NFL Draft review
It’s still amazing to me that a player draft draws as much attention as the NFL Draft does. It’s probably just more tangible evidence that the NFL is indeed more popular than MLB. I go back to it often, but I quote Howie Long from his HOF-induction speech, “Baseball is America’s Pasttime - but football is America’s Passion.”
Naturally, there is no shortage of opinions on how the weekend went for individual teams.
Here’s Yahoo’s analysis of each team’s draft:
The NFC:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-nfcdraftgrades043007&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
The AFC:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cr-nfcdraftgrades043007&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Your results may vary, and I’d be curious for thoughts - especially on each of your own teams.
My thoughts on the Patriots weekend are (a) character is clearly no longer an issue, and (b) they clearly didn’t like the players in this year’s draft. First, regarding (a): they draft the Miami safety who fired a weapon outside his campus apartment. In fairness, he was defending himself and a friend who’d been attacked by a third party brandishing a weapon - and indeed no charges were filed, as he was deemed to be acting in self-defense. Then he was one of the guys in the FIU game that was videotaped stomping (with cleats, of course) on a fallen FIU player - for which he served a one-game suspension. As with most Miami players, he’s immensely talented. To his credit, he’s taken responsibility for his actions rather than blaming The Man, or the circumstances, or the planetary alignment, or whatever. At his press conference, Belicheck basically said, “We all make mistakes. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”… or something like that. Okay, I’m happy to give a college kid a chance to prove himself in a professional setting - specifically one who stands up and faces the music for a few instances of poor judgment.
But… what the hell is Randy Moss doing in a Patriot uniform? I posted separately on this, but I’m still pissed off. Predictably, the Pats had him restructure his contract so that they’d only be on the hook for $3 million this year if/when he’s cut for behavior-related issues. Fine. And given how the Pats viewed the “talent” in this draft (more on that in a moment), a fourth-round pick may be an even lesser deal than it would be in most years. Again, fine. But unlike Merriweather, Randy Moss is long past college-age. His professional years (much like his pre-professional years) are littered with incidents revolving around serious attitude issues - and to my knowledge, Moss takes little to no responsibility in pretty much every single case.
Let me be clear: Randy Moss is *not* Corey Dillon. Anyone who thinks they’re one in the same just isn’t paying attention. To anyone paying attention, Moss takes plays off *every* game… heck, *every* quarter… actually, *every* offensive series (or so it seems). Why is that going to change now? Just because Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour and Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck are yelling at him? Really? Corey Dillon *never* took a play off in Cincy, regardless of how frustrated and pissed off he was - at the team, or certain individuals. Just in case there was any doubt, Randy Moss freely admits that he takes plays off. I’d rather have TO than Randy Moss - cuz when the game starts, at least I’d know that I’d get 100% from TO the entire game.
Roughly a decade ago, they drafted a kid out of Nebraska named Christian Peter in the middle rounds. Myra Kraft (Bob’s wife) found out there were rape/sexual abuse charges against him, and the Patriots ended up dropping him - citing “character issues”. We consistently hear how much character guys like Brady, Harrison, and Seymour bring to the locker room - and Bob Kraft isn’t shy about telling us how important it is to management. Drafting Brandon Merriweather confident that he made a few bad choices but is generally a good person (who could be a great football player, of course) is one thing - but bringing in arguably one of the biggest character-issue guys in the league? I don’t like it.
Now, onto (b) above: The Patriots had three draft choices on Day One, and made one selection. They turned their second first-rounder into a first-rounder next year and fourth-rounder this year (which they then dealt for Moss). They turned this year’s third-rounder into a third-rounder next year and a seventh-rounder next year.
They did a lot of drafting on Day Two, partially because they were not allowed to trade all the compensatory picks they had been awarded (seemingly all in the sixth round for some reason). Maybe one or two guys from their Day Two draft haul stick with the team a few years. More likely, they’re training camp fodder.
The Patriots were very active (early) in free agency this year for two reasons: (1) They liked some of the guys available - via FA or trade. And (2) they did not like many of the guys available early in the draft. Wes Welker was effectively their second-round pick and Randy Moss their fourth-round pick. No compensation necessary for Adalius Thomas (just a lot of cash), nor for Stallworth, Washington, or Morris.
Overall, via draft, free agency, and trade, it does seem like the Pats have done a pretty good job of addressing their needs heading into 2007 training camp. They will certainly not be lacking for wide receivers, with something like 8 or 9 officially under contract at this point (depending on whether Troy Brown returns or not).
For the record, I didn’t like the Donte Stallworth acquisition either, although right now, he looks better than Randy Moss. Yes, I understand both were relatively low-risk, potentially high-reward deals - given the “minimal” guaranteed money (both about $3 million) and the obvious talent. I just don’t expect either to contribute much of anything to the Patriots now or in the future. Perhaps I’m wrong. Time will tell.
Okay, I’m done now.
May 1st, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I thought Merriweather was a great pick. Miami guys seem to work out well in the NFL despite character issues in college. Ray Lewis dropped pretty far in the 1st round due to an issue as well. I agree with Cliffy that there is a huge difference between a guy with off the field issues and on the field issues. One scout said that he could tell whether or not Moss was involved in a play simply by watching his body language coming out of the huddle. That is pathetic.
As for the Packers, I love their draft. The one thing the Ted Thompson does exceptionally well is draft. Most pundits say that TT reached in the first round for Harrell, but I disagree. Had he not been hurt his senior year, he would have been a very high top 10 pick (maybe #4). Biceps injuries are not career threatening, and he showed in his workout that he was fully recovered. Going into the draft, the “needs” were S, RB, WR, but Thompson took a run stuffing DT because he was the best player by far on the board. Most of Packer Nation was against the pick, but would they really have rather had Robert Meachum? First rounds are for taking the best available player, and what team can’t use a stud DT? Former 6th round pick Corey Williams is that good? Really?
I was glad that Marshawn Lynch was taken before the Packers had a chance to take him. The one thing that I think is very clear is that you do not need a top top running back to succeed in the zone blocking scheme, so wasting a lot of cap room on a Travis Henry or a high pick is not optimizing resources.
The Packers drafted 2 Va Tech players, so I am extatic about that. Aaron Rouse was projected to be a first round pick had he come out after his Junior year, but he decided to stay in school. 2 years ago, Va Tech graduated virtually all of their leaders and Rouse came back in order to hold the defense together. He comes from a broken home, and his father has been in jail since he was very young, so he sacrificed a lot by not entering last years’ draft. Needless to say, I will be purchasing a Rouse jersey post haste.
TT has hit on many second day picks, and I think he got a steal in the 5th round with Va Tech receiver David Clowney. Had Va Tech had a college level QB last year, he would have scored double digit TDs, but Glennon was so pathetic last year, that he overthrew/underthrew Clowney several times. Allen Barbre is the type of Small school player that TT has done a great job in identifying (Missouri Southern State??). He gives the team protection against a Chad Clifton injury.
Anyone see Rutgers play last year? Lenard (the fullback) got all the press, but Clark Harris made several huge plays last year, especially in the bowl game. DeShawn Wynn, the RB from Florida is a head case, but maybe lasting to the 7th round is the kick in the ass he needs…..
all in all very happy
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Well explained - but one question: Who’s your RB this year? Or more to the point, what’s the pool of available options (as things currently stand)?
May 2nd, 2007 at 2:52 pm
They did draft a running back in the second round (Bernard Jackson) out of Nebraska. He is said to be very comparable to Ahman Green. Once I wish they would compare a player not based solely on their color or alma mater. He is said to have good hands (former wide receiver) but was injured a lot during college. Packers will likely have the dreaded RBBC with Jackson, Morency, and Noah Herron. Needless to say Gamble’s Gurus will be steering clear of the GB running back situation next year.
When Green was hurt last year, Herron and Morency filled in fine. Morency had 100 yards against the Eagles and Herron, the third down back had 20-106 yards against the Rams. (He only had 17 carries the rest of the year.) There was no reason to overpay for Ahman Green, who is now on the wrong side of 30.
May 2nd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
So… you’re *happy* that GB’s first two picks in this draft both have injury histories? Curious.
That said, similar concerns with Ahman Green coming out of Nebraska, and he had a nice run for a few years there (including the year my brother-in-law got him and Deuce McAlister with his first two draft choices, before picking up Brian Westbrook off waivers in his rookie year, en route to coasting to the FF title on the shoulders of those three combining for like 40-50 FF pts per week). Point being, is he worth a late round flier in case he emerges? Sure, sure… plenty of time to see what happens before the draft, given that minicamps haven’t even started yet - much less actual training camp - but it’s never to early to consider all options. After all, as reigning champs, we now teams are going to come hard at us *every* week - making it very difficult to successfully repeat. You know how that goes.