BTI Sports Advisors

Tollefson Returns to Oakland

btisports — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:28 +0000

Defensive end Dave Tollefson agreed to a two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Raiders. Tollefson’s deal includes a $1.5 million guarantee, and he could make an additional $500,000 in incentives.

The 29-year-old came off the bench for the Giants and had a career-high five sacks last season. Tollefson, who was born in Walnut Creek, was drafted by new Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie in 2006 when McKenzie was handling the scouting in Green Bay. He was also on the Raiders’ practice squad in 2007.

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Q&A with Dave Tollefson at Raiders.com

John Carlson: A Week Like No Other

btisports — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:08:32 +0000

John Carlson, a strapping 6-foot-5 Litchfield native, stood against the cement block wall of a stairwell at St. Cloud State’s Halenbeck Hall on Friday, talking over a blaring high school band about his new job with the Minnesota Vikings. Another tall guy in a dress shirt and basketball-theme tie topped the stairs and had barely made it through a nearby doorway when he was met by a small cluster of well-wishing family and friends. John Carlson, the son, politely excused himself from the discussion and caught up with John Carlson, the dad, in the doorway. Son caught dad’s attention with a muscular hand on the shoulder, and the stoic father and proud son exchanged a hug.

In the span of five days, the son got a call from the Vikings and made an impromptu visit to the Twin Cities. He quickly agreed to a multi-million dollar contract to play for the hometown NFL team he cheered for as a boy. Meanwhile, the dad coached his prep basketball team to sub-section and section championships and a spot in the state tournament for the first time since son John helped lead the hometown team to a third state title in four years in 2003.

“It’s kind of surreal deal, in a lot of ways,”" said John Carlson, patriarch and Litchfield’s head boys basketball coach. “I sat there, thinking, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!”‘ It would have been even more surreal if I hadn’t been in the middle of basketball playoffs and had more time to think about it.”

Son knew of what his father spoke.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s set in yet,” said the younger John Carlson. “It’s been such a whirlwind week. I’m just really thankful for this opportunity.”

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Daniel Fells Picks the Patriots

btisports — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:16:30 +0000

The Patriots may have been strong at tight end last year, but not strong enough. They just got a little stronger. This weekend, the team reached an agreement with Broncos starting TE Daniel Fells. An under-the-radar player, Fells will add to a position group that also features Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. He agreed to a three-year deal.

A 6-foot-4, 252-pounder, Fells had 19 catches for 256 yards for the Broncos in 2011. A sound blocker, good locker-room guy, and able pass-catcher, Fells visited New England before the 2010 season, so it’s not the first time the Pat shave been interested. He wound up signing with the Rams and making 41 catches for 391 yards that year.

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Panthers Land LB Kenny Onatolu

btisports — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:14:17 +0000

The Panthers Front Office has come to terms with Free Agent Outside Linbacker Kenny Onatolu. Onatolu is 29 years old, measuring in at 6′2 225 lbs., and has spent the last three years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, primarily functioning as a “Special Teams Ace.” Kenny also saw time at Linebacker, filling in for the oft injured EJ Henderson.

This move looks to assuage the lack of depth in the LB Corps, specifically the depth behind Thomas Davis, who will be entering the 2012 Season coming off of his 3rd ACL Tear. With his size and speed, Onatolu will likely serve as the backup to Davis as a Will Linebacker, whilst boosting the play of the Panthers anemic Special Teams. Onatolu has extensive experience playing on the special teams, and his signing, along with the signing of Haruki Nakamura seems to highlight the Front Office’s desire to improve the quality of the Special Teams Unit, which was significantly affected by the injury bug last year.

John Carlson Signs $25 Million Deal

btisports — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:55:09 +0000

John Carlson was in Kansas City on Tuesday night, preparing for a visit with the Chiefs, when the Vikings placed a call that changed everything. The call was so persuasive, the former Seattle Seahawks tight end said, he left Kansas City and didn’t meet with the Chiefs.

The 6-foot-5, 251-pound Litchfield, Minn., native is returning home, signed to a five-year, $25-million deal with the Vikings worth $11 million guaranteed. “Rick (Spielman) came forward with a commitment no other team had shown, a level of interest that was unparalleled,” Carlson said on a conference call Wednesday, March 14, with local media, referring to the Vikings general manager.

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John Carlson is Seahawks’ Man of the Year

btisports — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:09:07 +0000

Last week, John Carlson was selected as the Seahawks’ Man of the Year. Tuesday, he showed why.

The team’s on-the-mend tight end was at Cathcart Elementary School to present principal Casey Bowers and 410revved up students with an oversized check for $10,000 for being honored as the Seattle-area “Super School” in the NFL’s Play 60 campaign.

“I didn’t plan the timing of the award and then this appearance,” Carlson said with a smile following an assembly and 45-minute Ultimate NFL Physical Education Class. “But if I could have, this would have been a good way to do it. “But I enjoy doing this stuff and I get a lot out of it.”

That was apparent, as Carlson didn’t just engage the students, he was engaging. “It just makes sense to do it,” he said. “Right when you get in the league as a rookie, you’re just kind of swimming and just trying to get by. But after a couple of years you realize that it’s a platform where you can really make a difference just with your time and by reaching out.”

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Mike Thomas “Ecstatic” about Extension

btisports — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:39:10 +0000

Mike Thomas became the second Jaguars player this week to receive a contract extension. His new deal will take him through 2015. It’s for $18 million with $9 million guaranteed.

Some of Thomas’ thoughts about the deal:

“I’m definitely exited, but I still got a job to do. Play just as hard as I’m going to play with the check I’m getting now. It ain’t really about the money to me, but at the same time I’m grateful and ecstatic that it happened. I still feel like I got a lot ahead of me. That’s where my focus is. I feel like I got to do a lot of getting better myself. I want to be great. That’s where my head is. the money, it makes it a little better but at the same time we gotta get better as an offense. It gets kind of overshadowed.”

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No Flash, Just Smash From Eagles Fullback

btisports — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:22:18 +0000

In the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room, a succession of stalls along one wall includes spaces for the high-profile stars DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith. Owen Schmitt takes his place in the middle. The contrast between the brand-name players and Schmitt, a bearded, barrel-chested fullback, is striking.The Eagles have molded what many in this city believe to be a Super Bowl contender because of the dynamism of Michael Vick, the shiftiness of LeSean McCoy and the speed of Jackson, Maclin and Smith. Schmitt, whose locker is stocked with a West Virginia University sweatshirt and a military-style rucksack, is the exception in an offense full of flash. But he has served as a protector and defender for the Eagles’ most talented players.

“They brought me in to balance everything out,” Schmitt joked.

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Scandrick Cashes In

btisports — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:05:18 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas - When Orlando Scandrick sprinted out onto the Cowboys Stadium field before Wednesday’s night open practice to the fans, the fourth-year cornerback couldn’t hide his infectious smile that beamed from ear to ear.

For the rest of the team, it was a night practice under the lights. For Scandrick it seemed like the start of the next chapter of his career. For it was just 30 minutes earlier he had officially signed a five-year extension on the final year of his contract. Now, Scandrick is in the fold for six seasons in a contract worth $26.2 million, including $10 million guaranteed.

“It’s a big day for me. It’s a great accomplishment,” Scandrick said following the Silver & Blue Debut practice. “I’m excited, thankful. With a bigger contract and a long-term commitment like that, it brings on more expectations. I’m ready for them.”

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Jarvis Jenkins Ready To Unleash The Beast

btisports — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:32:57 +0000

“I don’t want to put the kiss of death on Jarvis, but he’s what you look for in a defensive lineman,” said coach Mike Shanahan. “He’s got great size. You can tell that he’s a student of the game. He goes out there and works extremely hard, extremely conscientious, and he’s going to get better and better.”

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