Michigan has hardly won any games in the last three years. And in this year’s NFL draft, hardly any Wolverines will be drafted, which is so strange for a school that has been a football factory in producing NFL stars

While Blaine Gabbert will garner the headlines, there were other prospects working to boost their NFL draft stock at Missouri’s pro day Thursday.

We all know that NFL.com’s Gil Brandt is a wealth of information, especially this time of year. When it comes to NFL happenings, Brandt leaves no stone unturned. Or in this case, no Blarney Stone unturned.

Six NFL head coaches, including four whose teams have picks among the top eight in next month’s draft, showed up here at Missouri’s pro day seeking answers to a few questions concerning quarterback Blaine Gabbert, most notably his deep-pass accuracy. Gabbert couldn’t have done better had he borrowed Drew Brees’ right arm.

Appalachian State held its pro day on March 17. The event was indoors on FieldTurf, with six teams present to watch nine players work out (five others from small schools).

Stanford had ideal conditions for its pro day, with 22 teams on hand to watch 16 players participate on March 17. The workouts were completed outdoors on FieldTurf.

The brackets are in.The first games are in the books.And optimism still abounds (coupled with some extra bravado from some St. Pat’s Day Guinness) as the NCAA Basketball Tournament officially gets underway.

Wednesday proved productive for three prospects from Illinois hoping to become first-round picks.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – On the in-house TV monitors here at the athletic facility, there is a graphic that reads, “Welcome NFL scouts to the 2011 University of Missouri Pro Day.” And with QB prospect Blaine Gabbert set to work out, there will be plenty of scouts in attendance — not to mention coaches and GMs.

Kickoffs are under review, yet the “Tuck Rule” doesn’t seem to be a problem. A scoring play might receive instant review status, which just seems foolish because the “Calvin Johnson rule” will still be in effect.

The lockout is having an impact on school’s pro days. When prospects such as Florida State QB Christian Ponder are working out for scouts, he is usually throwing to NFL free agents — a practice that has stopped because of the labor dispute. Ponder threw to former St. Louis WR Isaac Bruce, a fullback and a tailback while taking his scripted throws down from the originally planned 60 to 35.

The 2011 NFL season will be played! Well, at least it will be played on Madden. EA Sports director of public relations Rob Semsey confirmed via email to me that Madden 12 would be released in August, complete with new features and product innovation. NFL players, the statement read, will continue to be featured.

Defensive ends Robert Quinn and Da’Quan Bowers are at the top of Mike Mayock‘s draft board for their position. Both have questions going against them. Quinn missed the entire 2010 season because of NCAA rules violation. Bowers is coming off a knee injury that would not allow him to workout at the combine or Clemson’s pro day (but will have his own pro day on April 1).

The Saints were on the clock on “Path to the Draft” on Wednesday and Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune joined the show to discuss where the team could be heading in the draft. The Saints could be in a tough spot with a potential 26 unrestricted free agents and one of the highest payrolls from last season. And the team would still like to lockup QB Drew Brees long term.

Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco will be going to Kansas City next week to tryout and train with soccer team, Sporting KC. Apparently, Ochocinco has turned into an eight-year old girl during the lockout. Just kidding. But Ochocinco is halfway there to being a great soccer player though, seeing that he has a bad haircut, goes by one name and he falls to the ground at the slightest hint of contact.