Warriors in the Pros

Lots of news from the past week:

The Orange and Brown Report has an article about the potential of a breakout season for David Veikune.

Veikune weighed 270 pounds last year, well above his ideal playing weight. This spring Veikune not only looks like a football player -- he is moving like one. He is in the crowded but unsettled pack fighting for playing time at inside linebacker. He has dropped almost 20 pounds and worked his butt off in the offseason to become stronger.

Veikune has recently been practicing with the first team.

In 11-on-11s, Chris Gocong and David Veikune lined up as the starting inside linebackers, with Scott Fujita and David Bowens on the outside.

Mat McBriar is ready to become the Dallas Cowboys holder again.

The holder position became a sensitive subject around Valley Ranch last year when kicker Nick Folk complained about McBriar as the holder.

With Folk gone, and David Buehler as the new kicker, McBriar has returned as the holder.

It's a better situation for the Cowboys because McBriar can develop a quicker chemistry with Buehler than Romo.

"I like doing it with David," McBriar said after the first practice of the mandatory minicamp. "We can go back to the side and we get all that work in, it feels good."

Travis LaBoy talks about working at outside linebacker for the 49ers.

LaBoy had six or more sacks in two of his final three seasons with the Tennessee Titans before the Arizona Cardinals signed him in 2008. He had four sacks in his first four games with the Cardinals but a foot injury that required reconstructive surgery derailed his career in Arizona and he did not play in 2009 after being released.

Now he’s returning to the area where he was raised and getting a fresh start with the team he grew up rooting for as a youngster.

“I’m still knocking off some rust, getting back in the flow of football, but every day I get a little better,” said LaBoy, who has played primarily defensive end so far in his NFL career.

Rich Tandler has some Colt Brennan notes from Washington's last OTA until training camp.

11:10—Colt Brennan is firing passes with zip and accuracy as receivers run patterns against no defenders.

12:05—Brennan cooled off later in the drills. After one throw that looked particularly confused, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan came over and coached up the young quarterback.

Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen are working on returning punts for the Dolphins.

In Jaguars practice, Kynan Forney tossed Tyson Alualu to the ground.

As for fights during OTA’s, it seems only guys who have a slim chance to make the team engage it in. They have a lot to prove and are fighting hard to do it. If a no-name tries to make a name by belting a big name, look out. The only effective thing I saw was Kynan Forney toss Tyson Alualu to the ground. It was clean and fair, but showed tenacity. If the no-names want to make a name, show tenacity, not fighting. Fighting is after the fact and useless.

Mike Beamish of The Vancouver Sun profiles Solomon Elimimian, who is fighting through a hamstring injury.

To people like head coach Wally Buono and defensive coordinator Mike Benevides, the talent and drive shown by Elimimian in B.C. Lions rookie camp last week may have been enough to buy him some consideration while he waits for his untimely injury to heal.

Elimimian hopes so. A highly touted linebacker from the University of Hawaii, Elimimian felt like a lost soul after he was cut from the camp of the Buffalo Bills last season. Having it happen for a second time would be equally punishing to his psyche.

C.J. Hawthorne has been impressing in practice for the Montreal Alouettes.

There's no shortage of talent at wideout either. Even with all the usual big names at that position, rookie C.J. Hawthorne opened a lot of eyes on Thursday as he made at least three spectacular catches that got his teammates cheering.

And Brandon Eaton has rejoined the Chicago Slaughter of the IFL.

Brandon Eaton (OL), is another former member of the Chicago Slaughter and fan favorite during the 2009 Championship season. At 6'2 and 310 lbs, Eaton played college ball for the University of Hawaii where he was awarded All-Conference honors as a senior.