Here we see Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long get selected "number one" by the Miami Dolphins, then meet the media in the Interview Room downstairs.

Dr. Bill Chackhes, SBS Personality, and Managing Partner of Football Writers Online.com took time to talk with me about the 2008 NFL Draft. Bill is a 34 year NFL Draft veteran; 22 years as a credentialed media member.

More about Bill here:

http://www.sportsbusinesssims.com/bill-chachkes.htm

US Army Cadet Caleb Cambpbell has been selected by the Detroit Lions in the 7th Round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Amid Cheers by the fans of his Name and "USA USA" as he was interviewed he explained to us the new policy of the service academies allowing their "Cadet Athletes" to compete in professional sports.

Wait for Zennie's Video.....

According to NFLMedia.c, there are 450 people representing the credentialed media here, or...I'll let them tell it:

NEARLY 450 MEDIA – not including ESPN and NFL Network – are on site at Radio City Music Hall in New York City to cover the 2008 NFL Draft.



That includes 13 of the top 20 newspapers; media from 12 states plus the District of Columbia; television outlets such as ABC News, CBS News and CNN; international media from England and Japan; and non-sports media such as Forbes, the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal.

The Chad Pennington Era may finally be over in New York, as the Jets have just selected University of Tennessee QB Erik Ainge. He has shown tremendous promise throughout his career, ranking third in school history behind only Casey Clausen and Peyton Manning, with 6,107 total offensive yards. Ainge will join the crowded QB group with Kellen Clemens, Marques Tuiasusupo, and Pennington.

The 2008 NFL Draft is bigger and better in terms of media coverage -- or at least media demand for coverage -- but it has just a few steps to go in terms of being perfect online.

The NFL Draft produced one major headache that the league came through and solved expertly -- the Wifi issue. For some reason Internet access was next to impossible, but then it was solved and the channel dedicated for use worked like a charm.

What happened was what has happened in years past: between Draft Rounds 1 and the middle of 2, it got overloaded with computers, cell phones, PDAs, and perhaps some android who's plastic brain's tapping into the system.

Whatever the case, it was hell.

In my view, solving this overload problem should be number one on the NFL's list of "things to do" for the 2009 NFL Draft.

We are at Day two of the draft. So far we have not seen any reay surprises, except for the superbowl The New York Giants chose Mario Manningham The WR from Michigan who admitted he had experimented with "substances" in his past, yet has a world of talent. Some had him rated in the Top 50 players overall in the entire country in this class, and anywhere from the 2nd to the 6th receiver in the class. Several other draft experts we have spoken to about Manningham this morning, including Tony Pauline of the TFY draft report disagree with the selection based on his decline during the 2007 season. He ranks 4th all time in school history in TD catches with 27. Hopefully for New york, he will have a career much like his middle name, cashmere.

Agent Ian Greengross On The Thursday Before the Draft talks about character and the chance of a holdout should the Raiders draft McFadden.



Agent Greengross after the Raiders pick McFadden and McFadden Press Conference



Darren McFadden Interview after press conference

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.

It’s Time for the NFL DRAFT-Are you ready?


Lets make no mistake about it. Even though Jake Long has already been signed by the Miami Dolphins, there is still plenty of intrigue going on this morning. Someone is trying to swing a deal with someone else for a top ten selection over their big breakfast this morning. Could the Rams be willing to trade down to the #10 spot so the Saints could jump up and tag some defensive help like Glenn Dorsey, the home grown home town boy with the college championship under his belt? Could the Rams then be willing to trade down again with a team trying to get into the top 10? What will New England do at #7? I’d love to be in the war room at just about any team right now.

We will also post Audio Interviews as we get them at blog.footballreportersonline.com

If you have draft questions shoot us an e-mail at askdrfootball@gmail.com which we will check every 30 or so mins. after 4:30 pm eastern.

In this video I asked Mike Mayock for his view on why the New England Patriots passing game was not copied by more NFL teams and the idea that the college passing game is catching up in complexity to the NFL passing game.

I talked with former Cal and 49ers Head Coach and now NFL Network Personality Steve Marriuci at the Chelsea Piers Lunch for the NFL Draft in New York City. Steve and I talked about the West Coast Offense and to what degree it was being used around the NFL, and Coach Bill Walsh's legacy in this area.

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.

My friend, Yahoo! Sports Michael Silver waxes intelligently and hiliariously on the NFL Draft, race and racism in it, Gene Upshaw and the players union, and Cal sports.

Please visit blog.footballreportersonline.com for the Audio Interviews conducted at Thursday's NFL DRAFT MEDIA Lunch. They include: Jake Long, Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Darren McFadden, Glenn Dorsey, Matt Ryan, and NFL Network's Marshall Faulk.

I talked with Chicago-based NFL Agent Ian Greengross about his client Darren McFadden's perceived character issue and the chance that if the Oakland Raiders drafted him, he may holdout given their revenue problems. Greengross said that in all of this years as an NFL agent, none of his clients have missed training camp.

The Football Reporters Online Mock Draft
We like to think we are a little different. That we think “outside the box so to speak”. With that premise, here is our Roundtable Mock as of 12 am on April 24th.
The Mock Draft Roundtable was conducted without team trades.

Participants-Mike Ingram-Black Athlete.com, Shawn Zobel-Draft Headquarters.com
Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online & SBS-NFL Draft Magazine Blog, Frankie Underwood-Football Reporters Online and Fantasy Football Journal, and Ralph Garcia-Football Reporters Online.

1-Dolphins-Jake Long-T-Michigan- (Shawn) - Miami worked out a contract with Long so he is the pick here.
2-Rams-Chris Long-DT-Virginia- (Mike) Rams not only need pass rushers but also core players on defense after years of "The Greatest Show of Turf" hype.
3-Falcons-Matt Ryan-QB-B.C.-(Ralph) The Falcons must make a pick at QB that will help them over the next ten years. Matt Ryan
4-Raiders-Glenn Dorsey-DT-LSU- (Frankie) I don’t believe the Raiders will draft McFadden, but by drafting Dorsey they can move Kelly back to Def. End.
5-Chiefs-Ryan Clady-OLT-Boise St. (Bill) A Bit of a reach at #5 but K.C. wants to win now, and they need the O-Line improved.
6-Jets-Vernon Gholston-DE/OLB-Ohio St. (Shawn) Because of the feud between the Jets and the Patriots, New York will go with Gholston here.
7-Patriots (fm 49ers)-Keith Rivers-LB-USC (Mike) Pats LB group was too old and, unlike the Pats vs. Giants D' Rivers would push back.

8-Ravens-Sedrick Ellis-NT-USC- (Ralph) The Ravens go with the logical choice in Ellis.
9-Bengals-Darren McFadden-RB Arkansas (Frankie) Besides the fact that McFadden has fallen too far, Cincy has trouble keeping their RB’s healthy.
10-Saints-Phillip Merling-DE-DT-Clemson (Bill) His motor is always on. Very busy in the pit keeping OL’s tied up.
11-Bills-Devin Thomas-WR-KR-Michigan St. (Shawn) The Bills have
reached for players in the past because they have them high on their boards. With their need at wide receiver, I think that this pick makes a lot of sense.

12-Broncos-Chirs Williams-OLT-Vanderbilt (Mike) Plug him in, plug him in. A 10-year starter, barring injuries. He is polished with great technique.
13-Panthers-Derrick Harvey-DE-Florida (Ralph) Harvey fits in well with defensive scheme.
14-Bears-Branden Albert-OLG-Virgina (Frankie) The Bears need a QB, but not this high, they already have too much invested in RBs, but OL depth is always important.
15-Lions-Sam Baker-OLT-USC (Bill) With Williams, Albert & Clady gone, Baker is the next best OL left on the board.
16-Cardinals-Leodis McKelvin-CB-RS-Troy (Shawn) The biggest need is in the secondary making McKelvin the pick.
17-Vikings-Jeff Otah-OLT Pitt. (Frankie) Jackson needs time to develop and Otah could provide that time.
18-Texans-Felix Jones-RB-Arkansas (Ralph) Time for Houston to "think outside the box" and go with Jones. He Averaged 100 Yards per every 12 touches.
19-Eagles-Kentwan Balmer-DE-North Carolina (Mike) My gut says this will be one of the deepest receiver classes since '96; so there will be good quality down the line. Speaking of the line, how about a big Play Big Guy to give Mike Patterson some backup and needed bulk along the D-line.
20-Bucs-Malcom Kelly-WR-Okalahoma (Bill) Tampa’s WR’s are getting old, so here is a shot of “Youth” for their offense.
21-Redskins-Limas Sweed-WR-Texas- (Shawn) The Redskins really like Malcolm Kelly, however with him and the top offensive and defensive linemen off the board, I think that they turn to the next best wide receiver.
22-Cowboys (from Cleveland)-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie-DB-Tenn. st. (Mike) The Boys need defensive backfield help and the talent is in the bloodlines here.
23-Steelers-Mike Jenkins-CB-RS-S.Fla. (Frankie) While Pittsburgh does need help on the O-line, all the Quality is gone. Corner is also a need that a former DB coach will recognize.
24-Titans-DeSean Jackson-WR-RS-California (Ralph) Young needs a receiver and that man is the versatile DeSean Jackson
25-Seahawks-Rashard Mendenhall-RB Illinois (Bill) He has fallen so far the Seahawks would be foolish to pass on him. Could develop into a threat in the ‘hawks offense.
26-Jaguars-Quentin Groves-DE-Auburn (Shawn) Quentin Groves DE Auburn: The Jaguars have a desperate need along the defensive line. With Balmer off the board, they take Groves.
27-Chargers-Dre Moore-DT-Maryland (Mike) 'Bolts add some credible depth in getting some help for super nose man Jamal Williams.
28-Cowboys-James Hardy-WR-Indiana (Ralph) With Jackson gone to the Titans the next best WR is Hardy.
29-49ers-Calais Campbell-DE-Miami (Frankie) 49ers still need to solidify the Defense and Campbell could only help.
30-Packers- Aquib Talib-CB-RS-Kansas (Bill) Green Bay is developing a solid Group of D-Backs. Could this be the icing on the cake?
31-Pats (forfeited)-
32-Giants-Jerod Mayo-OLB-Tenn. (Shawn) Giants go with Mayo here. They clearly need help at outside linebacker and Mayo is on fire.

This year's NFL Draft will not include any extensive suspense or excitement at the top pick as the Miami Dolphins have agreed to a multi-year contract with former Michigan Wolverine offensive lineman Jake Long.

The contract is five years in length and guarantees Long $30 million with the potential to accrue as much as $57.75 million.

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

NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS TAKE PART IN EVENTS THROUGHOUT

NEW YORK CITY PRIOR TO 2008 NFL DRAFT



NFL Draft Prospects Who Will Be In New York For The 2008 NFL Draft:



GLENN DORSEY, Defensive Tackle, Louisiana State

VERNON GHOLSTON, Defensive End, Ohio State

CHRIS LONG, Defensive End, Virginia

JAKE LONG, Tackle, Michigan

DARREN McFADDEN, Running Back, Arkansas

MATT RYAN, Quarterback, Boston College



THURSDAY, APRIL 24



9:30AM - 10:35 AM



* NFL Players, DRAFT PROSPECTS AND NeW YOrK CITY YOUTH COME TOGETHER IN CENTRAL PARK FOR NFL PLAY 60 YOUTH FOOTBALL FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY NIKE LET ME PLAY



Players will help public school students stay active for 60 minutes a day, as part of the NFL PLAY 60 youth health and fitness campaign and Nike’s Let Me Play program. Kids will learn NFL FLAG drills alongside players and have the chance to talk about their healthy habits. Clinic will take place at Rumsey Field/SummerStage, Central Park (media entrance on 72nd and Fifth Avenue) from 9:30 AM to 10:35 AM.



11:15 AM - 2 PM



* NFL DRAFT LUNCHEON AT THE LIGHTHOUSE AT CHELSEA PIERS



Doors open for the NFL Draft Media Luncheon at 11:15 AM, with NFL Network talent (analysts Charles Davis, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Mike Mayock) made available at 11:30 AM. Prospects will be made available from 12:00 noon to 12:45 PM, at which point lunch will be served until 2 PM. Chelsea Piers is located on West 23rd Street and the West Side Highway (on the Hudson River).



Those credentialed to cover the 2008 NFL Draft may pick up their credential at the Draft Luncheon. A government-issued photo ID must be shown.



Media planning to cover this event are to confirm their attendance via email to EventCredentialHelp@NFL.com.
2:15 PM



* NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS ATOP RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL MARQUEE



Photographers will be able to capture photos of NFL Draft prospects atop the marquee at Radio City Music Hall. Radio City is on Sixth Avenue between 50th and 51st streets. Photographers will shoot from the west side of Sixth Avenue across the street at the players atop the marquee.



In the event of rain, this photo op will be held on Friday (4/25) at 4:15 p.m.



FRIDAY, APRIL 25



12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM
• NFL DRAFT PREVIEW AT THE WINTER GARDEN



Prospects will be featured at this free public event, emceed by NFL Network’s Jamie Dukes, at the World Financial Center (225 Vesey Street). A photo riser will be reserved for cameras in front of the event stage. No street parking is available.



2:15 PM – 3:15 PM



* NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS To VISIT With CHILDREN AT The MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER



Prospects will visit with pediatric patients in the Kravis Children’s Hospital at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. Players and the patients will meet in ‘The Zone,’ a state-of-the-art therapeutic play and educational environment for children and families funded by Troy Aikman, Garth Brooks and others in the Kravis Children’s Hospital.



Mount Sinai Medical Center is located at 1184 Fifth Avenue (at 99th St) and the Kravis Children’s Hospital is on 1st Floor.

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.

April 16, 2008

Flacco Keeps Defying Odds As His Draft Stock Rises

By Jon Wagner Football Reporters Online Writer

NFL draft history says most NFL teams will tend to shy away from drafting smaller-school college football players, especially when it comes to the all-important quarterback position.
However, don’t tell that to quarterback Joe Flacco, who is now regularly mentioned as a possible first-round pick alongside much bigger-name quarterbacks such as Boston College’s Matt Ryan, Louisville’s Brian Brohm, and Michigan’s Chad Henne.
Hailing from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) ranks, the Audubon, NJ product has turned a brief two-year college career at the Colonial Athletic Association’s University Of Delaware into a great chance at being only the third non Division I-A quarterback selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft since 1984.
Flacco’s road to that point was a journey that required both a lot of belief in his own ability, and a lot of patience while waiting for the chance to prove to others that he could ultimately play at an NFL level.
Although Flacco was a top high school recruit, he threw all of four passes during his first two years of college eligibility. After being relegated to the bench as a redshirt freshman at I-A Pittsburgh, in 2004, Flacco sought more playing time by transferring to Delaware. He was forced to sit out his sophomore year though, when Pittsburgh refused to release Flacco from his scholarship.
Finally, in his junior season, as a starter at Delaware, Flacco began to garner attention. His Blue Hens struggled in 2006, going 5-6, but Flacco completed 63 percent of his passes, for 2,783 yards, while throwing 18 touchdowns and ten interceptions.
Flacco then had his breakout year last season, as a senior. He was recognized as the CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Year, while completing 64 percent of his passes for 4,263 yards, finishing his college career setting 20 different Delaware passing records.
Those are all great accolades and numbers for sure, but were they NFL-worthy, even NFL-first-round-pick worthy, in a non-BCS program? Flacco knew NFL scouts likely wanted to see leadership, a capability to play well in big games, and an ability to protect the football (as important as the turnover ratio is in NFL games).
Flacco delivered on all accounts.
In his senior season, Flacco threw 23 touchdown passes and just five interceptions, including six touchdown passes and no interceptions in the postseason. He led Delaware to three playoff victories, en route to the 2007 FCS championship game against Appalachian State. Flacco led the Blue Hens to an improbable 39-27 quarterfinal win at heavily favored, top-seeded, and top-ranked Northern Iowa last year, throwing for 312 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. That impressive performance was followed up by throwing for 243 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Delaware’s 20-17 semifinal upset at fourth-ranked and second-seeded Southern Illinois.
In January, after an injury to Brohm, Flacco was invited to replace Brohm and play in the Senior Bowl with the likes of Henne, USC’s John David Booty, Tennessee’s Erik Ainge, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, and Kentucky’s Andre Woodson.
Although Flacco was only 2-for-7 for 22 yards, no touchdowns, and 1 interception in that game, he later demonstrated some resiliency against the same high-profile quarterbacks he played with, and against, at the Senior Bowl.
Flacco was invited to participate in the 10th College Football All-Star Challenge during Super Bowl XLII week in Arizona. Going against Ryan, Henne, Booty, and Brennan, Flacco showed off his arm strength, winning two challenges, including the long toss pass, with a pass of 74 yards.
Now, less than two weeks before the NFL draft in New York, April 26-27, Flacco is widely regarded as the quarterback possessing the strongest arm in the entire draft.
Still, Flacco had to further prove himself to those who are more likely to tout the higher-profile quarterbacks from BCS schools.
One of Flacco’s biggest attributes and strengths—his size—caused doubters to question his mobility and agility.
However, the 6-6, 235-pound Flacco put those doubts to rest as well, at the February combine in Indianapolis, when he recorded a time of 4.84 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had the fastest time in the 3-cone drill, and the second fastest time in the short shuttle.
Can Flacco crack the top two or three quarterbacks selected in this year’s NFL draft? We’ll find out soon. Given all that Flacco’s already overcome and all of the times he’s already answered his critics, don’t bet against it.

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