(this is Part two of the "Pro Draft Report" presented by Football Reporters and reposted with permission)

AFC EAST
BUFFALO BILLS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Thurman Thomas RB 1988 Oklahoma State
IN CONSIDERATION: Darryl Talley LB 1983 West Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Gene Bradley QB 1980 Arkansas State

MIAMI DOLPHINS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Dwight Stevenson C 1980 Alabama
IN CONSIDERATION: Sam Madison DB 1997 Louisville
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Eddie Blake DT 1992 Auburn

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Andre Tippett LB 1982 Iowa
IN CONSIDERATION: Lawyer Milloy DB 1996 Washington
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Darryl Wilson WR 1983 Tennessee

NEW YORK JETS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Justin Miller DB 2005 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Jim Sweeney C 1984 Pittsburgh
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Ralph Clayton WR 1980 Michigan
This division had the most 2nd round Hall of Famers (Stevenson, Tippett and Thomas) in the NFL. The Dolphins second choice, Sam Madison over the likes of WR Mark Duper may scratch a few heads. Former Jet Justin Miller dazzled as a kick returner in 2006 making the Pro Bowl but as of this writing is no longer an active player.

AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Ray Rice RB 2008 Rutgers
IN CONSIDERATION: Jamie Sharper LB 1997 Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Dan Cody DE 2005 Oklahoma

CINCINNATI BENGALS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chad Ochocinco WR 2001 Oregon State
IN CONSIDERATION: Boomer Esiason QB 1984 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Kenny Irons RB 2007 Auburn

CLEVELAND BROWNS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Dean Perry DT 1988 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Webster Slaughter WR 1986 San Diego State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Cleveland Crosby DE 1980 Arizona

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Dermontti Dawson C 1988 Kentucky
IN CONSIDERATION: Chad Brown LB 1993 Colorado
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: John Meyer T 1982 Arizona State

Surprisingly the mouth that roars (Ochocinco) must be considered the best 2nd rounder by the Bengals by virtue of his pro bowl appearances over another popular former Bengal Boomer Esiason. Although over shadowed by his older brother (The Fridge William Perry) the Browns Michael Dean Perry was a very good DT and a multiple pro bowl choice at his position.

AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: DeMeco Ryans LB 2006 Alabama
IN CONSIDERATION: Chester Pitts T 2002 San Diego State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Ben Tate RB 2010 Alabama

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Ray Donaldson C 1980 Georgia
IN CONSIDERATION: Bob Sanders DB 2004 Iowa
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Tim Foley T 1981 Notre Dame

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Maurice Jones-Drew RB 2006 UCLA
IN CONSIDERATION: Tony Brackens DE 1996 Texas
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Cordell Taylor DB 1998 Hampton

TENNESSEE TITANS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Roos T 2005 Eastern Washington
IN CONSIDERATION: Samari Rolle DB 1998 Florida State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Quinton Jones DB 1988 Pittsburgh

As NFL fans know both Houston and Jacksonville have not been in the league for 30 years but both have done well with their 2nd round picks. Maurice Jones-Drew is the best offensive weapon for the Jags and one of the top RB in the NFL. Former Indy Bob Sanders is one of the best at his position when healthy but he’s now a Charger. Injuries in 2010 limited the play of the Texans Ryans who is a Pro Bowler at his linebacker slot.

AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Rulon Jones DE 1980 Utah State
IN CONSIDERATION: Clinton Portis RB 2002 Miami
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Paul Toriessi DE 2001 Marshall

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Joe Delaney RB 1981 Northeast State
IN CONSIDERATION: Christian Okoye RB 1987 Azusa Pacific
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mike Elkins QB 1989 Wake Forrest

OAKLAND RAIDERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Howie Long 1981 Villanova
IN CONSIDERATION: Sean Jones DE 1984 Northeastern
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Leon Bender DT 1998 Washington State

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Drew Brees QB 2001 Purdue
IN CONSIDERATION: Natrone Means RB 1993 North Carolina
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Lou Brock DB 1987 USC

Actually San Diego made a nice comeback after the Ryan Leaf fiasco because in 2001 before the 2nd round choice of Drew Brees they picked LaDainian Tomlinson with their 1st pick. Two future HOF picks at that. Fox television Howie Long is of course a Pro Football Hall of Famer. At the beginning of this article I stated anyone who makes the ultimate sacrifice will ALWAYS be considered a great choice. Such was the case of the Chiefs’ Joe Delaney who on June 29th 1983 gave his life trying to save others. Posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by Ronald Reagan, Joe Delaney had a lifetime of helping others. Anyone who knew him personally would attest to this fact. On the day when his life ended he saw three children in the water in danger and although he did not swim very well he did not hesitate to attempt to make a difference. Nearly thirty years have passed and his simple act of bravery still touches my heart. And I hope it will touch yours as well.

TIM TEBOW-an early look-by J.P. Fox for Football Reporters Online

    As probably the most celebrated player coming out of college in I don’t know how long, Tim Tebow should be on his way to stardom in the NFL. But as we all know, college success doesn’t automatically translate into success in the NFL. Tebow isn’t your prototypical quarterback. He might have a run-first mentality, which isn’t what NFL Scouts look for in a franchise QB. In college, he focused on short-to-intermediate routes but did have an outstanding 67% completion percentage with a mind-boggling 88:15 TD to INT ratio. With those numbers, you would think he is at the top of the draft boards of NFL executives. The debate begins….. Is Tebow a franchise QB?? Is Tebow destined for another position in the NFL?? Is he a Pat White type of player, strictly running the wildcat?? There are many different views.
   
    Tim Tebow won two BSC National titles, as a freshman and a junior. He also captured the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. With that on your resume, and his knack for being the team leader, that’s things you look for in a QB. Can he lead his team to championships? Yes. Can he throw the ball with accuracy? Yes, 67% completion percentage is not too shabby. Can he improvise? Yes, his 57 rushing touchdowns in his career broke the all-time SEC record. So why are there so many doubters?? Well, Tebow has a long, slow, elongated delivery when throwing the ball. The NFL looks for QB’s to have short, quick releases and that is not something that Tebow possesses. When Philip Rivers came out of college, people knocked him for having an unusual delivery. Look at how he turned out in the NFL: He was an MVP candidate down the stretch for the Chargers. Tebow also has taken a beating in college. Not by getting sacked a lot, but by the way he runs with the football. He is a competitor, and he prefers to play "smash mouth" football, running guys over instead of sliding.
   
    With his bullish mentality, some people believe Tebow is destined to be a tight end, fullback, H-Back, or even a linebacker or safety. He’s 6’3 240 pounds and that could be a perfect size for an H-Back or linebacker. But would the transition to another position be that much worth the while for a team to take a chance on, rather than keeping him at his natural position and teaching him proper mechanics?? That’s where everybody wonders and wonders about him. I’d like to see somebody take a chance on him as a quarterback. His statistics don’t lie. With the numbers he put up, and his ability to make things happen, he’s like a bigger Vince Young. In the BCS National title game that Vince Young played in against USC, he had the game of his life. Also, like Young in a big-time game, Tebow put up the game of his life in the 2010 Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati, posting 533 total yards and 4 touchdowns. He was 31 of 35 passing with 482 yards. That had people talking and probably had some NFL GM’s rethinking their view on him as a QB. I know you can’t judge somebody on one game, but that was a big step in the right direction.

    Starting at linebacker, #55, Tim Tebow….. Doesn’t that just sound weird?? Tebow has been a quarterback his entire life, and making him switch to another position, teaching him all the new techniques, that might ruin a player. He has already said that he will do everything in his power to be a quarterback at the next level. Working hard, changing his throwing motion, listening to coaches, and more. Changing a QB’s throwing motion could be disastrous. It could ruin his confidence and make him think too much. But changing his position entirely might not be the worst thing either, on the flip side. He is a huge guy, a freak physical specimen, and a team-first player. If somebody drafted him to be an H-Back or Tight End, I’m sure he wouldn’t object. But I know, in his heart and his mind, he’d love the opportunity to be a quarterback. In my mind, a team that has a QB that he can sit behind for a few years to learn and work on his game would be the ideal fit. I truly believe he will be a successful QB at the next level and I really would like to see that happen. I grew up watching him play quarterback and be successful at it, and I’d like to continue watching him do that. But if he has to play a new position, I wish him all the best in that endeavor as well.

The Tim Tebow watch continues……

 

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I'm in New York for the NFL Draft and its related events, one of them was held Friday, and called NFL Play 60 in Central Park.  This fun affair on a sun-drenched day served as the backdrop for media interviews with the nine top college football players invited by the league to attend the draft. 

Given that many of the reporters, bloggers, and columnists were not experiencing their first rodeo, as the saying goes, one would think the questions would be good ones.  Well, not at all.  In fact some of the most seasoned writers asked the stupidest questions and Georgia Quarterback Matt Stafford and Texas Tech Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree had to deal with them. 

Without naming names, there are two gentlemen in my video who fall into that category.  They were fixated on asking about something that doesn't even exist: the rookie salary cap.  There's a school of thought advanced by these writers and some NFL players that there should be such a limit on what first-year NFL players make.  But since the cap doesn't exist, and therefore doesn't impact this year's players, why raise the issue with them?  

That bit of logic was beyond the reach of our fearless journalist-type heroes.  They pressed on with the question and it only served to show how well-adjusted Stafford and Crabtree were as people, especially at their young place in life.  When Stafford, who appears to be headed to the Detroit Lions as their first pick as of Friday night, got the question, he deflected it, saying in so many words, "Ask the Commissioner."  Crabstree looked at the questioner as if he were from another planet - it's on the video - then said "I feel like what I do is fun.  I'm blessed to be here" to which the reporter said sarcastically "We're all blessed to be here" in one of those moments that answers the question "Why are newspapers dying?"  It had nothing to do with the real subject at hand: the new NFL rookies at the event and what they were all about. 

When the question bottle spun to me, or really when I made it do so, I wanted to know who these guys were and the best way to determine that is how they treat you when you ask a question about how they handle relationship difficulties.  More to the point, are their friends treating them differently since fame and the possibility of fortune came on to them? 

Stafford said he had the same friends throughout the affair.  Crabtree said he kept a tight circle of family and friends long ago.  An interesting difference as Crabtree seemed more prepared for the ills of the process and the ups and downs, were Stafford is more laid back about the whole deal and in a way almost "Brett Farve" like in his country-boy attitude.  I suppose both schools of thought work but we shall see as they grow in the NFL. 

Stafford's Favorite Passes

As to "favorite" passes Matt Stafford likes to throw, he thought long and hard before answering "skinny post" which should be a tip to the Lions braintrust as they plans the teams passing game.   Stafford also seemed determined not to be molded by the expectations of others.  For example, one reporter asked about how he would deal with making "all that money"; Stafford offered that he'd never seen that amount of money to know!  A great, simple answer! 

Crabtree Was "In A Daze" During 'The Catch' Against Texas

Michael Crabtree, one who's not a fan of passing game systems but of solid play ("Everyone has a system; the whole thing's overblown", he told me) is known for a jaw-dropping, quick-as-light catch and run that beat The Texas Longhorns last year.  Asked what was going through his mind at that time, he said "I couldn't hear nothing.  I was so focused, I couldn't hear nothing...I could see the whole field.  I could see the linebackers.  D-Line. I was like, hey, I can see everything."  Many teams hope he can bring that focus to the NFL and there's every indication he can. 

Indeed, if their play is as good as the way they deal with stupid media questions, Stafford and Crabtree will be all-pro players for a long time to come.

SportingNews.com: “When Cutler was a hot prospect out of Vanderbilt before the 2006 NFL Draft, in many minds, he was No. 3 on the list behind two big-name quarterbacks who were coming off a memorable duel for the college national championship: Texas' Vince Young and USC's Matt Leinart.
Although Cutler had the best mix for the NFL with his strong arm and athletic body, he saw both Young (No. 3 to Tennessee) and Leinart (No. 10 in Arizona) get selected before the Denver Broncos took him 11th overall.

Three seasons later, it was clear Cutler had risen to the top, as he seemed to have concluded Denver's search for John Elway's successor. Meanwhile, Young and Leinart were planted on their respective benches, in a similar situation to Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson, who was taken at the end of the '06 second round.”

Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/04/2009: “Utah cornerback Sean Smith reportedly will visit the Eagles before the NFL draft on April 25-26.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks are among the teams that have visits scheduled with Smith, who at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds is a giant by cornerback standards.”

FULL ROUND-BY-ROUND ORDER FOR 2009 NFL DRAFT - NFL Media.com

The tentative seven-round order of the 2009 Draft was announced today by the NFL.

The order does not include Compensatory Selections, which will be awarded to clubs at the bottom of Rounds 3-7. An updated Round-by-Round summary will be released after the Compensatory Selections have been determined.



ROUND ONE

(round, round selection, overall selection)



1- 1- 1 Detroit



1- 2- 2 St. Louis

1- 3- 3 Kansas City



1- 4- 4 Seattle

1- 5- 5 Cleveland



1- 6- 6 Cincinnati



1- 7- 7 Oakland

1- 8- 8 Jacksonville



1- 9- 9 Green Bay



1-10-10 San Francisco

1-11-11 Buffalo



1-12-12 Denver

1-13-13 Washington

1-14-14 New Orleans

1-15-15 Houston

1-16-16 San Diego



1-17-17 New York Jets

1-18-18 Chicago

1-19-19 Tampa Bay

1-20-20 Detroit from Dallas



1-21-21 Philadelphia



1-22-22 Minnesota



1-23-23 New England

1-24-24 Atlanta

1-25-25 Miami

1-26-26 Baltimore



1-27-27 Indianapolis

1-28-28 Philadelphia from Carolina

1-29-29 New York Giants



1-30-30 Tennessee



1-31-31 Arizona



1-32-32 Pittsburgh

ROUND TWO





2- 1-33 Detroit



2- 2-34 New England from Kansas City

2- 3-35 St. Louis



2- 4-36 Cleveland

2- 5-37 Seattle



2- 6-38 Cincinnati



2- 7-39 Jacksonville

2- 8-40 Oakland



2- 9-41 Green Bay



2-10-42 Buffalo

2-11-43 San Francisco



2-12-44 Miami from Washington

2-13-45 New York Giants from New Orleans

2-14-46 Houston

2-15-47 New England from San Diego

2-16-48 Denver



2-17-49 Chicago

2-18-50 Cleveland from Tampa Bay

2-19-51 Dallas

2-20-52 New York Jets



2-21-53 Philadelphia



2-22-54 Minnesota



2-23-55 Atlanta

2-24-56 Miami

2-25-57 Baltimore

2-26-58 New England



2-27-59 Carolina

2-28-60 New York Giants

2-29-61 Indianapolis



2-30-62 Tennessee



2-31-63 Arizona



2-32-64 Pittsburgh

ROUND THREE





3- 1-65 Detroit



3- 2-66 St. Louis

3- 3-67 Kansas City



3- 4-68 Seattle

3- 5-69 Dallas from Cleveland



3- 6-70 Cincinnati



3- 7-71 Oakland

3- 8-72 Jacksonville



3- 9-73 Green Bay



3-10-74 San Francisco

3-11-75 Buffalo



3-12-76 New York Jets from New Orleans

3-13-77 Houston

3-14-78 San Diego

3-15-79 Denver

3-16-80 Washington



3-17-81 Tampa Bay

3-18-82 Detroit from Dallas

3-19-83 Green Bay from New York Jets

3-20-84 Chicago



3-21-85 Philadelphia



3-22-86 Minnesota



3-23-87 Miami

3-24-88 Baltimore

3-25-89 New England

3-26-90 Atlanta



3-27-91 New York Giants

3-28-92 Indianapolis

3-29-93 Carolina



3-30-94 Tennessee



3-31-95 Arizona



3-32-96 Pittsburgh

ROUND FOUR





4- 1- Dallas from Detroit



4- 2- Kansas City

4- 3- St. Louis



4- 4- Cleveland

4- 5- Seattle



4- 6- Cincinnati



4- 7- Jacksonville

4- 8- Oakland



4- 9- Green Bay



4-10- Buffalo

4-11- San Francisco



4-12- Houston

4-13- San Diego

4-14- Denver

4-15- New York Jets from Washington

4-16- New Orleans



4-17- Dallas

4-18- New Orleans from New York Jets

4-19- Chicago

4-20- Tampa Bay



4-21- Philadelphia



4-22- Houston from Minnesota



4-23- Baltimore

4-24- New England

4-25- Atlanta

4-26- Miami



4-27- Indianapolis

4-28- Carolina

4-29- New York Giants



4-30- Tennessee



4-31- Arizona



4-32- Pittsburgh

ROUND FIVE





5- 1- Detroit



5- 2- St. Louis

5- 3- Kansas City



5- 4- Denver from Seattle

5- 5- Philadelphia from Cleveland



5- 6- Cincinnati



5- 7- Atlanta from Oakland

5- 8- Jacksonville



5- 9- Green Bay



5-10- San Francisco

5-11- Buffalo



5-12- San Diego

5-13- Denver

5-14- Washington

5-15- New York Giants from New Orleans

5-16- Houston



5-17- Philadelphia from New York Jets

5-18- Chicago

5-19- Tampa Bay

5-20- Dallas



5-21- Philadelphia



5-22- Minnesota



5-23- New England

5-24- Atlanta

5-25- Miami

5-26- Baltimore



5-27- Carolina

5-28- New York Giants

5-29- Indianapolis



5-30- Dallas from Tennessee



5-31- Arizona



5-32- Pittsburgh

ROUND SIX



6- 1- Detroit



6- 2- Kansas City

6- 3- St. Louis



6- 4- Cleveland

6- 5- Seattle



6- 6- Cincinnati



6- 7- Jacksonville

6- 8- Oakland



6- 9- Green Bay



6-10- Buffalo

6-11- San Francisco



6-12- Denver

6-13- Washington

6-14- Green Bay from New Orleans

6-15- Houston

6-16- San Diego



6-17- Chicago

6-18- Tampa Bay

6-19- Detroit from Dallas

6-20- New York Jets



6-21- Philadelphia



6-22- Philadelphia from Minnesota



6-23- Atlanta

6-24- Dallas from Miami

6-25- Baltimore

6-26- New England



6-27- New York Giants

6-28- Indianapolis

6-29- Carolina



6-30- Tennessee



6-31- Arizona



6-32- Pittsburgh

ROUND SEVEN



7- 1- Dallas from Detroit



7- 2- St. Louis

7- 3- Kansas City



7- 4- Seattle

7- 5- Miami from Cleveland



7- 6- Cincinnati



7- 7- Oakland

7- 8- Tampa Bay from Jacksonville



7- 9- Green Bay



7-10- San Francisco

7-11- Buffalo



7-12- Minnesota from Washington

7-13- New Orleans

7-14- Houston

7-15- San Diego

7-16- Denver



7-17- Pittsburgh from Tampa Bay

7-18- Dallas

7-19- New York Jets

7-20- Tampa Bay from Chicago



7-21- Philadelphia



7-22- Minnesota



7-23- Miami

7-24- Tampa Bay from Baltimore

7-25- New England

7-26- Denver from Atlanta



7-27- Indianapolis

7-28- Miami from Carolina

7-29- New York Giants



7-30- Tennessee



7-31- Arizona



7-32- Pittsburgh

Remember Caleb Campbell? The Army recruit who was allowed to be drafted by the NFL? Well the Army reversed its field and said no. Here's the original video by SBS Media and followed by a down-home take on the matter:



And here's the latest news from FrickandFrackWhap on YouTube:

This is the introductory 2008 NFL Draft video as it takes events that happened before the actual start of the draft. We see the massing of fans and their entry into Radio City Music Hall, then the interior of the facility where the Draft is held, then it's outside we go to the NFL Fan Fest and a brief talk with none other than NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about how that event has grown.

This is a series of interviews of the invited NFL Draft players Darren McFadden, Vernon Gholston, Chris Long, Matt Ryan, and Glen Dorsey at the NY NFL Draft Chelsea Piers Lunch.

Ask The Commish has a great breakdown of projected NFL Salary Cap space per team. NFL Team projected cap space as of March 15th 2008. In order of rank, team, and cap space. The total order is from first and best to last and worst.

1
Kansas City Chiefs
$27829000
2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
$26049700
3
Buffalo Bills
$21971300
4
New Orleans Saints
$20402900
5
Tennessee Titans
$17990400
6
Green Bay Packers
$17920400
7
Jacksonville Jaguars
$16783700
8
Minnesota Vikings
$16604400
9
San Diego Chargers
$16003100
10
Miami Dolphins
$14865800
11
Philadelphia Eagles
$14758000
12
San Francisco 49ers
$12457200
13
Chicago Bears
$11890400
14
St. Louis Rams
$11537400
15
Houston Texans
$10504400
16
New England Patriots
$8270090
17
Atlanta Falcons
$7928010
18
Cincinnati Bengals
$7780020
19
NY Giants
$6156960
20
Cleveland Browns
$4791990
21
Oakland Raiders
$3460620
22
Seattle Seahawks
$3387030
23
Baltimore Ravens
$3270950
24
Washington Redskins
$3239580
25
Indianapolis Colts
$2588520
26
Carolina Panthers
$1977940
27
Denver Broncos
$1860600
28
Arizona Cardinals
$1160080
29
Dallas Cowboys
$-227212
30
NY Jets
$-1797490
31
Pittsburgh Steelers
$-3260770
32
Detroit Lions
$-3390400

After all these years, for some reason, there's a sudden focus on the "high cost" of NFL teams paying "top dollar" for unproven picks.

I personally think that's not right, that take. The answer's simple: college football has become kind of a simulation for the NFL game. The passing game at the college level is arguably now more advanced, but the overall game is slower. Still, the answer is to focus on players that faced scenarios most like those in the NFL.

John McClain, Anna Megan and nfldraftbible.com's John Murphy discuss the draft

NFL Draft Order Round-By-Round - As Of Feb 29

This is the NFL Draft selection order, which could change as we get closer to the draft itself and with trades.


Tentative 2008 Round-By-Round NFL Draft Order (As of February 29, 2008)
03/03/2008
ROUND ONE


1- 1- 1 Miami

1- 2- 2 St. Louis

1- 3- 3 Atlanta
1- 4- 4 Oakland
1- 5- 5 Kansas City
1- 6- 6 New York Jets

1- 7- 7 New England from San Francisco
1- 8- 8 Baltimore

1- 9- 9 Cincinnati
1-10-10 New Orleans
1-11-11 Buffalo
1-12-12 Denver
1-13-13 Carolina
1-14-14 Chicago
1-15-15 Detroit

1-16-16 Arizona
1-17-17 Minnesota
1-18-18 Houston
1-19-19 Philadelphia

1-20-20 Tampa Bay
1-21-21 Washington

1-22-22 Dallas from Cleveland
1-23-23 Pittsburgh
1-24-24 Tennessee
1-25-25 Seattle

1-26-26 Jacksonville
1-27-27 San Diego

1-28-28 Dallas
1-29-29 San Francisco from Indianapolis
1-30-30 Green Bay

1-31- New England Forfeited

1-32-31 New York Giants



ROUND TWO

2- 1-32 Miami

2- 2-33 St. Louis

2- 3-34 Oakland
2- 4-35 Kansas City
2- 5-36 New York Jets
2- 6-37 Atlanta

2- 7-38 Baltimore
2- 8-39 San Francisco

2- 9-40 New Orleans
2-10-41 Buffalo
2-11-42 Denver
2-12-43 Carolina
2-13-44 Chicago
2-14-45 Detroit
2-15-46 Cincinnati

2-16-47 Minnesota
2-17-48 Atlanta from Houston
2-18-49 Philadelphia
2-19-50 Arizona

2-20-51 Washington
2-21-52 Tampa Bay

2-22-53 Pittsburgh
2-23-54 Tennessee
2-24-55 Seattle
2-25-56 Cleveland

2-26-57 Miami from San Diego
2-27-58 Jacksonville

2-28-59 Indianapolis
2-29-60 Green Bay
2-30-61 Dallas


2-31-62 New England

2-32-63 New York Giants

ROUND THREE


3- 1-64 Miami

3- 2-65 St. Louis

3- 3-66 Kansas City
3- 4-67 New York Jets
3- 5-68 Atlanta
3- 6-69 New England from Oakland

3- 7-70 San Francisco
3- 8-71 Buffalo from Baltimore

3- 9-72 Buffalo
3-10-73 Minnesota from Denver
3-11-74 Carolina
3-12-75 Chicago
3-13-76 Detroit
3-14-77 Cincinnati
3-15-78 New Orleans

3-16-79 Houston
3-17-80 Philadelphia
3-18-81 Arizona
3-19-82 Minnesota

3-20-83 Tampa Bay
3-21-84 Washington

3-22-85 Tennessee
3-23-86 Seattle
3-24-87 Cleveland
3-25-88 Pittsburgh

3-26-89 Jacksonville
3-27-90 Chicago from San Diego

3-28-91 Green Bay
3-29-92 Dallas
3-30-93 Indianapolis

3-31-94 New England

3-32-95 New York Giants




ROUND FOUR


4- 1- Miami

4- 2- St. Louis

4- 3- New York Jets
4- 4- Atlanta
4- 5- Oakland
4- 6- Kansas City

4- 7- Baltimore
4- 8- San Francisco

4- 9- Denver
4-10- Carolina
4-11- Chicago
4-12- Detroit
4-13- Cincinnati
4-14- New Orleans
4-15- Buffalo

4-16- Philadelphia
4-17- Arizona
4-18- Minnesota
4-19- Houston

4-20- Denver from Washington
4-21- Tampa Bay

4-22- Seattle
4-23- Cleveland
4-24- Pittsburgh
4-25- Tennessee

4-26- San Diego Exercised in Supplemental Draft
4-27- Jacksonville

4-28- Dallas
4-29- Indianapolis
4-30- Green Bay

4-31- New England

4-32- New York Giants





ROUND FIVE

5- 1- Kansas City from Miami

5- 2- St. Louis

5- 3- Atlanta
5- 4- Denver from Oakland
5- 5- Kansas City
5- 6- New York Jets

5- 7- San Francisco
5- 8- Baltimore Exercised in Supplemental Draft

5- 9- Chicago from Carolina
5-10- Buffalo from Chicago
5-11- Detroit
5-12- Cincinnati
5-13- New Orleans
5-14- Buffalo
5-15- Denver

5-16- Arizona
5-17- Minnesota
5-18- Houston
5-19- Philadelphia

5-20- Tampa Bay
5-21- Washington

5-22- Cleveland
5-23- Pittsburgh
5-24- Tennessee
5-25- Jacksonville from Seattle

5-26- Jacksonville
5-27- San Diego

5-28- Indianapolis
5-29- Green Bay
5-30- Dallas

5-31- New England

5-32- New York Giants



ROUND SIX

6- 1- Miami

6- 2- St. Louis

6- 3- Oakland
6- 4- Kansas City
6- 5- New York Jets
6- 6- Atlanta

6- 7- Baltimore
6- 8- San Francisco

6- 9- Chicago
6-10- Detroit
6-11- Cincinnati
6-12- New Orleans
6-13- Buffalo
6-14- St. Louis from Denver
6-15- Carolina

6-16- Minnesota
6-17- Houston
6-18- Philadelphia
6-19- Arizona

6-20- Washington
6-21- Kansas City from Tampa Bay

6-22- Pittsburgh
6-23- Seattle from Tennessee
6-24- Cleveland from Seattle
6-25- Philadelphia from Cleveland

6-26- San Diego
6-27- Jacksonville

6-28- New York Giants from Green Bay
6-29- Dallas
6-30- Indianapolis

6-31- New England

6-32- New York Giants





ROUND SEVEN

7- 1- Miami

7- 2- Minnesota from St. Louis

7- 3- Kansas City
7- 4- New York Jets
7- 5- Atlanta
7- 6- Oakland

7- 7- San Francisco
7- 8- Baltimore

7- 9- Detroit
7-10- St. Louis from Cincinnati
7-11- New Orleans
7-12- Buffalo
7-13- Denver
7-14- Carolina
7-15- Chicago

7-16- Houston
7-17- Buffalo from Philadelphia
7-18- Arizona
7-19- Oakland from Minnesota through New York Jets

7-20- Denver from Tampa Bay
7-21- Washington

7-22- Tennessee
7-23- Philadelphia from Seattle
7-24- Cleveland
7-25- Atlanta from Pittsburgh

7-26- Seattle from Jacksonville
7-27- San Diego

7-28- Dallas
7-29- Indianapolis
7-30- Green Bay

7-31- New England

7-32- Kansas City from New York Giants

The PFW spin

Report: NFL considering shortening amount of time between draft picks


May 17, 2007


PFW asks associate editor Mike Wilkening for his take on NFL topics of interest.

Goodell expected to recommend shorter time frame to make draft selections.....

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s competition committee are considering shortening the amount of time allotted to make draft picks, according to ESPN.com. Goodell is expected to suggest the idea to league owners at the NFL’s spring meeting next week in Nashville. According to the ESPN report, the competition committee is expected to recommend time limits of 10 minutes for first-round picks, seven minutes for second-round picks and five minutes for picks in Rounds Three through Seven. Teams currently have 15 minutes for each first-round selection, 10 minutes for a second-round selection and five minutes for each pick in the five remaining rounds.

The first round of the 2007 draft clocked in at a record six hours, eight minutes. The first day took a record 11 hours, four minutes.

PFW: Do you like this idea?

Wilkening: Not really. I don’t see how making the draft faster will make it better. This isn’t like the NBA draft, where there are fewer prospects to analyze and far fewer roster spots to fill. Fifteen minutes seems to be a reasonable amount of time between picks when teams are making multimillion-dollar decisions. More time between picks can only help trade discussions … and if you’re asking what fans really want out of the draft, it’s entertainment, and trades are the ultimate entertainment on Draft Day.

The league is said to be contemplating moving part of the draft to prime time on Friday night; in that scenario, shortening the first round would be a must. But I have qualms with that idea, too. Why move the draft from where it stands on the sports calendar? In my opinion, it’s positioned perfectly. The NBA playoffs are just starting; baseball is only in its first month; nothing’s happening a week before the Kentucky Derby. Only the NFL could build something so big in April’s final days and have it dominate the sporting discussion in the United States.

Why change a good thing? And why speed up a good thing — an event we analyze, analyze and analyze some more from January through April? Part of the NFL draft’s charm, I think, is the time invested in it. The NFL isn’t interested in charm, of course — it’s interested in more viewers, more advertising revenue, a bigger stage for what was once a cult favorite.

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And I respectfully disagree! You will still have the SAME viewership, the same tv coverage slotted time, and the same Crazed fans watching both at the draft and at home,..as well as the various parties that are now held. Lets just shorten the first round to 12 mins. per pick. You can't tell me the teams don't know what they are doing to the point that they need the extra three mins. to figure it out. I can see if you need to discuss trades, but that should all be done already.

Bill (Draftnik)

According to the blog "LoserWithSocks" , Notre Dame running back Darius Walker, who was picked up as a free agent by the Chicago Bears, is angry that he wasn't drafted.

“Shocked, shocked,” he said Tuesday, when asked to describe his general reaction. “It’s kind of hard to believe, to be honest with you. How does a guy that’s fourth on the all-time rushing list for Notre Dame not get drafted?”

And it’s good to see that Walkers father has stayed rational about the situation.

“Even if he ran a 4.7, he should have been drafted,” he said. “To me, as a father, he deserved to be drafted very highly. I’m not even talking about the second day. I was disappointed he didn’t go the first day. He deserved to be on the first day."

It's true that Walker was lost amoung the 7 Notre Dame players that were selected in what Irish fans are calling their best NFL Draft in decades. I might remind everyone that all of the player selected were recruited by Tyrone Willingham and not Charlie Weis.

According to the blog "LoserWithSocks" , Notre Dame running back Darius Walker, who was picked up as a free agent by the Chicago Bears, is angry that he wasn't drafted.

“Shocked, shocked,” he said Tuesday, when asked to describe his general reaction. “It’s kind of hard to believe, to be honest with you. How does a guy that’s fourth on the all-time rushing list for Notre Dame not get drafted?”

And it’s good to see that Walkers father has stayed rational about the situation.

“Even if he ran a 4.7, he should have been drafted,” he said. “To me, as a father, he deserved to be drafted very highly. I’m not even talking about the second day. I was disappointed he didn’t go the first day. He deserved to be on the first day."

It's true that Walker was lost amoung the 7 Notre Dame players that were selected in what Irish fans are calling their best NFL Draft in decades. I might remind everyone that all of the player selected were recruited by Tyrone Willingham and not Charlie Weis.

I can't believe Darrius Walker was passed by, but he was. That's a major error for a running back so productive for the Irish.

BEARS DRAFT DAY 2 | Angelo gets what he's looking for to fill class in later rounds; undrafted Florida QB Leak coming to camp

April 30, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
In the days leading up to the draft, general manager Jerry Angelo said the Bears were going to need a little luck for things to work out to their satisfaction.

During the discussion, a ladybug wandered across the table, and it was pointed out that could only be a sign of good fortune to come.

Don't worry, he didn't devour the spotted little creature, but the final four rounds of the draft fell just about how Angelo was hoping Sunday. The Bears added a developmental guard in Josh Beekman, who they didn't figure would be around at the end of the fourth round, as well as some candidates for Dave Toub's special-teams unit.

''We like our class a lot,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''As far as how much the players will contribute, I'll just say we have a track record for playing young players. We are excited about some of these players being able to contribute soon.''

The tone was set for a strong draft Saturday when the Bears took Miami tight end Greg Olsen with the 31st pick in the first round, which Angelo said three teams called trying to get. Normally, he would deal down in that position, but the Bears felt so strongly about the 6-6 Olsen -- who runs a 4.51-second 40-yard dash -- that they stayed put to make the selection.

Then the Bears passed on taking a wide receiver at No. 37 -- they would have chosen from among USC's Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith and South Carolina's Sidney Rice -- and traded the pick to the San Diego Chargers to create more depth, which became Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe in the third round and Louisiana-Monroe safety Keith Payne in the fifth, plus a third-rounder from the Chargers in hand for next season. The Bears are expected to monitor wide receivers in free agency as post-draft cuts are made.

Completing the day Sunday were New Hampshire cornerback Cory Graham in the fifth round and Mississippi cornerback Trumaine McBride and Iowa State offensive tackle Aaron Brant in the seventh.

''If we were right, we're really going to like this class,'' Angelo said. ''We feel very strongly we know each of these players inside-out. I'm not saying we don't have concerns -- there are things they need to get better with -- but they all have strong traits.''

Payne started his college career as a running back before switching to defense to replace Chris Harris when he left Louisiana-Monroe for the Bears two years ago. Payne is 6 feet, 220 pounds, and Angelo said the coaching staff wanted to get a bigger safety.

Graham also has good size at 6 feet, 192 pounds and is a solid match for the cover-2 scheme with experience in zone coverage. McBride faced top competition in the Southeastern Conference, and Brant projects as a size prospect at 6-7, 320.

It usually takes a couple of years to evaluate a draft, but the Bears' rookie class a year ago was a hit from the start, with Devin Hester setting return records and Mark Anderson and Danieal Manning developing into front-line talent. Olsen will get an opportunity quickly, and second-round pick Dan Bazuin will have a chance early at defensive end.

Michael Okwo, a third-round pick from Stanford, was one of the top linebackers on the Bears' board. Angelo said he saw a lot of similar traits in Okwo as he did in Lance Briggs, whom he plucked out of Arizona in the third round in 2003. Between Okwo and Jamar Williams, another Pac-10 pick who came on board in the fourth round last year from Arizona State, there figures to be a replacement in place.

''We have a good player in Jamar Williams, and I am really interested to see how he progresses,'' Angelo said. ''This Okwo is a very good player, highly productive. This guy makes all the plays like Lance did.

''Usually on that first day, you are picking a player a half a round higher than where they might go and in some cases a round higher, and that is irrelevant as long as you believe in that player.''

The newcomers will get their first exposure when they arrive for orientation Thursday and take the field Friday for a three-day rookie minicamp. Three of the bigger names to go undrafted also will attend as the Bears reached free-agent agreements with Florida quarterback Chris Leak, Notre Dame running back Darius Walker and record-setting New Hampshire wide receiver David Ball.

Leak followed Rex Grossman to Florida and is from the same area of North Carolina as quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton.

''We thought this would be a good fit for Chris to come in and learn behind Rex and Brian Griese and get his feet wet,'' said Fletcher Smith, Leak's agent.

''As far as being able to learn under a veteran quarterback and getting into a great system, you kind of think things happen for a reason,'' Leak told the Gainesville Sun. ''I really believe that.''

Bill Chackhes and I sat down to talk with Wil Mara, the author of the book "The Draft" at the 2007 NFL Draft.

Wil Mara has been writing and publishing books since 1988. He began with a manuscript about herpetology, a childhood hobby, and sold it to TFH Publications, who at the time was the world's largest publisher of animal books. Several months later he gave them a second one, at which time he was offered a position on their editorial staff. He would go on to write a total of 18 titles during his tenure.

Wil turned to writing fulltime and secured a deal with NYC publisher St. Martin's Press for a string of mainstream titles—his "NFL novels." Mixing real-world factuality and behind-the-scenes detail with imaginative storytelling, these books are expected to garner a loyal following of football fans worldwide. The first in the group, The Draft, was released at the end of October 2006, with a second book due to arrive about a year later.

His website is wilmara.com

As you watch this video, look at who passes in the background.

http://nfldraftmag.blogspot.com - The NFL held its annual NFL Draft Media Luncheon at Chelsea Piers on Thursday, April 26th.

As part of the process of interviews and photo-ops, the players -- JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, and Gaines Adams went outside -- well, except Peterson, who stayed in doors for some reason.

While this is supposed to be a function where the media can point their cameras at these future stars, one person who I know but will not name with the Oakland Raiders felt it necessary to point his Leica video-camera at me.

Twice.

The first time he did it was at the Russell interview. All of the cameras are pointed at JaMarcus, except his. I happen to have a good feel for this, so I spotted him and was on alert.

I was determined to catch him.

The second time he did it was outside and I used my camcorder to bait him and catch him red-handed (or should I say "Silver-and-Black" handed?) filming me instead of the players!!

It's in the video. Look for yourself!!

Once the Raiders guy sees me point back at him, he walks off like a scared rabbit. It was one of the craziest events I've ever seen in my life. Why me?

This places me in a category that's rare -- people spied on by the Oakland Raiders. It reminds me of those stories of the late New York Jets Coach Weeb Eubank who was once rumored to have screamed at a light bulb "Al Davis, I know you're up there!"

It caused me to recall when my friend Sports Illustrated writer Michael Silver was banned from Oakland training camp for writing critical articles about the organization.

For what reason, I don't know. It could be linked to my open criticism of their habit of running to court to sue either the NFL or Oakland as a way of raising revenue.

But they're a big firm and such opinions are mine to have, regardless of whether the Raiders like them or not.

The Raiders don't understand that it's impossible to control a message in today's society -- let the lesson begin.

They don't know what the alternative course of actions are. I do.

But I'm pretty tired of this and other actions by the organization with respect to me to this date.

As far as I'm concerned the organization should have given me a medal for almost bringing the 2005 Super Bowl to Oakland , in the face of their lawsuits against both the City of Oakland and the NFL. Moreover, the 2005 Super Bowl would have made the Raiders the host team, and the controller of 10,000 tickets with a street value of around $3 million.

I put Oakland on the map as a possible Super Bowl host city, nearly give the organization a handsome reward in the process, and this is the thanks I get?

Geez!

http://nfldraftmag.blogspot.com - Paul Salata, the founder and host of "Mr. Irrelevant Week" stopped by to talk with Bill Chackhes and myself about his NFL-supported event that celebrates the last pick in the last round of the NFL Draft.