Maybe it's Empty-Nest Syndrome?

by smashtheguitar on Jul 27, 2009 2:28 AM EDT

OK, so I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel.... depressed.

Perhaps it's all these SEC football reruns on ESPN.

Or maybe it's all this rain up here in State College.

Or perhaps it's.... dare I say.... Empty-Nest Syndrome?

I was curious about how our seniors from the 2008 football team are doing while preparing for their roles in the NFL, so I went on an Internet hunt to sniff out the details:

It seems that most "news" outlets are excited but cautious about Derrick Williams' role in the NFL. Most claim that he will be worked out as a return specialist and could see some Wildcat action. There is also the rumor that Williams missed a Detroit Lions minicamp earlier this month because of a sore hamstring.

Meanwhile, former Penn State walk-on WR Deon "We Are Not Normal" Butler signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks. He reportedly received a $680,750 signing bonus and a contract worth slightly under $3.2 million.

Out in the Midwest, WR Jordan Norwood signed with the lowly Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent and, with the trade of Kellen Winslow, the release of Joe Jurevicius and a possible season-long suspension of Donte Stallworth, most are speculating that Norwood has a good shot at finding his way through to the final roster. Besides, who's going to pick up the slack after Braylon "I Lead the League in Drops" Edwards does what he does best?

Center A.Q. Shipley, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, could see a bit more practice time after Pittsburgh's starting Center Justin Hartwig recently broke his toe. Shipley, however, noted that he'll have to put up with Head Coach Mike Tomlin's comments every day regarding his short arms.

Aaron Maybin is holding out for big bucks over at PSU's satelite campus in Buffalo. The Bills' much needed new sack machine is likely to play oustide linebacker alongside former PSU great Paul "This One's For The Ladies" Posluszny.

Apparently Rich Ohrnberger is gaining the reputation as a jokester in the Patriots' community. Of course, this is also coming from a team that thinks cheating is a joke too (zing!). Ohrnberger signed a four-year contract with the Pats for about $2.2 million.

Safety Anthony Scirrotto signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers. However, if that doesn't work out, he still has another option: Scirrotto was also drafted in the 50th round (Wait, did you say "50th?") with the 1,502nd pick of the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Overall, more than 300 of Joe Paterno's former players have signed NFL contracts. Pretty snazzy.

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Just to add on about Maybin- right now, speculation seems to be that he’d play DE in the Bills 4-3, but they’re looking to give a 3-4 look at times, where he’d be an OLB. Buffalo Rumblings, on SBNation, does a really good job of covering them (and Brian, the editor was one of the few people other than myself hoping the Bills would get Maybin in the draft) and, by extension, Maybin.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jul 27, 2009 2:58 AM EDT reply actions

The 'Hawks are super happy with Butler so far

They’re treating the kick return positions as his to lose from day 1. As you’d expect, everyone talks about his work ethic and high character, but apparently they think he’s a pretty damn good athlete too.

Do I know what rhetorical means?

by NLseattle on Jul 27, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

I’m still amazed at what Butler has been able to accomplish. From a walk on to a team leader pumping them up before the biggest game of the year (say what you will but if you aren’t holding back a tear watching his We Are Not Normal speech then you have no soul) to an NFL player with a real shot. I wish Butler all the best with Seattle.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 27, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

You aren't the only one

What a success story. From walk-on CB, to the all time leading receptions leader at PSU, to a $3.2M NFL contract. It’s incredible, and I wish him nothing but the best after what he’s done for us the past few years.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 27, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Butler ever returned a punt or a kick in college, and it’s his job to lose after not playing in pads yet?

by mrb5091 on Jul 27, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

That's exactly what Mora said the other day

He said something like “Well, Butler played behind a pretty good kick returner at Penn State.” The Seahawks have been looking for a decent returner for years, one with speed that wouldn’t fumble. They even had Engram, hardly a burner, returning kicks a couple years ago just because they trusted him not to fumble. They think they’ve found the answer in Butler, and that was the primary reason they had him so high on their draft boards.

Do I know what rhetorical means?

by NLseattle on Jul 27, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

With 4.37 speed, I'm surprised we didn't give him a shot at it.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 27, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

It's strange

That Butler has a contract and seems to have settled in, while Williams is still being worked out in the, “not sure if this guy is gonna make it”?

How the hell does Detroit think Williams is going to run “wildcat” in the pros? He couldn’t do it for shit at Penn State. But I guess the 0-16 Detroit Lions know something that our coaching staff doesn’t. Prehaps they’ll be able to rely on their offensive line in a way Penn State wasn’t against say, Iowa.

They drafted a kick returner? What a bunch of fools.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 27, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

We are talking about the Detroit Lions though

anywhere else, DWill would probably be given a bit more respect as a WR.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 27, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Butler

We all know that Butler is good. He’s fast and is a great receiver overall. Why he would be a kick returner is a bit questionable, but I have high hopes for him up there in Seattle.

by smashtheguitar on Jul 27, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Nice post

Smash!

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Jul 27, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I have read nothing but positive things about Butler

They really like him up there, and I can see why. He does a great interview as well.

Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."

by Roland86 on Jul 27, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

shipley

been watching reruns of his performance last year.

the guy was a beast. the osu game in particular was one of his best performances, and he dominated thoroughly. especially that horrible osu middle linebacker, who couldn’t even get to half the piles he wanted to jump on because of shipley.

in the rose bowl, he made maluga non-factor. so much so that maluga had to go all jackass on national tv to get attention.

how he went in the 7th round is beyond me. short arms or no, pitt got a great deal here.

I looked at Ohrnberger in the fourth quarter and he looked back at me. And we said, 'We're not losing this game"

by psudrozz on Jul 27, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions