Jumbo Package: Fan Day, Trent Richardson, more Tide in the NFL

Details for Alabama football 2016 fan day in Bryant-Denny Stadium | AL.com

The one and only opportunity to see an open Alabama football practice is less than a week away. The annual fan day is set for Sunday, Aug. 7 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The open practice will run from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and admission is free.

Autographs will be signed on the field following the workout starting at 4:45 p.m. It will last approximately 45 minutes. Gates open at 1:30 p.m The first 150 fans who arrive at Gate 45 will receive a wristband for early entrance to the autograph session. Those receiving bands need to arrive at Gate 25 no later than 4 p.m.

Parking will be available in the West ten Hoor section of Alabama's campus. There are two parking garages and surface lots.

In case of bad weather, the autograph session will be moved to Coleman Coliseum.

The annual running of the Gumps will be this weekend. If you have the chance to go to Tuscaloosa, this is always a spectacle to behold. You get to see some of the true freshmen in action with the known players for the first time, and you get to see a hoard of Alabama fans sprinting across the field after it's over. What more could you ask for?

College Football 2016 Preseason All-America Team | SI.com

Alabama led the field with five players selected to the first team, while Florida State and Michigan both earned three nods. Including the first and second teams, the Crimson Tide put a whopping eight players on the list followed by last year's runner-up Clemson with four.

Calvin Ridley, Cam Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, and J.K. Scott all were put on the first team list. After that, Tim Williams, O.J. Howard, and Eddie Jackson all made it onto SI.com's second team.

Enjoy this, guys. That is a lot of talent on one football squad.

Sean Payton explains how Alabama football changed the way the Saints operate | FOX Sports

"Quite a bit," Payton told reporters." Typically, in a lot of cases, the college game is a tick ahead because their budgets and their recruiting (puts them) constantly in an arms race with facilities, nutrition bars, and things that they can do. A lot of times, that flows up. In our case, we had been to Alabama for a workout and saw the recovery station they had, with protein shakes for if you were trying to cut weight or if you were trying to gain weight. (They emphasized) proper nutrition during the day, after a practice, or leading up to a practice."

Alabama's facilities and programs have always been cutting edge, but this put it into perspective. While Tide players were busy having the top nutritionists in the world look after their health, the New Orleans Saints were eating Popeye's before games. Nick Saban's empire is even influencing professional teams. Roll Tide.

Trent Richardson released by Baltimore Ravens | AL.com

The Baltimore Ravens have released running back Trent Richardson without the former Alabama All-American ever getting on the field at training camp. The NFL team announced the personnel move on Tuesday afternoon.

The Ravens put Richardson on the physically-unable-to-perform list on July 23, four days before Baltimore's veterans reported for training camp in Owings Mills, Md.

The Baltimore Sun reported on June 16 as the Ravens wrapped up their offseason workouts that Richardson likely would need arthroscopic knee surgery before training camp.

And with that, I would say that Trent Richardson is probably done with professional football. In what was his 3rd last chance, he still was unable to get healthy enough to even participate in practices-- a surefire way to not make a roster spot. On top of that, he needs arthroscopic knee surgery before he can play again. If we hear his name with an NFL team again, I'll be shocked.

Dee Milliner 'praying and hoping' for first injury-free season with New York Jets | AL.com

New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner hasn't covered a receiver in a game since Oct. 12, 2014. That's when the former Alabama All-American suffered a torn Achilles tendon that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2014 NFL season.

"I want to be back out there and get a chance to be on defense and play," Milliner told reporters at the Jets' training camp. Milliner didn't have any health concerns during the offseason and is eagerly awaiting the kickoff to the Jets' preseason schedule on Aug. 11, when New York hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I feel great," Milliner said. "Just been doing what I'm supposed to do -- my maintenance, continuing to stretch, keep my flexibility. Just been trying to do everything possible to stay healthy."

On the other hand, Milliner might finally be healthy for the first time since entering the NFL. He said the same before last season, then tore his wrist in a freak injury, missing all but the last few games. With Dre Kirkpatrick and Mark Barron making comebacks from their rough starts, Dee Milliner is the last Bama defensive back "bust" that still needs to redeem himself to his high draft status. He definitely has the talent, but will he still have the feel for the game after missing so much time to a myriad of injuries over the last few years?