Every main sports website I read (ESPN, SI, Fanhouse, etc.) has a ton of writers voicing their opinions on what happened inside that NFL Combine interview room between Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland and Dez Bryant, the most talented wide receiver prospect in the 2010 draft. Before I actually go into any personal analysis, let’s look at actual FACTS about this “case study":
1. Bryant’s mother was very young when she gave birth to him. Reports have her conceiving Bryant when she was about 14 years old. There have been no reports of her being raped, so she willingly became pregnant at age 14.
2. Bryant’s mother served jail time (18 months in the slammer) for selling crack cocaine. So her character has two questionable marks already.
3. Dez Bryant has character issues of his own; Oklahoma State coaches chastised him for his excessive lateness and anger problems. (I list this because given the first two facts, how could NFL teams not try to correlate this?)
Which leads us to the exchange between Bryant and Ireland. Ireland had asked Bryant what his father did for a living; Bryant responded by saying his father was a pimp and did not play a big role in his life. Enter the alleged dialogue:
Bryant: “My father was a pimp.”
Ireland: “What did your mom do [for a living]?”
Bryant: “She worked for my dad.”
WOW. Let’s put two and two together. Apply the aforementioned circumstances with Mrs. Bryant and combine that with the fact she worked for (not with, FOR) Dez’s pimp father. I wonder what was going through Ireland’s mind when he heard that. So needless to say, it concludes with this interaction:
Ireland: “Your mom was a prostitute?”
Bryant: “No, she wasn’t a prostitute.”
Major props to Bryant for not putting his fist through Ireland’s mouth. But really, is that really an irrational question to ask? NFL executives are dying to know every detail of their future players. Florida State safety and Rhodes scholar Myron Rolle was asked how it felt to “desert” his football team for an education at Oxford. One can conclude that sometimes, the questions can be a bit unusual, but that’s only front office figureheads trying to throw the prospects off a bit and adjust to the questions.
Ireland didn’t insult Bryant’s mother. He didn’t call her a whore, a ho, a trick, a tramp, or any derogatory word for a female you may hear in a rap song. He literally asked Bryant, straight up, if his mother was a prostitute. It doesn’t matter what the answer is. Dez Bryant was the best receiver in college football regardless if his mother slept with people for compensation. It's not like the general manager "ran out" of questions to ask him and randomly asked that question.
Now granted, it may be considered a bit inappropriate or off-color, but the media ruckus that has ensued is nowhere near what the situation really deserved. Of course, when I ran this issue past my parents, they seemed to have differing opinions. My mother felt that Ireland’s question was perfectly acceptable; after all, the NFL is a multimillion dollar industry where its performers are constantly under media scrutiny, and the players reflect their organizations and may have a negative influence if they have troubled backgrounds. My father tended to disagree with this notion, saying it’s nowhere near appropriate to ask such a question on a job interview. He’s right; but this is a professional sports league, where everyone gets away with their freedom of speech. Millions of fans make judgments on players every day based on off-field criteria, which is a bit unfair although expected in this media-heavy sports society.
Just let it go. That's my take on it.
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Winners and Losers of the NFL Draft
So now the draft is over; there probably won't be another football post for a while. Unless a two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback gets accused of rape for a second time or something of that nature. You mean that happened already? Good, let's move on.
Winners
Rams: You would expect the holders of the first overall pick to have a successful draft. But the Rams got four potential cornerstones of the franchise in Sam Bradford, stud tackle Rodger Saffold, cornerback Jerome Murphy, and wideout Mardy Gilyard. This draft definitely will push St. Louis to a 4 or 5 win season, a great improvement from last season’s debacle.
Patriots: To be honest, when do they NOT win in the draft? The Pats addressed practically all of their needs this weekend, picking up a first round CB in Devin McCourty, two tough linebackers from Florida (Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes), two tight ends (Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, my favorite TE this year), and the draft’s best punter. (Zoltan Mesko of Michigan!) Just the Pats doing work in April as usual.
Panthers: With John Fox perhaps in his last year as head coach, Carolina did work this weekend. They may have committed the robbery of the draft getting Jimmy Clausen at pick number 48, which supplies a stable replacement at QB as well. Also drafted by the Panthers were wide receivers Brandon LaFell (who excelled playing in the tough SEC) and Appalachian State hero Armanti Edwards. I’m still upset over that whole Michigan debacle… Anyway, Carolina also drafted Eric Norwood (OLB) and Greg Hardy (DE) in the sixth round; BOTH of these guys have been ranked in the top 60 of many people’s drafts boards but slipped for whatever reason. So it was a good draft for my team.
Texans: CB Kareem Jackson will immediately help out in replacing Dunta Robinson. Running back Ben Tate and tight ends Tony Moeaki and Dorin Dickinson (a seventh-round steal) are new faces on offense to supplement the immortal Andre Johnson. Earl Mitchell is a great choice for defensive tackle, and Trindon Holliday was a rather beastly return man for LSU standing at 5’6’’. Solid draft for Houston.
Cowboys: No one really likes the Cowboys, but you have to admit they had a hell of a draft this year. Dez Bryant was arguably the best wideout in this year’s class and will definitely make a splash in place of the ever-awful Roy Williams. LB Sean Lee of Penn State will fill in holes in the middle for Dallas, which desparately needed punch after being dominated by the Vikings last year in the playoffs. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is an amazing pick, coming from Division II college Indiana of Pennsylvania; at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds, he is an impressive DB prospect who will make an immediate impact in the secondary. Sixth-round pick Sam Young had a stellar college career at Notre Dame and will provide depth along the offensive line.
Losers
Jets: The law of averages came into play here; despite their particularly successful offseason, the Jets fell short this weekend. They only had 4 picks this draft and used their first-round pick to take defensive back Kyle Wilson of Boise State. Why? Linebackers like Sergio Kindle and Jerry Hughes were still available, and the Jets desperately need to replace mega-bust Vernon Gholston. Although second-rounder Vladimir Ducasse was a good fit, I was a bit surprised with Joe McKnight, an extreme underachiever at USC, being picked up in the 4th round. The Jets’ fourth pick was a fullback named John Conner, though. The name may compensate for his skill, but not really.
Browns: Granted, the Browns have nowhere to go but up, but I expected more out of their draft. Drafting Joe Haden (the “best” of a weak crop of cornerbacks) was a bit of a reach at pick #7; I don’t know why they passed up on Jimmy Clausen, but they really could’ve had a chance at a better impact player that high in the draft. Other than Colt McCoy, the players Cleveland picked were slightly above average at the collegiate level; to expect them to succeed in the NFL will take a lot of praying… and player development.
Jaguars: Probably the worst draft in the league this year. I don’t get it. Jacksonville needs a new franchise face; Maurice Jones Drew can’t carry the team on his tiny-but-extremely-jacked shoulders. So naturally, the Jags draft Tyson Alualu, a DT with a SECOND-ROUND grade, at the 10th overall pick. Following that? Another DT named D’Anthony, and guys from Central Arkansas, Murray State, Southern Illinois, and James Madison. When the Jacksonville Jaguars get relocated within 3 years, you’ll know who called it. Disgusting draft. EW.
Giants: Maybe I just don’t like either of the New York teams. But after Jason Pierre-Paul, the G-Men passed up on guys like Taylor Mays and Terrance Cody to draft Chad Jones and Linval Joseph. Additionally, barely anything was done to address the lack of depth on the aging offensive line (a fifth rounder is simply not enough).
Vikings: Granted, they didn’t have a first-round pick, but Minnesota didn’t do much to improve their team. Their first pick, CB Chris Cook, is the typical victim of a weak position class; he may have 7 interceptions next year and make me look bad, but the Vikings still need more depth in the secondary. Other than Toby Gerhart (who I do like, but won’t get more than 100 touches this year), there isn’t much to speak of here. In addition, Minnesota failed to pick up a quarterback despite the ambiguous future of Brett Favre.
Winners
Rams: You would expect the holders of the first overall pick to have a successful draft. But the Rams got four potential cornerstones of the franchise in Sam Bradford, stud tackle Rodger Saffold, cornerback Jerome Murphy, and wideout Mardy Gilyard. This draft definitely will push St. Louis to a 4 or 5 win season, a great improvement from last season’s debacle.
Patriots: To be honest, when do they NOT win in the draft? The Pats addressed practically all of their needs this weekend, picking up a first round CB in Devin McCourty, two tough linebackers from Florida (Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes), two tight ends (Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, my favorite TE this year), and the draft’s best punter. (Zoltan Mesko of Michigan!) Just the Pats doing work in April as usual.
Panthers: With John Fox perhaps in his last year as head coach, Carolina did work this weekend. They may have committed the robbery of the draft getting Jimmy Clausen at pick number 48, which supplies a stable replacement at QB as well. Also drafted by the Panthers were wide receivers Brandon LaFell (who excelled playing in the tough SEC) and Appalachian State hero Armanti Edwards. I’m still upset over that whole Michigan debacle… Anyway, Carolina also drafted Eric Norwood (OLB) and Greg Hardy (DE) in the sixth round; BOTH of these guys have been ranked in the top 60 of many people’s drafts boards but slipped for whatever reason. So it was a good draft for my team.
Texans: CB Kareem Jackson will immediately help out in replacing Dunta Robinson. Running back Ben Tate and tight ends Tony Moeaki and Dorin Dickinson (a seventh-round steal) are new faces on offense to supplement the immortal Andre Johnson. Earl Mitchell is a great choice for defensive tackle, and Trindon Holliday was a rather beastly return man for LSU standing at 5’6’’. Solid draft for Houston.
Cowboys: No one really likes the Cowboys, but you have to admit they had a hell of a draft this year. Dez Bryant was arguably the best wideout in this year’s class and will definitely make a splash in place of the ever-awful Roy Williams. LB Sean Lee of Penn State will fill in holes in the middle for Dallas, which desparately needed punch after being dominated by the Vikings last year in the playoffs. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is an amazing pick, coming from Division II college Indiana of Pennsylvania; at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds, he is an impressive DB prospect who will make an immediate impact in the secondary. Sixth-round pick Sam Young had a stellar college career at Notre Dame and will provide depth along the offensive line.
Losers
Jets: The law of averages came into play here; despite their particularly successful offseason, the Jets fell short this weekend. They only had 4 picks this draft and used their first-round pick to take defensive back Kyle Wilson of Boise State. Why? Linebackers like Sergio Kindle and Jerry Hughes were still available, and the Jets desperately need to replace mega-bust Vernon Gholston. Although second-rounder Vladimir Ducasse was a good fit, I was a bit surprised with Joe McKnight, an extreme underachiever at USC, being picked up in the 4th round. The Jets’ fourth pick was a fullback named John Conner, though. The name may compensate for his skill, but not really.
Browns: Granted, the Browns have nowhere to go but up, but I expected more out of their draft. Drafting Joe Haden (the “best” of a weak crop of cornerbacks) was a bit of a reach at pick #7; I don’t know why they passed up on Jimmy Clausen, but they really could’ve had a chance at a better impact player that high in the draft. Other than Colt McCoy, the players Cleveland picked were slightly above average at the collegiate level; to expect them to succeed in the NFL will take a lot of praying… and player development.
Jaguars: Probably the worst draft in the league this year. I don’t get it. Jacksonville needs a new franchise face; Maurice Jones Drew can’t carry the team on his tiny-but-extremely-jacked shoulders. So naturally, the Jags draft Tyson Alualu, a DT with a SECOND-ROUND grade, at the 10th overall pick. Following that? Another DT named D’Anthony, and guys from Central Arkansas, Murray State, Southern Illinois, and James Madison. When the Jacksonville Jaguars get relocated within 3 years, you’ll know who called it. Disgusting draft. EW.
Giants: Maybe I just don’t like either of the New York teams. But after Jason Pierre-Paul, the G-Men passed up on guys like Taylor Mays and Terrance Cody to draft Chad Jones and Linval Joseph. Additionally, barely anything was done to address the lack of depth on the aging offensive line (a fifth rounder is simply not enough).
Vikings: Granted, they didn’t have a first-round pick, but Minnesota didn’t do much to improve their team. Their first pick, CB Chris Cook, is the typical victim of a weak position class; he may have 7 interceptions next year and make me look bad, but the Vikings still need more depth in the secondary. Other than Toby Gerhart (who I do like, but won’t get more than 100 touches this year), there isn’t much to speak of here. In addition, Minnesota failed to pick up a quarterback despite the ambiguous future of Brett Favre.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Why Tim Tebow Will Be Successful in the NFL
So Tim Tebow is finally on an NFL team: the Denver Broncos. Not the most ideal fit. Not the worst fit, either. It’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he’ll get, but we’ll get to that when the season gets underway.
What I’m going to address, though, is the probable influx of Tebow haters. Not to say the contingency of those who don’t like Timmy T (or the second coming of Christ, depending on your beliefs) isn’t big already. But there are still many people who don’t follow college football as passionately as the NFL. When they hear about this new Christian guy with questionable quarterbacking skills enter the league, “Tebow sucks” is all they can say.
First of all, Tebow has the potential to be one of the most marketable players in the league, regardless of how good he is or how much he plays. You have to understand how big of an impact he had in the state of Florida, a football hotbed greatly divided by allegiances to 6 teams (Jaguars, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Florida, Florida State, Miami). After his SOPHOMORE year of college (with two more years to go), Tebow had a Heisman trophy and the love and adulation of football fans in his home state and country. By the end of his collegiate career, arguably one of the most decorated in the history of the game, he became a national hero for his great faith and Super Bowl commercial, which wasn’t as controversial as people made it out to be.
Secondly, one has to assess the actual value of the pick that Tebow was taken with. He wasn’t the first overall pick. He wasn’t drafted in the Top 10 to replace an immediate need. He was taken in the end of the first round, a reasonable juncture of the draft to choose someone who may need development upon reaching the professional level. He’s not going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s not going to throw for 30 touchdowns in any season he plays. He’s going to be a contributor to the Broncos.
Which brings me to the team that’s rolling the dice with Tebow: Denver. This isn’t a team in search of a new identity like Buffalo and Jacksonville, two of the teams most closely associated with drafting Tebow Christ. Tebow doesn’t have to assume the role of team captain or spokesman or city hero. Head coach Josh McDaniels was an offensive genius in New England and definitely led the Broncos to surpass expectations for the 2009 season (with the exception of that mini-collapse at the end of the campaign). McDaniels trusts Tebow to come in to the organization and learn the team’s offense willingly; given Tebow’s intelligence and passion for the game, it’s easy to see he can do that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in several packages like a Wildcat of some sort; who the hell wants a 6’3’’, 225 guy running straight at you?
Tim Tebow will most likely not be the starting quarterback come Opening Day. Unless his mechanics emulate Peyton Manning’s in about 4 months, he won’t be taking the first snap of his team’s season. It will take roughly one or two seasons to groom him into the role of traditional, drop-back quarterback. There’s a reason the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn; they simply needed depth at the QB. It’s funny to see some scouts’ takes on Tebow. “Strengths: Intangibles, Weaknesses: Tangibles”. At least Tebow has the size and strength to become a menacing threat from a couple schemes.
Just because Tim Tebow looks awkward throwing a football doesn’t mean he can’t succeed in the NFL. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell actually moved his back leg forward instead of the front leg when swinging in the batter’s box. Despite the unorthodox battle style, he’s regarded as one of the most prolific first basemen of the 1990’s. And have you ever seen Shawn Marion shoot a jump shot?
In summary, I’m not expecting the guy to make multiple Pro Bowls. The number of college stars who didn’t hit it big in professional football is incredibly huge, and if Tebow joins that list, he obviously won’t be the first. But his intangibles will (hopefully) prevent him joining that list. If a guy like Trent Dilfer can get lucky and win a Super Bowl (with the help of the 2000 Ravens’ defense), Tebow can make it big. He’s going to sell jerseys. Once he signs endorsements with Gatorade and what-not, you’ll have no choice but to look at him on billboards, magazines, and television. Stop hating on him because he’s more famous and makes more money than you’ll ever see in your life. The guy’s a born leader; in a league where people can drive drunk and kill guys and only go to jail for 30 days (looking at you, Donte Stallworth) or beat up strippers and get involved in a triple shooting (you too, Pacman Jones), Tebow is a breath of fresh air, maintaining a level of class similar to Tim Duncan or Derek Jeter.
Okay, so as you can tell, I have a bit of a man-crush on Tim Tebow. But when he starts succeeding in the league and keeps adding to his fan base, you may have a man-crush too.
What I’m going to address, though, is the probable influx of Tebow haters. Not to say the contingency of those who don’t like Timmy T (or the second coming of Christ, depending on your beliefs) isn’t big already. But there are still many people who don’t follow college football as passionately as the NFL. When they hear about this new Christian guy with questionable quarterbacking skills enter the league, “Tebow sucks” is all they can say.
First of all, Tebow has the potential to be one of the most marketable players in the league, regardless of how good he is or how much he plays. You have to understand how big of an impact he had in the state of Florida, a football hotbed greatly divided by allegiances to 6 teams (Jaguars, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Florida, Florida State, Miami). After his SOPHOMORE year of college (with two more years to go), Tebow had a Heisman trophy and the love and adulation of football fans in his home state and country. By the end of his collegiate career, arguably one of the most decorated in the history of the game, he became a national hero for his great faith and Super Bowl commercial, which wasn’t as controversial as people made it out to be.
Secondly, one has to assess the actual value of the pick that Tebow was taken with. He wasn’t the first overall pick. He wasn’t drafted in the Top 10 to replace an immediate need. He was taken in the end of the first round, a reasonable juncture of the draft to choose someone who may need development upon reaching the professional level. He’s not going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s not going to throw for 30 touchdowns in any season he plays. He’s going to be a contributor to the Broncos.
Which brings me to the team that’s rolling the dice with Tebow: Denver. This isn’t a team in search of a new identity like Buffalo and Jacksonville, two of the teams most closely associated with drafting Tebow Christ. Tebow doesn’t have to assume the role of team captain or spokesman or city hero. Head coach Josh McDaniels was an offensive genius in New England and definitely led the Broncos to surpass expectations for the 2009 season (with the exception of that mini-collapse at the end of the campaign). McDaniels trusts Tebow to come in to the organization and learn the team’s offense willingly; given Tebow’s intelligence and passion for the game, it’s easy to see he can do that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in several packages like a Wildcat of some sort; who the hell wants a 6’3’’, 225 guy running straight at you?
Tim Tebow will most likely not be the starting quarterback come Opening Day. Unless his mechanics emulate Peyton Manning’s in about 4 months, he won’t be taking the first snap of his team’s season. It will take roughly one or two seasons to groom him into the role of traditional, drop-back quarterback. There’s a reason the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn; they simply needed depth at the QB. It’s funny to see some scouts’ takes on Tebow. “Strengths: Intangibles, Weaknesses: Tangibles”. At least Tebow has the size and strength to become a menacing threat from a couple schemes.
Just because Tim Tebow looks awkward throwing a football doesn’t mean he can’t succeed in the NFL. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell actually moved his back leg forward instead of the front leg when swinging in the batter’s box. Despite the unorthodox battle style, he’s regarded as one of the most prolific first basemen of the 1990’s. And have you ever seen Shawn Marion shoot a jump shot?
In summary, I’m not expecting the guy to make multiple Pro Bowls. The number of college stars who didn’t hit it big in professional football is incredibly huge, and if Tebow joins that list, he obviously won’t be the first. But his intangibles will (hopefully) prevent him joining that list. If a guy like Trent Dilfer can get lucky and win a Super Bowl (with the help of the 2000 Ravens’ defense), Tebow can make it big. He’s going to sell jerseys. Once he signs endorsements with Gatorade and what-not, you’ll have no choice but to look at him on billboards, magazines, and television. Stop hating on him because he’s more famous and makes more money than you’ll ever see in your life. The guy’s a born leader; in a league where people can drive drunk and kill guys and only go to jail for 30 days (looking at you, Donte Stallworth) or beat up strippers and get involved in a triple shooting (you too, Pacman Jones), Tebow is a breath of fresh air, maintaining a level of class similar to Tim Duncan or Derek Jeter.
Okay, so as you can tell, I have a bit of a man-crush on Tim Tebow. But when he starts succeeding in the league and keeps adding to his fan base, you may have a man-crush too.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Mock Draft: Picks 1-32 (and bonus pick)
I have no life, so I made a mock draft of my own.
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- Bradford is actually an official member of Cherokee Nation. That's right, the #1 overall pick is a Native American whose Cherokee name may actually translate to Wounded Shoulder.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- This guy is absurdly good. Probably the best overall prospect in the draft, Suh dominated last season at Nebraska, including 4 sacks in the Big 12 championship game. Also has the coolest name in the draft.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma- McCoy may be the second best DT prospect this year but he would probably be #1 in scouts' eyes in many other years. Surely an impact player for years to come.
4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State- The Skins' offensive line is awful. Okung is a solid upgrade over essentially everyone on the O-Line right now in Washington; Trent Williams is also a solid pick for the zone-blocking scheme the team employs.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OL, Iowa- Supposedly, Chiefs boss Scott Pioli and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz are tight. Will this lead to KC drafting Bulaga? Considering the need for a tackle and Bulaga's skill, probably.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Williams, OL, Oklahoma- The third Oklahoma Sooner to come off the board already. Williams is a great addition for Pete Carroll's Seahawks. It warrants mentioning that I think Carroll will struggle as head coach in Seattle. Just saying.
7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- With Suh, one of the best draft prospects in years. Head and shoulders above the rest of this year's safety crop, he was picked apart by scouts at the Combine this February. Make that "tried to be picked apart"; there's nothing wrong with his game or measurements at all.
8. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers- You never really know what Al Davis will do with an Oakland draft pick. Davis makes the most sense, but don't count out drafting Combine star Bruce Campbell or California native Jimmy Clausen. Because JaMarcus Russell needs to not play in the NFL anymore.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame- Clausen, the golden boy. Blessed with one of the best arms draft scouts have ever seen, Jimbo is an interesting case. He clearly has Top 10 potential but may slip all the way into the 20's if the guys in Cleveland and Buffalo suffer from retardation and pass up on him. The Bills need a QB, though.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech- The Jaguars desparately need a guy to help out the pass rush; the team had 14 sacks last year. Morgan is one of the more solid, safe picks at DE. He flourished in his team's bowl game and Combine.
11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama- Rolando (sweet name) is the best linebacker prospect in this year's draft. He is on the top of many teams' draft lists and would probably start from Day 1 in Denver; he's that good. Also earns bonus points for wearing an unusual number for a linebacker at Bama (25).
12. Miami Dolphins: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida- This man is scary. At 6'6'', 260 pounds with great athleticism, JPP will supply Bill Parcells' Dolphins with relentless pass-rushing skills and energy. Also went to college not far from Miami; the local boy will make good.
13. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- Arguably the most dynamic offensive player in the draft. Spiller has ridiculous speed, great hands, and also makes for a lofty returner. A good complement to the bruising Frank Gore, who continues to be overrated in every Madden game.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State- Although Seattle would probably prefer Spiller, they get another playmaker in Bryant. Scouts say that Dez is a better prospect coming out of college than Michael Crabtree, who was rather beastly. It also warrants mentioning that Bryant's mother had him when she was 13 years old. 13 years old. That's 8th grade.
15. New York Giants: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri- Not the glamour pick Giants fans wanted to see, but it makes sense. The linebacking corps is decimated after the release of Antonio Pierce; Weatherspoon is a ferocious tackler.
16. Tennessee Titans: Joe Haden, CB, Florida- Tennessee really, REALLY needs another cornerback to line up opposite Cortland Finnegan. Haden is a Top 10 talent but slipped a bit because of "slow" 40-yard dash times at the Combine. If I ran a 4.5 40 like Haden, I would want to race everyone I met on the street.
17. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho- The Niners may also look for Haden if he's available. Iupati supplies good versatility along the O-Line and patches up some holes SF has. Also, it bothers me that the state of Idaho has two solid college football programs. New York does not have a single one.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida- The drafting of linemen continues. Pouncey is an interior line guy (guard/center) but definitely warrants the high draft selection. The Steelers will try to look for high character guys because of the Ben Roethlisberger nonsense. The man has as many Super Bowl rings as rape accusations (two).
19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- Graham had an impressive Senior Bowl and Combine, catapaulting his way up the draft rankings. Also, as a Michigan fan, he gets my full endorsement. (Even though Michigan football is awful right now.)
20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, S, Texas- Thomas is from Texas. The Houston Texans are located in Texas. The Texans need a safety. Can it be this easy?
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma- Just like Houston, Cincy can address a very glaring need by drafting Gresham. Injury problems aside, Gresham was the best tight end in college football for two years.
22. New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas- Some people are saying Tim Tebow and Jermaine Gresham are legitimate picks here. I would agree more about Gresham... until one realizes the Patriots had a subpar pass rush last season. Kindle, who I have seen as a nasty linebacker as early as NCAA Football 2007 (yes, 2007), is a solid pick here.
23. Green Bay Packers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State- The Packers' pass defense is atrocious with the exception of Charles Woodson. Wilson will supplement the D with his playing style. I don't know what else to write about a small cornerback from Boise State.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Everson Griffen, DE, USC- With a name that sounds like a heavyweight boxer, Griffen is a great fit for Andy Reid's crew. Reid's tendency to draft big men in the first round will definitely come into play with this pick. A lot of different options on both sides of the trenches here...
25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers- I didn't know Rutgers still had a football team. But seriously, the Ravens need a CB badly and after Ray Rice's success, will again look to reach into the atomic wasteland of New Jersey to pick McCourty.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Brown, OT, USC- Despite the fact that all of the elite O-Line guy will have been taken by now, Arizona still needs help up front. Brown is a raw prospect who will provide depth on the line.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC- Either Mays or wide receiver Demaryius Thomas would be a great pick here. Mays wins out because of his absurd size (6'3'', 230) and speed. He was "unofficially" clocked at 4.24 at the Combine, which would have tied Chris Johnson for fastest ever, but it was taken "all the way down" to 4.43. That's still a fast dude.
28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State- This is definitely the best possible pick at this juncture of the first round for San Diego. I'm not really sure if Mathews excels in one area, but he does appear to be a workhorse who's physically tough. He would be an effective complement to Pocket Darren Sproles.
29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State- The Jets essentially addressed all their needs before Draft Day, which is pretty impressive. The one thing they can look for is depth along the D-Line, as the injury-prone Kris Jenkins and the unimpressive Mike Devito need backups. Odrick is an impressive player. That's really all I can say about him. I'm just amazed at how the Jets got ultimate baby-daddy Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes for extremely low draft picks...
30. Minnesota Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- Yeah, I went there. The Vikings need a cornerback but will probably use all of their time on the clock with this pick because of the many options available. I'll keep the Tebow analysis to one sentence (for now): Although he will need an extra year or two to develop as an NFL quarterback, Tebow is a versatile player and a great investment for a team who needs high character, leadership, and marketability.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Bruce Campbell, OL, Maryland- The Colts haven't really drafted marquee playmakers in the last several years in the first round, and this year should be no different. Campbell is an intriguing prospect though; with an excellent Combine, he shot up scouts' rankings and could actually be drafted significantly higher if he's lucky. Never discount the Raiders to draft a guy like Campbell, but for Indy, either he or Jerry Hughes (pass-rusher) would be good fits.
32. New Orleans Saints: Jerry Hughes, DE, T.C.U.- The defending champs don't really have immediate needs. However, Hughes can play as a DE/OLB hybrid and would give New Orleans depth on the defensive end of the ball.
(BONUS PICK) 48. Carolina Panthers: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama- I know, the bonus wasn't that exciting. But they're my favorite team, cut me some slack. The Panthers' first pick doesn't come until #48, so they really need to pick up a big name if there's one still on the board. Cody is a mountain of a man and had several clutch sacks and blocked field goals for the Crimson Tide. Considering Carolina doesn't have much at D-Tackle, they really have no excuse to pick up Cody if he's available.
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- Bradford is actually an official member of Cherokee Nation. That's right, the #1 overall pick is a Native American whose Cherokee name may actually translate to Wounded Shoulder.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- This guy is absurdly good. Probably the best overall prospect in the draft, Suh dominated last season at Nebraska, including 4 sacks in the Big 12 championship game. Also has the coolest name in the draft.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma- McCoy may be the second best DT prospect this year but he would probably be #1 in scouts' eyes in many other years. Surely an impact player for years to come.
4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State- The Skins' offensive line is awful. Okung is a solid upgrade over essentially everyone on the O-Line right now in Washington; Trent Williams is also a solid pick for the zone-blocking scheme the team employs.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OL, Iowa- Supposedly, Chiefs boss Scott Pioli and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz are tight. Will this lead to KC drafting Bulaga? Considering the need for a tackle and Bulaga's skill, probably.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Williams, OL, Oklahoma- The third Oklahoma Sooner to come off the board already. Williams is a great addition for Pete Carroll's Seahawks. It warrants mentioning that I think Carroll will struggle as head coach in Seattle. Just saying.
7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- With Suh, one of the best draft prospects in years. Head and shoulders above the rest of this year's safety crop, he was picked apart by scouts at the Combine this February. Make that "tried to be picked apart"; there's nothing wrong with his game or measurements at all.
8. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers- You never really know what Al Davis will do with an Oakland draft pick. Davis makes the most sense, but don't count out drafting Combine star Bruce Campbell or California native Jimmy Clausen. Because JaMarcus Russell needs to not play in the NFL anymore.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame- Clausen, the golden boy. Blessed with one of the best arms draft scouts have ever seen, Jimbo is an interesting case. He clearly has Top 10 potential but may slip all the way into the 20's if the guys in Cleveland and Buffalo suffer from retardation and pass up on him. The Bills need a QB, though.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech- The Jaguars desparately need a guy to help out the pass rush; the team had 14 sacks last year. Morgan is one of the more solid, safe picks at DE. He flourished in his team's bowl game and Combine.
11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama- Rolando (sweet name) is the best linebacker prospect in this year's draft. He is on the top of many teams' draft lists and would probably start from Day 1 in Denver; he's that good. Also earns bonus points for wearing an unusual number for a linebacker at Bama (25).
12. Miami Dolphins: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida- This man is scary. At 6'6'', 260 pounds with great athleticism, JPP will supply Bill Parcells' Dolphins with relentless pass-rushing skills and energy. Also went to college not far from Miami; the local boy will make good.
13. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- Arguably the most dynamic offensive player in the draft. Spiller has ridiculous speed, great hands, and also makes for a lofty returner. A good complement to the bruising Frank Gore, who continues to be overrated in every Madden game.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State- Although Seattle would probably prefer Spiller, they get another playmaker in Bryant. Scouts say that Dez is a better prospect coming out of college than Michael Crabtree, who was rather beastly. It also warrants mentioning that Bryant's mother had him when she was 13 years old. 13 years old. That's 8th grade.
15. New York Giants: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri- Not the glamour pick Giants fans wanted to see, but it makes sense. The linebacking corps is decimated after the release of Antonio Pierce; Weatherspoon is a ferocious tackler.
16. Tennessee Titans: Joe Haden, CB, Florida- Tennessee really, REALLY needs another cornerback to line up opposite Cortland Finnegan. Haden is a Top 10 talent but slipped a bit because of "slow" 40-yard dash times at the Combine. If I ran a 4.5 40 like Haden, I would want to race everyone I met on the street.
17. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho- The Niners may also look for Haden if he's available. Iupati supplies good versatility along the O-Line and patches up some holes SF has. Also, it bothers me that the state of Idaho has two solid college football programs. New York does not have a single one.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida- The drafting of linemen continues. Pouncey is an interior line guy (guard/center) but definitely warrants the high draft selection. The Steelers will try to look for high character guys because of the Ben Roethlisberger nonsense. The man has as many Super Bowl rings as rape accusations (two).
19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- Graham had an impressive Senior Bowl and Combine, catapaulting his way up the draft rankings. Also, as a Michigan fan, he gets my full endorsement. (Even though Michigan football is awful right now.)
20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, S, Texas- Thomas is from Texas. The Houston Texans are located in Texas. The Texans need a safety. Can it be this easy?
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma- Just like Houston, Cincy can address a very glaring need by drafting Gresham. Injury problems aside, Gresham was the best tight end in college football for two years.
22. New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas- Some people are saying Tim Tebow and Jermaine Gresham are legitimate picks here. I would agree more about Gresham... until one realizes the Patriots had a subpar pass rush last season. Kindle, who I have seen as a nasty linebacker as early as NCAA Football 2007 (yes, 2007), is a solid pick here.
23. Green Bay Packers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State- The Packers' pass defense is atrocious with the exception of Charles Woodson. Wilson will supplement the D with his playing style. I don't know what else to write about a small cornerback from Boise State.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Everson Griffen, DE, USC- With a name that sounds like a heavyweight boxer, Griffen is a great fit for Andy Reid's crew. Reid's tendency to draft big men in the first round will definitely come into play with this pick. A lot of different options on both sides of the trenches here...
25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers- I didn't know Rutgers still had a football team. But seriously, the Ravens need a CB badly and after Ray Rice's success, will again look to reach into the atomic wasteland of New Jersey to pick McCourty.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Brown, OT, USC- Despite the fact that all of the elite O-Line guy will have been taken by now, Arizona still needs help up front. Brown is a raw prospect who will provide depth on the line.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC- Either Mays or wide receiver Demaryius Thomas would be a great pick here. Mays wins out because of his absurd size (6'3'', 230) and speed. He was "unofficially" clocked at 4.24 at the Combine, which would have tied Chris Johnson for fastest ever, but it was taken "all the way down" to 4.43. That's still a fast dude.
28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State- This is definitely the best possible pick at this juncture of the first round for San Diego. I'm not really sure if Mathews excels in one area, but he does appear to be a workhorse who's physically tough. He would be an effective complement to Pocket Darren Sproles.
29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State- The Jets essentially addressed all their needs before Draft Day, which is pretty impressive. The one thing they can look for is depth along the D-Line, as the injury-prone Kris Jenkins and the unimpressive Mike Devito need backups. Odrick is an impressive player. That's really all I can say about him. I'm just amazed at how the Jets got ultimate baby-daddy Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes for extremely low draft picks...
30. Minnesota Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- Yeah, I went there. The Vikings need a cornerback but will probably use all of their time on the clock with this pick because of the many options available. I'll keep the Tebow analysis to one sentence (for now): Although he will need an extra year or two to develop as an NFL quarterback, Tebow is a versatile player and a great investment for a team who needs high character, leadership, and marketability.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Bruce Campbell, OL, Maryland- The Colts haven't really drafted marquee playmakers in the last several years in the first round, and this year should be no different. Campbell is an intriguing prospect though; with an excellent Combine, he shot up scouts' rankings and could actually be drafted significantly higher if he's lucky. Never discount the Raiders to draft a guy like Campbell, but for Indy, either he or Jerry Hughes (pass-rusher) would be good fits.
32. New Orleans Saints: Jerry Hughes, DE, T.C.U.- The defending champs don't really have immediate needs. However, Hughes can play as a DE/OLB hybrid and would give New Orleans depth on the defensive end of the ball.
(BONUS PICK) 48. Carolina Panthers: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama- I know, the bonus wasn't that exciting. But they're my favorite team, cut me some slack. The Panthers' first pick doesn't come until #48, so they really need to pick up a big name if there's one still on the board. Cody is a mountain of a man and had several clutch sacks and blocked field goals for the Crimson Tide. Considering Carolina doesn't have much at D-Tackle, they really have no excuse to pick up Cody if he's available.
Top 5 Storylines of the NFL Draft
Draft Day is here. And of course, the media outlets (more specifically, ESPN) are creaming in their pants to create "interesting storylines" to give the fans. I don't play that. So I devised 5 intriguing topics that will be big focal points come Thursday night.
1. Tebow-mania: How can this not be a storyline? Tebow is one of the most decorated college football players to ever play the sport. He's an incredibly curious prospect in the eyes of scouts, earning draft projections from the first round to round 3. All it takes is one team to simply say, "We want a high character guy who's extremely marketable. We'll take him." Inviting him to the first round of the draft may not be a great idea; if he isn't taken after pick #32, it would be more awkward than seeing your one-night stand in class the next day.
2. The QB conundrum: It goes like this... Only 3 out of the Top 10 teams (Rams, Browns, Bills) are really looking for a quarterback. The Rams will almost definitely take Sam Bradford at #1. The Browns at pick #7 supposedly "aren't interested" in Jimmy Clausen, which would make Jimbo available at #9 for the Bills. Meanwhile, Colt McCoy (who is being severely undervalued in my opinion) won't be taken until the second round, perhaps by Cleveland; his arm is a good fit in Cleveland's West Coast offense. And there's that Tebow guy as well.
3. Teams in trouble: The Steelers, fresh off the Rape-lisberger debacle (see what I did there?), are reportedly shopping Big Ben for high first-round draft picks. The Seahawks and 49ers, both NFC West teams trying to knock off the Cardinals, both have two first-rounders and will try to make a statement with their picks (C.J. Spiller and Trent Williams are two guys that could be drafted by either team, actually.) And of course, my favorite team, the Panthers, don't have a first round pick for the second straight year; I wish they pull a good draft out of their asses.
4. Trench warfare: As any football mind will tell you, games are controlled and won "in the trenches." Offensive lines and defensive lines are crucial for every team's success, and this year's draft class has many options on both sides of the ball. As many as SIX linemen could be drafted in the Top 10 alone, not including other potential impact players such as Maurkice Pouncey and Dan Williams who may hear their name called in Round 1.
5. New time for draft time: The new format of the draft (Round 1 on Thursday, 2 and 3 on Friday, and 4 through 7 on Saturday) raised some eyebrows among fans. I mean, it's good to see the first round during primetime, but I think I'm gonna miss sitting around and wasting a good spring Saturday watching the elite players get picked. At least making a drinking game (and subsequently drinking) for an event that starts at 7 PM is slightly more socially acceptable than an event starting at noon.
1. Tebow-mania: How can this not be a storyline? Tebow is one of the most decorated college football players to ever play the sport. He's an incredibly curious prospect in the eyes of scouts, earning draft projections from the first round to round 3. All it takes is one team to simply say, "We want a high character guy who's extremely marketable. We'll take him." Inviting him to the first round of the draft may not be a great idea; if he isn't taken after pick #32, it would be more awkward than seeing your one-night stand in class the next day.
2. The QB conundrum: It goes like this... Only 3 out of the Top 10 teams (Rams, Browns, Bills) are really looking for a quarterback. The Rams will almost definitely take Sam Bradford at #1. The Browns at pick #7 supposedly "aren't interested" in Jimmy Clausen, which would make Jimbo available at #9 for the Bills. Meanwhile, Colt McCoy (who is being severely undervalued in my opinion) won't be taken until the second round, perhaps by Cleveland; his arm is a good fit in Cleveland's West Coast offense. And there's that Tebow guy as well.
3. Teams in trouble: The Steelers, fresh off the Rape-lisberger debacle (see what I did there?), are reportedly shopping Big Ben for high first-round draft picks. The Seahawks and 49ers, both NFC West teams trying to knock off the Cardinals, both have two first-rounders and will try to make a statement with their picks (C.J. Spiller and Trent Williams are two guys that could be drafted by either team, actually.) And of course, my favorite team, the Panthers, don't have a first round pick for the second straight year; I wish they pull a good draft out of their asses.
4. Trench warfare: As any football mind will tell you, games are controlled and won "in the trenches." Offensive lines and defensive lines are crucial for every team's success, and this year's draft class has many options on both sides of the ball. As many as SIX linemen could be drafted in the Top 10 alone, not including other potential impact players such as Maurkice Pouncey and Dan Williams who may hear their name called in Round 1.
5. New time for draft time: The new format of the draft (Round 1 on Thursday, 2 and 3 on Friday, and 4 through 7 on Saturday) raised some eyebrows among fans. I mean, it's good to see the first round during primetime, but I think I'm gonna miss sitting around and wasting a good spring Saturday watching the elite players get picked. At least making a drinking game (and subsequently drinking) for an event that starts at 7 PM is slightly more socially acceptable than an event starting at noon.
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