RED FLAG!!

Who is this, you ask?? None other than the aunt of the #3 overall pick in this past weekend's NFL Draft, Joe Thomas. Simply Suds already detailed his odd antics by not attending the Draft -- instead, opting to go fishing.

How long until this wack-job has supplanted Momma McNabb in commercials???

If You Weren't A Foot Taller Than Me, I'd Ball Tap You

You know what really chaps my a$$....thinking about how this dildo went sport fishing instead of going to the NFL draft. We had to watch this mammoth bastard reel in tunas and mermaids and all that other good crap. So, not only is he a rich prick now, he pretty much spit in the face of the NFL.

Buddy, you couldn't go fishing next weekend? Next week you could have cashed in your pay check and rented a friggin' yacht....and thrown a Shaq type party with hookers and booze, and drugs for all the people who feel like gettin' weird. What a crap move this was. Normally, I wouldn't care where this big, dumb whale spent his Saturday afternoon. But it's the NFL draft. And when you go #3 overall....you go to the Draft, wait 30 minutes, and then hold that Cleveland Browns jersey in front of your fat torso. What a loser.

Stop the Presses

I'm going to hold off on commenting on the Randy Moss acquisition (there has never been a better offseason than what the Patriots have done this year) - I'll leave that to Simply Suds.

With that said...and while mulling over every draft pick over-and-over-and-over again, how the hell did Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman (to New Orleans at #107 overall) and Louisville RB Michael Bush (to Oakland at #100 overall) last until the 4th Round?? What has been dug up on Pittman that the general public is not aware of?? When you consider that Nebraska RB Brandon Jackson went in the 2nd Round to Green Bay, this is crazy!

With the news that Brandon Jackson is the lone offensive player (I refuse to mention San Jose State WR James Jones as part of this discussion, as he may be the worst WR in this draft) that the Packers have landed, Brett Favre must be re-pondering retirement. When you consider that Randy Moss could have been had for a friggin' 4th Round pick, it wouldn't surprise me if Brett Favre attempts a TO-like suicide in the coming hours.

Best / Worst Day 1 Picks

Best Day 1 Picks - picks that make the most sense and/or best value:

• #7 overall - Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson to Minnesota
• #21 overall - Florida S Reggie Nelson to Jacksonville
• #22 overall - Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn to Cleveland
• #23 overall - LSU WR Dwayne Bowe WR to Kansas City
• #25 overall - Miami OLB Jon Beason to Carolina
• #41 overall - Arkansas CB Chris Houston to Atlanta
• #47 overall - Michigan LB David Harris to New York Jets
• #51 overall - USC WR Steve Smith to New York Giants
• #53 overall - UNLV CB Eric Wright to Cleveland
• #59 overall - USC OC Ryan Kalil to Carolina
• #65 overall - Georgia DE Quentin Moses to Oakland
• #71 overall - Florida State RB Lorenzo Booker to Miami
• #72 overall - Fresno State CB Marcus McCauley to Minnesota
• #84 overall - Tennessee CB Jonathan Wade to St. Louis

Worst Day 1 Picks (picks that have left me scratching my head):

• #1 overall - LSU QB JaMarcus Russell to Oakland -- Quite honestly, in 10 years...when we look back on this draft, I believe Russell will be viewed as the third best QB from this draft (behind Brady Quinn and John Beck).
• #9 overall - Ohio State WR Ted Ginn, Jr. to Miami -- I like Johnson, Bowe, Meachem, Steve Smith, Sidney Rice, and Dwayne Jarrett all more than Ginn, Jr. All of the aforementioned WR's have the potential to be #1 options (the exception being Steve Smith, but that has already been discussed at length...he's a lock to be a extraordinary asset as a secondary option). Ted Ginn Jr.'s career will be very similar to that of Minnesota's Troy Williamson.
• #12 overall - California RB Marshawn Lynch to Buffalo -- Not sold on him; has never carried a full load. Below average as a blocker.
• #16 overall - Tennessee DT Justin Harrell to Green Bay -- Green Bay needed to land Favre another offensive dynamic weapon. If not possible, they should have utilized this pick to stockpile more mid-round picks, as they have a lot of holes to fill.
• #27 overall - Tennessee WR Robert Meachem to New Orleans -- I rank him as the third best WR, far behind Calvin Johnson and Dwayne Bowe...but, the last position the Saints need is another WR - they were already loaded at this position.
• #32 overall - Ohio State WR Anthony Gonzalez to Indianapolis -- The Colts' don't need ANY help on offense. Peyton Manning. Marvin Harrison. Reggie Wayne. Joseph Addai.
• #36 overall - Houston QB Kevin Kolb to Philadelphia -- A clear indication that the Eagles' brass has ZERO confidence in McNabb (or Holcomb and/or AJ Feeley, for that matter).
• #42 overall - Arkansas OT Tony Ugoh to Indianapolis -- See Anthony Gonzalez's above note.
• #61 overall - Boise State S Gerald Alexander to Detroit -- Nice player, but not 2nd Round worthy. Undersized and slow.
• #63 overall - Nebraska RB Brandon Jackson to Green Bay -- Might be the worst value pick of the draft. By default, Jackson will get plenty of opportunities to run away with the starter's job. However, both Antonio Pittman and Michael Bush went some 40 picks later.

Musings on the NFL Draft's Day 1

Lots of surprises today - some terrible, some great. Getting right to it...

• 2 of the 3 players (Ted Ginn, Alan Branch, Dwayne Jarrett) I have been touting for months now as being overrated substantially dropped in today's draft. Branch was taken 33rd overall (1st pick of 2nd round) by Arizona. And, Jarrett was selected by Carolina with the 45th overall pick. Listen...with these 2 guys, the NFL got it right. Both have been tagged as having terrible work ethics...RED FLAG! The exception...Ted Ginn, Jr. - the 9th overall pick by Miami. Whaaaaat? Ginn is a burner - that's it! He is vastly undersized, injury prone, and tremendously raw...only knows how to run a fly-pattern and refuses to come across the middle of the field. In all honestly, Ginn will not match Wes Welker's career. The Dolphins passed on a potential stud QB (in Quinn) - something they have been desperately searching for since Marino's retirement. I don't get it??? Culpepper...Trent Green...Cleo Lemon...I don't care - Culpepper and Lemon suck...and Trent Green is a dinosaur. Ted Ginn, Jr. is an NFL kick returner. He will NEVER exceed more than 55 receptions in ANY given year...for his entire career. He's a far worse route runner than Chad Jackson. Awful pick - no way around it.


• If Darrell Jackson is traded to San Francisco, as expected, for a second day draft pick...then, San Francisco will have had a great draft (it goes without saying that I love Patrick Willis at #11)! It's well known that I don't necessarily love Jackson, but you can't deny the fact that he would be a welcomed favorite target of Alex Smith. What I don't understand is why Seattle, a division rival, is willing to part with Jackson for so little?? Although Jackson, 28, has struggled with dropped passes in the past and is an injury concern, the fact that he is a consistent deep and red zone threat can't be overlooked. After all, Jackson hauled in 10 TD's last year -- and, compiled 87 receptions...1199 yards in 2004. The latest word has Jackson as being in San Francisco to take a physical and potentially discuss a contract extension. Stay tuned...


• Romeo Crennel just saved his job - for probably at least another 2 years (or at least until Brady Quinn has started for a full year). Cleveland landed mainstays at the two most important positions on the field -- left tackle (Joe Thomas, #3) and quarterback (Brady Quinn, #22). Yes, the Browns gave up a ton (this year's 2nd round pick and their 2008 1st round pick) to move up and grab Quinn...but, it was a no-brainer (Charlie Frye is not the future for any franchise...it's that simple), as the Browns landed both players which they considered with the 3rd overall pick. Quinn will be the best QB from this draft (Russell doesn't impress me at all - he's got a cannon for an arm, but then again...so, does Culpepper and Leftwich). Now, Quinn is going back home and has an IMMENSE chip on his shoulder. Already deemed as an extremely dedicated worker, student of the game, and NFL ready...Quinn has something to prove to the league. Don't bet against him! And, let's not forget what Cleveland did in the 2nd round...by way of another trade with Dallas -- they acquired UNLV CB Eric Wright. Wright comes with baggage, but he is just as talented as any other corner in this draft. This kid flies (4.36 40-time speed)!! On defense, he's a risk-taker...but, also a "ball hawk". Cleveland's front office turned in the best Day 1 of any organization - and, it's really not even close.
  
• I love what the Bengals did (under the radar)...at #18 overall, they took Michigan CB Leon Hall. In recent years, the Bengals have recognized they desperately needed help in pass coverage. And, they have certainly addressed this area in the past two drafts, as they selected Jonathan Joseph (South Carolina) in last year's draft with the #24 overall pick. Hall and Joseph should make a deadly tandem for many years to come.


• Continuing on the theme which is the Bengals...they clearly aren't high on RB Chris Perry anymore. It was very surprising to see them draft Auburn RB Kenny Irons at #49 overall. I was shocked to see them not draft more defensive help with this pick. Irons won't help improve Cincinnati, at all, this upcoming season - as he'll enter the season third on the depth chart (Rudi Johnson doesn't get injured).


• I like what "my" Giants did in the first two rounds -- Texas CB Aaron Ross (at #20) and USC WR Steve Smith (at #51). At #20, it was either Ross or OT Joe Staley. Both CB and O-Line are obvious needs for the Giants...but, the Giants went the way of best value (and, I can't blame them). Let's get it out of the way...Aaron Ross is an f'n STUD...an animal!! Size, physicality, (straight-line) speed. In '06, the Giants secondary was horrendous. Ross is a home-run player...I liken him A LOT to Asante Samuel (but, with more size). Like Samuel, Ross is very instinctive...but, isn't a great tackler in the run-game and plays best in zone schemes. My take on Steve Smith is well documented (see Friday's blog). He is going to be PERFECT alongside Plaxico Buress. Smith is your ideal #2 wideout (look no further than what he did at USC in this role). Somewhere, Eli Manning is partying tonight! Although I admittedly don't know all that much about Penn State DT Jay Alford (taken with the #81 overall pick), I can't say I'm enamored with the pick. By all accounts, Alford is clearly undersized and only a one-gap prospect.


• Granted the Jets (because they twice traded up today) only have/had two picks in the first six rounds...they made the most of these two picks. They are both phenoms! At #14, they moved up to grab stud CB Darrelle Revis. I sweat this kid - his talent is out of this world. Big, athletic, and absolutely sticks...will excel in zone coverage! At #47 overall, the Jets landed themselves another big-time talent in Michigan LB David Harris (solid in nearly every aspect). Jonathan Vilam alongside Harris...oh my God - that is a devastating combination for years to come! Harris could play either ILB or MLB.

More analysis to follow on Sunday...

Today's Sleepers...Future NFL Stars

• John Beck, QB (BYU): This guy is a future stud. If you're looking for the next potential Tom Brady in this draft, Beck is your man. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Brady Quinn (much more than JaMarcus "Culpepper" Russell)...but its Beck's intangibles which will (someday) lead him to stardom. There is not a single pass Beck cannot complete. When in the pocket, Beck is as smooth as they come. He displays a Bledsoe-like release with tremendous accuracy, to boot. Bottom line...he's an Offensive Coordinator's dream.
• Steve Smith, WR (USC): While Dwayne Jarrett stole the headlines out in Hollywood for the past 3 years, Steve Smith will be the better NFL wideout (I promise you this). Smith is your prototypical possession receiver - he defines this term. Very, very quick. Great route runner. Great hands. Dedicated worker - been described as a "grinder". Think Troy Brown while in his prime, but with a MUCH greater ceiling. POLISHED PLAYMAKER!

Remember these names (I'm never wrong)....