PP Mock Draft - News Thread [Archive]

Colts44

02-17-2009, 10:36 AM

Winners and Losers QB’s
Winners:

Cardinals: Warner coming back is simply what they needed to do. He can be effective for at least a year and they got him at a reasonable value of 6million.

Bears: Rex Grossman? Neckbeard? I much rather have Matt Hassleback coming off a tough year than either of those two.

Lions: Cheap pickup in Jeff Garcia who is a veteran and still a solid qb. This gives them the option of not picking Stafford number one or letting him learn the playbook and NFL life for a year.

Colts: No Jim Sorgi, thank you Lord.

Losers:

Titans: I don’t care if you resigned Kerry Collins only at 2.5M; you sign Mike Vick you’re in the loser category.

Kyle Boller, David Carr: I’m shocked they didn’t get picked up by teams as backups.

Winners and Losers RB’s

Winners:

Darren Sproles: For a guy that has never had more than 61 carries and 330 yards in a regular season, 8 million is some nice money.

Bengals: Fred Taylor and Derrick Ward are great pickups for a team that has had trouble in the running game. Two great signings.

Cardinals: The signings of Thomas Jones and DeShaun Foster very solid. They both fit the offense very well and will help Tim Hightower develop.

Losers:

Titans: 3 million for an injury riddled running back you don’t need? They have White and Johnson, they simply don’t need Cadillac Williams. Should have let someone else with a lower offer take the risk.

Fullbacks: Hardly anyone got signed. Two great although older fullbacks in Tony Richardson and Lorenzo Neal don’t get any offers, yeah they are losers.

Jaguars: I don’t understand cutting Fred Taylor saving 1.25million and then spending 1.25 million on Maurice Morris when Taylor went for 1 million. Morris isn’t the runner Taylor was and Jones-Drew has the pass catching down pat.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 12:27 PM

Winner and Losers WR's

Winners:

Bucs: They got the highest WR free agent back at a reasonable price (6.5M) and also signed a burner in Devery Henderson, who is a big time burner with a whopping 24.8 ypc last year (although with questionable hands).

Raiders: Coles is a good pickup. He has been up good numbers over his career and continued to do so last season. Also Bryant Johnson a nice cheap pickup for a solid veteren receiver.

Cowboys: Micheal Clayton is worth a risk at 1.5M that he goes back to rookie form. Also this helps the Cowboys out in the redzone with the trading of T.O.

Browns: Nate Washington is a improving wideout with speed. It's good for the Browns to have this deep threat.

Losers:

Bears: I know the Bears need wideout help, I just don't like Marvin Harrison in the Windy City. Look at his splits from last season. Every thing he did he did on turf in Indy. A controlled environment with Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Anthony Gonzalez.

Seahawks: The money doesn't match the production for Reggie Williams.

Most other WR free agents: Not many were signed, is this a sign about the draft or just lack of quality in the free agency class?

Winners and Losers TE's

Winners:

Bills: Clear winners of this position. Bo Scaife was the only player that could make a big difference.

Eagles: Got one of the best blocking TE's in football.

Losers:

Teams looking for TE help in free agency: There wasn't a whole lot there.

Titans: Scaife was way better than Crumpler, needed to get him back in free agency.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 12:58 PM

Winners and Losers O-Line Edition

Winners:

Jordan Gross (Lions) and Vernan Carey (Eagles): The players are listed instead of the teams for the pure money spent (more so with Gross). I really liked both signings to teams though. Carey allows the Eagles the option to not take a tackle earlier in the draft and Gross hopefully will stabilize the Lions O-Line with Backus moving to Guard.

Cardinals: Jeff Saturday will be a leader on the young team and line. I think he's a better fit here than Jason Brown.

Chiefs: Jason Brown is a stud though and the Chiefs payed handsomely for him. They also got a decent RT in Jon Stinchcomb.

Green Bay: They got a great young Guard in Harvey Dehl. This guy will be masher for the Pack for a long time.

Bills: Peterman for 1M. Good deal. (Real life Lions resigned him for 5 yrs. 15M)

Losers:

Jacksonville: Willie Colon is a decent option. But if they don't take a position in the draft that rhymes with "deft rackle" he isn't good enough.

Panthers: Marvel Smith is a ok signing. However 4.25M for Chris Kemoeatu who gave up 7.5 sacks last year at Guard is to much.

Falcons: Harvey Dahl was an RFA, you have to offer the guy a tender. Just have too.

Winners and Losers DLine Edition

Winners

Albert Haynesworth and the Bucs: The best DT in the game the past two years. Albert should thrive in the tampa 2, expect huge numbers there. However, you never know he was in a contract year the last two years.

Broncos: Jason Taylor and Gabe Watson while spending only 8.25M is a great haul.

Bills: Jovan Haye and Chauncey Davis are two solid young D-Lineman. Spending only 2.5M while getting them is good as well.

Redskins: Cullen Jenkins will fit in very well in Washington and has the versatilty to play both DE and DT (in passing situations). Love this move and the cost. Also Darrell Reid=great special teams player. An insider with the Colts said they were pissed that they scooped him up at the minimum before the Colts knew their financial situation.

Cowboys: Colin Cole is a big guy that will be a good NT. Chris Canty also fits in very well in the 3-4. Re-signing him was a key.

Losers:

Titans: Hate to keep busting on them, but losing Haynesworth is a huge blow to their defense.

Panthers: KGB isn't the same player anymore, could've gotten a cheaper better player at the same price.

Falcons: When signing Tank Johnson, you basically got in my opinion Kenny Peterson with legal troubles.

Ed Johnson: I'm surprised no team pick him up. He was very good, until his pot bust.

LVradio

02-17-2009, 01:30 PM

Colts, Nate Washington signed with the Browns.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 01:46 PM

Colts, Nate Washington signed with the Browns.

Changed it and added D-Line to the O-Line post. Thanks, it was wrong on the WR list.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 02:15 PM

Winners and Losers LB's Edition

Winners:

Terrell Suggs and the Falcons: Suggs has had never had below eight sacks in a season. He's young and a stud, that's why they payed him 14.75M.

Saints: Micheal Boley is still a very good LB and the Saints needed LB's, good fit.

Chiefs: Karlos Dansby and Jonathan Vilma are going to be studs together. The Chiefs payed a lot money, but they will have a great lb crew.

49ers: Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis, together. :allhail:

Dolphins: Not losing Channing Crowder, puts them here.

Losers:

Broncos: I like Angelo Crowell, I just don't like 6.25M coming off a knee injury.

Bengals: Antonio Pierce will be solid next year, but for 7M you would want a younger player who is more than a one year player.

Redskins: 1.75M for Pierre Woods is overpaying for anyone, but with the cash strap they had at the time, is was unnecessary.

Cigaro

02-17-2009, 02:29 PM

oops, I'll put Chad Johnson-Santana Moss story here.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 02:50 PM

Winners and Losers DB Edition:

Winners:

Packers: I assume with the change to the 3-4 the Pack are changing to more zone defence, if they are Kelvin Hayden is a great fit. Great reads in zone defense and plays the run well. Also Gerald Sensabaugh is a nice addition and could turn in too a good safety. Tramon Williams re-signing is also why I think the Pack did the best in DB free agency.

Falcons: Foxworth signing for less than Bartell is a good deal, imo. Dawan Landry fills a fairly big whole at safety too.

Cardinals: Mike Mckenzie, is going to be a great teacher for DRC and can still play a little too.

Bucs: Phillip Buchanon is a great fit for the tampa 2 and a great value at 1.75 million.

Browns: Got a great leader in Darren Sharper and a very talented player in DeAngelo Hall.

Broncos: They got two of the top safeties in James Sanders and Jermaine Phillips at the minimum price for both. Nicely done.

49ers: Any time you get a Brian Dawkins you get at least a solid player and a great team leader.

Losers:

Texans: Spent too much O.J.Atogwe. 10M on a fairly inconsistant player isn't going to work out.

No one else really. Good job guys. Trades are next.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 03:08 PM

Winners and Losers Trade Edition

---
The Giants Receive:
DE Will Smith

The Saints Receive:
Giants 3rd and 7th picks

Winner: Draw. this gives the Saints cap room and picks. The Giants get a third great pass rusher and are able to move Kiwanuka to SLB.
--

Buffalo Receive:
Saints #14, Charles Grant, Billy Miller

The Saints Receive:
Buffalo #11 and 5th round pick

Winner: Edge Bills. The move up and get a 5th round pick, but I don't think its quite worth Charles Grant and Billy Miller.
--

Washington Receives:
Colts 6th Round Draft Pick

Indianapolis receives:
QB, Colt Brennan

Edge: Draw. Colts get a backup with some talent and Washington acutually has more than 4 picks now.
--

Jacksonville Receives:
WR Terrell Owens

Dallas Receives:
Jacksonville 3rd Round Draft Pick

Winner: Jacksonville. I'm sure this trade was only done because of cap and the distraction T.O. gives the Boys', but the Jags now have a #1 WR.
---

Texans get:

DE: Julius Peppers
Panthers 3rd round pick

Panthers get:

DT: Travis Johnson
Texans 1st round pick

Edge: Texans. It gives them most likely the best pass rush duo in the league.
---

NY Giants get: TE Tony Gonzalez

Chiefs get: NYG 2nd rounder (2.31) + OL Kevin Boothe + TE Kevin Boss

Edge: Chiefs. The Giants gave up to much, but Gonzalez will give them something they haven't had ever. Gonzalez is better than Shockey and Eli will show that.
---

Buffalo get:
WR Plaxico Burress

Giants get:
Bills 4th rounder
Bills 7th rounder

Edge: Giants. The Giants had to get rid of Burress and there is no guarentee Burress will play next year. However if he does this moves to draw.
---

Cincinnati Receives:
Chicago's third round pick
Chicago's fourth round pick

Chicago Receives:
Chad Johnson

Edge: Chicago. The Bengals could have gotten more from someone, there MAY have been a team out there going to offer a 2nd and 5th.
---

Detroit receives 24th OVR pick and Jamaal Anderson

Falcons receives 20th OVR pick and 6th rounder 1st pick

Edge: Falcons. Barely, mostly only because I think the Falcons improve on who they want in the draft a lot with this move.
---

Cincinnati Receives:
Santana Moss
Rock Cartwright

Washington Receives:
Bengals 3rd round pick(#70)
Bengals 4th round pick(#102)

Edge: Bengals. Washington get cap room and a couple picks, but the Bengals get good wr to pair with T.J. and Cartwright is solid in every phase of the game.
---

New York Giants Receive:
Redskins 3rd round pick (#70 - from Cincinnati)

Washington Receives:
G | Chris Snee

Edge: Redskins. Clearly, no questions. NY screwed up there cap and that's what they get.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 06:46 PM

Edgerrin James is Coming Back to Indy

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2005/writers/andrew_perloff/11/27/colts.steelers.preview/p1_edge_read_miller.jpg

Yesterday the Colts announced that they had signed running back Edgerrin James after he had been released by the Arizona Cardinals. The deal is for one year at 2.5million total salary.

"I'm happy to be back in Indy and be reunited with old friends and old faces," James said. The Colts said that Joe Addai would continue to start but, he will share carries with both James and at times with second year player Mike Hart. Interesting enough James and his successor as starting runningback for the Colts have had a long history as mentor-pupil. After the Colts drafted James, Addai through connections with the team had sought his advice. Now he will have mentor on the same team as well.

Colts44

02-17-2009, 06:59 PM

Colts44's Free Agency Winners and Losers Pages:

QB's and RB's (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57786&postcount=12)
WR's and TE's (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57810&postcount=13)
O-Line and D-Line (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57821&postcount=14)
LB's (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57852&postcount=17)
DB's (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57883&postcount=19)
K's and P's (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=58026&postcount=25)
Trades (http://www.pastapadre.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57891&postcount=20)

BME

02-17-2009, 09:18 PM

Colts,

Thank you.

Very well done.

Tokyoo

02-17-2009, 09:25 PM

Come on do a special teams one, at least so the Vikings can be mentioned..

Colts44

02-17-2009, 09:33 PM

Winners and Losers K/P Edition

Winners:

Vikings: Lechler is the best special teamer in the league.

Colts: Smith only had 2 TB's last season.

Lions: Bironis who is a top 3 kicker

Losers:

Jason Hansen: Until he gets signed and some team should/will.

Nephew E

02-17-2009, 10:51 PM

Raiders: Coles is a good pickup. He has been up good numbers over his career and continued to do so last season.

if 851 yards and 7 TD's as the full-time #1 is good numbers then i must live on mars. nice pick up in terms of depth but for all that speed, 12.1 YPC is terrible. cotchery's miles slower than coles and averages the same amount.

Fort

02-18-2009, 03:51 PM

Washington Redskins
2009 Pre-Draft Offseason Review and Season Preview

*** Offensive Line, Defense, and Special Teams soon ***

Quarterbacks:
We’ll start off with the quarterbacks. Going into the offseason, I felt that we had a solid starter in Jason Campbell, so we didn’t need to rattle the top of the position. Jason started 2008 strong before he faded down the stretch, though I believe that had more to do with the offensive line situation than any lack of ability in Jason. Though our offense in the mock is moving to the Air Raid, it is really a simplified version of, including a more systematic approach to the practice of, the WCO, which Jason thrived in at Auburn and looked comfortable with at the beginning of last season.

While we kept our incumbent starter in his role, I felt that it was necessary to shake up the depth chart behind Jason. We cut Todd Collins, who gave the Redskins one very solid year as an eventual starter, and another serving in a tutor role for Jason Campbell. He had a $2.000M cap number and isn’t necessarily a great fit for our spread Air Raid packages, not to mention his age. We also traded away 3rd stringer Colt Brennan, much to the sadness of the Cult of Colt, an informal group who disturbs me to no end. While one might believe the Colt would be a great fit for a spread offense, they are wrong when it comes to my offense. Dead wrong. His mechanics are vomit inducing. I would have liked a 5th for Colt, but moving him was more important than the details, and a 6th will be valuable for us, as at time this trade was finalized, we had only four draft picks.

To replace Todd and Colt, Brett Ratliff and Patrick Ramsey were signed in free agency. Brett is an exciting prospect in general, let alone the fact that he can once again operate in a spread offense (Utah’s offense is quite dissimilar to the Air Raid, but many of the general principles are the same: ball control and the quick passing game). He’s an underrated athlete and quarterback. There were those who thought that he may have been the most talent quarterback on the Jet’s roster last season. I’m not exactly sure about that, but the sky is the limit for Brett. This may be the last chance for Jason Campbell to cement himself as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Brett is a good guy to have to step in if it doesn’t work out with Campbell. I am still a fan of Patrick Ramsey. He’s got an arm that’s as strong as any in the league and is incredibly intelligent. Spurrier likely ruined his chances of developing into the great quarterback he had the potential to be, but I think he can still be a very valuable guy to have around.

Running Backs:
Because of the move to the Air Raid, our philosophy of the running back positions has changed. As we’ll base out of a four-wide look the majority of a time, our F-back needs to be a bit of a hybrid of a halfback, fullback, and receiver. He’ll be asked to run the ball occasionally, pass protect, and be in a route the large majority of the time. Clinton Portis fits the mold absolutely perfectly. He’s a very strong inside runner with above-average hands for a back, and he’s also one heck of a pass blocker; one of the best at his position.

Mike Sellers is also a good fit at the position. He’s gigantic, but he’s also very athletic and a good pass catcher, as well as a devastating blocker. We brought in Darius Walker, who I still believe is a poor man’s LaDainian Tomlinson. He has great agility and cutting ability and is also a great receiver out of the backfield.

Rock Cartwright left the team in a trade to the Bengals. He was a special teams ace that would have actually fit quite well in this system, but we were able to save a decent amount of cap space and also clear roster space, in addition to improving the 4th round selection we received in the trade.

Ladell Betts is still to be moved, but will not return to the team unless a trading partner cannot be found. He’s okay at most skills and spectacular at nothing. Not a great fit in our system.

Our H position is now a nearly full-time slot receiver, and will be treated as such in this review.

Receivers:
The core of the receiving positions was solid, with Antwaan Randle El, Santana Moss, Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, Chris Cooley, and Fred Davis. However, it could certainly use some upgrades. Obviously the big news was the trading of Santana Moss, which seems to be counter-productive. However, he has had some awful cases of the drops that have outright cost the Redskins wins. He had a great first half of the season before he slowed. While we lost a great talent that would have fit into the system very well, we gained a valuable 3rd round choice, which was subsequently used to acquire Chris Snee, and allowed us to clear nearly $4 million in cap space.

Randle El will move to the H position, typically a slot receiver. He’ll be able to use his play-making abilities often from that position. Two new additions will back him up at H: Anthony Alridge and Dominique Dorsey. Anthony Alridge played in an offense that was very similar to the Air Raid while at Houston and is a dynamic back. He has tremendous athleticism and hands, though he is coming off a fairly serious foot injury. He’ll be the #1 H-receiver when we go to two-back formations, pairing him in the backfield with the likes of Clinton Portis and Mike Sellers. Dominique Dorsey is an interesting player who comes to the team from the CFL, where he was named the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player for 2008. He immediately offers big-play ability at both return positions and will be given a chance to compete at the H-receiver position.

At X will be Malcolm Kelly. Malcolm has tremendous upside at the position but has been hampered with injuries his entire college and pro career. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be an elite player in the league. At the X position, he’ll have the opportunity to fight for the deep ball frequently. Backing him up will be newly added Mike Furrey. His best years were in Mike Martz’s pass happy offense. While he’s probably more of a natural H-receiver, he should still bring value at X. Should be a great asset in the Mesh and Shallow concepts; two staples of the Air Raid.

Z-receiver is where the play-makers live, and while Devin Thomas hasn’t exhibited that at the pro level yet, he’s show he’s got the aptitude for it. If he were to get his head on straight and start taking football seriously, he could be lethal. Free agent signing David Clowney will back Thomas up. Clowney has shown great deep ability and tremendous speed. He didn’t get much of a shot to work during the regular season with the Jets, but he was spectacular at times during the preseason. He’ll likely be given every chance to outwork Thomas.

Y-receiver doesn’t have to be a tight-end in the Air Raid, and often isn’t, but with two very athletic tight ends in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis, they fit the system very well. Davis will be expected to take a step up this season, as he is a bit better of an athlete compared to Cooley, but Cooley’s #1 job is easily safe at this point.

We parted ways with James Thrash and Todd Yoder. Thrash had continued to stick around with the team, and was a good leader in the locker room, but simply isn’t a great talent, though he could have provided some value at X. Todd Yoder found himself in the same boat, but added no value in the Air Raid, as his skill set is optimal in a traditional WCO or I-based offense.

Maddict

02-18-2009, 05:16 PM

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

GM REVIEWS FREE AGENCY

Before leaving for a much needed pre-draft break to Malta, Texans GM Rick Smith gave his thoughts on a busy few weeks in Houston. 'As everybody knows, offseason priority #1 for us was to improve on the defensive side of the ball. We felt we made huge strides in that direction with some of the moves we made here lately. First off, we acquired Julius Peppers in a trade with the panthers after we were able to persuade him to stay in a 4-3 with the prospect of teaming up with our own #90 Carolina native to give us one of the most potent pairings in the league'. While it did come at the cost of a first rd pick, the team acquired a 3rd rd pick and Smith said the decision was pretty simple given that the teams 2 favourite draft prospects- of Brian Orakpo & Everette Brown will likely be long gone by pick #15. Also lost was DT Travis Johnson 'I wish Travis all the best in Carolina- in fairness to him, he has played out of position at NT for the past 2 seasons without complaint and hopefully he'll get the chance to go back to his more natural position of Under Tackle at Carolina'.

Smith also commented that he was excited at the prospect of adding william joseph to the rotation of amobi okoye, deljuan robinson and frank okam 'we're very young at DT but we will be really looking for this group to mature and develop into a strength of this team. obvious deljuan came on great at the end of last season and looks to be a big time player if he can maintain that level consistently and we just hope amobi rebounds from last years injury plagued season

At linebacker, the team is confident in its 3 starters although the injury bug hit hard last year to the group with demeco ryans dinged up all year, diles suffering a broken leg and adibi had medical issues 'we're expecting zac diles recovers fully from his broken leg and returns to his pre-injury level of play which jumped off the screen to us when reviewing tape' while Xavier Adibi's presence palpably made the defence much better and attacking when he finally got healthy last yr

In the secondary, the team made key moves- none moreso than the franchising of dunta robinson- the defensive leader and standout cb. smith expects fred bennett to outgrow his sophmore slump and return to his stellar rookie performances with jacques reeves and antwaun molden rotating in during nickel and dime defences with justin miller providing insurance against any setbacks molden may have in his recovery process. the team also addressed another glaring need (lack of playmaking at S) by signing OJ Atogwe, the best available S on the market

On the offensive side, smith admitted the team were pleased with their starters 'We feel very comfortable in our offence and the direction in which it is developing and it should only improve as the group matures'. the team did bring in cedric benson as the teams short yardage back and smith said more backups and role players could be expected in the draft.

When asked directly about the draft, smith wouldnt give away much but did mention to expect the expected 'we wont be giving y'all any headline making moves: they wont be any sidney rice-type reaches on draft day' smith laughed :ninja:

SaveOurSaints

02-20-2009, 10:25 PM

New Orleans Times-Picayune

Interview transcript with saints GM: Saveoursaints

Jim Henderson: We are joined with New Orleans Saints GM SOS
SOS: Hey Jim, its great to be here, hope the fans have enjoyed this process as much as we have.

JH: SOS, you have made some tough decision so far, can you give us some insight what is going on behind the curtains?
SOS: Well Jim, it has been one of the most difficult off-seasons I can remember being in New Orleans, the #1 priorty of course is doing whats best for the team, short and long term. Obviously, we would have liked to have entered this off-season with more wiggle room.

JH: You mean cap wise?
SOS: Well the cap is 123 Million for the 2009 nfl season, meaning we started off at 128 Million, consequently our #1 goal was to get within that perimeter. Secondly, is suiting up 53 players for the start of the season.

JH: SOS, talk a little bit about the roster shakeup thus far. Some familiar faces will be playing elsewhere.
SOS: Unfortunately, we had to make a few cuts. I can tell you some were harder than others, but like I said Jim, we kind of had to dig our way out of this. Starting off we only had 45 players under contract, but we were still 5 million over the cap. As a consequence, the businuess aspect of the game took over.

JH: I wanna talk about Deuce, fans are going to miss him, and Im sure the Saints will miss him.
SOS: I can tell you this, Deuce was a 100% cap cut. Thats all it boiled down to. I think with the drafting of Bush, and the emergence of Pierre Thomas, I felt that we all knew it was going to happen, but no one knew when. He has worked tremendously hard the last couple of seasons, coming back from 2 acl surguries, to be apart of our ball club. Our communication with Deuce through this entire process couldn't have been better, and he understands the businuess side of this. It was important for the Saints, and to Deuce, to get this done quickly. We didn't want to drag this out, and as a consequence he has plenty of time to try and make another ball club by minicaps.

JH: Id liked to shift gears a little bit, obviously it has been another off-season where the brunt of the focus will be defense. Talk about the shake up at the DE position.
SOS: Jim, last year, with injuries, we became thin across the board at every position. We know there is a strong possibility that Will Smith and Charles Grant will miss a substancial portion of next year with impending suspensions due to the ongoing Starcaps saga. We felt it was the best interest of this organization to see if we could move those players elsewhere and get draft picks. See, Jim, it serves as a dual purpose.

JH: Dual purpose?
SOS: By trading Smith and Grant, it saved us close to 3 million in savings, while also giving us draft picks. We were not dealt with a full deck of draft picks. We started off with just 4 picks in this draft. By trading them, we were able to recoup 3 draft picks and saving 3 million cap dollars at the same time.

JH: Did the lack of draft picks play a role with then RFA Jahri Evans?
SOS: Yes, but in a perfect world, obviously Jahri Evans we still be a New Orleans Saint, but we could not afford the 4 million dollar price dag, and we were able to pick up another 1st round pick. Another thing, as a GM, had we retained him, he is one of those players that would garner a huge contract the following year, he would become a UFA, and we wouldn't have the money next year to sign him to a long term contract anyways. It was in best interest to see if we could pick up a quality draft pick for him, and we accomplished that.

JH: Losing, Jonathan Vilma in FA. What does that mean for the Saints in 2009?
SOS: We heavily invested in Vilma in a trade last year. You know its one of those things that didn't work out. In hindsight, we could have approached that situation a little differently.

JH: Differently?
SOS: Yeah, we talked it over with our front office personal and head coach Sean Payton, about applying the franchise tag before the FA period, but we looked at the other linebackers in FA, which was deep this year, and thought he was a player that we could potentially outbid others in FA. But it didn't work out that way, players know that essentially every contract is just a one-year contract, and another team was able to offer more money upfront.

JH: Is that why he turned to Michael Boley?
SOS: Boley has been a player that we wanted to look into from the start. Being he played in the NFC South the last few years, we had plenty of game film of him, and he will be a great addition to that linebacking group.

JH: Where do we stand currently entering the nfl draft?
SOS: Well we are in a position now with the draft looming to put everything together. We have the ability now, with 8 draft picks, to achieve the 53 man roster. Thats really what we wanted to do, we wanted to give ourselves a shot at this point, and I think we have done just that.

JH: Well SOS, to close up. Can you give us any insight on the team's plan for the 11th selection in the draft?
SOS: *laughs*, well like I said we have some holes we need to fill, but we also understand the importance of going BPA. We drafted Deuce in 2001 having Ricky Williams on our roster, and that was one of our best decisions we have made in the front office.

JH: Thanks SOS, enjoy the rest of the combine experience
SOS: Will do, thanks for having me on.

Terrorblaze

02-27-2009, 12:11 AM

HELLO / GOODBYE

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/terrorblaze/mccoy2.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/terrorblaze/brian_brohm.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/terrorblaze/lj5555.jpg

Larry Johnson is out LeSean McCoy and Brian Brohm are in

The new look Kansas City Chiefs made a bold move last night by severing ties with the face of the franchise, Pro Bowl Running Back Larry Johnson. Aside from the football ramifications trading LJ was a symbolic move that sent a message to the rabid Chief fan base. At 29 years old Johnson is slowing down and coupled with all the off the field incidents it was time for the Chiefs to say goodbye. Trading Johnson allowed the Chiefs to acquire a promising Quarter Back of the future in Brian Brohm and draft the #1 Running Back on their board the electrifying LeSean McCoy.

Brohm was a 2nd Round choice in the 2008 draft by the Green Bay Packers but was made expendable with the emergence of Aaron Rodgers. The Chiefs were intrigued by Brohm and when they learned he was on the marking were waiting for the right time to move in and acquire him. The weak 2009 QB class also had a lot to do with it. Brohm will join veterans Tyler Thigpen, Brodie Croyle and the Free Agent signee JP Losman on the Chiefs roster. The hope is that Brohm can continue to sit back and learn for a year or two before being thrown into the fire. The Chiefs have a lot of youth and Brohm's emergence may coincide with the team hitting their stride in 2010/2011.

Larry Johnson and Brian Brohm weren't the only factors in this deal, the primary catalyst was LeSean McCoy. With limited trade offers the Chiefs were wiling to stick with Johnson for another year but decided to pull the trigger when McCoy fell into their laps in round 2. The Chiefs brass are enamored with McCoy, who they feel is a complete back and a potential Pro Bowler, so much so they rated the Pittsburgh Sophmore atop their RB board ahead of both Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno. McCoy has tremendous vision, outstanding speed and can still run between the tackles. His most underrated trait is his pass catching ability, dude is a terror on screens and can make a big play out of a simple dump off. The talent was just too much for the Chiefs to pass up. Expect McCoy to pay dividends right away as he will have the luxery of running behind the rebuilt KC line which has the potential to be as dominant as their Willie Roaf lead group earlier in the decade. McCoy will join 2008 rookie Jamaal Charles in the backfield to form one of the more exciting 1-2 punches in the league. While McCoy will receive the lion share of the carries Charles will see ample playing time keeping the former Pittsburgh Panther fresh.

It's a new era in KC, fire up the BBQ and get ready for the fireworks!!!!

MannyBeltre

02-27-2009, 12:21 PM

New Look Seahawks Add Key Offensive Pieces
Crabtree, Robinson Cause for Celebration with Fans and Team Officials

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A brief interview with Seahawks President & General Manager MannyBeltre...

Michael Crabtree revealed during the combine that he had a stress fracture on his foot and would be sidelined for a few offseason workouts after surgery, how confident are you he will make a completely healthy return?

We had our team physicians study Michael's injury till they practically became friends with the x-ray's. From all we have gathered he will return 100% after a few weeks. This may mean he will miss some Mini Camp, but in the grand scheme of things we got what we feel is the best player in the entire draft. Seeing as we were at #4, selecting Michael is obviously a big win for this organization, our fans, and the city of Seattle. Given that this was a position of need, it only cements our belief that there was only one pick for us at #4, and that was Michael Crabtree.

This offseason has caused for a massive overhaul of the team, where does Crabtree fit in your plans?

We are coming off a free agency period where we had to make a number of tough moves for this team, but we are looking at the long term future of the franchise. Losing Matt, Deion, Bobby, Rocky, and a number of other guys is tough. But when we look at the young talent we have brought in not only today, but in free agency, the future of this team is incredibly bright. In terms of Michael specifically, I see him as the face of the new Seahawks right now, and I have full confidence he will respond to that.

Did you consider anyone else with the #4 pick?

No. For us it was Crabtree or bust. We were somewhat afraid Kansas City might make a move on him, but they instead made a fine pick with their offensive tackle. Had Michael been selected before us, we would have likely moved down in the draft.

What are your thoughts on your second round pick Duke Robinson?

Basically I did not expect him to be there at all. Had we moved down we would have certainly entertained the idea of selecting Duke, but with him being available with our second round pick is a huge win for this organization. We had to part with Mike Wahle, so it is comforting to Seneca and whoever our starting tailback will be that we now have an All-American guard ready to block for them. This kid will develop into a fine NFL player.

Did you consider any other players with the pick?

Well at the end of the first round and we saw who was available, we were looking at two players. The first player was obviously Duke, and the second was the back from Pitt, McCoy. We were favoring Duke, but McCoy had a small number of people on his side. Kansas City made the decision even easier for us when they took him two picks before that. Then all we had to worry about was Cleveland, but we got the player we wanted most with the pick overall.

Who was advocating for McCoy?

Oh there were only two guys making a case for him, but even before Kansas City made their pick we were beginning to see them back down and lean in favor or Duke. Perhaps the best argument for us happened right here in Seattle when Steve Hutchinson left in free agency. As soon as he left the running game declined dramatically and we have been unable to get our rushing attack to stabilize. But now we have arguably the top offensive guard in the draft coming in to compliment Walter and the rest of the line. The pick is obvious from that standpoint.

Will you be looking at a halfback in the upcoming rounds?

Well you cant say yes for sure. We will not just grab a player because he plays a certain position, but we are looking at every position on the field, halfback is nothing in particular we are looking to add.

What can we expect for the remainder of the draft?

We will continue to add players that will be incredible building blocks for the future of the team.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you for yours as well.

leftwich

02-27-2009, 01:53 PM

Jaguars Make Key Off-season Additions
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How do you feel the free agency period went?
Well to tell you the truth we added a lot of players that we really needed. We added running back Maurice Morris to help spell Maurice Jones Drew, wide receiver Chris Henry to make the wide out battle more interesting, we added Tackle Willie Colon to start at RT and LT Justin Fabini to add depth at LT. We addressed the center position and took Justin Grove and in the secondary we added Chris Carr to play nickle back and Roy Williams to start at SS.

Everyone saw you trade a third round pick for T.O. With all of his character issues do you believe you made the right move?
We desperately needed a proven #1 WR to help us get over the hump. Although he has been a "cancer" in other locker rooms, we believe by bringing him into Jacksonville, Head Coach Jack Del Rio will be able to provide a solid role model and drive home the fact that we need veteran leadership on offense.

There was a lot of buzz around you guys releasing RB Fred Taylor but signing RB Maurice Morris for more money. Why did you do that?
We are going for more of a youth movement in the backfield here in Jacksonville. Maurice Morris is a very underrated running back and I believe if he splits carries with Maurice Jones Drew we will have a very strong running attack like it was a few years ago.

We saw your first two draft picks, LT Michael Oher and DT Sen'Derrick Marks. Will they start immediately?
In the draft I came in with a game plan. I wanted to have the key players to win the battle in the trenches. Michael Oher will start from day one barring any setbacks in the foreseeable future. Sen'Derrick Marks looks like he may battle on the depth chart with Rob Meier but I believe Sen'Derrick has what it takes to win the battle.

You don't have another draft pick until the 4th round, is there any specific position you are still looking at?
I believe this team still needs a young corner and a speedy wide reciever. I think in the 4th round there still will be some quality players at those positions. Who they are I'm not sure but with the scouting I've done, I believe there is a steal or two in the 4th and 5th rounds.

It was a pleasure speaking with you and I plan on talking to you after the draft is done.
No problem.

Hombre

02-27-2009, 07:20 PM

Buffalo Looks to Finish the Puzzle
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The Buffalo Gazette sits down with Bills GM Hombre to get his take on how the draft has gone so far...

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.
Not a problem, happy to be here

First things first, you traded down twice in the first round while picking up a much needed defensive end in Charles Grant and a much needed tight end in Billy Miller while trading back 3 spots with New Orleans, why did you make those moves?
Well, we were approached by New Orleans, who were anxious to move up, they had Charles (Grant) and Billy (Miller) on the block, so we worked up a deal. It addressed two areas of great need from where we look at it and we didn't lose any value in picks.

How will Charles Grant and Billy Miller help this team this season?
Grant is a fine player who had run into a bit of a brick wall in New Orleans, we're hoping a change of scenery will bring back his passion to have double digit sack seasons...as far as Miller goes we brought him in because he's a very solid pass catching tight end and he's a veteran so he knows what he's doing. He will compete for the starting spot with Bo Scaife.

What about Grant's looming suspension? Doesn't that concern you a bit and affect the plans you may have had for him on the team?Whatever the league decides is what happens, until then we game plan and move on. We are prepared to move on without Grant for a couple games if that's what you are referring to.

So, back to the draft...you then traded down one spot with Carolina back to the 15th pick, what was the reasoning in that?
The Panthers GM approached me about sliding back one spot as they were targeting QB Mark Sanchez. They offered up their 4th round pick as compensation, so effectively we got the guy we wanted while gaining another pick.

What made Everette Brown the guy you wanted? Was he the guy you wanted all along or was he just the highest on your draft board at the time?
I have to say, he was on the top of our board when we still had possession of the 11th pick. Getting Charles Grant in the trade to trade down was key because I felt that trading down to the 14th pick would eliminate us from possibly getting Brown. It just so happened that he fell right into our laps.

What will his role be on this team? Some say he's a bit of a tweener and would have been better suited in a 3-4 defensive scheme...but the Bills run a conventional 4-3.
We feel that Everette will come in right away and compete for a starting spot. You're right, he's not your prototypical size of a defensive end, but he will put on some weight and we feel he could become a Dwight Freeney type player in our scheme.

Tell us a little about the second round selection of Clint Sintim the outside linebacker from Virginia.
Clint is your typical linebacker, great size, good speed, great tackler. He's a first round talent that fell in the draft, we're lucky to have gotten him. He's a game changer and that's what we love about him. He'll compete right away for a starting spot.

What is the Bills plan for the rest of the draft?
Well, we'll look to address some depth issues and as always we'll look at our board and come to an educated selection. I can't promise anything one way or the other.

Thank you, we'll look forward to another post-draft interview!
Not a problem, you know where to find me.

Cigaro

02-27-2009, 08:19 PM

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This offseason, you lost two of your best players in Jordan Gross and Julius Peppers. How do you feel about how the situation played out?

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To us, we knew there was no way we could keep Peppers, as he wanted a change of scenery, plain and simple. We rolled the dice and decided to franchise him, with the hopes of resigning Gross in free agency, and trading Peppers for a first round that we lacked. That part of the plan worked, but we simply couldn't compete with the amount of cash thrown at Gross by the Eagles and Lions. We're in the middle of an investigation to see if Daniel Snyder secretly bought both of those franchises.

Give us your thoughts on the players you signed in free agency.

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Overall, we think we think we signed a solid group. No real big names, but we think we can get some good production out of them. We were able to resign Jake Delhomme, and he'll likely go into 2009 as the starter. Amani Toomer is getting up there in age, but he still had a productive season last year and will fit into the rotation. Manumaleuna is a great blocker and will be a co-starter, coming in and out of the lineup depending on the situation.

Ray Willis isn't that big of a name, but he played pretty well when he got the chance last season for the Seahawks. Marvel Smith is a very good offensive tackle, and will be in serious competition for the starting job if his back has finally healed. Mulitalo is another less known lineman, but we think he could be at the least a very reliable backup. He started the entire season for Detroit last year and was a very underrated player.

On the defensive line, we got some solid players. We acquired Travis Johnson via the Peppers trade, and he'll probably start next to Kemoeatu. Rocky Bernard will see a lot of playing time as he has a lot of ability and potential. Antonio Smith will probably be a starting end, and we feel he can be a solid contributor. Kabeer didn't have the season he had in past years last season, but he's still a very good pass rush specialist.

We signed three linebackers who'll all contribute heavily. D.D. Lewis played well in Seattle before going down with an injury, and will back up Diggs. Nate Webster started all season in Denver and played well, and will rotate in behind all three starting linebackers. Donnie Edwards brings a veteran presence and will back up Thomas Davis on the weakside.

Rodney Harrison also brings a veteran presence and will back up Chris Harris at the strong safety spot.

What do you think of your first round pick, Mark Sanchez?

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We believe Sanchez is a phenomenal talent, number one quarterback on our boards. He's got a strong, accurate arm, a touch of athleticism, and is a good decision maker. He is a bit inexperienced coming into the league, but playing in a pro system in college should help the transition, and we want to sit him his rookie year so he isn't thrown into the fire.

LVradio

02-27-2009, 10:02 PM

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Cleveland Plain Dealer sit-down interview with Browns first round pick Rey Maualuga and General Manager LVradio Kokinis:

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PD: First of all, congratulations on being the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

RM: Thank you, I am happy to be a Cleveland Brown.

PD: My first question for you is, how's the hamstring? We saw that you tweaked it at the combine in February and you planned to rehab it so you were full strength for mini-camps? How close are you to 100%?

RM: It's good, I am at about 90% right now. It's a little sore when I make to sharp of cuts, but pain isn't too big of a thing for me. Pain is inevitable in football, and I'll fight through it, whether it lingers or not. I am just ready to play.

PD: Did the doctors say that there was any risk to re-injury?

RM: With hamstrings, there is always that risk, but I ran a 4.6 40 with a pulled hamstring. It won't bother me whether it is completely healed or not. It is going to take a serious injury to keep me from playing on Sundays in the orange and brown.

LVK: We have talked to the doctors at USC Sports Medicine and from the Combine. He has met with our team doctors on the injury and they all agree in consensus that this injury will be completely gone in a couple of weeks and he should be at 100% by training camp.

PD: That is good news. LVradio, there were questions as to why you selected Maualuga so high with players such as Malcolm Jenkins, Everette Brown and the likes still on the board. Why Rey?

LVK: The answer was simple. He was our guy from the beginning. The city of Cleveland loves players that are selfless and love the game as much as our fans. The types of guys that will give 200% day in and day out to help us win. We got a couple of guys in free agency such as Anquan Boldin that share that same montra. Added with Rey's intangible talents and ability, he is a player that we hope will anchor the middle of our defense and be an emotional leader for a long time in the orange and brown. As for why we selected him so high with the chance of him being available later in the round, we heard that there were teams trying to trade up to get him, and we were not going to risk giving away a potential cornerstone of our defense. He was our man.

PD: Rey, what do you like about Cleveland and what do you look forward to in the coming weeks and months?

RM: Cleveland is a great city. The fans here are unbelievable. Through snow and wind, rain, sleet, and wins and losses, they are behind the team. The team lives in the culture of a give everything, blue collar, tough nose attitude. It caters to the way I play. I want to leave it out between the sidelines, and I know the fans and my teammates will appreciate that. I am looking forward to meeting some of the guys in the locker room. It's going to be great lining up with Shaun Rogers, Bart Scott and DeAngelo Hall.

PD: Now, Rey, there was a controversy after the Rose Bowl where you went behind an unsuspecting Erin Andrews of ESPN and did an interesting act. What was that about?

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LVK: Let me intercept that question before Rey answers that. Rey already apologized for that, but let me just say, he is a passionate guy. I wish I had the kahonays to go up behind her and dry hump her. If I had a chance with that luscious body, I would do nasty things to that culo. I applaud you Rey Maualuga.

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RM: There was probably a little too much information there, but yes as Mr. Kokinis said before, I am sorry for doing it. Erin is a beautiful woman, and although I meant it as a joke, it was disrespectful. However, Erin, if you are interested in a date, once I get this signing bonus, I would love to take you out to dinner. LA, Bristol, or my new home in Cleveland, you name it and we'll go out on the town.

PD: (laughes uncontrollably) Alright, alright, back to football for a second. What did you learn from coach Pete Carroll at USC that helped you become an impact linebacker, like he has bred time and time again in LA?

RM: He runs a sophisticated pro style offense and defense that really prepares us for the NFL. He pushes us hard at practice and is a fantastic recruiter. The practices we have during the week are loaded with so much talent that when it comes to Saturday, it sometimes seems like a walkthrough. I sometimes think that is why we tend to be lulled to sleep and lose a game we should win every year.

PD: Are you going to be like Carson Palmer and USC and be a Buckeye hater come September when your Trojans come to Columbus to play Ohio State?

RM: I will be cheering for my Trojans, but I will not be publicly hating OSU. They have great fans like USC does and both schools have resentment for their publicity. It should be a good game, but I do not want to upset my new fans too much too early. (large grin).

PD: Well, I thank you GM Kokinis and you Rey Maualuga for your time and congratulations on become a Cleveland Brown. We look forward to you playing in the orange and brown on Sundays this fall.

LVK/RM: Thank you.

SaveOurSaints

02-28-2009, 10:15 AM

Saints Day 1 Review

Round 1: 14- About 10 days before the draft. The guy I had in mind was LB Rey Maualuga from USC. Big bruizer of an ILB. Since I didn't franchise Vilma. I knew there was a chance I wouldn't be able to outbid him. As a precaution. I wanted to jump ahead of Denver and Washington to get to #11, where in all likelyhood he would be there. But with Cleveland taking him at #5 I was forced to shift gears. But I was "okay" I signed a true 4-3 ILB in Zach Thomas in FA just incase this scenerio happened.

At # 11.
- Since Rey was gone I immediately wanted to trade back. Especially with T Andre Smith off the board. Arguably the value at #11 at this time, would have been the worst "value pick" for me if I stayed. Yes I could have taken Jenkins, or Everette Brown. But I wanted to trade down.
It came right down to the wire, where the Falcons GM finally caved on a trade I proposed earlier in the day. Literally 10 seconds before my other deal was made with the Niners GM. With moving back to #20 I realized there was a "decent" chance 1 of the 3 guys I wanted would be there. As the draft shook out, certain players kept falling and falling.

First round: #20
With how the draft shook out. I starting noticing pick after pick. That CB Vontae Davis would be around. And then here it happened. Moreno fell to the Bucs, and the Bears picked up a Tackle. The selection still took a little time, because in Gregg Williams defense, the FS position is the most pivotal. I wanted to take a FS. But I couldn't pass up Vontae Davis staring at me at #20. The "bonus" was that with my trade I picked up the #55 pick in the 2nd round.

First round: #32
- My hope was that the "WR Rush" would happen late in the first round. I had a feeling that once 1 wr was taken, it would have a domino affect. The FS position was on my radar big time. I had a trade set up with Colts at #27 to get infront of Philly. But, since the WR rush came late. Philly made a selection of a very good WR. Once this took place. I know FS Sean Smith would be there. He was the fastest safety at the combine, and also had the biggest frame at 6-3. Easy Easy choice

2nd round: #55- Before the draft started. I wanted to address 4 positions with the first 3 selections I had. Obviously I could only get 3 positions. DE was a huge need after I shipped off Will Smith and Charles Grant. They vastly underachieved the last 2 seasons, and both had a looming 4 game suspention that I didn't want to deal with to start the season. When I started this process. I know where the "Value" would be at with DE. It was the 2nd round. Robert Ayers was the choice, as he blew up at the Senior Bowl and the combine. He is currently one of the fastest risers in the nfl, and will find himself taken in the last 1st round in all likelyhood.

Colts44

02-28-2009, 01:07 PM

Colts Day 1 Review:

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Round 1: The plan for this pick was always Hakeem Nicks. The only way it wasn't going to be was if Peria Jerry DT from Ole Miss or Maclin were there. Nicks reminds me a lot of T.J. H. and Reggie Wayne. He is a great route runner, smart wide receiver with great hands and strength. He can block down field and also showed in the 40 his speed was underrated. I think Peyton would be extremely happy with the receiving corps or Wayne, Gonzo, Nicks, and Clark.

Round 2: With taking a WR in the 1st round this pick HAD to be a defensive tackle. I was praying Hood would fall to 61, but when he didn't I settled on Gilbert and hoped. Gilbert was incredibly productive in college and is a freakish athlete. I think that he'll excel at DT in the Tampa 2 and has the frame to add more weight. I was also considering ________ here, but choose Gilbert because I believe he fits the scheme better and has more potential.

dolphn

03-01-2009, 04:26 PM

The Miami Dolphins
2009 Draft Day One Review
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Miami's first round selection, OLB/DE Clay Matthews Jr.
Davie, FL--With the first day of the 2009 NFL Draft in the books now is a better time than ever to pause and examine the players selected by the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had three picks on the first day: their original first round selection (25th overall), their original second rounder (56), and another in the second they acquired from the Washington Redskins for Jason Taylor before the 2008 season began. With those three picks they selected the following players:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u161/AHFin4L/claymatthewsprofile.png 1(25). Clay Matthews Jr., OLB/DE, So. Cal--No Dolphins player outside of Joey Porter had more than five sacks in 2008. The lack of a pass rush was one of Miami's biggest weaknesses last year, and everyone knew it had to be addressed. Bill Parcells and co. hope that Clay Matthews Jr. can help improve that aspect of their defense. Matthews comes from incredible football bloodlines as many of his family members are playing it right now, or have had success in the past. Most notably his father, Clay Matthews Sr. who was a former All-Pro OLB with the Cleveland Browns, and his uncle Bruce Matthews who played in the league for 19 years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and has since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Clay Jr. had a career year in 2008 for the Trojans, compiling 56 tackles with 9 for a loss and 4.5 sacks plus 2 passes defended. For his four-year college playing career he's compiled a total of 96 tackles, 13.5 for a loss, and 5.5 sacks with 4 passes defended. The Dolphins hope these numbers will translate to even bigger numbers in the Pros, and help to give them a steady pass rush for a long time.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u161/AHFin4L/ronbraceprofile.png 2(44). Ron Brace, NT, Boston College--In switching to a 3-4 defense last year the Dolphins acquired Jason Ferguson from the Dallas Cowboys to play the vital nose tackle position. Ferguson played well, but his age means that he won't be able to do it for much longer. The Dolphins knew they would need to acquire a younger replacement as soon as possible. Enter Ron Brace of Boston College. At 6'3" 324 lbs., Brace outweighs Ferguson by 20 pounds, so he certainly fills the size description of a 3-4 nose tackle. The biggest issue is that Brace played in a 4-3 system at Boston College, and he may or may not be able to play the 3-4 nose well. Most experts believe Brace does have the ability to be a solid 3-4 nose tackle, and apparently Bill Parcells is one of those people.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u161/AHFin4L/connorbarwinprofile.png 2(56). Connor Barwin, OLB/DE, Cincinnati--If this draft isn't a step towards improving the Dolphins' pass rush, I don't know what is. With two of their first day picks they've brought in two pass rushers, both with tremendous upsides. Barwin was actually a tight end for the first three years of his college career befor being switched to a defensive end in Cincinnati's 4-3 defense for his senior year. He responded to his position change with a Big East-leading 11 sacks. Parcells and Ireland were reportedly looking at drafting Barwin with the #44 pick, and his upside was far too much to pass up twice.

SaveOurSaints

03-01-2009, 07:51 PM

DAY 1 WINNERS

1. New England Patriots
1st round #23 Brian Cushing, O/ILB, USC
2nd round #47 Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
2nd round #58 Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma

Perfect example of what happens when value and "need" co-exist in the same pick. Cushing imo is a top 15 player in this draft who has risen the past few weeks. The guy is a smart player, and has all the measurables you can ask for to play in a 3-4. Followed by that was one of the biggest steals in the draft with Darius Butler. Butler very well could start from day one. I want to question a couple of teams who passed up on him early in the 2nd round. And with the #57 pick, drafting a Tackle is never a bad move. You rarely see tackles enter FA, and there is a reason for that. Once a team gets a good tackle, they never let them go.

2. Buffalo
1st round #15: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
2nd round #42: Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia

- Bar none, the main reason they team folded down the stretch was because they couldn't get to the Quarterback. In 2008 only 3 teams had fewer sacks than the bills. And I can gaurantee that next year that won't be the case. Kudus to the Bills GM for sticking to his guns on a potential trade in the first round. This defense has a chance to be very good next season.

3. Miami Dolphins
1st round #25: Clay Matthews Jr. OLB/DE, So. Cal
2nd round #44: Ron Brace, DT, Boston College
2nd round #56: Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Cincinnati

- Yet another AFC east team. Granted you could say whoever has 3 selections in the first 56 picks should have a monster draft. But alot of teams would screw that up. I thought how he handled his 2nd round picks were brilliant. He drafted the DT first, and then the OLB. He had to have known that a team in between those 2 selections would go DT, and he was right. With Mathews and Barwin, in a 3-4 system, its a huge benifit to have guys who are multi-deminsional. They will be able to throw so many different looks at QB's next season

Other notable "solid" 1st day performances
4. Tampa Bay
5. Philadelphia
6. Carolina

SaveOurSaints

03-01-2009, 08:18 PM

DAY 1 LOSERS

1. Atlanta Falcons
1st round: James Laurinaitis, LB, OSU
2nd round: trade to N.O.

- Not only was Laurinaitis the biggest reach in the draft at #13. He also decided to trade his 2nd round pick in the process to make it all possible. Laurinaitis has a few concerns over his size, and I guess thats a positive in a way because he can play multiple positions. But, he easily would have been there at #20. Where at that pick, it wouldn't have been a huge reach, just a reach in general.

2. Detroit Lions
1st round #1: Matthew Stafford, QB, UGA
1st round #24: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
2nd round #33: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

- Don't get me wrong, I can see the understanding of these picks. They need a QB and they had a chance to take the top rated QB with their first pick. And Harvin may have been BPA at #33. But I felt that he could have gotten more out of these picks. I think he spent the entire mock draft period revolving around picking Stafford at #1. I think he could have spent all of that 20 million he spent on Gross on his defense, and drafted a LT with the first overall pick. And then when everyone and their mother from picks #5 through #14 were trying to trade down, he could have gotten Sanchez for cheap. And although the DT pick was a solid choice, rarely to they make an immediate impact in this league. I just don't think they became "instant winners" with these picks. I think they are in line with a 3-4 win season right now. And I think most of us remember Jeff Garcia's first stint with Detroit, only now, he is 3-4 years older...yikes.

3. Denver
1st round #12: Beenie Wells
2nd round #48: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

- Again, not bad picks. This is more of a personal preferance from me. Im a believer that you can get a starting runningback later in the draft. He could have had a guy like Javon Ringer in the 3rd, or Shonne Green in the 2nd. If it was me, I would have taken CB Malcolm Jenkins in a second at #12, and then taken a DE with the 2nd round pick. Granted I know the feeling though and understand why he did what he did. Runningback was a MAJOR need and he was in a position to take the best one available at #12. And I understand hindsight in 20/20. But I think there was some opportunities to go a different direction.

Other notable blunders:
4. St. Louis. I love the first pick in Curry, but could have gotten alot for value at #34
5. *Niners. I list this team because I just wanted to say a few words. I could have easily put this team as a "winner". But its such a high risk for a team to go that direction they did. Andre Smith and Michael Johnson are 2 players with mega talents but both have motivational issues. If they pan out, its a great draft. But it was a risk. Especially when they had a chance to keep Sanchez in state.

Cigaro

03-01-2009, 08:28 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals
Draft Breakdown

1(6). B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UQ2YGE9SLM

Combine Numbers: 6'1, 337 lbs, 5.13 40, 33 reps

The Bengals moved to a 3-4 defense with the hopes of improving the previously non-existent pass rush, but as any true football fan knows, the 3-4 is useless without a nose tackle who can clog the middle. The Bengals lacked such a nose tackle, at least a proven one, but B.J. Raji fills that role. He showed at the NFL Combine where he proved that he has the makings of a nose tackle on paper, and anyone who's seen him play knows his on the field potential.

2(38). Alex Mack, C, California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8bjtM6dSC4

Combine Numbers: Held out due to injury

Cincinnati views Alex Mack as the ultimate center prospect, possessing elite strength, athleticism, and smarts, and rate him as the best prospect at his position since Nick Mangold. The Bengals had horrible center play last season and added no one at the position in free agency, so the need was obvious. Like Raji, Alex Mack will likely start from day one.

3(84). Lawrence Sidbury Jr., OLB, Richmond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPydgMoTs04

Combine Numbers: 6'2, 266 lbs, 4.64 40, 28 reps, 35' vert, 10' long jump

The Bengals feel comfortable with their two starting outside linebackers, Robert Geathers and Brandon Johnson, but they can't take every snap. Lawrence Sidbury Jr. is a small school prospect with a big time upside. He was unblockable last season, racking up 11.5 sacks, and followed up his on the field play with a dominant Combine performance.

Tokyoo

03-01-2009, 09:02 PM

Minnesota Vikings Draft Recap

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Round 1 - 22nd overall pick - William Beatty, OT, UCONN

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William Beatty is an intimidating figure who is expected to come in and start at right tackle for the Vikings next season. Beatty started all 13 games of his senior season, paving the way for NCAA rushing leader and teammate Donald Brown. Standing at a height of 6'6 and weighing over 300 pounds, Beatty will fit right into what is already one of the league's best offensive lines. Coaches Tokyoo and Bones knew the line had just one weak spot, and were thrilled to find a player capable of filling the void right away.

Round 2 - 54th overall pick - Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

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Josh Freeman has all of the physical tools you would want in a quarterback; he's huge and can throw the ball far. When he declared for the draft after his junior year at Kansas State, he jumped onto the radar of many NFL teams. Many experts predicted he would be gone before the first round was over, so of course the Vikings were delighted to see they had the chance to fill another glaring need with a potential season-opening starter. Along with his great size and throwing power, Freeman also has experience running a pro-style offense. He should have no trouble adjusting to the Vikings' system, which involves a lot of snaps under center, hand-offs, and play-action passes.

Round 3 - 86th overall pick - Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon

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Jairus Byrd was just what the Vikings were looking for with their third pick of the draft. Coaches Bones and Tokyoo were hoping to find a strong, physical cornerback with the ability to learn the cover 2 scheme. Byrd is a big, strong guy who has experience pressing and jamming receivers at the line. There were critiques about his top-end speed, but this shouldn't be a major factor in the cover 2. While at Oregon, he displayed excellent ball skills while picking off 17 balls in just 3 years. Expect veteran CB Antoine Winfield to take Byrd under his wing and mentor him throughout the year. Also look for Byrd to come in and compete with newly signed free agent Jim Leonhard for top return duties.

Round 4 - 118th overall pick - Alex Magee, DT, Purdue

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Alex Magee impressed us at the East-West Shrine Game practices, as well as throughout his career playing in the Big 10. We love his versatility, he has the ability to play both DT and DE, and his athleticism. We see him mostly as a DT, which he played the first 3 years of his college career. He moved to DE unselfishly in his senior year to help out his team, showing great character. For the Vikings, he will mainly play DT, where he should have an easy time transitioning into the NFL. He will be learning behind two of the top current defensive tackles in the league, Kevin and Pat Williams, and also from a fellow talented young guy, Fred Evans. Spending some time as a backup while waiting to fill one of the veteran's roles, Magee should have time to put on some more muscle. He will be placed at 4th string DT and will definitely see time on the field in his first year, especially with Pat Williams aging and the other big guys getting gassed.

Round 5 - 150th overall pick - Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada - Reno

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Marko Mitchell was a height-weight-speed guy we couldn't pass up on. At a height of 6'4, he ran the 40 yard dash in just 4.46 seconds, and he has shown his ability to go up top for the ball. For the last two years of his college career, he was one of the top big play guys in the nation; he was second in the nation his junior year with over 21 yards per catch. The game he most impressed us with in his senior season was also against one of the top teams in the nation, Texas Tech. Mitchell amassed over 140 yards on 8 catches, one for a touchdown. He will be able to really help the team when he's on the field with current Viking WR, Bernard Berrian. We don't know of any team with a secondary quick enough to keep up with both Berrian and Mitchell while also defending our stellar run offense. Mitchell will see time at both 3rd and 4th string WR, spending most of his time in the slot.

Reports from Winter Park

The Minnesota Vikings came into the draft needing just one or two more pieces to put them over the top. Co-Head Coaches Tokyoo and Bones had a few specific needs in mind while preparing for day one of the draft. Coach Tokyoo was quoted at a press conference shortly after the conclusion of round 2 saying, "We knew we were going to take an offensive tackle in the first round, and were hoping to fill a hole in our defense in the second round. Much to our surprise, a first round caliber quarterback fell to our spot in the second, and we could not pass up the opportunity. We expect Josh to come in, learn the schemes, and hopefully be prepared to start the season opener." Shocking words from Coach Tokyoo were followed by the cutting of veterans Gus Frerotte, Maurice Hicks, and Chris Kluwe.

Day two of the NFL draft started well for the Vikings. As Coach Tokyoo had hinted earlier, they were looking to "fill a hole in [their] defense." When pick #86 was on the clock, Coach Bones personally sprinted to the podium to confirm the Vikings' pick of Jairus Byrd, an underclassman out of Oregon. Cameras cut to a live feed of Byrd's home in Clayton, Missouri where he was seen crying tears of joy while hugging his mother, Marilyn. Byrd held a thumbs-up to the camera while shouting, "I'm a purple people-eater!"

Fans in Minnesota are still unsure of what to think about the draft so far. The first three picks have all been from smaller schools, causing some confusion among fair-weather fans. After each pick, murmurs of, "Who?" filled the practice facility at Winter Park. One fan, who had traveled all the way from North Dakota, told a reporter, "Well you know, none of us have even heard of these guys. Personally, I think they should have traded up for Crabtree or that big Samoan-looking guy from USC." In an ESPN interview with the draft crew, Coach Bones addressed fans' concerns on behalf of the Vikings organization, "Coach Tokyoo and I have been studying these players for months, and some for years. Of course we don't expect the average fan to recognize some of these names right away, but we know for a fact that they will soon forget their displeasure."

The Minnesota Vikings have added two more players through the draft, including their first big conference guy. Alex Magee, a defensive lineman from Purdue, looks to be a future starter once the Williams wall is broken. He will see time this year, too, especially on 3rd down when one of the starters needs a breather. Magee will also come in during passing situations, because he can get a great pass rush out of the defensive tackle position. When asked to comment on the pick, Coach Tokyoo responded, "We were super pumped to get Magee in the fourth round. We know that if he hadn't unselfishly moved from DT to DE in his senior year, he would have been a first day pick. We love him as a person, too. After his playing days are over, he aspires to be an FBI agent! Maybe he'll keep the Williams boys out of trouble, too."

The Vikings' 5th pick was another offensive threat. Marko Mitchell, a big, speedy receiver out of Nevada, looks to be the home run threat that Vikings' fans love. Mitchell looked impressive in a small conference, and proved his athletic abilities at the combine. The extremely athletic combination of Freeman, Mitchell, Shiancoe, Berrian, Rice, and Adrian Peterson has fans salivating. Add in one of the league's best offensive lines, and this offense has potential to be spectacular. It will be interesting to see what the team decides to do with their final two picks, both in the 7th round.

Writeups from round seven are expected to come after each Vikings' pick.

Colts44

03-01-2009, 10:00 PM

Colts44's Day 1 Draft Winners and Losers

Winners:

New Orleans Saints: By far and away the best draft. The Saints really needed a strong draft after having to cut a lot of players in the off-season and they sure had a hell of a first day. They traded down from #11 to #20 and got Vonte Davis a great corner and picked up another great defensive back with Sean Smith at #32. Then with the pick they got from trading down (#55) they picked up a great player in Robert Ayers from Tenn. who is really underrated by some because of the poor overall team he played on last year. Ayers will really help with the losses of both starting defensive ends.

Cincinnati Bengals: I think this picks are going to be somewhat overlooked because they aren't skill players, but the Bengals picked up two of the best players in the draft in B.J. Raji and Alex Mack. I loved both these picks, Raji really provides Cincinnati with a cornerstone NT for years and Mack does the same thing on the offensive line.

New England Patriots: This is obvious, read SOS review and he's absolutely right.

Denver Broncos: I really liked Denver's draft. I think Wells is good fit in there scheme and they got who they wanted. I understand if you think you can get a better back later, but if that's who you want and you really like them you get them. As for Hood, he is a great pick. The kid fits in really well in the 4-3 (looks like Georgia is staying with that unlike the real team).

Great 2nd Round Moves:

34. Kansas City - Lesean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
Got rid or a trouble maker and got his heir in the same move.

41. Dallas (From GB) - Rashard Johnson, S, Alabama
The Boys' need safety help and Johnson provides it.

42. Buffalo - Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
Suprised he lasted that long, great value, and will fit in well.

52. New York Jets - Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa
I really like Greene, I happen to think he has a decent shot at being the best back in the class. Maybe its because I'm a Hawkeye homer or that I've watched all of his games this last year in which he tore up every defense he faced and is the most physical back I've seen in a long time. Also he has some of the best footwork and vision I've seen in college football since I've seen.

53. Philadelphia - William Moore, S, Missouri
62. Tennessee - Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
Two underrated Mizzou guys who fell, but will make instant impacts and will be good in the league for a long time.

Losers:

Atlanta Falcons: They just didn't need to move up to get Laurinaitis. I don't think he's a bad fit, I just don't like the move and where he was drafted.

Moves I didn't like:

10. San Francisco - Andre Smith, OT, Bama
I just don't trust him, too many questions in my opinion to take him at #10.

21. Philadelphia - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
I'm not that high on Pettigrew and there are a lot of good TE's (who I believe are just as good) taken later or available still.

30. Tennessee - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
While a good value, I just think there were way bigger needs at this point then DE.

40. Oakland - Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
I usually don't question size, but Maybin would sometimes dissapear in games which I believe is directly correlated to his size. Also I think he would fit better in a 3-4.

49. Chicago - Paul Kruger, DE, Utah
Mostly because I think they should have picked Ayers if they were going to pick a DE here.

Also just saying here it was really, really hard to find anything I really didn't like and some of the picks I didn't like were really picks that I didn't like as much as every other one.

Tokyoo

03-01-2009, 10:26 PM

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Recap

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Minnesota Vikings' officials are satisfied by the results of this year's free agency period. The Vikings signed a few new impact players and re-signed several key players while painfully deciding to part ways with others. This year, the team emphasized bringing in guys with great character and no off the field problems. Among those left un-signed by the team were veterans TE Jim Kleinsasser, DT Ellis Wyms, MLB Napoleon Harris, and SS Darren Sharper. The coaches had nothing but kind words to say to all of these fine gentlemen, and were disappointed to see them go. But, business is business. The team's main goal for free agency was to bolster a weak special teams unit that cost them several opportunities last season. Other goals included replacing the players who were let go, signing players with good character and leadership skills, and adding some depth at a few key positions.

Offensive Acquisitions

Offensively, the team added depth, versatility, and leadership skills. A lot of familiar faces were brought back, and the offensive line was strengthened. The Vikings also added another pass catching tight-end and a fullback who has the ability to play linebacker and special teams.

Michael Bennett, RB, Wisconsin
Coaches Tokyoo and Bones were very excited to bring back Michael Bennett, especially at the price of $1 million. Coach Tokyoo recalls the days of Bennett starting for the Vikings and taking screen passes to the house, while Coach Bones fancied the memories of a young Bennett playing at the University of Wisconsin, and an older Bennett playing at Tampa Bay. Bennett also impressed the Vikings front office while showing sparks in the 2008 playoffs while he was still a member of the San Diego Chargers. The 2009 roster has him at third-string RB behind Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.

Boomer Grigsby, FB, Illinois State
The Vikings brought in fan favorite fullback Boomer Grigsby to both lead block for Adrian Peterson and bolster the weak special teams unit. While on his $250,000 contract, Boomer will take on the role of starting fullback ahead of h-back Jeff Dugan. Grigsby, who started his career as a linebacker, is also expected to make an immediate impact on kick and punt coverage.

Ben Utecht, TE, Minnesota
Hometown hero and Super Bowl winning tight-end Ben Utecht was brought in to replace veteran Jim Kleinsasser. Utecht was signed for a meager $1 million. He grew up in Minnesota and went on to play four years at the University of Minnesota before being drafted by the Colts. He is the second tight-end on the depth chart, and will be used mainly in passing situations. He will share time with blocking h-backs Jeff Dugan and Garrett Mills.

Marcus Johnson, LT, Ole Miss
The Vikings retained backup offensive lineman Marcus Johnson for $500,000. Johnson was a second round pick who never truly panned out, but his youth, versatility, size, and experience as a starter are still valuable to the team. Johnson is penciled in as the backup left tackle behind Bryant McKinnie, but he can be moved if needed.

Matt Birk, C, Harvard
The Vikings were pleased to re-sign veteran starting center Matt Birk for $3.75 million. Birk has made a tremendous impact on the community while in Minnesota, and he's been in the middle of one of the league's best offensive lines. He's just one of those character guys a team loves to have. His presence is still needed as young backup center, John Sullivan, is still developing his skills and technique. And come on, he went to Harvard.

Adam Goldberg, RG, Wyoming
Coaches Tokyoo and Bones decided to bring back another former Viking as a backup when they signed offensive lineman Adam Goldberg for $500,000. Goldberg played for the Vikings in 2004 and 2005 before a trade with the Rams. Just like Johnson, Goldberg is large, extremely versatile, and has starting experience. And, like Utecht, Goldberg grew up in Minnesota. Goldberg is set to backup RG Anthony Herrera, but he can be moved anywhere on the line if needed.

Defensive Acquisitions

Defensively, the Vikings added depth to the secondary along with versatile players who can make an impact on special teams as well as on defense. They also added a new starting strong safety to replace Darren Sharper.

Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
Coach Tokyoo was intent on bringing back fan favorite Kenechi Udeze. He signed a $500,000 contract and was named backup defensive end behind Ray Edwards. Once he is fully healed from his bout with leukemia, he plans to take back his starting role and strengthen an already amazing defensive line.

Fred Evans, DT, Texas State
The Vikings re-signed third string defensive tackle Fred Evans for $2 million. Evans saw ample time on the defensive line throughout the year when the Williams' Wall grew fatigued. He also filled in as a starter when Pat Williams went down with an injury. Coaches were very pleased with Evans' performance and would not consider letting him sign with another team.

Heath Farwell, MLB, San Diego State
Special teams ace and backup MLB Heath Farwell was resigned for $1 million despite missing all of last season with a torn ACL. In 2007, he was unquestionably the team's leader on special teams. His absence was definitely obvious last year, when the Vikings gave up a record 4 punt return touchdowns. Having him back next year will automatically improve the units' performance.

Ricky Manning, Jr., CB, UCLA
The Vikings added dime-back Ricky Manning Jr. for $500,000. Manning has experience in the cover 2 scheme the Vikings run, and will help provide depth to the secondary. The coaching staff does plan to keep an eye on his behavior off the field, but veteran CB Antoine Winfield said he would try to keep him out of trouble.

John Wendling, SS, Wyoming
The Vikings continued to boost their special teams when they signed safety John Wendling to a deal worth $500,000. He is expected to make a notable impact on all special teams operations. Wendling is also penciled in at backup strong safety.

Jim Leonhard, SS, Wisconsin
Jim Leonhard was one of the Vikings' biggest acquisitions this off season. The organization was thrilled to sign him for just $3 million. He will be replacing veteran Darren Sharper at starting strong safety, and will also be competing for the main kick and punt return duties. The coaches are very excited about his mental toughness and intangibles, along with his youth and ability to be all over the field.

Special Teams Acquisitions

Shane Lechler, P, Texas A&M
Shocking to some, the highest contract given out by the Vikings this year went to a punter. But people familiar with the Vikings aren't so surprised; most are happy they only spent $4.5 million on arguably the best punter in the game. Plagued by special teams problems last year, the Vikings again and again emphasized their rebuilding of the unit. Shane Lechler is expected to make a considerable difference in the outcome of each and every game this coming year, replacing piece of shit punter Chris Kluwe.

JBourne90

03-02-2009, 12:13 AM

Chicago Bears 2009 Off-Season Review
BY: JBourne90

CUTS

John Tait, $3.6 Million Saved
John Tait has been the Bears starting tackle for the past 5 seasons, but has never quite played to his highest potential. He played most of his career with the Bears as their left tackle despite being a better right tackle. He had been getting up there in age and with a 3.6 Million dollar cap number, he was not worth the money he was due to be paid.

Marty Booker, $750,000 Saved
Marty Booker's second stint in the Windy City didn't quite go as planned. With only 14 receptions in 13 games played, Booker was unable to relive his glory days from the early 2000's Bears teams where he earned his first and only Pro Bowl nomination, as he sometimes looked like a rookie on the field, messing up routes and dropping easy passes.

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Matt Hasselbeck, $5.0 Million:
The Bears' franchise has never been one to have a typical franchise quarterback, even back in the days of Jim McMahon during 1980's. After years of the Kyle Orton-Rex Grossman-Brian Griese experiments, the Bears had an opportunity to sign a proved veteran quarterback this off-season, as many found themselves as free agents, namely Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, Jake Delhomme, and Matt Hasselbeck.

Having the 18th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Bears also had a chance to not actively pursue a Quarterback in Free Agency and pursue Mark Sanchez in the first round, but after years of having unfortunate draft's concerning the quarterback position, the Bears organization decided to trust their fate in Matt Hasselbeck, giving him a $5 million contract to lead a team without any major offensive firepower.

Hasselbeck, since becoming the Seahawks full-time starter in 2003, has consistently put up top-10 quarterback numbers, starting at least 12 games in 5 of the last 6 seasons. With Kyle Orton playing the backup role, the Bears now have much more security at the position then they did with the Grossman-Orton combo.

Chris Brown, $1.0 Million:
In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Bears found a gem at halfback by the name of Matt Forte. However, the longer NFL season appeared to take a toll on the young halfback as his numbers began to fall off near the end of the season. The offense in 2008 underutilized backup's Kevin Jones, who left to Free Agency, and Adrian Peterson, who will be the team's 3rd string back this upcoming season.

Without a viable 'change of pace' back, the Bears looked to free agency to fill this hole as well. They had their eyes on Cadillac Williams, who was cut by Tampa Bay this off-season, but were outbid on him by the Tennessee Titans, and instead, turned to ex-Titan back Chris Brown, who they were able to sign for $1 million contract to be their 2nd string back behind Forte. Speedy Garrett Wolfe will also get some touches on offense this year, specifically on plays where he can take advantage of his speed and break long runs when Forte and Brown seem to be in a rut.

Marvin Harrison, $3.25 Million:
While Marvin Harrison may be past his prime, Harrison can provide some veteran leadership on a young-receiving corps for the Chicago franchise. With Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, and Earl Bennett as the 3 returning receivers, which have an average age of 25, learning from one of the best receivers in the game can help the Bears passing game long after Harrison leaves the team.

Maurice Stovall, $1.5 Million
While Maurice has not been the dominant receiver he was in college playing for Notre Dame (90 receptions, 12 Touchdown's in 2005), he has spent his career behind some very talented receivers in the Tampa organization and not had a huge showcase for his talents. However, with a trade the Bears made later in the off-season, it appears he still may not be able to showcase his talents. However, Stovall has been reguarded as a fantastic special teams player and will still be able to contribute to the team.

TRADES

Chad Johnson for 3rd and 4th Round Picks in the 2009 NFL Draft
While the Bears had already signed Marvin Harrison and Maurice Stovall, they still lacked an elite-talent receiver to go along with their new offense, led by Matt Hasselbeck. When they were approached by the Bengals organization of a possible trade with Chad Johnson, the Bears saw an opportunity to get that level of a receiver while only losing minimal talent/draft picks in the process. Using their 3rd and 4th round picks, the most they could have done was hit a gem that could make an impact a few years down the road after Hasselbeck and Harrison had become 'over-the-hill' players, or fill some smaller holes in their team.

Acquiring Johnson, a receiver that has 1,000 yard receiving seasons in all but 2 of his years in the NFL could be the go-to player the Bears have been looking for. While he does have some off-the-field baggage that he will bring along with him, the Bears feel that a new start in a place that he will be welcomed with open arms will hopefully put away some of the distractions that he is capable of being a part of.

NFL DRAFT

Round 1, Pick 18: Ebon Britton, OT, Arizona
After all the acquisitions the Bears made through Free Agency and Trades, there was 2 main holes in their squad to be filled by their first and second round draft picks. The first of which was the offensive tackle position after the release of John Tait and the expiring contract of John St. Clair. With 4 very capable tackles predicted to go in the top-15 picks, the Bears were prepared to make another move to jump up and grab one of them. However, 3 of the 4 tackles were already gone by pick 8, leaving only the motivationally-questionable Andre Smith of Alabama remaining. Despite their best efforts to move up, Andre Smith was taken at pick 10 by the San Francisco 49ers, leaving the Bears out in the cold.

This dilemma left Ebon Britton as the obvious tackle to be next off the board. While he was not projected as an elite tackle prospect, and one that better fits at right tackle, he was exactly fitting of the Bears need at the tackle position, as last years first round pick Chris Williams looks to step into the left tackle spot.

Round 2, Pick 17: Paul Kruger, DE, Utah
This pick also filled a need for the Bears, as they had limited production from a defensive line that used to be regarded as one of the best in the NFL. Their choice was essentially between Robert Ayers from Tennessee or Paul Kruger from Utah. While Kruger came in as the smaller of the 2 after combine results, he outperformed Ayers in the bench press 24-18.

If Kruger bulks up over the summer, I believe he has great potential to fit into Chicago's already 3-headed monster of Mark Anderson, Alex Brown, and Adewale Ogunleye. His quick feet and quickness out of his stance will only benefit him in the long run, and while he does need some work on his initial stance, he will fit in well into Chicago's defensive scheme.

Hombre

03-02-2009, 01:53 AM

Hombre's Draft Thoughts

Thumb's Up!
- St. Louis Rams selecting Aaron Curry...Curry is the best player in this draft but he plays a position that generally doesn't go in the top 3. Kudos to the Rams GM for not bypassing him based on a philosophy. The kid will be a stud for years.

- The Bills getting Everette Brown at pick #15...Brown was slotted to be a top 10 pick and for reasons unknown he fell far enough for the Bills to select him mid round. Brown is a bit undersized but has great power and can only get bigger. He will fit in nicely in the Bills defense.

- Carolina getting Mark Sanchez at #14, Sanchez is a top 10 talent and the Panthers traded a 4th round pick to move up one spot to get him. Sanchez, if he sits on the bench for a year or so has the ability to be a very good QB in this league.

- Detroit getting Percy Harvin at the top of the second round was good value. Harvin is a game changer who will make the Lion's offense that much better.

- San Francisco selecting Michael Johnson mid 2nd round. Johnson has the ability to be one of the best in the league if he can ever play with a consistent motor. For a long time Johnson was considered a sure 1st rounder, but his lack of consistency allowed him to drop. Good pickup.

- Shonn Greene going to the Jets at pick #52 was great value. There really is no explanation for why he dropped that far but the Jets get a great runningback.

Thumb's Down!

- Cleveland reaching for Rey Maualuga at pick #5...they could have traded down to say #10 or #11 and still gotten Maualuga all the while picking up extra draft picks. Maualuga is not the biggest reach in the draft but at #5 he has a major bust factor written in.

- Atlanta picking James Laurinitis at pick #11...what were they thinking? Laurinitis could have been had at the end of round 1. The Falcons traded up to take him which is the even better part...I personally think there are better ILB's in the draft over Laurinitis.

- San Diego missing out on their chance to draft Knowshon Moreno...instead they had to settle with picking Donald Brown. Don't get me wrong, I think Brown will be a good back but he does not have the versatility of Moreno.

- Indianapolis and Philadelphia passing on Darius Heyward-Bey. Bey is a phenomenal athlete and has world class speed. Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks look to become good receivers but Bey has the chance to be something special.

- Rashard Johnson going pick #41...I think was a little too high for Johnson who probably could have been had towards the end of the round or even the top of the 3rd. William Moore would have been a better pick here.

- Pat White went too early for my liking...even if it was to Jacksonville in the 3rd round. White is not a polished QB and his potential to play WR is not enough for my to pick him anywhere before the 4th round.

Terrorblaze

03-02-2009, 02:08 AM

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Extreme Makeover: Chief Addition*

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The Kansas City Chiefs made a bevy of moves this offseason. Whether they pan out or not remains to be seen but one thing is for sure, this is a completely different team from the inept 2-14 squad of 2008. The phrase "youth movement" has been thrown around ad nauseam in the sports world but if there ever were a team that fit this overused cliche it's the 09 Chiefs. Aside from the dominant but aging Brian Waters (32) and Free agent acquisition Jon Stinchcomb (29) not one projected starter will be over the age of 27 by opening day. The defense is has an average of 25 and the offense is even younger coming in slightly under the 25 year mark.

Key Losses

The Chiefs didn't lose anyone in free agency they wanted back but they did trade away arguably their 2 best offensive players.

RB Larry Johnson - LJ still has the talent to lead the league in rushing but he only has 1 or 2 more great years in him and his off the field problems were too big of a distraction. If this rebuilding was to work the Chiefs had to follow through in purging all their past problems.

TE Tony G - It was really hard to see this future hall of famer go but it was best for both parties that he were traded. Tony G is still producing at a high level (he's still the best TE in the game) and this would be the ideal time to maximize his value. The trade also let Gonzalez to chase that elusive championship and we wish him all the best in New York.

Free Agency

Big Fish:

The Chiefs had a lot of cap room to play with and set their sights on several key free agents. The Chiefs brass firmly believes in building through the draft but when a young pro bowl caliber player stares you in the face you have to get him. The Chiefs got 3; Karlos Dansby Jason Brown and Jonathan Vilma. These three players are difference makers and will help change the culture.

Karlos Dansby: The #1 player on the Chiefs wishlist Dansby is a force at linebacker capable of playing any position whether they keep the 4-3 or move to a 3-4. Dansby is a great leader and was essential to the Cardinals defense during their Super Bowl run. At 27 Dansby is at the top of his game and will be an impact player for the next half decade.

Jason Brown: The second man on the wishlist was former Raven Jason Brown. The Chiefs coveted Brown because he was the top interior lineman in Free Agency and at 26 he may have yet played his best ball. A primary goal of this new administration was to rebuild the offensive line into a top 3 unit remenisant of the dominant Willie Roaf lead line that was the foundation of one of the most explosive offense the NFL has seen in the last decade. Brown can play both Guard and Center and do so at an All-Pro level.

Jonathan Vilma: Vilma was another huge get for the Chiefs. Although they made a run at Channing Crowder signing Vilma was an even better move giving them another stud and committing them fully into the 4-3 despite and internal debate where some wanted to go to a 3-4. Vilma is a waste in the 3-4 but at the Mike in the 4-3 dude is a force. Vilma put the injury concerns to rest with a fabulous 2008 season that saw him regain his top form.

Possible Starters:

The Chiefs filled out the rest of the Free Agent period with smaller solid signings. Which can be broken down into possible starters and solid depth.

OT Jon Stinchcomb: Stinchcomb isn't anything special but he's a solid RT who will provide a big upgrade over Damien Mcintotosh. He was signed to be a starter but its far from a guarantee. The big man will have to earn his job as Branden Albert looks to move to either LG or RT after the drafting of Eugene Monroe.

DE Antwan Odom: Odom may prove to be the steal of the free agent class. Cut by the Bengals Odom (27) was signed at a bargain price. KC desperately lacked a DE opposite Hali so by signing Odom it fixed an immediate hole and with a little luck may be the long term solution. This move also eliminated the possibility of the team reaching for a DE early in the draft.

CB Rod Bartell: Bartell was a little expensive but was signed at the close of free agency and KC had enough room to snatch him up. Bartell was the #2 corner on the Chief's wishlist as he really came into his own last season tapping into his vast potential. At 27 he can be a solid starter for a number of years or until Branden Carr beats him out. And as with Odom with some hard work and a little luck Bartell will continue to tapp into his potential and reach the next level as a Chief.

FB Terrelle Smith: Another former Cardinal Smith was brought in because he's a devastating lead blocker, something the Chiefs have lacked ever since the departure of Tony Richardson. Smith is already familiar with Haley's scheme which is also a big plus.

Depth:

Lastly we get to the underrated portion of free agency, the depth. Good depth is a valuable luxary as it serves as an insurance policy against injury and every know and again you'll sign a diamond in the rough who just needed a change of scenery to explode.

QB JP Losman - The former 1st round pick had his problems in Buffalo and was beat out by Trent Edwards. Despite his drawbacks the 28 year old Losman is still intriguing who may only need a change of scenery to bring it all together. After a strong 2006 Losman plateaued and was unable to take the next step, got hurt and gave way to Trent Edwards. JP has a great arm and is mobile but makes to many mistakes and has a knack for making that dreaded killer mistake. Losman is a very competitive kid I wouldn't bet against him and if he does put it all together he would be a hell of a player at a very cheap price. Expect him to compete fiercely with Thigpen in camp.

WR Deion Branch - I really loved the Branch signing which we got on the cheap for 2.5 M. The former Patriot will be killer in the slot and a nice bridge for Chiefs from now until the team matures. The former Superbowl MVP's career has been derailed the last few years dealing with injuries and playing in the North West wilderness. Even though he'll reach the big 30 this summer if Branch stays healthy he'll be one of the best 3rd WRs in the league.

WR Jabar Gaffney - Gaffney is far from a number 1 WR but he has a knack for making the big play and gives the team nice depth as a 4th WR.

TE Donald Lee - A late signing Lee gives the Chiefs a solid 2nd TE to team with Kevin Boss. GM Terrorblaze always liked Lee as a player and is thrilled to add him to the offense.

OG/C Richie Incognito - Incognito has loads of passion and loads of talent but like a Volcano he can't keep himself from erupting from time to time with a hold, false start or personal foul. However the talent is there and he came cheap so the Chiefs were happy to bring him in. Another interesting guy to watch in camp fight for a job.

SS James Butler - Butler will probably never be a pro bowler but is young (26), athletic, productive and was a signed at a great value. Butler will get a chance to compete for a starting job in camp and if he fails to beat out Morgan or Bernard he'll provide nice depth.

Coming soon Part 2: Trades & The Draft

*not a typo grammar nazis

georgiafan

03-02-2009, 11:25 AM

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Free Agents/Trade

QB Jeff Garcia – The lions were looking for a vetren backup after cutting Culpepper and Kitna. Being able to sign Jeff for only 1 million dollars we thought was well worth it. He can come in and start the first few games of the year if Stafford isn’t ready.

WR Malcolm Floyd – He will come in and fill the need of #2 WR and we still think he has some upside. Playing along side of Calvin Johnson he should get a lot of open looks. At the very least he will be a nice redzone target at 6’5 225.

OT Jordan Gross – Yeah he was vastly overpaid and in real life I would never pay him 18 million dollars. I had to get somebody to protect the blind side and I didn’t think any of the 1st round OT would fall to 24. He is a pro bowl LT who is still in his prime and fills one of the biggest holes on the team.

S Sean Jones - When healthy he is pro bowl level safety who is at his best playing in the box. He is also good for 4-5 interceptions a year

HB Julius Jones – I was hoping to draft a HB to team with Kevin Smith in the mid rounds. But that didn’t happen so I decided to sign Julius as insurance to Kevin Smith. This is another low risk move that could pay off in the end as I signed him for 1 million dollars. The last 3 years he has averaged 965 yards and over 5 TD’s. He is 27 so he has about 2 to 3 years left as a productive HB.

DE Jamaal Anderson - There is no doubting that he has been a huge disppoitment and hasn’t lived up to the #8 pick. Despite playing 2 years in the NFL he still just 23 and we are hoping to revive his career. If things don’t work at DE he could move inside to DT due to his size at 6’6 282. Most of the DE’s in the class were tweeners and more DE/OLB prospects. So only having to give up a 6th rounder and drop back 4 spots in the first round seemed worth the risk. Espically since we still got one of the two guys we targeted.

Draft

QB Matthew Stafford – He was clear cut #1 player on the lions board and after scouting everyone nobody else even came to close. The lions haven’t had a pro bowl level QB in 50 years. In that 50 years the lions have been joke of a franchise and that’s even with what some think is the greatest HB of all time. Everything you look for in a franchise QB Stafford has arm strength, size, mobility, clutch, upside, leadership, accuracy. He isn’t a finished product and has some weak spots, but so does every QB that is coming out of college. For a 20 year old that never played on a complete team in college we think he will be one of the best in the NFL in a few years.

DT Peria Jerry – He was the guy we targeted with the 20th pick. The lions rush defense was the worst in the NFL and they had to bring someone in to fix that. This was a weak DT class and the 2 ILB came off the board earlier then expected. So Jerry was the guy we targted to fix the DL. When you watched Ole Miss play last year you couldn’t help but notice him make plays.

WR Percy Harvin – One of the biggest debates in the lions war room came with the 33rd pick. The debate was between Percy Harvin and OG Duke Robinson. We decided to stick with the big board and go BPA and that was Harvin. He is the definition of a playmaker and is threat to score every time he touches the ball. We plan to use him in a Reggie Bush type role and will get the ball in his hands as much as possible. He will return kicks, return punts, slot WR, wildcat QB, line up at HB, screens, reverses. With Calvin Johnson on the outside taking up double teams it will open up Harvin in the slot. You can never have to many weapons for a young QB.

OG Herman Johnson – After missing out on Duke Robinson and a few other OG’s the lions went with the mammoth 6’7 350 pound OG. He can come in right away and help with the run game as he develops his pass blocking.

LB Dannell Ellerbee – This was the one pick where we didn’t got BPA and it was because of a need at LB. Dannell stock would have been higher if it wasn’t for getting hurt his senior year. He can play ILB or WLB and is also a good special teams player. His junior year he lead the team in tackles and he got his nickname “the phenom” for a reason. At worst he can be a backup that plays all 3 LB spots and core special teams player. But we think he can earn a starting LB spot.

Fort

03-11-2009, 12:03 PM

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DRAFT SUMMARY
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Round 1 | #13 | Malcolm Jenkins | Cornerback | Ohio State University
Malcolm gives us a great replacement for Shawn Springs (also an Ohio State alum), and he's very similar to Springs in a number of ways. He's shutdown corner with great size. He'll be able to split time with Springs this season opposite Carlos Rogers while learning the trade. His athleticism, in regards to playing corner, has been questioned; it has been suggested that he move to safety. However, we feel he'll be a great addition to our defense at corner and has the potential to hold the job for many years.

Round 3 | #80 | Antoine Caldwell | Center | University of Alabama
Antoine is an underrated center or guard prospect, overshadowed by Mack and Unger. He is a mauler with good athleticism. Lead a great offensive line at Alabama. Our current starting center, Casey Rabach, is a solid starter and a great leader, but his age is starting to show. Caldwell has the potential to be a cornerstone of our offensive line for years to come after taking over for Rabach, likely after this season.

Round 4 | #102 | Mike Thomas | Receiver | University of Arizona
Mike Thomas offers us a lot in the play making department. He is a player in the mold of Santana Moss, whom we traded away before the draft. Thomas played in an Air Raid system at Arizona under OC Sonny Dykes. He's undersized, but a tremendous athlete. He'll compete with underachieving Devin Thomas at the Z position, and he'll also be a leading candidate to return punts.

Round 5 | #142 | Jarrett Dillard | Receiver | Rice University
While we didn't want to pick two receivers the year after we took two in the second round (and then a pass-catching TE), Dillard is simply too talented to pass up. He's a bit undersized and doesn't have blazing speed, but he is a tremendous athlete in the air and plays the ball like a pro. He put up an amazing vertical at the combine (42.5") and he plays even higher. He's a small school prospect, but he was one of the most productive college players in history. Initially, he'll likely compete with Malcolm Kelly at the X position, though we expect he'll crack the lineup at H or Z (with Mike Thomas possibly moving to H), putting Kelly, Thomas, and Dillard in the starting lineup.

Round 6 | #173 | Jason Watkins | Offensive Tackle | University of Florida
Jason Watkins was a player we had our eyes on starting in the 4th. He is a raw player but has tremendous upside. He's possibly the best pure RT prospect in the draft. We needed help at RT, and though he'll likely need to learn from the bench for a period of time, he could very well be the future of the position for the Redskins. He's very athletic (a former TE) and has experience playing the left side as well, which if our roster wasn't already full of potential swing tackles, would be a great asset. We were thrilled to be able to select him in the sixth round.

Round 6 | #188 | Ray Feinga | Offensive Guard | Brigham Young University
Ray Feinga was probably the best pass-protecting guard in the draft, but the fact that he is extremely raw in the running game likely dropped him down many boards. He's been graded as high as a 3rd round selection with the potential to step in and start right away for the right team. For our team, he'll initially sit behind new Redskin Chris Snee at LG, with the intention of moving Snee to his natural RG position when Randy Thomas decides to hang up the cleats and moving Feinga into the starting lineup at LG. Another player we were thrilled to get this late.

Undrafted | Shannon Woods | Running Back | Texas Tech University
Our running back situation was a mess, though it may not have seemed so on the surface. Moving to the four-wide version of the Air Raid, we eliminated the need for a traditional fullback, though Mike Sellers is certainly not going anywhere. We were looking for bigger-bodied inside running one-cut backs with decent hands. With the need to only carry two or three backs total, we could carry more receivers (or receiver/back hybrids like Anthony Alridge). Our intention was to trade away Ladell Betts for a late pick, and draft Gartrell Johnson, a seemingly prototypical F-back for the Air Raid. When he was selected earlier than we expected, out plans went out the window. However, Shannon Woods then went undrafted. While not the back we feel Johnson is, Woods gives us experience in the system at F, great hands, and the type of runner we are looking for. Betts was then cut and Darius Walker (who we feel fits the system well) was moved to the practice squad. Depending on the development of Woods, he and Walker may be swapped, with Woods moving the PS.

Undrafted | Rylan Reed | Offensive Tackle | Texas Tech University
Rylan Reed is a very interesting story. A major baseball prospect, he spent four in the minors after high school (was named White Sox Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2003, and even struck out Barry Bonds), but was then diagnosed with cancer. After beating it he went on to Texas Tech, playing TE initially, before moving to tackle. Because of his path to this point, he is older, at 27. However, he has tremendous potential at LT. He dominated Chris Long in the 2008 bowl season and was TT's most effective pass protector this season. Because of his age, there is a bit of a problem finding a spot for him. Ideally, he'd sit behind Chris Samuels for a few seasons before Samuels moved to RT or moved on altogether. He's got the potential to be a #2 right away and certainly a starting LT in the league at some point, but with Omiyale backing up Samuels at the moment, Reed is relegated to the practice squad, with the hopes of a quick development so he can replace Omiyale.

Undrafted | Rulon Davis | Defensive End | University of California
Rulon Davis is another player with an interesting story. After high school, he joined the Marines, where he served for three years (including stints in Iraq), before joining the Cal football team. He has great potential at defensive end, as he has truly great size and athleticism. He possesses a tremendous first step and is an explosive pass rusher and an effective run stopper. The concerns with Davis is his age (he's 25) and his durability. He's fought with knee issues since 2005 or before (he was involved in a traffic accident and had issues before that). He's extremely tough and a fun player to watch because of his effort levels. He'll start on the practice squad and develop while waiting for an opportunity to arise. We feel he could eventually be a starter or at least a solid sub.

Undrafted | Maurice Crum Jr. | Linebacker | University of Notre Dame
Maurice Crum had an off 2008 season with the switch to the 3-4. Before that, he had a tremendous career at Notre Dame, leading the defense at middle linebacker. He's a bit undersized but he's a great athlete and an elite leader. He fits the mold of two of our other linebackers: London Fletcher and H.B. Blades. We're extremely high on Blades and we feel the same about Maurice. With a 4-3 environment, he should feel back at home in the middle, though he does have the ability to move outside if needed, much like Blades has. He'll also begin the season on the practice squad waiting for an opportunity.

Undrafted | Jason Williams | Linebacker | Western Illinois University
Jason Williams is an exciting prospect we targeted beginning in the 5th, but with Watkins and Feinga dropping as far as they did, we weren't able to select Jason. We attempted to move back into the early portion of the 7th to select him, but the deal feel through, so we were extremely excited when he was available to us after the draft. He wasn't invited to the combine, but ran 4.46 at his pro day, jumping 39", and benching 26 times. He's got great size at 6'2 240 and obviously is a great athlete. He was very productive at Western Illinois and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (1-AA's best defensive player). He'll be on the 53-man roster behind Rocky McIntosh and Tyjuan Hagler. With McIntosh's history of injuries, there's a decent chance that Williams will have an opportunity to start a game or two late in the season.

Colts44

03-11-2009, 04:05 PM

Indianapolis Colts Draft Review:

Round 1 Pick #27: Hakeem Nicks|WR|UNC
I came into the draft figuring that Jerry would gone by the time that #27 rolled around, so I figured unless an ubertalent feel Nicks or Britt would be the pick. They were the best combo of BPA and need available. When came down to it, I picked the guy I felt could better take over the game. He actually reminds me a lot of Wayne and thats a good thing.
Other Players Considered: Kenny Britt,Darius Heyward-Bey

Round 2 Pick #61: Jarron Gilbert|DT|SDSU
After the 1st I hoping that somehow Evander Hood or Harris would fall to me. Went Harris pick I pretty much had it figured out that Gilbert would likely be my pick. Gilbert is an athletic freak who has the frame to add more weight. He fits the pentetrating tackle spot for the Colts well.
Others Considered: Fili Moala

Round 3 Pick #92: Asher Allen|CB|Georgia
This is were I ran into a lot of players with the same grade. So I went with the position I knew was needed the most right then, CB. Allen played with a broken hand last year and it showed at times. He is very athletic and can return kicks, which is something the Colts need.
Others Considered: Mike Parson, Troy Kropog

Round 4 Pick #123: Mitch King|DT/DE|Iowa
I have watched Mitch King play for four years at Iowa. The guy has a heart of a Lion (not the team Lions thankfully) and is a great leader. He is very quick and rentlentless. He is more athletic and better against the run than most give him credit for. With all that being said I really though I was going to luck out and get Troy Kropog here. Miami got a heck of a steal.
Others Considered: Vance Walker, Xavier Fullton, Terrance Knighton

Round 5 Pick #157:Sebastian Vollmer|OT|Houston
He hasn't played football that long and just moved to the USA about 6 years ago. He has great potiential as a very big athletic tackle. A think he'll end up as a starting RT someday. The only downsides are previous back surgery and he'll 25 when the season starts.
Others Considered: Daniel Holtzclaw, Johnny Knox, Jason Watkins

Round 7 Pick #220: Johnny Knox|WR|Abilene Christian
Ran a great 40 time at the combine and has some unbelievable numbers. He is smaller, but a good route runner, with good speed and quickness. I think he'll at least turn into a good slot wideout.
Others Considered: Darryl Richard, Devin Moore, Bradley Fletcher

Cigaro

03-13-2009, 02:59 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals
Draft Breakdown(Rounds 4-7)

4(115). Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland

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A big, physical corner, Barnes was a likely day one pick before he suffered a season-ending injury that cast him out of the spotlight, and subsequently caused his draft stock to take a hit. While not one of the most athletic defensive backs in the draft, his smarts(after the season-ending injury, Barnes was a quasi-defensive backs coach for the Terrapins) should earn him ample playing time against the stronger receivers in the league his rookie year.

5(134). Graham Gano, K, Florida State

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Graham Gano was the only kicker drafted, and he was clearly the best. After spending his sophomore and junior years as one of the best kickoff specialists/punters in the nation, Gano took up kicking field goals, and won the Lou Groza Award as a result. Gano has an extremely powerful and accurate leg, and as the video shows, if needed, he can pull off an Oscar worthy acting job and pick up a first down.

6(166). Quinn Johnson, FB, Louisiana State

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Like Gano, Quinn Johnson was the only player at his position drafted, and again, like Gano, he was the best player at his position available. The Bengals signed a trio of great backs to bring a physical run game to Cincinnati, but they lacked a true fullback to lead the way. Johnson isn't overly athletic, but he is a destructive blocker, and is nearly unstoppable in short yardage and goal line situations.

7(198). Mike Reilly, QB, Central Washington

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A small school prospect who's known by few who don't follow the draft intensely, Reilly is a quarterback who at this pick is high reward, low risk. Reilly has everything you look for in a quarterback prospect; plenty of starting experience, a strong and accurate arm, athleticism, and great decision making skills. The lack of opposing talent at the D-IAA level, and the fact he didn't play in a pro-style offense may make his transition to the NFL more difficult, but the Bengals already have an entrenched starter in Carson Palmer. Reilly has the ability to be a future starter with a few, good years of coaching and guidance.

Cigaro

03-13-2009, 03:42 PM

The Carolina Panthers
Draft Breakdown

1(14). Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNwVfPNhYtI

The Panthers rated Sanchez as the top quarterback in the draft, and with Jake Delhomme going on 35 and showing it against the Arizona Cardinals, quarterback was a definite need. Sanchez's only real knock is his inexperience, but the Panthers plan to avoid throwing Sanchez into the fire by keeping Delhomme starter for one more year.

2(59). Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina

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The Panthers lost Jordan Gross after the Detroit Lions threw their entire franchise at him, and tackle became an immediate need. Ray Willis is an intriguing prospect, but there's still a chance the gamble doesn't work out, and behind him is Marvel Smith, who at this point in his career would only be a band-aid option. This means Jamon Meredith could be the long term solution. Meredith showed excellent athleticism at the Combine, and even if Ray Willis works out, Meredith has the versatility to move inside to guard.

5(155). Austin Collie, WR, Brigham Young

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye-Pdlk-kpU

The Panthers wanted Jarrett Dilliard with this pick, but Collie is more than a consolation prize. Collie had to be the best least known receiver this past season, after catching 106 passes for 1538 yards and 15 touchdowns. At age 24, Collie is older than most players in the draft because of his two year Mormon mission, but the Panthers see that as an upside, hoping that it will mean Collie will adapt the pro game at a much quicker pace than most other receivers. Collie is a great ball catcher who runs excellent routes, and despite him being white, the Panthers think he can attribute immediately at some level, and could grow into a starter opposite Steve Smith.

6(189). Cornelius Lewis, OT/OG, Tennessee State

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Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's rookie success brought many more scouts to Tennessee State's campus last fall, and Cornelius Lewis was one of the players they were watching. A Florida State transfer, Lewis is a physical mauler who showed good feet to earn a chance at one of the tackle spots, and if that doesn't work out, is the perfect fit for the guard spot in the Panthers' blocking scheme. With the drafting of Jamon Meredith, there really isn't much of a spot for Lewis, but the Panthers simply couldn't pass over his tremendous upside.