I confess to being completely biased in my views about the NFL, lesser sports, and well, everything for that matter. This certainly applies to the recent NFL draft.
Let’s start with observation numero uno of that prime time gig…everyone’s predicted choice of Sam “the sling” Bradford by the Rams. BAD! C’mon Spags you should have traded down and used the added pix for the holes that need filling uh…everywhere. Taking Bradford, a west coaster with a history of wing dings, was a reach you didn’t need. Play him from the gitgo with your O line and how long will he last; bring him along slowly and who keeps the wolf away from the door this year? To quote the guy opposite VC on this blog…TROUBLE! Nobody wants the first pick so moving it would’ve been tough, but if the Rams could not find someone willing to deal, why not go with Suh? You get him a little cheaper as a D lineman and he has no downside. There’s no history of injuries. The dude is uber ready to play now and will do so for years, it says here! You could have used some of the cash you would have saved to go get a QB who already knows how to play under center like McNabb or Campbell. Let’s face it you paid way too much for a rookie west coaster with an aversion to self preservation! And they haven’t invented a color for threat level to NFL QB’s!
So, what pick did I like? In my view Jerry’s new kid Dez Bryant is the clear (or is it the cream) winner. I mean look what the ‘Boys managed with that pick at #24 well below the likes of Joe Haden, Demaryius Thomas and Sean freaking Weatherspoon? C’mon! Dallas all but purged themselves of that other Roy Williams, you know the one who makes every all airport team but has the heart of…oh say, the Lion in the Wizard of Oz. And I was all over this pick long before Jerry’s media machine started cranking out the kudos for Dez’s scintillating pre pre season rookie camp! I mean you put Bryant with Austin and Witten along with the running game courtesy of the “Taz” and Felix the “scat” and Ivy Leaguer Jason Garrett will be able express his feelings in iambic pentameter!
There are a couple of other first round pix that haven’t got the press they deserve nationally. The Big Green Eag’s choice of Brandon Graham at #13 is huge! Having the 6’ 2” 268 lb. Wolverine whirling dervish opposite pro bowler Trent Cole will add to their already frightening pass rush. And with Sean McDermott settled in after succeeding the dearly departed Jim Johnson, one of the best D coordinators ever, the Eagles are my pick from the old boy conference for the Super Bowl. Yep, you heard me fantasy freaks-that means good numbers for Kolb! And they’ll get better production out of Vick in spots. They’ve helped their depth at RB with Bell and their receiver corps is solid with Jackson, Maclin, Avant and Celek. But it will be their youthful and deep defense, with the return from injury of Stewart Bradley, carryovers Cole, Bunkley, Patterson, Samuel, Hobbs and featuring defensive rookie of the year candidate Graham along with #2 pick Nate Allen at Free Safety replacing Dawkins that will carry the Eagles past the ‘Boys, with their offensive rookie of the year candidate Bryant, in a killer NFC Championship game and on to the Super Bowl XLV!
I am all in on the Chiefs pick of Eric Berry at #5, but that is too easy. My next favorite pick is Carolina’s second round choice of Jimmy Clausen at #48. Fox didn’t get a contract extension but he got the next best thing, a guy who knows how to play QB under center and will do so from day 1. Look at the situation Clausen finds himself in: great running game featuring the elusive Williams and hard yarder Stewart with one of the best O lines in the league. JC’s cards are far superior to the hand dealt Bradford. As I see it, barring a bad flop, like say…training camp fisticuffs, the Panthers will go into the Meadowlands and defeat the G-Men in the season opener on September 12 with Clausen throwing two TD’s to that “other” Steve Smith! Is it me? What are people NOT getting about Clausen? The guy played super for Cholly, one of the most respected offensive coaches ever. Last year he carried the Domers with a turf toe that would have sidelined a lot of guys. He has the arm. He’s a leader. He comes into the league with a complete understanding of the Panther’s offense. And his only competition is Matt Moore who has but 8 pro starts to his credit. What could be finer?
That’s it for this time out. But, look for more pronouncements and prognostications (including the Eagle’s opponent in Super Bowl XLV) when you least expect it! And if you have anything you wanna say, in the immortal words of the original Bay City roller, and renowned ass kicker, Janis Joplin: “go ahead, take another piece of my heart baby!” There’s a lot more where this came from!
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