My Top 8 NFL Draft Observations

 

1.  The Cleveland Browns made out like bandits in the first round getting two players who were projected to be in the top five.  The Browns took Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas, with the third pick and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who slipped to the 22nd pick.  The Browns gave up a first round pick next year, which could turn out to be a top five pick, to the Cowboys for Quinn.  Coach Romeo Crennel, assistant coaches and management can't worry about next year.  They need to think about now and hopefully Quinn, Thomas and the rest of the draft will help them move in a positive direction. 

 

 Not caught up in the NFL Draft hype, Thomas and his family went fishing on Lake Michigan Saturday.

 

2.  Watching the draft on ESPN Saturday, all I heard was JaMarcus Russell 'CAN THROW SIXTY-FIVE YARDS IN THE AIR FROM ONE KNEE!'  I remember a few years ago the NFL draft analysts were beaming about another quarterback who could do that.  Kyle Boller.  I remember watching the video of Boller throwing from the 50 yard line over the goal post.  I was in awe, I'll admit it.  But guess what?  I'm not a draft analyst.  I also know that doesn't make a quarterback.  Please lord, don't compare Rusell to Boller. Russell is 6'5 with a combination between a healthy Daunte Culpepper and Vince Young, NOT Kyle Boller. 

 

 65 YARDS IN THE AIR FROM ONE KNEE?  TAKE HIM!!!

 

On Saturday, new Raiders coach Lane Kiffin gave up a fourth round pick for a solid quarterback to help groom Russell in Josh McCown and ex-USC All-American WR Mike Williams.  The Raiders will be better next year.  Maybe not playoffs good, but maybe 6-7 wins.  Their defense is already ready for the playoffs and it will take the offense another couple years to get there. 

 

3.  Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen did something that he hasn't done, well...in like two years.  He drafted a wide receiver in the first round with Calvin Johnson.  Yes, we all know Johnson is the best player in the draft.  Eh.  Yes, we know Johnson has everything you need (speed to burn, HUGE hands, smart, etc) to be the best wide receiver in the NFL for the next ten years.  Eh.  We also know this is the Lions.  No offensive line.  No quarterback.  The Lions took the best player available, exactly did what they are supposed to be doing, but when there are two glaring needs starting them right in the face (quarterback and offensive line), you need to take one of them.  Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn were right there to make them a better team next year.  Guess what?  Lions aren't moving up until they get a QB and a better offensive line.  Period.

 

 I personally want to see the Lions surround Calvin Johnson with talent, because he is spectacular.

 

4.  The Miami Dolphins surprised everybody on Saturday.  They have quarterback problems.  I know it, you know it, the world knows it.  Daunte Culpepper may never get back to where he once was in Minnesota (that's his words, not mine).  They are supposed to trade for the Chiefs Trent Green.  Has that happened yet?  No.  It could fall through and they could not have a QB at all.  So guess what?  Just draft a solid QB in Brady Quinn. Instead they took a wide receiver and an injured one at that.  Ted Ginn out of Ohio State broke his foot celebrating a touchdown in the national championship game and hasn't been the same since (and now might be out 2-4 months).  Oh yeah, that's worth the ninth pick in the draft.  Dolphins fan were not happy when new Coach Cam Cameron announced they had taken Ginn.  Good luck making Dolphins fans happy Coach.

 

5.  The Houston Texans with the 10th pick in the first round took Louisville defensive lineman Amobi Okoye.  The story about the Nigerian Okoye is an amazing one.  His family moved to America when he was one.  His mother worked as a principal at an elementary school and brought Amobi with her.  She sat him in a first-grade classroom when he was 2 1/2 and he learned to read and write.  He tested into high school when he was 12, graduated at 16 and went to Louisville.  Now at 19, he is the youngest player ever drafted by the NFL.  Okoye's upside is out of this world and he can only get better.  The Texans defense looks to be set for years to come with last year's No. 1 pick, Mario Williams, last year's second round pick and defensive rookie of the year, DeMeco Ryans at linebacker and now Okoye.  The Texans might actually stop the Colts on a drive or two this coming fall. 

 

 A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss.

 

6.  As SportsIllustrated.com's NFL Draft website is titled, the New England Patriots are Not Standing Pat.  Bill Belichick is not about to let the Tom Brady era just slip away.  By grabbing Randy Moss from the Raiders for a fourth round pick, the Patriots have added now four receivers this offseason.  Wes Walker in a trade with Miami, Donte' Stallworth and Kelly Washington as free agents and now Moss.  Also with the addition of defensive tackle Adelius Thomas from Baltimore in the offseason, New England used nearly all of their picks to help shore up the defense.  What does all of this mean to the rest of the NFL and more notably the Colts?  The Pats will be ready come next year to take back what has been there's three times this decade.  The Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

 

7.  I love ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, don't get me wrong.  I remember back in November.  Ohio State had just beaten Michigan to secure a place in the national title game.  Herbstreit then blurted out something that has stuck in my mind for the last six months.  'THE CLEVELAND BROWNS NEED TO TAKE TROY SMITH WITH THEIR FIRST PICK TO SOLIDIFY THE QUARTERBACK POSITION IN CLEVELAND FOR YEARS TO COME!!!'  Yeah, what?  Smith is, what, 5'9?  I know he's not the 6'1 he is listed at, I can promise you that.  Heisman Trophy winner Smith went with the last pick in the fifth round to the Baltimore Ravens.  Smith will get to learn from a great in Steve McNair, but can he be a starting quarterback in the NFL?  Only time will tell.  But Herbie...he wasn't worth the No. 3 pick in the draft.  You should know that.

 

8.  The groan you heard when the Packers selected Tennessee defensive lineman Ustin Harrell with the 16th pick in the draft was from the state of Wisconsin.  We knew the Pack needs help on defense...like, everything except linebacker.  Brett Favre isn't going to be around for much longer.  We want to see some help offensive help in the first round.  The preferred pick, RB Marshawn Lynch out of california, was picked by the Bills earlier in the first round.  I understand the Green Bay brass didnt want to reach for Miami tight end Greg Olsen or any of the solid wide receivers they could get farther down the line.  From all indications though, Harrell was a stretch.  He was projected late first, early second round, but Harrell is a monster and should definitely help shore up the line.  The Packers did fill a couple of needs with a running back, Brandon Jackson out of Nebraska, and a wide receiver, James Jones out of San Jose State in the third round.  The Packers also got help at Safety later in the third round by taking Aaron Rouse out of Virginia Tech.

 

Sidenotes:

     ** - The 49ers are big winners.  By trading for Seahawks WR Darrell Jackson, and drafting two great players in the first round to fill needs (OT Joe Staley Central Michigan and LB Patrick Willis out of Mississippi), San Francisco could be in the running for the NFC West very soon.

     ** - By drafting Michael Bush (not the Edgewood tennis player, the Louisville running back), the Raiders have a backfield worth noting.  Lamont Jordan was back there last year, but by grabbing Dominic Rhodes from the Colts and now Bush, the Raiders might give Russell and/or McCown a sporting chance come fall.  Or maybe Robert Gallery could get his lazy butt a jump rope and help the team out.  Talk about a waste.

     ** - We Packer fans know about Justin Harrell now, but I am sorry, Favre really missed out.  No Marshawn Lynch.  No Ted Ginn.  No Robert Meachem.  None of the elite DB's.  Harrell best become all world and not Jamal Reynolds.  You remember him right?  First round defensive lineman out of Florida State.  Yeah, talk about awful.

     ** - Well, so much for being a fan of Adrian Peterson anymore.  My Sooner was drafted by the Vikings with the 7th pick Saturday and I never want to see him again.  Kidding.  Sorta.  I have always talked about buying his jersey when he gets to the League.  I am NOT buying that one.

 

 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!