Joe Haden is going pro

The Gator Nation was not surprised to hear Joe Haden put his name in the 2010 NFL Draft. With every NFL scout projecting him as an early first round pick, it was hard for Haden to turn down the chance and money awaiting him in the NFL.

“This was a tough decision, and I spent a lot of time with my family talking about it,” Haden said. “I’m so proud that I had the chance to be a Gator. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life. Coach [Urban] Meyer and Coach [Vance] Bedford have helped me in so many ways. I’ll always be thankful to them for everything, and I know I’ll never forget the fans in Gator Nation.”

Haden’s resume includes a consensus first-team All-American, finalist for the Thorpe Award, and first-team All-SEC honors, which are chosen by the coaches and the Associated Press. Joe was the first true freshman to ever start at cornerback for Florida and started every game while a Gator. Haden will finish his Gators career with eight interceptions and 218 tackles.

When asked, interim head coach Steve Addazio had this to say, “We’re sad to see Joe go because he’s a great leader and a dynamic player, but we know that with his tremendous talent, he will be a special player at the next level. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Joe, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

The NFL Scouting Combine will be held from Feb. 24 to March 2 and the NFL Draft will be held April 22-24

Here is the news all Gators fans were wanting to hear–Chris Rainey has put on 12 pounds, is learning the offense better, and teammates are beginning to see him becoming a more complete Running Back. In my opinion, Rainey has the best chance of any player on the team to fill the “Percy Position.” He has the same quick step with more top end speed but won’t be able to run between the tackles like Percy could. Gator fans everywphere hope he keeps developing and is  a full time contributor on this year’s team instead of a role player.

Randy Shannon spins to da U of Coral Gables when going after new recruits. I like how he just uses the stats for Coral Gables, a town about 4 times smaller than Gainesville, for his crime rates. If you use the same site Shannon used for his reports for the Miami area you get these numbers: Murders: 70,Rapes: 432, Robberies: 2341, Assaults: 6420, Burglaries: 9381, Thefts: 33802, and Auto thefts: 7025. As a friend told me “Anyone who’d fall for this is too stupid to be admitted to UF anyway.”

There is a Battle at Safety everyday at practice. Coach Meyer breaks it down like this, “The safeties battle is pretty tight right now because we have four guys who can play like starters here.” Will Hill say his goal is to start this season. “If I want to get that job, then I have to be better than the next guy in every little last thing.”

Florida coach Urban Meyer admits he’ll take No. 1 any time. Us Gator Fans will take the #1 ranking anytime as long as the Gators are in the same spot at the end of the season.

“Someone asked me that question and I heard someone say I hope we’re never ranked No. 1,” Meyer said. “I hope we’re ranked No. 1 every year for the next 10. I’ll take it right now. That means we’re really good and we’ve got really good players. That’s obviously not going to happen because of recruiting and who’s going to leave early and all that. We don’t really pay much attention to it, but if someone asks me would you rather be 114 or No. 1, I’ll take No. 1 because that means you have really, really  good players.”

In his blog Pat Dooley wonders about Sitting Tebow. With all the talk about Joe Haden playing QB, and John Brantley getting more snaps what is Tebow going to do? Last year all we heard were questions of  Tebow’s ability to make tit hrough a season without getting hurt. This yearthe question has become one of his  getting enough snaps to put up the stats to be in the running for a second Heisman?

Tim Tebow, Gators welcomes the “haters” - “There are going to be haters, but you know what?” Tebow said. “I don’t really care.” Tim, we don’t either. Nobody hates on you unless you are on the top.