Here We Come...

Despite anyone and everyone - this side of Mike Ditka and Keyshawn Johnson - picking against the Jets (yes, with good reason), today was most definitely a good day for the much (self) maligned Jet fan base.

A 17-14 win at "11 in a row" San Diego felt quite good. In the words of Rex (insert synonym for FAT) Ryan, "We'll see what happens in a matchup (vs. Indy) that probably nobody wanted, but here we come."

23 rushes for 128 yards and 1 TD. A nifty TD celebration at the end of a 53-yard run too (a playoff franchise record). Sounds great, right? Too bad it wasn't Canton-bound LT. It was Shonn Greene. You know, the Jets rookie RB drafted in the 3rd round.
12 rushes for 24 yards. That was LT's day. Solid!
Credit: SJMN.com

Man oh man, you should have seen Chris Berman's face today during Primetime. He was disturbed, perturbed, and mostly ticked off the Jets ruined his inevitable LT/Manning and Favre/Brees Sunday matchups next week. Poor bastard.

Indy will be (substantial) early favorites all week long. Duh. They do have that Peyton Manning guy, by the way. Although I feel more than a few in the national media - outside of this Jet-hating CLOWN - will be hitching a ride on the bandwagon. Kudos to Bill Simmons for tabbing this result, by the way. Wow, can't believe I just complimented Bill Freakin Simmons.

MAN! It feels good to be this douche/tool/douchetool.
Credit: Jetsblog.com

A few notable quotes from the "media" ensued shortly after the game went final...

CNNSI.com's John Lopez grades out the AFC Divisional Round

San Diego Special Teams: The best kick of the day by the Chargers was when Jackson kicked the challenge flag thrown by Rex Ryan. Nate Kaeding choked. Three times. There's no other way to put it when possibly the best kicker in the league blows three field goal attempts.
Grade: F.

New York Defensive backs: Jim Leonhard was all over the place, including forcing a fumble that was incorrectly overturned and picking off Rivers. Darrelle Revis was spectacular, which is getting redundant. Kerry Rhodes and Lito Sheppard were physical tacklers. This is the best secondary still playing.
Grade: A+.

CBS "Sports'" Clark Judge and Pete Prisco battle weekly to see who can:
A) Hate the Jets more
B) Be more incompetent about the NFL

Judge feels the Colts are dancing in the streets about this week. Oh goodie for them!!!

The biggest winner in New York's 17-14 upset of San Diego wasn't Rex Ryan or Mark Sanchez or the New York Jets' lock-down defense. It was the Colts, and I'll tell you why: Because they won't face the Chargers. Now it's the Jets in the AFC Championship Game, and while they're on a tear -- winning seven of their last eight -- they have to be the opponent of choice for Indianapolis. Sure, the Colts lost to them last month, but they also sat down their starters in the second half and, essentially, let the Jets into the playoffs. Well, now they can kick them out.

Yahoo! Sports' James C. Black (who?) knew the skinny on Revis this weekend...

However, as was expected, the Chargers decided to test Revis. And as the Bengals’ Carson Palmer did a week earlier in New York’s wild-card win over the Bengals, San Diego paid.

“Oh man it was crazy. I saw the ball thrown up and I tried to make a play,” Revis recounted. “And I saw Vincent try to cut in front of me to make the play. And I grabbed his hand a little bit so he couldn’t catch it. And as I’m going down I see the ball hit his foot and then it was in arms reach. And I decided to grab it.”

In the end, what happens will happen. But I want to make 3 important statements today:
1) Mike Tenenbaum is a top 5 GM in the league.
(See drafted players: Ferguson, Mangold, Revis, Harris, Sanchez, Keller, & Greene in the last 4 seasons.) (See free agents: Faneca, Woody, Scott, Leonhard, Richardson, Pace & Feely) (See diamonds in the rough: Pouha, DeVito, & Strickland) (Ignore: Lito Sheppard and (please) Vernon Gholston)
2) Darrelle Revis is a top 5 overall player (and the top defensive talent) in the league.
3) David Harris is the most underrated linebacker in the entire NFL.

See you all soon enough...

Credit: ESPN.go.com

Sunday NFL Action: Running Commentary

Don't forget...Tweet Tweet.
New poll, too. Check the right!!!

A few thoughts on the Sunday kickoffs in the NFL...

You know I'm gonna discuss this one...

Credit: JetsBlog.com

Atlanta defeats Miami 19-7.
1) Miami fans better have enjoyed last season because this year won't be nearly as much fun.
2) Still waiting for the Pat White "Wildcat" love.
3) Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are both in contract years. Rivalry in the backfield?
4) Tony Gonzalez was made for a developing-Matt Ryan.
5) Chad Pennington doesn't have solid back-to-back seasons. When will the cries for Chad Henne begin?

Denver stunned Cincinnati 12-7.
1) Denver's schedule appears to have them potentially at 3-0. Seriously.
2) Brandon Stokley shouldn't be leaving interviews with the CBS crew early. THIS might be his one moment this season deserving of a post-game interview.
3) Cedric Benson had the only Cincy TD. Dissapointing at home.
4) Is Coles going to become irrelevant in this offense?
5) The Eddie Royal "injury" has been under reported. Plenty of fantasy owners are worried.

Minnesota defeated Cleveland 34-20.
1) I don't believe Tarvaris Jackson wouldn't have won this game as the starting QB.
2) Percy Harvin is going to be a nightmare all over the field for opposing defenses.
3) Eric Mangini is a dumb stupid bastard for the way he handled the QB situation.
4) Braylon Edwards can't catch 1 pass and the Browns win.
5) Oh yeah...Adrian Peterson is a fantasy mammoth. Anyone who didn't take him #1 (even if you took Brees) is a mega-moron!

Indianapolis defeated Jacksonville 14-12.
1) I still don't like Jim Caldwell as the Colts' head coach.
2) I felt like a Scobee field goal was coming for 15-14...WRONG!
3) The Anthony Gonzalez injury is critical for the Colts. Might Harrison resurface?
4) MJD got plenty of touches and should keep fantasy owners appeased after Week 1.
5) Both Jack Del Rio and David Garrard are not worthy of their positions on that team. I said it before and I'll say it again!

Dallas defeated Tampa Bay 34-20.
1) Mike Jenkins at CB would terrify me if I were a Dallas fan (which I'm not).
2) One week down...good work Romo and Roy Williams.
3) Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton had fanastic week 1s.
4) Ronde Barber probably doesn't recognize many faces on his roster.
5) Byron Leftwich is the type of QB who loses these exact games, home or away.

Philadelphia annihilated Carolina 38-10.
1) Nobody has looked better thus far than Philadelphia.
2) Nobody has looked worse thus far than Jake Delhomme.
3) DeSean Jackson doesn't need to catch passes to give opponents nightmares.
4) It's hard to not mention Assante Samuel among the best defenders in all of football.
5) The McNabb injury remains an unknown. Westbrook's ankles can't carry this team without F. McNabb.

Might be time to scour the waiver wire of your fantasy league for Shockey.

Credit: ESPN.go.com

New Orleans "Drew Breesed" the Lions 45-27.
1) Drew Brees may approach 50 TDs and 5,000 yards (if healthy).
2) Robert Meachum may be the most talented wide receiver on this team. Ditto for Mike Bell as a pure running back (boy was I wrong about that one).
3) Is Jeremy Shockey finally at peace with his offensive system?
4) Kevin Smith is going to be a decent fantasy #2 back, despite being on a bad team.
5) Calvin Johnson owners may not get as many garbage TDs late in games that they once expected.

Baltimore defeated Kansas City 38-24.
1) Nobody had the Ravens scoring 38...even against the Chiefs "D".
2) This game was tied at 24 with less than 6 minutes to go. Did you know that?
3) Who watched this game that isn't a Raven or KC fan? Seriously?
4) Might Mark Clayton and Todd Heap be viable fantasy starts?
5) Brodie Croyle didn't win this game, neither would've Matt Cassell. But what about Tyler Thigpen!?!?!

Darrelle Revis continued his climb up the pantheon of NFL's top cornerbacks by completely shutting down Randy Moss. What's up next? Randy Moss. Keep on keeping on, son.
Credit: Zimbio.com

NY Jets stomped the Houston Texans 24-7.
..this might get a few extra...
1) Call me crazy…but did the Texans have an offensive play inside OUR 50? Or at least the 45. (Outside of the HUGE Slaton fumble-play.)
2) David Harris shouldn’t have been traded for Brandon Marshall…there’s why.
3) Sanchez looks great on playaction. Enter Clowney downfield in a few weeks? His postgame interview was incredibly savvy. Very anti-Favre.
4) Jenkins clubbing the Texan center was the moment of the game.
5) Better commentary from CBS than I expected. However, not nearly enough mentionings (is that a word?) of Revis. The camera showed him time and time again…but no love. (ESPN's Tom Jackson did though, immediately.)
6) How good did Lito look? The exact opposite of preseason good.
7) I'm gonnna enjoy this as much as I can. Won’t worry about Week 2 until kickoff next week. Live in the moment.
8) J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!

4 pm kickoff has come and past...

Anquan owners = not happy.
He and Fitz didn't have more than 10 combined yards in the 1st half.
Scary. Although Fitx did sneak in a TD and end up with 70 yards.
Credit: 17wks.com

Seattle spanked St. Louis 28-0.
1) Seattle isn't this good. But they are the favorites in the NFC West...right now.
2) St. Louis might be even worse than this. Will they score next week (@Washington)?
3) Julius Jones won't be nervous about Edgerrin James being behind him. He's done.
4) John Carlson is going to be a very good tight end in the NFL.
5) Good luck managing starting any of these Seattle wideouts week by week.

New York held on against Washington 23-17.
1) I don't want to hear about the "silver linning" from Skins' apologists. This was an ugly performance.
2) Why didn't the Skins trade Betts (aka Bettis) a few years back when he had high value? He stinks.
3) DeAngelo Hall worries me...a lot.
4) Brandon Jacobs didn't wow me today. Neither did Ahmad Bradshaw.
5) Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are going to be a migraine headache all season long for opposing offensive coordinators.

San Francisco "upset" Arizona 20-16.
1) Don't be surprised if Arizona doesn't go over .500.
2) Hightower might've caught a dozen balls, but why not keep him in the backfield to BLOCK the 49ers pass rush?
3) Frank Gore had a fantasy day....under 50 total yards and still 2 TDs.
4) Singletary is going to will this team to victories just like this.
5) Todd Haley is already missed. Warner looked a year older and 3 years slower.
Note: Was Singletary really wearing a stopwatch around his neck? Good timing???

Sunday night thoughts (Chicago @ Green Bay) aren't likely.
Hope you enjoyed your opening Sunday NFL action.

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Version 3.0

On paper, the 2009 NFL Draft looks weak. One can never tell for sure until about 3 years after the fact. Regardless, the fact that this is viewed as a weak class will separate the great GMs from the good ones, and the great Draft Gurus from the rest. Compared to the last three NFL Drafts, this year's draft is maddening to Draft Gurus (or at the very least to me), as I can make a case for anywhere from 50-60 prospects to go in the first round. In most years, the number is closer to 40-45. As usual, I take the "Draft for Need" perspective as much as I can, however as we all know, there are teams with different draft mentalities out there (e.g. - "Draft Towards Strength" or "Best Player Available"). Anyway...let's get this show on the road. As always, comments are appreciated.

First Round

1. Detroit: Matt Stafford, QB - Georgia
I may stand with the minority on this, especially after Jason Smith beasted at the combines, but I still have Stafford going to Detroit. You just don't pass up on an arm like that. Good QB coaching can fix Stafford's weaknesses.

Jason Smith (photo courtesy of nflgridirongab.com)

2. St. Louis: Jason Smith, OT - Baylor
After putting together a combine performance like Jason Smith did, he could easily be the #1 pick in this draft. He showed his typical agility, but also showed the strength that quieted a lot of critics. With some fine tuning, he has Jonathan Ogden potential.

3. Kansas City: Aaron Curry, LB - Wake Forest
Curry proved that he is the elite defensive player in this draft. With Derrick Johnson moving inside, the Chiefs could use a play maker at OLB, specifically on the weak side.

4. Seattle: Mark Sanchez, QB - USC
My first reach. But, seriously, Matt Hasselbeck is up there in years, and the Hawks need to think about the future.

5. Cleveland: Brian Orakpo, DE - Texas
Maclin could get a look here with the trade rumors surrounding Braylon Edwards. If Edwards stays put, look for the Browns to address their OLB position with Orakpo.

6. Cincinnati: Eugene Monroe, OT - Virginia
The Bengals finally get a steal. Monroe could arguably be the top pick in the draft. Levi Jones should move to the right side. Another option would be to ease Monroe into the NFL at his former position at guard, before having him replace Jones.

7. Oakland: Michael Crabtree, WR - Texas Tech
Crabtree or Maclin. The Raiders already have some speed in their receiving corps. Crabtree can be a more reliable target for JaMarcus Russell (or Garcia), as he possesses more of that "throw the ball in his vicinity, and he'll catch it" ability.

Jeremy Maclin (Photo Courtesy of nfldraftdog.com)

8. Jacksonville: Jeremy Maclin, WR - Missouri
The Jags are turning into the Lions with their WR draft picks. Maclin is their latest attempt to break the tradition of busts at the position. If Mark Sanchez is available, expect the Jags to consider going that direction.

9. Green Bay: B.J. Raji, DT - Boston College
Raji has had some difficult times with word of him testing positive for marijuana. His agent has adamantly denied, and teams have seen how a player in a similar situation (Warren Sapp) has done. Raji steps right in at nose tackle for the new 3-4 scheme in Green Bay.

10. San Francisco: Everette Brown, OLB - Florida State
Andre Smith will get a long look here, but the fact remains that this team doesn’t get enough pressure on the QB. Brown should have no problem starting opposite Lawson, and should benefit Lawson as well.

11. Buffalo: Brandon Pettigrew, TE - Oklahoma State
I hate to put a TE this high, but Pettigrew fills needs for this team. Not only can he catch the ball well, he is a monster blocker at the position. A DE like Everette Brown could easily go at this pick.

12. Denver: Tyson Jackson, DE - Louisiana State
Now that Denver added the 18th pick, they can play around a little more with this pick. Jackson is a stud, and Denver knew he wouldn't fall to their second 1st rounder.

13. Washington: Andre Smith, OT - Alabama
Smith's antics at the combines and his "shaky" pro day performance dropped him out of the top 10 picks. Smith should battle Jon Jansen on the right side, but will be groomed to eventually take over for Chris Samuels.

14. New Orleans: Malcolm Jenkins, CB - Ohio State
Don't be surprised if Jenkins moves over to free safety for the Saints. He could get valuable instruction from Darren Sharper.

15. Houston: Brian Cushing, OLB - Southern Cal
Demeco Ryans lacks a true play maker by his side. With Cushing, the two can feed off each other's football prowess, and elevate the Texans defense to the next level.

16. San Diego: Michael Oher, OT - Mississippi
Ever since Shane Olivea lost favor with the team due to his substance abuse, the Chargers have needed help at RT. Oher can easily step in and upgrade the offensive line.

17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB - Kansas State
I have to stick to my guns here. As much as Madden Football 09 fans like to use Brett Ratliff instead of Brett Favre, in reality, they need Freeman's strong arm. Freeman improved his stock as much as any QB with his individual workouts. He reminds me (somewhat) of Jay Cutler and Joe Flacco.

18. Denver (from Chicago): Vontae Davis, CB - Illinois
This would be Beanie Wells, but after he snubbed the team on a scheduled visit, he won't be considered. Knowshon Moreno could end up here. The Broncos filled a lot of open spots with mid-to-low level free agents. However, they left the CB spot barren and Davis would be a nice addition. He can also learn a lot from Champ Bailey.

19. Tampa Bay: Aaron Maybin, DE - Penn State
Don't rule out Ziggy Hood or Peria Jerry in this spot, however, they couldn't pass on an upgrade to their pass rush. Greg White is short on experience and he will turn 30 this season. Time for the Bucs to get another young body in there to work with Gaines Adams.

20. Detroit (from Dallas): Rey Maualuga, LB - Southern Cal
This would be an ideal draft for Detroit. They get their QB, and now they land a leader on defense. Maualuga could take the reigns of the defense right away and allow the team to feed off of him. The run defense is desperate for a MLB like Maualuga.

21. Philadelphia: Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB - Ohio State
With Correll Buckhalter's departure, the Eagles need a between the tackles runner, who has the ability to break it outside when needed. A Westbrook/Wells tandem give the Eagles a potent running game that can open things up for McNabb.

22. Minnesota: Eben Britton, OT - Arizona
A WR would be nice, but the Vikings don't like the gambles that are available. With Artis Hicks penciled in as the starting RT, the Vikings choose to go with the top RT in the draft. Britton will add a strong run blocking presence on the right side, opening holes for Adrian Peterson.

23. New England: Clay Matthews, OLB - Southern Cal
While Cushing would be an early birthday gift, he won't fall this far. The Pats go with his college teammate. Matthews fits the mold of a "Belichick Guy".

24. Atlanta: Peria Jerry, DT - Mississippi
The Falcons could use another DT inside. Jerry could line up alongside Babineaux with Trey Lewis rotating in. Ziggy Hood could also be the pick here as he and Jerry are neck and neck in my opinion.

25. Miami: Darius Butler, CB - Connecticut
Tough choice between Alphonso Smith and Darius Butler. Smith can help right away while Butler might need a little time to acclimate. However, Butler's potential long term payoff outweighs the immediate need for help.

26. Baltimore: Alphonso Smith, CB - Wake Forest
With both McAlister and Rolle re-signed but deteriorating, the Ravens need fresh bodies at CB. Smith is the most game ready CB in this draft available after Malcolm Jenkins. He could push Foxworth for the starting spot early in the season.

27. Indianapolis: Ziggy Hood, DT - Missouri
Hood dominated at Senior Bowl practices. He was unblockable. Look for him to make an impact wherever he lands. For the Colts, he would be a Day 1 starter.

28. Philadelphia (from Carolina): William Beatty, OT - Connecticut
While Eben Britton is the next highest ranked OT, he can only play the right side, where the Eagles signed Stacy Andrews to play. Beatty is no consolation. He excels in pass blocking and is athletic enough to keep up with a QB like Donovan McNabb.

29. New York Giants: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR - Maryland
The Plaxico situation forced this pick. Outside of Crabtree and Maclin, there might not be another WR going in the first round. However, the Giants are desperate for a WR. DHB holds a lot of potential, but needs some coaching. If he had better game experience, he would rank near Crabtree and Maclin.

30. Tennessee: Connor Barwin, DE - Cincinnati
I probably ranked Barwin a little too low in my position rankings. His hype machine is in full effect, and teams are now viewing him as a 1st round prospect. New England might consider him at 23. Barwin can also play on the offensive side of the ball as a TE where he can block and catch.

31. Arizona: Knowshon Moreno, RB - Georgia
Tim Hightower didn't take advantage of his time as a starter, and the front office is no longer confident in him as the every day starter. Look for Moreno (or Donald Brown if Moreno is gone) to be the pick here.

32. Pittsburgh: Alex Mack, C - California
The Steelers need a lot of help along the offensive line, especially in the middle. Depending on where they want Mack to line up, he could start out at OG, and eventually be moved to C.

Second Round

33. Detroit: Duke Robinson, OG - Oklahoma
Don't rule out a DT (especially if Jerry or Hood fall to this pick). Robinson is no consolation prize though. He should step right into the LG spot and make the Detroit RBs happy.

34. New England (from Kansas City): Max Unger, C - Oregon
The Patriots can go a number of directions here with Unger. He can play all five offensive line positions effectively. He could be groomed to eventually fill in for Stephen Neal. However, the Patriots might not be happy with Kaczur's substance abuse allegations. Moving Unger to the RT spot could be an option.

35. St. Louis: James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State
Expect strong consideration of Derrick Williams at this pick. However Laurinaitis is too good to pass up, especially going into the season with Chris Draft and Will Witherspoon fighting for the inside job. Both can move outside with the addition of Laurinaitis.

Donald Brown (Photo courtesy of broncotalk.net)

36. Cleveland: Donald Brown, RB - Connecticut
Don’t expect Brown to be available at this pick, however if he's there, he would be a great fit in Cleveland. We could easily look back 3-4 years from now and say that Brown was the best RB taken in this draft.

37. Seattle: Rashad Jennings, RB - Liberty
Jennings is a big back with speed who has all the tools to be a starting back in the NFL. He played against a low level of competition at Liberty. He lands on the right team with Seattle, as they can bring him along at whatever pace they want.

38. Cincinnati: Percy Harvin, WR - Florida
While I thought I was being funny with this pairing, it actually makes a lot of sense. Harvin can line up in the slot, and he's got some off field issues. Perfect fit in Cincinnati. He would take command of return duties with his Hester-like athletic ability.

39. Jacksonville: Jamon Meridith, OT - South Carolina
Meridith makes a good fit here because he can play any OG or OT position. He could be groomed to move to LT one Tra Thomas is ready to retire.

40. Oakland: Michael Johnson, DE - Georgia Tech
While I would like to take the safe pick with Robert Ayers, we're talking about the Raiders. Johnson has a lot of hype coming out of college. Johnson is the pick with hopes of having a tandem reminiscent of Long and Townsend.

41. Green Bay: Phil Loadholt, OT - Oklahoma
With Tauscher out of the picture, the Packers turn their attention to Loadholt. A mountain of a man, Loadholt can step into the RT spot and use his powerful drive blocking to open holes for Ryan Grant.

42. Buffalo: Robert Ayers, DE - Tennessee
Ayers can challenge Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney for the RE spot. Ayers brings a better pass rush, and could open things up for Schobel on the other side.

43. San Francisco: Kenny Britt, WR - Rutgers
Don't be surprised if an available RB like LeSean McCoy goes to the 9ers at this pick. Britt is a big receiver who brings more star power to the table than any WR they have. If Britt's play matches his attitude, he could be another T.O. in San Fran.

44. Miami (from Washington): Clint Sintim, OLB - Virginia
Sintim comes from a similar 3-4 system at Virginia as the Dolphins have. On the field, he is similar to Porter, and can learn a lot from him. An OG could get some consideration here.

45. New York Giants (from New Orleans): Cody Brown, OLB - Connecticut
All the sudden UConn is an NFL breeding ground. Brown is a speedy athletic LB who boasts a lot of potential. He projects to the outside, but has the thick stalky frame to play the inside. He could start off as a jack of all trades backing up all three LB spots before settling into a starting role.

46. Houston: D.J. Moore, CB - Vanderbilt
I almost had the Texans taking Vontae Smith in the first round, but felt Cushing was too good to pass up. Moore could eventually push Jacques Reeves for the starting spot in a year.

47. New England (from San Diego): Jared Cook, TE - South Carolina
A nice little steal. Cook could end up being everything Ben Watson was supposed to be for the Pats. Cook is a pure receiving threat. He can stretch the field and cause matchup problems for opposing defenses.

48. Denver: Larry English, DE - Northern Illinois
With the switch over to a 3-4 defense, the Broncos need bodies at the OLB spot. English brings his pass rushing prowess to the table. He has a lot of hype to live up to.

49. Chicago: Hakeem Nicks, WR - North Carolina
Nicks drops a long way due to questions over his conditioning and desire. However, if Lovie can light a fire in Nicks, Jay Cutler has a nice target to pitch the ball to.

50. Cleveland (from Tampa Bay): Sean Smith, CB - Wisconsin
Smith has been shooting up the charts. He's a huge CB, but can also be moved over to S. The Browns have needs at both positions, so they can use the versatility.

51. Dallas: Keenan Lewis, CB - Oregon State
The team is in desperate need of a CB after losing Anthony Henry, and dumping Pacman Jones. Lewis is a physical corner who can bring a lot of what Anthony Henry brought to the table, but Lewis has fresher legs.

52. New York Jets: Fili Maola, DT - Southern Cal
Maola will move over to DE in Rex Ryan's 3-4 defense. He would probably sit behind Ellis and Coleman, eventually taking over at one of the spots.

53. Philadelphia: Cornelius Ingram, TE - Florida
If it wasn't for missing the 2008 season with an ACL tear, Ingram would have rivaled Pettigrew as the top TE in this draft. Ingram is an Antonio Gates clone, bringing a lot of the same tools to the table. He has a lot of potential, and will make a lot of teams kick themselves for passing on him if he's 100% healthy and shows no signs of ill-effects.

54. Minnesota: Brian Robiskie, WR - Ohio State
Robiskie is a big, disciplined receiver who will make the tough catches that Sidney Rice cannot. He would make a nice compliment to Berrian, and could open the door for Bobby Wade to do his damage in the slot. You can't dismiss his bloodlines as his father, Terry, was one of the toughest WRs to ever play the game.

55. Atanta: Louis Delmas, S - Western Michigan
Regarded by many as the top safety in this draft. Patrick Chung is another option. Delmas could play either safety position. He can play in coverage and can play along the line of scrimmage if needed.

56. Miami: Louis Murphy, WR - Florida
Parcels doesn't usually do projects with dicey pasts. However, Murphy matured late in his college career, and seems to have turned things around. A prototypical WR who has excellent size and speed, but needs a little coaching and a Parcels-type presence.

57. Baltimore: Ron Brace, DT - Boston College
Raji's partner in crime at Boston College. Both are now in the NFL looking at playing NT in 3-4 defenses. Brace is a hard one to move and takes up a lot of space. He could push Kelly Gregg earlier than most think.

58. New England: Sen'Derrick Marks, DT - Auburn
Someone needs to give Vince Wilfork a breather. Marks is a squatty DT who can handle the NT spot in New England's defense. He should get a lot of playing time. He might even be versatile enough to play the ends too.

Jarron Gilbert (Photo courtesy of espn.com)

59. Carolina: Jarron Gilbert, DT - San Jose State
Gilbert is a tall DT who can get to the QB. He should come in for Kemeatu on passing downs, but don't be surprised if he beats out Tyler Brayton for the DE spot opposite Peppers.

60. New York Giants: Gerald Cadogan, OT - Penn State
Cadogan is slightly raw, but has the tools to start at LT in the NFL. Academic All-American who has the intelligence it takes to play the LT spot. Will eventually move Diehl inside..

61. Indianapolis: Alex Magee, DT - Purdue
Colts go DT again. They need the bodies. Magee played out of position at DE, but impressed at the Senior Bowl when shifted inside to DT. He has a lot of potential, but it's hard to tell what the finished product will look like.

62. Tennessee: Coye Francies, CB - San Jose State
Francies has a lot of upside, and has the time to learn with the Titans. Francies is a diamond in the rough, and if he can add about 10 lbs, along with some football IQ, he could be something special.

63. Arizona: Eric Wood, C - Louisville
Wood probably goes higher if he wasn't a center. Wood could end up beating out Sendlein for the starting spot. If Ron Brace were to somehow drop to this pick. He might be a good fit.

64. Pittsburgh: Jairus Byrd, CB - Oregon
The Steelers can play Byrd at either CB or S. Look for an offensive tackle to get a look too. Gerald Cadogen would be an option.

With the 1st Pick the Detroit Lions select...

Armin's positional rankings just dropped (COMMENTS NEEDED!!!) and the 2-round mock is right around the corner.

With that in mind, who SHOULD the Detroit Lions select with the first overall pick?

Check out the new poll in the top right corner of the page and let us know what YOU think.
Feel free to comment below as well...

Somebody help this guy out. Pronto.
Credit: LosingLions.com

Option #1: Matthew Stafford [QB, Georgia]
Pro: He has all the tools necessary to be an elite quarterback in the NFL.
Con: Is a quarterback with almost no tools around him - save Calvin Johnson - the fix for the NFL's first 0-16 team?

Option #2: Mark Sanchez [QB, USC]
Pro: Many scouts say he'd would've been a lock to be the #1 pick in 2010, so why not in 2009 at a year younger?
Con: Only one full collegiate season under his belt. Is that really enough to judge this kid who was once considered far too emotionally stunted?

Option #3: Aaron Curry [LB, Wake Forest]
Pro: He's the most complete player on the board. That's hard to argue with. Jerrod Mayo had similar regards, at least according to the Patsies, and he played like a #1 overall pick last season.
Con: How many linebackers go #1 overall? More than that, how many Wake Forest linebackers go #1 overall?

Option #4: Jason Smith [OT, Baylor]
Pro: Draft an offensive lineman that can anchor your line for the next 10+ years. Why not?
Con: Is it too conservative for the #1 overall pick? Is he the #1 tackle only due to Andre Smith's meltdown?

Option #5: Eugene Monroe [OT, Virginia]
Pro: See above.
Con: Sorry, but see above.

Option #6: Andre Smith [OT, Alabama]
Pro: You've seen the worst of him and he survived it. His physical abilities are unmatched at the position.
Con: Do you really reward this guy with #1-overall pick money?

Option #7: Michael Crabtree [WR, Texas Tech]
Pro: He would look really good lined up across from Calvin Johnson.
Con: Seriously. Do I have to explain this one?

Option #8: B.J. Raji [DT, Boston College]
Pro: The defensive line suffered mightily without Shaun Rogers last year and Raji could fill that void quite well.
Con: This mess at the combine likely pushed even his loftiest goals for being in the top 5, no less the 1st overall selection.

Option #9: TRADE IT!!!
Pro: Save the money, acquire more picks, and build much-needed depth.
Con: Good luck getting similar value. You can't simply give away the #1 pick.

Option #10: Hire Matt Millen back instead
Pro: To keep the joke lasting even longer.
Con: To avoid mass suicides in Detroit.

2009 NFL Draft: Position Rankings

As the draft nears, and Pro Day's have passed, I thought now is a better time than any to post my position rankings for the 2009 NFL draft. Last year, outside of a handful of predictions, the list was pretty close to the order that players went in the first day. This year poses a different challenge, as we have a larger amount of players that could potentially sneak into the 1st round. Anyway...looking forward to the comments. Enjoy.

(Photo Courtesy of University of Georgia)

QB
1 - Matt Stafford, Georgia
2 - Mark Sanchez, Southern Cal
3 - Josh Freeman, Kansas State
4 - Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State
5 - Nate Davis, Ball State

Stafford sat atop this list all off-season. After Sanchez practically hit a home run on his Pro Day, the race is almost neck and neck. As for Freeman, I have had guarded optimism. Is he the real deal? I think Bomar is the diamond in the rough of this draft. Not only could he be an NFL starter, he could make his QB coach look so good, he lands a head coaching gig.

RB
1 - Chris Wells, Ohio State
2 - Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
3 - Donald Brown, Connecticut
4 - Rashad Jennings, Liberty
5 - Javon Ringer, Michigan State
6 - LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
7 - Andre Brown, NC State
8 - Shonn Greene, Iowa
9 - Ian Johnson, Boise State
10 - Kory Sheets, Purdue

Wells and Moreno top this year’s class of RBs. Don’t be surprised if Brown is the first RB off the board though. The hype machine is in full-effect for the UConn prospect. McCoy was a first round prospect until he posted some pedestrian times. Jennings and Ringer boast a lot of potential. Some team will be very happy with what Shonn Greene will bring to their table.

WR
1 - Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
2 - Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
3 - Percy Harvin, Florida
4 - Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland
5 - Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
6 - Kenny Britt, Rutgers
7 - Derrick Williams, Penn State
8 - Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
9 - Louis Murphy, Florida
10 - Pat White*, West Virginia

Crabtree and Maclin are interchangeable at the top of the WR list. Crabtree reminds me of a young Sterling Sharpe. Maclin has the game-breaking speed that teams salivate over. Harvin has Devin Hester-like ability. DHB brings the same level of athletic ability to the table that former Terrapins stars Shawne Merriman and Vernon Davis brought to their respective positions. But the important question is: Who’s level of productivity will he trend towards? If there is a run on WRs, like there was on OTs last year, we could see as many as seven going in the first round. Pat White only makes the list based on his potential at a position he didn’t play in college.

TE
1 - Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
2 - Jared Allen, South Carolina
3 - Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi
4 - Chase Coffman, Missouri

As a receiver, Pettigrew has Shockey written all over him. As a blocker, he reminds some of Kyle Brady. Keep an eye on the explosive Jared Allen, who runs like a WR.

C/G
1 - Alex Mack, California
2 - Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
3 - Max Unger, Oregon
4 - Eric Wood, Louisville
5 - Antoine Caldwell, Alabama

Mack and Robinson seem destined for the late first round. Unger could get consideration due to his versatility, allowing him to play any position on the line. He may be picked to play left tackle. Caldwell may be vastly underrated based on playing in Andre Smith’s shadow.

T
1 - Jason Smith, Baylor
2 - Eugene Monroe, Virginia
3 - Andre Smith, Alabama
4 - Michael Oher, Mississippi
5 - Eben Britton, Arizona
6 - William Beatty, Connecticut
7 - Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
8 - Jamon Meridith, South Carolina
9 - Gerald Cadogan, Penn State
10 - Troy Kropog, Tulane

The most exciting position in the draft, as far as the movement at the top of the rankings, was at tackle. I’ve been a fan of Jason Smith (hoping my team could land him) for a while. After the combines, that dream faded, as he could easily be the top pick in the draft. Monroe is right there with Jason Smith. Andre Smith slipped after his antics at the Combine and his Pro Day, where he got jiggly with it. I’ve always felt Oher was overrated, but he looks good so far in his individual workouts. Eben Britton is the top pure right tackle prospect. Kropog would rank higher, but he only really ranks that high if he’s in a zone-blocking scheme.

DT
1 - B.J. Raji, Boston College
2 - Ziggy Hood, Missouri
3 - Peria Jerry, Mississippi
4 - Sen'Derrick Marks, Auburn
5 - Alex Magee, Purdue
6 - Ron Brace, Boston College
7 - Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State
8 - Fili Moala, Southern Cal
9 - Dorrell Scott, Clemson
10 - Chris Baker, Hampton

2009 is not the best year for DTs. Raji could go in the top 10 (depending on what he tested positive for at the Combines). Hood had the most dramatic climb up the charts, especially after the Senior Bowl practices. Ron Brace joins Raji as two of the few prospects that can be a pure NT. Keep an eye on Jarron Gilbert. He can get in the backfield as a DT.

DE
1 - Brian Orakpo, Texas
2 - Everette Brown, Florida State
3 - Tyson Jackson, LSU
4 - Aaron Maybin, Penn State
5 - Robert Ayers, Tennessee
6 - Larry English, Northern Illinois
7 - Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
8 - Connor Barwin, Cincinnati
9 - Paul Kruger, Utah
10 - Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond

There are a lot of Boom or Bust prospects at DE this year. Several prospects might end up as OLBs in 3-4 schemes, specifically Orakpo, Brown and Maybin. Jackson needs to be drafted into a 3-4 scheme to play DE. Larry English and Michael Johnson carry a lot of hype. Barwin came out of nowhere, trying out for several positions. He is shooting up the draft charts.

(Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest University)

LB
1 - Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
2 - Rey Maualuga, Southern Cal
3 - Brian Cushing, Southern Cal
4 - Clay Matthews, Southern Cal
5 - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
6 - Clint Sintim, Virginia
7 - Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
8 - Gerald McRath, Southern Mississippi
9 - Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
10 - Darryl Beckwith, LSU

Curry is probably the best finished product in this draft. He can play any LB position in the NFL. The Southern Cal trio could easily all end up going in the first round. Sintim is a pass rusher who could play OLB in either the 3-4 or the 4-3. Casillas looks to be a steal, and could be a rookie starter on the weak side for some team. If Beckwith can stay healthy, he could be another Nick Barnett.

CB
1 - Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
2 - Vontae Davis, Illinois
3 - Darius Butler, Connecticut
4 - Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
5 - D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
6 - Sean Smith, Utah
7 - Keenan Lewis, Oregon State
8 - Asher Allen, Oregon
9 - Coye Francies, San Jose State
10 - Mike Mickens, Cincinnati

Jenkins would have been the top CB in last year’s draft. He’ll be drafted as a CB, but don’t rule out a move to FS if he goes to a CB-rich team, especially with the lack of a major talent at safety in this draft. After Jenkins, there’s a fight for the #2 spot on this list. Davis, Butler, Alphonso Smith and Moore are all vying to be the 2nd CB off the board. Sean Smith isn’t far off. Keenan Lewis and Coye Francies offer a lot of potential, but could probably use some coaching. Lewis could also be moved to safety.

S
1 - Rashad Johnson, Alabama
2 - Louis Delmas, Western Michigan
3 - Patrick Chung, Oregon
4 - William Moore, Missouri
5 - Sherrod Martin, Troy
6 - Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest
7 - Chris Clemons, Clemson

This year’s weakest position is at safety. There are several CBs that could make their way over to the safety position (including Sherrod Martin who already made the journey to this list). Many can make arguments for any of the top 4 listed here to be the top safety in this draft. Keep an eye on the athletic Clemons. He has the tools to be a great prospect.

K
1 - Graham Gano, Florida State
2 - David Beuhler, Southern Cal
3 - Ryan Succop, South Carolina

P
1 - Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
2 - Thomas Morstead, Southern Methodist
3 - Chris Miller, Ball State

I am not a fan of ranking kickers and punters coming out of college. It is as close as you can get to a crapshoot.

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Super Bowl Version

The Super Bowl is around the corner, and things are about to pick up for me, as it's NFL Draft Season. Look forward to NFL Draft coverage and rookie scouting PHSports style. The Pre-Super Bowl Version of our Mock Drafts will be one round without trades. Subsequent Mock Drafts will grow to 2 and maybe 3 rounds, and include trades. Looking forward to the comments.

1st Round

1. Detroit: Andre Smith, OT - Alabama
An offensive tackle goes #1 again. With Joe Thomas in 2007, and a bevy of rookie OTs helping their teams in 2008, it's clear that the focus of the draft has shifted positions. Smith is a clone of former Tide OT Chris Samuels. Smith is a great cornerstone to start rebuilding a franchise on.

2. St. Louis: Eugene Monroe, OT - Virginia
Here's a first. Offensive linemen go 1 & 2 overall. Monroe is no consolation prize. Virginia keeps churning out left tackles for the league.

3. Kansas City: Matt Stafford, QB - Georgia
Pioli nabs the top QB off the board in hopes of landing another Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco. What about Tyler Thigpen? Maybe he can play the role of Kurt Warner to Matt Leinart.

4. Seattle: Michael Crabtree, WR - Texas Tech
The Seahawks couldn't stay healthy on offense, especially at WR. Crabtree should more than fill in, and bring the game breaking ability that the franchise has sorely missed at the WR position over the years. Crabtree reminds me of Fitzgerald on some plays.

5. Cleveland: Aaron Curry, LB - Wake Forest
Curry is a monster who could come in, replace Willie McGinnest, give Wimbley a bookend OLB in the 3-4, and allow Alex Hall to team with the two bookends to force mis-matches in an all-out pass rush. He could play inside or outside in Mangini's defense.

6. Cincinnati: Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB - Ohio State
Forget all the hype about Cedric Benson being a priority to bring back. He averaged 3.5 YPC, and didn't actually do much for the team. With the team's apparent commitment to the run in 2009, they will need a platoon of starting backs. Beanie Wells could end up staying close to his college roots, in hopes of being another Chris Johnson.

7. Oakland: Malcolm Jenkins, CB - Ohio State
The Raiders should probably take an offensive lineman, but the front office there is in such disarray that they can't make good decisions. If Asomugha returns, the Raiders should have a nice tandem with him and Malcolm Jenkins.

8. Jacksonville: Jeremy Maclin, WR - Missouri
Another team that should go with an offensive lineman, however they have such woes at WR, they can't pass on Maclin. Unlike current Jaguars receivers, Maclin can stretch the field and is a home run threat.

9. Green Bay: Brian Orakpo, DE - Texas
The Packers defense should switch to the 3-4 under Capers, and it sorely needs a pass rush. Orakpo was a beast sack artist for the Longhorns and can be converted to an OLB. He has a great size, strength and speed combination and could find himself in the top 5 before too long.

10. San Francisco: Mark Sanchez, QB - Southern Cal
The 9ers are crossing their fingers that they have the same luck that Atlanta and Baltimore had last year when drafting a rookie QB. If Sanchez can continue his hot play at the end of the season, getting the 9ers to the playoffs might not be such a tough feat.

11. Buffalo: Everette Brown, DE - Florida State
Expect the Bills to trade down and amass picks, as they have plenty of routes they can take. If they stay put, Brown could easily be an option. They need pass rushing and Brown is a pass rushing specialist.

12. Denver: B.J. Raji, DT - Boston College
Raji should thank the likes of Kris Jenkins and Shaun Rogers for the fact that a team will reach for him early. The Broncos will switch to the 3-4 defense with Nolan in town. The 3-4 cannot thrive without a monster NT. Tyson Jackson or Aaron Maybin would make sense here too.

13. Washington: Jason Smith, OT - Baylor
Jason Smith should not drop this far. Oakland or Jacksonville would be smart to take him at 7 or 8. If he drops to this pick, however, he is a good enough pass blocker that he could have Samuels moved to the right side.

14. New Orleans: Vontae Davis, CB - Illinois
Mike McKenzie's health is fading and Randall Gay didn't prove to be the answer. The Saints should look into a future with Davis teaming up with Tracy Porter at CB, shutting down opposing WRs.

15. Houston: Aaron Maybin, OLB - Penn State
The Texans need a bookend pass rusher for Mario Williams. Weaver isn't the answer. Maybin came out after his sophomore year and could add about 15 lbs, but his pass rush skills are right up there with Orakpo and Brown.

16. San Diego: Rey Maualuga, ILB - Southern Cal
The Chargers land another MLB out of USC with a mean streak that is unmatched. Hopefully he can have a similar impact to Seau.

17. New York Jets: Tyson Jackson, DE - Louisiana State
If there is a 3rd QB (Josh Freeman?) that rises up the charts, expect the Jets to be players. If not, Jackson fits in nicely as a 3-4 DE. Jackson has the potential to be a Richard Seymour or Ty Warren type.

18. Chicago: D.J. Moore, CB - Vanderbilt
As of this moment, it is a toss up between Moore and Davis as the #2 CB in this draft. Moore can also offer a change of pace on returns to Devin Hester, who rarely found his groove last season.

19. Tampa Bay: Michael Oher, OT - Mississippi
The Bucs would be very lucky for Oher to drop this far. He could step in and replace Jeremy Trueblood, who has the opposite of Pacman Jones's problem and can't seem to keep himself out of trouble ON the field.

20. Detroit (from Dallas): Jim Laurinaitis, ILB - Ohio State
On paper, this doesn't make a lot of sense with Ernie Sims and Jordan Dizon around. However, a pick like this brings something else to the franchise that it sorely lacks. Laurinaitis is a natural leader and brings the right attitude to a franchise that needs a makeover. He can either step into the middle or play the weak side.

21. Philadelphia: William Moore, S - Missouri
With Dawkins nearing the end of his career, the Eagles need to start thinking about the safety position. With Taylor Mays returning to USC, Moore is the top safety in this draft. He has a linebacker's size, but can roam the field like a DB.

22. Minnesota: Josh Freeman, QB - Kansas State
Josh Freeman has a lot to prove, but there is always that 3rd QB that complements the top 2 QBs in a lot of these drafts. On draft day, Freeman could have Joe Flacco written all over him.

23. New England: Brandon Pettigrew, TE - Oklahoma State
Pettigrew fills a couple of needs here. He's a nice size target around the end zone, but he also blocks like an offensive lineman. Could he be another Daniel Graham around the end zone for the Pats? Maroney would appreciate the extra blocking.

24. Atlanta: Peria Jerry, DT - Mississippi
While they could probably use a beefier DT, Jerry can still come in and make his impact. The trio of Curtis Lofton, Jonathan Babineaux and Jerry would cause a lot of match up issues for other teams. Sen'Derrick Marks could also fit here.

25. Miami: Brian Cushing, OLB - Southern Cal
Cushing would be a textbook Parcels guy. He has a nasty mean streak while keeping his head on his shoulders. Michael Johnson could be a nice fit here too.

26. Indianapolis: Sen'Derrick Marks, DT - Auburn
Using a LB-sized DT last season didn't do the Colts well. They need a DT more than anything right now, and Marks could easily be available at this pick. Don't rule out a trade-down.

27. Baltimore: Clint Sintim, OLB - Virginia
With Ray Lewis rumored to be headed to Dallas once free agency opens, along with Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs also hitting the market, linebacker suddenly becomes a shaky position for the Ravens. Sintim can do it all. He can rush the passer, he can stop the run and he can cover against the pass. He could play inside or outside in Baltimore.

28. Philadelphia (from Carolina): Knowshon Moreno, RB - Georgia
Regardless of who fills in for Westbrook when he gets hurt every season, they never fill the void. Time for the Eagles to start looking at another option. Maybe with a RB of Moreno's caliber around, Westbrook can share the duties a little more and stay fresher as the season goes on. An offensive tackle would be a nice pick too.

29. New York Giants: Michael Johnson, DE - Georgia Tech
The Giants can select the best player available, and have the luxury of giving that player some time. Johnson is a monster pass rusher who is too light to play DE on every down. He can step in and play his spots and cause mismatches for opposing offenses.

30. Tennessee: Percy Harvin, WR - Florida
The Titans can't expect to win a Super Bowl without their receivers taking some of the pressure off the run game. Harvin can also help out in the return game.

31. Arizona: LeSean McCoy, RB - Pittsburgh
With Edgerrin James seemingly pulling the plug on his Arizona career, and Tim Hightower unable to prove that he can lead the Cards on the ground, McCoy makes a lot of sense. McCoy could easily take the reigns from Hightower, and cause a resurgence in the running game in Arizona.

32. Pittsburgh: Duke Robinson, OG - Oklahoma
The Steelers offensive line somehow got the team into the Super Bowl, but they are the weakest unit on the team. Robinson would fill a huge hole at right guard.