John Clay's Sidelines

Corey Peters

Former Kentucky defensive tackle Corey Peters was carted off in a golf cart from the Atlanta Falcons practice today, prompting speculation the second-year pro had suffered a significant leg injury.

Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution just tweeted that according to Falcons coach Mike Smith, it is a left knee injury, but will not require surgery. Peters will miss the Falcons’ next exhibition game against Jacksonville.

Peters, a Louisville native, is in a battle to keep his starting spot. Pat Yasinskas of ESPN blogs:

A third-round draft pick last season, Peters earned a starting role and had a solid rookie season. But his starting spot isn’t guaranteed this season. The Falcons have high hopes that 2009 first-round pick Peria Jerry finally will be at full health. They’d like to make Jerry the starter and use Peters as a key member of their rotation.

Jerry has been working as a backup. But, if Peters is going to miss some practice time and preseason games, this could open the door for Jerry to move into the starting lineup.

Kent Spencer of WTVQ has a good story on former UK football stars Jeremy Jarmon and Corey Peters using yoga to train for the upcoming NFL season, if there is an NFL season.

With the league in lockout mode, the two have been training in Lexington.

An excerpt:

Sometimes their methods are just a bit off the beaten path. For example, Bikram Yoga, which is done in over 100 degree heat.

Peters said, “In order for us to get to the levels we want to, we have to step out of our comfort zone some.”

At Monday’s press luncheon, UK defensive tackle Luke McDermott talks about getting a shout-out on Twitter from ex-teammate Corey Peters, now with the Atlanta Falcons.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Bill Murphy of the Gainesville (GA) Times has a question-and-answer with former Kentucky defensive tackle, and current Atlanta Falcons rookie Corey Peters.

Much of the interview is focused on the Louisville native’s time at UK, and the Cats’ progression from doormat to perennial bowl team.

Excerpt:

The amazing thing about going to Kentucky was that I could see the change in attitude from the time I got there coming off a 2-10 campaign and coming off of probation, but seeing the fans come out more and more and really starting to support us. We beat Georgia my freshman year.

We beat LSU when they were No. 1 my sophomore year. We just built on that and the fans continued to support us. Kentucky is at the point where we’re trying to get up in those 10-win seasons, and if we don’t then it’s a disappointment.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

Max Smith

Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader on Kentucky picking up a quarterback commitment from California:

Smith was in Lexington last weekend and committed to UK shortly after his visit. Smith will be grayshirted, which means he will delay enrollment until January and count toward the 2011 class. “I’ve always been fascinated with SEC football, and Kentucky seemed like a good place with a lot of tradition,” he said. “Plus their system really seemed to fit with the way I play.”

Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal on decision day for Marquis Teague:

The 6-foot-2 Teague, considered the top point guard in the Class of 2011, is expected to make an announcement at 1:30p.m. at Pike. Teague’s list includes Cincinnati, Indiana and Purdue, but he is expected to pick either Kentucky or Louisville.

Kyle Neddenriep of the Indianapolis Star on Teague’s choice:

Kentucky and Louisville basketball fans want him. Indiana fans hope for an upset. Pike High School junior guard Marquis Teague will announce his college decision today at the school’s freshman center, putting an end to months of speculation and scrutiny. He listed his final choices as Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville and Purdue.

Card Chronicle asks what is it that Rick Pitino is supposed to do?

There will be LOTS of Pitino bashing, but other than “try harder” or “he should have said X or Y” what exactly could Pitino have done to get this kid? The current college basketball recruiting landscape for the very top subjects heavily favors Kentucky now. I know his dad played for Pitino, but why is that necessarily a lock? Calipari (and if rumors are to be believed, WWW and Lebron) are tough people to recruit against, and it’s not just Pitino losing guys to him/them.

Mary Meehan of the H-L on the 58 percent jump in UK football parking rates:

A week after the University of Kentucky increased the price of football tickets, fans took another hit to the wallet: Parking lot permits will cost $100 more this season than last. The 57 percent increase pushed the price to $275 for fans in the blue, purple, orange, green and red lots. All other parking passes are going up as well.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Day of decision for Marquis Teague’

Rich Brooks couldn’t say enough good things about Corey Peters during his press luncheon today, and here is Peters talking about Saturday’s Senior Day game with Tennessee.

Here is UK defensive tackle Corey Peters, at the UK football press luncheon today, talking about Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt.

I’m out of pocket for most of today, at least until the basketball scrimmage tonight. So no SEC links, and an abbreviated Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader talks to Lee Todd about the UK eligbility issue.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on the UK run defense.
• My notes column which leads with Wildcat Coal Lodge.
• Pat Forde of espn.com writes that the time to bash SEC basketball has likely passed.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on DeMarcus Cousins.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel writes on UK defensive tackle Corey Peters.
• Tom Leach has video of Rich Brooks squashing the black jersey rumors.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger posts a letter from Mitch Barnhart about the blackout game.

Here are some player videos from today’s UK football press luncheon.

We lead off with UK defensive tackle Corey Peters, who is peppered with questions about the possibility Kentucky might wear black uniforms for the “blackout” Halloween game with Mississippi State on Saturday. Peters loves the idea. Rich Brooks, not so much.

Continue reading ‘Player videos from Rich Brooks’ press luncheon’

Here’s post-game videos from after Kentucky’s 28-26 loss at South Carolina on Saturday.

Head coach Rich Brooks gives his opening remarks:

Defensive tackle Corey Peters talks about his game and says, sad to say, that some fans are probably happy that Mike Hartline was injured.

Continue reading ‘UK videos from Saturday’s post-game’