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Frederick sidelined by rare disorder

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Former Wisconsin Badger and current Dallas Cowboy center Travis Frederick has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome.  It causes weakness in various parts of the body, attacking a network of nerves around the brain and spinal cord.

The 27-year-old Frederick received two treatments over the last two days and those treatments will continue for several more days.

Frederick is a four-time Pro Bowl player who has started 83 NFL games, including three playoff games.  He was drafted in the first round by the Cowboys in 2013.

There is no timetable for Frederick’s return to the field.

 

Wagner, Zeitler sign big free agent deals

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It didn’t take long for a pair of former Badger offensive linemen to sign lucrative deals with Thursday’s start of NFL free agency.  Ricky Wagner and Kevin Zeitler, both three-year starters for UW and started on the same lines in 2010 and 2011, found new homes on Friday.

Wagner, who started 37 games for the Badgers and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, was drafted in the fifth round by Baltimore in 2013.  He started 45 games at right tackle for the Ravens over the last three seasons and was the highest-graded pass protecting right tackle in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus.  Wagner signed a deal with the Detroit Lions that will reportedly pay him more than $9 million a year, making him the highest paid right tackle in the NFL.

Zeitler, a first-team All-American in 2011 who started 36 games for the Badgers, is joining another former Badger, 10-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, on the Cleveland Browns’ offensive line.  Zeitler was a first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012 and started 71 games at right guard over his five seasons in Cincinnati.  Zeitler’s new deal with the Browns is reportedly five years for $60 million, which makes  him the highest paid guard in the NFL.

Wagner and Zeitler join former teammate Travis Frederick as the highest paid linemen at their position.  Frederick, a three-time Pro Bowler at center, signed a six year, $56.4 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys last summer.

 

A dry year for Badgers in the NFL in 2013

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A total of seven Wisconsin football players had a chance to be drafted in last week’s

Mike Taylor

Mike Taylor

2013 NFL Draft.  Three of them ended up being selected, including center Travis Frederick to Dallas in the 1st round.  Runningback Montee Ball also went in round 2 to Denver and tackle Ricky Wagner was picked by Baltimore in the fifth round.

Three more players signed as undrafted free agents following the conclusion of the draft.  Safety Shelton Johnson went to Oakland, cornerback Marcus Cromartie to San Diego and cornerback Devin Smith to Dallas.

Wisconsin (Green Bay) linebacker Mike Taylor, who was among the nation’s leading tacklers last year, remains unsigned after a sports hernia.

Three other in-state athletes have found their way onto NFL rosters.  Kimberly’s A.J. Klein was selected in the 5th round by the Carolina Panthers.  Wisconsin-Platteville safety Ryan McWethy signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns.  UW-Milwaukee basketball player Demetrius Harris signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ball is better at Wisconsin’s Pro Day

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Montee Ball didn’t say anything at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine last week, butMontee Ball he informed reporters yesterday that he was going through all of the tests with a Sinus Infection and it may have slowed him down just a bit.

Ball ran a pedestrian 4.66 40-yard dash time at the combine.  But he had an opportunity to improve on that time yesterday at Wisconsin’s Pro Day inside the Don McClain Center and that’s exactly what he did.  Ball cut his time to 4.46 seconds in the 40.

AUDIO: Monte Ball on his Pro Day improvement :10

The Wisconsin Pro Day attracted personnel from 17 NFL clubs, including the Green Bay Packers.  Ball said Packers GM Ted Thompson talked to him afterwards. [Read more…]

NFL Combine is underway

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Evan-Dietrich Smith is expected to go into next season as the starter at center for the

Travis Frederick at Scouting Combine

Travis Frederick at Scouting Combine

Green Bay Packers.  But after the release of veteran Jeff Saturday, don’t be surprised if the Packers select a center somewhere in the upcoming draft.

Would the Packers consider taking a center early on?  And how about Wisconsin’s Travis Frederick?

Frederick can play guard as well, which adds to his value.  He started at left guard for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2011 and is projected as a late 1st round or early second round selection in April.

The Packers currently own the 26th pick in the upcoming April draft.

 

Alvarez may coach Badgers in the Rose Bowl

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While Barry Alvarez is already searching for Bret Bielema’s replacement as head football coach in Madison, and Wisconsin’s athletic

Barry Alvarez

director may pick himself to coach the team in the New Years Day Rose Bowl game against Stanford in less than a month.

According to  story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reporter Jeff Potrykus says the tip comes from a source close to the UW program. 

Bielema took the head coaching job at Arkansas on Tuesday, met with his Badger players early Tuesday evening, then boarded a plan for Arkansas. 

According to some of his former players in Madison, Bielema saw the opportunity to go to Arkansas as a better chance to win a National Championship than he had in Madison.

AUDIO: Montee Ball asked why Bielema left Wisconsin :02

In an Arkansas release on Tuesday night, Bielema said, “I am very humbled and honored to become the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.  During my conversation with Jeff (Long) he described the characteristics for the perfect fit to lead this program.  It was evident we share the same mission, principles and goals.” [Read more…]