nfoligno

I like the Times. Since the Trib went to shit w/ their coverage, the Times IMHO stepped up. I do not bother even reading Mariotti, but I like much of the rest.

Or Skip Bayless archives.

I heard Kiper refer to this late last week too. Not saying it isn't a smokescrean, but it is a masked screan if it is. As I said, the rumor was of "some" team in the teens, not the bears. McShay is reasoning that he believes the rumored team is the bears. It may well be smokescrean, but seems almost too hidden and subtle.

So you can sleep in, or in my case, so I can get some yard work done before the draft to make my wife happy, since I will be gone for the rest of the day/night.

Not a fan of the new set up. If they wanted prime time, I was hoping they would start Friday night. 1st round Friday night. 2nd and 3rd rounds on Saturday. 4th-7th on Sunday. I really wanted the friday night start though.

First off, compared to last years draft, most anything looks good. Second, one star and one starter? I might normally agree, but our star is a special teams player and who is our starter? Looks like DM and Anderson lost their starting jobs. Dusty will be in a competition, but he yet to win the job. I suppose you want to count Anderson, but I don't think that is right. He was a rotation player as a rookie, started this past year, but lost the job due to weak play. I am not saying the draft sucked, nor am I saying the final grade is set. Hester could still become a solid WR, which would put his draft grade status in Urlacher territory. Dusty, DM, Anderson? No telling the future for them. My point was, I feel this wasn't the best draft to use as an example to say early draft grades are so wrong. I still would not give this draft an A grade. I would give it a B, w/ a chance to drop or rise this year depending on how some players (particularly Hester at WR, Dusty and Anderson) play out.

"most dumbest"?

The only grudge Jason holds is against Angelo for drafting Benson

Just curious, what QB do you like. I like Brohm, but don't think the team does due to arm strength. I do not like Henne, but think the team does due to arm strength and level of competition. I like Flacco, and think the team does as well, but do not trust our staff to develop him as he is more in need of solid coaching than the rest.

First, taking Henne at all will make me sick. I see him as another Rex Grossman. Solid arm and leadership qualities, but an erratic and inconsistent passer. Thanks, but no thanks. Also of note though is, if we really are (as McShay says) grading Henne high, and also love Flacco, due to their arm strength, how do we grade Brohm. The #1 knock on Brohm is his arm strength and deep ball game. If we grade Henne and Flacco so high due to arm strength, does that not also indicate we have Brohm graded low? As for where the QBs go, I think there is a very good chance they are all gone. I think one will be gone in the late 1st, and the other two will be gone in the early 2nd. Problem is, you have a collection of teams in front of us who have QB high on their need list, and only one QB expected to be drafted at the top of round one. Thus, you have a group of teams in front of us in round two that are a good bet to be looking at QB in the 2nd. Miami, Atlanta, KC, NYJ, Baltimore and Carolina all are believed to have QB high on their board. One will get Ryan. That leaves 5 teams in front of us in round two, and 3 QBs. Maybe one falls, but I think there is a good chance all are gone.

This has been talked about for a while, and it is more than just Miami. Atlanta and Baltimore are also expected to strongly consider QB in the 2nd, and NYJs and Carolina are in there too. McShay of ESPN said Miami is high on Henne, Atlanta is high on Brohm and Baltimore is super high on Flacco. One of them could fall to us, but if you want one, I think everyone knows they are going to have to trade up to get him. Regarding Flacco, the reports seem to indicate he is a high ceiling guy, as he has all the tools and intangibles, but may need more time than some others to develop as he will be coming from a small school and all. IMHO though, if we are targetting one of these QBs (McShay says we are very high on Henne and Flacco) we are more likely to trade down in the 1st. Doing that, we can get our franchise QB while picking up an extra early pick.

Listening to ESPN Radio today, and McShay was on and talking QBs. He was asked if the bears would consider a QB at 14. He then talked about how it has been rumored for a while that a team in the teens was considering Henne. He went on to talk about how he separately knew that Chicago is in fact very high on Henne. Said they/we love his size and arm strength. Also mentioned our liking Flacco. He is not predicting Chicago will take Henne at 14, but he and Kiper are both talking about how they keep hearing about a team in the teens who is looking at QB that few realize. Of all the players we have talked about taking at 14, I don't think any make me as sick as this. Also of interest, he talked about which teams are high on which QB. Miami loves Henne Atlanta loves Brohm Baltimore loves Flacco If none of these teams comes away w/ Ryan, look for teams to trade up into the back of the 1st if they want a QB, as these teams are very high on the above QBs. By the way, in talking about the QBs we love, no mention of Brohm.

Yea, Dallas seems like a perfect destination. They have two #1, neither of which are so high that you can't stand to give it up. They have plenty of talent already on offense, including a franchise QB, and the addition of a WR like Boldin (to pair w/ TO) would give them one hell of an offense, and they would still have another 1st round pick to add to their defense.

Now this is a WR I would love to add, but do not see it happening. As much as we need a WR, we have so many other needs that we can not simply afford to give away draft picks. If this were last year, when we were coming off a SB, this deal would make a ton of sense. This year? I just don't see it, though I would love to add him.

Not just no, but hell no. CJ is a WR I like on my fantasy roster, but not on my NFL team. Fans complain about Danny Snyder running his team like a FF team, but so many fans talk like they would do the same thing. CJ is a flat out awful fit for this team. 1. Headcase - We are dealing w/ enough contract issues. Why would we send packing one player who is quietly making a fuss for another player who is using a bull horn, on national radio. Okay, lets say we get past the contract issues... 2. CJ is one of those WRs who is going to scream to the world anytime he doesn't have a big game. Seriously, take a look at our offense. How many 10-150-2 games will he have w/ Rex/Orton? If he can't stand Carson Palmer, and thinks Palmer is a joke, what the hell is he going to think about our rotating collection of QBs. We thought Moose threw Orton under the bus? CJ would throw the team under the bus, then drive it himself. 3. Absolutely no respect for authority. He got into a fight w/ his position coach at halftime. He has ripped several on the staff, including his HC who he routinely called out after games. I have no love for our coaching staff, but you can not have players who have zero respect for their boss', and have no issue w/ showing that lack of respect. CJ is an awesome talent. There is no question about that, but I think it will take a situation similar to what Moss had in NE for CJ to be a good boy. First, it should be pointed out that Moss had more years in the NFL to learn, and had some humbling years in Oakland to further that education. Then it took Moss going to an organization that does not allow prima donas. One that has an established veteran QB who is respected by the team. One that has a coach who will not put up w/ antics. That was a situation Moss was able to shine in. We are so far removed from that situation it is a joke, as would be our trading for CJ.

I don't think they signed Gross. They have him for one year after tagging him, but he is expected to leave next year. Carolina may not have OT at the top of their list, but it seems most due feel OT is definitely on their list. They would not likely reach for an OT, but I think they have OT high enough on their need list that if they felt a stud OT was their, compared to reaching for a DL, I think they would be going OT. Might also throw out there RB seems to be a common belief need of theirs.

I believe he was dealing w/ an injury around the time of the combine.

How is it funny? How great was that draft. Yup, we got Hester, but.... We did trade out of the 1st round, and according to Angelo, it was w/ DM in mind all along. How good did that workout? Hester proved me wrong, w/o question. Dusty - How has that worked out? Still have hope, sure. But heading into his 3rd season, how many quarters has he played? Jamar Williams - Nice backup? Anderson - Awesome pick, but last year took a step backward (I still blame coaching). Runnells? Reed? This could still improve, but is this draft really so great? Heading into this year, how many starters do we have out of this draft? Anderson lost his starting job, and I doubt Hester starts. Dusty might, but that would be one.

W/ the two 1st round picks ammo, they could move into the top 10 if they wanted to. Its a great idea, but Dallas is simply not going to give us their top 2 picks. If they wanted to give those up, they could actually have a shot at moving up enough to get McFadden. Whether we are talking Dallas, or any other short jump, I think we should be talking about getting another teams 1st and 2nd, as that is simply more realistic.

Yes and no. If it were not for some of the other OL in this draft I still have "some" level of hope falls to us, then yes, I would be more excited. I get plenty excited about OL picks. My only hesitation in terms of excitement w/ Otah is how much I want (a) Albert ( Clady. Each could be taken as high as 5, or drop enough to be there for our pick. But assuming they are gone, when our picks comes up, I would be excited if we took Otah. I would be excited if we took Williams too. Frankly, relief may be the greater emotion to throw out there. Relief we didn't take a WR. Relief we didn't reach for a QB. Relief we didn't trade down to take some lesser player. Relief we didn't take a defensive player. There is still a part of me expecting Angelo to take a defensive player, as that is all he seems to know.

Would any pick other than Mendy (realistic picks) excite you?

Looking at the draft, it is quite possible that when we pick, the #2 RB (whether that be Mendenhall or Stewart) will still be on the board. Three teams in the four picks after ours (Det, Az and Houston) all could be looking to upgrade their run game, which means if a team wants one of these two RBs, they may need to move up to our pick, in front of those other teams. Heck, if one of those teams really likes one RB over the other, they may even be looking to move up a couple slots, like if AZ loved Mendy, and felt Det would take him. Could be interesting what sort of offers we get. For me, it would take quite a bit for me to trade down. If we could trade down, and get no worse than Cherilus, I not be opposed. In no way do I want to trade down further than Pitt though, as I think all the top OTs will be gone at that point. Just looking over the order of picks, and realizing how the RBs could be falling to us, and how many RB needy teams immediately come after us. Might this put us in the drivers seat?

I don't think his stock is falling. Heading into the offseason, his stock was was considered a value right around our pick. He didn't have a good combine, and his stock began to fall some (never beyond Pitt's pick). But since then, he improved his numbers at his private workout, and his stock began to rise again. I think his stock today is where it was heading into the offseason, which is right around our pick. The idea of trading down and getting him sounds great, but I am not sure how far we can drop and still do it. I think it really depends on how many OTs go in front of us. If 4 OTs go in front of us, which I would say is quite possible, then I think we will miss out if we trade down.

Allow me to try: "He is a road grader in the mold of former All-Americans Jimbo Covert (1979-82), Mark May (1977-80), Bill Fralic (1981-84) and Ruben Brown (1991-94)" Gotta like that. Rick Gosselin, one of the few draft guys I still give big props to, lists him as the 3rd best OT prospect, and called him the "best run blocker in the draft". Hmmm. Remind me. Did we need to upgrade our run game? Otah is not as polished or as experienced as other upper tier OTs. He played basketball (which I consider a positive for football players) until his senior year, when he finally played football. Two years of college experience, and here he is. Even w/o the experience, he has been an awesome OT, even player the left side very well. In large part due to his lack of experience, most feel he is more likely to be a RT or even OG in the NFL, but his potential is sky high. In Otah, I think you have a pro bowl potential RT or OG (versatility and body to play either), while also providing the down the road potential for a move to LT. He would be a huge upgrade for an OL that really needs one, and give the OL a great run blocker w/ an attitude. While not my top choice in the 1st, (Albert and Clady), he is not a bad consolation prize at all. If it came down to him and Chris Williams in the first, it would be a tough choice for me. I think Williams provides the better pure LT prospect, especially when you consider the short term, but I think Otah has more potential. I see him as an instant high tier RT or OG. His LT prospects are more murky, and if that does develop, it may take time, but even if it doesn't happen, getting a pro bowl OL, regardless what position, would be a solid use of our 14th pick.

Yes, but also have to throw out a thanks to prophet. Didn't have a clue we could adjust the setting on our own, and I suspect most do not either.