NFL Combine/Draft

[marnold]

Well, my Lions hold the #1 pick and at this point their choices seem to be Georgia QB Matt Stafford, Baylor OT Jason Smith, Virginia OT Eugene Monroe, or Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry. I think Andre Smith is pretty much entirely out of the picture having shown up to the combine overweight and then leaving early without telling anybody. Too many red flags. I guess it would figure that the Lions would have the #1 pick in a year where there is no clear #1.

Matt Stafford
The case for: The Lions have no quarterback--the most important position in football. They haven't had an all-pro at that position since Greg Landry in 1971. He's got a cannon for an arm--you can't teach that. He was in a pro-style offense at Georgia and got the most out of not a lot of other talent on that team. He could sit for a year behind Culpepper before being thrown to the wolves. Hey, he went to the same high school as Bobby Layne!
The case against: He can be inaccurate. Most pundits don't feel that he warrants the #1 overall pick.

Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe
The case for: Obviously the Lions need help in the trenches. An OT would be easier to sign than a QB.
The case against: If you're going to spend that kind of dough on an OT, he'd better be the second coming of Jonathan Ogden. They'd also have to move Jeff Backus to guard, but that certainly would not be the end of the world. Baylor (not sure about Virginia) ran a spread offense so there would be a question about adjustment to the pros, especially with run blocking--something the Lions desperately need.

Aaron Curry
The case for: The Lions have one LB worth writing home about (Ernie Sims). Curry would probably the easiest and the cheapest to sign. There's no denying his skill set.
The case against: Do you want to spend the #1 pick on a LB when the LB class is deep?

I have no idea which way the Lions will go. My personal feeling is that if you think that Stafford is all that, draft him. The Lions have five quarterbacks: Culpepper, Kitna, Orlovsky, Stanton, and Henson. If you combined their skill sets you might have a decent QB. None of those guys are ones you can build around. Ideally, they'd trade down, but with no consensus #1, who's going to want to pay the price to move up?

There is an argument that the Lions should wait until next year to get a QB since they will likely have a high pick again and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Texas' Colt McCoy and Florida's Tim Tebow will be coming out. The problem there is that all three of them run the spread instead of pro-style offenses. The jury is out on how Tebow will do in the pros--is he even a QB prospect? Bradford and McCoy put up gaudy numbers but nobody plays a lick of defense in the Big 12. Matt Cassel is out there too and the Lions have cap room, but I have difficulty believing that he is worth the cash that he'll have to be paid. Plus playing with a very good Patriots team is much different from playing with a crappy Lions team.

No matter what happens, the likelihood of disaster remains high.

 

[R_of_G]

Good assessments Marnold. If I were the Lions (and thank goodness I am not) and I were keeping the pick, of the three choices you list, I would take Curry. That should come as no surprise as I have said before I believe you build a defense first. I believe Curry to be the top LB coming out, and combined with Sims, that gives you a good start upon which to build a core. The Lions best bet at QB is to grab one of the competent free agents (Anderson or Leftwich) and build the rest of the team for awhile. I think it's a better option than throwing a rookie out there to get killed. Sometimes these rookies learn how to lose and they never forget.

Now, if I were the Lions and I were forced to pick a QB in this draft, it would be Sanchez. He's more impressive to me than Stafford in terms of his all around game. Both come out of pro-set offenses, but I think Sanchez excels in a few more areas than Stafford.

I am exceptionally curious as to how things pan out in this draft. I am hoping for a sign from the Jets that they won't blow it this time, but I remain unconvinced. Last year they passed on two future defensive superstars in order to draft the most over-rated player in the universe Vernon Gholston who I predict does not even make the team this year. For some reason, Mel Kiper has them drafting Percy Harvin. I think Harvin is a good receiver, but why the Jets would spend a first round pick on a receiver is beyond my comprehension. They don't even have someone to throw him the ball. I want a linebacker and at the 17 pick, there should still be several good ones to choose from.

 

[marnold]

My concern with Sanchez is that the scouts are saying that he doesn't have the arm strength. His game is the short to medium routes. That's perfect if you are looking for a West Coast style of offense. That's not been Linehan's MO. However, if the Lions would take Curry or someone else #1 and Sanchez would be there at #20 still . . .

 

[R_of_G]

However, if the Lions would take Curry or someone else #1 and Sanchez would be there at #20 still . . .

That's a near impossibility. I've been keeping a tiny bit of hope that he's still there at 17 because he'd be a great fit for the Jets, but I don't see him falling even that far especially with all the buzz around him at the combine. If for some reason he gets past 17, I can pretty much guarantee the Bucs will take him at 19. They are desperate for a QB and hoping that either Sanchez is still there or they will likely be taking Josh Freeman. Then again, come draft day, anything is possible. I just think a lot of teams are looking for QB's and after Ryan and Flacco's years, people may be more willing to give a shot to a rookie.

 

[Tynee]

No matter what happens, the likelihood of disaster remains high.

I know the feeling, My skins would have been the Eagles this year, if they could have just beaten the Bungals...

And don't even get me started on their stellar draft from last year.

 

[marnold]

There was some talk that the Lions might be going after Albert Haynesworth. I'm glad they didn't. The Skins signed him for 7 years for $100 million, including $32 million in guarantees in just the first 13 months alone. This for a guy who has missed 1/5 of his games due to injury and has 24 sacks in 7 seasons. His two big years came in, you guessed it, contract years. Smells like Shaun Rogers all over again.

At any rate, a columnist on the Detroit Free Press put up an article arguing for signing Haynesworth much like the Tigers overpaid for Pudge to begin their turnaround. While I didn't agree with that premise, he did bring up an interesting, tangential point. The popular opinion is that Aaron Curry is the safer pick for the Lions. Unfortunately the Lions have no defensive line to speak of. Hard for a LB to make an impact when the line is laying on their backs every play. In that respect, it is no different from putting a Matt Stafford behind a mediocre offensive line. Having said that, you could make the argument that Detroit's O line is better than their D line (how's that for damning with faint praise!) and Calvin Johnson can make you look really good in a big hurry.

If it comes to a QB, that's why I'd prefer Stafford over Sanchez. Stafford's got a cannon for an arm. It would be a lot of fun to see him chuck it a long distance to Calvin for years to come. I also think they could let Culpepper start this season since he already is familiar with Linehan's system. Let the kid learn the ropes and give him a start or two at the end of the season.

And yeah, I'm over-analyzing. And yeah, after an 0-16 year, I'm amazed I care this much about it.

 

[R_of_G]

I agree, Haynesworth at $100 million is too much. He may be the dominant lineman in the NFL right now, but he's also injury prone, having only played one full 16 game season in his career.

Speaking of free agency, ESPN is reporting the Jets have signed linebacker Bart Scott. I couldn't be more thrilled about that signing if true. You know how much I want a linebacker to build a defense around. Of all the free agents I wanted, Scott was the one I wanted most. It changes my thoughts on the draft, as it is now not necessary to draft a LB with pick #17. Now I'd like to see another stopper at CB to put on the other side of the field from Derrell Revis. In just two years, Revis has made huge strides and teams are throwing to his side of the field less and less. If we can get another CB like that to shore up the other side of the field, and then use the rest of the draft to get more bodies to play defense, I have high hopes that the Jets defense may be on its way to being Gang Green again in the next few seasons.

 

[Tynee]

I agree, Haynesworth at $100 million is too much.

=1 :thwap:

 

[marnold]

I am also totally not sold on Matt Cassel. He went 11-5 with a good team with a weak schedule. This one reeks of Scott Mitchell.

 

[just strum]

People here are crying the blues over Kellen Winslow, but I think it was a good move. He has been nothing but a problem for the Browns. A great talent, hard worker, but he screwed up on that motorcycle and has been the instigator of under mining the Browns organization.

Now, the draft choices are undisclosed, but if they are used wisely, it will be no loss in getting rid of Kellen Winslow.

 

[marnold]

Winslow has great talent, he just didn't always live up to it, especially not when you factor in his mouth. His dad was awesome. Maybe this move will be good for both franchises.

 

[marnold]

Oh and today the Lions traded Jon Kitna to the Cowboys for CB Anthony Henry. The Lions need all the secondary they can get. They probably would have had to release Kitna before next week so anything they get for him is gravy. I didn't think the Cowboys had spare CBs to be giving away!

 

[just strum]

Oh and today the Lions traded Jon Kitna to the Cowboys for CB Anthony Henry. The Lions need all the secondary they can get. They probably would have had to release Kitna before next week so anything they get for him is gravy. I didn't think the Cowboys had spare CBs to be giving away!

Ah, Anthony Henry, the CB the Brown's were sorry they lost to Dallas. I'm a little surprised too that they would trade him.

Another surprise, Matt Cassel going to Kansas City along with Mike Vrabel for a second round pick?

I guess that's why I'm not in the front office making decisions, because these don't make a whole lot of sense to me.

 

[R_of_G]

From a USF alum's perspective, it's good news that Henry is leaving the Cowboys as it means that Mike Jenkins will very likely start this season as one of the two full-time starters. Love a team or hate a team (and I despise the Cowboys) I always root for the former Bulls to perform well so it will be nice to see Jenkins as a starter. I still question the Bucs selecting Aqib Talib over Jenkins in last year's draft.

I guess the big news today is Cassel to the Chiefs. With a team that bad, we shall certainly see if Cassel is as good as his numbers or if that can be chalked up to his supporting cast in New England.

And in Jets news, the Jets have acquired CB Lito Sheppard from the Eagles. So the two things I most wanted for the Jets this offseason were a dominant middle linebacker and a quality cover corner. With Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard, they took care of that in less than 24 hours. Now they appear to have their sites set on Baltimore safety Jim Leonhard. That would be a nice trifecta to pull off if they can. Safety is a position at which the Jets can use all the help they can get.

Oh, and as my NFC team is the Bucs, I have to say I am cautiously optimistic about Winslow. He has all the upside potential in the world if he could just keep his head about him and not be a troublemaker. He's definitely got the potential to dominate at his position.

 

[just strum]

This may be the reason for the Kansas City move from a Kansas City perspective. They may be trading away their #3 pick and this puts them in a better position to gamble. They could load up on draft choices.

Oh, and R of G, we both agree that no player can carry a team, so if KC doesn't have a supporting cast on both sides of the ball, we know there is little chance for Matt Cassel to do a repeat performance.

 

[marnold]

By the by, R of G, the Cassel trade also dramatically increases the likelihood of your J-E-T-S being able to draft Sanchez.

 

[just strum]

Let's see how the trades change the mock draft.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28778620/

 

[R_of_G]

By the by, R of G, the Cassel trade also dramatically increases the likelihood of your J-E-T-S being able to draft Sanchez.

Possibly. Assuming the Lions take Stafford, I still think there are a couple of other teams from 2-16 looking for a QB, but I see it as a possibility. If he is there at 17, it would be an interesting pick for the Jets to make. I wonder who would become odd man out. Clemens never really got a chance and Ratliff and Ainge have no experience at all, though I think Ratliff could be quite good. I'd rather give him the shot this year and draft on D with #17. If it doesn't work out, there's next year to draft Colt McCoy.

 

[marnold]

There were serious rumblings that there was a three-way trade being worked on between Detroit, Denver, and Tampa Bay that among other things would have sent Jay Cutler to Detroit. I wouldn't mind seeing that at all.

 

[R_of_G]

There were serious rumblings that there was a three-way trade being worked on between Detroit, Denver, and Tampa Bay that among other things would have sent Jay Cutler to Detroit. I wouldn't mind seeing that at all.

My understanding was that it was Detroit/Denver/New England and then Tampa Bay/Denver/New England when Detroit couldn't make the deal. Both three-ways had to have included Denver and New England and both would have had Denver getting Cassel, New England getting a pick and either Detroit or the Bucs getting Cutler.

It tells me two things, one, Detroit ain't sold on Stafford quite yet.

Two, some team better put a package together for Jay Cutler because obviously the new Denver coach is an idiot. Coming into Denver, that's the one position you have locked down, but apparently not with McDaniels as coach. Instead, Denver's priority is to sign a 35 year old CB to a 5 year deal. Nothing against Brian Dawkins, but 35 year olds shouldn't get 5 year deals.

All I know is that I would gladly take Jay Cutler on the Jets or the Bucs right now. He has the experience, and his arm strength is something I haven't seen since Jim Plunkett. Cutler makes throws that shouldn't even be possible.

 

[marnold]

All I know is that I would gladly take Jay Cutler on the Jets or the Bucs right now. He has the experience, and his arm strength is something I haven't seen since Jim Plunkett. Cutler makes throws that shouldn't even be possible.

My thoughts exactly. The Lions may or may not be sold on Stafford, but they actually know what Cutler can do in the pros. I heard one rumbling that it would cost Detroit both of their #1s, which is too high for a team with so many needs, IMO. However, I would trade, say, the #1 overall and a third or something.

 

[R_of_G]

My thoughts exactly. The Lions may or may not be sold on Stafford, but they actually know what Cutler can do in the pros. I heard one rumbling that it would cost Detroit both of their #1s, which is too high for a team with so many needs, IMO. However, I would trade, say, the #1 overall and a third or something.

I don't know that it would even cost that much. I think the #1 alone should be enough, or even the later first round pick and the third rounder. I suppose it depends on what Denver is looking for. With the deals involving New England, Denver was getting Cassel, who, although we both still have our doubts, is very familiar with the system McDaniels wants to run. Now that Cassel is out of the equation, I wonder if Denver would deal Cutler at all with no other option at QB. Of course, now they have a pissed off Cutler to deal with who knows he almost got traded to the Lions yesterday, and then almost to the Bucs, and from what I read, Minnesota was in the running briefly the other day before they picked up Sage Rosenfels.

 

[marnold]

Here's to hoping they ticked him off lots!

 

[R_of_G]

I'll second that! Here's hoping he somehow ends up a Jet, Buc or Lion.

 

[R_of_G]

It appears from yesterday's stories that Cutler is extremely ticked off at the Broncos. Apparently they're trying to get him to come in and talk to them and he's refused and gone public with that refusal and his displeasure with the team. The team has suggested Cutler was never on the trading block, only that other teams asked the Broncos about his availability. Cutler is essentially calling them liars. I think Cutler has every right to be angry and I hope he pushes it further and demands a trade (like to the Jets or the Bucs).

Speaking of the Bucs, they signed former Giants RB Derrick Ward. That is a good pick up for the Bucs. They desperately need a dependable RB since Cadillac Williams is not panning out. I wouldn't call him a bust because he ws performing well, if not consistently, before his injury, but his injury was severe and he's not the same fearless runner he was before. With a healthy Earnest Graham and Ward, the Bucs should have a decent 1-2 combo in the backfield.

 

[R_of_G]

Gang Green Strikes Again.

Today the Jets signed their third defensive free agent. This time they've signed former Ravens safety Jim Leonhard to a three year deal. With the signing of Lito Sheppard to play the opposite corner from Derrell Revis, the signing of Leonhard to play safety with Kerry Rhodes makes me very pleased about the prospects for the Jets pass defense this coming season. Now I'd like to see them work on the pass rush, the weakest part of their defense last season.

I had high hopes for the building of a defense under Rex Ryan and so far the coach is off to a great start. Scott and Leonhard have already proven they can excel in Ryan's defensive schemes and Lito Sheppard has proven he can excel anywhere.

 

[R_of_G]

So long T.O.

ESPN reports the Cowboys have released Terrell Owens. I can't say I'm surprised. As I've said before, the guy has all the physical talent in the world, but he is a complete head-case and one of the biggest ego-maniacs in sports. T.O. is still young enough to be productive, but if I were a GM I wouldn't personally bring him into my team's locker room. He has proven with three teams that he will always be a distraction and will always put his own interests ahead of those of his team. I am sure he will turn up somewhere though, he always does.

On a positive note, Ray Lewis agreed to a 3 year deal with the Ravens. It will be nice to see the greatest Raven ever play his entire career in Baltimore.

 

[marnold]

I wonder if Jerry Jones is going to apologize to Ed Werder.

The Lions free agent moves are the right ones, going for middle-of-the-road free agents, but it also makes me sad because it serves as a reminder of just how little talent there was on this team. Hopefully next year they can be mediocre.

 

[R_of_G]

I think the Cowboys are in the same situation as the Raiders, which is to say they won't see success again until they are under new ownership. Both Jones and Davis are massive egomaniacs that refuse to see that they know very little (if anything) about the way football is played in the modern era. Ownership should sign the checks and leave the football decisions to the football personnel. That is not to say I disagree with the release of Owens, just questioning the ludicrous way Jones treated the press when they asked the question.

As for the Lions, believe me, as a Jets fan, I feel your pain. I know what it's like to look forward to mediocrity.

So what do you think the signings of Cassel and Houshmanzadeh mean for the draft? The so-called expert Mel Kiper had the Chiefs taking Sanchez and the Seahawks taking Michael Crabtree. Now that the Chiefs have a starting QB and the 'Hawks have a superstar WR, those picks seem unneeded (I think Seattle needs a QB to throw to Houshmanzadeh or what was the point of signing him?). I actually see both teams going for defense now which means I think one will take Curry and one will take Raji (I expect the Rams to take Jason Smith).

 

[just strum]

Okay, R of G, what did we get in Cleveland?

All former Jets

David Bowens - 4 years, $7 mil back-up

CJ Mosley

Hank Poteat

Safety Abram Elam possible to sign in the next couple of days.

I don't know any of these guys. So the question is, are we cleaning out the Jets third string?

$7 mil as a backup??? Hell, anyone need a back-up musician for $750K per year (bargain)? You can just turn my amp down and no one will know, except during my screaming solos.

Edit: Also looking at Green Bay's Jarrett Bush - Special Teams player.

Look out, we are talking Super Bowl, Baabbbyyyyyy.

Oh, sorry, I meant Toilet Bowl