2009 NFL Draft Grades

OK, here we go. Let's see how your favorite team did in this year's draft according to me. I will go from best grades to worst. Cross your fingers, cause here we go.



Green Bay Packers: A: Filled a lot of needs especially on defense. Nice draft. B.J. Raji is going to plug up many holes and Clay Matthews has a grat pedigree.



New England Patriots: A: 12 picks in this year's draft, I am willing to bet that at least 8 of those picks make next year's squad.



Baltimore Ravens: A: Except for Ladarius Webb needing to eat some steak at the team buffet, e is the real deal with regard to cover corners.



New York Jets: A-: The Sanchez trade was a nice move, but we will have to see if he is NFL ready this year.



Jacksonville Jaguars: A-: Letting Crabtree go may be a big mistake, but hopefully Holt can quiet down a very "busy" locker room and teach some of the younger receivers how to run a good NFL passing route.


Arizona Cardinals: B+: Wells is a good fit. He is a big back with nice speed. Health concerns are the reason he fell to the Cards, but I think that talk was overblown. Johnson and Brown should play early on. Added some depth on defense.



New York Giants: B: Nicks is a great pick. He has great speed, but I am not sure that he is ready to take over Plaxico's spot.



Chicago Bears: B: They grabbed a few wide receivers in the last four rounds which is nice. But the best thing they did was pick up Cutler in a trade. "Da Bears" will be fighting for the division title for sure.



Detroit Lions: B: Stafford had better be ready, or it is going to be a long season for him. It looks as though there is actually a brain trust in Detroit because they actually mixed in some great defensive picks.



Atlanta Falcons: B: The made some great defensive picks this year and this will help propel them to the playoffs next year yet again.



New Orleans Saints: B: The Saints also addressed defense with this draft. I think the NFC South will be second only to the AFC South as the toughest division in all of football.



Houston Texans: B: This team will make the playoffs sooner rather than later. I love Brian Cushing, there is just something about him that says who do I hit next?



Indianapolis Colts: B: I love Brown out of UCONN. This kid can flat out run. Mix him in With Joseph Addai, and that is one formidable backfield.

Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry is an absolute stud and he fits nicely in a 3-4 scheme. Unger out of Oregon is a great offensive lineman that can play either center or guard. The weight of these two picks alone gave them such a good grade as far as I am concerned.



Tenn. Titans: B: The Titans added three receivers in this draft. One Tight End and two receivers with after burners. The front office did a great job considering they get shut out of the Anquan Boldin sweepstakes.


Piladelphia Eagles: B: Maclin and McCoy are two awesome picks. Those additions to the offense should keep McNabb happy....for now.


Cincinnati Bengals: B: I like Smith and Maualuga a lot, Mr. Lewis will have to get them both babysitters, but they can play the game.


St. Louis Rams: B: Jason Smith was a nice pick, maybe a little too early, but a good pick none the less. Laurinaitis is a big hitter with little to no regard for his own physical well being. Something you always love to see in a line backer.


Pittsburgh Steelers: B: The Super Bowl champions did not select any immediate help in this draft. They did take some long term projects that may pan out. How can you question a championship team's front office?


Kansas City Chiefs: B-: The Chiefs did add some much needed talent on the defensive side of the ball with the first two picks. We shall see if Matt Cassel is in fact the second coming.

San Diego Chargers: B-: If Mr. Merriman comes back and stays healthy this year, the draft was a good one for the Bolts. If he and "LT" are out for any significant time this year, Norv may be on the hot seat for no good reason.

San Francisco 49ers: B-: I love Crabtree and it was a shame to see him still there at number 10 (unless you are a niner's fan). I also like Coffee as a solid RB in the future. The rest of their picks will be a work in progress.

Miami Dolphins: C: Vontae Davis is the brother of Vernon Davis of the SF 49ers. His attitude is as big as his brother's. Pat White is a stretch at the QB position, if anyone can make it work, the Big Tuna can, oh wait....he is not the head coach.

Dallas Cowboys: C: While they did not have a pick in the first two rounds, the Cowboys made 12 picks in this year's draft. Throw them against a wall and we will see who sticks.


Buffalo Bills: C-: I love Maybin as an end in this league and OL Eric Wood should be a starter sooner than later, all other pics were rather pedestrian.


Washington Redskins: C-: I love Orakpo, he could start right away. They added some depth on defense, but their last three picks will probably not make the squad.


Minnesota Vikings: C-: If Harvin can stay healthy and out of trouble, he will be a star in the league. The Vikes only had five picks in the draft. After Harvin, there is not much to write home about.


Carolina Panthers: C: I love the getting Fiametta in the fourth round. He will fit into their offensive scheme right away. I also like Everette Brown out of FSU. This kid has a great motor and can cause some serious problems for opponents passing games. Considering they had no picks in the top 50, they did get some talent.


Cleveland Browns: C: The Browns actually got more talent in the trade with the Jets than they did in the draft. That is the only thing that kept them average in grade.


Tampa Bay Bucs: C-: While they got a project a QB in Freeman that could pay off long term, they did not get themselves any immediate starters on offense or defense.


Denver Broncos: D: Knowshon Moreno was not only the best back in the draft, but one of my favorites in this class. The problem is they signed 3 free agent running backs this off season. Has Coach McDaniels ever heard of defense?


Oakland Raiders: F: Heyward-Bey is a speed receiver but a huge reach at number 7 overall. Al Davis loves the stop watch instead of looking at people that have football skills. Did I not say that they need a new owner? Michael Mitchell wasn't the smartest of picks in the second round either. If I were Jamarcus Russell, I would call in too well to play........ (every day).

There are my grades based on acquisitions compare to team needs. This may sound funny, but I think that there will be some superstars in the batch of non-drafted free agents that have been invited to the upcoming rookie mini-camps.

Good luck to you and your teams.

Ahhh....the beauty of future pro-bowlers and hall of famers.

2009 NFL Draft Grades

I am in the middle of putting together my grades for this past weekend's NFL draft. I will post my results shortly.

Thanks!!

2009 NFL Draft Preview

I wanted to share some thoughts and predictions on this year's NFL Draft which is taking place Saturday.

First off, I would like to say that this draft is very deep at a lot of positions. I think that the next generation of potential hall of famers will be found out of this year's talent.

Secondly, I would hope that with all of the hard times that have be felled Detroit recently due to the recession, that the Lions trade their number one pick if they are still unsure as to who they wil select with their overall number one pick. So many people are out of jobs there and the thought of this year's number one pick being guaranteed $34 million over three years is a tough pill to swallow for the citizens of this once proud and strong city.

That being said, here are my best guestimates and list of dark horses in this year's draft. I am only giving you my top ten picks because the Washington Redskin's owner Daniel Snyder plays a pivotal part of what can happen in the first round, it doesn't make sense to pick more than that for now. If Washington moves up to number three and picks Mark Sanchez, all bets are off.

OK, Here we go!!


1) Detroit Lions: Needs; OL,QB, MLB, DL, WR Pick: Matthew Stafford QB, Georgia: Right man for the job, cannon of an arm, better than average accuracy, and high football IQ.

2) St. Rams: Needs: OL, LB, LB, WR, CB, TE Pick: Jason Smith, OL, Baylor: Smith stands at 6'5" tall and weighs 305 lbs. Smith was the first non soecial teams player to make All American sine 1975.

3) Kansas City Chiefs: Needs; LB, DL, OL, S: Pick: Eugene Monroe, OT, Univ. Virginia: Also 6'5" 305lbs. The Rams need help on the offensive line, and this stud of an athlete would be a great fit.

4) Seattle Seahawks: Needs; CB, OL, QB, S: Pick: Mark Sanchez QB, USC: Here is where the first round could get interesting. If the Redskins move up and snatch Sanchez, I believe the Seahawks will pick Michael Crabtree out of Texas Tech with this pick. It is a big if, so let's pretend it doesn't happen.

5) Cleveland Browns: Needs; LB, CB, S, OL, TE, WR: Pick: B.J. Raji DT Boston College: Raji is a fierce pass rusher. At 6'2: and 337 lbs. Raji is a good athlete and is a constant nuisance for opposing offenses.

6) Cincinatti Bengals: Needs; DL, OL, RB, S: Pick: Brian Orakpo, DE, Univ. Texas: Brian is 6'3" 263 lbs. He was a consensus All American his senior year collecting 11.5 sacks.

7) Oakland Raiders: Needs; A New Owner (just kidding...almost); WR, OL, CB, S, DL, LB: Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri. Jeremy was a first team All American selection. Not only can he catch the ball, he can run all day long. Some scouts say that his top end speed is not all that great, I do not think this will be an issue.

8) Jacksonville Jaguars: Needs; WR, QB, OL, DL, LB: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: Again, being such a sought after player is not always a good thing. I believe that even with his ankle injury, Crabtree is an outstanding WR prospect at professional ranks. These last two picks all depend on the Redskins as far as I am concerned.

9) Green Bay Packers: Needs; DL, LB, DL: Pick: Andre Smith, OL, Alabama: Here is where we will see if this man can earn his keep. He is a talented lineman, and he would be a large target to get around for opposing defenses. Andre is 6'4" 332lbs. But his antics at the combine and pro day could cost him dearly. It would be a shame if he didn't get a shot here.

10) San Francisco 49ers: Needs; QB, OL, S, LB, RB: Pick: Aaron Curry, OLB Wake Forest. Mr. Curry won the 2008 Butkis award, he was consensus All American, and he led the Deacon Demons with 105 tackles. Aaron is 6'2" 254lbs. and he enjoys pain.........dealing it out that is.

Dark horses: I have three players that I think will have tremendous NFL careers.

Rashad Jennings: RB, Liberty. This man is a true stud at running back. While Liberty may not be a football powerhouse, Rashad most certainly is. He bench presses 225 lbs. a amazing 29 times at the combine. I would not want to tackle this man.

Knowshon Moreno: RB, Univ. Georgia. I love the way this kid plays the game. Like every day is is last. When his career is said and done, I think he could be a Hall of Famer.

Tony Fiammetta: Full Back, Syracuse. Tony pressed 225 lbs. 30 times. Can you say the next John Rathman?

There you have it. I can't wait for the madness to begin this Saturday. Good luck to you and your teams, may they chose wisely.


Has anyone seen my magic 8 ball?


Ahhhh.......the beauty of the start of something beautiful.

Sorry for the delay.

I apologize for not posting sooner, I had a couple of things to attend to this week. Instead of writing several posts of those things that are on my mind, I would like to incorporate them into one just to catch us up.

The NBA playoff marathon began this weekend. After all is said and done, I believe it will be Cleveland vs. the Lakers to play for the title. Who will win it all? Stay tuned just in case my picks are as bad as those I made for March Madness.

The NHL playoffs are also in full swing. There are a couple of teams that stood above the rest during the regular season. Detroit and San Jose. Will these two vie for the Stanley Cup? I think not. I believe that there are a couple of teams out there that can stir the pot. I will give you my picks for the Cup early next week.

I ask that you remember Harry and "The Bird" in your memories and prayers. They both deserve it.

Ahhhh........ the beauty of the beginnings of two post-seasons.

A Farewell to an arm...and a voice

The baseball world lost two legends this week. Harry Kalas and Mark "The Bird" Fidrych. It seems as though my posts have been a bit morbid lately, but this is not of my own volition. It is due to the fact that crap happens, and it is our responsibility to remember those that have made an impression in our lives.

Harry Kalas had a silky smooth voice that was not only used by the Philles for the last 30 plus years, but NFL films for the past quarter of a century. Harry passed away in the broadcast booth just hours before he was to announce yet another Phillie's game like he had done so many times before. Harry died doing what he loved the most. May we all have the same luck as he did.

Conversely, "The Bird" died in a manner that makes us all feel a bit vulnerable. That being said, I am grateful as a baseball fan in part that I had the opportunity to witness both of their personalities and quirks. It is a sad week for baseball fans, and humans alike.

Has anyone seen my audio recording of Harry Kalas' call of Michael Jack Schmidt's 500th home run call?

Ahhhh....the beauty of two legends having season tickets to the greatest show ever known to man.

The Masters was Masterful?

I have to say that I thought this year's tournament was a bit slow at times. I was waiting for my favorite player to finally show up and make a statement. That moment had to wait until Sunday.

How could the stage have been set any better? Phil vs. Tiger. I will tell you how, they were just the appetizer. The entree' wasn't served until almost two hours later. After a brilliant display by the top two players in the world battling each other for eighteen of the most compelling holes of golf I have witnessed in quite a while, the eventual winner was four holes behind.

There will be plenty of questions as to whether Angel Cabrera won, or everyone else lost. That is a bunch of hog wash. The top five contenders had their own chance to win the tournament and choked on it like A-Rod in October.

I was appreciative of the coverage that CBS had to offer on Sunday. They followed the two golfers that butter their ratings bread, and then followed the leaders all the way through the playoff.

All of this being said, I can't wait for the Black Course at Bethpage in the middle of June. I am quite certain that the USGA will have a bunch of fun with this already difficult course. Don't be surprised if a score over par wins this year's U.S Open.

Why you ask? Because all of the golfers complained how tough the course was the last time through in 2002. The only thing that did was inspire the USGA to make the course tougher. If the USGA has one masochistic bone in it's body, they will have the last laugh.

I have played that course many times and my best score was a 92. How does that make me feel......like I just won the lottery.


The best is yet to come.


Ahhhh....the beauty of a perfectly good walk gone bad.

Angel on the Mound

I apologize ahead of time for the cryptic and answerless post I am about to write, but I feel compelled to write down a few words about our life's dreams whether they come true or not.

As most of you probably know by now, LA Angel Pitcher Nick Adenhart was tragically killed in an auto accident just hours after he pitched six scoreless innings in a game against AL West rival Oakland last night.

What made him so special? He had Tommy John surgery after his senior year in high school. That being said, the Angels took a chance on him in the 14th round of the MLB draft five years ago, not knowing how he would perform after his elbow reconstruction.

Nick worked his tail off compiling a record of 37-28 in the minors. He had an outstanding spring, and made the big league club this year. His first start of the season was not supposed to bring that much hype, but he felt as though something special was going to happen. So much so that he called his dad and told him to fly up from his hometown in nearby southern California. What did dad do? He listened to his son. He watched his little boy, the same one he played catch with not long after he started to walk. He watched his child shut down a very competitive team in the Athletics for six innings. The joy his father must have felt cannot be measured by words.

I was a pitcher a long time ago. I had dreams of making some kind of life for me and my family playing the game I loved the most. Things didn't work out for me, but they certainly worked out for Nick. Not only last night, but forever.

I was moved by a story tonight regarding Nick and the make shift memorial outside of Angels Stadium. There was a baseball that had scribbled on it "Now you are really pitching for a team of Angels".

I don't know, nor do I care what you do or do not believe in, but I am hopeful that Nick is now in the starting rotation for one of the greatest teams ever known to man kind.

May God have mercy on the soul of the man that took those lives last night, and may he never let Nick know any kind of arm pain for eternity.

I will say the words of the first pitching coach I ever had to Nick, wherever he his tonight.

Just throw strikes kid......just throw strikes.

Ahhhhhh.....the beauty of the baseball season that never ends.

Nunchucks meets Ping Pong???

Here is an amazing short video of what is purportedly Bruce Lee playing ping pong with his nun chucks. If this is real (which I have not been able to find out as of yet) it is amazing. Even if it is enhanced is is still an awesome display. Enjoy!!!!

Congratulations Tar Heels!!

No matter how you filled out your brackets, I am fairly confident that we all have a new found respect for the city of Detroit and it's citizens. It would have been a great story to see the Spartans of Michigan State win the national championship not far from the city that has been affected the most by our current recession.

That being said, congratulations to the Tar Heels for a well fought victory.....and to the residents of Detroit, you are too strong a city to give in so easily. God speed and good luck. The nation is pulling for you.


Ahhhh......the beauty of the strength and determination of one of the greatest American cities the world has ever known.

Open letter to Josh McDaniels

I forgot to mention one thing regarding the Cutler trade to Chicago. This is a letter to Josh McDaniels, the new head coach of the Broncos. So here goes.


Dear Coach McDaniels,


I am writing this letter to you to remind you of exactly what happened within the first couple of months as new head coach of the Denver Broncos.


You found a way to alienate and lose a franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler. Your new owner Pat Bowlen has your manhood hanging from the rear view mirror of his limo because he made the trade with Chicago happen (other than that there is no pressure).


Foxboro, MA and your woobie Bill Belicheck are 1790 miles away.


Denver Bronco fans are the most loyal and boisterous in the league.


You now have Kyle Orton instead of a 25 year old pro-bowl quarterback. to lead you to the promise land.


One word of advise. Please don't buy a house in the Denver area.....just rent. Trust me, it will save you money in the long run.


Sincerely,


Denver, CO


Has anyone seen my flint and kindling???????


Ahhhh......... the beauty of the re-visitation of the Salem witch trials.

My Final Four Picks

My brackets imploded a long time ago, but I still feel the need to pick my National Championship favorite.

Michigan State vs. UCONN.
Villanova vs. UNC

I had either Louisville or Pitt winning the whole tournament depending on which of my brackets you saw. What does that mean? Zippo. I stunk up the yard with my picks. I did however mention how much parity there was in this year's tourney. All of that being said, here we go.

UCONN beats MSU
UNC beats 'Nova

UNC will beat the Huskies and cut down the nets.....WHY????? WHY NOT????? That's how sure I am.


Has anyone seen my two headed coin???


Ahhhhh....the beauty of baseball starting on Sunday Night.

Who won and who lost in the Jay Cutler deal?

The question of the hour is who got the best in the Jay Cutler deal?

What did Da' Bears get? They got a franchise quarterback of which they have not seen the likes since Jim McMahon. What else did the bears get? A fifth round draft choice in this year's draft.

What did the Broncos get? Kyle Orton, two first round draft choices, a third round draft choice and some one's lost luggage off of an international flight to JFK originating in France.

Who won? The Bears won. Draft choices are just that....choices. There are no guarantees even if they are first round picks......please see Matt Leinart.

The biggest problem I see for the Bears are their lack of quality wide receivers for Cutler to throw to. This kid has a million dollar arm and a five cent head. He will throw the ball without fear to any target on the field, and hope that his teammate will catch it. Does this profile remind you of anyone? Oh yeah....Brett Favre. Not a bad comparison, and he happened to play in the same division.

Please do not let it seem as though I am comparing Cutler to Favre, but all things being equal, I want to see the chaos that Jay can create within the Black and Blue division.

Has anyone seen my GPS?

Ahhhh.....the beauty of a strong arm and people who can actually catch the ball.

The TGA is finally back to where it belongs.....

Yes, I am quite aware that I called it the TGA, would you like to know what that stands for? Come on.....you really don't know????? It is the Tiger Golf Association. Why do I say this?....Hmmmm probably because the Arnold Palmer Invitational...which Tiger won in Tiger-esque fashion, was the most watched golf broadcast since Tiger beat Rocco Mediate in the US Open at Torrey Pines last June.

Relax, all of you Phil Michelson fans, the Masters begins a week from today. Oh, and if Amen Corner doesn't tickle your fancy, the U.S. Open will be played at Bethpage Black this year for the first time since 2002. That's right, the toughest public course on the face of the planet will host a bevvy of great players from around the world, and they too will be chewed up and spit out like so many of us that have endured this monster of a course.

While it is a bit disconcerting that Phil has closed the gap between he and Tiger for the world's number one ranking, I am fairly confident that the gap will continue to widen as the weeks pass us by.......just as long as the striped one continues to tee it up.

Has anyone seen my illegal extra long distance golf balls?

Ahhhh.....the beauty of Augusta National and the Green Jacket.

A funny video for Fantasy Football Owners

I know that the beginning of the baseball season is just a few days away, but I had to share this video for those that are fantasy league owners. ......Please enjoy!!!!!!