The 2007 NFL Draft: A Year of “Second-Class” Value
by Wil Mara

What struck me as the most interesting aspect of the ’07 NFL Draft, particularly in comparison to the ’06 Draft, was the quality of talent that went in the second round. This is not to say the first-rounders weren’t worthy of their lofty placement, but the sheer volume of second-round acquisitions who are likely to make impact, both immediate and longterm, was staggering.

Look at Carolina’s new receiver, Dwayne Jarrett. At USC, he was a two-time All-American with a school-record 216 receptions and 41 touchdowns in just three seasons, but his draft stock fell when he failed to blow everyone away at the combines (his 40 time was particularly lukewarm). Still, he was a first-round-quality player, and it’s ridiculous that he was allowed to fall to 45th overall. Then Carolina got lucky again with another USC’r—Ryan Kalil. He was certainly the best center in the pool. Sure, centers generally don’t go in the first round, but still—this guy can be a difference-maker. A good center is worth his weight in platinum.

The Colts wanted a quality OT, and, in the second round, they got one. Arkansas’s Tony Ugoh is a masterful drive blocker who can be relied upon to cover the crucial left side. His long arms and legs give him an edge when exploding off the line, and he has tremendous balance and upper-body strength. It is to his credit that the Colts will soon be trusting him to keep the Great Peyton off the ground.

And then there’s Justin Blalock. Did Atlanta really get him 39th overall? And then, two picks later, did they also land Chris Houston? Good God—somebody call the cops, because there’s some thievery going on here. How did these two—who, in my view, can both be starters—go unnoticed, unappreciated, and unpicked by so many other teams? Blalock is another monster drive blocker who has proven his worth in multiple line positions. He’s also durable and consistent, breaking a school record for consecutive starts (in the injury-prone NFL, that matters). And Houston is another wonder—a graceful, fluid corner with otherwordly speed. He made his mark at Arkansas in only three seasons, so he’s got plenty of gas left in the tank.

There were others, too—check them out and see for yourself. Russell, Adams, Quinn, Johnson, and Peterson were the guys who got all the hype, and they’re certainly deserving of it. But as time passes, the ’07 draft may become known as ‘The Year of the Second Rounders.’

Reggie Bush at NFL Pre-Draft Party, originally uploaded by Pete90291.

Ah, the spoils of success. Reggie Bush, at this point expecting to play for the Houston Texans, shows up at the NFL Pre-Draft Party in a Hummer. As we know, he was taken second by the New Orleans Saints, and almost went to Super Bowl XLI.

One issue at the 2007 NFL Spring Owners meeting -- a one-day affair held in Nashville -- is the length of the NFL Draft. This year's event at Radio City Music Hall featured the longest First Round in NFL History - over six hours. That development prompted the part of the agenda that concerns the draft. Here's the AP's report as placed on NFL.com:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 21, 2007) -- If Titans coach Jeff Fisher had a vote, he'd favor trimming some time off the draft.

Fisher, co-chair of the NFL's rules committee, won't be part of the NFL owners' talks with Commissioner Roger Goodell about shortening selection times in the first and second rounds of the league's draft. But he has been part of discussions with Goodell about picking up the pace on draft day.

"I think we could arrive at a good number of minutes whether it be 10 for the first round or seven for the second. I think it would work. I would be willing to give it a shot," Fisher said Monday.

The topic of trimming the current 15 minutes for a first-round selection and 10 during the second came up only days after the NFL endured its longest first round ever last month -- 6 hours, 8 minutes.

Goodell called members of the competition committee, and the committee has had a few conference calls on the subject. The commissioner will discuss the topic with NFL owners at their spring meeting in Nashville, a few miles from the Titans' headquarters.

"Teams just typically use all their time, and I don't think it would affect your ability to execute trades, not only picks, but also players," Fisher said. "That's the thing that's being examined right now. "

This one-day meeting is for owners only. A final decision on trimming the draft isn't expected.

Saints rookies show up at minicamp out of shape

By Chris Neubauer (Pro Football Weekly)
May 18, 2007


It looks like the NFL has another off-the-field problem on its hands.

This one has nothing to do with strip clubs, guns or drunken driving, thankfully.

The NFL has an eating disorder. Too much food consumption, to be exact, and it’s causing rookies to show up at their first minicamps overweight and out of shape.

Take Saints first-round pick Robert Meachem. Expectations were sky-high for the former Tennessee wideout when he arrived at the Saints’ practice facility last weekend. He was drafted as Joe Horn’s replacement, plain and simple. Sure, he must beat out veterans Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper for Horn’s old post, but Henderson and Copper are speed bumps, not roadblocks.

Meachem was supposed to dazzle from Day One. Instead, he wheezed.

Meachem blames all the pre-draft visits he made to NFL teams for padding his belly and getting him off the workout wagon. He visited nine teams before the draft. For each team, he would perform an on-the-field workout during the day. And at night, the teams would wine and dine him. Nine cities. Nine restaurants. He made a rookie mistake: He dined too much.

I think each team was testing Meachem with its fancy meals. He probably would have been drafted earlier if he had uttered these three words: Hold the dessert.

"I took a lot of visits with teams before the draft, and everyplace you go, they give you a big meal,” Meachem confessed. “For me, I tried to work out when I could, but I don't think I got enough workouts in."

In Meachem’s defense, sources tell me that it was unseasonably warm on Day One of Saints minicamp.

Saints fans can take solace in this fact: WR Marques Colston showed up at his first rookie minicamp out of shape and overweight. Colston performed so poorly that he feared he would not receive an invitation to the full-squad minicamp the next month.

But at least Colston, the runner-up for Rookie of the Year honors last season, arrived last May with lower expectations. He was a seventh-round pick, after all.

To add injury to insult, Meachem also tweaked his ankle on Day Two of minicamp. Reggie Bush can sympathize with Meachem. Last year’s first-round pick also suffered an injury at his first minicamp. Bush injured his hamstring.

“I got hurt stretching,” Bush said.

But rotund Robert wasn’t the biggest bust at the Saints’ minicamp. That honor goes to undrafted rookie Walter Thomas. You’ve probably heard Thomas’ story. He is a physical marvel — a nimble 6-foot-5, 375-pound behemoth. Thomas was kicked out of Oklahoma State after one year and wound up at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he played in two games. Not your average Sean Payton-era Saint.

Thomas completed 12 minutes of practice before taking off his helmet and calling it a day.

“He had a brief career," Payton said.

Persistence pays off

Undrafted rookie QB Tyler Palko created more positive buzz at the Saints’ minicamp than his new teammate, Meachem.

First, the reasons why Palko wasn't drafted: size and arm strength. Palko is generously listed at 6 feet, 1 inch. But an eyeball measurement from my sources in the Saints’ locker room reveals that Palko is a smidge shorter than Drew Brees, who is listed at 6 feet. The southpaw Palko also throws more change-ups than fastballs, just like Brees.

The story goes that Sean Payton called Palko sometime during the fifth round of the draft and told the former Pitt Panther that the Saints would like to sign him if he went undrafted. Palko drew interest from several other teams after the draft, but he chose the Saints because Payton was the only head coach to call him.

Payton likes that Palko is a coach’s son. And he doesn’t mind Palko’s lack of arm strength because accuracy and acumen are the most important attributes in Payton’s version of the West Coast offense.

The Saints needed a developmental prospect at quarterback after carrying only Brees and 37-year-old Jamie Martin on their roster last year.

Payton is an old hand at turning castoffs into Pro Bowlers. He is largely credited for molding Tony Romo, an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois, into the Pro Bowl quarterback he became last season in Dallas.

I’m hearing that Palko could be next.

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Wow! truly it's feast or famine in nola! Gotta Love the Jones story: 12 Mins!!! 12 MINS!!!!! what the heck!?!?!? Love Sean Peyton's sense of Humor as well...(a "Brief career" is putting it mildly!!!!

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)

Giants draft pick hoping to outrun his past
BY ARTHUR STAPLE

Ahmad Bradshaw knew the questions would come on Saturday, his first day on the field as a pro football player. Not football questions, but questions about character, that new NFL buzzword.

The 21-year-old running back answered them all Saturday, and again yesterday. But this time there were more football questions, more questions about his future rather than his past, because the seventh-round pick, No. 250 out of 255 selected two weeks ago, might have made the biggest impact of any player at the Giants' rookie minicamp.


"You'd have to say Bradshaw had a noticeable morning," coach Tom Coughlin said between practices. "He's been back on kickoff returns, on punt returns. He caught the ball coming out of the backfield. You saw a couple runs where he was able to turn the ball north-south. It catches your eye, for sure."

The 5-9, 198-pound Bradshaw put his name into the NFL draft after his junior season at Marshall, and one way to look at it is that he did so at just the wrong time. New commissioner Roger Goodell made character a hot-button issue, suspending Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for a minimum of 10 games next season and Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry for six games for off-field incidents.

Bradshaw has been arrested twice, once for underage drinking while in summer school at the University of Virginia before his freshman year and again last January for taking a PlayStation 2 console from an unlocked dorm room at Marshall, where he walked on after leaving Virginia.

But another way to view Bradshaw's situation is that he's come to the NFL at just the right time. He was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick based on skill alone, and he had his comeuppance when he lasted through two days and nearly every pick in the draft.

"It's a very humbling experience, knowing so many people saw me a certain way," Bradshaw said. "It's a motivating factor to make people see me differently. This is my dream; this is where I want to be. I've seen guys get here and hurt themselves by making dumb mistakes. I feel like I learned from my mistakes."

Bradshaw could fill a very valuable need for Coughlin and the Giants. They have big, bruising running backs in Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns but lack a smaller, speedier back who can do what Tiki Barber did his first few seasons: provide a change-of-pace running style, catch the ball out of the backfield on third down and perhaps return kicks and punts.

General manager Jerry Reese had a brief but serious chat with Bradshaw on Saturday. "It was just a conversation where he said, 'This is the last time we're going to go over it, but character is a big thing around here,' " Bradshaw said. "I told him that I plan on backing him up as much as I can. This is a fair game. If you're able to do what you do out there, you'll get a chance."

#44 AHMAD BRADSHAW

Position: Running back.

Height: 5-9.

Weight: 198.

College: Marshall.

Hometown: Bluefield, Va.

Drafted: Seventh round, No. 250 overall.

Finished as Marshall's fifth all-time leading rusher, with 2,987 yards in three seasons ... Rushed for 1,523 yards, second in school history for a season, as a junior, and had 19 rushing touchdowns ... Caught 17 passes for 129 yards as a junior, and finished his college career with 86 catches ... Also returned punts and kickoffs as a freshman.

Jets sign five including former VCU hoops star
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The New York Jets signed five free agents Tuesday, including former Virginia Commonwealth basketball star Jesse Pellot-Rosa.

The Jets also signed defensive back James Ihedigbo, cornerback Rayshaun Kizer, linebacker Jared Newberry and wide receiver Renard Stevens. All five players received tryouts at rookie minicamp last weekend.

Pellot-Rosa, who tried out at wide receiver, helped lead the Rams to a Colonial Athletic Association title and a first-round upset of Duke in the NCAA tournament in March. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and shot over 42 percent from 3-point range last season.

Pellot-Rosa last played organized football in high school. He was recruited by Tennessee, Alabama and Virginia to play football, but chose to play basketball at VCU, which doesn't have a football team.

"I love to play football just like I love to play basketball," Pellot-Rosa said during minicamp. "They are equal to me. I love to play both, and it's been like that since I was a kid -- you go out on the playground and love to play. It didn't really matter whether it was basketball or football. I would play either one."

The Jets also released defensive back Caleb Hendrix, defensive end Matt King, wide receiver Dustin Osborn and LB Mark Zalewski. All four had been signed to free agent contracts before minicamp.

Lions QB Gets 1st Look at Calvin Johnson
By Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Jon Kitna got his first look at Calvin Johnson on Tuesday.

He was very happy with what he saw.

The Detroit Lions quarterback got to work with the draft's No. 2 pick at the first practice of a three-day minicamp.

"He's certainly going to be used to the best of his ability this year," Kitna said. "He's going to give us a lot of options."

Kitna acknowledged he couldn't get too excited after one non-contact workout, but he was impressed.

"He didn't break the huddle with the baffled look that most first-year guys have when they are trying to learn ... (offensive coordinator Mike) Martz's offense," he said. "Heck, there are guys who have been working on it for a year that still don't always know what to do, but Calvin knew where he was supposed to be. He's obviously been doing his homework."

Johnson joins a revamped receiving corps built around Roy Williams and Mike Furrey, who combined for 180 catches, 2,396 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

"Those are two men that proved what they can do last year," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "We don't need to ask what they are capable of doing, because they've done it. It is on film."

Detroit also added veterans Shaun McDonald, who played for Martz in St. Louis, and Marcus Robinson, who has 43 touchdowns in a 10-year career. They also picked up a pair of experienced running backs in Tatum Bell and former Michigan State star T.J. Duckett.

"This is exactly what you like to see as a quarterback," Kitna said. "I don't feel like I have to do everything by myself. I just have to get the ball into their hands."

The Lions also added players to the offensive line that was devastated by injuries last year. Detroit signed free agent guard Edwin Mulitalo, traded Dre' Bly to Denver for tackle George Foster and drafted Manny Ramirez out of Texas Tech.

"We've got a good blend of veterans who have shown what they can do in this league and young players on their way up," Marinelli said. "I think it is beginning to mold itself into a very good group."

On defense, the issue isn't new players as much as the health of the veterans. Last season, defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Shaun Cody both missed large chunks of the season, as did several starting linebackers. All of those players are in camp this week, facing Martz's complicated offense.

"Martz is the greatest thing in the world for our defense, but he throws everything under the sun at them," Marinelli said. "We've tried to add as much speed on defense as we have on offense, and that seems to be happening."

Several players, including running back Kevin Jones (foot), tight end Dan Campbell (elbow) and Mulitalo (elbow) are attending camp but not taking part in drills. Marinelli said that Jones, who suffered a potentially career-threatening injury late last season, appears to be recovering well. "We're being told that the process is going well, but we also understand that those are only words," he said. "We won't know much more until training camp."

Defensive tackle Cory Redding is the only player not in camp after being made the team's franchise player.
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Ok so i'm quite happy that Calvin got back up on the horse, so to speak. If he's still out of shape,.at least he studied the playbook. Plus having Furrey and Williams as teammates can only help. It can only get better in Detriot at this point.......

Bill(draftnik)

The 2005 NFL Draft Part 7



Mike Golic Prepares His Cookies

Winding Down - ESPN's Mike Golic Feeds the Animals

You know the NFL Draft's winding down when the best entertaiment comes from the ESPN stage. In fact, it became apparent how much the show belonged to ESPN when the producers asked the small, but noisy crowd to move in close together, rather than dispersed in seats spread out from each other -- all the better to make the TV audience think there was still a major, crowd-drawing event going on.

The ESPN people made it their mission to keep the long-staying fans fired up, from one stage director pumping his arms to the crowd as a signal for them to make noise when the camera's were on, to Mike Golic engaging in long-distance conversations with excited, jersey-wearing men. And as if that weren't enough, the chants of "We love you Suzy!" rang out clear once again. Suzy Kolber should have her own calendar. It would sell. I found the whole episode quite funny.

But what took the cake was Golic's decision to litterally toss his cookies into the crowd. My first thought was that it looked like he was feeding animals at the zoo. But then it occured to me that his actions were appropriate: the crowd was acting like animals at the zoo. It certainly helped pass the time, as even the most diehard Drafniks were fading, and a lot of press people had left to catch their flights -- their work was finished a while go.

By the 205th pick in the Sixth Round with one round to go, there was definitely a collective feeling of "let's get this over with," but it's countered by the fact that even these late rounds are important turning points in the lives of the student athletes still available to "go pro." Moreover, considering that the majority of successful players are mid-to-late round draft picks, it's really the 3rd through the 7th round picks that determine how great a team's player scouting and development department does. Many teams had a number of picks between rounds five and seven, like the Jacksonville Jaguars' who seemed determined to wheel and deal. By the seventh round, everyone was waiting for one thing: the selection of "Mr. Irrelevant."



A Very Funny Paul Salada

"Mr. Irrelevant" - Paul Salata's Baby

"Zennie," Chachkes said,"You gotta see this. What they do in announcing Mr. Irrelevant is something to watch. "Mr. Irrelevant" is the name given to the final pick -- the 255th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. The extremely funny Mr. Paul Salata founded the award in 1976, and announced the New England Patriots selection of Andy Stokes, a tight end from tiny William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. But to me, the personality of 77-year old Mr. Salata is the untold story.

When you attend the Draft as a press person you get used to getting up and walking, either to talk to someone, get something to eat, use the bathroom, or to just plain stretch your legs. In doing this, you run into people again and again. In my case I saw Salata a lot, and on top of that, he came over to share a joke with Bill Chachkes. But on one occasion he really caught me off guard.

It was the middle of the Fourth Round, and I had just came from the men's room and walked into the main room, when Paul walked over and said "Just came from the room huh? Figures. Did ya here that name?" Then, pointing at my pants with his cane, he laughed and said "I'll bet that's what you did!" The Kansas City Chiefs had just drafted Florida State Wide Receiver Craphonso Thorpe.

Now Departing - Until Next Year

In closing, the NFL Draft is quite an experience, one that perhaps should be taken to other cities. I have mixed emotions about the idea, as it seems such a New York-thing. Chachkes and I talked about this, and he thinks it should be rotated to other cities. It's up to the NFL, but I think the league has one of the best reality TV shows in the world.



ESPN's Set In the Middle of The Action

It's ESPN's World; We Just Live In It

What was strange to me was the lack of a "presence" by the NFL Network. I mean there were a few personalities -- well one person. But ESPN seemed to actually run what part of the Draft was broadcast on TV. To my eye, ESPN's work was very scripted and focused on the crowd in the stands, the main stage, and their own stage, and little else. They didn't have cameras and personalities darting around the main floor, going to this radio table, or interviewing someone at the press table, or just walking around - period. So viewers miss what Draft Day is really about. The NFL should fill this void with the NFL Network.

As I was walking out to hail a cab to my hotel, I saw Paul Salata, energetically whistling for a cab with his daughter. One quickly drove up. I don't know if it was offered and Paul refused, but the NFL should provide a limo for him. He's what the NFL Draft is all about.

The 2005 NFL Draft - Part 6

The J-E-T-S Jets Fans

The Draft Day is long. As I write this, it's now 8:29 PM on Saturday, and the majority of the press corps has departed. The stands to the left, right, and behind me are half empty; that they're only that is a example to the dedication of fans who attend this event. Some of those fans -- well, it seems to be most of them from a noise perspective -- are J-E-T-S Jets diehards. This spunky group cheered and commented on every team selection -- they also scream "We love you Suzy Kolber" in response to the ESPN personality's appearance on the main stage -- but were logically most concerned with their own team's decisions.



The Jets Fans Perform On Cue


L-E-G-S Legs!

Yelling for the Jets to select Clemson's speedy cornerback Justin Miller, the Jets contingent was humorously disappointed by the team's choice of a kicker, Ohio State Punter Mike Nugent. This disconnect between the Jets fans and team management led one member of the "Back of The Pack" club representing Draft.Com to yell "L-E-G-S Legs" at the Jets fans.

Finally the Jets supporters were rewarded when, with the 57th Pick, the team did select the surprisingly still available Miller. The Jets rabid backers erupted with the now familiar letter-based cheer. Apparently, the Jets brass listened to their fans.

I left the Javitz convention Center at about 10:30 PM. As I did, I passed the Chronicle's Miller and said "I'm heading out." Miller, striding back to his seat in the press area, said "Must be nice."

Maurice Clarett Gets Picked by Denver

It turns out I left before the real blockbuster news of the day occured -- later at just after 11 PM. Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, who dared challenge and lost to a system that blocked freshman college players, was picked in the Third Round by The Denver Broncos. This was a total surprise to many, but I thought it was a smart move by the Broncos and for an unconventional reason: the guy will sell tickets.

Look, Maurice Clarett's been on television so many times, he actually can claim to draw ratings higher than a tennis match featuring Anna Kornikova. This should gain the attention of even the most jaded of sports marketers. The first preseason game Clarrett plays will be a television event -- it may even sellout because the sports media will point to it as a "must see" game. If the Broncos are clever, they will tell his story on their website and draw more traffic because of the content. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Oh, yes, I do think Maurice Clarett will do well to the tune of about 700 yards rushing for the season, should he stay healhty. Not a bad start. (An update on Clarrett - After being drafted by the Broncos, he didn't make the team, being cut after Training Camp on August of 2005. His agents worked to get him signed by another NFL team, but as they were doing that, he was reported -- but not yet convicted -- of robbing a couple at gun point. For more information, see the SBS NFL Business Blog

(Breaking News: Maurice Clarett Arrested Again, see Maurice Clarett is a Tragedy

NFL Draft Day Two

I arrived at 9:37 am, and must to my surprise, there was still a crowd of fans for Day Two. Not as large a crowd, but a nice sized group at any rate. Used to the facility's layout, I walked passed them, through the main doors, and down to the ballroom.

Sunday was a much quieter experience and a welcome change from the organized chaos of Draft Day One. What does remain is the constant play of music from NFL Films -- "march" music that sets the tone for the Draft. It's to the point that I hum some of the tunes as I work.

The small number of fans here -- I estimate about 330 people -- have been grouped into a tight formation of seats close together for ESPN's live telecast. The ESPN stage is still there, only today the television team's different. Gone are Chris Berman and Tory Holt. Replacing them are the very popular Suzy Kolber and Sean Salisbury. But Chris Mortensen and ESPN's Draft Day star Mel Kiper remain.



'Mel Kiper On The Morning of Draft Day Two

ESPN's Mel Kiper

I had the opportunity to speak with Kiper for a moment. He informed me that ESPN "takes care of providing the research staff for me. I don't have to worry about that stuff." So ESPN's constructed a kind of infrastructure around him. What's interesting to me is -- of all the Draftniks in New York and the country -- how ESPN came to invest in Kiper. I mean I know there's an official story. But I wondered what the "unofficial" story was? For the answer, I turned to Bill Chachkes.

Bill explained that Kiper was hired by ESPN in the 80s, and essentially emerged as the best candidate of three NFL Draft experts: Dave "TE" Thomas ("TE" because he played tight end in college), the late and legendary Joel Buschbaum, and Kiper. Of the three, Kiper was the most "telegenic" as Chachkes put it. Buschbaum could have had the job, but the kind of personality required for TV wasn't his. Thomas -- again according to Chachkes -- was also well known, but not the most popular person. From ESPN's point of view, Kiper was the best investment.

But my intepretation of Chachkes explanstion is this is a New York Story. All three "Draftniks" -- Kiper, Thomas, and Buschbaum -- are New Yorkers. ESPN's origins are in New York, and their current headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut are essentially just a freeway drive from Manhattan. Moreover, the NFL's headquarters are in New York. And one must consider that the Internet was in no way a central part of our lives as it is today. Now, one can live in San Francisco and still work for a New York based firm. Not then. So, rather than reach for an expert in another part of the country, the local supply proved to be just fine. And Kiper was picked from that group.



NFL.Com's Gil Brandt

The Famous Gil Brandt

Another Draft expert here is NFL.Com's Gil Brandt. Yes, famous. As personel director for the Dallas Cowboys during the "America's Team" years, Gil created much of the scouting process and evaluation techniques that are used by pro teams today. He's the first to insert computers and psychological evaluations into the overall activities of gathering information about potential draft choices. Thus, it's no surprise that the first thing Brandt showed me after exchanging greetings was a matrix comparing Colts Defensive End Dwight Freeney with Georgia and now Cincinnati Bengals DE David Pollack, where height, weight, span, 40-times, "cone-times" and other physical measures were listed. The two players were remarkably similar, except in the cone drill, where Freeney was better by about 3-tenths of second. That can be the difference between a defensive end tacking a running back or missing the tackle.

Another Falling QB: Adrian McPherson

Today's falling QB story in these halls is that of Adrian McPherson. Like Rodgers, he was projected as one of the top quarterbacks in this draft. And like Rodgers, he's falling far below the place -- in this case the second round -- where many thought he would be drafted.

McPherson's now-well-told-gambling problem has undoubtedly jinxed his chanced of being drafted in the top four rounds -- as I write this, we're three-fourths of the way through the Fourth Round of the Draft -- but in many people believe he's by far the best QB still available. A poll of ESPN website visitors revealed that 72 percent saw McPherson as the best passer still available. But down he goes, as teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers pass him for linebackers like Brady Poppinga out of Brigham Young and Virginia running back Alvin Pearman. In fact, he's dropped all the way to the Fifth Round so far, and the Niners passed on him with the first pick in this round, taking Ronald Fields, a defensive tackle from Mississippi State.

And he's still falling. The Niners, Chiefs, Bears, and Bucs have picked someone else. So considering that he was projected as a Second Round pick, McPherson's officially freefalling. Just how far down he will go is anyone's guess, especially since Dan Orlowski was just taken as the 145th pick by Detroit. Then, just as I let the ink dry on that last sentence, New Orleans drafted him with the 152nd pick. A steal in the view of some.

And here's another quarterback who's stock has fallen. I'll give you a hint: he was the NCAA's 2004 passing leader. Give up? It's Hawaii's Timmy Chang. This Run-and-Shoot quarterback is still undrafted. Why? The reasons vary from arm strength to height. However, he was a four-year starter for the Rainbow Warriors and rewrote NCAA, WAC, and school records. But with all of that, Chang has company: Oklahoma Sooners Quarterback Jason White.

White, the Heisman Trophy Winner of two years ago, wasn't even a mention among the top quarterbacks in this draft. He, like Chang and a set of other notables is on his way toward Free Agency.

In the case of Chang and White -- unlike McPherson -- poor Indianapolis Combine and post-season College All Star Game performances were the reasons given for their fall. Speaking of Chang, DJ Doyer of Draft.Com reported that he didn't play very well in the Senior Bowl because he was slow to pick up the standard pro offense that was used.

Chang stared in a "Run-and-Shoot" system employed by the Rainbow Warriors.

But what, then, was the reason for White's fall? Some player development observers have noted that White's success was more a function of the Sooners overall talent than White's individual skill. So, stripped of his protective skeleton of great players and coaching staff, he was left to swim in the waters of the NFL combine and didn't. He sank...

The 2005 NFL Draft -- Part 5

Brianna Keilar: A Formula for Success

MTV-U's Brianna Keilar

In the room, I got a plate and sat down right in front of a television and not far from a young woman who was really all by herself, but near the room's door; by contrast people were tables far away from the door in groups. Between bites of food and television glances, we started a conversation.

Brianna Keilar's a 2001 Cal-Berkeley grad and a television personality who some of you may recognize if you're students. She's regularly seen on MTV-U and is a New York Correspondent for CBS News. At 24 years old, she's off to a great start on a promising career that could see her as a national news anchor, a dream she realizes requires years of hard work.

(Brianna's now an anchor / reporter on CNN!)

Brianna Keilar Gets More Airtime | Brianna Keilar and Kyra Phillips | Brianna Keilar On CNN Saturday | Brianna Keilar Now CNN Anchor | Brianna Keilar At 2005 NFL Draft | Hybrid Cars

But what Brianna understands, and what we talked about for a time, are the importance of relationships. In her case, she got her start as an intern at Oakland-based KTVU in 2001 and was helped by (now former) station executive Kenny Wardell, who was also of great assistance to me in opening KTVU's library for my video crew to use as part of their work on our Super Bowl Bid. So, yes, we had a small world conversation.

Brianna credits Wardell and sports anchor Joe Fonzy for being good friends and teachers. But what she does well is establishing and maintaining relationships and seizing opportunities when they emerge. That's how she came to be a New Yorker enjoying the professional and personal advantages of being in the media industry in a media capital.

Still, with all of the great stories she has, there is the occasional mishap: "I'm here (in the room) because my photog's battery died right in the middle of my interview with (Miami Cornerback and new Cardinals's First Round pick) Antrel Rolle!" But after our conversation, she was back out in the main room, mic in hand with the "photog's" camera in working order.

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers was still undrafted. Arizona, Washington, Detroit, Dallas, San Diego, New Orleans, Carolina, Kansas City, Houston, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and St. Louis all passed on him, and many people around me felt he was in freefall and one person even speculated that he may not even make the first round at all. So, I took a trip to "Draft Fan Central."

The NFL Draft Fan Central

The league established this new part of the Draft not only to give fans something to do during a long day, but to serve as a kind of "catch spill" in case the fan crowd grew beyond the main ballroom's capacity to handle it. I was impressed with the setup. There were a number of things to do: America Online's webcast was presented there, one could challenge a friend at one of EA Sports' Madden NFL game centers placed in various areas, or one could pretend to be an NFL football announcer, or get New York Jets' Linebacker Jonathan Vilma's autograph.



The Ultimate Draft Critics


Talking with Draft Fans

If NFL player autograph's were not one's interest -- I've never wanted one, personally -- one could just hang with their friends, as a group of locals were doing when I walked over to ask them about their thoughts on the First Round to that point. All of them had an opinion of Matt Jones, the 6 foot 6 inch, 4.3 40-yard dash quarterback-about-to-be-turned-tight end who was the 21st pick in the First Round by Jacksonville. "He was a quarterback," said John (yes, just John), "wasn't good enough to be a quarterback. I would not take him this high. I mean he's an athlete, but not a football player."

As we finished talking, it was announced that Baltimore selected Oklahoma wide receiver Mark Clayton. John's group erupted with cheers.

Cal's Aaron Rodgers Finds a Home...Finally!

My conversation complete, I returned to my seat in the main room just as Oakland, which had just acquired Seattle's 23rd pick in the First Round, was on the clock. I really thought the Raiders were going to pick Rodgers, but they didn't, selecting Nebraska Cornerback Fabian Washington instead. The crowd was shocked. "By trading that pick to Oakland, Seattle did the Packers a huge favor," observed Bill Chachkes. What followed was a kind of spiritually surreal scene as it seemed that everyone in the room knew -- not expected, but knew -- that the Green Bay Packers were going to choose to draft Aaron Rodgers. You could hear people whispering his name before the card was sent to the head table.

When Commissioner Tagliabue stepped forward to announce just that, the room erupted with applause. Some fans in the stands gave a standing ovation, and almost everyone in the press area clapped. The room itself breathed a sign of relief.

As soon as Rodgers emerged from the Green Room and onto the main stage, I got my pad and headed for the Interview Room. I knew it would be packed, so I wanted a choice seat. I got one. The Cal signal caller's ordeal was the talk of the room, so everyone wondered how he was handling this. After all, he was suppose to be the Number One pick.

There were various reasons given for his drop to the 25th pick. Scott Parker said that the 49ers had Rodgers rated higher than other teams and so when the 49ers didn't select him, he fell to the Packers, who needed him. Chachkes, who's NL Scouting organization charts players bound for the NFL Draft, said that Rodgers private workouts were not that good. I don't agree with him about that, but the reason may rest in his personality. Rodgers is a confident young man, and it may be that his approach could have been off-putting to the 49ers. Rodgers is a take-charge kind of person, and some people don't know what to do with an approach that plays better in New York than in,..well, San Francisco.

Take his interview, which can be seen in full with a click here. Asked if he realized he was now the Number Two quarterback taken, Rodgers replied "I still think I'm the best quarterback in this draft." And one of the reporters cracked "I agree." Rodgers believes he's good, and in Bret Fare, he's about to work behind perhaps the most confident quarterback in the NFL.



Rodgers At The Podium

Aaron Rodgers: A Happy Man's Family

I must report that as Rodgers came into the Interview Room, it filled to standing room only. Rodgers family and friends -- all wearing Packers caps, came into the room about 30 strong. Even NFL officials like PR Director Greg Aiello came in to take a listen. It was an experience. Everyone was happy for him, but none more than his family.

After his interview, I talked to members of Aaron Rodger's family about their experience with the newly chosen Packers Quarterback as he went from being the media's consensus pick by the San Francisco 49ers just three weeks ago, to a literal free fall from the Number One Pick to the 25th Pick in the First Round. His cousin, who talked on condition of anonymity, remarked that she "Almost lost it" after Arizona, which had the 8th Pick in the First Round, didn't select Rodgers.



Some of Rodgers' Clan

A Happy Family

The family is very happy that Rodgers became a Packer, but not a little displeased that he was not selected by the 49ers. Either fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the 49ers and Packers don't play each other this season. But because both teams are in the NFC, they will play each other often over the next 10 years. So, today the seeds were planted for the growth of a new NFL quarterback rivalry.

Before I close the Rodgers matter, I have to report a conversation I had with his cousin. We talked about why he was leaving Cal, and I asked if he was having a good time at Berkeley. "Well, Aaron doesn't really like Berkeley," she said. "I think he was ready to go." That's too bad. Aaron came from a junior college in 2003 and didn't have the chance to enjoy being Cal's BMOC, unlike his nemesis, USC signal caller Matt Leinhart who has spent all of his college years at USC and elected to remain in LA rather than join Rodgers in the Draft. Consider that just last November, Rodgers was being mobbed as he was waving a Rose after Cal clobbered Stanford in the 2004 Big Game. Now he's gone.

After the Rodgers clan departed, I went back to my seat to take a break. The first round ended at 6 PM, and lasted almost six hours. The Second Round was less eventful by far until the Jets fans made themselves known..

The 2005 NFL Draft Part 4

Back to the Scene

After the Smith selection the expectation was that Rodgers might be drafted by the Miami Dolphins but they selected Auburn's Running Back Ronnie Brown. Cleveland took Michigan's standout wide receiver Braylon Edwards to join Miami Tight End Kellen Winslow Jr., in what should become a dangerous receiving corp (if Winslow stays healthy and off motorcycles). Then, Chicago brought in Texas Running Back Cedric Bentson, which was expected. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach John Gruden traveled to Berkeley to look at Rodgers in passing drills, and raved about him in the press, so many expected that they would take him. Instead, the Bucs grabbed ball carrier Carnell "Cadillac" Williams from Auburn. So, Rodgers continued to fall. SF 49ers Alex Smith



Introducing Alex Smith

I was seated in the Interview Room, as this was happening. The first interviewee was Alex Smith, preceded by his large contingent of family members and friends. Finally, Smith entered the room to an ovation and camera clicks. When asked what 49ers Coach Mike Nolan said to him, Smith reported that the new coach had "made his decision a long time ago." Auburn and Miami's Ronnie Brown.



Auburn's Ronnie Brown Speaks

After the Smith interview, I stayed in the Interview Room to hear the words of Miami's new ball carrier, Ronnie Brown. He's got a lot of pressure on him, as the Dolphins, still reeling from Ricky Williams' discovery that he loves weed more than pigskin, need a back with his talent. Asked if he was concerned about the possibility of Williams' returning to the Dolphins, he remarked "Not at all. I'm going to go down there with an open mind as far myself going in and establishing a position on the team." The full ASAPSports Ronnie Brown interview can be seen with a click here.

Sports Agent Scott Parker's New Firm

After Brown's interview, I walked back to the main area and then to get some water, when I ran into an old friend, Scott Parker. Scott was well-known sports agent Leigh Steinberg's right hand for several years, and eventually became the head of what was then Steinberg, Moorad and Dunn's Berkeley office after his practice expanded to Newport Beach. As the name changed from that to Steinberg and Moorad, Scott's role increased, and he even moved the office from Berkeley to San Francisco (where he lived). After the much-reported court battle between Leigh and David Dunn , Leigh established Steinberg Enterprises in Newport Beach.

(As a note and as of this writing on April 24th, the case is going back to court. The appeals court judge just threw out Steinberg's $45 million jury award on a technicality, according to Pro Sports Group.)

In 1999, when I approached Leigh to ask for his help in our effort to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland, he specifically instructed me to contact Scott. Parker was one of the first board members of the Oakland Alameda County Sports Commission and a steady player and a tremendous person. Since then, we've kept in touch, but it seems we run into each other at the weirdest places. The last time I saw Scott was at Leigh's Super Bowl party in Houston in 2004.

When Scott recognized me, he chirped "Man, I run into you everywhere. The Bus Stop (a tavern on Union Street in San Francisco), now here. How's it going?" Scott was carrying his ever present large briefcase of material walking about 20 feet behind Cedric Bentson, his client who was just selected at the First Round Pick of the Chicago Bears, and the Fourth Pick in the draft. A nice coup for his new company Legacy Sports Group. "Yeah,"he reported," I just negotiated to buy what was left of Leigh's old business, and now we're working."

Working indeed. The signing bonus for players selected in Bentson's position is commonly between $5 million and $10 million. So, the total payoff from a contract of about $40 million over six years should be between $1.2 million and $2 million for Scott's firm. That's not Scott's hypothesis, it's mine. Hairsplitting aside, it's a nice start. Scott rushed off to keep up with his client, who was on his way to a breifing with NFL officials. The Raiders' Woodson In the Spotlight.



Charles Woodson

Just after my conversation with Scott, I walked into the corridor next to the main ballroom and right into the bright light of a camera owned by San Francisco's KPIX Channel Five. Their sports anchor Dennis O'Donnell was in the middle of an interview with the dapper Oakland Raiders Quarterback Charles Woodson. I didn't wait for them to finish the interview, because I knew the Raiders wouldn't succeed in trading him and I knew what Charles was really in New York for already: two large star-studded parties, one held at the ESPN Zone the previous night that I was told were "off the hook" to use hip-hop lingo; that night I skipped both for dinner at the 21 Club.

Michigan and The Browns' Braylon Edwards.



Braylon Edwards

Not far away from Woodson was the Brown's new receiver Braylon Edwards, himself in the middle of another TV interview. Of all the players Edwards is the one who really seems to enjoy the spotlight. Edwards would be a great fit for some sports TV show in the future. Maybe he'll get one of his own in Cleveland. (The full Braylon Edwards interview can be seen with a click here.)

ESPN's Darren Rovell: One of the Best



ESPN's Darren Rovell

So, I took just a few steps away and literally ran into another good friend: ESPN's Darren Rovell. Darren's the best sports business journalist on television, and does as good a job at it as he does maintaining a healthy supply of gel in his hair. I had to tease him about it.

Darren was about the business of "shadowing" Todd France, the sports agent who runs France Athlete Management Enterprises in Atlanta, and who has Auburn's and now Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown and Auburn's and now Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers, and the Card's pick Andrel Rolle as his clients. I wonder if Darren knows that in late 2003 France was accused of stealing 16 clients including Priest Holmes? It will be interesting to see what Darren comes up with, the question is will his editors at ESPN use it? I feel ESPN doesn't really understand how to cover the sports business, and so Darren's not as much a part of their TV presentation as he should be.

As Rovell was following France, a TV crew was with another First Round pick, the Bears' Cedric Bentson (The full ASAPSports Cedric Bentson interview can be seen with a click here.) , and not far away was Parker, watching the proceedings. I went to grab a bite to eat in the media lunch room, where I could also check on the progress of the draft and Aaron Rodgers, in particular... more..

Niners On The Clock

The draft officially got underway with the announcement that the San Francisco 49ers had the first pick in the draft and were on the clock. "Yes, as you can see by the picture, the clock is just like the ones you see at every football game.

Finally, after waiting and joking with Chachkes and the group of guys I call the "Back of the Pack Club," Commissioner Tagliabue stepped forward to say "And with the First Pick in the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Utah Quarterback Alex Smith." Some cheers and a few hoots of surprise went up; mine was one of the hoots and this was true for the Back of the Pack Club. Why?

Scouts,Inc., perhaps the most respected player evaluation organization in pro football, had Rodgers ranked ahead of Smith. As recently as three weeks ago, Rodgers was the consensus lock to be the pick of the 49ers.

And from a marketing standpoint, it just plain made sense. If the 49ers had picked Cal's Rodgers he would have been the first quarterback in NFL history to be the Number One pick in the First Round by the team that's in the same metropolitan area as the college he went to. You know what that means? Instant ticket sales as "Old Blues" (Cal Alumns) and the entire population of Chico, CA -- where Rodgers is from -- come out of the woodwork to see their guy play for the Niners.

A 49ers Digression

But this isn't the first time the 49ers have picked an outsider over a local. They did it in 1997, selecting Virgina's Jim Drunkenmiller over local Cal Quarterback Pat Barnes, even though then-49ers coach Steve Marriuci coached Barnes at Cal in 1996. That was a real head-scratcher to me. It was like admitting that you really didn't do well with your prized student after all -- in fact Barnes set several Cal records under Marriuci and with essentially the same offense the 49ers used, nomenclature and all.

Someone said Drunkenmiller , like Smith, had a stronger arm, yet he failed in his role as 'the next Montana / Young SF QB.' As Dennis Miller would say, "I don't want to go on a rant here,.." but arm strength is only important if you're going to overthrow a government -- and even then, I'm not so sure it means much. If you're comparing the top 20 quarterbacks to be drafted, their arm strength is not going to be so different that it's worth fighting about. Besides, you don't want someone who's too strong, anyway. They made not be coachable when teaching the art of the short pass is in order. Plus, and to make matters worse, there are conflicting views on Rodgers' and Smith's arm strength, so you know it's not a trustworthy claim.

For example, the same comment about "weak arm strength" was made about Rodgers versus Smith during the Draft -- issued by ESPN in one of the worst examples of anti-intellectualism I've ever seen on their website. By contrast, Scouts,Inc. made the opposite claim: that it was Smith and not Rodgers who suffered from a weak arm, because he "never had to throw deep" in the Utah system. So, which is it? You know what? There should only be one view on this subject, not conflicting ones. Yet, the simple fact that there are shows you just how far talent evaluation hasn't come. The industry's got to get it's act together.

Look, I'm biased. I've seen Rodgers play. A lot. I've seen Smith play. A little. I went to Cal, and since Sports Illustrated Senior Writer and friend Mike Silver isn't here, I can say I'm the most feverent Cal supporter in the room. I'm pro-Rodgers, but he gives you reasons to defend him, like an NCAA-record 26 straight completions in 2004. And he did this at Cal, in the 49ers backyard - the Bay Area.

Let's see. We've got an organization concerned about it's fiscal health, right? What better decision to make to sell more tickets than to hire the local hero? You tell me? I like the 49ers, I like the staff and the braintrust. I especially like John York and Denise DeBartolo York (because they were so open and helpful to me when I was working on the Super Bowl: Oakland Bid from 1999 to 2001). I like Alex Smith ( His ASAPSports interview can be read with a click here). His family's really nice. But I don't think he's the best fit for the 49ers.

The Niners should have signed Aaron Rodgers before the draft and saved us from all this drama, signaling the birth of a new, aggressive management style in the process, and causing a spike in ticket sales. But, as you will learn, Rodgers ended up in a better place... more..

How a Draftee's Name Gets Called

While I was next to the stage, I took time to record the process by which a name gets called to be the "whatever round" pick of a team. It works like this: First, the team -- let's say the San Francisco 49ers -- has 15 minutes (or a quarter in football lingo) to decide who they're going to select.

Two giant football-style clocks count down the seconds. If a team fails to make a pick during that time span, they must pass and the next organization in draft order has 15 minutes to make a selection. This is called being "On the clock."



It's Starts With The Team Table

Second, the team's representatives, including (depending on the team) the owner, general manager, head coach, and player personnel staff, are not in New York at the Draft, they're at the team's headquarters. It's from here that they call in their selection to their representative at the team table. Washington Redskins team representatives are in the foreground in the first picture shown on this page.



...Then The Name Is...

Third, the team's representative -- which range from a friend of the organization to a young employee -- write the name of the choice on a card. NFL and CSC events employees pick up that card and carry it to the NFL's main operations table. (NFL SVP Frank Supovitz is the leftmost person above.)

Fourth, from that table and to its left, the card is passed over to a bank of NFL staffers that enter it into a computer system to be recorded.

Finally, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is given the name of the draftee. He steps out of his room backstage and onto the main stage to read the selection to the ballroom and TV audience. The Commissioner does this work only for the First Round, he then gives way to NFL Director of Operations Gene Washington for subsequent rounds on Saturday, and then other NFL officials for the final rounds on Sunday. Then, there's the event that comes with the selection of "Mr. Irrelevant." But we'll get to that later.

The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock.

The First Round Surprise -- At least to me and the "Back of the Pack Club"

The Worker: Jay Glazer

Not far away from Sugar and Firestone, was Fox Sports Radio Personality Jay Glazer, shown with me in the third picture above. I'm really proud to say I met Jay at my first NFL Owners Meeting, the Fall 1999 gathering in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, where I was to meet with the Super Bowl Policy Committee. We met at Knuckles Sports Bar, where Jay gave me a candid view of the NFL, the Oakland Raiders, NFL politics, and the uphill battle I faced in working to bring a Super Bowl to Oakland. At that time, Jay was a little known sports reporter for CBS, but a very hard worker. Glazer was at every NFL meeting, and seemed to have his cell phone on and either at his ear or at the ready. In fact, if you look at his right ear, you'll noticed Jay's plugged in.

Now, with Fox Sports, Jay's hard work has really paid off. He's not only doing a radio show for Fox, but has been an occasional guest on the TV show "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period." Jay's a living example of the view that relationships and hard work do pay off.

Not far from Jay, as they were just conversing at the time, was another legend, Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman. Placed prominently in the front row of Press Row A, "Dr. Z" as he's called is a walking NFL Draft History Encyclopedia, and so well-repected that other journalists, like San Francisco Chronicle NFL Writer Ira Miller had their notepads at the ready, crowded around his seat like Jedi Knights taking lessons from Master Yoda.

At that point, my objective was to be in the right position to take pictures of the first round pick -- I thought it was going to be Cal's Aaron Rodgers -- as he approached the podium. So, I walked through the team table areas to position myself next to the other photographers near the podium and stage and wait.

A few moments later, the top six draftees invited to the NFL Draft were introduced. I took a photo of Auburn's Ronnie Brown and Cedric Bentson of Texas, and then waited for the quarterbacks to step forward.

I maintained what I later realized was a very luxurious place for some time before Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers emerged from the behind-the-curtain Green Room (where the draftees sit before they're called to the stage), taking pictures until an CSC events representative -- who remembered me from my trip to the 2000 Super Bowl in Atlanta -- very politely informed me that my badge didn't allow me to stand in the "TV Photo" zone of the room, which was right next to the stage (remember I was still a little confused with respect to where I should be). So, I moved back to a comfortable place next to the Fox Sports Radio table, took more photos, then returned to my seat in an effort to avoid the growing crowd near the main stage. I figured the Niners were going to draft Rodgers anyway, and it occurred to me that if I really wanted a good picture of him, I could get it in the Interview Room...

The 2005 NFL Draft - Part 2

"How do I find my seat?" I asked. She was only too helpful and showed me a map of the room, where areas were blocked out by name. "Come with me, I'll show you." And so she walked me over to my row, which was the next to last one near the rear of the Press Row. The way the room is designed, it was a great place to be. I'll explain why, later.

My table afforded a great view of the proceedings, but being so early I felt a little lonely. All that changed as a seat one abreast away from me was occupied by a writer for a local New York sports magazine, and the seat immediately next to me was filled by a man with an English accent who kept an ear piece connected to a kind of cell phone in his left ear the entire first day of the draft. He was so silent, and I was such the busy social media butterfly, that I never bothered to ask him what he was doing. Bill Chachkes (foreground) and The Draft Experts.



The Back of the Pack Club

The number of silent neighbors rapidly dropped to a minority level with the arrival of Bill Chachkes and John Murphy of NLScounting.com, and`Mike Adkins, Luke Irwin, DJ Boyer, and Jesse Ballard of www.Draft.com and www.Draftstudio.com, all in the first photo on this page. Of all, Chachkes -- in the foreground above -- was the most talkative. Bill's a 29-year NFL Draft veteran, or what some people refer to as a "Draftnik." (To read my interview with Chachkes, click here.)

Bill quickly introduced himself and we hit it off. What started the series of conversations was his comment to me that I "can't be all bad, you're using a Mac. I've got the one that came before yours." So, Bill briefly told me about NL Scouting and what they do in the area of player talent evaluation. But our conversation quickly turned to observations about members of the growing crowd of people. Among them was a guy sporting a Fedora, a rather loud hounds tooth jacket, a very large cigar, and a very expressive personality.

"Say," I asked Bill, "Isn't that (HBO Boxing Analyst) Bert Sugar over there with the cig?" "Yeah," cracked Bill, "He owes me two cigars from a dinner I took him to." Chachkes, ever the cigar aficionado, then promised to bring me one of his favorite cigars from his humidor. "I should go over and get my two cigars from Bert," he said. I wondered aloud if Sugar would give me one -- not that I'm a regular smoker -- far from it. "Go over and ask him," directed Chachkes. Bert Sugar, Me, and Roy Firestone


Fun With Bert and Roy

So, I walked over to a place next to the left side of the team table area, and managed to smoothly insert myself into a conversation with Sugar and HBO, ESPN, and -- that's right, as he was in the sports business picture Jerry McQuire -- movie star Roy Firestone (we're all in the first picture on this page; I'm the guy in the middle). Bert was just about to tell a joke I can't repeat for this article. After he told it, we all got a good laugh and I asked Sugar for a cigar. "For you, of course!" He said. A reward for listening to a joke well-told. It was all in fun.

Firestone was in good sprits. He was at the Draft working on behalf of America Online, hosting an online program. Roy has a new show called "Face to Face with Roy Firestone," with sports guests like NBA Coach Hubie Brown and Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis. But Roy says that they'll have musicians and artists on the show, too. As we talked about the program, Roy agreed with my description of the show as kind of like "Terri Gross' Fresh Air, but for television." He has a website at www.royfirestone.com

The ballroom is stuffed with media legends. In addition to Firestone, the ESPN Draft Day Team of Chris Berman, Chris Mortensen, and Mel Kiper are doing their show from a podium stage just 50 feet to the right of me.

Finding My Seat

I must admit to not a wee bit of confusion after I came into the room. I didn't know where to go, even though my badge read "Press Box Area A and Interview Room." See, the whole experience was such a shock to my visual system, that I didn't see the signs marked "Press Box Area A." Plus, even though people were still not seated, they were filing in, and NFL and CSC Events personnel, Javitz reps, ESPN people, celebrities, and well -- you name it -- were walking in, out, and round the room.

As a result, I felt kind of like Han Solo guiding the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field: I didn't know where people were coming from next, or where I was supposed to go. So I walked further and deeper into the room, past ushers and light stands and bleacher seats, until I came to the team table area. So, even more confused, I asked a bespectacled brunette woman -- who had an "NFL: Draft" clipboard and the good sense to wear earth tone colors similar to mine -- for assistance.

Onward to The Scene

10 pounds heavier from the books, my badge allowed me to walk down the escalator and past an army of security people and along a long green walkway to the large double doors leading to the ballroom.

Click here to post your thoughts on the SBS NFL Message Board

Walking into the ballroom was a sensory experience, not unlike that of a boxing match. One is first struck by powerful beams of light from above, made all the more intense by the lack of lights to fully illuminate the room itself. The spot lights point to various parts of the room: the NFL Draft podium and stage, the team table area, and the ESPN Sports television staging area. Then there are even more"fill" lights for the stage itself. It's immediately clear, even to the first-time draft attendee, that this is a made for TV event. You would be forgiven if you thought you walked into the staging of a heavy weight professional fight.

Thanks to Frank Supovitz, SVP of Special Events for the NFL, Greg Aiello, Vice President of Public Relations of the National Football League, and Leslie Hammond, VP of Media Relations for the NFL, I was able to cover the 2005 NFL Draft. Here's my account - Zennie Abraham, Chairman and CEO, Sports Business Simulations.

The 70th National Football League Selection Committee meeting held at Jacob J. Javitz Convention Center is an American slice-of-life, and one example of why the NFL is the most successful sports organization in the World.

My objective in coming to my first draft was to give SBS visitors a"behind-the-scenes" view of the event. When I was preparing for my trip to New York and the Draft, I could not find any account of what it was like to attend this meeting online. Oh, sure, there are sentences here and there, but nothing that gives one the feel of what it's like to be here. This article should change that. I've always enjoyed Vanity Fair Columnist Dominic Dunne's work (even though I don't always agree with him), so I thought I'd play him at the NFL Draft. NFL Draft Fans at Javitz Entrance.



Javitz Arrival

I arrived at the Javitz Convention Center at 10:15 Saturday morning and stepped out of my cab to a throng of football fans waiting to get in. No, they didn't have to pay; the league provided ticket passes on a first-come, first-served basis.

Confused about the entry point for the media, I asked a couple of security people who then guided me inside. Once there, I walked over to the media check-in table, where one of the NFL's representatives gave me a large folder of materials: two large binders containing bios on each college football player being considered by the 32 teams of the NFL, along with two equally large, yet stapled, books containing news clips on each player. I also received a pass that permitted access to various areas on the main floor of the ballroom housing the NFL Draft, and the Interview Room adjacent to it.

Breaking down the draft Pt3-rounds 2 and 3

So who were those players taken late on Saturday during this past draft? Why will most of them stick around longer in the NFL then a few of the first rounders?

Everyone is still talking about Kevin Kolb’s selection at #36 to the Eagles, but what was more noticeable to me was that 2 more QB’s came right off the board over the next 7 picks (John Beck of BYU at #40 to Miami and Michigan State’s Drew Stanton at #43 to Detroit). I was surprised that ten QB’s were chosen over the two days when this was considered a weak draft for the position. Weaker still was the class of Running Backs, yet 23 were chosen over the entire 2 days of the draft. 23! I feel that all five of the round 2 and 3 selections at RB will contribute to their teams. Brian Leonard (Rutgers-#52 to the Rams) will have an impact as a change up guy for Steven Jackson. You can expect Kenny Irons and Chris Henry selected back to back by the Bengals and Titans, to also be early contributors. I was shocked to see Tony Hunt last as long as he did into the third round.
The most selected draft choice this year was DB, where exactly 50 were chosen. That could mean 2 things. Either every NFL team needed Defensive backfield help or the Positions were deep with talent. Round three saw the biggest run of one position, receiver, in any recent draft I could remember. At one point 7 of 8 picks in a row were Wide Outs, with the 8th being a Tight End. Four OL’s who slipped down into round two were Arron Sears, the Tenneesse OG who fell to Tampa, OG Justin Blalock of Texas who went to the Falcons, and Tony Ugoh , the Arkansas OT who went to the Colts, as well as USC OC Ryan Kalil , who went to Carolina at #59. Ugoh was the most interesting of these three, as he had been rated a mid-to-low first rounder at one point.
He had slipped due to a poor pro day workout and a lack of work ethic. By the same token on the other side of the pit, Alan Branch had the same issues, and he only slipped to the first pick of the second round. I even commended The Cardinals early on day two for grabbing two pit studs (Levi Brown at #5 and Branch at 33, even though I feel Brown still went a bit higher then he should have).

Out of 1500+ Draft eligible players, maybe 1/3rd of those are capable of playing at the next level in some way, shape or form (NFL, CFL, AFL AFL2, or NFL Europa). Of those 500, 255 were drafted, so what about the others? They are UDFA's (undrafted free agents) and over 200 of them have already been signed to teams, including 13 with the NY Giants. In our final installment of Breaking down the draft we will examine these UDFA's, and wrap-up our Coverage with some info on day two players. We will then begin to prepare for the 2008 Draft, while shifting our focus to the 2007 College and Pro seasons, and of course, Fantasy Football and it's relationship to all of this. Again please, anyone with a comment or Question, I can be reached at: bill@fieldposition.com

McNabb breaks silence on Eagles draft

By ROB MAADDI, AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb had the same reaction most fans had when the Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback Kevin Kolb with their first pick in last month's NFL draft. "It was shocking," McNabb said Tuesday in an interview on WIP-AM radio.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the draft on April 28-29, McNabb downplayed the perception he's upset the Eagles selected his eventual successor.

The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback also said his rehab is going well following surgery for a torn knee ligament and he expects to play in the preseason.

"When you draft somebody at the position you're in, of course you have questions of 'What does that mean?'" McNabb said. "The most important thing for me is to make sure I'm healthy and 100 percent and get back out there competing and do the right thing on the field."

McNabb met with coach Andy Reid soon after the draft, but wouldn't reveal details of their conversation. He doesn't have to worry about his starting job, especially since backup Jeff Garcia signed with Tampa Bay after leading the Eagles to the NFC East title and a playoff victory last season.

"If I'm healthy, it's my job," said McNabb, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 11 last season.

The 30-year-old McNabb has led the Eagles to four NFC championship games and a Super Bowl loss in eight seasons in Philadelphia. He's finished the regular season on the sidelines three of the past five years.

"I don't think I'm close to the end of my career," McNabb said. "People say when you hit 30, it goes down hill. I think it gets better after that. It's unfortunate I've been hurt the last few years, but things happen."

The Eagles traded out of the first round and chose Kolb in the second round with the 36th overall pick. Kolb threw for 12,964 yards, 85 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in four years at Houston. He passed for 3,808 yards, 30 TDs and only four picks last season.

"I think Kevin Kolb is going to do an excellent job for us," McNabb said. "I'm going to try and help him as much as I can. I'm sure he's going to do great. I look forward to working with him this weekend."

The Eagles open their first minicamp on Friday. McNabb won't participate in practices, but will be working out at the practice facility. He said he isn't sure if he'll play in the preseason opener on Aug. 13, but expects to be ready for the second or third game.
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Really Donovan?? your worried about Kevin Kolb?? You should be having NO Trouble sleeping at All!!!

On Thursday, April 26th, Wil Mara, Bill Chachkes, and I headed over to an establishment called "Merchants NY" after the NFL Media Lunch at Chelsea Piers. There, in the cigar bar, we met Wade Burch, the executive chef at Merchants and a man with an interesting background. He severed as chef for EDS Founder and CEO Ross Perot, Tom Landry, the first Head Coach of The Dallas Cowboys, and Jerry Jones, the current owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Over cigars, Wade told us exactly what he thought of all three men, based on his personal contact with them in his role as chef.

It was eye-opening, and provides a view to why former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells may have left the Dallas Cowboys.

In the video, Wade starts by explaining that he wasn't very happy with "The Tuna" as Parcells is referred to, in response to Wil Mara's question. "I think he gave up too soon, but I think there were some mitigating circumstances we don't know about. I can only know from having cooked for Mr. Jones 25-odd times and the way he treated me (and I was born in Arkansas) he treated me like shit. He tried to treat me like one of his employees and I wasn't;. He's not the sweetest guy."

By contrast, Burch expresses complete admiration for Perot and Landry, two legendary figures in Texas pop-culture.

Burch's rant about Jones gives a unique view into the inner workings of the Cowboys organization and essentially points the finger at the football organization's head man -- and not Terrell Owens -- as the reason for the departure of Parcells. This window may also explain why Jones has gone through so many coaches during his tenture as Cowboys' owner. By stark contrast, Clint Murchison, the founder of the Cowboys had one coach -- Landry -- from 1960 to 1985, when he sold the team to a group led by H.R. "Bum" Bright.

As my Great Uncle Louie would say if he were still with us, “New?”, which is a Yiddish slang greeting for What’s new. If he were around today and he asked me that I’d tell him how I lost my voice Working at the Draft. Being an Eagles fan with South Jersey roots, Uncle Lou might have said “So vat about this Kolb? He’s so good that he’s a 36th pick?” So my question to our readers and listeners: Is Kevin Kolb really worth the 36th pick? Is Ted Ginn the 9th Pick? Is Anthony Spencer the 26th Pick?

I can’t really argue much with Picks 1-8. The level of talent is in line with those choices. The same can be said for most of the rest of the first round, with the exception of the Packers Pick of Justin Harrell, who was a low 1st to high 2nd rounder. In breaking down the 1st round I don’t see any other outrageous selections. I do see teams that went safe, for the sake of being safe. Get It? Again, as we like to say, any grade you give a teams' Draft class right now is just too premature. Skill Players take 2 to 4 years to develop, and “Pit” players 3-5 years. So giving a draft grade now on a player who has yet to show his full potential is just wasting time. You CAN grade a team’s draft now as far as value in relation to the slot of that pick.

Some other observations: I thought the Saints gettting Meachem at #27 was a steal, and the Jets pulling the deal on Revis took guts, as well as jumping ahead of the Steelers to get their home town college star. Not that the Steelers made out so bad either. Smart teams will always have a plan B (and C and D and E) regarding when a player they zeroed in on gets drafted in front of them. Timmons was plan “B”. Some teams didn’t bother with “lets see who the next best player is at that position” but rather, “the Next best player available”.

While the trend is leaning towards more and more draft day or just pre or post draft dealings, are these trades really worth making? Who makes them? When Oakland got a 4th for Randy Moss on Sunday, did they settle for less? Or did they know that the market for talented but head cased wide outs was a 4th round pick? One NY based but nationally known scribe trumpeted Monday “lets just give the Pats the title now” Why? Playing the games means that little? One thing that struck me as funny this past weekend was that teams began “reaching” for “project” type players much sooner then in years past.

Next post: breaking down the second and third rounds…..

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.

Browns welcome Brady Quinn home
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

AP PHOTO/TONY DEJAK
Cleveland Browns' Brady Quinn , right, arrives along with his girlfriend, Lindy Slinger, at the Cleveland Browns facility, Sunday, April 29, 2007, in Berea, Ohio.
BEREA, Ohio — Brady Quinn stepped out from behind the black limousine's tinted windows into brilliant Sunday sunshine. He wore blue jeans, a zippered windbreaker and a Browns baseball cap. He was dressed casually, if not for the occasion.

"I think he was just worn out from wearing that suit all day yesterday," said tackle Joe Thomas, Quinn's new teammate.

One day after his stunning slide in the first round became the biggest story of the NFL draft, Quinn began a new chapter in his storied football career.

Passed over by 20 other teams, Quinn was introduced at a news conference by the Browns, the team he dreamed of playing for as a kid and the one who passed over him to take Thomas at No. 3 before trading up to select Notre Dame's golden-armed quarterback.

Quinn spent four agonizing hours Saturday waiting in the wings at Radio City Music Hall for his name to be called. With national TV cameras trained on him sitting backstage, he smiled and tried to make the best of an awkward situation as team after team chose other players.

Booed at first, the draftniks on hand in New York began to sympathize with Quinn as the clock painfully ticked on.

"It's the Notre Dame quarterback thing, love 'em or hate 'em," Quinn said.

The biggest day of his life quickly became a nightmare for the 22-year-old, who ran around his backyard as a boy pretending he was Browns iconic QB Bernie Kosar slinging touchdown passes in front of an imaginary Dawg Pound.

But just when it couldn't get bleaker, the Browns saved Quinn. They gave Dallas a second-round pick this year and first-round pick in 2008 to move up and take Quinn with the 22nd pick.

Now, it's Quinn's turn to save the Browns, who have been mostly luckless losers in the eight years since their expansion return.



He's ready for the challenge.
"I'm accustomed to coming into a new situation and changing the attitudes and the way people think," he said. "I want to change the way people feel in the fourth quarter when there are two minutes left and we have the ball at the 20. I think it's a big thing that people don't understand.

"You have to keep believing. It's never OK to lose."

Quinn's free fall through the first round may have damaged more than his reputation. It likely cost him more than $25 million in guaranteed money, a fact he dismissed as easily as sidestepping a blitzing linebacker.

"If you are successful in the NFL, you're going to make money," he said. "It's not a big deal. I'm not a guy who comes from a lot of money. I'm a blue-collar, hardworking kid and for me it's a dream to be drafted in the first round."

Quinn came to Sunday's affair not thinking he needed to dress up. But when he saw Thomas, who skipped a draft-day trip to New York to go fishing, in a pinstriped suit, Quinn broke out a sport coat, slacks and tie.

His decision to change delayed the news conference.

"We thought it would be his girlfriend getting ready," joked general manager Phil Savage. "We made you wait yesterday, and you made us wait today."

Quinn will be looked upon as a savior in Cleveland, expected to carry the Browns back to greatness.

He's used to the heavy lifting. As Notre Dame's starting QB for four years, every move he made was scrutinized by the school's worldwide fan base. There may be no tougher job in college football - other than coaching the Fighting Irish - than quarterbacking them.

Quinn feels his pressure-packed collegiate career will serve him well.

"Notre Dame prepared me as best as it could have," he said. "When you look at the aspects of playing nationally televised games and the competition week in and week out. I was dealing with the media from Day 1. Obviously, there were times in my career where we started losing and that's when you feel the heat.

"I've been through the fire and adversity, and that's a positive for me."

Another plus was playing under coach Charlie Weis, who before going to Notre Dame helped develop Tom Brady into a Pro Bowl quarterback and Super Bowl champion as New England's offensive coordinator.

Although the Browns are months away from possibly naming Quinn their starter, Weis believes it's a foregone conclusion.

"I don't think this guy has to go to a program and be groomed for a year," Weis said. "If there was ever a quarterback who was ready to go for the last two years, it's him. He's got hammered in the last two years by me so he can take it by anybody."

Not long after being picked by the Browns, Quinn was whisked to Cleveland in one of owner Randy Lerner's private jets. He arrived at the team's headquarters late Saturday night, weary from a long, emotional day.

But when he walked through the front doors for the first time as a Brown, all the anxiety and embarrassment he may have felt in New York were replaced by a soothing calm. Quinn knew he was home.

"It felt amazing," he said. "In the draft, after I got passed by the Browns, I didn't think they were going to come back and get me.

"Once I got here, it felt real."