Oakman has been working out and playing semi pro according to reports but word is that he has also hit financial hardship. He had to pay out over $120,000 in cash to lawyers and sold his Bowl ring on eBay to do so.

Oakman sat down with Ben Raymond on ‘The Rebirth’ to discuss putting the pieces back together:

So why should a team take him on? There are guys playing in the NFL right now who I won’t name that have been in the headlines for much worse than being lied on.

Here is what I wrote about Oakman around the time he was a top prospect:

I’m not bashing the guy at all. Believe me, I really want to put him #1 on my next mock draft but I just can’t if I don’t see him executing the level of dominance the aforementioned Suh or Mingo displayed in college. Oakman has all the tools but lacks something that those great players had. Maybe its technique, maybe its instinct. Whatever it is I hope he figures it out and doesn’t turn into another case of “what should have been” in the Vernon Gholston and Jarvis Moss territory.

At only 27 Oakman has at lest 5 seasons of good football left in him. Teams should be knocking down the door to give the Big Oak a try out.

The Browns are implementing an entirely new regime, and it will be built around the stand-out rookie. The No. 15 pick is excellent at catching the ball, and uses his turn of pace to get away from the opposition. Whether the throws are accurate or not, he has the ball-handling skills, and the field movement to make it work, and to trouble any opponent.

Coleman does hope he can emulate Odell. He explained “I do look at Odell Beckham. I do look at his highlights and try to see stuff I can take from what he does.”

Like Odell, he stands at 5-foot-11, yet can out-jump almost any cornerback.

He is so fast and smart that it might take double coverage to stop him. If that happens the field will open up for his teammates. Isn’t that what a star player should do? Yes. Simply by being on the field he can change the game with and without the ball. His Browns might be a far better team to watch this season, and with the NFL Super Bowl odds not yet reflecting Coleman’s arrival, you might want to bet now at Betway.com, you won’t regret it once he dazzles the fans with his touchdowns.

He will be catching the ball from Robert Griffin III. He was brought in to change the way they throw the football. With both men having played at the same college, albeit not together, their styles should instantly click. Whether he throws scrappy passes or airs it out, there’s no reason to think that Corey won’t be able to get on the end of the pass each time.

He won’t be perfect from day 1. However, if given time he will explode. Quite possibly this season. The Browns, more than any other NFL team, have game time to offer players at WR. He will get just that in Cleveland. Then his improvement will come quickly.

Do not be surprised if he’s the go-to man, a superstar from the very first play.

Whether you want excitement to watch on the field, to impress your friends with your predictions or a new fantasy football star to sign, Corey can be the man for you.

As a rookie the expectations aren’t too high, but the standard he will soon set will change just that. He’s that good.

Remember the name Corey Coleman.

So what will LaQuan do if he doesn’t hear his name in the 2016 draft?

According to reports he’s got his eye on becoming a WWE Superstar:

“I feel like once that’s over with, the WWE is calling my name,” McGowan said, adding he’s already spoken to a “couple of people” in the industry who “said they might be interested and talked to me a little bit about the process and how stuff works.”

Happy to say that LaQuan & I have been in communication the past few months. He'd fit great in @WWE after @NFL https://t.co/Aw3O93IWDY

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 11, 2016

It’s good to hear he’s already gotten in good with Jim Ross. With Mark Henry retiring soon and Titus O’Neil’s future with the company at a crossroads, it wouldn’t hurt to sign another larger than life African American superstar.

Who knows? Maybe the big man LaQuan can be the next Viscera or Mark Henry himself…. and that would be best for business.

Do it Trips!

I don’t need to explain to you why this is newsworthy.  It is not every day a 400 pound man decides to play a skill position.

Here are the details from NFL.com:

Tight end LaQuan McGowan — 6-foot-6 1/8, 405 pounds — ran the 40-yard dash in 5.55 and 5.41 seconds. He had a 24-inch vertical jump and 8-foot-2 broad jump. He did the 20-yard short shuttle in 5.47 seconds and the three-cone drill in 8.25 seconds. He also performed 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. For a man of this size to put up these kind of numbers is really impressive. McGowan has to be the biggest prospect we’ve ever had at a pro day. If you want to get a sense of McGowan’s athleticism, take a look at this 18-yard touchdown reception against Kansas last season.

A interesting sidebar was Shawn Oakman’s disappointing 40 time as well:

Defensive end Shawn Oakman — 6-7 1/2, 289 — ran the 40 in 4.91 and 4.84 seconds, and stood on the rest of his numbers from the combine. Oakman had a good individual workout, too.

I seriously doubt any team is crazy enough to draft this guy. There are just too many athletes in better shape at the position right now. You really think someone would bring in a 400 lb. tight end and still hold the respect of the locker room? I seriously doubt it.

I doubt it was little more than insubordination, oversleeping for a meeting or something like that.

Here is what we know right now:

All-American defensive end Shawn Oakman and safety Orion Stewart have been suspended for Baylor’s season opener Friday night against SMU for a violation of team rules, a school spokesman told ESPN.com.

The suspensions were first reported by Bleacher Report.

Again, I think this is probably a minor issue. This shouldn’t have any effect on his draft stock in the long run. However the article ESPN posted may have alluded to something bigger.

Already in the days leading up to the Bears’ most anticipated season, the school also hired a Philadelphia law firm this week to do an independent investigation into the university’s handling of sexual assault complaints, including one that led to the conviction against former transfer Sam Ukwuachu.

I doubt Oakman went full U.O.E.N.O on a female, at least I hope he didn’t.

There is a strong part of me that looks at his measurables and goes, “Screw it put him #1! He’s the next Mario Williams!” However, when I watch Baylor games I rarely notice Oakman and when I do it’s never in the way you noticed a Ndamukong Suh at Nebraska, or even a Barkevious Mingo at LSU.

#Oakmanissobig that he inspired a hash tag, but he isn’t inspiring me to mock him in the top 10. A 6’9 250 guy that can drive and tweet at the same time absolutely should be drafted before the middle of the first round but Oakman just isn’t there yet.

On video he’s not particularly dominant. He lacks a money bull rush and uses a simple sweep technique to get past blockers. The only problem is he always looks confused at to how to pursue the play if it isn’t coming right at him. This results in far too many instances of Oakman being left in the backfield perplexed and jogging to the action.

I’m not bashing the guy at all. Believe me, I really want to put him #1 on my next mock draft but I just can’t if I don’t see him executing the level of dominance the aforementioned Suh or Mingo displayed in college. Oakman has all the tools but lacks something that those great players had. Maybe its technique, maybe its instinct. Whatever it is I hope he figures it out and doesn’t turn into another case of “what should have been” in the Vernon Gholston and Jarvis Moss territory.

All of those questions and more need answers however Eddie George brought up an interesting point in the talk. Could we be overlooking Baylor’s Terrance Williams as a legitimate candidate? He is already on his way to 2,000 yards just for this year.

Check out the video below:

1. Who knew Brian Orakpo had a brother that played for Colorado State?

2. How is Baylor getting all these recruits to transfer to their program?

Mike Orakpo is the latest college player to take his talents to Waco. He says that being close to home ultimately was the reason he decided to make the jump:

“Baylor is a nice, academic university and a good positive is that it’s in Texas and about 2 1/2 hours away from my home,” said the Houston native. “I had the opportunity to grow up in the Big 12 and learn all about it and it’s really an honor to be able to play at Baylor University.”

Considering that Orakpo was just suspended for fighting in April I think being closer to his family will be good for him. People tend to under estimate what having a nationally televised winning season and electric Heisman season like Robert Griffin III’s does for a program. Baylor is reaping the rewards with all of these transfers and will continue to do so for a a few years down the line.

Former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon will make himself available, after not playing last season while transferring to Utah. He was suspended by Baylor for violating team rules in 2011.

Source: Pro Football Talk

Major scoopage: Redskins have agreed to a trade w Rams for #2 pick of draft. Rams and Skins swap first rounders this yr w Rams also getting 2 future #1s and additional picks. Story coming on fox sports dot com

Source: @JayGlazer