Nfl

Jordan Gay always envisioned himself kicking a ball for a long time. It's just that it was a soccer ball, not a football, that the Danville native liked to kick around until then Danville High School football coach Sam Harp helped persuade him to also try football. His senior year he put about two-thirds of his kickoffs into the end zone and averaged 33 yards per punt despite using a rugby-style kick that Harp wanted him to do to help with punt coverage. With an assist from then Centre College assistant coach Tom Brown, Gay got a chance to join Murray State's football team as a preferred walk-on kicker.

For the first time in his football career, there is some uncertainity about Jacob Tamme's future. From middle school to Boyle County¿High School to the University of Kentucky and then to the NFL, Tamme always knew what was coming other than having to wait to see which NFL team would draft him. However, after four years with the Indianapolis Colts that included a Super Bowl, Tamme is now a free agent. “Every step in the process, your sort of know what is coming except maybe waiting to get drafted,” said the former Boyle standout.

LEXINGTON - Former Kentucky and NFL player Artose Pinner knows about overcoming adversity. He had to wait until his senior season to get his shot at playing running back at UK, and had to overcome constant coaching changes and position battles during his six-year NFL career. So Pinner has taken lessons from his life and applied them to his first children's book, “Willville,” which should be out in late August or early September. “Anybody who knows me for about the last six years, it's always been this project that I never gave it my all, but I worked on it,”Ã?

He's done everything a player could possibly do for a team on the football field. Now it's time for Randall Cobb to finally be a little selfish and think more about his career than the University of Kentucky football program. That’s why the versatile, talented Cobb confirmed Thursday that he will forego his senior season at Kentucky to put his name into the NFL draft. “I have been wrestling for a while with this decision,” said Cobb, who had to stop several times to wipe away tears and compose himself during his announcement.

For Larry Warford, what he thought was the right decision turned out to be exactly the right thing for him. The University of Kentucky offensive lineman was picked in the third round Friday by the Detroit Lions with the 65th overall pick - the third pick in the third round - and is going to a team that listed bolstering its offensive line as a pre-draft goal. To understand how impressive Warford's pick, consider two things: n Randall Cobb, one of the best players ever at UK, was taken with the 64th overall pick by Green Bay two years ago and has blossomed into a NFL star.

LEXINGTON - He broke his left ankle in a preseason game last year against Pittsburgh and missed the entire season, but the Carolina Panthers still signed offensive tackle Garry Williams to a two-year contract last November. Williams, who was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Kentucky in 2009, played in seven games his first season - primarily on special teams - but played in all 16 games in 2010. He started the final 11 games at right tackle after Geoff Schwartz moved to right guard and helped the Panthers rush for 100 or more yards in eight of the last nine games with a season-high 212 yards versus Atlanta.

LEXINGTON — Randall Cobb discussed a variety of things during his press conference Thursday to announce he was putting his name into the NFL draft after his All-America season where he set a Southeastern Conference record for all-purpose yardage and led the SEC in receptions per game. Here are some of the insights he provided: Question: Did the fact cornerback Trevard Lindley came back for his senior season in 2009 and had his draft status drop impact your decision? Cobb: “I really didn’t think about his situation.

Dear Editor, In response to Mr. Fulton, I have to ask: How can such an obvious example of pushing around "the little guy" be defended? I understand the importance of copyright laws and such, but I do not understand how that is applicable here. I cannot find anything close to evidence supporting that any law was (or would have been) broken, not Mr. Fulton's letter nor the NFL (at least as presented in the "Roughing the Fans" editorial.) The fact of the matter is, if I want to invite a group of people together to watch, well, anything at all, then I will do so. If I provide snacks and such, I find it in my right to ask if maybe people want to donate some money to cover the snacks (this is not admission for the event, as that would, in fact, be illegal, if we are watching something copyrighted)

Craig Yeast knows the anticipation that University of Kentucky players are feeling today. He understands why tight end Jacob Tamme, quarterback Andre Woodson, linebacker Wesley Woodyard, and receivers Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson are optimistic, realistic and pessimistic as they await this weekend's NFL draft. So what advice would Yeast, a former standout receiver at UK who was drafted and played in the NFL, give them? "I would tell them it is an experience and a great privilege to have that opportunity," said Yeast, who now lives in Danville and is playing for the Lexington Horsemen.

Jason Dunn didn't have the flashy high school or college career like Craig Yeast and Dennis Johnson, two other Harrodsburg High School football players. Yeast was a consensus all-state pick. He went to Kentucky and, thanks to some help from a quarterback named Tim Couch, became UK's all-time leading receiver. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets before his NFL career ended with two-plus years of experience. Johnson was named Kentucky's Mr. Football in 1997 when he was also picked as the national defensive player of the year.

Jordan Gay always envisioned himself kicking a ball for a long time. It's just that it was a soccer ball, not a football, that the Danville native liked to kick around until then Danville High School football coach Sam Harp helped persuade him to also try football. His senior year he put about two-thirds of his kickoffs into the end zone and averaged 33 yards per punt despite using a rugby-style kick that Harp wanted him to do to help with punt coverage. With an assist from then Centre College assistant coach Tom Brown, Gay got a chance to join Murray State's football team as a preferred walk-on kicker.

Rex Burkhead received the call of a lifetime over the weekend. The Nebraska running back was drafted in the sixth round as the 190th overall pick in the NFL Draft Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals. Burkhead's father Rick and mother Robyn are graduates of George Rogers Clark High School and both set of grandparents still reside in Winchester. Rick Burkhead played college football at Eastern Kentucky University. Burkhead was elated after learning of his professional destination. “It's awesome - it's a dream come true,” Burkhead said.

For Larry Warford, what he thought was the right decision turned out to be exactly the right thing for him. The University of Kentucky offensive lineman was picked in the third round Friday by the Detroit Lions with the 65th overall pick - the third pick in the third round - and is going to a team that listed bolstering its offensive line as a pre-draft goal. To understand how impressive Warford's pick, consider two things: n Randall Cobb, one of the best players ever at UK, was taken with the 64th overall pick by Green Bay two years ago and has blossomed into a NFL star.

LEXINGTON - Larry Warford admits he's tired of playing his bass guitar, fishing, working out, driving for no particular reason, playing video games or doing anything else he can to get his mind off this week's NFL draft. “I just want to find out (where I will be drafted),” said the Kentucky senior offensive guard Tuesday. “I am just trying to figure out where I will end up. I shouldn't be worrying because I have no idea and no control.” He says he's heard anywhere from the second to fourth round, but knows things could change.

WILLIAMSBURG - Former NFL quarterback Chad Pennington likes the hire of Mark Stoops at Kentucky and also thinks the system new offensive coordinator Neal Brown employs will help UK be more competitive in the Southeastern Conference. “I know UK fans were really excited after the press conference. I think coach Stoops having the experience he does as well as being able to lean upon his brothers for advice when he comes to being a head coach and that type of thing, I think he will do just fine,” said Pennington, who spoke at the National Guard Border Bowl banquet Friday night and worked as a color analyst for Fox Sports South at the game Saturday when Kentucky rallied to beat Tennessee.

LEXINGTON - Former Kentucky and NFL player Artose Pinner knows about overcoming adversity. He had to wait until his senior season to get his shot at playing running back at UK, and had to overcome constant coaching changes and position battles during his six-year NFL career. So Pinner has taken lessons from his life and applied them to his first children's book, “Willville,” which should be out in late August or early September. “Anybody who knows me for about the last six years, it's always been this project that I never gave it my all, but I worked on it,”Ã?

LEXINGTON - He broke his left ankle in a preseason game last year against Pittsburgh and missed the entire season, but the Carolina Panthers still signed offensive tackle Garry Williams to a two-year contract last November. Williams, who was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Kentucky in 2009, played in seven games his first season - primarily on special teams - but played in all 16 games in 2010. He started the final 11 games at right tackle after Geoff Schwartz moved to right guard and helped the Panthers rush for 100 or more yards in eight of the last nine games with a season-high 212 yards versus Atlanta.

Jessamine County students fueled up with healthy food last week during National School Breakfast Week, then worked off the meal with an hour of exercise. Each school delivered healthy breakfast before sending students through the “Fuel Up to Play 60” challenge created by the National Football League and the National Dairy Council. The events were a collaboration between Kentucky Action for Healthy Kids, Jessamine County Schools, the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association and other community partners.

For the first time in his football career, there is some uncertainity about Jacob Tamme's future. From middle school to Boyle County¿High School to the University of Kentucky and then to the NFL, Tamme always knew what was coming other than having to wait to see which NFL team would draft him. However, after four years with the Indianapolis Colts that included a Super Bowl, Tamme is now a free agent. “Every step in the process, your sort of know what is coming except maybe waiting to get drafted,” said the former Boyle standout.

Kentucky running back Derrick Locke said it has been a “long process” to endure, but he's glad to finally have a free agent contract signed with the Minnesota Vikings. “Me and my agent came up with this, so this is where I¿am headed,”¿Locke said Tuesday morning. “I am just going to try and make the best out of it. This has been such a long process with the lockout, but I¿just had to make a decision and go with it.” Locke was UK's leading rusher in 2009 and 2010, but went undrafted after some concerns were raised during physical examinations before the draft.¿However, he was rated as one of the top available free agents because of his speed and special teams versatility returning kickoffs and punts and agreed to terms shortly after the free agent process started Tuesday.