Get used to hearing from Dean Blandino. He's the NFL's new vice president of officiating. A 15year veteran of the officiating department, Blandino becomes the first person to run the officiating department without having been an NFL official himself.Items must be received eight days before Saturday publication. Please include a contact name and phone number. If sending an event announcement, please list time, date, address and cost; notices will be published the Saturday prior to the event.

Oakland took CB Demarcus Van Dyke of Miami with the first of their two thirdround selections. Van Dyke was the fastest corner at the combine, but lacks the strength needed to help support the run. This pick was a bit of a reach at this spot in the draft, but the Raiders love speed and Van Dyke has plenty to spare..It turns out there were three celebrated players on the field that day and, remarkably, two made it into the NFL. The most famous of the trio, however, never played in the pro