First Day Recap and Second Day Preview

The NFL Draft completed it's first round last night in record time, allowing me to watch the end of Pens/Sens without distraction. While I don't like the NFL competing head-to-head against the NHL/NBA, they were competing anyway in the past. I love how this is spread out, allows for speculation and trades overnight. It's like the NHL Draft, without having all six other rounds going today and splitting the 2nd and 3rd from the rest. Here's some thoughts:

-I think we all knew the Rams would draft Sam Bradford because they felt like they couldn't pass on QB again. While Bradford could be a good player, if he doesn't work out, the Rams will continue to flounder. Ndamukong Suh was the best player in this draft and the Rams would have been better served to take him and then they would have their choice of Jimmy Clausen or Colt McCoy to open the second round tonight.

-The Lions in my eyes were the big winner by grabbing Suh and trading back in to take Jahvid Best at RB. Best adds to a team that is getting better in skill positions. The Lions have to now focus their future picks on adding to the offensive line so the skill players can be effective. Kind of like the Niners, who spend the first round drafting Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati, who join Joe Staley to put some youth and talent to a San Francisco line that was poor a year ago. Very good for a team that's the NFC West favorite, at least in my eyes.

-My other favorite picks of the night; Dallas trading up to grab Dez Bryant, though it duels as my least favorite pick since I didn't want the Cowboys to take him. Jermaine Greisham going to the Bengals who needed a TE in the worst way was good, and to be fair, picks 2-6 are all obvious and smart, particularly the Chiefs not overthinking and taking Eric Berry, who will dominate at safety for the next decade, in a league which a dominant safety has become key. Finally, the Steelers drafting Maurkice Pouncey at center will be the next coming of Dermontti Dawson for that franchise.

-My least favorite moves: Why did the Chargers jump to 12 to grab Ryan Mathews and the Eagles jump to 13 to take Brandon Graham. Both players could have been available further down in the first round. Also, the Jaguars could have traded down to take Tyson Alualu and should have. The fact that Tim Tebow was taken in the first round also is a move I don't like, plus the Broncos keep compiling these QB's.

As for tonight, the key will be who wants Colt McCoy and/or Jimmy Clausen and who will give up anything to get them. Personally, I like Clausen and the fact he was dropped to the second round will rid him of some cockiness that is perceived. I also like he played in an NFL-style offense under Charlie Weis, and before you bring up Brady Quinn, let's be fair, he had no chance to succeed in Cleveland, especially after they were dumb enough to resign Derek Anderson to that contract after his successful '07 season. Not to harp on Notre Dame guys, but I'm keen to watch were Golden Tate will go. He was better than you think and with Weis in Kansas City, perhaps there's a fit. You know the Chiefs need more skill players. Sergio Kindle is the other guy I'm looking at since he's a first round talent and whomever grabs him will be pleased, unless his injury issues are much more serious.

Before I finish, I must talk about the Giants draft pick Jason Pierre-Paul and the Jets grabbing Kyle Wilson. Both teams picked in places of strength and both were the right move. Rex Ryan loves his corners and Wilson will provide some insurance for Antonio Cromartie, in case he doesn't work out. Expect them to look for another pass rusher and offensive line help today. As for the Giants, Pierre-Paul looks like the best athlete in the draft. Everything I hear is that he has a great motor and all he needs is to learn technique and he'll be scary good. I'm pleased. Now the Giants need to look at the linebacker hole and Kindle and Sean Lee are who I'd want the Giants to get in the second round. They also should be looking at a DT and OL if both are off the board and in the third round.

Randomness While The Curse Of Walton Strikes Again

(Photo courtesy of www.cbc.ca)

-It continues for the Blazers as Greg Oden injured his knee Saturday night against the Rockets. Oden was a high draft pick, just like Bill Walton and Sam Bowie, and like them, continue to suffer through injuries. I don't have any record of saying that Kevin Durant was the better player, so you have to take my word. Oden was the safe pick that has been anything but safe, while Durant continues to improve in Oklahoma City. I feel bad for Portland fans, who are great and shouldn't be suffering like they do.

-I have to admit, Philly was the perfect place to end for Iverson. He gets to be welcomed with a conquering hero's return home and the Sixers have no dreams of being involved in free agency until 2012, so the team needs a reason to get people to show up, and that's AI.

-Some more NBA notes; congratulations Nets on you're first win and two of three now. Of course, their hurting their chances at John Wall with this new found winning ability. The Nuggets and Mavs seem to be the biggest challengers to the Lakers out West (I don't believe in the Suns staying power). The East has seen the Cavs float to the top, while the Hawks continue to remain among the contenders. Now only imagine if the Hawks had drafted Chris Paul and I should mention this every time I mention the Atlanta Hawks.

-I tweeted it before, now I link it here: Dan Wetzel's annual "Here's how you can do a College Playoff" is a tour de force. It touches on why the BCS sucks, who's involved with the sucking and how to replace it. Honestly, you can't say with fact that TCU and Cincinnati would be better than Texas and that Boise State is the worst of these unbeatens. Still, I was disgusted with the way Texas won that game, given the short field on a kickoff by Nebraska's second kicker, then almost the dumbest play in football history (yes, even dumber than Dan Orlovsky running out-of-bounds in his end zone) when Colt McCoy almost ran the clock out throwing the ball away before getting a reprieve (rightly) and winning the game on a field goal. Thus, the Longhorns get to go to Pasadena for the BCS title game. Let's hope this costs McCoy the Heisman.

-Speaking of the Heisman, the finalists are: Mark Ingram, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska's defensive tackle who had 4.5 sacks on Saturday. The fact Tebow is even going to New York says that too many voters did so before he spit the bit in Florida's loss to Alabama. I think McCoy should be written off because of the poor performance against Nebraska. My ballot would be 1. Suh 2. Ingram 3. Gerhart but I have a feeling McCoy will win because as I wrote at the start of the season, it's McCoy's turn to win, no matter who was better.

-Best thing about the weekend: Tim Tebow crying. Joins Sasha Vujacic and Adam Morrison as the greatest criers for all to mock. Now, I'm sure Tebow will be drafted, as a second round pick of the Lakers.

-I just can't quit you, Giants. Once again, I was ready to bury the 2009 N.Y. Giants, only they win a game that I don't expect them to and I'm reeled back in. If they beat the Eagles on Sunday, the Giants all of a sudden are in the drivers seat for the division as they get to finish with the Redskins, Panthers and the Vikings who likely will rest starters. Meanwhile, if you haven't read a calendar in a while, you know this is the month where Cowboys begin to fall apart. The NFC East will only win a playoff game if two teams play each other in the first round, since all three teams aren't as good as New Orleans, Minnesota, Arizona and Green Bay, even though the media always treats the division like it is. Once more thing, can people (ESPN and SNY) stop talking about Andy Reid as a great coach. A great coach wins big games. A great coach inspires confidence in not only your team, but you're fans. People like to think Philly fans are irrational, but they know Andy Reid does funny things as a coach. Why does only Bill Simmons and Michael Lombardi ever call him out on them?

-Final thoughts from Week 13: Saints with their miraculous win against the Redskins and the Vikings loss (nice to see the Brett Favre I know play Sunday) are in the drivers seat for home-field advantage and thus no longer need to be unbeaten to avoid a game in the Metrodome. The Colts got closer to their unbeaten season, derailing the Young-Johnson Express. The Bengals and Chargers continue to close in on a collision course for that second AFC seed, which should be decided in Week 15 when they play each other. The Pats and Steelers continue to struggle, who's chances of making the playoffs continue to drop.


Now I once again try to right the ship with my picks, as my NFL season has turned into my college season (so glad that's over). It starts tonight with the Steelers and the Browns in another dull NFL Network game. Let's hope this game is decided by halftime so we can all watch "Jersey Shore", but I don't think it will be. Still, the Browns stink and the Steelers always beat them. I know the Raiders beat the Steelers, but that should knock some sense into Pittsburgh, who don't have the easiest of schedules to close it out.

Pittsburgh (-9.5) over CLEVELAND