The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Is that what the real theme is in Green Bay after the NFL draft? In this, the Packers used to picks on some decent quarterbacks in Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn. But wait---wasn't the proverbial crown already given to Aaron Rodgers? Isn't he the heir apparent to Brett Favre? What in the name of Bart Starr is going on?
Well, it's not time to panic, folks---yet. While the Packers have every confidence that Rodgers should be able to get the job done, the picks of Brohm and Flynn can merely be looked at as insurance policies at this point. First, in terms of injuries, the Packers got an anomaly in having Favre, who would play if his arms were cut off. In the bitter cold of Green Bay, not all quarterbacks will be as durable, so simply for that situation, getting two solid backups was not a bad choice. And let's face it--Rodgers has not really proven himself as a starting quarterback that can play for one of the most storied franchises, so the better to get more help if indeed he goes the way of so many QBs that have been given the reigns and then ran away screaming once they were on the field.
The biggest question is Brohm--who actually is a wonderful fit for the Green Bay offensive situation--in the confidence that the Packers' organization really has in Rodgers. While of course you would never want to pick a QB that doesn't fit the offensive scheme, Brohm really does look ready-made for this, but I will question the pick of Flynn--he doesn't seem to be as good a fit. But at this point, it is Rodgers' job to lose, and my guess is that he'll start opening day. But I'll also bet that by the time the frozen tundra has set in cheeseheadland, that Brohm may be slinging TDs. Just a hunch.
Picture Source: AP
TAGS: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Brian Brohm, Football, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Matt Flynn, Nfc, Nfl Draft, Packers, Quarterbacks
POST TOOLS: 
COMMENTS ( 0 )
Michael Vick continues to get the hits on him even as he's sitting in jail. The irony is if anyone is actually surprised that there is still more fallout from the fallen QB's situation? My short answer is no. The Royal Bank of Canada is happy that they received a summation for over 2.5 million that has been determined that Vick now owes RBC in light of his "dismissal" from the NFL, a nuance in the loan that they had given Vick long before the legal troubles set in. (I guess that's why they have those contract, eh?)
The question is, will they ever see a dime of that money? Probably, but my guess is that it will have to be in the way of what deadbeats have to repay debts; settling, garnishing, holding future earnings, etc. I am sure Vick's money is hard at work with accountants and financial guys who will probably spin a way not unlike O.J. Simpson saying "Hey, I don't have any more money, it's allllllllllllll gone" (Yet we have seen Simpson out on lavish golf courses and the guy obviously looks like he hasn't missed a meal in a while).
The Vick saga continues, and while this really probably is about as thought-provoking as what happened last night on Masterpiece Theatre, it still goes to show the sad and life lesson that people should continue to take from Vick and be one of those eye-opening scary stories that parents should tell their youngsters....Ok, maybe that was a bit much, but you get my point.
TAGS: Football, Lawsuits, Loans, Michael Vick, Nfl, Oj Simpson, Rbc, Royal Bank Of Canada
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
Dominic Rhodes was certainly a hot commodity following the Super Bowl in which the Indianapolis Colts thrashed the Chicago Bears a couple of years ago. Arguably the person who should have received the MVP with his performance, he took the momentum and the cash to Oakland, where he had hoped to get more carries alongside Lamont Jordan and make more of a name for himself after it was clear that the Colts would be making Joseph Addai into a superstar.
But what happened was actually the opposite; Rhodes went to a team that had no offensive line and he couldn't get things going. Along with Justin Fargas' arrival as a solid back, Rhodes had both on-field struggles and off-field issues (DUI). It was obvious that he wasn't going to be in a good situation again when the team drafted Darren McFadden in the first round of the 2008 draft.
So, what did he do? He went home. Rhodes signed a one year deal back with the Colts, who didn't exactly run roughshod in his absence, with Kenton Keith filling in nicely, but Rhodes obviously has the chops and chemistry that Keith was lacking as a newbie in the lineup (plus, Keith has had his own off the field troubles this offseason). It was a good move for both teams.
Picture Source: NFL.com
TAGS: Colts, Darren Mcfadden, Dominic Rhodes, Football, Free Agents, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Justin Fargas, Kenton Keith, Lamont Jordan, Nfl, Oakland, Oakland Raiders, Raiders
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
Perhaps I like just picking on the New England Patriots. Perhaps this is mostly based on the fact that the first "loser" step towards this title was losing one before it even began with the videogate scandal that I'm still skeptical that we'll ever know what happened with everything. But perhaps the Pats thought that even though they dropped the Super Bowl and a perfect season all at the same time, that signing Randy Moss and keeping much of their team intact meant they didn't have to have a good draft.
Trading down in the first round after they were supposed to have originally two in the first round before they lost the pick was bad enough, but then getting Jerod Mayo at #10 was way too early to get. I'm not saying that Mayo is not a decent pick overall, but they picked him waaaaaaaaaaaaay too early, in my opinion.
They did make a decent pick in getting Terrence Wheatley to fill their need for secondary, as his speed should help in terms of coverage. He's not really up to standards as far as size, but it was really in my eyes as a minor saving grace to their moves in the first round.
Picture Source: AP
TAGS: Football, Jerod Mayo, Nfl, Nfl Draft, Randy Moss, Terrence Wheatley
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
So, should the saying goes, whatever Ben wants, Ben gets? While there may have been more pressing needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger was very vocal about needing another big-name receiver to throw to, and so the Steelers got a steal in Limas Sweed from Texas. Yes, he had an injury and maybe he's not the prototypical speedster, but he is a big, rangy fella who will be able to bring immediate production to the Steelers, and that's just what Big Ben wants.
But the biggest pick for the Steelers was probably Rashard Mendenhall, who they drafted in the first round. Mendenhall was supposed to go between 14-17 but surprisingly did not, and the Steelers saw the golden opportunity and grabbed him. Yes, they still have Willie Parker, but Parker has some questions of durability, and Mendenhall fits exactly into the "mold" of Parker in terms of being a physical runner in between the tackles. He may not be immediate impact player that Sweed can be, but his long-term prospects have star written all over him.
They took a chance on Dennis Dixon and his injury plagued senior year, but this guy is dynamite and could very well fit into the throwback "slash" role that they had with Kordell Stewart and function much like Antwan Randle-El has (both were college quarterbacks). Overall, the Steelers had a great draft.
Picture Source: AP
TAGS: Antwan Randleel, Ben Roethlisberger, Dennis Dixon, Football, Kordell Stewart, Limas Sweed, Nfl, Nfl Draft, Pittsburgh, Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
The Giants had some specific needs they wanted to address in the NFL draft, but one of the biggest things that kept on distracting from the task at hand was the uncertainty of Jeremy Shockey's future, and the New Orleans Saints just kept on asking and asking about a trade. But--the Giants wisely did not bite, and didn't deal up or down in the first round like so many teams did.
But even though they didn't deal, they filled their needs almost immediately by getting swift safety Kenny Phillips as well as Terrell Thomas to really shore up their secondary. But--to me--their biggest coup was getting Mario Manningham from Michigan (pictured). Yes, there may be a bit of a character issue with Manningham, but he's no Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens with a big head--and he certainly did well in playing for a great team and reminded me of Desmond Howard the year he won the Heisman.
By getting these positions, not only are the Giants poised to continue to keep their spot as one of the league's top teams, but they are also positioning themselves for the future and rightly putting some "oldies" (veterans) on the ropes to perform--it's a win win for the team, and with Manningham, they get a possible two or maybe immediate slot receiver, and if in fact they do move Shockey, they should have someone to immediately step up production.
Picture Source: AP
TAGS: Desmond Howard, Football, Giants, Jeremy Shockey, Kenny Phillips, Mario Manningham, New York, New York Giants, Nfl, Nfl Draft, Terrell Thomas
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
Well, most people will say "Yeah! Duh! Of course the Miami Dolphins were a winner of the draft--they had the first pick!!" Well, as football fans should know, having the number one pick does really not mean anything in terms of guaranteeing success. But this draft had a little bit of a different feel--taking Jake Long was not a surprise at all, much in due part because of them signing him to a five-year deal even before the draft began. And considering that after the first draft rankings started that Long was at the top and he held that position throughout, if there's anything that is a sure bet, Long is darn near close to it.
The Dolphins had a lot of pressure to get a big-name quarterback like Matt Ryan in the first round instead of Long-and instead of following the hype, they went with practicality, and then followed it up by getting the man that Long protected at Michigan, Chad Henne. Playing for big-name Michigan and being successful, Henne reminds me of Tom Brady out of college and could be a draft steal.
Lastly, the Dolphins got a potential star in Clemson's Philip Merling, who had a first-round grade from scouts but fell because of a sports hernia injury. While the Dolphins had a miserable 2007, they certainly have some dreams now that they really were able to have a great draft through guru Bill Parcells.
TAGS: Bill Parcells, Chad Henne, Dolphins, Football, Jake Long, Matt Ryan, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Nfl, Nfl Draft, Philip Merling, Tom Brady
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
The Washington Redskins were one of the surprise teams of the 2007-08 campaign, and quarterback Jason Campbell was a pleasant surprise to 'Skins fans alike. When experts looked at the draft needs for the team, they pointed out that while Campbell had decent targets to throw to in Santana Moss and Antwan Randle-El, these guys are certainly on the way down in terms of productivity, and with Clinton Portis once again showing the flashes of brilliance he once did as a Bronco, it was certainly easier to target the offensive skill positions as needs.
And they did--with vigor. Garnering Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis, the Redskins may have had one of the best offensive drafts of any team and could end up having one of the best ones their team has ever had. Thomas is arguably the best receiver in the draft, and the fact that the Redskins traded their way out of the first round and still got him in the second is a head-scratcher, that's for sure. While Dustin Keller went in the first round as the first tight end taken, Davis has played on great offensive teams and still has made a name for himself, so Washington again--in my eyes--got a steal.
With division rivals Dallas and Philadelphia trying to improve their team in big ways along with the world champion New York Giants trying to ride on the momentum of having the title, the Redskins had to go big or stay home in the draft. And they went big--perhaps the biggest--of anyone. Mark my words--this draft will go down as a huge day in franchise history once all is said and done.
Picture Source: AP
TAGS: Antwan Randleel, Clinton Portis, Devin Thomas, Dustin Keller, Football, Fred Davis, Jason Campbell, Malcolm Kelly, Nfc East, Nfl, Nfl Draft, Redskins, Santana Moss, Washington, Washington Redskins
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
I know, I know, it's really impossible to be able to tell who really won and lost the draft until maybe several years down the line. But, initially, educated guesses can be made based on team needs, draft positions, and players that have certain skills for what the teams need--i.e. good or bad "fits". So, that being said, I am going to highlight this week the winners from the NFL draft and the losers next week. First up--the Kansas City Chiefs.
They took a huge risk in dealing all-pro defensive end Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings for draft picks, and then took advantage of the Atlanta Falcons picking Matt Ryan by plucking Glenn Dorsey from the ranks, who could very well end up being the best player in the draft in terms of overall impact. Then they went and got Branden Albert, who could arguably be the best offensive lineman in the draft. So, in just the first round alone, the Chiefs got two great players.
The Chiefs were already suspect at defensive line, and getting Dorsey will really help a ton; yes, he will be expected to immediately step up and he may not be absolutely huge his first year, but make no bones about it; he will do good things for this franchise, and Albert will give good protection to whomever the Chiefs have behind center.
Picture Source: AP
TAGS: Branden Albert, Chiefs, Football, Glenn Dorsey, Jared Allen, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Ryan, Nfl, Nfl Draft
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
Ok, honestly, I spent a lot of time trying to piece together different sources and ideas for players that each team could possibly be interested in for the NFL draft based on several different things throughout the "expert" analysis (and by no means am I saying that I am even close to an expert). But the thing is--why did it matter? I mean, seriously, with all of the action at the draft over two days, why even bother with prediction?
This draft featured 33 trades during it--a league record--and even meant that two teams, the Jets and the Browns, after a series of picks, eventually traded back picks to themselves. While they weren't exactly dramatic picks--both of these picks occurred in the three digit range--but it still was just another example of the wild and woolly world of the draft.
While some of the needs I highlighted for several of the teams were met in some way--the players themselves went all over the board. Of course, no mock draft on the internet--not a single one--probably got within 50-60% right even in the first round--and so while it is definitely fun to be able to look at these things and try to an estimate--with all of the stuff that actually happens in the draft, it's just something that people do overall--guessing. Even Mel Kiper.
TAGS: Browns, Cleveland Browns, Football, Jets, Mel Kiper, New York Jets, Nfl, Nfl Draft
POST TOOLS:
COMMENTS ( 0 )
ABOUT
Footblog.com
is a fantasy football blog authored by self-admitted fantasy football junkies.
EDITORS
Tim Gossett
LeRon S.
Evian C.
send wdis questions
contact Footblog
click here.
Share your wisdom
blog on Footblog
SYNDICATION
All feeds: click here.
DAILYPIXEL NETWORK
2010Vancouver.ca
Airport.ca
Archive.ca
BallPimp.ca
CityGuide.ca/CALGARY
Canuck.ca
Dailypixel.ca
Dial.ca
Engagements.ca
FluPandemic.ca
Footblog.ca
Forks.ca
Gadget.ca
Gimme.ca
Greetings.ca
Hell.ca
Hugg.ca
CityGuide.ca/KELOWNA
Lease.ca
Meme.ca
Naturopath.ca
PrimeMinister.ca
Profit.ca
RRSPS.ca
SearchEngine.ca
Stare.ca
Stylish.ca
Superwoman.ca
CityGuide.ca/TORONTO
Video.ca
VirtualReality.ca
Wager.ca
TAGS
Tag Cloud
DATE-BASED
May 2008 (6)
April 2008 (40)
March 2008 (29)
February 2008 (30)
January 2008 (27)
December 2007 (23)
November 2007 (26)
October 2007 (18)
September 2007 (18)
August 2007 (27)
July 2007 (13)
June 2007 (5)
May 2007 (1)
April 2007 (27)
March 2007 (11)
January 2007 (1)
November 2006 (2)
October 2006 (6)
September 2006 (10)
December 2005 (1)
November 2005 (4)
October 2005 (9)
February 2005 (5)
January 2005 (10)
December 2004 (2)
November 2004 (9)
October 2004 (22)
September 2004 (9)
July 2004 (25)
June 2004 (13)
SEARCH
| QB ver. 2.0 2007 | |||||||
| Pos. | Tick | Player | |||||
|
1.
|
|
P. Manning | |||||
|
2.
|
|
Brady | |||||
|
3.
|
|
Palmer | |||||
|
4.
|
|
Bulger | |||||
|
5.
|
|
Brees | |||||
|
6.
|
|
Romo | |||||
|
7.
|
|
Kitna | |||||
|
8.
|
|
McNabb | |||||
|
9.
|
|
Rivers | |||||
|
10.
|
|
Cutler | |||||
|
11.
|
|
Leinart | |||||
|
12.
|
|
Hasselbeck | |||||
|
13.
|
|
Young | |||||
|
14.
|
|
Favre | |||||
|
15.
|
|
A. Smith | |||||
|
16.
|
|
Roethlisberger | |||||
|
17.
|
|
Losman | |||||
|
18.
|
|
Delhomme | |||||
|
19.
|
|
Campbell | |||||
|
20.
|
|
E. Manning | |||||
| RB ver. 2.0 2007 | |||||||
| Pos. | Tick | Player | |||||
|
1.
|
|
Tomlinson | |||||
|
2.
|
|
S. Jackson | |||||
|
3.
|
|
Gore | |||||
|
4.
|
|
L. Johnson | |||||
|
5.
|
|
Addai | |||||
|
6.
|
|
Westbrook | |||||
|
7.
|
|
Parker | |||||
|
8.
|
|
Henry | |||||
|
9.
|
|
Alexander | |||||
|
10.
|
|
Rudi | |||||
|
11.
|
|
McGahee | |||||
|
12.
|
|
Bush | |||||
|
13.
|
|
T. Jones | |||||
|
14.
|
|
Jones-Drew | |||||
|
15.
|
|
Benson | |||||
|
16.
|
|
Maroney | |||||
|
17.
|
|
James | |||||
|
18.
|
|
Portis | |||||
|
19.
|
|
R. Brown | |||||
|
20.
|
|
Norwood | |||||
| WR ver. 2.0 2007 | |||||||
| Pos. | Tick | Player | |||||
|
1.
|
|
S. Smith | |||||
|
2.
|
|
C. Johnson | |||||
|
3.
|
|
Owens | |||||
|
4.
|
|
Holt | |||||
|
5.
|
|
Wayne | |||||
|
6.
|
|
R. Williams | |||||
|
7.
|
|
Fitzgerald | |||||
|
8.
|
|
Harrison | |||||
|
9.
|
|
T.J. Housh | |||||
|
10.
|
|
J. Walker | |||||
|
11.
|
|
Evans | |||||
|
12.
|
|
R. Moss | |||||
|
13.
|
|
Boldin | |||||
|
14.
|
|
Driver | |||||
|
15.
|
|
Colston | |||||
|
16.
|
|
Ward | |||||
|
17.
|
|
R. Brown | |||||
|
18.
|
|
R. Brown | |||||
|
19.
|
|
Edwards | |||||
|
20.
|
|
Burress | |||||
| TE ver. 2.0 2007 | |||||||
| Pos. | Tick | Player | |||||
|
1.
|
|
Gates | |||||
|
2.
|
|
Heap | |||||
|
3.
|
|
Shockey | |||||
|
4.
|
|
Gonzalez | |||||
|
5.
|
|
V. Davis | |||||
| PK ver. 2.0 2007 | |||||||
| Pos. | Tick | Player | |||||
|
1.
|
|
Vinatieri | |||||
|
2.
|
|
Graham | |||||
|
3.
|
|
Stover | |||||
|
4.
|
|
Gould | |||||
|
5.
|
|
Elam | |||||
| D/ST ver. 2.0 2007 | |||||||
| Pos. | Tick | Player | |||||
|
1.
|
|
Chicago | |||||
|
2.
|
|
Baltimore | |||||
|
3.
|
|
New Eng. | |||||
|
4.
|
|
San Diego | |||||
|
5.
|
|
Dallas | |||||
