The New York Jets need tight ends and have decided to give the Gophers' Jack Simmons a tryout during this weekend's rookie minicamp.
A 6-4, 246-pounder, Simmons caught 36 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns in 2008.
The Jets made only three selections in the draft over the weekend and were unable to address a need at tight end. So in addition to inviting Simmons in for a tryout, they also signed three rookie free agent tight ends.
One of them is former Cleveland State basketball star J'Nathan Bullock. Bullock, a 6-5 power forward, hasn't played football since high school. But he worked out for several NFL teams. Bullock led the Vikings to the NCAA tournament, averaging 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season.
Get more On the NFL at startribune.com/vikings.
UNPREDICTABLE NBA
Love the Nuggets? So much for my pre-playoff prediction of a 2-7 upset in the West.
Denver went into New Orleans Arena and whupped the Hornets 121-63 -- matching the largest margin of victory in NBA playoff history -- to take a 3-1 series lead on the same night the Lakers advanced to the second round by beating Utah.
Entering the playoffs, I had my suspicions about the Nuggets, mostly, I guess, because of their history. Now I'm having big-time doubts about my doubts, as much because of Denver's second unit with Bird Man, Kleiza and J.R. Smith as Carmelo, Chauncey and Nene.
What do ya think? What kind of chance do you give the Nuggets to beat the Lakers if the two teams should meet in the Western finals?
Get more On the Wolves at startribune.com/wolves.
MODEL CITIZEN ...
... Citizen model Minnesota figure skater Molly Oberstar recently won the "Real Model" competition in Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine. A video of her photo shoot can be found at mspmag.com/multimedia.
