4th & Monday: The NFL never stops with combine, mock drafts and Kraft bombshell
'Twas the week before the combine and all was relatively quiet in the NFL.
Then, well, Friday happened.
Just three weeks removed from his team winning a record-tying sixth Super Bowl, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was charged with soliciting prostitution.
With that bombshell dominating the NFL news cycle, the NFL combine will get underway in Indianapolis this week.
Prospects will go through the grueling process that is the combine experience in hopes of improving their status for the upcoming NFL draft. The prospect under the most scrutiny likely will be reigning Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, who chose to pursue a career in pro football over playing baseball.
And before the combine gets started, check out our latest first-round mock draft.
Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution
A bombshell development came out of Florida on Friday, as Patriots owner Robert Kraft was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution in connection with a spa tied to an international human trafficking ring.
- What we know about the allegations: Here's a quick rundown of the information that has been released by authorities, the initial reaction and what is expected to happen next with the Patriots owner.
- Who is Robert Kraft? Owner of a six-time Super Bowl champion, Kraft is a widower who has been dating a 39-year-old woman for six years.
- 'A wake-up call': Robert Kraft getting snared in a sex-trafficking investigation in South Florida has prominent people in other sports reacting to the news.
- NFL must hold Kraft to a higher standard: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will have to decide whether to punish the Patriots owner.
Your Monday must-reads
- Ex-NFL QB overcomes tragedy: Trent Dilfer's journey from the Super Bowl to coaching at Lipscomb Academy took a tragic turn. Matt Hasselbeck helped save the former NFL quarterback.
- Murray will face plenty of tough questions: Kyler Murray will likely be the main attraction at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, as teams will wonder about his size and commitment.
- NFL tweaks policy for players banned from combine: The NFL has cleared the way for draft prospects with previous off-the-field transgressions to attend the scouting combine.
- CFL might hold answer to an NFL problem: After the NFC championship game fiasco, the NFL has a pass interference problem. CFL rules could provide the answer.
- One franchise tag candidate for (almost) every NFL team: The window for NFL teams to tag players opened last week. Who are among the most likely to get franchised over the next two weeks?
Meanwhile in The Alliance
- This is such a start-up football league story: The Orlando Apollos have to live in Jacksonville and practice in Georgia for 36 days because of Florida's workers' compensation laws.
- Hackenberg finally gets benched: It took until Week 3 of the AAF season for the Memphis Express to realize that Christian Hackenberg simply isn't a good pro football quarterback.
- Mettenberger replaces Hackenberg, nearly leads comeback: All Zach Mettenberger did when taking over the reins from Hackenberg was throw two second-half touchdown passes as the Express made it interesting against the Apollos.
- Investor swoops in to buy controlling interest in AAF: Tom Dundon, the billionaire owner of the Hurricanes and new AAF investor, is a recent entrant into pro sports world.
- Dog catches 83-yard frisbee pass: You have to watch a dog catching an 83-yard frisbee toss during halftime of the Orlando Apollos' game Saturday night.
- PHOTOS: Best of Week 3 in The Alliance
2019 NFL draft: Mocks, rankings and more
There are just 59 more sleeps until the 2019 NFL draft.
- Latest mock draft: With four days to go until on-field workouts commence at the NFL combine, here's an updated first-round projection.
- Why the Cardinals should draft Murray: The Arizona Cardinals need to double down on the unconventional hire of coach Kliff Kingsbury by taking QB Kyler Murray at No. 1 in the draft.
- Combine invite list: A total of 338 prospects were invited to participate in this week's scouting combine in Indianapolis. Which prospects might dominate the workouts?
- Compensatory picks announced: The full seven-round draft order is now set after the NFL revealed the compensatory picks on Friday.
- Prospect rankings: Draft Wire updated its prospect rankings for every position group in this year's draft.
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