draft consulting. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro days | Top free agents

Seahawks general manager John Schneider lost his top aide on Wednesday when senior personnel executive Scot McCloughan unexpectedly resigned to tend to a family matter.

Since 2010, McCloughan had helped the Seahawks general manager identify key draft talent like quarterback Russell Wilson and cornerback Richard Sherman. Schneider won't have McCloughan around for the 2014 NFL Draft, but he will have someone else to shoot ideas off of: Former Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland.

The Seahawks have hired Ireland as a draft consultant, according to FoxSports.com. Schneider and Ireland have a history together that dates back to 1997 when both worked for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ireland was Miami's general manager from 2008 until this past January when the two sides agreed to mutually part ways. Since Ireland's being hired as a draft consultant, it's probably worth noting that of the 14 players Miami picked in the first or second round under Ireland, only seven of them are still with the team.

Although Ireland's job in Seattle is a temporary one, FoxSports.com notes that it could turn into a full-time role after the draft.

NFL Hot News

Bills looking to surround QB E.J. Manuel with talent through draft



Bills general manager Doug Whaley said Friday that the team doesn't have a pressing need they must fill in next month's draft. That may be true, but there are plenty of reasons why they should look heavily into adding offensive skill players. Stevie Johnson and Mike Williams are not dominant, No. 1 wide receiver types, so bringing in a wideout who could develop into such a player might be the call at No. 9. Slow-footed, low-ceiling tight end Scott Chandler is no great shakes; an athletic, pass-catching tight end could add an interesting dynamic to this offense.Regardless, Whaley said it is a priority to surround quarterback E.J. Manuel with as much talent as possible."It's a quarterback-driven league, so we're going to" look at "every avenue and every piece of the puzzle to surround E.J. and make him as successful as possible," Whaley said via the Buffalo News. "What we did this offseason affords us the opportunity to go any way and every way in this draft. Our main focus is making sure E.J. progresses."



Of course, in an effort to keep absolutely everyone guessing and not tip his hand, Whaley said in the same press conference that he still has confidence in Manuel and that the Bills "may" select a quarterback in the first round. But we should believe what he says about adding pieces to help his quarterback. It's just the smart thing to do. Sammy Watkins should be long gone by the time the Bills are on the clock, but Texas Aamp;M wide receiver Mike Evans and North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron could certainly be in play. If the Bills decide to go after another position in the first round, they should be fine; this is a deep WR draft.

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LeBron: No room in NBA for Sterling if reports true

LeBron James has strong words about Sterling's alleged comments. (USATSI)

More on Sterling: League investigating | Barkley: Ban Sterling | Reactions

Miami Heat star LeBron James spoke to reporters before Game 4 of Miami's series vs. Charlotte about the alleged racist comments from Donald Sterling which were released Saturday by TMZ. From the Miami Herald:

What are your thoughts on Donald Sterling's comments?

“If the reports are true, it's unacceptable. It's unacceptable in our league. It doesn't matter if you're white, black, Hispanic, whatever, all across the races. It's unacceptable and as a commissioner in our league, they have to make a stand, and they have to be very aggressive with it. I don't know what it's going to be, but you just can't have that in our league. We're the model citizens of all sports around the world and because we're the most recognizable, I mean, it figures. You see us all the time, you see our logos, you see our players, and for an owner to come out and say the things that he said, it's very disrespectful, it's very appalling and one of my best friends and dear friends plays on his team in Chris Paul and I haven't had an opportunity to talk to him but I can only imagine what's going through his head.”

How difficult would it be to play with that hanging over…

“I don't know. I kind of waivered back and forth whether I would actually sit out. If our owner would come out and say the things that he said, I would really have to sit down with my teammates, talk to my family because at the end of the day, our family, and our teammates are way more important than that. Basketball is huge, obviously the playoffs have been unbelievable, and I hate the fact that something like this has to come out when the playoffs have been unbelievable and the game of basketball continues to grow, but there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league. There is no room for him.”

Does it make you angry?

“I'm not angry. Just disappointed more than anything. There is only 30 owners and 400-plus of us. For a player, I just think…I put my…I can only imagine if a player came out and said something of that stature what would happen to us as players. So, I believe in Adam [Silver], I believe in the NBA and they have to do something and do something very fast and quickly before this really gets out of hand. Like I said, there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league, man. There it is.”

via Heat Check.

James has been progressively more involved in taking stands. He's expressed support in the past for President Obama and has spoken more openly on league issues. As the most profitable, prolific, and popular player in the league, James' comments will carry weight when they reach the league office.

Topics: Chris Paul, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Vince Carter beats buzzer with game-winning 3-pointer (video)

Vince Carter had 1.7 seconds to shoot, and he used it all.

Carter caught the inbound in the corner, pump-faked to get Manu Ginobili – who had just made a go-ahead shot on the other end – into the air and then drilled the game-winning 3-pointer.

• Mavericks 109, Spurs 108


• Mavericks 2, Spurs 1

This series has been great, and this ending sequence took it to another level. The way it’s going, hopefully it goes the full seven.

Somehow, with so many veterans, they’re even doing things they’ve never done before:

That was Vince Carter's 1st career go-ahead FG in the final 1:00 of a postseason game.—

ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 26, 2014

After losing 10 straight to the Spurs, Dallas has now won two in a row in the series. San Antonio is too good to be considered on the ropes, but Carter’s big shot definitely increases the pressure.

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Former Colts, Dolphins QB Earl Morrall dies at 79

Earl Morrall (left) and Don Shula in February 2013. (USATSI) More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro days | Top free agents

Earl Morrall, who played quarterback for 21 NFL seasons from 1956 to 1976, died Friday morning, according to the Naples News Daily. He was 79.

Hall of Famer Don Shula was Morrall's coach in Baltimore and later Miami, including the 1972 season when Morrall took over for an injured Bob Griese and led the undefeated Dolphins to the playoffs. Griese returned in the AFC Championship and the team would beat the Redskins in the Super Bowl. Still, Morrall was named AFC Player of the Year, as well as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

"He's been in a struggle with his health for a while now," Ryan Richeal, who worked in marketing with the Dolphins from 2003-2009, and helped run Morrall's charity golf tournament, said via the Daily. "Everybody has been trying to prepare for this. When you have somebody like Earl Morrall who's a legend on and off the field, it's still very difficult in the end."

Morrall won three Super Bowls -- one with the Colts and two with the Dolphins -- and finished his career with 20,809 passing yards, 161 touchdowns and 148 interceptions.

NFL Hot News

Dolphins WR Mike Wallace excited for new, big-play offense



Bill Lazor has replaced Mike Sherman as the Dolphins' offensive coordinator this year, and one of the differences between their systems appears to be that Lazor's stresses more down-the-field throws.When wide receiver Mike Wallace was asked Tuesday to describe the style of Lazor's offense, he said, "My style: big-play offense. I see Ryan [Tannehill] is excited about it. He's called me eight, nine times."



Head coach Joe Philbin has downplayed how different this year's offense will be from last year's, but Tannehill also mentioned that deep throws will be more prevalent. That's nice. Now the young quarterback and rich wideout have to connect on a higher percentage of those throws. That was a major issue last year; we'll see if they have better chemistry in 2014.The Dolphins giving Wallace more chances this season to make big chunk plays is good news for his fantasy value, but I'd still draft him as just a WR3 because I can't trust Tannehill yet to complete enough of those chances to make it matter.

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Goodell: NFL might conduct draft over four days

It sounds like Roger Goodell wouldn't mind adding an extra day to the NFL draft. (USATSI)

While the NFL has not announced when or where it'll hold the 2015 draft, commissioner Roger Goodell told NFL.com that the league will consider making the seven-round draft a four-day event.

The NFL moved this year's draft from April to May because of a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall, but make no mistake: the league certainly doesn't mind taking up another month of the sport's landscape. That could be why the league isn't sure it wants to return to the month of April.

Also, there have been rumblings in the past about moving the draft out of New York and into another NFL-mad city.

(Hell, at this point, why doesn't the league just make the NFL draft a 30-day, 30-city event? It could go on tour every summer, just like DMB.)

As for keeping the draft in May ...

Lovie Smith told me (and Goodell) that he's enjoyed the extra weeks before the draft -- especially as a coach taking over in a new place.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 25, 2014

I can't imagine Lovie's opinion is close to unanimous about May draft, but as a coach in a new job, it's more time to get to know roster.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 25, 2014

NFL Hot News

Dolphins WR Mike Wallace excited for new, big-play offense



Bill Lazor has replaced Mike Sherman as the Dolphins' offensive coordinator this year, and one of the differences between their systems appears to be that Lazor's stresses more down-the-field throws.When wide receiver Mike Wallace was asked Tuesday to describe the style of Lazor's offense, he said, "My style: big-play offense. I see Ryan [Tannehill] is excited about it. He's called me eight, nine times."



Head coach Joe Philbin has downplayed how different this year's offense will be from last year's, but Tannehill also mentioned that deep throws will be more prevalent. That's nice. Now the young quarterback and rich wideout have to connect on a higher percentage of those throws. That was a major issue last year; we'll see if they have better chemistry in 2014.The Dolphins giving Wallace more chances this season to make big chunk plays is good news for his fantasy value, but I'd still draft him as just a WR3 because I can't trust Tannehill yet to complete enough of those chances to make it matter.

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Nets hold off late Raptors charge, go up 2-1 in series

Basketball Hot News

George Karl wants to become Cavaliers president

There are several successful NBA executives who rode successful coaching careers into their front-office positions:

• Pat Riley


• Larry Bird


• Danny Ainge


• Flip Saunders


• Phil Jackson

It sounds like George Karl wants to follow in their footsteps.

Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer:

George Karl has never met Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, but if Gilbert is looking for a prominent NBA veteran with ties to Cleveland to head up his franchise as president, Karl would love to be on the short list.

“Being a leader, running a team and organizing a group with the common goal of winning a championship would be the ultimate challenge in my career,” Karl said via email from Germany, where son Coby is playing.

I wouldn’t read too much into the Cavaliers specifically. They don’t have a team president, and we don’t even know whether they’ll keep general manager David Griffin or coach Mike Brown – let alone whether they’d restructure their front office to create a new position.

But this shows Karl is at least interested in moving to a front office.

Karl coached 25 years in the NBA before the Nuggets fired him following the 2012-13 season, a year he won Coach of the Year. He sat out this season, and he should come up for coaching openings. He’s a good coach without question.

But at 62, maybe he wants to ease into a less-demanding role. His history in basketball should buy him at least looks for executive openings, and then it will be up to him to prove in interviews his skills translate.

Does Karl still want to coach, or is he just open to any job that gets him back in the NBA? That’s something NBA teams with any opening should be exploring this offseason.

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Michigan’s McGary will go to NBA after failing drug test

Michigan's Mitch McGary is going to the NBA rather than serve his suspension. (USATSI)

Michigan sophomore Mitch McGary is forgoing his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2014 NBA Draft in a decision that was made after he received a one-year suspension for failing an NCAA-administered drug test during last month's NCAA Tournament.

"I tested positive for marijuana during the NCAA Tournament," McGary said via a release emailed to reporters Friday morning. "We were notified of that result after the Final Four. I regret thoroughly disappointing my family, coaches and administration. Despite all of this they have been understanding and helpful over the last couple of weeks. ... I take full responsibility for this poor choice and want to apologize to everyone, especially those I have grown close to during my fabulous two years at the University of Michigan."

Gary Parrish Here's hoping McGary case leads to NCAA change

McGary was projected as a lottery pick after helping the Wolverines make the national title game as a freshman. But the 6-foot-10 forward instead decided to return to school, at which point he became a preseason All-American before suffering a back injury and missing all but eight games this season. The Indiana native was randomly tested by the NCAA after Michigan's game against Tennessee in last month's Sweet 16 even though he hadn't played since December. He told Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel that the NCAA's automatic one-year suspension that accompanies the failed drug test influenced his decision to leave college despite having no guarantee that he'll be picked in the first round of June's NBA Draft.

"Mitch has had a tremendous impact on our program from the moment he committed to us," said Michigan coach John Beilein. "He has injected an enthusiasm that cannot be matched ...[and] his willingness to face a personal issue head on and his positive work ethic during his recent injury have helped him to grow in many ways. We know that he will put all of his energy and effort toward achieving his goals. We will continue to assist and support Mitch as he pursues a career in the NBA."

Topics: Michigan Wolverines, NCAAB

About Gary Parrish

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Gary Parrish is a senior college basketball columnist for CBSSports.com and frequent contributor to the CBS Sports Network. The Mississippi native also hosts the highest-rated sports talk radio show -- The Gary Parrish Show -- in the history of Memphis. He lives in that area with his wife, two children and a dog.

Basketball Hot News

Report: Despite playoff struggles, Kevin McHale likely safe in Houston

Houston has had trouble in these playoffs. LaMarcus Aldridge has destroyed them scoring 89 points in two games, exposing matchup problems. The Rockets have struggled to get Dwight Howard and James Harden going at the same time. The two have taken turns but when Howard was going off in the first half of Game 2 Harden was just an interested spectator standing around, and when Harden is going off the reverse is true. For these reasons they are down 0-2 (going into Friday night in Portland).

Combine that with the fact Houston, with GM Daryl Morey at the helm, is the preeminent advanced stats NBA front office while McHale is old school and views the game differently and you start to wonder…

Does this slow playoff start impact Kevin McHale’s job safety since the team has his option on next season?

No. Thats what Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN report.

The Rockets have yet to pick up their option on the fourth year of Kevin McHale’s contract, but sources close to the situation said this week that support for Houston’s coach remains strong within the organization and among key players despite the team’s struggles thus far in the playoffs….

Although there is no guarantee he would survive a first-round exit — particularly a sweep — sources told ESPN.com that the prevailing feeling in team circles is that McHale “deserves more than one season with this group.” McHale has strong support from high-profile Rockets such as Howard and forward Chandler Parsons, sources said, and it’s believed general manager Daryl Morey and his front office also prefers to see this group — which is the youngest team in the postseason with an average age of 25.7 — grow together.

Sources say McHale likewise is regarded as a favorite of Rockets owner Les Alexander.

Having the owner in your corner is huge.

Giving McHale another year is the smart move here. Daryl Morey has admitted that there are a handful of teams with more talent than the Rockets around the league and that he had moves yet to make.

This was always going to be learning curve year for the Rockets — the addition our Howard changed the dynamic there and it was going to be a process. That is true of the playoffs in particular. This group needs some time together and to learn from some adversity.

This is a different situation than Scott Brooks in Oklahoma City, where the group has been together for years and if they are eliminated in the first round you can ask legitimate questions about player development and the growth of the team. Houston is just starting their time together and needs time to grow.

McHale deserves more time to see if he can coax and coach this team up into being a contender. The question about whether he is right for this team is better answered in 2015.

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