Front Office

An Editorial . . . of Sorts

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:49:52 -0500

WE’RE MOVING! WE’VE MOVED!

Change is always a little frightening, but sometimes we just have to move ahead. Paul’s Pigskin Place is moving to a new site, and changing a few things. Hopefully everything we do will be better for you the readers and friends of PPP.

The new website address is www.pigskinpaul.com.

When you get there you will find some new graphics and some slight changes in site set-up. But it should still be pretty darn user friendly, if you just take 10 minutes to browse and explore.

You will be greeted by my newly created PIG LOGO. I hope you like the little guy. He is a huge football fan.
We’ll run a little poll for you to help me name him in a month or so.

A very special thanks to PETER STAACK who created the character for me. Peter’s dad, TOM, and I have been guiding him through design ideas since early Summer. I could not be happier with the results. Thanks very much PETER, you have just earned a free lifetime subscription to PPP. There is no cash value to place on that right now, but let’s call it priceless.

Please join us at the new address and once it is active (give us ‘til the coming weekend) bookmark it for further visits.

Folks if you enjoy PPP now is the time to step up and visit my website on a regular basis. I have got to make this endeavor a self-sustaining venture. The only way I can do that is for you to visit my site on a regular basis and refer other people to it. I need to get enough activity at the site to sell some ad space. I can’t pay out of my own pocket for site costs and trips to Green Bay and Mobile forever.

Also please remember that I am tweeting and hope you will follow me @ twitter.com/pigskinpaul.

If you are in Wisconsin you can catch me on the radio in Wausau (1230 AM), Fond du Lac (1570), Sheboygan (950) & Appleton (1570) on a regular basis now that Camps are open. I’ll provide you with some detailed times and programs as the season approaches. If you live elsewhere and would like your local sports station to have me on the air justcall them and send them my way. I can always make time to talk football.

PIGSKIN PAUL says “thanks, and please follow us at the new location... www.pigskinpaul.com.

PLEASE COME ON ALONG...WE’VE MOVED!

July 12,2009 It has been quite some time since I used this EDITORIAL page, and I do not intend to get preachy with it at this time. I want to take a few moments to reflect on the American Football League. I’ll try not to get maudlin, but the only League to successfully compete with the NFL, and force a merger, is near and dear to my heart and love of football. This season in the NFL is being used to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the old AFL, by “The Foolish Club” back in 1959. THe NFL Hall of Fame has a special exhibit celebrating that League’s birth which includes a retro game in August in Canton featuring the BILLS vs, the OILERS (now TITANS) the weekend of the Hall of Fame 2009 induction ceremonies.

Growing up n New Hampshire I was a GIANTS fan in the mid-fifties, when I discovered Pro Football at about age 9. There was no national network coverage of the NFL in those days. Local teams controlled their own broadcast rights, and the GIANTS owned the TV airwaves (no cable) in New England through a Boston-based affiliate. A second Boston station beamed up CLEVELAND BROWNS games with JIM BROWN pounding his way to NFL greatness. My dad was a marginal fan, but whenever we went to my uncle’s house for Sunday dinner in the fall, the TV was on until both teams’ games were finished. I found out later his love of the game was based primarily on the bets he placed on the games at the Irish-American Club earlier in the week. But in fairness, he really did love the game of football. He and I would sneak out of the dining room to catch every play possible, and my love of the NFL was born. I much preferred the football action to the boring conversation at the dinner table. I cut my NFL teeth rooting for CHARLIE CONNERLY, Y. A. TITTLE, FRANK GIFFORD, ANDY ROBUSTELLI, SAM HUFF, ROOSEVELT BROWN, et al., and listening to CHRIS SCHENKEL call the action. There could be no doubt listening to his game-call that the GIANTS had the greatest collection of NFL talent in the history of the League. I was absolutely stupefied that they ever lost and always lost n Championship games to the likes of the PACKERS and BEARS.
Then n 1960 I read in the Sports Section that a new pro football League was being formed and would have a team just 50 mies from my house named the BOSTON PATRIOTS. And thus, my love affair began with the AFL. I bought some packs of FLEER AFL football cards. I remember quite clearly that I opened about a half-dozen packs and realized I had not heard of any of the players pictured. JETS Head Coach SAMMY BAUGH (yes, that SAMMY BAUGH) was the only name I was familiar with. No matter... I was soon hooked.

FLEER 1961 DOROW TEAM LOGO 1960 FLEER STICKER ’60 FLEER ’60 COACH CARD

Suffice it to say, I followed and loved my old friend the NFL, as well as the new kid on the block, the AFL. The play in the NFL was obviously of superior quality, but the AFL had high-scoring, offense dominated games and created incredibly more colorful characters to capture our attention. Some of their early QBs were older than my dad, which fascinated me for some reason. In BOSTON, VITO ‘BABE’ PARILLI became their franchise QB in his mid-30’s , and he succeeded BUTCH SONGIN who was in his 40’s. SONGIN by the way was probably better known in New England as a hockey player for B.C. than for his football prowess. And yes, as pictured below, THE BABE was a back-up in Green Bay in the fifties, twice.

SONGIN THE BABE IN GB IN BOSTON LOCAL HERO BELLINO

The AFL was noted for recruiting and signing local heroes for their teams to stir up local fan support. I clearly recall mighty-might, Winchester, MASS native JOE BELLINO, who won the 1960 HEISMAN for his stellar play at the Naval Academy, getting a contract from the PATRIOTS upon his return from active military duty in 1965. He was too small, and too slow for even the AFL game, but he drew lots of interest from New England fans during his 3-year career primarily returning Punts and Kicks in a PATRIOTS uniform.

I could go on and and on, but you’d probably stop reading, if you haven’t already. I encourage you to go to www.nfl.com, and check out the articles on the AFL celebration this season. There is a soon to be released book, by KEN RAPPOPORT, called, THE LITTLE LEAGUE THAT COULD. I will be reading the book as soon as I can obtain a copy, and will provide you with a review. I will also be throwing out a few more stories based on my AFL remembrances over the course of the year.

Enjoy the celebration and memories. Trust me, you younger readers, when I tell you that the AFL changed the NFL into the League, and the game of Pro Football, as we currently know and love it. By the way... a thank you to the two men (still living) who were original AFL team owners and who still head their own NFL Franchises: RALPH WILSON/BILLS & BUD ADAMS/OILERS/TITANS.

March 1, 2008 I am going to bite the hand that feeds me, in a way. I am going to express my dissatisfaction with the NFL in-house Media mechanisms and their coverage of the 2008 NFL COMBINE. In no particular order here we go.

NFL NETWORK
For an enterprise that has been hyping their coverage of the NFL COMBINE since the final gun ending the SENIOR BOWL, I thought the actual coverage left a lot to be desired, and was much less than advertised.

Their daily live coverage was far less than all-inclusive and something less than accurate. One would think that the TV arm of the NFL would have some way to be accurate in their informational reporting from the COMBINE. After all, detail reporting is what this event is about to the football public. We are not privy to the team/player interview process so heights, weights, times, etc. are a major part of what we are watching for. How can NFL NETWORK report on Sunday night that DERRICK HARVEY has weighed in at 291 lbs., when in fact it was 271 lbs? That discrepancy is more than an “informational glitch”. I have that little error on tape. I was ready to throw HARVEY into my Top Ten Elite Player list.

How is it acceptable for them to ballyhoo live coverage and turn on the Tuesday DB work-out to find that one of the two player groups has already run their 40s, and we will see some of their highlights later in the show. How about airing live events live? Did NFL NETWORK not know what time the events were starting? Do they not have some say into event changes? Last I knew National Scouting gets paid by the NFL. Even if the event time schedule changed couldn’t NFL NETWORK have pre-empted the third rerun of Total Access, or the fourth re-run of Monday’s live coverage?

Overall NFL NETWORK has been a disappointment to this viewer and media member. For the “world –class” business that the NFL is in total, their TV component is sadly lacking. It has not progressed as it should after roughly three years of operation. It does not measure up to CBS and ESPN in its coverage of the NFL product. That should concern the NFL!

And now let us address, briefly the media mechanism known as www.nfl.com .

Once again, an in-house extension of the NFL that is sadly lacking in information beyond NFL related video clips. On many occasions my informational/detail searches relative to the COMBINE were referred to nfl.com/combine. As I am writing this, it is Thursday, two days after the close of the COMBINE. I just rechecked the site and went to ‘top-performers’ to look at the official numbers from the drills conducted in Indy.

Here are a couple of examples of what is currently posted on the official website of the NFL.
JUSTIN KING (CB/PENN STATE) has his 40-time listed as the best amongst the WRs at 4.31.
JOSH BARRETT is the fastest listed S with a 4.35. He is also the only S listed as having run.

We don’t have time to waste detailing all the errors and omissions. Let me just wrap up by saying if the NFL wants to keep the COMBINE info private then do so, but don’t bait the public and the media into thinking we should pay attention, because we are going to let in on the process.

I give the NFL NETWORK and NFL.COM a D for their coverage efforts: Minor league quality overall for the LEAGUE.

Don’t forget to check out my thoughts on the Draft Situation as well as it’s time, once again, for me to Think Out Loud!

NFL Last Week

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:22:19 -0500

HOF GAME RECAP TITANS 21 BILLS 18

It’s not terribly important in the big scheme of things, but it’s worth doing a little recap of the TITANS/BILLS game from Canton last night, just because it is the first live football game of the 2009 NFL season. And for those of us who are football fanatics it just seems like way too long since we watched the Super Bowl. So how about some notes that I jotted down during the corse of the action Sunday night.
From the fake Punt TD run by TREPASSO to the last play of the game Safety, again by A.J., I kept thinking what a pain-in-the-butt JEFF FISHER must be to coach/play against in the Pre-Season. He has his system of how to run a Training Camp, and a lot of it runs contrary to the vanilla flavor most Coaches feature every weekend. He puts out exotics and strange scenarios now, and then he plays pretty vanilla himself when the regular season starts.
It is a known fact that the PACKERS who have played the TITANS for about 10 straight pre-seasons (I am exaggerating to make a point) will be looking for a new dance partner for their final pre-season contest in the future. The problem from the PACKERS’ perspective is that FISHER is one of a handful of Head Coaches around the League who play the final pre-season game as their warm-up for their starters. Most teams, like the PACKERS, use the third game to set their lineup, and then play the bottom of the roster in the final game. Check the record, this leads to an annual beat-down as the TITANS play starters into the Third Quarter, while the PACK runs their starters out for a couple of series.
It was a little strange, but kind of fun to see ex-PACKERS player CHUCK CECIL stalking the TITANS sideline as their new D Coordinator. Based on the way he played the game, do you think he might be just a little bit intense in his coaching style with his players? It was also a big rush for this old cowboy to see the retro AFL uniforms on display. It brought back memories, and a realization that a lot of AFL games in their first couple of seasons of existence were not of much better quality than this game.
Even though it was a brief debut, it is clear that the BILLS and TRENT EDWARDS/QB will be more than happy to throw a lot of balls in the direction of new WR TERRELL OWENS. LEE EVANS is going to love this situation long term, because he is going to get some blown single-coverage deep on his side, and his speed will really come into play for the strong arm of EDWARDS this season.
The BILLS have obviously made the commitment to start two Rookie OG this season as part of their completely rebuilt OL. ERIC WOOD (R1) & ANDY LEVITRE (R2) both had their ups and downs, but they looked capable of holding their own at the pro level. They should get all the reps they can handle as they prepare to start the regular season together.
One thing that seemed clear to my eyes, no matter what stage of the game, was the difficulty the BILLS had running the ball once they got into the Red Zone. You can credit CECIL for his defensive calls and personnel decisions, but I will point out that the BILLS used the single-back backfield and don’t have a true FB on their roster. In fact, they don’t even list the FB position on their depth chart. I think the lack of a lead blocking FB really hurts teams trying to run inside the opponents 20-yard line. How many decent BILLS drives ended in FGs last night?
The BILLS WR corps must be one of the deepest in the NFL right now. With T.O., EVANS, PARRISH, HARDY, JOHNSON, and more, I wonder if the team won’t showcase vet JOSH REED, and shop him around to the WR-needy teams around the League. WRs seem to be dropping like flies early in Training Camp and more than a few teams should be out looking for help.
On the other sideline I could not help but be mightily impressed by the depth and quality of the TE position for the TITANS. BO SCAIFE & ALGIE CRUMPLER, can both block and catch, and JASON COOK(R) is a real downfield threat. They go 4-deep with last year’s talented Rookie TE CRAIG STEVENS.
ALBERT HAYNESWORTH will be missed this season, despite a deep, young, & athletic DL rotation. His absence will show up against power running attacks. The current group in Tennessee is fairly light in the pants and thrives on penetration and pursuit speed. Only three of the DL on the current roster weigh more than 300 lbs. The good news is the STEELERS, JETS and JAGS (twice) are their only opponents that really fit that style of pounding attack.
Speaking of DL... the BILLS had better get that contract done with AARON MAYBIN this week. They need his quickness, athleticism and natural pass-rush skills badly to pressure opposing QBs. The BILLS do not have pass-rush LBs to blitz with. Their Safeties may be their best blitz weapon. Being as young as he is, any experience MAYBIN gains, from even pre-season play, will be invaluable to his development.
TITANS Rookie RB/JAVON RINGER got some limited playing time in the second half, and looked faster than I remembered him with the Spartans. But then again he blew some folks away with some very good 40-yard dash numbers at his Pro Day last Spring. RB is another position where the TITANS appear very deep and talented. They may cut a guy lIke CHRIS HENRY or QUINTON GANTHER, who will be grabbed off waivers by another team come September.
VINCE YOUNG didn’t excel last night, but he showed some of the traits that make him tantalizingly frustrating overall. His INT was a very poorly thrown give-up, but his TD pass was a nice throw/nice catch duet with PAUL WILLIAMS. I think that YOUNG would be better served with a different Coaching Staff and offensive system. JEFF FISHER will be one of the last guys in the NFL to embrace any kind of real “spread” wrinkle to his offense, with would be YOUNG’s forte. Go get the video of the TEXAS win over USC with YOUNG doing his thing for the Longhorns.
Interesting watching KENNY BRITT/WR/R standing on the sidelines last night as he nurses a hamstring injury. With his height and size he should make a nice target for KERRY COLLINS later in the year. He has great acceleration after the catch and his long stride separates him from most pursuers in the secondary. In fact his size and skill set remind me greatly of T.O. Two little DRAFT tidbits for you on BRITT. He is the first football player from RUTGERS to ever go in Round One. He is also the youngest DRAFTEE this season. He will not turn 21 until September, 19th.
One final note on the game. CHRIS MORTENSEN of ESPN came rolling into Canton on his bus for the weekend. And he had to be one of the proudest and most nervous people in the stadium last night. In case you missed the detail, that young QB who got into the game late in the 3rd Quarter wearing No. 8 was ALEX MORTENSEN. Yep, ALEX is MORT’s son. He completed his first pass attempt, and was later Intercepted. Like most nights for parents of athletes MORT must have felt the full range of emotions in a brief span of time. But overall parental pride had to be his overriding emotion of last night.
Congrats to MORT. I’ve chatted with him in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and like most folks came away feeling he was a good guy and a hard working reporter.

FISHER T.O. MORT SON ALEX

8/09/2009 NFL Training Camps are all open, so I guess it’s safe to say that the 2009 Season is underway. Let’s take a spin around the league with some info and observations from selected Camps.

FALCONS CAMP It’s a good thing the deal is done on the contract extension for RODDY WHITE. With him holding out and the injury to HARRY DOUGLAS being season-ending, things were looking desperate in Atlanta. No offense to the following guys, but when a team jumps up and signs MARTY BOOKER and ROBERT FERGUSON (at this stage of their respective careers) then they perceive themselves as being in a world of hurt. Now they can go back to concentrating on building a respectable Defense.

LIONS CAMP The good news is that there is little flash and drama for the LIONS this summer. New Coach JIM SCHWARTZ is running a tight, organized Camp so far. The less drama and noise out of this team the better off everyone is. I haven’t heard anyone pronounce it as being a disappointment if the team does not make the Play-Offs this season. You hate to be negative, but it is also prudent to be realistic. There is strong emphasis so far on establishing a consistent running attack. The OL should be better and KEVIN SMITH is one of the best young RB in the League. MAURICE MORRIS also makes a nice complimentary RB option.

CHIEFS CAMP Reality may be setting in early for PIOLI and HALEY. They don’t have he ideal personnel to pull-off he switch to the 3-4 scheme, and it looks like they are going to have to let D Coordinator CLANCY PENDERGAST run the dual scheme mix that he used in Arizona the past few years... at least for now. I was a bit surprised that they inked AMANI TOOMER to a deal at age 35. I realize they want some vet heads to provide CASSEL with some safe targets to throw to underneath, but they had already signed 36-year old BOBBY ENGRAM. I thought TOOMER was a better fit for a Play-Off contender like DA BEARS or COWBOYS.

JETS CAMP Even though he struggles at times it looks more and more every day like SANCHEZ is well on his way to earning that starting QB job. My bigger concern right now is their TE position. With the 3-headed RB combo of JONES/WASHINGTON/GREENE slated to carry the Offense as much as possible, then who is going to be the blocking TE? DUSTIN KELLER? Right now their back-up TEs are all undrafted Rookies; KEVIN BROCK, J’NATHAN BULLOCK, JACK SIMMONS. Wait... I forgot JAMES DEARTH, their long-snapper.

CHARGERS CAMP Without question the big news at this Camp is the presence of SHAWNE MERRIMAN running around the practice field. He looks strong and quick, and has an infectious attitude of enthusiasm. His return should mean the rebirth of the CHARGERS D as a high QB pressure producing unit. With a mature PHILLIP RIVERS and his multiple weapons healthy in LT, GATES, SPROLES, CHAMBERS, etc. the O is ready to roll especially if the D provides them with good field position.

49‘ERS CAMP The big bad news is that the team is getting ready to proceed through Camp without Rookie WR MCHAEL CRABTREE. He and his agent don’t seem to be able to deal with the concept of a contract commensurate with his Pick No. 10 slotting. The good news is that ALEX SMITH is looking good coming off of shoulder surgery (again). At the least, having a true QB competition between SMITH & HILL will be a healthy development for the team.

BENGALS CAMP Is it a surprise to anyone that the team seems unlikely to sign ANDRE SMITH/OT anytime soon? This is an annual ritual in the BENGAL-land. In fact, I know a group of guys in the Cincy area who have a pool every year to see if anyone can name a Draft Choice who will sign later than the BENGALS first choice. Any of you guys have CRABTREE? In most years no money changes hands. CARSON PALMER looks and feels good so far coming off his latest injury. Though both might be past their prime , did you realize that OCHOCINCO & COLES are one of the leading active pass receiving combos in the League, with 1243 combined career catches. The loss of REGGIE KELLY/TE for the season is a big loss for the BENGALS running game.

SEA HAWKS CAMP For a team hoping to build their O around a strong running game the bad news is that JUSTIN FORSETT has been the most impressive RB in early Camp. He is a change-of-pace back at the NFL level, at 5’8”, 195 lbs. He cannot be their feature back. So far MATT HASSELBECK looks healthy and able to make all the throws. But let’s see how that back is holding up after a few pre-season games.

BUCCANEERS CAMP The bad news early on is that no one seems to be separating themselves from the pack in the team’s QB competition. If that trend continues then should they throw FREEMAN to the wolves and start him right away? They do have a good OL and a strong stable of RB in WARD, CADILLAC WILLIAMS, and GRAHAM. That and he addition of WINSLOW at TE might make this a good ball-control team for a Rookie QB to work in.

CARDINALS CAMP Right now the Offense looks to be whole with BOLDIN reporting to Camp without his desired contract extension. Then again an ankle ding to BEANIE WELLS only raises the oft-injured concerns about him. The team is expecting big things from second-year man CALAIS CAMPBELL/DE. He is a MERRIMAN-type athlete who needs to amp up the effort and intensity on the grass. The team seems intent on increasing the 3-4 scheme sets, but it looks debatable right now as to whether their overall personnel is suited to the change. This is the big challenge for new D Coordinator BILL DAVIS in this Camp.

COLTS CAMP Life without MARVIN has begun. So far, on the surface of it things look fine with WAYNE, CLARK & GONZALEZ and their chemistry with MR. PEYTON. But a couple of guys have to step up as back-up options. The smart thinking is that DONALD BROWN(R) will make a strong push to steal lots of carries from ADDAI by the time the regular season arrives. There appears to be a serious attempt to beef-up the interior DL for new Coordinator LARRY COYER. New guys in the mix are FILI MOALA (305), TERRENCE TAYLOR (315) & re-signee EDDIE JOHNSON (295). There is also the expectation that the COLTS may ramp up the blitz calls this season.

BROWNS CAMP The MANGINI regime is off and running. The highlight of this Camp is the QB competition between BRADY & ANDERSON. But another interesting project will be to see how successful new D Coordinator ROB RYAN is in developing ways to amp up their anemic pass-rush. Finding ways to utilize the talents of VEIKUNE(R) and WIMBLEY could be critical to RYAN in this effort.

JAGUARS CAMP It sure seems that there are more questions in this Camp, than answers. The current roster appears seriously short on talent. The holdout of OT/MONROE(R) as their top Pick and projected starter is not helping at all. Unless DEL RIO finds some hidden gems and motivates the team beyond its apparent talent level, I would suspect his run in JAX will be over at the end of the 2009 season. TORRY HOLT is going to have to be part tutor/part Coach with the young, generally unproven talent surrounding him at the WR position.

COWBOYS CAMP The new ROMO-friendly offensive era has begun in BIG D. Most of us are assuming that the primary component of that concept is centered about running the ball as often as possible with BARBER/JONES/CHOICE. We’ll soon see when the pre-season games begin. Despite much grumbling about ROMO from some die-hard COWBOYS fans I would point out that the team now has one of the best overall QB trios in the NFL. KITNA at this stage of his career is a solid back-up who can still play, but is willing to accept the back-up role. Rookie STEVEN McGEE is a player with solid NFL potential, and the athleticism to be an exciting Spread Package QB. I’ll be curious to see if JASON GARRETT will put in a Spread option package this year.

RAIDERS CAMP After a mediocre off-season (highlighted by a poor DRAFT) this RAIDERS Camp has a different, perhaps positive, feel to it. AL DAVIS has not been running around signing every VFA available at inflated costs. In fact, he dispatched disgruntled DERRICK BURGESS/DE to the PATS for a future Draft Pick. Even though the undermanned DL will miss BURGESS, and his overall talent, the move will not be a huge difference maker to the team’s overall defensive performance. I will be impressed (and shocked) if the team signs some roster cuts of younger players from around the League as September approaches.

By mid-week I will have some PACKERS CAMP opinions for you in the PACKERS STUFF segment. With the rain-out of PACKERS Family Night, I guess a trip to PACKERS Practice is in order this coming week.

8/04/2009

STEELERS CAMP It must seem more than a little strange to be conducting Camp in Latrobe, PA without the presence of DAN ROONEY walking the fields and corridors of the practice facility. For the first time since the decade of the Great Depression he is not observing a STEELERS Training Camp in person. He is just a wee-bit busy over the Atlantic with his new job as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

PANTHERS CAMP It took less than a week for the first major setback for the PANTHERS. MAAKE KEMOEATU/DT is down and out with an Achilles injury. Nothing official yet, but that usually means the end of the season for a player. Players with his combo of size (345 lbs) and athleticism are almost impossible to replace. His absence now makes the overall PANTHERS DL an undersized bunch. Bad blow for a Play-Off contender with very little veteran depth on the roster.

SAINTS CAMP There is no question about the SAINTS being able to score on people, but their Defense has been suspect at best the past few years. GREGG WILLIAMS was brought in as their new Coordinator and the Secondary could feature 3 new starters when/if No. 1 Pick MICHAEL JENKINS gets signed. But a big blow was dealt by the League Office on Monday, when it was confirmed that both WILL SMITH and CHARLES GRANT (starting DEs) will be suspended for 4 games for violation of the banned substance policy. That magic mojo from the 2007 season seems to be lost somewhere in the Bayou.

VIKINGS CAMP Not a good week for BRAD CHILDRESS when it comes to QBs. First he gets jilted by Diva Favre, then TARVARIS JACKSON goes down with a knee-tweak in the first few days of practice. The good news is that it gives off-season acquisition SAGE ROSENFELS the chance to get extra reps, but if this injury lingers they may start looking at MICHAEL VICK.
On the bright side, ADRIAN PETERSON reported to Camp at his usual playing weight of about 220 lbs. He had talked about adding 10+lbs. to aid his durability. The VIKES Coaches were concerned about a loss of speed and/or quickness with added poundage.

DOLPHINS CAMP Did you ever throw a party and everybody came. Evidently CHAD PENNINGTON did. He hosted a BBQ at his place in Miami for his entire team, and everybody showed up, including THE TUNA, who likes his red meat. Don’t downplay this show of team unity; something special is brewing in a revitalized DOLPHINS organization. Did you realize that THE CHAD enters 2009 as the only active, 2 time NFL Comeback PLayer of the Year? A name for you to watch in Miami during Camp: ANTHONY ARMSTRONG/WR/RS.

REDSKINS CAMP ALBERT HAYNESWORTH is off to a fast start as a team cheerleader in the first week of Camp. He is a happy man with his big payday, and likes how he has been treated as a new REDSKIN. Did you know he almost became a BUCCANEER? Word is they actually offered him more money to head to Tampa, but he did not like the talk of a rebuilding process in Tampa. BRIAN ORAKPO continues to take more snaps at OLB than DE. The recent addition of JEREMY JARMON/DE in the Supplemental Draft may make it more likely ORAKPO can spend most of his time at LB. JARMON is a bigger option, with pass rush tools, for that DE slot.

BRONCOS CAMP I just keep getting the feeing that this is going to be a strange season in Denver under the new McDANIELS regime. Despite protests to the contrary this has to be considered a rebuilding year, especially after the departure of JAY CUTLER. If KNOWSHON MORENO sings soon there will be 22 Rookies on the team’s 80-man roster. There are another 20 vets, who are also new to the BRONCOS roster. That’s a turnover of over 50% of their roster. That my friends is rebuilding, by any other name! But on the other hand it is not a complete youth movement. Here is the potential starting Secondary: CHAMP BAILEY (31), ANDRE GOODMAN (31), RENALDO HILL (31), BRIAN DAWKINS (35). That could be the oldest unit since GEORGE ALLEN left the League.

TEXANS CAMP The bold talk is that this team is ready to move past 8-8 and be a serious Play-Off contender. One of the major proponents of that theory is QB/MATT SCHAUB, who when healthy has played like an upper echelon QB since coming to Houston. But he has missed 10 of 32 games during his two years with the TEXANS. His 2008 passer rating of 92.7 placed him 7th in the League. A big plus in Houston could be the “new” STEVE SLATON who came to Camp at 215 lbs. compared to the 200 lbs. he played at last year. During Week One of Camp he does not appear to have lost any speed or quickness. Add to that the fact that this is his second year running behind a man-blocking scheme (as opposed to zone in college) and he could be close to becoming a premier RB in the NFL. Watch his pre-season carefully Fantasy Fans.

TITANS CAMP LENDALE WHITE has shown up in Camp minus about 25-30 lbs of ‘excess weight’ as far as the Caching Staff is concerned. Be careful what you wish for with WHITE though. His value is as a slashing, but powerful inside runner. CHRIS JOHNSON is the game-breaking outside running threat. We’ll see what the net results are of a more svelte WHITE, but the most interesting point for right now is how he claims he accomplished the weight-loss. He attributes it to a serious cutback this off-season on his alcohol consumption, particularly tequila. I’ll bet he’s not hanging with Captain Morgan much anymore either.

PATRIOTS CAMP After serious speculation, and intrigue, it looks like the PATS were not particularly interested in MICHAEL VICK after all. The signing of RAIDERS castoff QB ANDREW WALTER gives the team the veteran back-up they were perceived to need, while highly regarded KEVIN O’CONNELL serves his apprenticeship. The 27-year old, sometime starter in Oakland, should be a nice addition as he enters his fourth year in the League. If LAWRENCE MARONEY is finally healthy again the PATS have a serious overload of talent at the RB position. MARONEY/FRED TAYLOR/SAMMY MORRIS/KEVIN FAULK/BenJarvus GREEN-ELLIS put the team in a position to listen to phone calls from other teams’ GMs looking for help at RB. Just the kind of scenario that BELICHICK would be glad to parlay into an extra Draft Pick or two for 2010.

GIANTS CAMP The last team to open Camp this year already has a big piece of good news. ANTONIO PIRCE has avoided indictment by a NYC Grand Jury in the PLAXICO shooting fiasco. They are also quite vocal as an organization about their satisfaction with the WR corps currently on the roster. But obviously, someone has to step up and become ELI’s go-to guy. The group is young and talented, but SMITH/HIXON/MOSS/MANNINGHAM/TYREE caught a combined 116 passes from ELI last year. A lot may be asked of Rookies NICKS & BARDEN, sooner rather than later.

RAVENS CAMP A huge sigh of relief went up from NEWSOME and HARBAUGH, when DERRICK MASON decided to un-retire and report to Camp. Word is he was despondent over the death of former teammate and friend STEVE McNAIR when he announced his retirement. Early reports are that the main man to watch this Summer will be RAY RICE/RB. He came to Camp a little bigger, and a lot more savvy than at any time during is Rookie campaign. MICHAEL OHER looks like the real deal during the early going also. For every Rookie mistake, he has two positive plays during practice. With time the combo of OHER & GAITHER at OT, could be just as imposing as OGDEN & ‘ZEUS’ BROWN some years ago.

BEARS CAMP It would appear that a no-harm, no-foul atmosphere prevails in Bourbonnais between ORTON and URLACHER. BRIAN is vehemently denying derogatory comments attributed to him by former BEAR BOBBY WADE, regarding CUTLER. Great quote from TOM WADDLE regarding the lack of love between defensive and offensive teammates sometimes. He recalls a comment from DAN HAMPTON regarding his QB teammate JIM McMAHON, whom he did not care for personally, during DA BEARS Super Bowl run in the mid-90’s. WADDLE recalls HAMPTON, in reference to McMAHON, saying... ‘We have a limousine of a team, with a monkey driving!’. On a bad note CB/CHARLES TILLMAN needing more surgery is not a good thing for a secondary that had more than its share of ‘missed starts’ in 2008.

BILS CAMP Not surprisingly most BILLS fans attending Camp have an early crush on T.O. I think it s a two-tiered love affair. There is of course the hope that his talent on the field will lift the BILLS Offense to new heights. I think it also due to the reality that not too many ‘name stars’ sign on to come to Buffalo these days. When I watch video-bites of QB TRENT EDWARDS he reminds me a lot of AARON RODGERS with his calm, affable, professional approach to all things football. A talented, calm, young head is not a bad thing to have as your franchise’s starting QB. He appears to fit that mold.

EAGLES CAMP Things have gotten off to a bad start for the EAGLES so far. The death of JIM JOHNSON has created a large hole to fill both emotionally and strategically for this team. Guys like JOHNSON just don’t come along all that often. It would be another major blow on the field of play if indeed MLB/STEWART BRADLEY’s knee injury is season ending. The best news so far is probably getting JEREMY MACLIN signed and into team Camp less than a week after showing up in Bethlehem.

RAMS CAMP The pads are cracking already as new Head Coach STEVE “SPAGS” SPAGNUOLO introduces a new more physical and disciplined brand of football to this team. Last time I looked there were over 30 new players on the 80-man roster, and the changes should come daily during the second half of August. Their Offense will be a far cry from the “Air-Martz” teams from earlier this decade. Watch for additions like JASON SMITH(R/OT), JASON BROWN(C), MIKE KARNEY(FB), BILLY BAJEMA(TE) to bring a distinctively more aggressive, physical style to the Offense. It was telling to see SPAGS go out and sign former SAINTS DT/HOLLIS THOMAS just as Camp opened. He is 35-years old, and has been injured several times in recent seasons, but he brings 335 lbs. of toughness and experience to a previously young and lightweight DL.

I’ll be back in a few days to bring you more tidbits from around the League’s Training Camps.

7/29/2009 The news story of the week in professional football might be the conditional reinstatement of MICHAEL VICK to the world of the NFL by Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. Now that GOODELL has done the right thing in clearing the way for VICK to attempt to resurrect his career, where does VICK end up. It is clear that VICK is under a microscope right now, but he is free to sign with any team he can cut a deal with. When exactly he will be allowed to play in the regular season lies somewhere between Week One and Six. He has been assigned a Personal Guardian Angel: TONY DUNGY. But the question remains as to where he might fit best, and which franchise is willing to roll the dice and deal with negative publicity for signing the repentant felon.
The more pertinent questions, from a football perspective, would be; what is his current skill level, and what is his long range potential as he returns from a two season absence at age 29? His body should be ale to recover from the absence with a regular training regimen, under the supervision of an NFL training staff. But let’s be real and state that 2009 will be a year of re-adjustment both physically and mentally for him as he attempts to regain the QB skill level of NFL football. And he is likely to be a limited time role-player for his new team this year. If you sign MIKE VICK the real view has to be what he means to your team in 2010. In fact, its too bad the team that signs him can’t designate him for assignment to the United Football League this fall, so he can play every down and regain his feel for the game.
Let’s also be real about what a team is getting in MIKE VICK. Despite all the hoopla and hype before his disappearance from the League, his career numbers are pretty mediocre. His career Passer Rating in the League is 75.7. That number would have made him the 28th ranked QB in 2008 behind such legends as SENECA WALLACE, TYLER THIGPEN, KYLE ORTON, etc.. He has thrown for 71 TD passes and 52 INT. His career completion percentage is 53.8. I think you get the picture here. We are not really talking about a guy with premier QB numbers to date in his NFL career.
But he has been an exciting player because of his escapability in the pocket and pure running ability, highlighted by breakaway speed and marvelous change of direction skills. He has rushed for 3,859 yards in his NFL career at a 7.3 ypc clip. I believe this skill plays well to the changing offenses in the pro game, as the League’s coaching staffs try to figure out what the pro version of the collegiate Spread Offense is going to look like. Do not kid yourself, the Spread Offense issue is not going away! The Spread works superbly for the College Game, and the NFL is going to have to design schemes for guys like TEBOW, VINCE YOUNG, PAT WHITE, etc. that allow these players to be more than gimmicky ‘Wildcat’ role players. VICK could be some team’s Spread offensive option in 2010.
So let’s make a quantum leap of faith, and assume you can buy into most of what I have said in the previous 4 paragraphs. The big question then becomes: Who should/could make the most sense out of signing MIKE VICK in the next few weeks. Here are a quick half-dozen that make the most sense from my perspective.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS DAN SNYDER is a young hybrid of AL DAVIS/JERRY JONES. He likes flash, is willing to send money, and wants to win every year. His team is probably the weakest in the NFC East this year. VICK costs him nothing but money, and not a whole lot of that, probably. The team seems to not be in love with JASON CAMPBELL. There would be some uproar in D.C. over the felon issue, but it would fade out quickly. However, the location might be too close to VICKS’ ‘hood for comfort for GOODELL and DUNGY.

CAROLINA PANTHERS From a pure roster standpoint this one makes great sense. JAKE DELHOMME (34) had a huge meltdown in the PANTHERS Play-Off loss last year, and doesn’t appear to be a long term answer. He was the League’s 18th ranked QB last year based on Passer Rating. Behind him on the roster right now: HUNTER CANTWELL, MATT MOORE, JOSH McCOWN. ‘Nuf said about the need for a quality back-up QB?! It might also be presumed that the outrage in this region of the country over a convicted ‘dog-fighter’ might not be as strong as some other places. On the other side of the coin, this franchise has not been big on risk taking over the years. They are also in some tight financial times, although one would think it is not going to take a huge amount of guaranteed $ to sign a guy on ‘double-secret-probation’.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS A small market team, with troubles selling out its games, might have a hard time not thinking about this option. It you are going to have a losing record, better to be dynamic than boring, in doing so. Once again, let’s look at the backup QB situation: TODD BOECKMAN (R), TODD BOUMAN (37), PAUL SMITH. Even starter DAVID GARRARD is far from a Franchise QB, after his 20th ranked Passer Rating performance in 2008. Once again I doubt if the animal rights folks are going to boycott the organization if they bring VICK to town. The JAGS Offensive plan is to use roll-outs and bootlegs to good effect this season. That sounds like a potentially good atmosphere for VICK to compete in.

HOUSTON TEXANS Owner BOB McNAIR is not a rebel, but he is a risk taker if it helps his team win. MATT SHCAUB has not shown the ability to stay healthy for 16 games since coming to town. With DAN ORLOVSKY and REX GROSSMAN in place as the back-ups on the current roster, there seems no reason to believe VICK might not be a potential upgrade to the QB position overall. This is another city where I don’t see the ‘Rootin’-Tootin’ Texas fans canceling ticket orders over a dog-fighting felon, who has served his time.

Some places where I do not see much interest, even though the average fan might think of them based on Ownership track records:

DALLAS COWBOYS JERRY has one of the best balanced QB situations in the NFL right now. I think he knows he has other positions to shore up (like WR) if he is going to make a veteran/name move during Training Camp this summer.

OAKLAND RAIDERS Likewise, DARTH DAVIS already has lots on his plate at QB in trying to balance the development of JaMARCUS RUSSELL with the win-now potential of JEFF GARCIA, at age 39. Plus, methinks the League would be very concerned about dropping VICK into the chaos that seems to be the silver-and-black-hole that is the RAIDERS organization.

ST. LOUIS RAMS Goodness knows that this is a franchise that could use any new talent it can find to add to the roster. But GEORGIA’s kids are trying to sell the team, and any negative publicity is not what they need right now. I also think new COACH SPAGNUOLO is trying to rebuild his roster and locker room into a tougher, more cohesive mode. VICK and his high pub situation would most likely be a distraction. Low profile, and hard work is the rebuilding scheme in St. Louis. Even though VICK might help a questionable roster position (BULGER, BERLIN, BOLLER, NULL) with his athleticism, I don’t think this team has a whole lot of interest.

Those are my takes on teams that should/could be interested in MIKE VICK. Now the way things go in the NFL, watch someone come from out of nowhere and add him to their mix. Is that BILL BELICHICK in the sunglasses, and hoody down in Virginia instead of Nw England?

GOODELL & VICK DUNGY MIKE WARMS UP

I am only going to pause for a brief second here to mention BRETT FAVRE. For the moment it appears he is not prepared to head to VIKINGS Training Camp. But I have no doubt that his name will resurface again in a month or two once the season is under way... if not sooner. But for now I am listing him as an ex-Football player and moving on to cover the active players and teams of the NFL.

July 14, 2009 It appears I might have to revise my Power Rankings and move the COWBOYS into a Top 3 position. How can I not see them as the NFC’s best team?! Ego-guy T.O. is now in Buffalo and ROY WILLIAMS can assert himself as a premier WR in the League. And now, we have TONY ROMO ending his relationship with JESSICA SIMPSON (the ultimate distraction). So one can only assume that ROMO will be the NFL’s top ranked passer, or darn close to it, at the end of the 2009 season. That certainly seems to have been the majority opinion in BIG D over the last three seasons. Lots of luck folks. The ‘BOYS aren’t going back to a Super Bowl until JERRY JONES turns this team over to some solid football people for day to day management. I don’t doubt for a minute that in a couple of seasons the DOLPHINS, with all those ex-COWBOYS running the show (PARCELLS, IRELAND & SPARANO) will be a more viable threat to win some Play-Off games than the COWBOYS.

ROMO/JESSICA MASON 100 CATCHES?

THIS YEAR IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY LIKE A HUGE TRANSITION YEAR IN THE NFL WORLD AT THE WR POSITION. Some teams expected to compete for Play-Off positions need to have some young, as yet unproven receivers step up, or face some serious offensive challenges. Let me give you a couple of examples.
The first headline I saw this morning checking NFL.com was that RAVENS WR DERRICK MASON has announced his retirement. Many folks thought the RAVENS made a mistake in not drafting or signing a significant new WR to bring to Training Camp to help JOE FLACCO develop. Even though MASON was 34-years old, and fought a shoulder injury half of the season, he still led the team in catches with 80, for over 1,000-yards last season. The returning RAVENS WR group (as of this morning) of CLAYTON, WILLIAMS, FIGURS, SMITH & WHEELWRIGHT, caught 56 balls in 2008. O-Coordinator CAM CAMERON better find a way to work his TE corps into the mix big time, because HEAP & L.J. SMITH caught a combined 72 passes last year. This team may have to run the ball over 600 times this season.
We have already discussed issues with DA BEARS & JETS WR corps on these pages, but how about a quick look at the afore-mentioned COWBOYS and their receiving situation. With T.O. gone, and counting all 2008 catches by ROY WILLIAMS (LIONS/‘BOYS), the current vets listed on the roster totaled 90 catches in 2008. And I do no expect their only Drafted Rookie, MANUEL JOHNSON/Oklahoma/R7, to be a big contributor as a receiver this year. JASON WITTEN may have to catch 100+ balls, and BARBER/JONES/CHOICE had also be ready to split up 500+ rushes this year. I guess the ROMO-friendly Offense will indeed feature a much heavier dose of the running game than in recent seasons.

For much of this decade I have been hearing about how hard it is for Rookie WRs to make an immediate impact in the League. That principle will be put to the test in many NFL cities this year also. There are another half-dozen teams who are counting on some healthy contributions from their Rookie WRs.
If RAIDERS QB JAMARCUS RUSSELL is to show some positive growth his year, then the team is going to need some significant contributions from their two WR Draftee; HEYWARD-BEY & LOUIS MURPHY. Their veteran/returning WRs caught 52 balls last season. In fact, JOHNNIE LEE HIGGINS was their leading catcher at the WR position with 22 receptions in ’08. Now that is downright scary!
And how about the rebuilding BROWNS team? How can you assess their starting QB candidates when their returning WR corps caught a grand total of 93 balls, and 17 of those belong to STALLWORTH, who is on indefinite League suspension. Oh yeah, they also traded away WINSLOW who had 43 catches from the TE slot. This team will be counting on some rapid development from Draftees ROBISKIE and MASSAQUOI.
You gotta think that if BRANDON MARSHALL/BRONCOS and ANQUAN BOLDIN/CARDS are so unhappy with their respective teams that “irreconcilable differences” divorces are unavoidable, then both teams should be able to get a king’s ransom in return in trades to contending teams in need of proven vets. VFA like MARVIN HARRISON, AMANI TOOMER and MATT JONES could also be in the driver’s seat for new teams if they are patient. The Transactions Wires could look pretty busy a couple of weeks into Training Camps, especially relative to WRS. There are teams like the PACKERS & BILLS who have 4th & 5th WRs who have been more productive pros than No. 2’s on some of these needy teams.

A quick overall observation for you FANTASY LEAGUE folks out there; Draft early on TEs (like WITTEN) and QBs who do have strong receiving corps to play catch with.

6/23/2009 We are just about into the dead-zone of the NFL season, once the TITANS conclude the last scheduled mini-camp/OTA sessions this week. After this week there won’t be much going on besides Rookie signings and a few veteran pick-ups (and deletions). Even though it varies by organizations, the month prior to Camps opening traditionally provides some off-time for NFL Coaches and execs.
By taking a little license with the NFL Last Week heading, I would like to take a little space right now to cover an area I have gotten good feedback from friends of PPP on over the past couple of years. I’d like to make you hardcore fans aware of some of the significant career stat record chasing going on this season by NFL vets.
Future Hall-of-Famers like RANDY MOSS, T. O., L. T., ISAAC BRUCE, and more are climbing the career lists and moving into some rarified air statistically. So let’s discuss some of these stars and the records they are closing in on.

ISAAC BRUCE/WR 49‘ers
BRUCE enters his 16th year in the NFL with two important jobs for 2009. He is being counted on to mentor MICHAEL CRABTREE and will be looking to etch his name deeper into the NFL record book. BRUCE has 1003 career pass receptions (5th all-time) for 14, 944 yards (2nd all-time). There is no way he ever threatens JERRY RICE for first in either category, but he is 92 catches away from passing TIM BROWN on the receptions list. If he could get into the end zone 9 times this year he would hit the magic 100 TD mark, making him only the 9th WR to do so.

RANDY MOSS/WR/PATRIOTS
MOSS enters ’09 with a chance to move up the statistical charts big time, based on the anticipated healthy return of one TOM BRADY. MOSS shared in a record breaking season back in 2007 wen he debuted in New England as TOM TERRIFIC’s deep threat. He had a solid 2008 campaign, but there were not many deep throw opportunities with CASSEL. MOSS, at 32-years old, already ranks 6th in TDs with 136; 15th with 843 catches; 9th in receiving yards with 13, 201. With 1, 000 receiving yards this season he would move past JAMES LOFTON into 6th place. He is also within range of moving up into the Top 5 in TDs, but that gets complicated because two players ahead of him are still piling up more numbers of their own. At this time it certainly appears that unless MOSS gets bored with football, BRADY gets hurt again, or MOSS is injured significantly after another 3 years in the League he is going to be Top 3 in all these major categories.

TERELL OWENS/WR/BILLS
If his off-field antics and big mouth didn’t divert attention away from his receiving ability so much, folks might realize that he is likely to end up in the Top 5 in every major receiving category if he plays another couple of seasons. T.O. heads into the season with his 4th NFL team ranked 4th (t) with 141 career TDs; 6th in catches with 951; 5th all-time with 14,122 receiving yards. Yes he drops too many balls and talks way too much, but he is big, athletic receiver who is a warrior on the field. He has the body of a player 10 years younger than his actual age of 36. Too bad he displays the mind of an adolescent so often. Despite his growing numbers he is under-appreciated for his performance on the field, because of his antics off it.

PEYTON MANNING/QB/COLTS
2008 was a marking time/put up the usual numbers year for MR. PEYTON. After doing so, he is now poised to move past a few folks on the passing record tree this season. He opens 2009 as the 4th ranked TD thrower ever with 333, only 9 behind FRAN TARKENTON. MARINO, at 420, looks to be about three or four years away. MANNING now ranks 7th in total passing yards with 45, 628. If he gets just the minimal 3, 000 yards this year he moves into 5th place in that category leaping over TESTEVERDE and TARKENTON. If he duplicates last season’s 4,002 yards he jumps another notch, past WARREN MOON. He ranks 6th all-time in completions with 3, 839. With a seemingly modest 300 completions in ’09 he would move past ELWAY into 3rd place. MR. PEYTON loves football (maybe “lives” football would be more apt) and at 33-years old, one would anticipate another 5-6 seasons for his career, all things being equal. BRETT FAVRE’s numbers look pretty intimidating at first glance, but at his current pace PEYTON is going to be challenging some of those numbers, assuming FAVE does retire one of these years (don’t bet on it).

LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON/RB/CHARGERS
TOMLINSON had been shooting up the stat charts until injuries plagued him late in 2007 and most of 2008. So a major question going into 2009 is whether he has hit a speed bump or a brick wall in his career as a RB. Reports this off-season are good and tend to indicate that even though his days of leading the League in touches are over, he will still rush for over 1, 000 yards and score a dozen plus TDs. Even though he just turned 30-years old he has a lot of miles on the tires from 8 NFL seasons. He has scored 141 career TDs and is tied with T.O. for 4th place. He needs just 4 TDs to move past MARCUS ALLEN. He has rushed for 11, 760 yards and if he posts a 1, 000-yard rushing season (only 63 yds per game) he moves past TONY DORSETT into 7th place all-time. This is assuming that The EDGE is at best a part-time player somewhere. Based on the events over the past two seasons it is looking like EMMITT SMITH’s spots at the top of the TD and Rushing Yard charts are safe. But with another 3 productive seasons L.T. may be pushing into Top 3 territory on all fronts.

MARVIN HARRISON/WR/ex-COLTS
If the status of L.T. is a question mark, then the 2009 potential of HARRISON is an enigma. He was cast adrift by the COLTS because they could not reach terms an a reduced salary contract with he and his agent. This has become a regular scenario with prideful vets, who feel they are owed for their long term production, ending up at-odds with franchises who can’t rationalize having 37-year old, dinged up players taking up huge chunks of Cap Space. HARRISON currently ranks way up on major statistical lists; 9th in career TDs with 128; 2nd in career catches with 1,102; 4th in receiving yards with 14, 580. If he finds a place to play this season he has a chance to hold off some of the guys chasing his numbers, as well as move up a couple of slots on the TD and Yardage lists. It’s not as if the League thinks HARRISON is washed-up. He still caught 60 balls last year while coming back for a knee injury. It’s really up to HARRISON whether he wants to play any longer for a couple-million a year instead of $6+-million. It’s just too bad that his pride forced the COLTS’ hand in the matter.

Six more guys to watch casually if you are really into the career stats.

JASON ELAM/K/FALCONS ELAM has 1, 915 points for his career. He’s 39, but still has a fairly strong, and accurate leg. He plays on an up-and-coming team with an Offense that moves the ball with MATT RYAN, MICHAEL TURNER, RODDY WHITE & TONY GONZALEZ. He had 129 points last season, and with 85+ in ’09 he moves into the Top 3 scoring category past GEORGE BLANDA.

TONY GONZALEZ/TE/FALCONS Let’s stay in Hot ‘Lanta for a minute and check out the career numbers of MATT RYAN’s new best friend. After a huge 2008 season TONY has all the NFL TE receiving records. He’s now moving in on some of the top WRs statistically. With 916 catches he is 9th all-time. With just 50 catches (he had 96 in K.C. in ’08) he passes MONK and REED. He also could move up a bit in receiving yards as well.

TORRY HOLT/WR/JAGS At 33-years old and very fit, he becomes the best receiver in Jacksonville the day the ’09 season begins. He had 64 catches for a bad RAMS team last year. The JAGS aren’t a Play-Off team, but they are better than the RAMS.
He is 11th in career receptions and 14th in yardage already. Another productive 3 seasons will put him into elite company, as if he’s not there already.

JASON TAYLOR/DE/DOLPHINS After a lost season somewhere around D.C. TAYLOR returns to Miami with a chance to help the improving DOLPHINS keep the heat on opposing QBs. Even though he’s 35-years old when the season starts, he is still in excellent football shape. It also appears that he would rather play football again than dance. He is 8 sacks shy of moving past the original L.T. and LESLIE O’NEAL, into 8th place all-time.

EDGERRIN JAMES/RB/? If he winds up somewhere as a role player he can pad some pretty impressive career stats. He has 12, 121 rushing yards for his career and is less than 200 shy of passing THE JIM BROWN. His 91 TDs tie him for 25th overall and only 5 behind ERIC DICKERSON.

BRETT FAVRE/QB/VIKINGS Besides sticking it to TED THOMPSON, FAVRE also would not mind padding his numbers to hold off MR. PEYTON.

This stat chasing, though interesting, can get quite boorish during the heat of the real season. How about if I give you an update on these goings on at about mid-season?!

5/09/2009 Under the category of Recurring Themes lets talk again for just a few moments about the price to pay for massive Coaching and Scheme changes on a football team. For today’s case in point let’s head to Kansas City and talk about some of the goings on with the CHIEFS under the new regime of SCOTT PIOLI. As expected, there have been major changes in the organization since his arrival in town, with most of them geared toward setting up the CHIEFS to function in a manner closely resembling things in the PATRIOTS kingdom. That makes sense because it plays into PIOLI’s professional comfort zone, and lets face it the PATRIOTS model has been a lot more successful this decade than that of the CHIEFS.
However, one of the Catch 22’s to all the change is the serous side effects that ripple through the organization and the player roster. One of the major coaching changes has brought Head Coach TODD HALEY’s CARDS compatriot and coaching friend CLANCY PENDERGAST to run the CHIEFS Defense. Part of the package when you combine PIOLI and PENDERGAST is another team that will be switching to a 3-4 scheme as its primary defensive alignment.
With that change we may see another case of square pegs in round holes from a personnel perspective. And these will be important, talented, and expensive pegs who have just found it harder to fit into the changing holes on their team. Under the regime of CARL PETERSON the chiefs spent a lot of money and valuable Draft Picks on their D-Line. A line that under PETERSON and HERM EDWARDS relied on a 4-3 scheme. So now the question becomes how will all these DL fit into a 3-4 alignment.
Let’s go back to the 2006 DRAFT and move forward highlighting Top 100 Draft Choices each year by the CHIEFS along he DL, who must now fit into a 3-4 scheme.
’06/R1/PICK 20 TAMBA HALI/DE/6’3/275 A speed pass-rusher who probably has to move to OLB. His skill set and size are
not conducive to the 3-4 as a DE.
’07/R2/PICK 54 TURK McBRIDE/E/T/6’2/278 A reach at the time he has yet to find a starting job, and that seems even less
likely to happen in a 3-4 scheme; again because of size and playing style.
’07/R3/PICK 82 TANK TYLER/DT/6’2/306 TANK should be fine alternating at NT with RON EDWARDS.
’08/R1/PICK 5 GLENN DORSEY/DT/6’1/297 The SAPP-clone is being listed at DE on their current roster, but I have
serious doubts. For a short guy who plays with speed and shoots the gaps a 3-4 scheme does not play to his strengths.

And now to compound the situation let’s take a peek at the 2009 DRAFT for the CHIEFS. One of the major reaches in this past DRAFT was the CHIEFS selection of TYSON JACKSON with the Third Overall Selection of the entire weekend. And why did they reach at least a half-round too high for TYSON? Because he was the best 3-4 DE in the DRAFT, and they needed such a player to make the defensive transition. He is a solid mid-late-First Round selection, but he is not the next coming of RICHARD SEYMOUR, SCOTT.

JACKSON KC SCOTT PIOLI SEYMOUR N.E.

This entire situation strikes me as a poor decision by SCOTT PIOLI to immediately switch their primary Defensive Scheme. They are forcing the issue, and banging square pegs into round holes in an attempt to duplicate what worked in New England during the BELICHICK/PIOLI regime. This will be a costly approach to things and one can only hope for the sake of loyal CHIEFS fans that he won’t force too many more changes on the organization prematurely. Transition requires patience, caution and a game plan. Forcing things down peoples‘ throats usually causes gagging, if not outright choking.
Slow down SCOTT. Your first moves of hiring TODD HALEY, and trading for MATT CASSEL/QB and MIKE VRABEL/LB, were sound and logical. Some of the detail since then has been highly suspect. Wielding a big hammer to pound square pegs into round holes is not your best option.

Square Pegs In Round Holes in KC But not on POLIAN’S watch in Indy

It was a relatively minor sequence of events on the Transaction Wire, but once again it points out the subtle genius, and calculating/visionary mind of COLTS GM BILL POLIAN.
I was a bit surprised when the COLTS exercised a Seventh Round Draft Choice (No. 222) on PATRICK McAFEE/P/K/West Virginia. He is a versatile guy who has a strong leg and can kick -off deep, which is something POLIAN has always valued as a means to improve his teams’ field position. But I figured he could go the RFA route, just to bring such a guy to Training Camp this July. So why the use of a Draft Choice on McAFEE?
There was more to it than I surmised, and if you watched the Transaction wire this week you might have noticed that the COLTS decided the price to keep incumbent Punter HUNTER SMITH was too high, and allowed him to move on the the REDSKINS. After all, the COLTS are usually very near the bottom of the NFL in number of Punts each season with MR. PEYTON leading the Offense. Looking at the COLTS official roster this morning MR. McAFEE is the only Punter listed. I should have seen that one coming. BILL POLIAN has a plan behind every Draft Pick he uses... as it should be. Watch and learn SCOTT PIOLI and all you other young GMs.

It has been speculated quite loudly since the DRAFT that the next retirement you might hear about is that of ex-COLT MARVIN HARRISON. Between age (37), knee injury concerns and HARRISON’s ego seemingly demanding a hefty contract it seemed highly likely that no one was going to be able to afford the risk and price to add HARRISON to their roster.
Not so fast my friends... late this week we heard from HARRISON’s agent that his knee is now fully healed, and MARVIN has no retirement announcement planned. They will be shopping for a Training Camp home for him. At the right price, with the right team MARVIN could still be a valuable No. 2 or 3 WR looking to make a one year contribution to a Play-Off contending team in need of another proven WR. Stay tuned as July rolls around folks.
By he way I think the same kind of scenario could also play out for another homeless vet WR... AMANI TOOMER.

Speaking of WRs, sort of, it still seems to me that the JETS are in need of some veteran help at that position. That would seem especially true if they see MARK SANCHEZ getting on the field sooner, rather than later. They have plenty of names on the roster listed as WRs right now, but I think there could be serious grounds to question their quality for a Rookie QB to be counting on. I’ll be patient until July rolls around. Then I would expect something to happen to fortify that position.
With this stop to discuss the JETS I want to lay a little love of MIKE TANNENBAUM and his personnel people. Obviously, their DRAFT was concentrated on certain players, at certain positions and once the dust settled they only had 3 players to show for their participation in the 2009 DRAFT. Combine that with the fact that ERIC MANGINI wanted three vets from the JETS roster to complete the SANCHEZ trade and you have a team that has seriously depleted their Depth Charts at multiple positions.
The JETS seem to have done one of the things that I, and others, indicated they needed to do... sign a strong Rookie Free Agent Class. Trusting in my Regardless of Position Prospect List (which may be questionable after the actual DRAFT tore it to shreds) I have the following JETS RFA signees listed as Draftable. The list shows my overall player ranking on the left.
#155 ZACH POTTER/DE/Nebraska
#215 EMANUEL COOK/S/South Carolina
#256 KYLE LINK/OT/McNeese State
#258 BRANNAN SOUTHERLAND/FB/Georgia
#348 CHRIS PIZZOTTI/QB/ Harvard
I also like the signings of JAMAAL WESTERMAN (who should switch from DE to OLB), RYAN McKEE/OT, ANDREW DAVIE/TE/LS, KEITH FITZHUGH/S.
Traditionally the JETS have signed a gaggle of RFAs from regional NorthEast small schools, with more local name recognition value than roster potential. Nice job of changing tactics when some young blood with an actual chance to compete for roster positions was needed.
One more note on the JETS before we leave them. If you were wondering about their final Draftee MATT SLAUSON/OG/Nebraska... he had special appeal to the JETS having been recruited by and coached in college by new JETS OL Coach BILL CALLAHAN.

May 1, ’09
There is actually more going on around the NFL than just the DRAFT these days, although much of what goes on does relate back to what did or did not happen during DRAFT Weekend.

Paranoid PACKER BACKERS are working themselves into a state of apoplectic paralysis with the release of one BRETT FAVRE by the JETS. How many text messages do you think have already made their way to MS from the Twin Cities area, presumably from Mr. CHILDRESS & Mr. BEVELL? BUS is already on the record that FAVRE is retired, but as he gets antsy in another month... well who knows? He may not be able to play right now because he chose not to have surgery on is injured arm after the 2008 season was over. On the other hand if he feels OK come the fall, and the VIKINGS are struggling with JACKSON & ROSENFELS he might think twice about the chance to stick it to WHITEY.

WHITEY FREAKS OUT NOT COMING BACK...RIGHT NOW COULD IT BE?

Now that BRETT RATIFF/QB has been reunited with ERIC MANGIN in Cleveland does that at all portend that if he is looking good in Training Camp the BROWNS might shop either QUINN or ANDERSON and name RATLIFF as the back-up? That’s a bit of a reach but with the MANGINI roster rebuilding program going on does the team really want the potential controversy and cost of two “starting” QBs on their roster. This is after all BRADY QUINN’s third season in town, and if he is no longer thought to be the Franchise QB he was not the personnel mistake of he current administration. The Training Camp trade of wither QUINN or ANDERSON is not as far-fetched of a notion as it might appear at first blush.

Now that the DRAFT is over there is a steady parade of veterans being released by their teams. There are multiple reasons to cut the vets now that each team’s DRAFT Class has been determined. In many instances Salary Cap room must be cleared to create the necessary cap dollars to sign Draftees. In some instances the immediate release will avoid some roster bonuses. With Mini-Camps/OTAs on the horizon most teams are wary of injuries to players they might cut later, and who could end up with a serious injury that makes the teams liable for their 2009 salaries. In a few instances teams are trying to do some vets a favor by letting them shop for a new team before Training Camp rosters are set.
Whatever the specific case may be from situation to situation rest assured you will see some familiar names released every day if you follow Transaction Lists carefully. For every EDGERRIN JAMES release that you hear about on some sports headline or crawl line, there will be another one or two lesser-knowns like HOLLIS THOMAS or JOHN BECK who will hit the waiver wire.

Another phenomenon that takes place every year right after the DRAFT is a rash of UFA signings. There are two primary reasons for this rash of activity. Most teams will work a littler harder to bring back some of their own FAs when they assess what needs they did, and did not, address with their DRAFT selections. On the other side of the coin some vets realize that time, and money are both running out all around the League, and their best financial bet may be to return to their old team before existing offers disappear even from them.

One cut that I saw this week that I thought was a bit surprising was the BENGALS letting RB/CHRIS PERRY go. It would appear the team got tired of the oft-injured PERRY and is willing to go into Training Camp with CEDRIC BENSON being their No.1 guy. That would leave DEDE DORSEY, KENNY WATSON & Rookie BERNARD SCOTT as his back-ups. The backfield sleeper might be RFA signee MARON LUCKY from NEBRASKA.

As of today SOUTHERN CAL is indeed the NFL QB breeding ground champion. With MARK SANCHEZ ringing the bell as a JETS selection, and the LIONS waiving (already) of DREW HENSON, ex-TROJANS now outnumber ex-Wolverines 5-4 on NFL rosters. At the pace PETE CARROLL is turning out NFL players, perhaps the NFL could work something out with PETE to coach an NFL Franchise in Los Angeles and just let the team have territorial rights to all graduating TROJAN players. There has to some formula that can place a team in the LA market and keep it there with some level of local fan interest.

April 4, 2009
Can there be any bigger news than the trade of JAY CUTLER to DA BEARS? That is another of my rhetorical questions. I, and most of the League, am almost aghast at the trade for two reasons: the team that traded for him, and the speed with which he changed addresses once BOWLEN went public with the intent to move CUTLER.
Making this kind of blockbuster trade is not exactly the trademark of JERRY ANGELO’s resume’ as an NFL executive. It reinforces some previous signs over the off-season that there is a distinct sense of urgency to win in Chicago, sooner rather than later. Lovie’s move to take more direct control of DA BEARS’ Defense was our first hint at the pressure to step it up in ’09. The trade day signing of ORLANDO PACE/OT was another hint at the “win-now” emphasis in the Windy City. PACE is certainly not the premier player he was before injures slowed him the past three seasons, but if reasonably healthy he is a needed upgrade along their OL. He was also the best proven vet still left in the OT Free Agency pool.
The addition of CUTLER in my estimation makes DA BEARS the current favorite to capture the NFC North crown this coming season. Their D is still sound; their Special Teams are special; their O should be more balanced with CUTLER loosening secondaries up as a deep passing threat. There is still a need for additional talent at WR, but it is not as if CUTLER will have no weapons to throw to.
GREG OLSEN & DESMOND CLARK are both good receiving TE. RASHIED DAVIS is a dangerous weapon in the slot. If he gets the ball downfield and in the open his elusiveness is electrifying at times. EARL BENNETT was a favorite target for CUTLER in college. RON TURNER has to be hoping their collegiate magic will be rekindled in Chicago. I also think CUTLER’s arm will make DEVIN HESTER a serious home run threat. HESTER can outrun almost all secondaries if someone can throw the ball far enough to reach him streaking downfield. CUTLER can handle the long throws, thank you. If the team drafts a solid possession receiver, or finds one in the VFA market the passing game could equal the threat of MATT FORTE and the running game. That kind of balance would go a long way toward taking some pressure off the Defense.
I was asked by someone how good I really thought CUTLER is at this stage of his career. My response was to ask how many 26 year-old QBs in the NFL you would rather have on your team than CUTLER. For me it is a very short list.
In a poor economy the impact of this trade on the psyche of DA BEARS’ fan base is almost incalculable. The PR momentum from this move will last all the way to Training Camp unless the CUBBIES go undefeated in April. The price for CUTLER was high, but not out of line. Chicago still has 2 Picks in the Top 100, and 8 selections overall in the 2009 DRAFT. And do not forget they inherit a QB with 3 years still left on his contract. That means he is fairly inexpensive and they have time to negotiate an extension if he is indeed a franchise QB. He’s the best signal caller in Chicago since a guy named LUCKMAN finished up his career in 1950.

I’m looking at these pictures and thinking they say a lot. LOVIE has the “cat-who-just-ate-the-canary” look. ANGELO looks like a guy who knows he just became one of the most popular guys in the Windy City. McDANIELS and BOWLEN look just a bit nervous learning to do their 2-step.
I also suggest you head to the BRONCOS website ( www.denverbroncos.com ) and check out the open letter from PAT BOWLEN to BRONCOS fans.

So where does this move leave the BRONCOS? That is a big question, in good part because the guys who will be handling the upcoming DRAFT and other potential VFA signings are all relative newcomers to their roles. JIM GOODMAN and JOSH McDANIELS will be the two primary decision makers on DRAFT Weekend later this month. What they do will be critical to the rebuilding of a roster that has been under major overhaul since the 2008 season ended. The team now has 10 choices to execute in the 2009 DRAFT. Five of those picks are in the Top 84. The Top 100 is where you should get most of your future starters as an NFL team.
Perhaps the biggest mystery will center around whether the BRONCOS look for a QB early in the DRAFT or stand pat with CHRIS SIMMS (29) and KYLE ORTON (26). That is not a rhetorical question my friends. Both these guys have looked very solid at times during their NFL careers. Other than arm strength ORTON’s overall numbers are not bad at all as an NFL starter. SIMMS showed some promise before his severe spleen injury three seasons ago. This team may be better served to look for help along both lines, and a seriously good RB, unless STAFFORD or SANCHEZ falls to them at No.12. I do not advocate trading up for one of those two guys and giving up the quantity/quality of Picks the team currently holds
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There were some other teams making big noise, and big news the past week or so.

How about the GIANTS parting ways with PLAXICO. I am hearing this move has a lot to do with his less than recalcitrant attitude about his actions and his relationship with the team. He was more intent on recouping money he feels he lost with the late season suspension, rather than working something out with the team to move forward. That big sigh of relief you may have heard was probably TOM COUGHLIN from his office in the Meadowlands. Now let’s watch closely to see if the team does anything significant to bolster their WR corps either through VFA or with some of their 6 in the Top 100 DRAFT picks.

Get ready for a big sigh of relief sometime soon from the FALCONS front office, and Owner ARHTUR BLANK. The team could be very close to a contract settlement to completely sever all ties with MICHAEL VICK. Things continue to be a bit complicated as VICK struggles to put together an acceptable Bankruptcy Plan. The numbers I saw recently show VICK expecting to earn dollars like he did during his starting days with the FALCONS, and paying his debtors from the excess after he keeps the first $750,000/year. It’s clear he learned some serious life lessons on the harsh reality of life while in prison...not!

In the copycat world of the NFL the trend toward 3-4 Scheme defenses continues to grow. With CLANCY PENDERGAST moving to Kansas City to join friend TODDD HALEY, and DOM CAPERS now running the PACKERS D there will be 12 teams who will run their base defense out of some form of 3-4 set. This really may be a bit more of a trend than just the ‘success breeds imitation routine’ however. With college Defenses having to adjust to stopping the proliferation of Spread Offenses they counter with more and more speed. Thus the development of so many lightweight DEs at the collegiate level who function most effectively in the NFL as stand-up OLB in the 3-4.

March 13, 2009
Front Offices around the League are into one of their busiest times of the year. They are evaluating their scouting reports and reconciling them with the official info coming to them post-COMBINE. They are grappling with Veteran Free Agency, as well as juggling their rosters in light of Salary Cap and roster bonus ramifications. And of course each team is deciding who to send to which campus for Pro Days. Not much going on for these guys during the “off-season”...not!

TED THOMPSON was conspicuous by his presence in Alabama this week for the Pro Day showing of OL/ANDRE SMITH. THOMPSON attended the work-out personally and a PACKERS contingent had dinner with SMITH the night before the workout.
Despite the obvious need for some new defensive personnel, as dictated by the shift to primarily a 3-4 scheme, it should come as no real surprise that the PACK would be scrutinizing the top OT Prospects before the April DRAFT. MARK TAUSCHER is a 30+ Free Agent, and coming off serious knee surgery. CHAD CLIFTON will be 33-going-on-40 when Training Camp opens. It is not a huge stretch of the imagination to assume the PACKERS may need one if not two new starting OTs for next season.
Just as an aside, I think JASON SMITH and/or EUGENE MONROE are better fits for Green Bay’s zone-blocking scheme.
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Want to talk about the merry-go-round that is NFL Free Agency? Let us take a look at the non-glamorous but important triangle of rotating Long Snappers (LS) that has transpired over the past month.
A couple of weeks after their Super Bowl loss the CARDINALS cut their longtime LS NATHAN HODEL.
The first weekend of Free Agency the BRONCOS signed PATRIOTS LS LONIE PAXTON.
The next week the PATS signed NATHAN HODEL.
Just before last weekend the CARDS signed former BRONCOS LS MIKE LEACH.

So in the course of three weeks, three teams essentially swapped their LS personnel. It all has to do with contracts, roster bonuses and Salary Cap ramifications, but ends up being just a bit strange at times.

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The RAMS are a bad team with need for major changes to their roster in order for them to be able to compete, even in their weak NFC West Division. I had no problem with their cutting of ORLANDO PACE/OT two weeks ago. PACE is an old 32, after 11 years of NFL wars. He has never been a conditioning warrior and the injuries are mounting for a very high-priced player. His departure from St. Louis came as no big surprise.
But with the cutting of TORRY HOLT/WR last week one has to wonder whether the moves aren’t primarily to save money, as opposed to improving the roster. HOLT is a well conditioned, still productive veteran, as well as a respected team leader.
With the elevation of CHIP ROSENBLUM as the organization’s primary owner many folks were skeptical about the long term fate of this franchise. The RAMS franchise could be locked into some hard times considering the current sate of the US economy, ad its impact on sports franchises for the immediate future. The fate of this team, both on and off the field, bears watching over the next year or two.
Could they be the Los Angeles Rams by the next decade?

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So who is winning the Free Agency signing wars? Actually, I prefer to address the overall situation by asking who has improved their organization the most since the end of the 2008 NFL season?

The BRONCOS have signed a dozen Free Agents, but they needed to just to replace the players they lost and cut. And now their QB is upset with his organization and their new Head Coach. Not much real progress in the Mile High City in my opinion.
The CHIEFS picked up a new GM (PIOLI), Head Coach (HALEY), QB (CASSEL) and Defensive leader (VRABEL). Those are all positive moves, but they still have so far to go with a young team, and their is no certainty that the emotional HALEY can handle running an entire team. And I still haven’t heard their best player (LARRY JOHNSON) profess his love for the changes and recant his desire to move on.
I heard a lot of love directed toward the REDSKINS after they opened Free Agency by signing the big prize ALBERT HAYNESWORTH. But that’s been about it in D.C. and the team sits with only 4 DRAFT Choices for this April’s main event.

Believe it or not I am putting my money on the folks up in NEW ENGLAND. And that is in spite of some significant losses: PIOLI, CASSEL, VRABEL, McDANIELS, GAFNEY. Here’s what they have done to get better;
1) Hire FLOYD REESE as a special assistant to help BELICHICK transition to his new VP/GM in training NICK CASERIO.
2) Determine that TOM TERRIFIC is well ahead of schedule with his knee rehab and should be ready by opening day.
3) Move CASSEL (and his $14-million contract) and VRABEL (age 34) to the CHIEFS for the 34th Pick in the ’09 DRAFT.
4) Sign JOEY GALLOWAY to replace JABAR GAFNEY as their No. 3 WR.
5) Add FRED TAYLOR to their RB rotation as insurance for oft-injured LAWRENCE MARONEY.
6) Add LEIGH BODDDEN & SHAUN SPRINGS to their CB rotation.
7) Replace VRABEL (34) with retread TULLY BANTA-CAIN (29) as their pass-rush OLB/DE.
8) Trade second day Draft Choices to Phily for WR/GREG LEWIS.

There are another dozen reasons I could detail for you, but we’re not doing a book or full team analysis here. The team continues to turn the roster, and actually get younger with role playing veterans. And by the way, this team currently has 5 selections in the first 89 picks of the April DRAFT. As long as BRADY is really ready to roll by August expect big things from this team...again.

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Although I still see JERRY JONES turning into the “eccentric owner” Emperor once DARTH DAVIS abdicates the thrown, I have to give the devil his due. Nice move to acquire JON KITNA to serve as a more functional back-up to TONY ROMO than the recently departed BRAD JOHNSON. KITNA is far from over-the-hill, and will be willing to assume a back-up role on a Play-Off contending team like the COWBOYS. Between the scrambling style of TONY ROMO and the ‘BOYS less capable than advertised OL, the need for a second QB on the roster who can go out and run the offense is essential.
While we are at it, let me also proclaim the signing of KEITH BROOKING as a much better move than bringing in ZACH THOMAS last season. I don’t see any more Pro Bowls for the 33-year old BROOKING, but his size and skill set should make him a solid fit for WADE’s defensive scheme.

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I continue to look at the purge in Tampa Bay this off-season and still come with the conclusion that the GLAZER family has thrown in the towel and is looking to significantly reduce their financial obligation to the franchise, while they rebuild the roster from almost scratch. I think the strongest indicator is the selection of RAHEEM MORRIS as the young, players’ Coach to work with what will likely be one of the League’s youngest rosters.
It is hard to argue with the deletion of 33+ year-old vets like GALLOWAY, GARCIA, DUNN, HILLIARD, etc., but a few vets like team-leader DERRICK BROOKS should have been given the option to quietly re-negotiate their contracts and stick around to provide some transitional symmetry.
MORRIS had better prove to be another TONY DUNGY with his patience and resolve to build a winning team from scratch.

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As a final note for this week, I’’d like to offer up the following suggested marriage-made-in-heaven Free Agent signing for next week. Open up the wallet BUD ADAMS and get TORRY HOLT on your TITANS team sooner-rather-than-later. He is not over the hill and would immediately become your best WR on the roster.
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December 14, 2008: As the season accelerates its way toward Play-Off action there are more and more stories and observations that surface. I want to cover some recent random thoughts and points of interest/information that I think are worthy of your consideration from around the league.

Watching WR/STEVE SMITH in the MNF game I wonder if there is a better or tougher WR in the NFL right now. At 5’9”, 185 lbs. he is as tough as it gets as a receiver and a blocker. You gotta love having this tiger on your team, as long as he doesn’t get mad at you and start throwing punches.

REX RYAN, Defensive Coordinator, BALTIMORE RAVENS, still has to be the NFL master of multiple set and exotic scheme defenses. He uses so many options it has to be a nightmare to develop an offensive game plan to attack his D. There are many other innovative defensive minds in the League (BELICHICK, LaBEAU, KIFFIN, et al) but I think REX is the most willing to alter his approach, even in mid-game, if required.

How much of a non-prospect must DREW STANTON be if he can’t get a sniff of the field for the winless LIONS? They went out and signed DAUNTE CULPEPPER at mid-season and had him inserted as their starter within a week. I haven’t noticed STANTON being listed as active yet this season on Gameday. Guess MATT MILLEN’s personnel eye wasn’t confined to poor vision just on WRs.

Got a phone call from a friend in NYC with an ironic little anecdote from the GIANTS loss to the EAGLES on Sunday. Seems the GIANTS organization printed their individual game tickets with pictures of their key players with action shots from their Championship Season of 2007. On the weekend of the game following his suspension by the GIANTS, who should be pictured making his game-winning Super Bowl TD catch then PLAXICO BURRESS. That one goes past subtle irony in my mind.

If you are looking for some Christmas gift ideas for that football fanatic in you family, or friendship circle check out PETER KING’s MMQB dated 12-08-08 at SI.com. He has a list of 9 current football related books and almost all sound interesting to me. The one that stood out, because of its unique nature, was a fictional piece written by former GIANTS TE MARK BAVARO. Check out the list, or give a gift certificate to a major bookseller to the football fanatic on your gift list.

If you need any further indicators of how tough a shape the US economy is, how about the announcement Tuesday that the League Office is laying off 10% of its employees. That is a clear indicator that League-wide revenues are down and will continue to be so.
Another interesting (intelligent) financial move by the SAINTS, who have worked out a season ticket renewal plan which allows fans/customers to pay by automatic bank account deduction, on a weekly basis for their 2009 season ticket fees. The final payment comes due the first week of the Pre-Season. Kind of like a lay-away payment schedule.

Congratulations to the CARDINALS franchise for clinching their West Division title with their win last Sunday…albeit in their weak, if not pathetic division. As a result the CARDS get their first home Play-Off game since 1947. That game was played by the CHICAGO CARDINALS at Comiskey Park. They won the NFL Championship by beating the EAGLES 28-21. Remember that one Gary W?

Sunday, December 7, 2008: If you think that something longer term is brewing in EAGLES-land relative to ANDY REID and DONOVAN McNABB futures I agree with you. McNABB does not seem to have the stamina or athleticism that he displayed earlier in his career. DONOVAN, who just turned 32 on Tuesday, plays more like 35+ these days. ANDY REID also seems to have hit a coaching wall the past couple of seasons. Twice this season I have seen the guru of short-pass offense doom two late game rallies with a sudden penchant for running in short yardage situations. Well intentioned, but somewhat like asking a thoroughbred like BIG BROWN to help pull the Budweiser wagon.

It would seem though the fates of REID and McNABB with the EAGLES may be headed in different directions for monetary reasons. Owner JEFF LURIE has never been of the economic ilk of his fellow NFC East owners when it comes to spending. He runs a tighter financial ship than the JONES, SNYDER, TISCH-MARA peers whom his EAGLES must compete with.

McNABB is owed over $19-million over the next two years. Being rid of him would stick a couple million of dead money on the payroll, but nothing compared to that actual salary figure. If he’s no longer a premier QB in the League I doubt LURIE wants to fork out almost $10-million a season to him. Unless he really lights it up the balance of the season and leads his team to a strong Play-Off push, color him gone.

REID is probably in a more secure situation. He has another two years on his contract at about $3-4 million per. That is easier to live with than firing him, paying him and then assembling and paying for a new coaching staff. Unless the wheels come off the wagon, and McNABB can’t be the scapegoat I would expect REID to be back trying to win with a new QB; hopefully KEVIN KOLB.

EAGLES fans be prepared for some changes, but be careful what you wish for. This decade has been pretty successful for the EAGLES and their supporters. Starting anew from scratch does not always end up panning gold.

November 15, 2008: Great work by BRANDON STOKLEY of the BRONCOS after BRANDON MARSHALL scored the go-ahead TD late in the 4th Quarter. I did notice MARSHALL fishing around in the waistband area of his uniform after the score. And I didn’t think he was adjusting his jock strap. STOKLEY saw the same thing and quickly got to MARSHALL before an official did. There is no doubt in my mind that the glove display that BRANDON had planned would have been flagged for excessive celebration if executed. The probable 15-yard penalty, enforced on the ensuing kick-off, would have very likely put the BROWNS in good field position for a final drive.

Not real smart by MARSHALL, but at least he let STOKLEY save him from his own misplaced ego. STOKLEY should get a baby-sitting bonus check and a game ball.

Nothing up his sleeve…but what about down his pants? THE CHAD

What a marvelous story the DOLPHINS are turning out to be. And what a great fit CHAD PENNINGTON has been as their QB. He has always been a very accurate passer, but the JETS fans will tell you he couldn’t provide them with a downfield pass option.

PENNINGTON is the NFL’s 6th ranked QB after 9 games with a 92.6 rating, just behind A-RODGE. He is completing 66.5 % of his passes, and has 8 TD, 5 INT.

He is still good enough to have the DOLPHINS above .500 and breathing down the JETS necks. Way to go CHAD (one of the League’s truly nice guys) and wonderful turnaround DOLPHINS.

Talk about professional athletes not realizing how far removed they are economically from the vast majority of the fans who root for them, and ultimately pay their salary…JARED ALLEN, moaning and groaning about the high-end tax bracket probably going up because of OBAMA being elected.

How many of you readers make the $250,000+ annually to be affected by that potential tax rate increase? My wife and I both have career jobs and don’t come close to that number combined. Other than the folks in the prime seats and boxes at NFL stadiums, I doubt very many of the fans in the Metrodome last Sunday have ALLEN’s financial concerns to worry about. And to add insult to injury most of his contract money was paid up front as a bonus and won’t be affected even if the tax code is adjusted, back to where it was a decade ago for the upper tier incomes.

I really don’t need to hear that kind of complaining from sports millionaires.

Since he earned my scorn as Goat of the Week a while back for his turnover-fest against the JETS, let’s give a little love to KURT WARNER/QB/CARDS. He is leading the way as the CARDS threaten to run away with the pathetic NFC West. He has led the team to a lofty (especially for this franchise) 6-3 record, and is currently the NFL’s top ranked QB with a ranking of 106.4.

It became apparent early in the MNF contest against the 49’ers, that the CARDINALS running game was going to have little or no success on the evening (46 total yards/2.4 ypc) and WARNER and his highly touted receivers were going to have to be the CARDS offense. He responded rather nicely.
32 – 42 – 76.2% - 328 yards – 3 TD – 0 INT. – 121.9 PR
Those are Pro Bowl, MVP type numbers. If the CARDINALS keep winning, and WARNER maintains these numbers he will indeed get League MVP consideration at season’s end.

November 8, 2008: The GIANTS may indeed be the best all-around team in the League this year, but I am little disappointed in the somewhat uneven play of ELI. He is getting the job done, and his interceptions are still well below his first few years in the League, but he has shown flashes of his old wild streaks and has been forcing the ball into coverage, and risking INT more than during last year’s stretch run. His play merits scrutiny as the season heads down the stretch.

Let’s talk for just a minute about the other MANNING; MR. PEYTON. He does not look to be 100% physically and has had bad spells, but he is still the heart and soul of the COLTS team, and is willing the Offense to just enough points to keep the team’s Play-Off hopes afloat. But this team is thin and injured, which is a bad combination in the NFL. The NFL Salary Cap system is whittling this team down to the level of the teams they used to dominate.

The win over the PATRIOTS was a life-saver for Indy, but in reality they should have had a more convincing win at home, over a seriously wounded PATRIOTS club. I’m not sure how this team can finish above .500 for the season.

See JERRY JONES, as I told you the NFL is a lot about depth…quality depth. And at most positions your COWBOYS don’t have the depth to go to a Super Bowl. Instead of spending so much time and effort courting “troubled stars” such as ADAM JONES, maybe you should have been looking for a younger, experienced back-up QB in case TONY ROMO suffered a serious injury. The current roster has way too many FA players with 3 years or less experience. The more they have to play, the less your team will win. Maybe some consideration needs to be given to replacing your GM. Wait that’s you JERRY…never mind.

Where were all the sideline and owner’s box shots of JONES last weekend FOX? Your NFL coverage is almost as fair and unbiased as your news coverage I guess. I would have loved to watch JERRY squirm through the GIANTS loss.

THE MANNINGS PAUL PUZ G.M. JONES

At the start of the 2007 the BUFFALO BILLS top Rookie was MLB PAUL POSLUSZNY who had captured the starting job in Training Camp. He went down after only three games with a broken forearm. He is back this year and better than ever. He is a sideline to sideline, tackling machine for a Play-Off contender. Watch PUZ some weekend if you want to see one of the up-and-coming young players in the game. He is going to get some all-expenses paid trips to Hawaii over the next decade.

Just a quick note to PACKERS Coach MIKE McCARTHY: Before you start using your time-outs to conserve time on the assumption you will get the ball back with a short clock, make sure your defense is going to able to stop your opponents Offense. The TITANS got their late in regulation FG attempt in part because you stopped the clock in anticipation of another possession. BIRONAS missed, but you almost aided in your own demise.

I make this point because it is far from the first time McCARTHY used questionable clock management techniques. You gotta be more careful MIKE.

There was a very enlightening piece in the Thursday edition of USA TODAY regarding NFL salaries; broken down by team. If you missed it you might want to take a moment to check it out at www.usatoday.com/sports . It was posted November 6th.

But there are a couple of caveats to keep in mind while perusing it, if you do.

They have misprinted a few numbers (not sure how many). I can tell you for a fact that DAN KLECKO does not make $10miilion+ this year, and is not the EAGLES second highest paid player.

Also be careful to understand that they have rolled entire 2008 bonus payments into this year’s numbers. That would be as opposed to prorating the bonus over the length of the contract, which is what the NFL does for Salary Cap purposes.

November 1, 2008:
So The NFL world is in love with MIKE SINGLETARY as the new Head Coach of the 49’ers. Only time will tell how well his approach works relative to Wins & Losses, but its hard not to like a Coach who seems to be prepared to Coach in the manner he played for DA BEARS: tough and intense. Whether or not this approach will play well over time with today’s athlete is a hard question to answer. But it seems safe to say more than a few football fans will be crossing their fingers for his success. Could this be the first step in a new trend to reverse the perceived notion that the inmates are running the asylum in pro sports today?

And while we are speaking of the 49’ers, let’s take a moment to review the franchise and the chances of SINGLETARY being able to make a difference in the recent team fortunes. JOHN & DENISE YORK are amongst the least respected and non-influential franchise owners in the NFL. Since they forced EDDIE DeBARTOLO out of the franchise, this team has been a bottom feeder, both on and off the field.

Despite the input of some well respected franchise participants and advisors (BILL WALSH, MIKE NOLAN, and MIKE SINGLETARY to name a few) this team just can’t make any progress whether it is on the field, or in new stadium development. Next guy on the hot seat will GM/SCOT McCLOUGHAN who has now lost his safety shield with the firing of NOLAN.

Even moving the RAIDERS back to L.A. some day probably won’t be enough to help revive the 49’ers to a place of prominence in the League. List this as one of the mismanaged, problem franchises for the League to deal with over time.

There is a rumor floating around the Bay Area that MIKE MARTZ was talked to about succeeding NOLAN as Head Coach, but he declined to be considered for the job. The story goes on that he is on a fast track to move on after this season: another crew member leaving a sinking ship perhaps?

There is also a well documented (and accurate) story about the meeting SINGLETARY requested with the deposed MIKE NOLAN. SINGLETARY felt very conflicted with taking the job of his former boss. NOLAN wisely counseled SINGLETARY to take the job if he so desired. Best of luck to both MIKES for their future endeavors.

PACKER NOTE! Many of you may be getting a bit tired of my harping week after week on the number of penalties the PACKERS have been incurring. Then again I would assume some of you are as frustrated as I am over the problem.

Am I over reacting and blowing the penalties out of proportion? I think not, and offer the following mid-season numbers to support my case. Through Week 8 of the NFL season the PACKERS have been flagged a League high 67 penalties in 7 games.
With 58 accepted penalties, for 534 total yards, they also are ranked at No. 1, in a negative manner.

The single most amazing event that I watched over the weekend was the absolute dominance of the GIANTS over the STEELERS last Sunday afternoon. The GIANTS outscored the STEELERS 12-0 during the 4th Quarter to overcome a 5 point deficit, but the stat sheets show some incredible dominance by the GIANTS.
Time of possession 11:07 GIANTS 3:53 STEELERS
First Downs 7 GIANTS 1 STEELERS
Net Yards 116 GIANTS -9 STEELERS

I’m not quite sure whether these numbers are more a cause of praise for the GIANTS, or an indictment of the STEELERS.

As the TITANS ran their perfect record to 7-0, and plunged the COLTS into serious play-off jeopardy, their cheerleaders kicked off the HALLOWEEN costume season in grand style.

NFL Draft Talk

Sat, 8 Aug 2009 19:13:50 -0500

I know what some of you are going to say; ‘Why DRAFT Talk now, NFL Camps just opened?’. Yes, but college Camps are opening as well. In fact the College Season kicks off the weekend of Labor Day while NFL teams are finalizing their rosters.
So it seems to me (and my DRAFTNIK followers) that the time is right to move along with my 2010 DRAFT Prospect watch. This edition features the WR group. I am including the top Juniors because most of the top Senior prospects are already in NFL Training Camps. In case you forgot, there were 6 WRs grabbed in Round One of the 2009 DRAFT; all of them were underclassmen.

1) DEZ BRYANT/OKLAHOMA STATE/6-2/215/JR
BRYANT is a play-maker and an NFL star in the wings. He is fast, can locate and leap for the ball, and has a nose for the end zone. He is the favorite target of QB ROBINSON and while you were watching SEC games he caught 87 balls, at 17 ypc and found the end zone 19 times. Yeah, he is that good. He does come with a WR attitude so be prepared, but has Pro Bowler written all over him.
1) ARRELIOUS BENN/ILLINOIS/6-2/220/JR
A lot of folks like BENN more than BRYANT, and I am not going to get into an argument. They are 1a & 1b, truth be told. His numbers suffered in ’08, scoring only 3 TD. But the Illini had a poor season and BENN was dinged up on a couple of occasions. But his size/speed ratio and natural ability are such that Pro Scouts are drooling. He has CRABTREE ability without the attitude. His ’09 performance will dictate how high in R1 he goes.
1) DAMIAN WILLIAMS/SOUTHERN CAL/6-1/190/JR
The most pleasant surprise in ’08 for PETE CARROLL & MARK SANCHEZ was Arkansas transfer WILLIAMS. He is explosive with both quickness and speed. He is a good route runner who gets nice separation from defenders. His hands are very dependable. With another Trojan camp under his belt he should dominate the Pac 10, if the new QB can get him the ball.
1) BRANDON LaFELL/LSU/6-3/210/SR
Brandon actually had his name in for the ’09 DRAFT, but wisely withdrew it when he was rated as a R3 projection by the NFL. His numbers were hurt badly by the QB mess at LSU last season. Look for him to make up for it with some big numbers this year. Even with the chaos of 3 different starting QBs in ’08 he still managed 63 catches for just under 1,000-yds and 8 TD. Though not a speedster he can get separation and his long legs make him hard to catch once he gets a head of speed up. He is fighting to sneak his name into the end of R1, 2010.
1) MARDY GILYARD/CINCINNATI/6-0/185/SR
GILYARD emerged in ’08 as a solid prospect with 81 catches for 1276-yds & 11 TD. He has average speed, but great quickness and very good hands. He has return ability which obviously adds to his potential value. He is a potential No.3 WR who should end up in my Top 100 Prospects list by December, if not sooner.
1) NAAMAN ROOSEVELT/BUFFALO/6-0/187/SR
Catching over 100 balls will get you some attention, no matter where you play. Like many of the wideouts in this year’s group he lacks great speed, but has the moves to get open. He is a disciplined player with dependable hands. As a former QB he understands his routes and what the QB is looking for. He is a high character guy.
1) SHAY HODGE/OLE MISS/6-0/205/SR
His 8 TD catches in ’08, tied for the SEC lead. His 44 grabs are just the beginning for this guy. Though Ole Miss has a large corps of talented receivers his size may make him a favorite of MR. SNEAD. He has great explosiveness which catches DBs by surprise at times. He reminds me of a JORDY NELSON-type receiver, who could explode as a Senior.
1) JORDAN SHIPLEY/TEXAS/6-0/195/SR
He’s not a Top 50 player, but if a pro team needs a possession receiver with great hands and a solid mind to fit into their passing attack pay attention to this guy’s play this Fall. I guarantee that even with lots of talent at the wideout slot, SHIPLEY will reman COLT’s main-man and catch a lot of balls. His Draft status will depend greatly on his 40-number from the COMBINE.
1) JACOBY FORD/CLEMSON/5-9/185/SR
I’m putting him in my Top 10 WR list because of all the things he can do with his explosive speed. He will be one of the fastest players at next years COMBINE. But what makes him special is that his speed is not purely straight-line. He is explosive and quick and is a very dangerous return man. He should excel in the NFL coming out of the slot. I look for DABO and his staff to find more ways to utilize his talents this season.
1) KERRY MEIER/KANSAS/6-2/215/SR
I don’t really think MEIER is going to grade out as the 10th best WR Prospect when next year’s DRAFT rolls around, but he intrigues me. The former starting QB displays excellent hands, great attitude and offers some interesting options to his team with his size, strong arm and QB background. His intelligence and unselfish attitude will have great appeal to the NFL Personnel folks as the DRAFT progresses. Watch for this guy when you watch a KANSAS game this fall.

BRYANT BENN D. WILLIAMS LaFELL

7/28/2009 It’s well past time to catch up on a couple of 2009 DRAFT related items before we get too deeply into 2010 discussion.

Have to tell you folks that I cannot see much upside to the NFL’s decision to create a 3-headed monster of the 2010 NFL DRAFT. I sense we have a ploy to try to jump TV ratings even higher in anticipation of some added commercial revenue. That smells like JERRY JONES, BB KRAFT and/or DANIEL SNYDER leading the way again.
I also suspect that it is another move to force ESPN out of their DRAFT coverage and to make the process the private domain of the struggling NFL NETWORK. You see ESPN actually has live programming (like MLB & NBA) in April, whereas NFL Network is showing game replays from previous seasons, as well as replays of NFL Total Access ad nauseam.
As far as ratings go, I think the League has once again miscalculated their product value and their market place. I think the DRAFT works best as a weekend event, when many folks are not working and can turn on the TV, watch some coverage and putter around their home. Hubbies are going to have a hard time getting the TV to themselves for 5 hours of DRAFT watching on a work night/school night. And obviously the NFL is writing off the West Coast with coverage that starts at 3:30 PM on Friday in L.A., and & 7:00 AM Saturday morning.
For most folks, other than real NFL fanatics, and us DRAFTNIKS, a 3-day spacing could throw the viewer ratings for the Saturday morning portion below the Mendoza Line. And how many wives and singles are going to give up a night out on Friday to sit at home for the proceedings? Don’t mess with the Friday Night Fish Fry here in the Midwest NFL!
I also think that the proposed “drama” of projecting what will happen on the “next day” is highly overrated. Beyond tweeters, who live on the medium, even I am not going to stay up real late on Friday night to prognosticate who is going to be selected at the top of Round 4 early Saturday morning.
Hey ROGER, someone in the League Office needs to believe at least a little bit in the phrase,”If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

I have been trying to monitor progress down in Mobile, AL in the negotiations to keep the SENIOR BOWL in that friendly southern city. I have been in contact with Sportswriter TOMMY HICKS, of the Mobile Press-Register and his take right now is the the silence is deafening.
I am finding it very difficult to believe that the organization that “owns” and runs the game (which is a local Board of Directors) and the City and County of Mobile can’t understand the importance of the game to that area and come up with a wining formula for all, to keep things in place.
Even though it would be more convenient for many of us who cover the game if it were moved to Tampa (as had been rumored) I would much rather stay in Mobile for a week, with the Azalea Trail Maids, college football atmosphere and total community involvement from the small city with the big tradition.

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As I mentioned in my last questions section, I forgot to give you my annual Analysts Score Card from the 2009 DRAFT. The chart below details how some of us did at projecting the Top 50, Top 100 & Top 150 players to be selected back in April. The numbers are based on Regardless of Position lists as published/posted the week before the DRAFT. The numbers were pretty close this year, but down from 2008 for all of us.

CATEGORY NOLAN/PFW SCOTT/DC COLIN/GBN PIGSKIN PAUL

Out of 50 42/84% 43/86% 43/86% 41/82%

Out of 100 77/77% 78/78% 73/73% 77/77%

Out of 150 117/78% 121/81% 109/73% 110/73%

My overall calculations tell me that if we were passing out grades SCOTT WRIGHT would be the valedictorian of our group... this year. Nice job Scott, but we’ll all be chasing you again next Spring.

I promise to be back next week with another positional preview for the 2010 DRAFT: WR.

July 2, 2009 2010 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS RB
Time to resume our pre-College Season look at some of the top prospects for next year’s DRAFT. This week it’s RBs. I am including some of the top Juniors in my lists, assuming many of them will come out early next Spring.

1) JONATHAN DWYER/GEORGIA TECH/5’11/235
There will be some trepidation and fudging next April because he comes out of the PAUL JOHNSON option Offense, but this guy is the real deal combination of strength and speed. He reminds me a great deal of BEANIE WELLS.

1) JAHVID BEST/CALIFORNIA/5’10/195
Beside the word ‘explosive’ in the football dictionary is a picture of BEST. There is concern about his weight being below 200 lbs. With a super season this fall he could be as hot come DRAFT Weekend as REGGIE BUSH once was.

1) C. J. SPILLER/CLEMSON/5’11/195
Another slight guy who will never be able to carry 20 times per game. But he is a highlight reel with breakaway speed, who should be able to spread out his touches and be a feared big play weapon.

1) STEFON JOHNSON/SOUTHERN CAL/5’11/215
Caught in the TB rotation for the TROJANS I think this guy is highly underrated. He is a one-cut, quick to the hole threat who won’t go 80-yards, but should be capable of breaking off several 15-25 yard runs each game. Their best all-around runner on the SoCal roster right now. He is also a good return man.

1) LeGARRETTE BLOUNT/OREGON/6’2/240
His size/speed numbers are amazing. But he also might be too big of a target for the NFL. He joined the DUCKS from the JC ranks last season and rushed for over 1, 000-yards backing up JEREMIAH JOHNSON. If he delivers in the spotlight this year NFL Personnel People will be all over him next Jan. and Feb. LARY JOHNSON type potential.

1) CHRIS BROWN/OKLAHOMA/5’10/210
A solid all-around RB with good strength, and he supposedly has added speed to his bag of tricks with some specific training this Spring. He could be a late R2 prospect with a solid 2009 season. Can he catch?

1) EVAN ROYSTER/PENN STATE/6’1/210
A solid runner who has good balance and breaks tackles. Not a HR burner, but will get past most LBs and into the secondary with regularity. Looks to have R2 potential.

1) CHARLES SCOTT/LSU/5’11/233
This human pinball is one of the best between-the-tackles runners in captivity. He should make a solid inside option for a team with a smaller WESTBROOK-like feature back.

1) BEN TATE/AUBURN/5’11/217
A solid runner with decent speed, power and balance got lost in the shuffle last season. He could put up big numbers behind a young but experienced OL. He seems to have a nose for the hole, and should fair well in an NFL zone blocking scheme. He should be a Top 100 DRAFT selection.

1) JAMES STARKS/BUFFALO/6’2/212
Despite missing 3 games last year with injuries he still ran for over 1,300-yards. He has good size, strength and speed. He could move up the charts with a big fall.

This is a solid group, and perhaps a tick deeper than the 2009 DRAFT group. But I do not see anyone with the all-around skill level of KNOWSHON MORENO this year.

5/19/2009 ALL-STAR GAME SCORECARD

Its time to grade the three remaining College All-Star games on their quality of talent from this past January’s game rosters. In other words, who had the most players Drafted last month, and how high were those Draftees taken.
The winner, and still champion (no surprise here) is the SENIOR BOWL! There were 103 players listed on the rosters going into the weekend of the actual Senior Bowl Game. I am including MOHAMMED MASSAQUOI who actually went home that Friday with an injury. By any measure used the players representing this game were the biggest hits with NFL Personnel Departments.
1) Of the 103 players on the two rosters 81 (79%) were taken in the seven Rounds of the ’09 DRAFT. The North squad had 41 players selected, the South 40.
2) As usual, and despite our ruminations in Mobile the week of the game, there were double figure First Rounders; 11 to be exact.
3) Another 20 Senior Bowlers went in Round 2, for a Day One total of 31 of 64 players selected.
4) By my other measure of the Top 100 Prospects being the likely eventual starters to come out of any DRAFT, 41 Senior Bowlers (41%) were in those Top 100 selections this year.

Coming in second this year was the EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME. My game day rosters for this game show 104 players involved. While most of the premium Top 100 players were in Mobile the following week, the Shriners did a nice job of identifying the best of the rest.
1) There were no First Rounders from this game, but there were 2 Second Rounders in DARCEL McBATH & SEBASTIAN VOLLMER.
2) Overall the game had 9 of the Top 100 Draftees.
3) 51 of the Game’s 104 players (49%) were selected by the end of the whole DRAFT.

Bringing up the rear, but gaining ground every year, was the third edition of the TEXAS VS. THE NATION game.
1) The Game had no First Day selections, but cracked the Top 100 with 4 players selected.
2) 25 of their 119 players (21%) were taken overall.

To put some of these overall numbers under the microscope even further, between all three games you had the opportunity to watch 157 of the 256 actual Draftees (61%) from the 2009 NFL DRAFT. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider the current situation regarding Underclassmen and their status for these games.
Right now they are not allowed to participate in any of the All-Star Games. That is a pretty silly restriction in my opinion. I believe the newcomer TEXAS Game should be allowed to recruit from the group of official declared Underclassmen. The game is not going to get the top players, but they could certainly land a dozen of the Underclassmen, which would spice up the game and let football fans see some of them compete at the top level one more time.
But given the current situation, let’s eliminate the Draftees who couldn’t even participate in the All-Star Games and redo the numbers. There were officially 46 Underclassmen who entered the 2009 NFL DRAFT. Of that group 37 were actually Drafted. That reduces the number of Draftees who could have participated in the All-Star Games to 219. Consequently, that means 157 of 219 Drafted players, or 72%, were indeed represented at the three games.
Those are some pretty impressive numbers. I would be willing to bet the numbers could improve in 2010. The SHRINE Game moving to Orlando should help that venue. The TXAS game should continue to gain momentum as it grows with age. And as long as the Senior Bowl stays in Mobile with NFL/NFLPA sanctions they should hold their own.

Perhaps the most ridiculous thing I have read in the aftermath of the 2009 DRAFT was from a conversation that NOLAN NAWROCKI had with an NFL official who claimed that there was so little real talent in the 2009 DRAFT that his team’s DRAFT Board was empty after Round 2. Believe me folks, if Nolan put it in print then someone really said it to him. I have three comments for that person and his team, whoever it was:
1) Work a little harder on your scouting to find and identify the talent to fill your Board past 50 names.
2) Adjust your value chart on what essentials a player has to have to be worth selecting.
3) Email me at PPP so I can send you a list, by the end of October, detailing all the players beyond Round 2 who are contributing to their teams as Rookies. All of whom weren’t good enough to be on your Big Board.
This collective butt-covering by some Scouting and Personnel people around the NFL is getting pathetic. Too many folks expect the Third Round and later to still be full of the next Ronnie Lott and John Elway. Forget it guys and get back into the film room to find a few more prospects to fill out your Draft Board.

May 14, 2009 2010 DRAFT
No your eyes do not deceive you. I want to throw a little spaghetti against the wall regarding the Extra Special 2010 NFL DRFAT Class. I say that with my tongue planted in my cheek. But that was the message we were clearly sent by NFL Scouts and College Personnel P
people. So, for as weak as the Prospects List was for 2009 then 2010 will surely make up for things with a talent bonanza. I am going to keep that little premise out front for the next twelve months. And I will safely predict that by the end of the 2010 COMBINE the CYA crying will have begin around the NFL front offices. All of a sudden the 2010 DRAFT Class will be as weak as 2009 was made out to be.
So lets go with an initial listing of TOP QB prospects to watch during the 2009 College Football season.

BRADFORD TEBOW McCOY

SAM BRADFORD/Oklahoma/6’4/215 He made the decision (correctly) to go back for one more year with the Sooners, and should be the top prospect for the next DRAFT. He should pt up big numbers again and polish his throwing motion a bit while he’s at it.

TIM TEBOW/Florida/6’3/240 Let the debate begin again relative to his Pro potential. All he does is whatever it takes to win, baby. And that should be enough for the NFL to figure out how to utilize his skills. Hey, if PATRICK WHITE can go 44th in the ’09 DRAFT then Round 1 should be a piece of cake for TEBOW in ’10.

COLT McCOY/Texas/6’3/215 He’s also not the ideal NFL Prospect on paper, but his stats and the way he takes over a game both say winner and natural leader. Wouldn’t a Texas pro franchise like to grab him next April?!

ZAC ROBINSON/Oklahoma State/6’3/215 Lost in all the highlights has been ROBINSON. But the Cowboys are loaded for ’09 and folks will finally notice this mobile, big armed leader. He and DEZ BRYANT should be on highlight reels all season this year.

DAN LEFEVOUR/Central Michigan/6’3/230 There are still some concerns about DAN because of all the running he does in the Chippewas’ offense. But take a good look at his field awareness, arm strength and leadership. He should push for First Round consideration.

JEVAN SNEAD/Ole Miss/6’3/215/JR Sorry Rebel fans, but if he progresses over the course of the ’09 season the way he did last year there is no way you get to keep him for a third year. His arm and mobility will be mighty appealing to NFL Personnel folks.

TIM HILER/Western Michigan/6’5/230 While we are in MAC country let’s also mention the emerging HILLER, who has all the tools you look for and MATT RYAN size. You real DRAFT fans better watch some of those weeknight MAC broadcasts this season.

ISIAH “JUICE” WILLIAMS/Illinois/6’2/235 He will be a challenge for NFL folks to peg, but his talent will strike you if you watch a couple of Illini games this fall. His size and arm strength, are matched only by his mobility. Another of the new mold of college QBs.

RUSTY SMITH/ Florida Atlantic/65/230 One of the more traditional QB prospects, he has a big chance to step it up in ’09 and stake a claim to the Top 100 Prospect lists. He has all the physical tools needed to succeed.

JAKE LOCKER/Washington/6’3/225 /JR A wonderful talent being buried in a poor program. He has been asked to do too much, and has not been developed as he should have. Unless the Huskies really improve under their new coaching regime there is no logical reason for this to not be LOCKER’s pro audition season.

Grab hold DRAFTNIKS because this will be the year when I really hammer home my contention about the QB transition that has to take place in the NFL over the next decade. I don’t think the college Spread Offenses are going away any time soon. And the NFL is going to have to find a way to create Offensive Schemes that can utilize the type of QB that will be coming out of the college ranks. There are going to be a lot more PAT WHITES, TIM TEBOWS & JUICE WILLIAMS’ than there are FLACCOS & RYANS. It’s not going to work to have MEL KIPER talking about a player like TEBOW being a FRANK WYCHECK/TE player in the NFL. Time to evolve again NFL, and sooner rather than later would be preferable.

*** A side note regarding the 2009 DRAFT. I should have my TEAM DRAFT Grades posted this weekend, and will continue working on the AFC teams over the next week.

2009 NFL DRAFT

There is always something more to discuss about the DRAFT. So let’s move on a with a potpourri of items I found while sailing through my notes since the 27th of April.

One of he main events leading up to the annual DRAFT is the COMBINE, held late every February in Indy. The event is managed by NATIONAL SCOUTING, the NFL’s in-house player rating service. As the years have gone by NFL teams have relied more and more on their in-hose Scouting Departments and less on NATIONAL’s work. Now it seems that even the COMBINE is slipping in it’s significance as a prospect evaluation tool. There are many reasons for this evolution away from the unified Scouting information reliance.
The fact that Player Agents pay to send their clients to Performance Institutes which spend the months of January and February primarily preparing the athletes for the specific drills performed at the COMBINE has greatly diminished the meaning of the numbers that the players post while in Indy.
Probably the most useful aspect of the COMBINE these days is from a medical standpoint. The detailed physicals and medical tests administered on each player’s first full day in Indy is considered essential for each team’s Player Prospect file. The player interviews are helpful, but the fact that they are confined to a 15 minute time limit diminishes even their value.
If you think that I am being too harsh on the COMBINE and its present day value, please consider the numbers from this year’s DRAFT Class. Just over 300 players attend the COMBINE each year. This year there were a total of 256 players Drafted in NYC n the 25th & 26th. This year 44 of the Draftees were not in attendance at the COMBINE. That translates to 17% of the Drafted players not having been at the COMBINE. Roughly a third of the players in Indy last February were not Drafted.
The highest DRAFTED players who were not invited to Indy were MICHAEL MITCHELL/S/OHIO (RAIDERS) and SEBASTIAN VOLLMER/OT/HOUSTON (PATRIOTS) who were both taken in the Second Round.
I do not have a clear cut answer to what needs to be changed at this time, although it should not surprise you if I said I have a few suggestions. But we’ll save that for another time. For now, let’s just suffice to say that NFL teams may be a bit hesitant to cough up $75, 000 a year for a process that does not include close to 20% of the players they will eventually Draft.

A quick look at the First Round of the 2009 NFL DRAFT shows the continuation of the trend for blood lines to play a significant role in the athletic ability of of today’s top prospects. Here is the list of First Rounders with direct genetic connections from NFL history:
PERIA JERRY/DT PICK #24/FALCONS Cousin of LB/DWAYNE RUDD
VONTAE DAVIS/CB PICK #25/DOLPHINS Brother of VERNON/TE/49'ERS
CLAY MATTHEWS/OLB PICK #26/PACKERS Son of LB/CLAY/Nephew of OG/BRUCE
There are many more players with athletically inclined genes sprinkled throughout the DRAFT. We can touch on more of them when rosters are set for the 2009 season.
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The biggest off-season trade this year was JAY CUTLER/QB moving from Denver to Chicago. As always one of the big questions surrounding such a transaction was the cost to DA BEARS and the value received by the BRONCOS. If you will allow me a little bit of license here I will detail what everyone ended up getting out of this deal once DRAFT weekend was completed. The license is your allowing me to assume that next year’s Round 1 choice sent by the BRONCOS to the SEA HAWKS to DRAFT ALPHONSO SMITH/CB was DA BEARS Pick next year. We must also throw the STEELERS into the mix here, because the BRONCOS traded the Round 3 Pick they got from DA BEARS to the STEELERS for Picks.
Confused enough yet by the shell game that is trading Draft Picks in the NFL? Indulge me and let’s see who got what when the DRAFT Weekend was finished:

DA BEARS JAY CUTLER/QB; JOHNNY KNOX/WR/ Pick #140

STEELERS KRAIG URBIK/OG/Pick #79; MIKE WALLACE/WR/Pick #84

BRONCOS KYLE ORTON/QB; ROBERT AYERS/E/LB/Pick #18; ALPHONSO SMITH/CB/Pick # 37; RICHARD QUINN/TE/Pick # 64; SETH OLSEN/OL/Pick #132.

Only time will tell us who got he best of all this trading around, but my initial evaluation is that Denver gave up a 26-year old Franchise QB and looks a little shy of a fair return, at least on paper, until the players all put their pads on.

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The main reason that MCHAEL VICK is back in federal prison is because he and his advisors cannot come up with a bankruptcy plan that a judge will accept as being reasonable for the myriad of folks VICK owes money to. In addition to the fact that he wants to retain all of his property holdings it is also speculated that he keeps listing his potential annual income in the millions of dollars once he gets out of prison.
He sees himself as a star football player again, and my guess is the Judge sees him with slightly different job prospects from his old friend ARTHUR BLANK. See below for an illustration of the differing job expectations ...

VICK IN ACTION NEXT JOB FOR BLANK A VICK VCITIM
For those of you who might think I am being a bit harsh to still be on VICK’s case, please take a good look at one of his victims... if you can stand to look, that is. In my book anyone who can condone and sanction that kind of violence on man’s best friend, and hundred’s of God’s creatures can sit in jail forever, and still consider himself as getting off easy. Now you know how I really feel.

Back to football, and not a moment too soon. We may have our first “name” candidate for the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft in KELLEN LWEIS/QB/INDIANA. The senior-to-be has been kicked out of the IU Football Program. His only other option would be to transfer to a team outside of D1. He might be considered as a very late Round talent if he choses the former. He could also wait to see if the USFL materializes this year or not.

Interesting DRAFT stat regarding the number of players chosen from Texas colleges this year.
TEXAS A&M 2
TEXAS TECH 4
TEXAS 4
T C U 5
That’s right the HORNED FROGS are the volume champs of the state of Texas.

Also adding fuel to the argument that no matter where you attend school the NFL Scouts will find you... I count 23 of 256 Draftees as being from non-BCS programs. That’s approaching the 10% mark.
Conversely, traditional football powerhouses NOTRE DAME, MIAMI (F) & FLORIDA STATE each had only one player DRAFTED this year.
I do not expect to see this number again real soon with Saint Nick now in charge of he Crimson Tide football fortunes, but OLE MISS had just as many players Drafted as the Tide this year, with 4. More amazingly, OLE MISS had 2 First Rounders, while ‘BAMA had only one.

4/30/09
I have already begun work on my team-by-team detailed DRAFT evaluations. SoI thought I would give you a general listing of how I think teams did. I will be handing out specific letter grades to each team, but this will provide you with a general idea of how I think your team did.
DA BEARS, BENGALS, PATRIOTS
CARDS, LIONS, PACKERS, GIANTS, EAGLES, BILLS, BRONCOS,
JAGUARS, STEELERS, TITANS
FALCONS, COWBOYS, VIKINGS, 49‘ERS, RAMS, TEXANS,
JETS, PANTHERS, BROWNS
CHIEFS, SAINTS, SEA HAWKS, BUCCANEERS, RAVENS, COLTS,
CHARGERS

REDSKINS, DOLPHINS, RAIDERS

4/27/2009
Did any of you wake up with a DRAFT hangover like I did? For me it comes from a combination of things like too much caffeine, too long staring at the TV screen and this year a very large dose of humble pie. I was absolutely amazed at the number of holes shot into my Regardless of Position list. I held it up to the light of day this morning and it looked like swiss cheese. I will continue indulge in some self-flagellation over the rest of this week, then move on.

Throughout the College Football Season every year one of the ongoing debates is the quality and strength of the major colleges and their Conferences. The main proof in that debate lies in the Bowl Season and the final BCS Rankings. But another measure is the number of players taken from each Conference in the NFL DRAFT.
In the 2009 NFL DRAFT the winner is... the SEC. Here are the major conferences and their Draftee counts.
SEC 37
ACC 33
PAC 10 32
BIG 10 28
BIG 12 28
BIG EAST 27

No surprise that SOUTHERN CAL led all schools with 11 players Drafted. They were the only program in double digits for number of players chosen.
The programs closest to them may surprise you a bit. Three schools tied for second in the volume race with 7 players selected: OHIO STATE, OREGON STATE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

The position of most demand was DB with 55. But I think that number is somewhat deceiving because by not separating the CB & S groups the position group covers 4 starting positions. As usual WR was next with 34 players taken. There were almost twice as many (20-11) TEs selected as QBs. We all told you it was a mediocre and thin QB class. Now you have a better understanding of why the rush was on to acquire STAFFORD, SANCHEZ & FREEMAN in Round One.

Time for me to hand out some awards and grades for the work done over the weekend.

REACH OF THE DRAFT JAGUARS DEREK COX/CB/WM & MARY R3 PICK 73
A nice, athletic small school guy who should have been taken in R&/RFA area, not here. Some Personnel Guy on the JAGS should have his job hanging on the success (more likely failure) of this player.

STEAL OF THE DRAFT GIANTS ANDRE BROWN/RB/N C STATE R4 PICK 129
After the senior season, and post season that this guy had there is no way he should have been outside of the Top 100. He should fit as a replacement for FA loss DERRICK WARD (to TAMPA) perfectly.

MOST QUESTIONABLE PICK OF THE DRAFT BENGALS BERNARD SCOTT/RB R6B PICK 209
This would make sense as a high value roll of the ice for a team with a strong locker room. But with all the off field issues this decade involving BENGALS players, how can you even think of bringing in a guy who went through 4 schools to get this far, and has 5 arrests on his resume? When will this team learn?

DEREK COX ANDRE BROWN BERNARD SCOTT

BEST TEAM DRAFT 2009 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
BILL BELICHICK jovially sat through a Pre-Draft interview on NFL Network and admitted that his team was holding 11 Picks in a mediocre talent year. He proceeded to go out and work that DRAFT to almost perfection for an 11-5 team that somehow just missed the Play-Offs last season. At the end of the DRAFT on Sunday his results were as follows.
The team had traded around enough to avoid the paying First Round money to anyone.
They had added 2 extra Round Two Picks to their ammunition for the 2010 DRAFT.
Twelve new players had been added to the roster . The Picks included a head-hunting S to play Special Teams and be groomed to replace RODNEY HARRISON, and a probable starting CB to replace the traded ELLIS HOBBS. They also got RON BRACE & MYRON PRYOR, who should provide some quality play while VINCE WILFORK gets some plays off. They got two future starters, who can sit and learn in SEBASTIAN VOLMER/OT and BRANDON TATE/WR/RS. TATE will probably rehab his bad knee on the PUP List and learn some self-discipline in the NE locker room.
I give them an A- for their overall work during the weekend. Now watch them sign a serviceable RFA class, that will contribute a couple of players to the final 2009 roster.

WEAKEST DRAFT OF 2009 WASHINGTON REDSKINS
This was a close call, because a couple of other teams did not do much over the weekend, but the ‘SKINS Draft Room definitely underachieved. Adding insult to injury was the fact that a big reason the team was short of Picks this year was the ill-fated acquisition of JASON TAYLOR last summer, who was released after the ’08 season. After a solid start with ORAKPO & BARNES they made major reaches for 2 LBs who will at best help them on Special Teams. The only positive to me is the fact that they haven’t trade away ext year’s Picks...yet!

I need to get ready to hit the airwaves with HOFFY at ESPN Radio 1530 in Fond du Lac.

6 PM MONDAY

I heard a couple of things being discussed on Sports Talk Radio this afternoon, as I was running some errands, that I feel I have to respond to.
The first was an interview with a Detroit Sports Writer who went on and on about how outraged many LIONS fans are with the huge contract that MATTHEW STAFFORD signed last weekend as the First Selection f the 2009 DRAFT. The writer went so far as to suggest it was incumbent upon STAFFORD to ingratiate himself with the economically wounded of Detroit and his people should be buying autos, and rehabbing foreclosed properties to then give to financially strapped local folks. Give me a break! It is not STAFFORD’s duty to provide an economic recovery plan for distressed Michiganders.
He got the money that is currently slotted for the top pick in the Draft. He will set up some local charitable trusts in the Detroit area, but the concept that he should do so out of financial guilt and obligation is totally absurd. Maybe the FORD family and other millionaires in Michigan should do more for the masses.
LIONS fans should also remember that their team is absolutely horrible, and no one or two players from the 2009 DRAFT are going to turn this team into a winner this season. WILLIAM CLAY FORD created this nightmare situation, by refusing for too long to acknowledge that he had hired an incompetent personnel decision maker to run his franchise for most of this decade. He could have/should have stopped the bleeding by firing MATT MILLEN several years ago.

I am also sick and tired already of hearing what a bold and genius move it was for the JETS to go out and move up to get MARK SANCHEZ. Long term it may be a move that provides a star, franchise QB for a decade or more. But let’s also acknowledge how costly this move really was. The JETS got 3 players in the whole DRAFT. They also gave up 3 serviceable vets to the BROWNS as part of the trade. So let’s break down the swap from the Cleveland side of things.
For giving the JETS the right to pay MARK SANCHEZ a ton of money at the Pick 4 slot, a bad BROWNS team put together a string of trades and netted the following players for their roster:
ALEX MACK/OC
DAVID VEIKUNE/E/LB
COYE FRANCIES/CB
JAMES DAVIS/RB
ABRAM ELAM/S
KENYON COLEMAN/DE
BRETT RATLIFF/QB
I think that’s a fairly lucrative deal, and these seven players will bring more to the team in the immediate future than the Pick 4 slot would have.

I find it kind of interesting that in JERRY JONES’ self-proclaimed crusade to make the COWBOYS more ROMO-friendly only 4 of their 12 Draftees were offensive players, including a QB. JOHN PHILLIPS/TE & MANUEL JOHNSON/WR in Rounds 6 & 7 respectively were the only new weapons given to ROMO.
I guess part of the strategy is to make the COWBOYS D and Special Teams so strong that the Offense can run 67% of the time and does not need to score 24+ points per game to win most Sundays in the fall.

9 PM SUNDAY NIGHT

It’s over...it’s In the books as they say. And we now have about 3 months to chew on what happened over the past two days. I think it was quite the mixed bag upon initial review. Some of the NFL’s most successful teams did their usual fine job. The PATRIOTS danced around and added quality players at lots of positions, while accumulating extra Picks for next year. The STEELERS and COLTS pretty much stayed put and took players that fit their schemes and needs, no matter what other people thought.
Other teams seemed to stumble around and for every good thing they did, they seemed to flounder about at other times. The RAIDERS chose for speed and athleticism even when it defied common logic. The JETS went for quality, not quantity and now must count on their Scouting Dept. to identify and sign a bunch of Rookie Free Agents to fill out the roster. The REDSKINS didn’t have much to work with, and didn’t do much with it beyond ORAKPO.
Considering that DA BEARS did not pick on Day One and already have JAY CUTLER in house their Second Day Picks were plentiful and solid. I’m not sure how much help if any they added to their starting lineup, but they most certainly added some young talent to develop and add depth to their roster.

I need to sleep on the PACKERS DRAFT, but I must say that my first take is quite positive and I would expect to rank them in the top third of the League’s teams for their efforts. It worries me a bit that I did not object to any of their selections when they were announced. That has not been the case since WHITEY came to town 4 DRAFTS ago. RAJI and MATTHEWS should be of immediate help in their transition to a 3-4 defensive scheme.

RAJI DORSEY, McCARTHY, WHITEY MATTHEWS

The mad rush is already under way to sign the best undrafted prospects of 2009. Here is my short list of the best of the rest:
DARRY BECKWITH/ILB/LSU
GERALD CADOGAN/OT/PENN STATE
PANNEL EGBOH/DE/STANFORD
AARON KELLY/WR/CLEMSON
KORY SHEETS/RB/PURDUE
JEREMIAH JOHNSON/RB/OREGON
DOMINIQUE JOHNSON/CB/JACKSON ST
JASON WATKINS/OT/FLORIDA
OTIS WILEY/S/MICHIGAN ST
IAN JOHNSON/RB/BOISE STATE
KEVIN OGLETREE/WR/VIRGINIA
LEE ROBINSON/LB/ALCORN STATE
DEREK PEGUES/S/MISS STATE
ZACH POTTER/DE/NEBRASKA
GRAHAM HARRELL/QB/TEXAS TECH
JONATHAN CASILLAS/OLB/WISCONSIN
DANNELL ELERBE/ILB/GEORGIA
JOSH MAUGA/LB/NEVADA
HUNTER CANTWELL/QB/LOUISVILLE
ROGER ALLEN/OG/MO WESTERN ST
CHRIS BAKER/DL/HAMPTON
GREG ISDANER/OG/WEST VIRGINIA
DUDLEY GUICE/WR/NW LOUISIANA
KYLE LINK/OT/McNEESE STATE
CORNELIUS LEWIS/OL/TENNESSEE STATE

5 PM SUNDAY
As we wind through the 7th and Final Round of this year’s DRAFT a few more things are confirmed about the process this season. If you think I have overstated the significance of franchise finances in this down economy take a good look at a few scenarios that have played out this weekend.
The SEA HAWKS grabbed AARON CURRY/LB with Pick 4 Saturday. Sunday morning they announced they had removed the Franchise Tag from LB/LEROY HILL thus making him a Free Agent. Seattle will continue to negotiate a new contract with HILL, but so can any other team in the League. The removal of the Tag provides the team with over $8-million in Cap relief.
I have been led to believe that part of the failure to find BOLDEN a new team outside of Arizona has a lot to do with his expectation of a $10-million a year contract. Many teams who have interest in him as a receiver, like the GIANTS, do not have a strong desire to fork out that kind of money in order to make him happy.
Expect to see other veterans be released by their current teams once the DRAFT and Rookie Free Agent signings are concluded early next week. As teams take stock of their new rosters they will decide some money can be safely pared from the payroll.

As we wind slowly toward the conclusion of this DRAFT I am amazed once again at the proliferation of Picks spent on small school, D-II school prospects. In the wake of those selections it strikes me that we are going to be looking at some big name Prospects who will go undrafted. It seems strange that names like KEITH NULL, BRIAN McCAIN, ZACH MILLER, GEORGE BUSSEY, JOHN NALBONE, & SLADE NORRIS have all been called but names like GRAHAM HARRELL, IAN JOHNSON, JOHN PARKER WILSON, CAM MORRAH, AARON KELLY, HUNTER CANTWELL and others have languished waiting to hear their name.

MARK SANCHEZ is the the fifth USC QB to be Drafted in Round 1 in NFL Draft history. I thought there had been more quite frankly. The others have been LEINART (06), PALMER (03), TODD MARINOVICH (91) & PETE BEATHARD (64).

With OCs MACK & WOOD going in Round 1 this year it marks the first time that has happened since 1968.

I’ll be back a bit later this evening with my list of top players available to be signed as Free Agents, and my first take on the best and worst team drafts from around the League. I am amazed to say that right now that I like the looks of quite a few team lists.

NOON 4/26/09
The nightmare that is the Third Round is over. I say nightmare because it has turned into the “REACH ROUND” especially since the league moved to only two Rounds on Day One. It seems to be the time when Personnel People feel they have to get their diamonds in the rough before some other team beats them to their Sleeper. The end result is that a lot of marginal prospects get their name called in Round 3, while more productive college players with better NFL potential sit and wonder what went wrong. I will predict right now that there will be more solid NFL players selected in Round 4 than Round 3, and I am not just covering my Analyst’s ass.
I will eat some crow when guys like DEREK COX, DeANDRE LEVY, PATRICK TURNER, JERRAUD POWERS RYAN MOUTON & ROBERT BREWSTER go to their first Pro Bowl. There are lots of starters to be Drafted in Round 3 in the Top 100 Picks overall. Go take a look at the PATRIOTS player selection list already, and then realize that they have also acquired 2 Round Two Picks with their wheeling & dealing.

The stage is now set for us to second guess the GIANTS and their unwillingness to deal for ANQUAN BOLDEN/WR of the CARDINALS. If pre-DRAFT talk was correct then the GIANTS basically have said that the players they selected this weekend with Picks #29 & #85. THose players are HAKEEM NICKS/WR & RAMSES BARDEN/WR. It will be interesting to see if either or both of these guys is as productive as BOLDEN any time soon.

The COWBOYS finally got on the Board and selected a R5 player at slot # 69. WILLIAMS is athletic and will fit their scheme, but I don’t think there was much danger of him being snatched from them before their R4 Picks.
DA BEARS also hit the Board in Round 3 with a couple of Picks. Their selection of JARRON GILBERT/DL and JUAQUIN IGLESIAS/WR provided solid talent at positions of need. JERRY ANGELO seems to be on a roll this off-season.

As we pretty much suspected there weren’t any QBs taken in the Second or Third Round. WE should see a couple taken in Round 4. the most likely candidates to go are STEPHEN McGEE, NATHAN DAVIS & RHETT BOMAR.

It also seems to me that it became abundantly clear during Round 3 how much senior season injuries cost some players. TEs CHASE COFFMAN & TRAVIS BECKUM barely snuck into the tale end of R3, taken with Compensatory Picks. Other talented injured players still waiting to hear their names called include MARCUS FREEMAN/LB, JASON PHILLIPS/LB, JONATHAN CASILLAS/LB, & XAVIER FULTON/OT.

I’ll post some thoughts again after the completion of Round

9 PM 4/25/09
Day One of the 2009 NFL DRAFT is in the books and it makes for some very interesting reading.
Two teams (PANTHERS & BRONCOS) traded away their First Round Picks in the 2010 DRAFT.
Two teams (COWBOYS & DA BEARS) positioned themselves to not pick on the First Day of the 2009 DRAFT.

There were very few trades during Round One. The 5 trades was the fewest since 1972. It was also the fastest first round ever at 3 hours, 23 minutes.

Several teams seemed to think that there just weren’t any guys worth the Pick or money to take them in Round 1.
The most noticeable team with that attitude was New England, which moved down twice until they were out of R1, but held 4 Picks in Round 2, and another 4 in R3 to start Day Two.
The BROWNS also seemed intent on avoiding Top Ten money, and also let their fans pretty much know that the new regime considers the roster they inherited to be pretty bad. Thus the whopper trade with the JETS for players and picks. They traded down 3 times before the Round was over, but did make one selection in ALEX MACK/OC with Pick 21 (quite the reach by the way). I have to check more carefully, but it seems the BROWNS may own half of the picks in Round 6.

The BRONCOS may have been the team most convinced that there was value on Day One this year. They moved around and traded themselves into 5 total picks on the day; the most of any team. I think their fervor may have also been indicative of their need and desire to turn over the roster inherited from the SHANAHAN regime.

This should come as no surprise, but AL DAVIS may have led the RAIDERS to the most bizarre day of any team. In Round 1 DARTH chose the fastest player at the COMBINE in DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY/WR, even though CRABTREE & MACLIN were both available. It got even stranger in Round 2, when he selected S/MICHAEL MITCHELL, who most folks felt was a R&/RFA after a very impressive Pro Day.

In another pretty amazing move TED THOMPSON went against his own track record and traded back up into the First Round to grab CLAY MATTHEWS. It was an expensive move, due in part to the fact that he was dealing with BILL BELICHICK. The PACK received Picks #26 & #162, but had to surrender Picks #41, #73 & #83. The play of MATTHEWS in 2009 will help determine if the price was worth the move up to select him.

THOMPSON MATTHEWS BELICHICK

Something that did not happen in Round 1 may have been one of he biggest surprises of Day One. USC did not establish a new standard with 3 LBs all going in R1. REY MAUALUGA fell all the way to the BENGALS at Pick 38. He was expected to be the last of the three to be taken, but most of us assumed he would slide in during the final third of R1.

Looking ahead to Day Two:
Round 3 has a total of 36 Picks because of Compensatory choices allocated last month. The Super Bowl Champion STEELERS have 3 selections just like the PATRIOTS.
It looks as though the COWBOYS will have 2 of the first 11 selections Sunday, assuming Trader Jerry hangs onto them.

So most importantly let me give you my top prospects still available going into Round 3.
COYE FRANCIES/CB/SAN JOSE ST #41
MICHAEL JOHNSON/DE/GA TECH #43
I. J. MOORE/CB/VANDY #45
JARED COOK/TE/SOUTH CAROLINA #46
LOUIS MURPHY/WR/FLORIDA #48
DERRICK WILLIAMS/WR/RS/PENN ST #49
SHONN GREENE/RB/IOWA #51
DUKE ROBINSON/OG/OKLAHOMA #52
SHAWN NELSON/TE/S. MISSISSIPPI #54
MACHO HARRIS/CB/VA TECH #57
ANDRE BROWN/RB/N C STATE #59
KEVIN BARNES/CB/MARYLAND #60
CORNELIUS INGRAM/TE/FLORIDA #62
MARCUS FREEMAN/OLB/OHIO ST #64
CHASE COFFMAN/TE/MISSOURI #65
JUAQUIN IGLESIAS/WR/OKLAHOMA #66
RAMSES BARDEN/WR/CAL POLY #67
JAMON MEREDITH/T/G/S. CAROLINA #68
LAWRENCE SIDBURY/DE/RICHMOND #69
ASHER ALLEN/CB/GEORGIA #70

One of the more interesting Prospects to watch early Sunday may be JAMES CASEY/TE/BAYLOR. The former minor league baseball player is very athletic and quite the physical specimen at 6’3/245. He may also be one of he more impressive Wildcat formation candidates. The word is he blew away NFL Personnel people who attended his Pro Day. They claim he was a very impressive passing the ball with a strong and accurate arm.

I’ll be back at you Sunday with some Day Two tidbits. Good night folks.

3 PM
For the first time ever I am moving away from ESPN and will be watching the bulk of my DRAFT coverage on NFL NETWORK. Overall, it is a change made by default. If the best that ESPN can come up with to join BOOMER & MEL at the hosting table is KEYSHON JOHNSON & STEVE YOUNG, then it is time for me to move on from their coverage. NFL NETWORK has way to many bodies siting at their main desk, but as a group they have more credibility on air for my personal taste.

PICK N0. 1 DETROIT LONS MATTHEW STAFFORD/QB/GEORGIA 6’2/225
The deed is done and the contract is in place. The LIONS have their potential Franchise QB and now have to fill another dozen needs. I think STAFFORD needs to start the ’09 season with a clipboard in his hands. Bt I think we could/should see him starting by mid-season.

The next Pick should be JASON SMITH from Baylor. The RAMS have lots of needs (why else would they be picking at N0. 2) but none more pressing than beefing up their two lines. It’s time for them to answer the question: Where’s the beef?

PICK N0. 2 ST. LOUIS RAMS JASON SMITH/OT/BAYLOR 6’5/309
A young man who has rocketed up DRAFT Boards all year. he is very athletic and strong. He can get bigger and will get better in his run blocking. He seems to have a mean streak. A sold player to help the RAMS in the pits. He should start from Game One in 2009.

It is time to dispel the rumors of the reach for TYSON JACKSON. My favorite is still AARON CURRY who is he most athletic LB I have seen in several years. Assuming KC does switch to a 3-4 D he can play either inside or outside. I think he will develop as a pass rusher if they want him to.

PICK No. 3 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TYSON JACKSON/DE.LSU
I hope PIOLI didn’t pull an oblique muscle reaching for this guy up here. He will play early in their 3-4 formation, but he will never see a Pro Bowl. Someone taken soon hereafter will have a lot more impact for their team than JACKSON. See my notes from earlier today. He is not RICHARD SEYMOUR!

Now I see seattle with a couple of very interesting options: SANCHEZ, MONROE, CRABTREE or CURRY. With the trade of JULIAN PETERSON and LEROY HILL still not having signed his Franchise contract CURRY might be of more value and need here

PICK N0. 4 SEATTLE SEA HAWKS AARON CURRY/OLB/WAKE FOREST 6’2/256
I forgot to mention what a great young man CURRY is. He will be an immediate starter in PETERSON’S old spot. A great motor, and very athletic. In a 4-3 he plays the SAM. He is a smart football player who will make some big plays for the SEA HAWKS.

There are lots of ways to go with this pick, but the feeling is still that a pass rusher is needed for this team’s need. Could it be time for the JETS or REDSKINS calling for the Pick. CRABTREE may be too much of a Diva for their taste.
There is a trade and the place went up for grabs because the JETS just had their name on the Board. SANCHEZ in a New York minute.

PICK N0. 5 CLEVELAND BROWNS traded to the..
NEW YORK JETS MARK SANCHEZ/QB/USC 6’2/227
The team in the Big City has pulled the kind of Big Deal that their fans love overall. SANCHEZ had better be ready now, because he has to be the starter in Game 1 come September. At least SANCHEZ should be able to handle the big city pressure after USC.

Now things should settle back down, with the conservative BENGALS on the clock. I look for them to choose between the OTs MONROE & ANDRE SMITH. Even though I think SMITH’s transactions are fairly innocent, I think the team will go for the safer and more mature MONROE to replace ANDERSON/ANDREWS.

PICK N0. 6 CINCINNATI BENGALS ANDRE SMITH/OT/ALABAMA 6’4/330
Overall a good football player with a lot of upside to still be developed. He will need to be coached up and may require a baby sitter for a while. If he gets busted for anything in the Cincy area BENGALS fans may burn down the stadium.
And now the real mystery unfolds with DARTH DAVIS on the clock. MONROE would sure fit the bill as a need pick, but then again they are in need of a huge upgrade at W, and MACLIN and CRABTREE are both still available. If it’s speed then the pick is MACLIN, but CRABTREE has the pizzaz.

PICK N0. 7 OAKLAND RAIDERS DARIUS HEYWARD-BEY/WR/MARYLAND 6’2/210
MIKE LOMBARDI is shaking with laughter, because AL took the fastest guy from the COMBINE. I like BEY, but if AL knew how to work the Draft then he would have traded down. DARIUS will be a home run real soon.

There are WRs aplenty left for the JAGS. Do they want RAJI to help HENDERSON? Do they take MONROE or go with MACLIN or CRABTREE? I think they are really trying to trade down.

PICK N0. 8 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS EUGENE MONROE/OT/VIRGINIA 6’5/310
A very safe pick at a position of need. I am guessing that with SANCHEZ already taken there were not any teams trying hard enough to trade up here. He will start Week One and be solid.

This is real simple for E; RAJI is a perfect (almost) fit at a position where they really need help. He is just about unblockable and will contribute right away.

PICK N0. 9 GREEN BAY PACKERS B. J. RAJI/NT/BOSTON COLLEGE 6’2/335
WHITEY did the right thing and I am not just saying it because he was my pick here. He will get the job done and provide a serious upgrade at a critical position in a 3-4 scheme. They will need to assign him a baby sitter for at least his first year or so in Green Bay.

It’s WR time for the Niners because of the two guys available; MACLIN & CRABTREE. I think on overall ability and potential it should be CRABTREE.

PICK N0. 10 SAN FRANCISCO 49‘ers MCHAEL CRABTREE/WR/TX TECH
Given how the DRAFT has gone this is the man to pick here. He is big, strong and has great hands. Hopefully he will come in and listen to the wise words of YODA BRUCE. There is nothing wrong with the pub he will bring to this franchise either. If he can keep his attitude under control he can be elite.

PICK N0. 11 BUFFALO BILLS

PICK N0. 12 DENVER BRONCOS KNOWSHON MORENO/RB/GEORGIA 5’11/217
You can tell MIKE SHANAHAN is gone. After years of RB by committee it’s about time they sought out a franchise back. For a team with at best adequate QBs it is essential to control the game. Having the next LT should be plenty comforting in Denver.

On a relative scale the “SKINS should be surprised and delighted. ORAKPO is the perfect pas-rusher to plug in next to HAYNESWORTH.

PICK N0. 13 WASHINGTON REDSKINS BRIAN ORAKPO/DE/TEXAS 6’3/263
A great fit for the team and the player. He can start next to HAYNESWORTH and learn from ANDRE CARTER. Oh and he gets to keep his hand n he ground instead of learning to play standing up in a 3-4 scheme.

It’s time for a either a USC ‘backer or the best DB in MALCOLM JENKINS. Let’s go for JENKINS.

PICK N0. 14 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS MALCOLM JENKINS/CB/OHIO ST 6’0/205
He can start on the Corner right now, and could convert to S in the Nickel and when he hits is 30’s. This is big time help at a position of huge need for he SAINTS. I love this selection.

It’s USC LB time and I have heard MATTHEWS a few times. CUSHING might be amore versatile proven option.

PICK No. 15 HOUSTON TEXANS BRIAN CUSHING/LB/USC 6’3/243
CUSHING is the best all-around player of the three USC studs, but I thought they were going after MATTHEWS. He will seriously upgrade the LB corps in general and provide versatility if DEMECO RYANS goes down in he middle.

PICK N0. 16 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS LARRY ENGLISH/OLB/N ILLINOIS 6’2/255
They quick-picked me here, but i will not pretend that I thought of ENGLISH. I like his pass-rush potential but is this a hint that MERRIMAN may not be ready to go at full speed? Never question A.J. SMITH, just ask him.

PICK N0. 17 TAMPA BAY BUCS with a trade up.... (Watch for JOSH FREEMAN here.)
JOSH FREEMAN/QB/KANSAS ST 6’6/250
In three years he will be an elite QB in the NFL. They will show more patience to groom him with GRUDEN gone. He will have a better pro career if given a few weapons to work with.

Now it is time for D, bUt the DL are gone for this slot. I like another SC LB to come off the Board in REY.

PICK N0. 18 DENVER BRONCOS ROBER AYERS/DE/TENNESSEE 6’3/273
I see the hi-light film MIKE MAYOCK, bit I think you used all your film to put together a one minute highlight film. He is quick and has some natural pass-rush moves, but will get buried at the point of attack in he NFL. He can match up nicely with another guy just like him on this roster: JARVIS MOSS. A reach who will not impact their D.

The BROWNS don’t want to play today and have sent their pick to the EAGLES. It’s either MACLIN or PETTIGREW.
PICK No. 19 TAMPA BAY BUCS to the BROWNS to the EAGLES.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES JEREMY MACLIN/WR/MISSOURI 6’0/200
A real weapon for the EAGLES O. He will be an impact player especially in the return game. There was no way he should have still been around. He is solid and a hard worker who will fit well in the locker room. By mid-season he will be a full contributor to their Offense.

The LIONS are back up ad this pick is a no-brainer to me. Even though PETTIGREW is enticing but I am looking for MAUALUGA since they have nothing at MLB.

PICK N0. 20 DETROIT LONS BRANDON PETTIGREW/TE/OKLAHOMA ST 6‘6263
He is the best all-around TE in this Draft. He can block and is a serious red zone weapon. I have no problem with him upgrading the LIONS roster, but their Offense is gong to have to score a whole bunch of points. He should start right away.

I have forgotten what they need because they have traded out so man times. They must love the talent they have ranked in R6. how abouT EVERETTE BROWN to supply some pas-rush pressure.

PICK No. 21 CLEVELAND BROWNS from PHILY ALEX MACK/OC/CAL 6’4/315
This guy could start for a long time in the League, but this is at least 10 slots too high for his talent.

PICK N0. 22 MINNESOTA VIKINGS PERCY HARVIN/WR/FLORIDA 5’11/192
Anybody still have the phone number of the Love Boat Captain. After all the house cleaning BRAD CHILDRESS did when he came to town this is quite a risk. JACKSON may never have the time to throw downfield that far with COOK still at RT. Good luck VIKES.
I don’t want to sound like I am pushing the picks, but I see another team tat could make very good use of one of the remaining USC LBs. With the trade with the RAVENS how about REY or MICHAEL OHER.

PICK N0. 23 BALTIMORE RAVENS MCHAEL OHER/OT/OLE MISS 6’5/310
The PATS should have stayed put and taken him or one of the LBs. He will allow the RAVENS to let WILLIE ANDERSON retire. He will be solid and have a very long career. he fits their power style Offense.

How lucky can the FALCONS get? They need LB help and two of the USC guys are available. They need more talent and size at this position on their roster.

PICK N0. 24 ATLANTA FALCONS PERIA JERRY/DT/OLE MISS 6’2/299
A favorite of mine because of his explosive ability to shoot through the blocking gaps in the OL. He’ll have to be rotated because of his size and is older at 25, but this is where he should have gone from a value standpoint. He’ll probably start and will make some plays.

I’d like to see the LBs again, but i give up now. Let’s say VONTAE DAVIS/CB.

PICK N0. 25 MIAMI DOLPHINS VONTAE DAVIS/CB/ILLINOIS 5’11/203
He is a solid all around CB and this team needs help at that position. I am a bit worried about exposing him to the city of Miami, but they will keep him on a short leash, and drive him hard. He is a solid tackler which fits the TUNA.

At this point i would be looking within a group that includes MAUALUGA, MATTHEWS, E. BROWN,WELLS & D. BROWN. Or is a trade-out again. Yes, to the PACKERS. Now let’s revise the possible selections. How about MATTHEWS for his pass-rush.

PICK N0. 26 GREEN BAY PACKERS from NE CLAY MATTHEWS/OLB/USC 6’3/242
He has a big pass rush push and is a solid kid with great bloodlines and will probably be a head-hunter on Special Teams. The only question may be, did they give up too much to move up less than 10 slots? He is a tough hard nosed kid who will help toughen up their overall roster.

PICK N0. 27 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS DONALD BROWN/RB/UCONN 5’10/210
JOSEPH ADAI has trouble staying on the field every week, and this guy is as solid and dependable as they get at the position. PEYTON will love this kid, because he will also block effectively and will pick up blitzers.

PICK N0. 28 BUFFALO BILLS ERIC WOOD/OC/LOUISVILLE 6’4/305
I love this guy, but not here with their needs. He is a solid R2 player, and they need help at OT more than in the middle of the line. Wherever they put him (G/C) he starts for a dozen years. he is smart, tough and very physical.

All the GIANTS faithful want a AR to replace PLAXICO, but I do not see any names here that fit their desire. KENY BRITT would be the obvious local favorite, but he had a marginal workout with the GMEN.

PICK No. 29 NEW YORK GIANTS HAKEEM NICKS/WR/UNC 6‘1/210
I would have liked this Pick about three weeks ago. But when he had gained 14 lbs. between the combine and his Pro Day an alarm went off in my head. He’s not a speed guy to begin with and I can’t believe being overweight and out of shape helps him get open. This Pick has risk written all over it.

Do they take a chance on the athlete in EVERETTE BROWN or go with some DL help with ZIGGY HOOD who is really a Second Round talent.

PICK N0. 30 TENNESSEE TITANS KENNY BRITT/WR/RUTGERS 6’3/218
The need here is undeniable, and he has big play potential. It just seems a little out of character for a team that seldom picks for need.

If i am the cards I do not hesitate to grab BEANE WELLLS without thinking twice. He may bot fit what they need but HIGHTOWER is not even close in talent. Take WELLS and get ready to take a Little it of heat off of WARNER.

PICK N0. 31 ARIZONA CARDINALS CHRIS WELLLS/RB/OHIO STATE 6’1/235
This is a huge upgrade for the CARDS. They can find a change-of-pace back to compliment him later on. He catches the ball better tan a lot of people think. This may end up being the Value Pick steal of the First Round this year.

PICK N0. 32 PITTSBURGH STEELERS EVANDER HOOD/DT/MISSOURI 6’3/300
I love his talent and attitude for the game, but he is a skater who gets pushed around way too easily. That doesn’t translate well into their scheme in my opinion. He is a it short for a 3-4 DE. Time will tell, but I do have questions about the fit here.
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That wraps up Round 1 and I think the biggest surprise to me is that REY MAUALUGA is still on the Board. I am also surprised that new england couldn’t find a player they liked enough to pick in the First Round. TYSON was a big reach at No. 3 by PIOLI. Perhaps these guys do miss each other.
I was also surprised that WHITEY traded up for MATTHEWS and gave up most of his DRAFT to do so.

4/25/09 1:30 CST

Time for a few more Pre-DRAFT thoughts based on what am seeing and hearing this morning. Lets begin this session with a review with some of the NFL DRAFT guidelines that I subscribe to.
1) Don’t Draft purely for need.
2) Don’t reach to fill a need.
3) Get value for the spot at which you re picking.
4) Work the DRAFT to get value and needs filed, both now and for the future.

Based on a few things coming to my attention today it would appear a few folks have either forgotten, or do not subscribe to these rules.
I am reading in multiple places that the first real surprise may come at Pick 3 with the CHIEFS reaching for TYSON JACKSON/DE/LSU. I do believe that TYSON is the best natural 3-4 DE in this DRAFT. But I also believe his value is in the latter quarter of Round 1 from Pick 21 on. I am also guessing that KC is targeting TYSON later, but cannot find a trading partner for the expensive No. 3 Pick.
If this is their Pick, then I wonder how much SCOTT PIOLI really did learn in all his years of working with the KRAFT family and BILL BELICHICK.

JACKSON CRABTREE SANCHEZ

It would also seem that if MICHAEL CRABTREE falls very far today it will not be because of his recent foot injury. It will have more to do with the perception amongst some organizations that he will be the next DIVA WR to join the League. His interviews and his victory tour with his entourage have turned off more than a few teams over the past month. Talented, or not, teams are not anxious to pay big bucks to the next locker room/community cancer ala T.O. or PLAXICO.

Word is circulating at this time that the JETS are in very serious negotiations with the RAMS to move up to Pick 2, so that they can select MARK SANCHEZ/QB/USC. If the deal gets done and that is what the JETS do, then I will tell you the selection will make or break the carer of MIKE TANNENBAUM as the JETS GM.

Much talk amongst NFL Scouts is tied into the word “upside”. At DRAFT time a player’s upside, his ability to get better as a pro, can be a significant part of a player’s evaluation and placement on team Draft Boards. There are two players expected to both be first day selections, but who strike me as having almost no upside. They are good players and will be good in the NFL. But they probably won’t be any better in their 4th year in the League than they will be by the end of their Rookie season.
BRIAN ROBISKIE/WR/OHIO STATE is a polished player who has grown up under the wing of his dad, TERRY, who played and now coaches in the NFL. BRIAN is big, with good functional strength, and lots of savvy when it comes to the nuances of the WR position. But there isn’t going to much more he can be taught by an NFL Receivers Coach. He can contribute early, but will not likely go to any Pro Bowls.
Though he is a notch better than ROBISKIE overall, I have the same concerns about EUGENE MONROE/OT/VIRGINIA who is also a pretty much finished product. What you see today is what you get with MONROE, but it is pretty damn good. He should be a 10+ year starter.

Please excuse me for the following tirade, but once again this year I have read way to many comments from NFL Scouting Personnel that this is a weak DRAFT. This is the same CYA tripe they spew every year when it comes time to step up and make their DRAFT selections. There may not be any elite, glamour guys in the Top 10, but guys like MONROE, J. SMITH, etc. will play in more than their share of Pro Bowls over the next decade.
There is good quality and lots of depth this year, which is always the case. By the middle of the 2009 NFL season there will just as many Rookie starters around the League as there were in 2008. Stop making excuses and draft some talent fellas.

4/25/09 9:30 AM
I was going to write something clever about the sunrise here on DRAFT DAY morning but it is raining and cloudy here so onward we go. I’m still not sure how i really feel about this late afternoon start time for the DRAFT. On the surface i am still against it. My guess is as noon rolls around and I am still looking at a 3 hour wait to get rolling I am really going to not like it.

Just B4 heading into the shower I caught a snippet of mike smith discussing the BOLDEN situation, and lack of trade progress. It still seems to me that the GIANTS are being cheap and stubborn about this situation. They need a veteran, impact receiver on their roster. eli deserves a top weapon to replace PLAXICO. BOLBEN has 2 years left on his contract, which gives the team plenty of time to negotiate a new deal/extension. I think BOLDEN will be more patient about his contract on a winning team, where he is already the highest paid receiver.
As far as the draft Picks are concerned, exactly who is going to be around at Pick 29 who has vale next season even close to that of BOLDEN? The GMEN have two R3 selections, so giving one up is a non-critical factor. JERRY REESE, if the compensation the CARDS are really seeking is a 1 & a 3, and that is the biggest stumbling block to making the deal, than you are being parsimonious and silly. Do the deal GIANTS, and sustain your position as the best overall team in the NFC East.

Speaking of compensation...for those of you clutching your urban legend/Jimmy Johnson era trade value charts, you might as well put them away for this DRAFT. Over the past decade the numbers you have been looking at on that chart have changes dramatically. But more importantly this year, with the economic downturn teams will be a little spur-of-the-moment in their evaluations of trade value compensation.
Those charts are seriously flawed at the top of the DRAFT. How can they be that valuable when they are so expensive that no one wants to acquire them. I expect this to be the 6th consecutive year that no one is able to trade a Top 5 DRAFT slot. I did not even bother to print up the Trade Value Chart this year.

I am going to post a long overdue Trivia section next week after the DRAFT, so I am going to save some of my little tidbits of wisdom for that event, but there are a few factoids I would like to throw out to you this morning:

When the first Round is finished today it will be the first time in 15 years that MIAMI (F) football program has not had a player Drafted in Round 1. It’s a hard choice to determine whether Miami or Notre Dame has fallen the furthest in quality of players over the past 3-4 years.

SOUTHERN CAL has the most R1 Picks all time of any college with 60, and if they add the four they are expected to as of this morning they will be significantly increasing their lead. MIAMI is second with 56; followed by OHIO STATE with 51. Te Buckeyes should add 1 or 2 to their list today.

As I mentioned on the air Thursday, while Mock Drafting with HUFFY, if AARON CURRY is the first defensive player drafted today it will mark the 4th straight year that the ACC has had the first defensive Draftee come from their conference.

For those of you with a short memory the First Round of the 2008 NFL DRAFT featured 9 trades. I’m not sure we will see that many in 2009. I am positive we won’t even come close to threatening the all time record. In 1995, with 30 total teams in the League there was a record total of 15 First Round trades. That’s enough for one trade by half the teams in the NL at the time.
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I expect SOUTHERN CAL to lead the pack b Sunday in overall players selected from one school with 8 or 9 players. I don’t think they will hit double digits like they did last year (10). They led the DRAFT in total players with 11 n ’06. As I mentioned in my newsletter three years ago, expect USC to dominate the DRAFT for the foreseeable future.

So before I take my dogs for a walk during the lull in the rain here, let me reaffirm my selection beliefs for the top of the DRAFT today.
LIONS #1 MATTHEW STAFFORD/QB/GERGIA already signed
RAMS #2 JASON SMITH/OT/BAYLOR
CHIEFS #3 AARON CURRY/LB/WAKE
SEA HAWKS #4 MARK SANCHEZ/QB/USC
BROWNS #5 MICHAEL CRABTREE/WR/TX TECH
I would not doubt that there will be variations from this projection, but based on overall talent and team needs this is how I see it this morning.

4/24/09
I will be blogging primarily from this space over the next few days. Sorry to have not posted anything in the past two days, but i was traveling the state doing on-air Mock Drafts with my radio friends. i could have done them from home, but the radio guy in me likes sitting in the studio once in a while. AS luck would have it i also had a bit of car trouble and didn’t even get home Wednesday night. By the way a thanks to Roscoe (Mike) for getting me to the radio station Wednesday when my car broke down.

Now back to the real DRAFT chatter.
The trade of TONY GONZALEZ to the FALCONS certainly changes the complexion of the First Round in my book. I thought the FALCONS might be gunning for PETTIGREW. Unless someone too goo to pass up drops to a FALCONS Pick slot expect them to draft Defense and more Defense this weekend. They let older guys like MILLOY, BROOKING, GRADY, etc. to leave town and thus need some talented young bodies to stop some opponents. Given age and team status I think this was a good move for both teams, and a chance for TONY to finish up his career with a potential Play-Off contender.

It sounds and feels like the QB gold-rush is already underway. It seems (rightfully so) that the LIONS really do want to get STAFFORD in house if the price is right. The buzz the last two days has also been that on some team Boards SANCHEZ has moved past STAFFORD, so if the LIONS don’t take him he may fall to a spot somewhere behind SANCHEZ. There are also rumblings that if these two are gone in the top five, then JOSH FREEMAN may be a target by the 10th Pick or so.
I think that STAFFORD and his Agent CONDON had better take the current economic conditions into consideration in their negotiations. I have heard several times this past week that money and the economy will weigh heavily in Draft selection and contract negotiations. More so, than at any time in the past 20 years.
I am also hearing that the reason SANCHEZ is zooming for some teams is that after looking at his game tape the past past month or so (since the COMBINE) more than a few NFL talent evaluators really do see him as the best QB prospect this year.
For the past two months when some folks were saying FREEMAN might drop out of the First Round i have called them crazy, and him underrated. But now that O hear him mentioned in the Top 10, I call that a bit crazy as well. For the final time (I think) I will remind everyone that none of thee guys is going to have MATT RYAN impact as a Rookie. I will also remind you that RYAN was the only Franchise Rookie QB last year. JOE FLACCO did well, but they condensed the playbook got him and he was well down the list with his QB ranking. He has the potential, but he is far from complete as an NFL signal caller...just like these 3 guys.

Watch to see how far PERCY HARVIN slides this Saturday. I have mentioned several times that he has a well documented rep as a “player” off the field, and given the timing of the report I would guess there is a likelihood that the failed COMBINE drug test info is accurate is pretty good. I had him slotted to the TITANS, but after the PACMAN JONES adventure, i would think JEFF FISHER and MIKE REINFELDT would be just a little nervous pulling that trigger on PERCY.

Once again, I am on board with PETER KING and something he mentioned this morning in his SI column. With 9 Prospects being in NYC and invited to the DRAFT proceedings Saturday, I have to believe someone at the NFL offices has a bit of a sadistic side to their personality. You have to think that at least one, if not more, of these guys is going to dangle in the wind waiting to be picked. Is this a move to create angst and hype the televised coverage with a side story? Good luck guys...hope all our names are called early.

I have heard a lot of buzz surrounding TYSON JACKSON/DE/LSU being the PAKERS surprise pick at No.9. He is the best 3-4 DE prospect in this DRAFT. But he would not be a good value pick that high. If TED is after the guy, then he better trade down 5 slots or so. Value is the name of the game no matter where you pick, from No.1 to No. 100 especially.
I have commented this entire decade that one of the problems with the BENGALS Drafts is that most of their selections seem to come a Round too soon. In other words they select a player in Round 2, who really should be taken in Round

April 21, 2009
NFL action is heating up as we head down the home stretch toward the NFL DRAFT Weekend.

This item is not a news flash, but I found a little tidbit that interested me this past week. The current champion of producing NFL QBs is the University of MICHIGAN. As of April 1st there were 5 ex-Wolverines holding down roster spots in the NFL. In order of significance they are: TOM BRADY, BRIAN GRIESE, DREW HENNE, TODD COLLINS, DREW HENSON.
Tied for second with 4 players is SOUTHERN CAL (OREGON also has 4): CARSON PALMER, MATT CASSEL, MATT LEINART, JOHN DAVID BOOTY.
The only school looking like a certainty to add to their list in this year’s DRAFT is USC with MARK SANCHEZ. I for one am guessing there is a high likelihood that HENSON will not be on an opening day roster this fall. If so USC would capture the crown. For you MICHIGAN fans, enjoy the run while you can. With RICH RODRIQUEZ running the Spread O it could be some time before another Wolverine QB joins the NFL lineup.

BRADY PALMER SANCHEZ

The trade of JASON PETERS to the EAGLES by the BILLS significantly changes the look of the 2009 DRAFT. The ho-hum DRAFT team BILLS just became a player with 2 First Round selections and 9 overall. More surprisingly the EAGLES are still a major player with 10 Picks including 3 in the Top 85 overall. The possibilities are endless.

The DOLPHINS unleashed the NFL version of the Wildcat Formation last year in their upset of New England in September. By the end of the season another handful of teams had put in some form the of direct snap to someone other than their QB. Expect the experiment to continue to one degree or another in 2009. And I have three candidates from the 2009 DRAFT class who might fit the bill seamlessly.
Even though I do not consider PAT WHITE to be a serious candidate for a starting job in the NFL as a QB he is a very athletically gifted player. And with WHITE the Wildcat would take on an additional aspect of the unexpected... he is a left-handed thrower.
My second best candidate would be DERRICK WILLIAMS/WR/RS from Penn State. WILLIAMS handled the ball in just about every way possible during his college career. He is not much of a passing threat,but his speed and football intelligence make him a solid candidate.
My third candidate is VICTOR ‘MACHO’ HARRIs/CB Virginia Tech. HARRIS played WR and returned Punts in his spare time at Tech. His ego would relish the opportunity to take snaps and run an offense. He is a tad slower than WHITE and WILLIAMS, but his quickness is their equal, and his toughness is untouchable.

WHITE DERRICK WILLIAMS MACHO HARRIS

As the DRAFT approaches I, like most folks, make it a point to take a peek or two at what other folks are saying in their MOCK DRAFTS and Prospect Ranking lists. One of the most interesting perspectives is to make note of where others differ from my opinions. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and to paraphrase SHAKESPEARE ‘every eye forms its own beauty’. I try to never mock other analysts, because my projections are never even close to perfect either.
But...sometimes (like annually it seems) I am aghast at some of the rankings put forth by the guys at the WAR ROOM; the house DRAFT voice of the SPORTING NEWS. On Saturday morning I took a look at their SUPER 99 list. Thank goodness I had finished my coffee before I looked at their list. My jaw dropped and I swallowed hard more than a few times studying their compilation. I found some of their opinions to be purely outlandish.
Like what, you say...give me an example, you say. Chew on the following please.
ANDRE SMITH/OT/ALABAMA is not in their Super 99. Some of his actions since January classify him as immature and a knucklehead, but not a felon, which is what gets you taken off peoples’ DRAFT Boards.
BRANDON TATE/WR/UNC is their 20th ranked player. This is the TATE who is coming off a serious knee injury, and has 46 career catches for less than 1,000 yards.
NATE DAVIS/QB/BALL STATE is ranked 28th overall, and their No.3 QB, 14 spots higher than JOSH FREEMAN. I won’t even mention that they list MARK SANCHEZ as the No. 1 player in the DRAFT.
JAISON WILLIAMS/WR/OREGON is their No. 93 ranked player. The man was nicknamed 50-50 on campus based on the likelihood of his catching balls thrown to him. Plus, they list his 40-time @ 4.42. He ran a 4.64/40 @ the COMBINE and a bit better at his Pro Day, but not even close to their listed time.
And with all the current talk of 3 Southern Cal LBs going in Round 1 here is where they have the three ranked:
MAUALUGA/12; CUSHING/34; MATTHEWS/90.
MICHAEL OHER/OT/OLE MISS is buried down at No. 80, only 3 slots ahead of their favorite “sleeper prospect” WOODNY TRUENNE/CB/LOUISVILLE.
Come on guys, stirring up a little dialogue and being different is a good thing in moderation, but staking a claim to the absurd is another thing.

If you are a friend of PPP then you already know how strongly I believe in strong gene pools when it comes to athletes in general, and football players in particular. The high number of players in the 2009 DRAFT Class with strong bloodlines backs me up once again. Here are players I expect to see Drafted on Day One, who have football roots coursing though their veins.
AARON CURRY/LB is the son of former NFL DB REGGIE PINKNEY.
VONTAE DAVIS/CB is the brother of 49‘ers TE VERNON DAVIS.
CLAY MATTHEWS/LB is the son of former BROWNS Pro Bowl LB with the same name, and nephew of HOFer
BRUCE MATTHEWS.
PERIA JERRY/DT is a cousin of former LB DWAYNE RUDD.
LeSEAN McCOY/RB is the younger brother of current NFL’er WR LeRON McCOY.
DARIUS BUTLER/CB is the cousin of WILLIS McGAHEE/RB/RAVENS, and he nephew of former NFL DB
GENE ATKINS.
SHAWN NELSON/TE is the cousin of CHIEFS DT GLENN DORSEY.
BRIAN ROBISKIE/WR is the son of former player and current NFL Coach TERRY ROBISKIE.
CHASE COFFMAN/TE is the son of former PACKERS TE PAUL COFFMAN.

Though not of NFL bloodlines there are few other Day One Prospects with pretty famous relatives.
JAMES LAURINAITIS/LB is the son of pro wrestler Joe, known as “The Animal” during his stint with the
Road Warriors tag-team.
EBEN BRITTON/OT is the grandson of actress ESTELLE PARSONS.
“DUKE” ROBINSON/OG is the great nephew of singer SMOKEY ROBINSON.

JOE the ANIMAL ESTELLE as BLANCHE SMOKEY

One more final note before I fly...TOP 10 prospect EUGENE MONROE/OT/VIRGINIA is the youngest of 16 children in his family...yes I said 16!

April 13, 2009
It’s time to step up the information pace with the DRAFT now less than two weeks away. By the way, be sure to check out my Regardless of position list which was updated over the past weekend. Find it inside the TV screen in the right hand column on the Home Page. It’s in PDF form.

I’d like to start with two players who I think are moving around DRAFT Lists too much at this late stage of the game.

I cannot believe I am hearing/seeing MALCOM JENKINS being talked about as a late First Round Pick. It seems to me that too many folks, perhaps even Scouts, are reading blogs and starting rumors that end up being a stampede to get on the band wagon. This guy will make a fine NFL CB in the mold of another former Buckeye SHAUN SPRINGS. He has excellent size for the corner (6’0/205) and has adequate speed at 4.53, especially when you check out his 3-Cone and Short Shuttle numbers from the COMBINE which really tell the tale of his ability to turn and stay with receivers. If he is not gone by the twelfth Pick then someone has messed up in that group of teams picking and could be a steal for someone in the teens.

JENKINS/CB AYERS/DE MIKE MAYOCK

At the other end of the spectrum we have the amazing rising man: JOHN AYERS/DE from Tennessee. I was one of the first writers to be on this guy last fall when I mentioned him in my Who Caught My Eye Segment. I touted him as a mid-Round possibility with a chance to stand up in a 3-4 scheme, at 263 lbs. I liked his solid (not great) work in Mobile and had him in my Top 100 by the time the COMBINE was over. But now he’s a First Round lock?! MIKE MAYOCK says he’ll be the Defensive Draftee with the most pro impact from this DRAFT in 4 years?! Cam we please get a grip here folks. He is a solid 273 lbs. now and has some pass rush moves. He’s a one-year collegiate starter and even though he led the VOLS in sacks, the total count was a whopping 3. I like him as a prospect but he is not getting into the First Round in my evaluations. Count me out of this runaway snowball AYERS is riding on.

MEDIA MENTION
Hey DRAFT fans, unless you forgot to watch carefully I thought I should remind you of the bizarre time change for Day One of the DRAFT. Probably inspired by the same NFL Network geniuses who now have the Senior Bowl being played as a night game, it has been decided it would be better to start the DRAFT at 4 PM Eastern Time.
Another bad move on the part of the NFL Media arm in my mind. The better option would have been to leave the DRAFT as a noon time event and let the Third Round conclude Day One. Get ready NFL, because just about half way through the DRAFT broadcast lots of folks will be going out for Saturday Night or switching the channel to watch NBA Play-Off action. You may be about to find out how many DRAFTNIKS there really are NFL. And I think the answer will be not enough to please the sponsors after all.
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As much as I do not believe in the last minute prospect risings and fallings, as I discussed two paragraphs ago, I think it is valid that some players who weren’t even going to get a sniff from NFL teams begin to surface as at least Rookie Free Agent possibilities thanks to Pro Days and other workouts. For you real hard core Draftniks here are some names for you to ponder as Draft Sunday winds down, and the mad dash for Priority Free Agents begins.

MICHAEL BROWN/OT/MISSISSIPPI STATE 6’5/310
BROWN actually did not even play his senior season for the Bulldogs. But he did get an invite to play in the Texas vs. Nation All-Star game. It was there that he opened some eyes with his size and athleticism. There are questions to be answered about his fall from grace in college,but players with his numbers always get attention. Remember the famous words of football philosopher BILL PARCELLS: You can’t coach size!

PAUL CARTER/FS/ST. FRANCIS 5’11/198
(This one is for PPP friend Jason.) CARTER has been a real ballhawk while playing for the COUGARS. He has decent 4.50/40-speed and has shown himself to be quite the ballhawk with 20 career INTs with 6 of them being returned for TD. NAIA players don’t often get to the NFL, but this guy has been sighted by NFL Personnel people.

JASON CHERY/WR/RS/LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 5’10/189
The biggest boon to CHERY’s pro prospects was an invitation to the Texas vs. Nation game, just like BROWN. He absolutely burned up the field with his quickness all week during practices. He also displayed breathtaking vision and cutting ability on a punt return during the game. He could really help a team in need of a return man, who might also be able to develop into a decent No. 4-5 WR.

KEEGAN HERRING/RB/ARIZONA STATE 5’9/203
HERRING was on the 2009 DRAFT watch when the ’08 season began, but like his team his personal season was disappointing. By the time the college season ended he was an afterthought on Prospect lists. But he may have at least salvaged some semblance of his pro opportunities. I will be surprised if he is actually Drafted, but he should get signed on Day 3 of the DRAFT. He was healthy for the ASU Pro Day and had very respectable numbers. At 5’9 3/8”/203#, he ran a 4.47/40. He had a 34 1/2” Vertical, and a 10’3” Broad Jump. He put up 24 reps in the Bench press, and looked fluid in his position drills. He once again looks like a solid candidate to be a change-of-pace NFL RB.

VAUGHN MARTIN/DT/W. ONTARIO 6’3/311
Every once in a while there is gold to be mined north of the border in the Great White North. MARTIN might be the mother lode with his size and apparent talent. He was recruited 4 years ago by Michigan State but ended up staying home so to speak. Now he has grown up and shown flashes of serious talent. For his size he is a very mobile, short area athlete; just what coaches running a 3-4 scheme are on the lookout for. He recently went though some drills for scouts and ran a 4.50/40 while hefting up 33 reps in the Bench press. He is intriguing, and even though he has 2 years of eligibility left in Canada he is NFL DRAFT eligible. Thanks to COLIN @ GBN for the alert on this guy, who is being looked at by the PACKERS, among others.

DeANGELO WILLINGHAM/FS/TENNESSEE 5’11/227
It was pretty much a wash-out season for the VOLS last year, as it was personally for CB/WILLINGHAM. But during his appearance at the SHRINE GAME in Houston it looked like the light went on for him and the coaches there. He has the size and athleticism to play S more readily than CB. The bonus to this position switch is that what were average CB cover skills, now become above average S cover skills. And hitting has never been a problem for him. He has become a very attractive late round/RFA candidate for teams in need of a S, but who cannot spend an early round selection on the position.

MICHAEL MITCHELL/SS/OHIO 6’1/221
Another guy who there wasn’t room for at the COMBINE in Indy, has made a statement or two in his own behalf at his Pro Day and in some individual work-outs. All of sudden personnel people are taking a serious look at game film of him over the past two seasons. And more than a few folks are liking what they see from this full sized S. He ran an impressive 4.40/40 at his Pro Day and combined that with a 37 1/2” Vertical and 25 Bench Press reps to demand a second and third look from some NFL teams. Add his name to your Day 3 list!

Speaking of Pro Days...has anyone else noticed the huge weight gain by HAKEEM NICKS/WR/UNC between the COMBINE and the UNC Pro Day? NICKS, who weighed in carrying 212 lbs on his 6’1” frame in Indy tipped the scales at 226 lbs before his campus workout. Unless he is trying to bulk up to be an H-B, I see that big of a weight gain as a real red flag. He is not a speedster in the first place, and there have been some minor concerns about his dedication to the game.

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4/10/09 I don’t expect to see a major change in the DRAFT order over the next few weeks. So let’s take a look at who has what going into April 25th.

The EAGLES are the volume leaders at this point with 12 overall selections. They have 4 Picks in the Top 85. They will put their Scouting Department to the test with 5 Picks between #121 and #159. There will be NFL caliber players available there, but to hit on better than 50% of the selections they will need to have accurate prospect assessments and have their Board stacked properly. They might use some of their extra picks to move up, but that has not been their style overall this decade.

The PATRIOTS are next in quantity and perhaps quality. They have 11 selections and 4 of the first 58; 6 of the top 97. Usually BILL BELICHICK will shy away from using this many Picks in one season, because he won’t carry that many true Rookies on his roster. So look for the PATS to trade a few picks to move up this year and/or stockpile a couple of extra picks for next year.

The LIONS are the most heavily loaded at the front end of this year’s DRAFT. They have 5 of the first 82 selections including of course Nos. 1 & 20. But they have no selections in either of Rounds 4 or 5. They better have their ducks in a row relative to the value of the their Top 100 rated players. All five of those top 82 selections better be starting for them by season’s end 2009.

TED THOMPSON has the PACKERS right where he wants them, with 9 overall Picks (OK 1 less than he really wants) and 4 Picks in the Top 83. That should net some immediate contributors for his problem areas in the OL and his new 3-4 Defense. If this year’s Picks sit and red-shirt like last years then even I will be heavy on TED’s tail.

The GIANTS are well positioned to help out ELI with some new weapons,with a total of 10 Picks. Most impressively, they have 5 of the Top 100 selections. In their search to replace PLAXICO in their O they have the ammunition to trade up, or with the BROWNS for BRAYLON EDWARDS. That is not their style, but...

Conversely, you have teams like the SAINTS who are pretty much sitting this event out. New Orleans has only 4 Picks total, and after selecting at No. 14 they won’t get another chance until Pick 116. They pick again at #118, then can nap until Round 7 with #222. Let’s hope someone in the SAINTS DRAFT Room brings an alarm clock so they don’t snooze through one of their picks.

Impetuous REDSKINS Owner DANIEL SNYDER, and his “yes man” JIMMY CERRATO also have little ammunition for the shoot-out at Radio City Music Hall. The ‘SKINS have 5 selections at #13, #80, #150, #186, & #243. Hope ALBERT HAYNESWORTH is the best defensive player in the NFL boys. DA BEARS probably saved DANNY BOY from trading away most of next year’s Picks to get JAY CUTLER. But he still has two weeks to surrender some of his 2010 DRAFT.

DARTH and the RAIDERS also have only 5 Picks to work with, but at least those they have are their first five, which gives then 5 in the Top 126 selections, beginning with No. 7 overall.

At first blush JERRY JONES’ COWBOYS would appear to be loaded for bear with 11 Picks. But this is a case of quantity over quality. Based on the dubious trade to acquire ROY WILLIAMS/WR last season, Dallas has no First Round selection. Seven of their selections come in the second half of the DRAFT from Pick # 156 on. JONES has a roster in need of depth, but historically he and his Personnel Dept. don’t find much in the later rounds. Don’t expect JONES to trade up very far. He is watching his pennies these days with a bad economy and a new stadium that is as over budget as a government building project.

The BRONCOS DRAFT mother-lode is both a blessing and perhaps a curse. They have 10 Picks and need a major infusion of young talent especially on Defense. They have 3 of the first 50 Picks, and 5 of the Top 84. The curse is that they gave up a young franchise QB to get the extra DRAFT Weekend ammunition. The players selected with these picks have to be big contributors to the BRONCOS team and quickly.

And now a quick note under the heading of BORING. If you watch much of the DRAFT proceedings on TV you will hear the talking heads refer to “working the DRAFT process” when teams trade around for certain picks and/or players. Some get too cute and get burned, while others take advantage of the unsophisticated. And then there are the boring who sit and make their allotted Picks year after year.
With apologies to their fans, may I present the boring cases of the BUFFALO BILLS and ST. LOUIS RAMS. These two teams have all their originally allotted seven DRAFT choices. They have no extras through trades or Compensatory Picks. They have not even switched positions within the Rounds of their selections. And I would bet they will sit and take their 7 players when their team’s name is announced as ‘on the clock’.

April 3, 2009

It’s April and I am not in the mood to pull any April’s Fool jokes on you so what you read is the truth through my eyes. It seems like I am past due in assessing the overall talent, by position for the 2009 DRAFT. So right off the bat let’s begin this session handing out DRAFT quality grades by position. In descending order here we go...

OT A- J. SMITH (4), MONROE (5), OHER (11), A. SMITH (14)
I am going with the A- because there is no JAKE LONG in this year’s group, but once again it offers 4-5 First Round Prospects. I also envision a total of 8 Tackles being taken in the Top 100 overall. There are dozens of developmental prospects who display the size and athleticism for Rounds 4-7. With NFL teams split between zone-blocking schemes and traditional man-blocking concepts it provides more players with different skill sets and attributes to have a shot at an NFL career. THis group offers up that variety to drafting teams quite nicely...thus my highest rank this year.

OLB B++ CURRY (1), E. BROWN (10), ORAKPO (15)
I am pegging this group just a notch below the OTs. The biggest reason is that a significant number of these guys played with their hand down in college, and will need to stand up in the NFL. That learning curve will prove a challenge for some of them. There is plenty of variety to cover both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, which may be close to being split equally around the League when Training Camps open in July. There could be as many as 6 First Rounders who are OLBs this year. This compares with an average of 4 LBs in the First Round over the past 4 years. I am throwing into my LB group ORAKPO, E. BROWN, & ENGLISH as potential Round 1 selections. I can see 11-12 LBs in the Top 100. It’s a good year for your favorite team to need LB help no matter what scheme they play.

WR B+ CRABTREE (3), MACLIN (8), HEYWARD-BEY (16)
Thanks to an influx of talented underclassmen this position group has moved from destitute to very promising this year. Two aspects stand out in my mind right now: impact guys and volume. Last year there were no (0) WRs taken in Round 1. Over the last three DRAFTS the average has been 2.3. I see 5 WRs in the First Round this year, maybe 6. I currently list 14 WRs in my Top 100 players. And I have no doubt that MACLIN and CRABTREE are impact guys when healthy. The group has speed, size, smarts, and lots of them appear to be poised to help immediately in the return game. Watch for WRs to be flying off the board in record numbers by the end of the day on DRAFT Sunday.

OC B MACK (35), WOOD (50), UNGER (53)
I can’t give a two thumbs up ranking to a position that has no First Rounders. But on a relative scale this is a superior group of players for the position this year. Only 1 OC has been DRAFTED in the First Round the past three years. Consider this a pop quiz: who was he? There will be none this year in Round 1, but I fully expect to see 3 taken in Round 2. My rankings list indicates two more guys going in Round 3 which would mean 5 OCs total in the Top 100. The previous 3 year average for the whole DRAFT has been 5.3. The 2009 DRAFT will blow that number away at this all important, but neglected position. A. NICK MANGOLD/JETS.

CB B- JENKINS (6), V. DAVIS (23), A. SMITH (25)
This group is solid but unspectacular. Don’t believe the speculation that JENKINS is moving to safety. He is a solid, super-sized CB. DAVIS has elite athleticism, but concerns based on his brothers NFL attitude count against his evaluation. With 4 in the First Round and a baker’s dozen in the Tp 100 there is more than enough talent to call this a solid position group. There are also an abundance of CBs with exceptional return potential. The average number for CB Draftees the past three years has been 25, and this year’s group should see over 30 players tabbed.

TE B- PETTIGREW (20), J. COOK (46), COFFMAN (51)
It is a waste of time to moan and groan about the lack of all-around, in-line blocking TEs. The college game is evolving with the Spread offenses and the receiver first TE is the norm. The NFL is looking for more of these guys as well so why fight change. Besides this position group has great diversity this year. Guys like PASCOE, PHILLIPS and QUINN block like crazy. The top ranked prospect (PETTIGREW) is a solid blocker for his height. THis group will be just about equal to the three year average numbers for TEs. PETTIGREW is the only first rounder, but 6 should go in the Top 100. For teams needing to compliment their current TE corps this year’s group will provide help.

RB C+ MORENO (7), WELLS (13), D. BROWN 22)
Average is the best way to describe this group overall. There are some serviceable backs here, but each one has warts. MORENO does not have blazing speed. WELLS has been nicked up a lot. BROWN seems a bit small for a between the tackles banger. But the group does offer variety and depth. Remember a C just implies average, not poor. Teams looking for change-of-pace backs with good pass catching skills will fair well this year. There should be 4 First Rounders and 10 of the Top 100 Picks should come from the RB crew. Both those numbers are almost right on with the previous 3 year average. Most folks are skeptical that there are any franchise backs in this group. I say the Franchise Back concept is just about passe anyway. I also watch out for MORENO; he reminds me of LT.

DT C RAJI (9), JERRY (26), MARKS (42)
Teams with a burning need at DT are going to have to roll the dice and gamble a bit this year. This group is average in every way. I see 2 DTs in both Rounds 1 & 2. But what is lacking are the dominant guys who have size, speed and explosiveness. Settling for 2 out of 3 will be the best a team can do this year. I see 8 players in the Top 100, which is actually above the three year average, but most of them are geared to specific defensive schemes and will need to have well defined rolls. This would be a good year to roll the dice in the mid rounds (3-5) on a DT who is reasonably assured of fitting into a DL rotation, as opposed to starting. If RAJI did really fail a drug test this group will take a slide on DRAFT Weekend. Take a look back at how many Draft slots such an allegation cost WARREN SAPP back in the day.

ILB C MAUALUGA (19), LAURINAITIS (24), BECKWITH (71)
The surprising thing about this group is that there are two First Rounders, which is most unusual for the ILB position. Only 1 player has been selected in Round 1 over the past three years at this position. Overall matching the 3 year average of 11 total per Draft should be no problem. For teams needing inside guys I strongly recommend jumping all over REY and JAMES. They both should have fine NFL careers as active, aggressive difference makers. After them...wake the baby and me up next April please.

DE C - T. JACKSON (28), MAYBIN (29), M. JOHNSON (37)
This group has become harder to evaluate because so many collegiate DE wind up being pass-rushing OLB in the NFL. It also gets a little complicated because there is a significant difference in size and skill profiles between playing DE in a 3-4 vs. 4-3 scheme. I actually think this year’s group will provide more help overall for teams needing a 3-4 DE. In my Top 100 I project two collegiate DT to be 3-4 DE; GILBERT & MOALA. Several of the best 4-3 DE prospects (MAYBIN & JOHNSON) will require some patience and strength improvement to be more than just pass rush specialists. If you are a fan for a team drafting in the first half of Round 1 and they need a solid DE, find something else to do other than watch the DRAFT Saturday morning April 25th or risk being seriously disappointed.

QB C- STAFFORD (2), SANCHEZ (12), FREEMAN (21)
Even though the talent is average, especially past the top 3, drafting QBs is never boring. The glamor and importance of the position keep it in the spotlight. I think all three top guys have what it takes to become solid NFL starters, and certainly at least one of the three will become a Pro Bowler who can lead his team to the play-offs. The problem will be for teams and fans who think any of these guys can be this year’s version of MATT RYAN. There will not be immediate saviors in 2009. RYAN put in his full term at B.C. and was a very mature, seasoned veteran heading into his NFL Rookie season. Any QB selected this year will be a work-in-progress and will require a few years of seasoning to fully take control of a team. RHETT BOMAR is my developmental sleeper. A lot of what he did in Mobile, and how he did it, reminded me of a guy named BRETT. With a patient team and a QB guru to work under he could be special in a couple of years.

FB C- Q. JOHNSON (174), FIAMETTA (207)
The pickings are typically slim, with only two Draftable players (although SOUTHERLAND/258 comes close) at this spot in 2009. But that is about average and not devastating with only about half the teams in the League even using a starting FB anymore. The league average over the past three years has been a little over 4 FB drafted. As usual most teams will sign one or even two Rookie Free Agents to bring to Camp in July. The two guys above could be quite useful for teams still looking for a young traditional FB on their roster for 2009.

OG C- ROBINSON (44), MEREDITH (67), LEVITRE (72)
The fact that I did not give this group a lower grade may be an indication that I am getting soft as I approach 60. Overall the group is so weak that both MEREDITH & LEVITRE played most of their collegiate careers at OT. Size and physical limitations indicate both of these guys will be better suited inside. I only have 4 OG listed in my Top 100. Other than the lack of 1 First Rounder the number and placement of players taken this DRAFT will be pretty much on target with the average of the past 3 DRAFTS. Some of the overflow talent at OC will help teams fill the Guard-Gap in the middle rounds. Excuse me while I yawn here...

S D DELMAS (41), W. MOORE (61), CHUNG (77)
This is the weak link of the 2009 DRAFT without question. There is no elite talent and the depth is suspect. This will be the first time in years that there is no Round 1 S. I only see about 15-17 overall Draftable S which will also be well below normal. There will be some serviceable players able to make rosters, but if you really need a S 2009 is going to be a disappointing DRAFT. If MOORE can show the skills he did before his injury plagued senior season it would upgrade this group tremendously. Based on his junior year at Missouri, he has starting potential in the NFL. Lots of Special Teamers in this group, with personnel folks hoping some of them can be coached up enough to at least play in dime packages.

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M ARCH 23, 2009
Pro Days roll on and provide all of us with a little more food for thought as we are officially into Spring this week. Here are some random thoughts and observations...

PERCY HARVIN/WR/FLORIDA was an absolute star at the Florida Pro Day. But questions still remain about his character and intelligence off the football field, as well as in the locker room. HARVIN may be as big a “player” off the field as he is on it. There is also a leak of info indicating that he scored an even dozen (12) on his Wonderlic Test in Indy. That’s not single digits (the kiss of death), but the NFL Playbook for a WR is a pretty thick book to study and digest. Word out of the Orlando area is that HARVIN also needs to learn how to ‘tip’ his service providers. In case of a tie there are several other WRs who seem to be safer bets to bring into an NFL locker room than PERCY, from what I have seen and heard.

Let’s stick with the WONDERLIC numbers for another paragraph or so. EBEN BRITTON/OT/ARIZONA rang the bell for the OT contingent with a solid 31, that’s out of 50. KEVIN BARNES/CB/MARYLAND really set the bar for the Class of 2009 (DRAFT wise) with an impressive 40 number on his test.
MATTHEW STAFFORD separated himself from all the highly ranked QB candidates with an impressive 38. THis number reconfirms the word out of Indy that he was blowing away NFL Personnel folks with his work at the chalkboard explaining plays and his reads and options. SANCHEZ (28) and FREEMAN (27) paled in comparison with STAFFORD’s score, but their numbers are more than adequate in the eyes of the NFL talent evaluators.
I wish I could tell you that I have found access to all the score information, but that would be a lie on my part. Without turning this into a rumor mill I will advise you if I pick up other meaningful numbers as we head toward DRAFT Weekend.

JAVON RINGER/RB regained some of his luster during the Michigan State Pro Day. He had been hobbled with a knee problem since late in the 2008 regular season. But he appears to have recovered some of his snap and speed. His 40-times were 4.42/4.47, and his Short-Shuttle times of 3.72/3.83 were outstanding. He was also praised for showing exceptional hands and instincts in receiving drills at the workout. This is good news for a great college player who was slipping out of the Top 100 based in good part on his poor COMBINE numbers.

CONNOR BARWIN continues his impressive work for talent evaluators, but please can we dispense with the First Round speculation. He is only suited for certain schemes and will take time to adjust to a stand-up LB position. I can see him sliding up into the Second Round for a team like the PATRIOTS with their multiple defensive sets and player assignments, but once again let us not fall too much in love with the players-in-shorts evaluations. How can I not like a guy with the same first name as my new grandson...but he is still a ‘tweener who will most likely end up playing a “new” position most of the time in the NFL.

Even though he did measure in at a surprising 6’0 tall CHASE DANIEL/QB/MISSOURI seems to be in a free-fall down the prospect ranking boards. For all his good work on the actual playing field for the Tigers it is becoming clear that he does not have the arm to make the sideline and deep downfield throws required in most NFL offenses. He struggled mightily on those passes during the Missouri Pro Day. He still looks like an outstanding CFL or AFL QB prospect to me, but not an NFL prospect. DANIEL’s best bet may be to go north of the border and try to duplicate JEFF GARCIA’s road to the NFL.
Conversely, more than a few folks think that his little used teammate and back-up CHASE PATTON may be the real NFL Prospect from Missouri. As expected PATTON’s size and very strong arm got lots of tongue’s wagging around the NFL. Everyone is looking for the next DRAFT DAY bargain “MATT CASSEL” these days. I think a lot of NFL teams will be trying to get a better handle on what PATTON’s NFL potential might be. He may lead the way for collegiate non-starters getting specific team workouts over the next four weeks.

THE CHASES SENIOR BOWL NIGHT 09 PRACTICE COLLAGE

Under the category of SAY IT ISN’T SO, I am going to digress a bit and talk about the recent rumors that the SENIOR BOWL is a ‘Free Agent’ (words of STEVE HALE) and with no stadium lease in effect any longer, it is shopping itself to other cities...TAMPA being the hot rumor right now.
I can’t picture this game being held somewhere else. Call my naive, but it has become part of the social fabric of Mobile, a growing area both in population and economic strength. I know this to be true after 12 years of attending the event known as Senior Bowl Week. I have forged friendships in the Mobile area and the locals have strong ties to this game. It has been in Mobile for 59 of its 60 years of existence. The game is owned by a local association called the MOBILE ARTS & SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
The event and the community have been pushed and prodded in the past decade by the NFL and various sponsors, into moves which have tried the patience of the local fans. First, NFL Network took the game away from ESPN. No big deal you say...I beg to differ. The local cable network, like many in this country, doesn’t carry NFL Network. In essence the game has been blacked out on local television in its home town, even when it sells out. Then UNDER ARMOUR (a big sponsor on NFL Network) was forced upon the game by the NFL. This past game was switched to an evening game time, which was not popular at all with local fans. Mobile is cold, windy, damp and often foggy on evenings in January & February. I think that had more to do with the first non-sellout this decade than the economy did. At $24 for the highest ticket believe me this game would have sold out as usual for an afternoon start.
The Senior Bowl doesn’t pay any rent for use of LADD-PEEBLES Stadium, nor for use of the cities Convention Center which hosts multiple events related to the Senior Bowl. But the city of Mobile does seem to be spending more money on stimulating other/newer game events (Gulf Coast Classic) than taking care of their familiar friend.
Here’s hoping that all parties can get their heads together and work something out that keeps this significant event an integral part of Mobile’s social fabric, without any party feeling abused or misused.
If you are interested in following developments in this situation check out articles by TOMMY HICKS in the Mobile Press Register @ www.press-register.com.

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March 17, 2009

ALEX MACK/OC/CAL finally got on the field at the CAL Pro Day, March 18th. He was absent from workouts at the COMBINE. Among those in attendance was RAIDERS HC TOM CABLE, who lost his starting OC (JAKE GROVE) to the Dolphins earlier this month. He should be interested in MACK, but let’s also acknowledge the fact it was a short ride to Berkeley for CABLE. MACK measured in at 6’4/307, and looked like a decent athlete who is well suited for OC in the NFL. He gets by as much on brains and technique as he does physical ability. If the RAIDERS are truly interested in MACK they will have to cross their fingers that he makes it to them at Pick 40.

Good catch by friend MATT B, the DRAFT DADDY, on the Pro Day numbers on MARK RUBIN (Mark Who?). RUBIN is a Priority Free Agent candidate from Penn State who played some WR and S for the Lions. He really turned some heads at the PSU Pro Day. At 6’2/223, and with a 4.60/40-time, he presents the kind if numbers that mark him as a solid athlete with measurables that translate to the NFL. Think of another versatile PSU grad in ST maven ETHAN KILMER folks.

Ouch..double ouch, at the ILLINI Pro Day when we found out that XAVIER FULTON/OT had surgery on both shoulders following his work at the COMBINE last month. Hopefully things went well and he will be ready for an NFL career, but shoulder injuries raise almost as many concerns for Personnel Staffs as knees. I currently have FULTON ranked as a Round 4 prospect well suited for a West Coast scheme team.

A guy, who not surprisingly is flying up DRAFT Boards is CORNELIUS INGRAM/TE/FLORIDA. INGRAM lost his entire senior season to knee rehab. He put his time to good use in the training room and rehab center. He made a solid impression at the COMBINE and I have him moving rapidly toward my Top 100; currently at No. 119. He looked good at the Florida Pro Day, and with a sculpted 6’4/245 frame and 4.65/40-speed he passes the personnel eyeball test. He is primarily a slot, H-Back TE, but could put in some time as a down-Y guy.

While we are talking about the TE position let’s reflect for a moment on TRAVIS BECKUM/WISCONSIN. After passing his physical exams in Indy BECKUM was ready to run in Madison on the March 4th Pro Day. He posted 40-dashes of 4.61 & 4.63. His 38 1/2” Vertical and his 9’10” Broad Jump were very impressive for a guy coming off a broken bone in his leg. He looked flexible in his Cone and Shuttle drills. At 6’3/240 he reminds many of another Big 10 guy, DALLAS CLARK, now with the COLTS.

Conversely, we have the case of P. J. HILL (the incredible shrinking man), who appears to be enamored in his weight loss regimen. He measured in at 5’10”/218 lbs., which his lightest weight since Junior HS. That’s great if his goal is a job as a Jenny Craig spokesperson, but not necessarily so if the goal is a career as an NFL RB. The rub is that as his weight drops, his 40-time does not. He was still only able to clock 4.63/4.65 at the Pro Day. Look above: that’s slower than BECKUM.
Throw in his run-in with Madison Police over the weekend (more on that later) and you have a player who heads into the DRAFT looking like the kind of guy who isn’t looking particularly attractive to many (if any) NFL teams.

Speaking of shrinking players; how about the case of HERMAN JOHNSON/OL/LSU?! JOHNSON weighed is at a robust 383 lbs. in Mobile back in January. At February’s COMBINE he tipped the scales at 364 lbs. At the LSU Pro Day on March 16th he came in at 355. He is still a huge human being and a weight of around 350 lbs might be as close to ideal as can be reasonably expected. What really caught my eye at his pro Day was his Bench press number of 24 reps. That is outstanding strength for a guy with 36 1/2” long arms. His height of 6’ 7” still concerns many NFL Personnel folks for the interior OL. I think it is highly likely he will be given a serious trial at OT after being drafted next month. He spent quite a bit of time at OT in Mobile, and though awkward at times, he held his own on the right flank.

I read an interesting analogy from Dallas Morning News football Columnist RICK GOSSELIN the other day. He compared “no-love” prospect NICK REED/LB/E/OREGON to PATS LB TEDY BRUSCHI. REED was the PAC 10 sack leader last season and yet didn’t get invited to the COMBINE. REED’s size/speed numbers make it difficult to project his game to the NFL level. He stands 6’ 1 3/8”/245 with Pro Day speed of 4.72/40. He did show some strength by Bench Pressing 24 reps. I agree with Rick’s assessment that REED is a football player and could make a team under the right conditions, but by the same token I am still showing him at No. 351 on my prospect rankings list.

There was something that bothered me greatly emanating from the Oregon Sate Pro Day last week. It was a comment made by KEENAN LWEIS/CB. LEWIS weighed in at 191 lbs, which was 17 lbs less than he weighed at the COMBINE. THat big of a weight fluctuation is worrisome in a CB. It got curiouser when he explained it by saying he was given creatine during prep work for the COMBINE, which caused his weight increase. LEWIS weighed 197 lbs in Mobile back in January. I find it a little disturbing that LEWIS and the people handling his training work endorse such weight fluctuation and the use of the substance in his DRAFT prep work.

For those of you not following my DRAFT Prospect Rankings at my website (shame on you), here is my list of Top 10 QBs. The number on the left is my overall player ranking.

2 MATTHEW STAFFORD/Georgia
14 MARK SANCHEZ/Southern Cal
27 JOSH FREEMAN/Kansas State
94 BRETT ROMAR/Sam Houston State
97 TOM BRANDSTATER/Fresno State
101 PAT WHITE/West Virginia
138 NATHAN DAVIS/Ball State
150 HUNTER CANTWELL/Louisville
151 STEPHEN McGEE/Texas A & M
156 GRAHAM HARRELL/Texas Tech

PAT WHITE is ranked as my 6th best QB, in anticipation of his status as a slash (/) player, bringing added value as a multiple threat as a WR and RS. I do not see him attaining status as an NFL starting QB.
Overall this is an adequate group, and I think the first three are legitimate First Rounders, each with a chance to be a productive starting NFL QB. But as a group I see this position group as pretty average, at best.

POSITION GROUP GRADE: C-

Fantasy Land

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 21:48:32 -0500

Time is of the essence, so here are my top Fantasy Players, effective with the opening of NFL Training Camps. It will be up to you to watch their health status through the Pre-Season. It should also be noted that as the Fantasy world expands more and more Leagues are developing more complex scoring systems. My list below is based on two primary factors: recordable stats like Yards Per Game and Points scored. If your League gets much more detailed than that you’d better subscribe to a strictly Fantasy info service.

1) ADRIAN PETERSON/RB/VIKES He gets you yards and TDs, and lots of them.
2) MICHAEL TURNER/RB/FALCONS Ditto, especially with FALCS WR issues right now.
3) MAURICE JONES-DREW/RB/JAX He is the man now in JAX and his pounding style works well in Red Zone.
4) STEVEN JACKSON/RB/RAMS He has the whole package and a beefed up OL to run behind as SPAGS installs ball-control O.
5) MATT FORTE/RB/BEARS His catches may go down, but his rushing YPC should go up once CUTLER loosens up the D.
6) ANDRE JOHNSON/WR/TEXANS The best all-around WR in the NFL with the stats to prove it. A beast when he smells the end zone.
7) LARRY FITZGERALD/WR/CARDS Just a whisker behind AJ. He may hit 100+ again if WELLS doesn’t revive running attack.
8) DREW BREES/QB/SAINTS With this O scheme, his receiving corps and a weak D, he will put up huge stats again.
9) STEVE SLATON/RB/TEXANS I was worried because of his size, but he added 15 pounds of muscle. No one to steal his carries on roster.
10) LT TOMLINSON/RB/CHARGERS Poised for a comeback year. Won’t lead League in touches, but will get the ball in Red Zone.
11) CHRIS JOHNSON/RB/TITANS He is so fast it is scary. TITANS will run 65% of time w/ him leading the way.
12) DeANGELO WILLIAMS/RB/PANTHERS Only 2 things may hold him back. HIs OL has no depth, STEWART must get some carries.
13) TOM BRADY/QB/PATRIOTS Could be scary good. He is super motivated after missing last year; weapons are good and numerous.
14) CLINTON PORTIS/RB/SKINS Never count this tough/versatile guy out. He will grind yards and get you some TDs.
15) PEYTON MANNING/QB/COLTS Unless BROWN runs wild, PEYTON will have to carry the team, which means huge numbers.
16) FRANK GORE/RB/49‘ers Lack of big time QB means lots of rushing yards for FRANK. He catches well to boot.
17) BRANDON JACOBS/RB/GIANTS With WARD gone it is JACOBS team. The only concern is his annual injuries.
18) RANDY MOSS/WR/PATRIOTS He is looking forward to deep throws from BRADY. Remember his 2007 season stats?
19) REGGIE WAYNE/WR/COLTS With Marvin gone, and running game questions, it is time for REGGIE to be the man.
20) STEVE SMITH/WR/PANTHERS They intend to run a lot, but when they pass this is the man. Big plays are his specialty.
21) RONNIE BROWN/RB/DOLPHINS He probably loses his Wildcat job, but he will carry the bulk of the running load.
22) BRIAN WESTBROOK/RB/EAGLES Injuries are the only question on BRIAN. He is the man, but watch the injury report.
23) CALVIN JOHNSON/WR/LIONS Someone will get him the ball (STAFFORD/CULPEPPER) and he will make big plays.
24) MARION BARBER/RB/COWBOYS He will share carries w/JONES, but no none is better than him inside the 10 yard line.
25) GREG JENNINGS/WR/PACKERS He should be ready to emerge as an elite receiver, & his QB should still be improving.
26) DWAYNE BOWE/WR/CHIEFS He is one of the best, young emerging WR in the League. CASSEL will look to him first.
27) RODDY WHITE/WR/FALCONS Once he settles back in, he should continue his growth as RYAN’s main man.
28) KURT WARNER/QB/CARDS My guess is they will have to pass a lot to win and he has FITZ, BOLDIN & BREASTON to chuck it to.
29) TERRELL OWENS/WR/BILLS A prideful T.O. will want to put up big numbers. If they open up the attack he should.
30) KEVIN SMITH/RB/LIONS He almost ran for 1,000 yds as a Rookie. He should only improve in a ball control O scheme.
31) RYAN GRANT/RB/PACKERS After a holdout he was injured in ’08, but if healthy he is perfect compliment to passing game.
32) LARRY JOHNSON/RB/CHIEFS They need a running game to take pressure off of CASSEL, and LJ will get plenty of carries.
33) DERRICK WARD/RB/BUCS They will want to pound the rock, and if he is healthy (big ?) his OL can open the holes for him.
34) ANQUAN BOLDIN/WR/CARDS I worry about his psyche because of contract issues, but he is a premier receiver.
35) PHILLIP RIVERS/QB/CHARGERS He is accepted leader of this team & his numbers are growing each year.
36) GIANTS-D With off-season additions and OSI on a mission after injury this unit could be dominating.
37) MARQUES COLSTON/WR/SAINTS BREES needs a No. 1 option & this big guy still has scary potential.
38) ANTONIO GATES/TE/CHARGERS The big guy should be back healthy and he is a favorite target of RIVERS when on the grass.
39) DALLAS CLARK/TE/COLTS Another guy who will see his workload increase, if only he can stay healthy for 16 games.
40) LEON WASHINGTON/RB/RS/JETS He may not lead the team in touches, but his big-play potential is key to this ranking.
41) AARON RODGERS/QB/PACKERS Had a great first season as a starter & logic says he will be even better.
42) TONY GONZALEZ/TE/FALCONS With all the problems at WR TONY could be RYAN’s new best friend w/ big numbers.
43) JASON WITTEN/TE/COWBOYS Now that T.O. is not around to yell for the ball, ROMO may throw WITTEN well over 100 balls.
44) DONOVAN McNABB/QB/EAGLES He’s the leader of a quality team with lots of pieces, if not stars, to work with.
45) ROB BIRONAS/K/TITANS Gotta have a K at some point. He has a booming, accurate leg & gets lots of chances.
46) KNOWSHON MORENO/RB/BRONCOS He is the next LT, and could be big for you, if he signs a contract soon enough.
47) SANTONIO HOLMES/WR/STEELERS He seems to be on the verge of a big leap as BIG BEN’s go-to guy. See his Play-Off numbers.
48) CHRIS COOLEY/TE/REDSKINS He has become a superior dump and run receiver for CAMPBELL, and he is big in Red Zone.
49) FELIX JONES/RB/RS/COWBOYS If he is used as a RS, as well as RB, his speed and elusiveness should provide big chunks of yardage.
50) GREG OLSEN/TE/BEARS Hey can’t run all the time and with marginal WR talent he has a chance to be a CUTLER favorite.

This list is missing some big names, because I am uncomfortable about their current status. BRANDON MARSHALL is more interested in exiting Denver than he is playing. ROMO has good career numbers, but he may be target challenged. JAY CUTLER’s numbers should drop because DA BEARS are still a run-first team. THOMAS JONES will lose carries to Rookie SHONN GREENE. I had MCHAEL CRABTREE in the mix originally, but his hold-out looks to get worse before it gets better. REGGIE BUSH is still icing his repaired knee. And on it goes...

FANTASY PFIL says... Watch the injuries, hold-outs, etc. during the Pre-Season. Some players will rise, and/or fall over the next month, and you need to be attuned to that. You don’t want to e drafting someone who is on IR... so pay attention.

Another reminder folks, we are moving in about 10 days. Our new website address will be... www.pigskinpaul.com.

I am also tweeting daily @ twitter.com/pigskinpaul .

7-04-2009 As FANTASY PFIL promised you, this week we are taking a look at ROOKIES who might put up decent Fantasy numbers for the 2009 season. Remember though, Rookies can be even more risky than vets coming off injuries. I am purely trying to project their success in this their Rookie season. Some players who will be mainstays for you in a couple of years (like STAFFORD) will do very little as Rookies. I believe the players shown below will contribute as Rookies, but none of them are in my Top 25 player list.

1) KNOWSHON MORENO/RB/BRONCOS The BRONCOS are in a major rebuilding mode under JOSH McDANIELS, and MORENO will be the cornerstone of the new Offense. He can run and catch with equal skill. At just under 220 lbs. he can take the hits. He is very elusive and is quicker than he is fast. I don’t see him coming out of the game in the Red Zone, which should add to his value. He should get you rushing yards, receiving yards and some TDs. He is the next L.T. Take him as your RB2.

1) CHRIS WELLS/RB/CARDINALS A big key to success in any endeavor is opportunity, which is just what presents itself to WELLS. He is big, strong, fast and has big play potential. But best of all he comes to a winning team, that throws first and he only has to beat out 2nd-year man TIM HIGHTOWER, who averaged 2.8 ypc last year. Look for WELLS to seize the starting job and put up some impressive numbers in both yards and scores. He is their best chance to take some of he heat off 38-year old WARNER with a running threat.

1) MICHAEL CRABTREE/WR/49‘ers No, he is not going to catch 100 balls as a Rookie in the NFL, but he is so strong and instinctive that he should be able to catch 50-plus balls. He should also be a real threat in the Red Zone. I’d feel more confident if he had a proven vet QB throwing to him, but he may create some of his own success with his size and hands. He could have a LARRY FITZGERALD-like Rookie season.

1) BRANDON PETTIGREW/TE/LIONS He has WITTEN potential, but won’t reach that plateau this season. He should, however, become the main compliment to CALVIN JOHNSON by mid-season. When the QB pressure starts to mount he will be the underneath guy that CULPEPPER and later STAFFORD look for. His yards won’t be high, but his catches could be respectable by October, and with his size he might become a major Red Zone target.

1) DONALD BROWN/RB/COLTS This one is hard to peg because if ADDAI is healthy they are not going to bench him for BROWN... at first. But BROWN represents a tougher running option than ADDAI, and can also catch. If BROWN learns to block well for MR. PEYTON in pass-pro, and ADDAI looks less than 100% healthy, then BROWN could be huge in the second half of the season. And always remember BILL POLIAN only Drafts guys on Day One whom he thinks will contribute right away. The COLTS do not Red-Shirt their Rookies. He could have great overall value as your RB3, but don’t wait expecting to pick him up in October. In a large League he will get drafted.

We’re starting to get into risky ground from this point on. In order to give you 10 Rookies to look for we are now going to look at guys who will have to have a lot of things go their way to have a major, positive Fantasy impact in the League as Rookies. Buyer beware, but here are 5 more guys to consider later on your Draft list.

1) MARK SANCHEZ/QB/JETS This is a risky pick, because of the lack of talent around him more than his ability. The JETS are a borderline team this year, so he should make it onto the grass right away. But the JETS offensive weapons are limited and not conducive to helping a young QB putting up big numbers. I would be concerned that his relative inexperience as a starting QB, even in college, may lead to some damaging INTs in his Rookie campaign. He s not going to be this year’s MATT RYAN, so take him as a QB3 late, if at all.

1) JEREMY MACLIN/WR/RS/EAGLES It doesn’t take much imagination to see MACLIN working his way into the No.3 WR slot after JACKSON & CURTIS. It is also easy to picture him getting some big play opportunities in the return game where the EAGLES have struggled in recent years. Last year the team was 20th in the League in Punt Return yardage. As long as MACLIN shows he won‘t fumble Punts in the Pre-Season he should get that job from day one. His receiving impact should come in the second half of the year. Your WR4, should be a good draft slot for him.

1) PERCY HARVIN/WR/RS/VIKINGS HARVIN is a long shot because he hardly ever lined up as a traditional WR in the Florida Offense. But his explosiveness, and play-making ability are why the VIKES took a chance on him so early in the DRAFT. If you are in a league that rewards long-distance scoring plays you may want this guy late in your Draft. He can score and rack up big yards on Kick Returns, Punt Returns, catches, reverses and delayed running plays. I‘d rank him higher, but there are only so many plays to divvy-up in Minny where PETERSON, TAYLOR and BERRIAN had 582 touches from scrimmage between them last fall. His share will likely be limited... for now.

1) HAKEEM NICKS/WR/GIANTS When you look at the list of GIANTS veteran receivers for ELI to throw to, you realize NICKS has a chance to get into the receiver rotation early-on and grow his role as the season progresses. He is strong, with great hands and the ability to run through and around most secondary defenders. If he shows, or develops, the ability to create separation he may become ELI’s best friend quickly. He is a YAC guy, and that fits their style of Offense. His skills also fit the Red Zone very well, if the running game bogs down. BURRESS/WARD/TOOMER are all gone, as are their 124 combined catches from last season. HIXON/MOSS/SMITH/TYREE are back with their combined 112 catches. NICKS has a golden opportunity to become a top-3 option for ELI. It’s a gamble, but he could pay high-end dividends for you.

1) PATRICK WHITE/QB/WR/RS/DOLPHINS If you like to gamble a bit grab WHITE somewhere in the middle of your Draft, unless some joker grabs him early. For the team that started the Wildcat craze last fall, WHITE becomes the quintessential candidate to take the concept to the next level. He may not like the title personally, but WHITE could be the prototypical “slash” player of this NFL era, as it adjusts to the college spread, which it will because of guys like WHITE & TEBOW. Picture him running the Wildcat/Spread in the Red Zone, and defenses having to remember that he is a left-handed thrower. That could paralyze more than a few defenders not used to defending the roll to the left as an optimum passing option. I truly believe SPARANO and his staff will not hesitate to use WHITE in multiple situations which will provide him with the opportunity to execute scoring options. Your challenge will be deciding how early to Draft him before someone else does.

FANTASY PFIL says: Don’t sleep on these Rookies. Every season Rookies contribute greatly to their NFL teams. Having one or two of them on your roster can work out well for you by season’s end.

PFIL also says Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam! And his dog Americus!

6/25/2009 Here we go again, with some thoughts on the top Fantasy Draft Prospects for 2009. After I inked the first segment of Fantasy advice last week I was a bit concerned that I was a perhaps early in the process. Based on the absolute proliferation of Fantasy Guides on the newsstand shelfs last week I think I was not premature at all. So as promised, here is my Top 10 Prospects for 2009... purely from a Fantasy statistical standpoint. Just like the real NFL DRAFT in April I’m not sure I would want to have the top overall choice in this year’s Fantasy Draft. Sure things are harder to find every year as we analyze the players more closely.

No. 1 ADRIAN PETERSON/RB/VIKES Ok, so no surprise here, but... I do have some trepidation with this pick based on the news this Spring that AP has decided he wants to play a a heaver weight (say 230) to absorb the tackling punishment he takes better. The concept makes sense, but he sacrifices any of his speed to the corner in that process it will be costly... especially from a Fantasy perspective where stats are the whole deal. But he is still the elite RB in the NFL until proven otherwise. I would take him despite my concern.

No. 2 ANDRE JOHNSON/WR/TEXANS While everyone oohs-and-aahs over FITZGERALD this guy puts up huge numbers on an improving team. Do you realize this guy led the NFL with 115 catches for 1575 yards and 8 TD in 2008? In most Fantasy Leagues I am aware of those numbers translate to big points for you. The catch here may be that his team will doesn’t seem to have a QB (SCHAUB) who can stay healthy for a full season. But JOHNSON is the best all-around WR in the NFL... period. Get on board and take this guy if you have the chance.

No. 3 DREW BREES/QB/SAINTS Yes, even though I am not a Fantasy player, I do realize that QBs are not considered to be prime First Rounders in the world of Fantasy Football. Bt looking at the SAINTS roster tells me that BREES will have huge numbers again, unless the team totally implodes. They have a D that gives up too many points and forces the Offense to keep scoring all day long. Their most dangerous RB (BUSH) is more effective in the passing game. When healthy they have one of the deepest receiving groups in the League. And most of all BREES is one of the headiest QBs in the game. BREES was the only QB in the NFL to throw over 600 passes last year. The more he throws the higher your point total goes each week.

No. 4 MICHAEL TURNER/RB/FALCONS I do not think he will lead the League in carries like he did last year at 376 (13 more than AP), but he will still see the ball 20 times a game, and most importantly he is not coming out once they get inside the 1o yard line. His size and strength mean he will stay in and have a chance to equal his 17 rushing TDs again this year. Unlike some of your other RB options he should be able to take a pounding for another year or two at 5-10/240, and in only his second season as the full time ball carrier.

No. 5 STEVEN JACKSON/RB/RAMS This is somewhat of a risky pick, primarily because I think the RAMS will be the losingest team in the NFL this season. But two things make me bullish on JACKSON besides his talent. His OL should be significantly better this year with addition of the JASON BOYS; C/BROWN & LT/SMITH(R). MIKE KARNEY is the best blocking FB JACKSON has ever had to follow into the hole, as well. It should also help that new Coach SPAGNUOLO and Offensive Coordinator PAT SHURMUR will be looking to run first, pass second. The air circus days in ST. LOUIS are over. Look for JACKSON to get well over 300 touches this season. Have a solid back up because he will miss some time with minor injuries, unless SPAGS can toughen him up.

No. 6 LARRY FITZGERALD/WR/CARDINALS You didn’t really think I’d be silly enough to slide him very far did you? FITZY has established himself as a one-step slower version of RANDY MOSS, with a tougher attitude and thicker skin. He can beat you deep or short, and as long as CURT WARNER is slinging it around in the desert FITZ is going to catch 100 balls this season, for a dozen plus TDs. Those are the kind of numbers you have to have from someone on your Fantasy Team. At only 26-years old when the 2009 season starts, there is no reason not to think that he can get better. Do not fret the potential exit of BOLDEN as hurting his numbers. STEVE BREASTON showed last season with his 77 catches that FRITZ cannot be triple-teamed. Even if he is, chances are he will still out-leap defenders for his catches anyway.

No. 7 PEYTON MANNING/QB/COLTS Despite constant re-assurances that everything remains the same even with all the Coaching Staff changes the real constant is MR. PEYTON. His numbers were down a bit in ’08 and his old buddy MARVIN HARRISON is gone, but I think his 2009 stats will be his best ever. Why? Because I think he feels he has something to prove and he will take his leadership and control to a new level. He started slow last year because of having literally no Training Camp while recovering from his knee injury. He will be ready to go from Day One this year. REGGIE WAYNE has been their best guy for 2 years now and could catch 100 balls this year. ANTHONY GONZALEZ is more than ready to step up. DALLAS CLARK only has to stay healthy to catch 100 balls as well. MR. PEYTON will keep the Offense driving because their D is still not exactly stout in protecting leads.

No. 8 MATT FORTE/RB/DEARS JAY CUTLER’s presence in Chicago should only help FORTE improve on his fine Rookie numbers. Opposing Defenses will not be able to stack the box with 8 players until 3rd Down with JAY itching to throw downfield. DA BEARS OL may be better overall and able to open bigger holes for him to run through. And don’t think he will be forgotten in space as a receiver for JAY either. He should be just shy of 400 touches again this year, but his productivity will be higher. What he lacks in explosive ability, he more than makes up for with a style of play that is an ideal fit for the Offense RON TURNER wants to run. FROTE should be a young Fantasy Stud for you.

No. 9 TOM BRADY/QB/PATRIOTS Screw all this rustiness talk... you are talking about TOM TERRIFIC, who is one of the hardest working, cerebral and fearless QBs in NFL history. Anything you say about MR. PEYTON as an NFL icon, you can repeat about BRADY. And BRADY has more of a “one of the guys” personality as a leader than PEYTON. The weapons are all in place in New England. RANDY MOSS is chomping at the bit to catch some long balls which were missing with CASSEL. He will spread the ball around and get you plenty of Fantasy Points. I very much doubt he’ll replicate his 2007 TD numbers, but he should be good for at least the League Leading total of 34 by BREES and RIVERS in ’08. He has never had a deeper, more talented receiver corps to throw to than MOSS, WELKER, LEWIS & GALLOWAY.

No. 10 LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON/RB/CHARGERS This is my most tentative Top 10 selection. I am banking on LT being his healthiest in the past three years, at least to start the season. I am also betting on a very prideful athlete finding enough in the tank to bounce back and show people he has something left as an elite NFL RB. But a 30-year old workhorse RB scares me greatly. He will not/should not lead the League in touches even if he is healthy for the full 16 game season. But 1200 yards rushing, another 500 receiving and 12-15 TDs should be doable, especially as RIVERS grows emotionally and statistically as an NFL field general. RIVERS and NORV TURNER will get the max from LT, and still diversify the overall Offense.

FANTASY PFIL says: Next time we’ll talk about NFL Rookies who should make their mark this season and help your Fantasy Team as well.

6/08/2009 Given my general disinterest in the world of FANTASY FOOTBALL, one might initially assume that the presence of this segment on the Home Page might be an electronic error of some sort, since it is still early June. No... it is my attempt to be responsive to another segment of my readership. This piece will highlight some big name skill position players who have changed teams, are coming back from injury or face challenges from newcomers to their team which might affect their 2009 statistical performance.

JAY CUTLER QB CHICAGO BEARS A hot young gunslinging QB is always under scrutiny by Fantasy Players. Will his TDs exceed his turnovers? Does he have big play receivers? In this case there are more questions than ever. There is no doubt that RON TURNER and LOVIE will open up DA BEARS Offense a bit to keep JAY awake in the huddle. But for those of you expecting this team to become Air-Martz all of a sudden... forget about it. I do believe the team will pass more than last season, but in the NFC North come about mid-November you have to control the ball on the ground. And with MATT FORTE, KEVIN JONES & ADRIAN PETERSON to share the load this team is geared to run it down your throat. So from a Fantasy perspective do not expect a 4,000 yard passing year from JAY. But do expect a reduction in INTs and a passer rating above his 86.0 from last season. His value will depend on how your Fantasy League doles out points. Just don’t expect too much and Draft him in the first couple of rounds. You may be sadly disappointed from a Fantasy Points perspective.

JOSEPH ADDAI RB COLTS Many folks are expecting this multi-dimensional Back to resume his role as an a primary weapon for MR. PEYTON and put up some big numbers in 2009. I would back off of that expectation if I were drafting a Fantasy Team. ADDAI has been nagged by injuries since early in his LSU career. He is a talented guy, and usually bounces back from the injuries well, but this is the NFL which means two things: the hits are harder and more numerous, and Coaches can’t be patient with dinged-up players. The fact that the COLTS used their First Round Pick on DONALD BROWN/RB/UCONN, who gained over 2,000 yards rushing last season, should be a clear indicator that ADDAI’s workload will be reduced no matter how healthy he is.

ELI MANNING QB GIANTS Don’t bet the farm on ELI this year for one simple reason; No PLaxico. As much of a pain in the ass as PLAX was off the field, he was a game changer for ELI and the GIANTS on the grass. And the conservative managers of the team failed to replace him in any fashion over the off-season. Go grab a GIANTS roster and tell me the team won’t primarily run the ball and depend on their defense to win games. Even last season ELI felt the pain of no PLAXICO. In 2008 ELI was the 14th ranked NFL QB, right behind SENECA WALLACE, with an 86.4 Passer Rating. He threw for just over 2300 yards, and 21 TDs in 2008, and I would expect about the same this year. He is not an elite NFL QB and his current supporting cast will not change that fact.

CUTLER ADDAI ELI BUCS D T. O. NATE W.

TAMPA BAY BUCS DEFENSE Stay away from this unit folks, because it is not the same group of players, or Coaches, that have been so successful most of this decade. Gone is Coordinator MONTE KIFFIN. Gone is emotional leader DERRICK BROOKS/LB. RONDE BARBER/CB is still around but closer to 40 years old than he wants to admit. They may be moving SS/JERMAINE PHILLIPS to OLB. This is not your recent vintage TAMPA Defense. Add to that the likelihood that the Offense under (gulp) LUKE McCOWN may not do very much to score, or even execute clock control, and you have a cloudy, if not disastrous, scenario on the horizon in the Bay. You do not want this unit as your Fantasy Defense.

TERRELL OWENS WR BILLS T. O. in Buffalo is not going to be the Honeymoon some folks think it will be... at least at season’s end. It will be hard for JAURON and TURK SCHONERT to open up the attack, especially when November weather hits along Lake Erie. And my notebook says T.O. drops more balls as the temps drop. The BILLS open the season with LYNCH suspended for 3 games, and may have to rely on their passing game to carry the Offense for the month of September, at least. If you can get T. O. late enough in your Draft to start him for half the season, and then drop him, do it. He may look fine until their BYE Week Nov. 8. Then they play 4 home games between Nov. 29th and Jan. 3rd. Barring an extreme dose of Global Warming in the Buffalo area, OWENS is going to hate that stretch of games, and the team will run a lot to accommodate the conditions. I just don’t see T. O. being a season-long Fantasy asset playing in Buffalo.

NATE WASHINGTON WR TITANS Do yourself a favor and do not get caught up in any of these “superstar in waiting” scenarios with WASHINGTON in Tennessee. He may indeed provide a nice downfield weapon for KERRY COLLINS, but if COLLINS gets too caught up in throwing long bombs too often I can guarantee JEFF FISHER will slap him upside the head. I also don’t think that NATE is all of a sudden going to develop sticky hands because of a new home town. He drops too many catchable balls, and does not have a good feel for the ball in the air unless the throws are right on target. The TITANS overpaid for his services... do not make the same mistake in your Fantasy Draft. He caught 40 balls in Pittsburgh last season, and he won’t double it in Tennessee. And don’t forget... as long as FISHER is around this team will run first, and throw second.

FANTASY PFIL says: See you next week with some choices you should try to make early in your Fantasy Draft!

08-12-2008 Here are my TOP 50 Fantasy Player selections Regardless of Position if I were putting together a Fantasy Team for 2008.

1) LADANIAN TOMLINSON/RB/SD
2) TOM BRADY/QB/NE
3) ADRIAN PETERSON/RB/VIKES
4) PEYTON MANNING/QB/INDY
5) RANDY MOSS/WR/NE
6) BRIAN WESTBROOK/RB/PHILY
7) TERRELL OWENS/WR/DALLAS
8) TONY ROMO/QB/DALLAS
9) REGGIE WAYNE/WR/INDY
10) LARRY FITZGERALD/WR/CARDS
11) MICHAEL TURNER/RB/FALCONS
12) DREW BREES/QB/NO
13) FRANK GORE/RB/SF
14) BRAYLON EDWARDS/WR/CLEVE
15) STEVEN JACKSON/RB/SLR
16) LARRY JOHNSON/RB/KC
17) CHARGERS D & ST
18) MAURICE JONES-DREW/RB/JAX
19) JASON WHITTEN/TE/DALLAS
20) T. J. HOUSHMANZADEH/WR/CINCY
21) MARQUES COLSTON/WR/NO
22) MARSHAWN LYNCH/RB/BILLS
23) ELI MANNING/QB/NYG
24) PLAXICO BURRESS/WR/NYG
25) CLINTON PORTIS/RB/’SKINS
26) DALLAS CLARK/TE/INDY
27) JAMAL LEWIS/RB/CLEVE
28) SANTONIO HOLMES/WR/PTT
29) JOSEPH ADDAI/RB/INDY
30) CARSON PALMER/QB/CINCY
31) DA BEARS D & ST
32) RONNIE BROWN/RB/MIAMI
33) JERRICO COTCHERY/WR/NYJ
34) ANDRE JOHNSON/WR/HOUSTON
35) ROB BIRONAS/K/TENN
36) ROY WILLIAMS/WR/LIONS
37) WES WELKER/WR/NE
38) KELLEN WINSLOW/TE/CLEVE
39) LEE EVANS/WR/BILLS
40) STEVE SMITH/WR/CARO
41) LENDALE WHITE/RB/TENN
42) WILLIS McGAHEE/RB/BILLS
43) ANTONIO GATES/TE/SD
44) NICK FOLK/K/DALLAS
45) THOMAS JONES/RB/NYJ
46) TORRY HOLT/WR/SLR
47) CHRIS COOLEY/TE/’SKINS
48) SHAYNE GRAHAM/K/CINCY
49) MATT HASSELBECK/QB/SEA
50) MARION BARBER/RB/DALLAS

Remember to follow injuries, suspensions & hold-outs right up until the date of your Draft. You need to remember before you grab STEVE SMITH as your top WR that he is suspended for the first 2 games of the season. STEVEN JACKSON of the RAMS is still a hold-out as of the release date of this list.
And most of all check those bye weeks for all your guys. It’s tough enough to play with a full deck never mind being short a player some weekend.
Good luck and happy Fantasy Land 2008.

 Tuesday, August 12, 2008: The following teams and players have slipped since last Fantasy Season. Their listing here does not mean you have to avoid them for your team at all costs. What it does mean is that if you still see them as an early round selection you haven’t been paying attention to what has happened between the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

RAVENS DEFENSE & ST
The RAVENS as a team appear to be on the decline in a serious way. Guys like RAY LEWIS still have the fire, but their bodies are betraying their minds. Their secondary is a shambles thanks to age and injuries. Keep away unless you need a D late as a back-up option.

JON KITNA/QB/LIONS
Three things are going against KITNA this season. MIKE MARTZ is gone and the team intends to run a ball control Offense. Neither of those changes bodes well for KITNA putting up big numbers for you. Even though KITNA is a football warrior he will be 36 in September. Overall the LIONS are a pretty bad team. With the WILLIAMS boys to throw to he could serve you well as your back-up QB.

DONALD DRIVER/WR/PACKERS
DRIVER should be slowing down a bit at 33, but he is a superbly conditioned athlete. His biggest negative for 2008 may be the absence of FAVRE. DRIVER was FAVRE’s security blanket on the field. But I do not think he will have that preferred status with RODGERS (A-RODGE). I suspect that some of the younger guys who worked with him on the second unit in practice will be the new preferred targets. Take him late if you have to have him on your team Cheeseheads.

MARVIN HARRISON/WR/COLTS
It is hard to come back 100% from a serious knee injury at age 36, when your body is slowing down anyway. HARRISON will catch some balls and MR. PEYTON will look his way, but he will probably fall behind CLARK and WAYNE on the stats list for the remainder of his career. Take him late.

ANTONIO GATES/TE/CHARGERS
When a player declares himself as 70% healthy at the beginning of Training Camp it is a red flag to me. Toe injuries are serious things to skill position players who mast plant and cut. Draft him, but be prepared to not see big numbers until late October, if at all in 2008.

LARRY JOHNSON/RB/CHIEFS
When considering LJ, make sure you consider the condition of the team he plays for. That OL may be pitiful if BRANDEN ALBERT isn’t healthy; mediocre even if he is. The probable lack of much of a passing attack will cause LJ to carry so many times he breaks down in the second half of the season. Take him with a half season expectation, and have a strong back-up to insert for December.

JULIUS JONES/RB/SEA HAWKS
Do not grab JONES thinking he is going to emerge as a big numbers guy because he will get a lot more touches than he did in Dallas. He will have a solid season but will share touches with MAURICE MORRIS. Just as importantly. MIKE HOLMGREN is still the Coach and will oversee the play calling. When push comes to shove the team will pass more than it runs. JONES has no more value now than he did last season for you.

DARREN McFADDEN/RB/RAIDERS
Don’t fall in love with his potential, which is indeed huge. It is more important to look at the team he will play for; and the RAIDERS are still bad. They are especially mediocre in the OL. How many holes do you think RUN-DMC will see if the OL is manned by HARRIS-GALLERY-WADE-CARLISLE-GREEN? Take him in the mid-rounds as your third RB.

EDGERRIN JAMES/RB/CARDS
Be careful not to grab JAMES too soon. He still will still be valuable as a mid-round pick, but he will not be a one man show in 2008. Expect more passing if LEINART shows progress at QB. It also appears that Rookie RB TIM HIGHTOWER is going to take away some of JAMES touches; especially in the Red Zone.

DAVID GARRARD/QB/JAGUARS
I have heard some of my Fantasy friends speculating about the potential numbers for GARRARD in 2008 if you extrapolate his 2007 stats out over a full 16 games of starts. Not so fast my friends! I am a little skeptical of GARRARD’s potential beyond running the show in a ball control offense. He may be fairly efficient, but I still see a DEL RIO team winning with D and a ball control, running Offense. Take him in mid to late rounds if you must.

Sunday August 3, 2007: I have a list of potential “sleepers” for your middle rounds. But you are going to need to watch some pre-season games to see how these players are performing. Several are with new teams, some coming off injuries and others are learning new offensive systems. You’ll need to get a feel for how they perform in Training Camp and project that to the regular season.
DOMINIC RHODES/RB/COLTS is back in town & the question is how much work does he take away from ADDAI, and where on the field. This will be hard to gauge since MR. PEYTON won’t be running the O ‘til September.

CRAIG “BUTCH” DAVIS/WR/CHARGERS He had a decent Rookie season, but may be a classic example of the quantum leap between the Rookie and second season for most NFL WRs. RIVERS would love to throw some deep balls to the speedy DAVIS.

ALGE CRUMPLER/TE/TITANS It looks like he and VINCE are jelling. Since the TITANS WR corps is less than spectacular ALGE could be a favorite dump off target for VY. Remember he put up some big numbers with VICK in Atlanta.

L. J. SMITH/TE/EAGLES He is coming off a 2007 season plagued by nagging injuries. So is McNABB. Now if they are both healthy he could be a favorite for McNABB, especially in the Red Zone.

JAY CUTLER/QB/BRONCOS Now that he knows about his diabetes and is treating it his weight is back up as is his arm strength. It also appears that the BRONCOS RB stable is a notch below normal, which could mean more passing than running. He might turn in big numbers for a team struggling to remain competitive.

CALVIN WILLIAMS/WR/LIONS had a decent Rookie season, but missed time with nicks and aches. It is also probable that a long striding leaper is not the best fit for a MARTZ offensive scheme. New O Coordinator JIM COLLETTO’s system may be better suited for both he and his namesake partner ROY.

ISAAC BRUCE/WR/49’ERS Despite his age, being back in a MARTZ O should do wonders for BRUCE. And it’s not like he has to play second fiddle to an established No.1 receiver in Frisco. The door is open for him to be the go-to-guy this season.

GREG JENNINGS/WR/PACKERS It stands to reason that DRIVER may not be the favorite target for RODGERS. JENNINGS improved tremendously last year in his sophomore season in the NFL. If he takes it up another notch he could really contribute as your No. 3 WR.

JASON CAMPBELL/QB/REDSKINS Keep a close eye on his play this pre-season. Even though this is another new offense for him (normally not a good thing), ZORN’s system is very close to that of AL BORGES who was CAMPBELL’s
Coordinator during his break-out final season at Auburn.

ROB BIRONAS/K/TITANS He’s no sleeper any more, but lots of Fantasy Players wait too long to get their kicker. If the TITANS have Red Zone issues again he could get a lot of FG attempts. And he has a strong accurate leg when given chances. He led the NFL with 35 FGs last season.

Monday, July 7, 2007: We are still almost two months away from most FANTASY DRAFTS, but there is no doubt that my Fantasy Geek Friends are starting to get stoked for another season. So in the spirit of helping those of you into the Fantasy world get prepared here are some initial thoughts and questions for you to ponder as you compose your Draft Lists.
1. It will be a long hard season in ATLANTA this year, but that may help play into a big stats year for new RB/MICHAEL TURNER.
2. TOMLINSON (no I still can’t bring myself to call him LT) will still be big, but he might slip a notch without LORENZO NEAL leading him through the hole.
3. Expect WILLIE PARKER to pile up big yardage, but in the Red Zone he may have to share a lot of touches with MENDENHALL and MEWELDE MOORE. His TD total will most likely stay low (2 in 2007).
4. With BRETT gone look for DODNALD DRIVER’s numbers to fall a bit, and JENNINGS and DINGO JONES to increase theirs.
5. ELI is for real. Put him on your QB list right behind TOM TERRIFIC, MR PEYTON and TONY ROMEO.
6. If you’re looking for a receiving sleeper write down the name BEN UTECHT. He should be a new favorite for CARSON PALMER in Cincy.
7. Look for a very large year for STEVE SMITH of the PANTHERS if DELHOMME’s arm looks sound in Pre-Season games.
8. Assuming the PACK and RYAN GRANT come to an amicable agreement on a revised contract mark him down for lots of yards. With BRETT gone the PAC will try to run even more this year.
9. Beware of LARRY JOHNSON in KC. The line is mediocre at best, and most defenses will key to stop the run and make KC prove they have a QB who can throw to beat them.
10. Despite his age I think ISAAC BRUCE could have a very large year in San Fran. He is back in the MARTZ system and no other young receiver has stepped up for ALEX SMITH yet. Maybe a surprise second WR choice for you.
11. Use a mid-round selection on ALGE CRUMPLER. He seems to be establishing a rapport with VINCE YOUNG quickly.
12. Don’t be banking on huge numbers from the COLTS’ JOSEPH ADDAI. With former COLT favorite DOMINIC RHODES back after a year in purgatory (also know as Oakland), expect ADDAI’s touches to decrease significantly.
13. Give serious consideration to the BUCCANEER Defense early. They are fairly young, talented and aggressive under MONTE KIFFIN.
14. Go easy in your enthusiasm for Rookie RB JONATHAN STEWART in Carolina. He will share touches with DeANGELO WILLIAMS, and has a history of injuries cutting into his playing time throughout his college career.
15. If you don’t get one of the Super Star QBs early on, grab DREW BREES in Round 3. He will put up some good stats in the Big Easy this season. If a last minute trade for SHOCKEY does transpire BREES’ numbers could soar.

Thursday, September 13, 2007: Just a brief lay-over in this place, this week. I wanted to remind everyone to check your teams for match-ups this week end. One big mistake for Fantasy Players is to keep playing their starters even when the match-up is unfavorable. It will be a while before even LJ or LT gains you a hundred yards if the opponent is MINNESOTA with the WILLIAMS BOYS. Check your match-ups, and check those injury reports. Let’s wait until next week to think about roster changes.

August 30, 2007

Time to wrap up my top player lists so you can have one more piece of conflicting info to ponder on Draft Day. Remember the number in parenthesis is the player’s BYE Week. Even though I am not a Fantasy Player, even I can understand the importance of keeping track of Bye Weeks.

QB
1) MR. PEYTON (6) Not even close for second this year. Huge numbers in ’07!
2) MR. BRADY(10) I still think they will pass first; run second this year.
3) DREW BREES(4) So many weapons, and only 1 ball.
4) CARSON PALMER(5) They may open up the O even more with questionable D.
5) MARC BULGER(9) They still need to outscore most opponents, so open it up.
6) PHILLIP RIVERS(7) NORV will hasten his development; good young weapons.
7) MATT LEINART(8) He’s the real deal with lots of WR talent.
8) JON KITNA(6) No matter what they say it is a MARTZ passing O.
9) TONY ROMO(8) Should improve overall, as will his stats.
10) JEFF GARCIA(10) Bit of a reach, but I like him under CHUCKY.
11) DONOVAN McNABB(5) Looks pretty healthy; has better receivers; much to prove.
12) MATT HASSELBECK(8) If healthy will need big numbers to win division.
13) JAY CUTLER(6) OL may not open up running game; will need to pass more.
14) ELI MANNING(9) Passing attack may be their only hope. Will Tom realize it?
15) VINCE YOUNG(4) I suspect sophomore jinx, but he’ll still have some monster games.

TE
1) ANTONIO GATES(7) Better than any CHARGER WR, in a wide open O.
2) TODD HEAP(8) Health is only thing preventing big numbers.
3) TONY GONZALEZ(80 Still Has the talent; better numbers if HUARD starts.
4) VERNON DAVIS(6) A leap of faith in his desire and talent level.
5) DALLAS CLARK(6) Has to share with others, but will see the ball plenty.
6) JASON WITTEN(8) With age/injuries @ WR he may be ROMO’s security blanket.
7) CHRIS COOLEY(4) For lots of bad reasons, he will get the ball a lot.
8) JEREMY SHOCKEY(9) His inconsistency drops him this far; talent top-notch.
9) KELLEN WINSLOW JR(7) Health is major question, not talent.
10) ALGE CRUMPLER(8) Will he see the ball enough post-VICK?
11) BEN WATSON(10) His numbers depend on health of MOSS.
12) ERIC JOHNSON(4) Part of multi-weapon O; dangerous if healthy.
13) RANDY McMICHAEL(9) If teams lock on HOLT & BRUCE he can be huge.

K
1) ADAM VINATIERI(6) PATs alone put him up there on this team.
2) NATE KAEDING(7) Again, opportunity alone means many points.
3) SHAYNE GRAHAM(5) He is accurate, and gets many attempts.
4) JEFF WILKINS(9) Dependable indoor K, on an O minded team.
5) NEIL RACKERS(8) Red Zone woes will give him lots of attempts. Strong leg.
6) DAVID AKERS(5) Again a clutch K who benefits form Red Zone conservatism.
7) JOSH BROWN(8) Strong, accurate leg on mediocre O.
8) JASON ELAM(6) Mile high air helps an accurate guy get extra chances.
9) JOE NEDNEY(6) His O may move the ball, but may not finish off drives.
10) MATT STOVER(8) Old but accurate leg on vertically challenged team.
11) ROBBIE GOULD(9) Lots of chances if REX tunes down the INT rate.
12) PHIL DAWSON(7) Crossing the goal line may be a chore for this O.

DEFENSES
1) RAVENS(8) Though aging they still dominate most teams, and cause turnovers.
2) CHARGERS(7) Their O controls the clock; D is physical and athletic.
3) BEARS(9) If healthy they still have playmakers and Special Teams.
4) JAGUARS(4) If healthy this is a punishing D that will create turnovers.
5) PATRIOTS(10) Need SAMUEL back and good health; could dominate.
6) PACKERS(7) Surprise choice, but they are strong on this side of the ball.
7) EAGLES(5) DL should improve. But will the LBs?
8) JETS(10) They have some playmakers and are aggressive and creative.
9) COWBOYS(8) Can their front 7 create enough pressure to hide DB weaknesses.
10) VIKINGS(5) They have some playmakers and WILLIAMS boys dominate the line-of-scrimmage.

Good luck Fantasy Fans and enjoy your Draft parties.

August 22, 2007

Seems to me that we must be getting agonizingly close to Fantasy Draft time .That being the case, I would like to give you my top players at WR & RB this week. The number in parentheses after the names represents the BYE WEEK for the player’s team.

WR
1) TORRY HOLT (9) He keeps adding to his stats as BRUCE ages.
2) REGGIE WAYNE (6) He will surpass HARRISON’s numbers.
3) JAVON WALKER (6) As CUTLER improves so will WALKER’s numbers.
4) LARRY FITZGERALD (8) Only threat here is teammate BOLDIN’s numbers.
5) STEVE SMITH (8) He’s healthy and that’s bad for NFL Ds.
6) TERRELL OWENS (8) If healthy, ROMO will look his way often.
7) CHAD JOHNSON (5) CHAD is running his mouth, which might cost him games.
8) LEE EVANS (6) LOSMAN may be ready & EVANS is his man.
9) ANDRE JOHNSON (10) SCHAUB will get him more catches than CARR did.
10) MARVIN HARRISON (6) He will benefit from mediocre running game.

11) ROY WILLIAMS (6) I worry he will some stats to C. JOHNSON.
12) DONALD DRIVER (7) Someone has to help BRETT break records (note Bye).
13) DEION BRANCH (8) Risky, but he will be the man this season.
14) MARQUISE COLSTON (4) He slips because of other weapons for BREES.
15) TJ “WHO’S-YOUR-MAMA (5) May outdo CHAD.
16) HINES WARD (6) If BIG BEN rebounds WARD will be the beneficiary.
17) ANQUAN BOLDEN (8) If CARDS can run the ball this will be way too high.
18) SANTANA MOSS (4) CAMPBELL has to improve @ QB, see that bye game.
19) RANDY MOSS (10) Should click w/MR. BRADY.
20) CALVIN JOHNSON(6) Rookie WRs are risky, but in a MARTZ offense…

RB
1) LADAINIAN(7) How can you pick anyone else here?
2) STEVEN JACKSON(9) Will share the load more, but still have big numbers.
3) REGGIE BUSH(4) Will have plenty of chances in the red zone.
4) JOSEPH ADDAI(6) Has to be the man in COLT running attack.
5) THOMAS JONES(10) If recent injury is minor, JETS will feed him the ball.
6) SHAUN ALEXANDER(8) Gamble he has one good year left in his legs.
7) WILLIS McGAHEE(8) RAVENS like to run; he wants the ball.
8) LARRY JOHNSON(8) Will get lots of chances for lack of other options in KC.
9) RUDI JOHNSON(5) Loss of DARBY puts load on RUDI one more year.
10) BRIAN WESTBROOK(5) Is still best option for EAGLE O.

11) EDGERRIN JAMES(8) Will be used more effectively in WHISENHUNT O.
12) FRANK GORE(6) Ability is there, but he is an injury time bomb if overused.
13) MARSHAWN LYNCH(6) His catching & running skills will double the opportunity.
14) WILLIE PARKER(6) It is still a STEELERS offense; he gets lots of touches.
15) MAURICE JONES-DREW(4) Explosive, powerful threat; look at bye week.
16) TRAVIS HENRY(6) You know he has a chance for 1000+ yards; it’s DENVER.
17) RONNIE BROWN(9) The OL sucks, but someone has to touch the ball.
18) ADRIAN PETERSON(5) Health is the only issue.
19) LAWRENCE MARONEY(10) If they pass first, he could be huge.
20) CEDRIC BENSON(9) If healthy they will give him the ball, to avoid REX INTs.

Next week we’ll rank the top players at the QB, TE, K spots, and peg some top Defenses. And just before your Drafts I will give you my late round sleeper suggestions.

August 8, 2007

I want to briefly touch on an area of Fantasy Draft preparation that many of you team owners fail to take into account this time of year. Then you have to scramble to make deals early in the season because you have brought some real “duds” onto your rosters.
Many things change in the NFL from season to season be it coaching changes, Free Agent losses/additions, retirements, suspensions, etc. You have to look at your players based on not just last year’s stats, but what they are likely to do this year.
Let me just mention a couple of examples of what I mean.

LARRY JOHNSON/RB/CHIEFS
Just a monster the last couple of years and even more so in Fantasy Land. But I think you’d better be real careful this time around. He is in a hold-out, contract dispute with CARL PETERSON. The OL lost future HOF candidate WILL SHIELDS to retirement. PRIEST HOLMES is attempting a comeback, and if he shows much he will take some touches away from JOHNSON. This doesn’t add up to a happy, productive time for JOHNSON potentially. Watch this situation during August.

MARQUES COLSTON/WR/SAINTS
COLSTON put up huge numbers by surprise as a Rookie in 2006, and fantasy owners were scrambling to pick him up by early October. He will still be a valuable guy, but do not expect the same kind of numbers in 2007. Leave him alone until Round 3 or so. Opposing defenses will be watching for him every week, and will not hesitate to throw double coverage at him. DREW BREES has some additional targets to spread the ball too; especially FA TE ERIC JOHNSON, who when healthy is an underneath pass catching machine. REGGIE BUSH is going to touch the ball more this year than last, which cuts into everyone else’s numbers.

Get the drift here? Stay up to date and watch offensive trends and injury developments during August. You need to mix the new information in with last years stats. And for God’s sake don’t draft someone who retired, like TIKI!

July 23, 2007
Once again I want to put some early emphasis on late round guys who might do more than just fill in for that bye week, or a brief injury absence by one of your top players. I think the following have a good chance to play significant roles for their NFL teams at least on weekends where they match up well against certain Gameday opponents. They may be available late on your Fantasy Draft Day. Pay some attention to their pre-season rolls and performances. To win in most Fantasy Leagues you need back-ups that will help you win a couple of weekends when your starters are out.

JAKE DELHOMME QB CAROLINA
He has some weapons to work with, and can still throw the ball as well as half his fellow NFL starting QBs. His problems surface when he has to win games with his arm. He cannot carry a team, but he could give you major points in about four games this coming season.

CHRIS BROWN RB TENNESSEE
He is back in the fold with the TITANS, and may play a major role by the time the pre-season is over. WHITE is still overweight and out of shape. CHRIS HENRY is a rookie, and more of a workout warrior than a player at this time. BROWN, if healthy, could end up carrying most of the load for the TITANS this year.

JERRY PORTER WR OAKLAND
ART SHELL, his nemesis, is out. So is RANDY MOSS whose shadow he had to play in. He is on the right side of thirty, and rested all last season. If the RAIDERS actually get some kind of offense cooking, PORTER may put up some winning numbers.

RANDY McMICHAEL TE ST. LOUIS
He has always had good hands, and been able to get separation from LBs and SAFETIES. Joining the RAMS will re-unite him with LINEHAN, who was O Coordinator in MIAMI for some of his most productive games. He is a good Fantasy League TE, where blocking is not an issue. If he gets playing time this pre-season and is productive you can assume he will get plenty of playing time this fall.

BEN ROETHLISBERGER QB PITTSBURGH
BIG BEN is somewhat of a forgotten man because of illness and injury last season. But he is still young, and should bounce back this season. BRUCE ARIAN the new O Coordinator may open things up a bit, which would allow BEN to put up some decent numbers, compared to the COWHER regime. He might fall off the radar for a lot of your fantasy opponents. Take a chance late.

DANIEL GRAHAM TE DENVER
The PATRIOTS used GRAHAM primarily as a blocker the past few seasons, and he does that well. But he has been a reliable receiving threat over the middle during his career. Look for the BRONCOS to make him available as a check-down safety valve for CUTLER. He can also be a Red Zone threat. He may see lots of playing time early in the season because of injuries to SCHEFFLER.

July 12, 2007

The only thing of significance in most Fantasy Leagues past the glamour positions on O, is picking a Team Defense. At this preliminary juncture I‘d like to give you my thoughts on some do, and don’t pick Defenses.

Not that they are bad, but there are a couple of D’s that I think will be less effective for Fantasy Owners in 2007, than they were in 2006.

DA BEARS The edge may be gone with defections and unhappy players in the front seven.

CHARGERS There are a few chinks in the armor here. They look weaker at ILB and are very thin in the Secondary.

COLTS Not that many folks saw them as a strong defensive team in 2006, but it probably gets worse this year. If you had doubts in 2006, stay away completely in 2007.

Because of changes there are a couple of teams that may be highly questionable for 2007.

STEELERS Walking that fine line between the old 3-4, and the 4-3 scheme favored by the new coach may get dicey.

DOLPHINS Another year older, and a lot of changes. The question is, were the changes for the better? Probably not for this year.

BUCCANEERS Be careful here. They gave MONTE some talented new toys, especially through the Draft, but they may take a year or two to put it all together. They may dominate some weeks, and give it away others.

And now for a few potential sleepers…

PACKERS If HARRELL is healthy at DT, and the Safety position sorts itself out they could be good most weekends. The emphasis on improving Special Teams
and field position could help the D greatly if successful.

EAGLES With some new bodies, and some healthy returnees like KEARSE, this could look like the JJ D of a few years ago. I especially like the fact they worked to upgrade their LB unit.

July 2, 2007

We are two months away from most of your Fantasy Drafts and we will get some additional insight from Training Camps and Pre-Season Games, but here is a preliminary list of guys I think will be better Fantasy Players than you might think.

WES WELKER/WR    PATRIOTS
He will be the safety valve for MR. BRADY, and also probably play into their return game as well.

VERNON DAVIS/TE    49’ERS
Healthy, with a year under his belt DAVIS should be a huge weapon for ALEX SMITH.

JON KITNA/QB LIONS
He now knows MARTZ O system, and has a solid receiving corps with the addition of CALVIN JOHNSON. He will put up big numbers, even if the LIONS don’t win many games.

KEVIN CURTIS/WR    EAGLES
If McNABB gets/stays healthy he will love looking for CURTIS deep, and across the middle. They could be quite the productive combo.

ERIC JOHNSON/TE    SAINTS
This should be a great fit. This will give BREES the target underneath that he did not have last year. As defenses scramble to cover COLSTON//HENDERSON/MEACHEM/BUSH, JOHNSON may be the forgotten man. He has great hands and runs smart routes.

BRANDON JONES/WR TITANS
It’s about time for JONES to emerge, and VINCE has to throw to someone.

What I saying about these guys is watch very closely in August to see where they fit in their teams’ offensive schemes. Under certain conditions they might make very solid 4-5 Round Picks.

June 25, 2007

Here we go again, as I bravely venture where I have never gone before. Rookies, rookies, rookies…a dangerous source from which to seek help for your FANTASY TEAM, and yet a necessary evil if you are looking to improve your lot. So here is a half –dozen names to keep your eye on as NFL Training Camps open.

1) MARSHAWN LYNCH/RB BUFFALO
2) ADRIAN PETERSON/RB MINNESOTA
3) CALVIN JOHNSON/WR DETROIT
4) BRANDON JACKSON/RB GREEN BAY
5) DWAYNE BOWE/WR KANSAS CITY
6) GREG OLSEN/TE CHICAGO

Do not look for much in 2007 from QUINN/QB, HENRY/RB, RUSSELL/QB.

June 15, 2007

FANTASY LAND
I am not an aficionado of FANTASY FOOTBALL, but it is impossible not to be aware and passively involved in it. More than a few of you readers have told me I needed to jump in. I realize its enormity, and hereby dip my big toe in the water.
I have seen several early prospect lists and some of the highly ranked players jumped out at me as being way overrated based on age, injuries, team status. Etc.

Here is my early, BEWARE OF PICKING THESE GUYS TOO SOON list.

SHAUN ALEXANDER RB SEATTLE
CLINTON PORTIS RB WASHINGTON
CEDRIC BENSON RB CHICAGO
BRANDON JACOBS RB GIANTS
ADRIAN PETERSON® RB MINNESOTA

For various reasons I think their Fantasy value is way overrated.

Thinking Out Loud!

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 20:57:28 -0500

TRAINING CAMPS are under way and I can smell the pigskin in the air. Time for some miscellaneous thoughts from around the world of football... through the eyes of PIGSKIN PAUL.

1) Good to hear that DERRICK MASON has un-retired both for the NFL and the RAVENS. Word is that his initial decision to retire was spurred on by despondency after the death of his friend and ex-teammate STEVE McNAIR.
2) Very sad news for the entire NFL world last week with the death of EAGLES Defensive Coordinator JIM JOHNSON. JOHNSON was one of the true genius-minds in the NFL coaching ranks... and a good man in general. God rest his soul. He will be missed, especially in EAGLES-land.
3) Expect a serious drop-off around the NFL this season when it comes to explosive Kick-Off returns. Perhaps the biggest change in NFL rules going into the 2009 season is the elimination of the blocking wedge on returns. No more than two blockers may bunch together in front of the returner when setting up a return. This could result in a serious shift in the starting field position for NFL offenses this year.
4) REX RYAN announced last week that vet KELLEN CLEMENS goes into Camp listed at No. 1 on the QB depth chart. Makes sense I guess, but do any of us really think SANCHEZ isn’t the man come September? That’s a rhetorical question, folks.
5) On the other hand one of the more intense, real QB battles should be taking place in BROWNS Camp right now. BRADY QUINN and DEREK ANDERSEN are in a true old-fashioned competition for the starting job. And don’t rule out BRETT RATLIFF if those two both stumble badly. RATLIFF is the most familiar with MANGINI’s system, and he was more than just a throw-in on the SANCHEZ/Draft Day trade.
6) It’ll be good to see ADAM SCHEFTER back on the airwaves this month as an NFL reporter with ESPN. He demonstrated that he is one of the best “insiders” in the industry during his time with NFL Network. I really missed his presence during the April DRAFT.
7) And speaking of media, I love the “MORT Goes to Camp” concept on ESPN. Just wondering though, if his bus is a retrofit of the one used by TONY KORNHEISER the past two seasons. Enjoy your travels Chris.
8) Based on what I have heard and read so far I expect the last Round One Draftee to sign will be MICHAEL CRABTREE with the ‘NINERS. Seems his agent, EUGENE PARKER, wants top five money even though his client was drafted at No.11. PARKER must have been schooled in some form of “new math”. So much for an impact Rookie season for Michael.
9) Would someone please get to BRANDON MARSHALL and stuff a sock in his mouth. He is too young (25), and too early in his pro career (3 years) to be sounding off like T.O. already. Even OWENS waited until he was almost 30 to start mouthing off all the time.
10) Hey JERRY JONES, love your new stadium, but buddy you have to sign your Draft Choices. I was getting worried that JERRY was too busy with other things, until they inked just about everyone Training Camp eve. The way JONES structures his roster, his dozen Draftees need to play a significant role as back-ups and Special Teamers.

One too many blockers for 2009! JIM JOHNSON CHRIS MORTENSEN Not MORT’s bus!

2009 Packer Stuff!

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:16:22 -0500

It was a little soggy in Green Bay on Thursday for the Annual Shareholders meeting in Lambeau Field. But given the paucity of rain this
Summer I sucked it up, put on my poncho and went in the stadium to join the proceedings. Looked to me to be the usual throng of about
15, 000 Shareholders and their assorted guests. The proceedings usually take about an hour and a half with the last segment being the officers’
reports, which are pretty dry and straightforward... read boring.
TED THOMPSON always gives a report on the status of the football tea m, which includes segments highlighting the DRAFT, current
roster make-up and this year the Coaching changes. TED was upfront with an opening statement that he was not going to give away any
organizational secrets and would tell us he felt the team was “pretty solid” at all positions. He was true to his word... as usual.
He explained that even though letting people go (i.e. Defensive Coaches) is always hard, both he and Coach MIKE McCARTHY were in
agreement that the team needed a new, more aggressive and unpredictable defensive approach to things. They both felt a switch to a 3-4
Scheme, under DOM CAPERS was the direction to go. Even though such a change put pressure on some players (like AARON KAMPMAN)
to make major adjustments, they felt the team’s overall talent base was better suited to the 3-4 alignment.
THOMPSON stated emphatically that a losing record in 2008 was totally unacceptable, referring to it as the elephant in the closet, when
opening his remarks. He expressed his strong opinion that the talent is in-house to return the PACK to the Play-Offs... this year. He sees the
presenting task for the organization as providing the resources and atmosphere for the players to succeed as a “team” on the field of play this
Fall.
As WHITEY proceeded through the roster position-group by position-group he said something that caught my attention when peeking at the
OL. He mentioned that he felt they had spent a lot of attention and Draft emphasis to this area over the past 4 years, and he was comfortable that
some young talented players were ready to step up. When discussing the RT position my ears picked up and I quickly wrote down his exact
comment, when he spoke of being without MARK TAUSCHER... “at this time.” I am not going to get hung up on this point, but I have felt all
off-season that the PACK had been very careful to never close the door on a possible return for TAUSCH. I think that potentiality hinges on the
development of the young OTs like GIACOMINI, LANG, MEREDITH & MOLL during Camp and MARK’s physical progress in his rehab. If
things are not going well on the Practice Field and Pre-season games along the OL I would not rule out discussions late in August on a possible
TAUSCHER comeback. It’s all speculation and conJecture, but I thought THOMPSON was very careful in his word selection when mentioning
TAUSCH.
As a personal observation, I will state emphatically that WHITEY seemed much more at ease and comfortable addressing the masses this
year. The delivery of his remarks was more measured, and he seldom tripped over his tongue, as in the past. he even gave us more glimpses
of his subtle, sarcastic sense of humor.

WHITEY PREZ MURPHY

MARK MURPHY followed THOMPSON with the President’s Report. The highlight of his presentation was a concise, insightful presentation into the history, and current state of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) between the NFL and NFLPA. He stated uncategorically that the biggest issue facing the NFL is the working during the next two years to work out a new CBA before a potential work stoppage in 2011. He outlined the pressure points between the Players’ Union and the League, in their attempts to forge a new agreement. He listed them as follows:
1) Rookie Pay A pay-scale like NBA w/ less $ for unproven players in their first contract.
2) Bonus Forfeiture Teams’ ability to recoup up-front $ from players who miss time for drug and legal issues.
3) Retired Players Benefits A share of the economic pie for retirees, no longer in the NFLPA.
4) Restructured Season More regular season games; shorter pre-season.
5) ‘Owner Cost’ Recognition Revenue exemption for debt incurred by franchises.
6) Revenue Sharing Need to continue the collective $ sharing to keep small markets competitive financially & on the grass.

I am not going to get too deeply into these points at this time, but I agree with their importance. I would also note that they are obviously
slightly prejudiced from MURPHY’s status as an NFL team President. I think the NLPA might add another 2-3 points of discussion to his list.
The biggest debate will no doubt center on player compensation as a percentage of League Team revenue. I was greatly encouraged that
MURPHY, representing the PACKERS, will have a part in the CBA negotiation process. He is a clear headed thinker, and an ex-player whose
first job after he retired as an NFL player was in the employ of the NFLPA. He was a direct hire by the late GENE UPSHAW.

The PACKERS continue to be in viable financial condition. But they too have suffered from recent downturns in the US economy. Their
spread sheet shows a net profit of $4-million and change. But that is down from over $23-million in 2008 fiscal year. Most of their revenue
streams were diminished last season. Their two biggest areas of profit loss were quite logical given overall economic conditions since last Fall.
Their Sales & Marketing Revenue (team store, special events, etc.) by over $6.5-million. Like most of us with money invested in the Financial
Sector they took a large hit from ’08 to ’09. Their investments earned over $14-million in Fiscal Year 2008. Those investments lost over $11-
million last year accounting for a swing of $25-million from the previous year’s positive income of over $14-million. Can’t you give ma a big
“OUCH!” brothers and sisters?!
When MURPHY mentioned that the overall economic conditions led to the team’s decision to hold ticket prices for 2009 despite their need
for additional revenue, he received a very enthusiastic ovation from the people in attendance. When the noise died down he smiled and stated he
hoped for such a positive response next year when ticket prices did indeed have to be raised. A little levity in a strained situation was well
placed by MURPHY.

I was greatly encouraged at the end of the day when it was announced that CLAY MATTHEWS had signed his Rookie contract with the PACK. Even on a big day like the Shareholders’ Meeting important work was going on behind the scenes in Lambeau.

July 3, 2009 The PACKERS (& TITANS) were the final team to wrap up their OTAs and take the break before Training Camp opens at the end of July. One of the biggest ongoing questions is how well the team’s defensive players are adapting to DOM CAPERS’ 3-4 scheme. The general consensus of those watching the team the past two months seems to be that, as expected, it’s a mixed bag with some players looking better in their new positions, and others still trying to figure things out.
It is a widely held opinion that the player with the most to lose when Camp opens is NICK COLLINS/S. It seems that COLLINS and his Agent are more impressed with his Pro Bowl appearance last February than the PACKERS organization (and yours truly). His non-participation in voluntary workouts this Spring, while he seeks a contract extension, has allowed a couple of players, namely ANTHONY SMITH (VFA) and AARON ROUSE to get a jump on COLLINS’ incumbency. COLLINS play has been uneven during his 3 seasons in Green Bay. Even getting selected to the Pro Bowl may have been more of a case of infatuation with his INT count and return success than his overall play at his position. Methinks the PACK would like to see how he adjusts to the new scheme before giving him a big contract. I agree with that philosophy, based on what I have seen in his play over the past seasons.

On the bright side, there has been downright excitement at times regarding the dominant play of RYAN PICKETT and B.J. RAJI as they share the NT position. They are both big bodies (330 & 337 lbs, respectively) who display strength and good athleticism. It seems clear that CAPERS will not hesitate to keep them both on the field when the D slides into a basic 4-3 front, and there is even talk of RAJI playing some 5-Technique in certain 3-4 situations.

COLLINS RAJI PICKETT WELLS SPITZ

On the Offensive side of the ball an area of great emphasis this off-season has been along the OL. It is clear that the light has gone in the Front Office that with TAUSCHER perhaps finished as a PACKER and CHAD CLIFTON’s body breaking down more like a 36-year old than his actual age of 33, it is going to be re-shuffling time along the front. And among the changes may be the departure of popular OC/SCOTTT WELLS. Scottie has had a series of neck and back issues over the past two seasons, but has worked his way through a 5-year NFL career, when many thought he never belonged in the League at all. But the business that is Pro Football does not allow for much sentimentality. It also hurts WELLS that he is a OC only, without the size or athleticism to even slide out to OG. He will fight for his football life, but MIKE McCARTHY finally acknowledged that he wants more continuity along his OL, and less switching people around from week to week. I think the key for WELLS (besides his health) is whether or not DARYN COLLEDGE stays inside at OG, or gets a look outside at RT.
If BRENO GIACOMINI shows enough at RT many observers see the best OL for the PACK in 2009 being as follows from left to right:
CLIFTON/LT - COLLEDGE/LG - SPITZ/C - SITTON/RG - GIACOMINI/RT
Such a lineup would leave WELLS fighting for a roster slot with MEREDITH(R), LANG(R), PRESTON(VFA), MOLL, BARBRE. Based on WELLS size, injury issues and lack of versatility he would seem like the odd-man-out. But then again, based on desire, smarts and heart I am sure he will give it a battle up to final roster cuts. Like most PACKER fans, I want the best OL out on he field at all times, but no matter what I will be rooting for SCOTT WELLS to make the roster again this year.

ALLEN BARBRE, also listed above, is another OL fighting for his NFL life this summer. He has struggled to find a slot the past two seasons despite a lot of time and attention from the Coaching Staff. If both Drafted Rookies, MEREDITH & LANG, show well in Training Camp look for BARBRE to be the other vet to lose his roster spot. Unless tied down by big guaranteed contract dollars NFL teams have a shorter window of patience with “potential” than ever before these days. BARBRE needs to show he has learned enough over the past two years to step up and contribute at an NFL level in 2009.

I am certainly not holding my breath for Central Wisconsin native-son KOLE HECKENDORF to actually make it as a Rookie WR when the PACKERS final roster is announced in September, but I think there is a chance he might have a shot to be on the Green Bay Practice Squad if he shows as well in Training Camp as he did in OTAs. Several WRs who were on the roster before Rookies were Drafted and signed have been cut, while HECKENDORF’s name is still on the squad. He appears to have the size, speed, hands and head to develop into an NFL player. Could he be the next BILL SCHROEDER for the PACK?

Let’s try to wrap this segment up with some, seemingly at least, good news coming out of the final OTA workouts.

AARON KAMPMAN seems to be making steady progress with his position switch to OLB in he base 3-4 scheme. He has begun to get comfortable in some of his new pass-drop coverage responsibilities. The edge was certainly taken off of his work with the shooting death of his high school coach ED THOMAS last week. But CAPERS and McCARTHY are optimistic headed toward Training Camp.

Second-year man JEREMY THOMPSON seems excited and confident with his transition from DE to OLB. At 6’4/270, THOMPSON had a gangly frame that did not look like a good fit for a 4-3 DE in the NFL. But he has the athleticism to stand up and has expressed genuine excitement at his challenge/opportunity. Perhaps just as importantly LB Coach KEVIN GREENE seems to feel THOMPSON is learning and progressing.

The starting QB job of AARON RODGERS is in no danger, but BRIAN BROHM looks almost like a different guy compared to a year ago at this time. That’s a good thing because he looked pretty much dazed and confused all of 2008. He has looked like he understands what he is supposed to be doing under Center in workouts and has actually moved the tea at times. he is still the low man on the totem pole, but is closing the gap with MTT FLYNN.

JORDY NELSON continues to look better and better every time he comes to town for work. I don’t think there is much debate about the No. 1 candidate to eventually replace DD is on he current roster. He continues to display speed, strength and a high football IQ on a daily basis.

OK, that’s enough propaganda for now. WE’ll follow any real PACKES news that comes up between now and Training Camp, and update everything we can just before Camp opens on July 31st.

6/06/09 Like every other team in the League the PACKERS have had their Rookie Mini-Camp and a series of OTAs in the past month to get a look at their current roster on the grass. With the change to a 3-4 Defensive scheme much of the attention and scrutiny has gone into trying to get an initial opinion or two on how that transition is going. Other than watching who is playing where in the reconfigured D it is way too soon to make any concrete predictions, but some observations might be in order.
It would seem to me that just by looking at the roster one can reasonably deduce that the area with the largest amount of sorting out to do is in the Linebacking unit. With the current positional switches of AARON KAMPMAN & JEREMY THOMPSON from DE to OLB there are 12 LBs listed on the PACKERS roster. On paper the starting unit would appear to be NICK BARNETT & A. J. HAWK on the Inside with AARON KAMPMAN & BRADY POPPINGA on the Outside. But I would suggest that this line-up is far from a given with 6 weeks of Training Camp coming up this summer. BARNETT and HAWK are coming off knee and groin injuries respectively, and BARNETT seems to be undersized for the new scheme. Perhaps stellar NT play from PICKETT and RAJI can protect him from blockers and allow him to roam the field with his speed and athleticism, but that remains to be seen. It seems almost certain that CLAY MATTHEWS will challenge POPPINGA for playing time, especially on passing downs when an outside pass rush is of maximum importance. The new scheme may also play to the advantage of BRANDON CHILLAR who had an impressive first year with the PACK in 2008. I would suspect that a man to watch this summer is ILB/DANNY LANSANNAH. The 2008 RFA has the size, strength and toughness to excel at the new spot. THOMPSON will also be interesting to watch. He is a size tweener for the NFL, but he is still young and his frame looks to have room to grow. If he struggles outside in space they may look to add 15 lbs. to his frame and put his hand back on the ground. There is as much talent in this group as a whole, as with any position on the team except perhaps at WR. The key for right now is how WINSTON MOSS and KEVIN GREENE sort these players out, coach them up and transition them to a 4 LB unit.

BARNETT HAWK KAMPMAN POPPINGA

One of the topics of discussion I heard more than a few times during the weeks leading up to the 2009 NFL DRAFT in PACKER country was the need to use a First Day Draft Selection on a RB. And quite frankly, I found that trend of thought rather surprising. Besides the fact that RYAN GRANT signed a lucrative contract extension last summer I was wondering what was wrong with the current group of PACKERS RBs. GRANT’s numbers and performance slipped a bit in 2008, but I attribute much of that to his hold-out related hamstring injury, and an OL that didn’t always open gaping holes for him to run through. So lets back off a second and do a little comparison here.
The Rookie darling of the NFC North in ’08 was MATT FORTE of DA BEARS. FORTE became the running game for Chicago in his Rookie campaign. He rushed for 1238 yards at 3.9 ypc. GRANT rushed for 1203 yards at 3.9 ypc. With a solid/healthy Training Camp and a little better blocking he is a 1500 yard rusher again.
I also think it is still too early to give up on BRANDON JACKSON who spells GRANT, particularly on passing downs. JACKSON rushed for 238 yards, at 5.5 ypc, while catching another 30 balls. JACKSON needs to get a little stronger and tougher, but it is way too early to write off a player with his speed and hands just entering his 3rd NFL season and still only 24-years old when the ’09 season begins. And let’s not forget the extremely talented, but oft-injured KREGG LUMPKIN. He is a special talent and when healthy will get some carries to mix things up.
Let’s also not overlook the reality that this Offense is still predicated on the the short passing game, with yards-after-catch yardage as its primary weapon. Coach McCARTHY would find a way to fit AP into this offense if he showed up somehow in Green Bay, but they are not losing any sleep over not having him. DOM CAPERS can lose some sleep trying to figure out how to stop him. I think most knowledgeable PACKERS fans would take the combo of AARON RODGERS & RYAN GRANT in their backfield over the division rival VIKINGS pair of TARVARIS JACKSON & ADRIAN PETERSON. I know I would!

GRANT JACKSON LUMPKIN HOT RB PROSPECT?!

While still on the PACK... I have had a few folks ask me why the team cut JASON HUNTER/DE/ST last month. I think the answer to that question is pretty simple. HUNTER is too small to play a 3-4 DE, and not athletic enough to stand up as an OLB. There can be no doubting his stellar Special Teams play, but folks it is pretty much a rule of thumb (with a few exceptions) that when you get to your fourth NFL season, and your only niche on the team is as a Special Teamer most organizations are going to move on with younger, less expensive Rookies who they might be able to develop beyond the Special Teams designation with time HUNTER had his 3 year window, and obviously couldn’t convince the team he had much more growth to offer. In the NFL, if you are not getting better as a player you are losing ground, and eventually your roster spot. That is just a hard fact of life on the pro landscape.

A quick congrats to former PACKER PARIS LENON/LB. Not so sure he will make the team, but after being let go by he LIONS he signed a contract with the PATRIOTS recently. If he makes the team it may be the ultimate example of going from the outhouse to the penthouse. Good luck PARIS.

Next week when we visit PACKER Country I want to give a little scrutiny to their OL situation. See you next time.

May 7, 2009
WHITEY’S best DRAFT to date is over, and all the new guys were in Green Bay last weekend for the Rookie Mini-Camp. Initial reports indicate that there were mostly smiles on the faces of PACKERS Brass and and no bad news was unearthed regarding any of the new players. One of the nice video shots for me was watching RFA KOLE HECKENDORF/WR running around catching passes. For those of you living in a cave (or out of state) the young man is from Mosinee, WI, just south of Wausau. He is the most “local” talent amongst the newcomers to the Green & Gold.

I am currently putting together my DRAFT RANKINGS of every NFL team in PDF form. But since that takes weeks to finish I thought I would give you PACKERS fans my quick take on the 8 PACKERS Draftees.

R1 PICK 9 B. J. RAJI/NT/BOSTON COLLEGE/6’2/333
BUSARI is the load and a half that you need to have a stout run defense in a 3-4 scheme. He has exceptional athleticism for his size and frame.
GB is already talking about using him some at DE. He should alternate for now with PICKETT on he Nose. He will provide a big boost to
their efforts to control opposing teams running attacks. he reminds me a lot of CASEY HAMPTON with better gap quickness at this stage of
his career.

R1 PICK 26 CLAY MATTHEWS/OLB/USC/6’3/240
I love the aggressiveness of WHITEY to jump up and grab a guy who will fit the new 3-4 scheme. I also love his blood lines and attacking style
of play. He seems to have natural pass rush moves and is physically strong. 2008 was his first time starting as a stand-up OLB. His upside
should be tremendous with solid coaching. If KAMPMAN struggles to adjust to his new OLB role, MATTHEWS could lead the PACK in
sacks as a Rookie.

R4 PICK 109 T. J. LANG/OT/E. MICHIGAN/6’5/305
I am sure a lot of casual DRAFT followers wonder who this guy is. You may like what you see when Training Camp opens. He rose up Draft
Boards rapidly after a solid performance in the Shrine Game and an impressive turn at the COMBINE. The former DT has a nasty side to him
and is tenacious. He won’t be quick to release his man on blocking assignments. Meet your potential new starter at RT if TAUSCH isn’t back
next season.

R5a PICK 145 QUINN JOHNSON/FB/LSU/6’1/246
QUINN got everyone’s attention on the first day in Mobile when he had one of the most sculpted bodies at the weigh-in. And he continued to
impress all week long. He is the kind of FB the PACK needs in their offensive scheme. He is not much of a runner, but he is a devastating
blocker and displayed excellent hands and receiving ability out in space. He should also be a force on Special Teams. As I write this he sure
sounds like the second coming of WILLIAM HENDERSON, which is what I think they are looking for.

R5b PICK 162 JAMON MEREDITH/OT/G/SOUTH CAROLINA/6’5/305
Most lists I saw had this guy in their Top 100 heading into April. He may have lasted this long because lots of teams question his desire and
aggression on the grass. He is athletic and very bright. He was also enough of a team guy to slide inside to G as a senior so the best 5
GAMECOCK OL could be on the field at all times. He played well inside, and may even get slotted there if LANG shines at OT. His style of
play and athleticism fit a zone blocking scheme. Getting him this late in the DRAFT is a classic example of a High Value Pick with upside.

R6a PICK 182 JARIUS WYNN/DE/GEORGIA/6’3/275
A JC transfer who showed lots of athleticism and effort for the BULLDOGS. He shows good quickness to go with his hustle. Most Scouts seem
to feel he has the frame to gain another 10-15 lbs, which would put him in the range of a 3-4 DE. He also could fit in as a DE when the team
drops back into an occasional 4-3 alignment. He is fast enough to factor in on Special Teams as well. Upside player.

R6b PICK 187 BRANDON UNDERWOOD/DB/CINCINNATI/6’1/198
I think this guy has huge upside and is a steal in R6. He may be best suited for a FS slot, but he may have enough athleticism and functional
speed to play as a Nickel-Corner. He could well be an insurance policy if NICK COLLINS continues to believe his press clippings and wants to
be paid like a Pro Bowler, which he really isn’t. He also seems like a logical fit to play significant time on Special Teams units.

R7 PICK 218 BRAD JONES/OLB/COLORADO/6’3/231
Let’s see if you recognize the pattern here: another special athlete who will at least be able to hold his own on Special Teams while they figure out how and where to utilize him, and how much upside he really has. I saw him play in 3 games last season, and even though I was not concentrating on him he made enough plays to catch my eye several times each game. I would expect to see his name on the Practice Squad this fall. But that’s OK when you are Drafting in Round 7.

That is my thumbnail sketch on a group of Draftees that I thought was good enough to rate an A- as a whole.

I find it very interesting to listen to idle sports chat, when I am out and about. The other day while having a quick lunch (at The Bell, of course) and making DRAFT notes, I overheard a discussion amongst a dining construction crew. One man, apparently the resident football/PACKERS expert of he group, was expounding on how THOMPSON got taken to the cleaners by BELICHICK with the big trade to grab CLAY MATTHEWS. He kept referring to the infamous “JIMMY JOHNSON DRAFT PICK POINT VALUE CHART”. He was convinced WHITEY gave up way too much to move up. Then without missing a beat he joked about THOMPSON always trading down not up in he past.
I would like to make three points in response to the assertions of the PACKERS fan who quite obviously is still waiting for RON WOLF to come back and save the franchise again
1) NFL teams do indeed have trade value chats by DRAFT Pick number that they use as a point of reference when considering jumping around during the DRAFT. But is is not the one most fans still download and refer to each April. The number values have changed, especially at the top of the DRAFT, over the past decade. It can also be said without equivocation that for most teams the chart is a guideline not gospel these days.
2) I would also be willing to bet the gentlemen expressing himself so emphatically has cringed every time WHTEY traded down over the past four years to accumulate more Picks. It is another example most likely of WHITEY being damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t.
3) Finally let’s just take a look at how badly THOMPSON got duped by BELICHICK.
Let me first point out that in trading Picks 41, 73 & 83 for the right to move up to Pick 2, WHITEY also insisted on receiving Pick 162 from the PATRIOTS. Now just for the heck of it, lets compare the two players the PACKERS got, with the three players selected by the PATRIOTS and JAGUARS (after another Trader Bill deal).

PACKERS CLAY MATTHEWS/LB/#26 JAMON MEREDITH/OT/G/#162
PATRIOTS DARUS BUTLER/CB/RS/#41 BRANDON TATE/WR/RS/#83
JAGUARS DEREK COX/CB/#73
I am not saying those 3 players were the guys the PACK would have taken, but they are the guys selected with the traded Picks. But for sake of argument, I will take the 2 selections made by the PACKERS over the other three guys without hesitation.
My other message is don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth THOMPSON haters.

April 23, 09
The DRAFT is this weekend and it’s put up or shut up time for all of us analysts. Since I live in Wisconsin it should come as no surprise that one of PPP’s primary focus points is the Green & Gold . One of the things I get asked about multiple times once April rolls around is who are the PACKERS taking overall, not just in the First Round. So back by “popular demand” (I guess) is my projection of which 9 players WHITEY might be adding to the roster.
Please note that my projections are based on three criteria: who I think will be available when they pick; team needs; type of players who fit the current systems in GB.

ROUND 1/PICK 9 B.J. RAJI/NT/B.C. 6’2/335
He has a chance to play like HAMPTON or WILFORK, which is essential in a 3-4 scheme.

ROUND 2/PICK 41 CODY BROWN/LB/E/UCONN 6’2/244
The OT are gone for now, and pass-rushing OLBs are essential in their new scheme.

ROUND 3A/PICK 73 JARRON GILBERT/DE/SAN JOSE ST 6’6/288
He may need some serious Coaching support to work harder, but his talent & athleticism are exceptional.

ROUND 3B/PICK 83 RICHARD QUINN/TE/UNC 6’4/264
Might be the all-around blocker/receiver they don’t have at the position right now.

ROUND 4/PICK 109 TROY KROPOG/OT/TULANE 6’5/309
Who do you think was the best OL on the Tulane team when MATT FORTE went for over 2,000 yards?!

ROUND 5/PICK 145 DeANGELO SMITH/CB/CINCINNATI 5’11/190
He showed some solid cover-skills at Cincy and also shows potential in the return game.

ROUND 6A/PICK 182 JASON WILLIAMS/OLB/W. ILLINOIS 6’3/235
Another potential pass-rush guy, who has been rising up the DRAFT BOARDS and did visit the PACK.

ROUND 6B/PICK 187 JOEL BELL/OT/FURMAN 6’7/315
The kind of athletic, small-school OL WHITEY seems to like to draft, then develop.

ROUND 7/PICK 218 JAMARCA SANFORD/SS/OLE MISS 5’10/215
The kind of aggressive hard hitting player their secondary needs more of. Potential ST gunner.

So just that quickly there are the 9 guys who fell where the PACKER Draft slots were. I have no inside info, and would not be shocked if I am wrong on all counts. But it is fun to speculate.

March 25, 2009
Things have been pretty quiet up at Lambeau in the PACKERS offices since the start of Veteran Free Agency. But then again, that should come as no big surprise under the regime of TED THOMPSON. Other than his bold foray into the world of Free Agency three seasons ago, when he brought in WOODSON & PICKETT, WHITEY is very seldom tempted to spend money on other people’s players. His belief in keeping and developing his own is rock solid.
However, I do have two questions to ask regarding that approach:
1) Coming off a 6-10 2008 campaign is he sure that the players in the fold are worth keeping, or is there a tendency to shy away from disposing of/replacing ‘your own’ because that implies admission of an initial DRAFTING mistake?
2) Given that the Personnel Department feels confident in the talent they are stocking the roster with, then I wonder if there isn’t some pressure on the Coaching Staff to develop and get more productivity out of the Draft Picks?

It seems to me, and I have voiced my opinion repeatedly in print and on the air, that coming off a losing record, and with a scheme change under new Defensive Coordinator DOM CAPERS, this was the year for WHITEY to go back out into the fields of Free Agency and grab off a couple of players who might come in and make an immediate impact. They don’t have to be big name stars...just guys who can play... now. Just take a look at how the PATRIOTS fill their roster every year with serviceable vets; most of them on 1 or 2 year contracts. I believe in the DRAFT as the way to build your roster as strongly as almost anyone, but I do not believe in tunnel vision and single approach answers.
I think ANTHONY SMITH/S is a solid signing adding young depth to the S position, but in the words of the famous PEGGY LEE song: Is that all there is? Given what is left on the Free Agency lists the shopping is pretty much over unless you want to roll the dice on some 35+-year old guys. I doubt WHITEY is going to sign any of those guys.

The PACKERS are well positioned for this April’s DRAFT with 4 selections in the Top 83. That number is more than their fair share and they need to take advantage of the opportunity. But the need is for guys who can step in and play...now.
There were 9 true Rookies on the PACKERS active roster last December. According to numbers used in an article this past Monday by PAT KIRWIN at NFL.com, Green Bay was ranked 25th in the NFL during the 2008 regular season with with 8 Rookie starts. That is 8 times one of the team’s 9 Rookies was in the starting line-up. The most Rookie starts in the League was posted by Super Bowl contestant ARIZONA with 37. Conversely, the STEELERS posted 1 Rookie start all year to rank 32nd (last) in the NFL.

The NFL announced the awarding of Compensatory Draft Picks on Monday, March 23rd. As usual there were a total of 32 selections dolled out around the League. They are handed out based on a team’s net loss of quality players during the previous year’s Free Agency period. The PACKERS did not receive any picks from the process. When you concentrate on re-signing your own and don’t lose players of significance you don’t get awarded extra Picks.
The BENGALS and TITANS were awarded the maximum allowed with 4 Picks each. The PACKERS division rival DA BEARS collected 3 extra picks with two of them being in the 7th Round. For you DRAFT detail fanatics I will summarize the final count in my next DRAFT TALK update later this week. If you don’t want to wait just head to www.nfl.com and you’ll find the detail for yourself.

PACKERS DRAFT NEEDS

I took a bold step Monday and printed up the current, official PACKERS Roster from the teams website. I sorted the list by position. Not that the PACK would draft based on positional need mind you. That is contrary to the “best player available” method that TED THOMPSON learned at the knee of his mentor RON WOLF. But I still seek out some correlation between need and talent available.
I immediately looked to the defensive side of things since the team is switching its primary defensive scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Just as I expected the lack of quality and depth along the DL was startling. Even some of their better talent, like CULLEN JENKINS, doesn’t necessarily fit the standard model of what the position calls for in a 3-4.

Here is the current DE talent lineup as Free Agency nears its end:
MALONE-JENKINS-HARRELL-MONTGOMERY-JOLLY
That’s it folks, and that is optimistically assuming JOLLY isn’t sitting in a Texas jail cell by summer.

So, if that isn’t frightening enough, how about the current NT lineup:
PICKETT-TORIBIO-BLEDSOE
And you thought they were in trouble at DE!

Open up the purse WHITEY and sign a serviceable DL Free Agent in the next couple of weeks. So you want some names, how about the following. They are not stars, nor will they be, but they might be serviceable for a one year contract, in the manner that the PATRIOTS build depth on their roster every year.
VONNIE HOLIDAY/DE (33) 6’5/285
STEPHEN BOWEN/DE (25) 6’5/300
RYAN SIMS/NT (29) 6’4/315
As of Tuesday morning, March 24th, these three players were still without contracts. I don’t think any of them would cost more than a couple million against this year’s Cap, but they might provide some serviceable help when Training Camp opens. Maybe I shouldn’t have made fun of the LIONS for signing GRADY JACKSON. Quite frankly his name on the current PACKERS roster would have made it look more palatable.

VONNIE GRADY B. J. RAJI

As far as the DRAFT is concerned I would suggest that of the current 9 Picks held by team they need to use one pick each at DE and NT. In a 3-4 scheme you don’t use early round picks at the DE position. You find solid players who fit the scheme (strong & large) and grab them in Rounds 3-5. This might open up the scenario, however, that if B.J. RAJI is available at Pick 9, the PACK would need to give his selection some very serious consideration.

The defensive front seems to me to be the greatest area need for the PACKERS between now and the opening of Training Camp, and the April DRAFT needs to be part of the fix.