NFL DRAFT Remains in NYC for at least 2009-but no movement on NFL network coming to CableTV
If you look at the NFL.com Website you can clearly see that The dates for the Draft are posted (April 25th and 26th 2009) and Listed as "Radio City Music Hall" in NYC.
In the past i had said i felt it should be moved around some. But after talking with Fans the last two drafts i have done an about face. Maybe the NFL should sign a long term agreement with Radio City (oh, but that would mean they'd be going back on their word and Jumping back into bed with Radio City's owner "the Evil(yeah right) James Dolan of Cablevision). The clear fact is that the NFL Owners are the ones keeping the fans from having the NFL Network (and even the Sunday ticket) on Cable, and not James and Charles Dolan. Ask NFL Brodcast comm. chair Jerry Jones(the same one who owns the Cowboys) why they are trying to get Cablevision into court to force them to carry the channel on Basic cable? Because not all that many people are running out to get Directv or dish network (or even Fios) so fast...So i'm Glad the Draft will stay in NYC for at least one more year, and on Cable TV Via ESPN G_d Bless Chris Berman's Voice...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
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DRAFTING STRATEGY: PREMIUM POSITIONS V. SKILL POSITIONS
DRAFTING STRATEGY: PREMIUM POSITIONS V. SKILL POSITIONS
By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online
In recent drafts some teams don’t focus as much on the premium positions (QB, DL, including pass rushing linebackers & OL) but rather look for skill players with great athletic ability or for hybrid type players who can create mismatches. Additionally many teams seem to be drafting more need based than value based. There are more than a couple of ways to win in the NFL but the greatest chance for success comes from focusing your resources on the premium positions. A team cannot have an 8-10 year run of high level football, like the Colts, Eagles or Pats, without a great quarterback, the ability to protect that quarterback and disrupting the other team’s quarterback. You can have a couple of good years and even win a super bowl but you have no chance at a dynasty. Aside from giving you the best chance to win those positions are premium in that they have longer shelf lives than the skill positions.
There is no prevailing wisdom on which positions are most likely to produce a bust in the NFL. Every position has produced top picks that have busted and late round picks that have become great. I used to hear that drafting a quarterback in the top five and having him bust will set the franchise back five years. I don’t buy it. Most of the teams in the league have learned to manage the cap well and can overcome a bad selection much quicker. The important thing is not to let a bad selection cloud your judgment during a later draft. The Bengals, with a history of ineptitude, didn’t allow the failure of Akili Smith to dissuade them from drafting Carson Palmer.
In a league littered with injuries, contract disputes and salary cap issues, I don’t agree with the idea of using a top draft pick on a lesser quality player because there’s a need at that position. You can never have enough depth in this league. Regarding quarterbacks, the reality is too many teams seem content to move forward with average or below average players at that position. Not having a dire need for a player at a specific position doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an attempt to improve it, particularly if it can be done at a premium position. Furthermore I am a believer that competition brings the best out of athletes. When you have a quality guy at a position and you use a high draft pick for a player at the same position chances are it will motivate the first player.
In this year’s draft the Raiders could have selected Darren McFadden or Glen Dorsey. If they weren’t concerned about Dorsey’s health they should have drafted him. Last year the much criticized Texans did the right thing by picking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. The explosive skill players excite the fans but ultimately are less important when it comes to winning.
By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online
In recent drafts some teams don’t focus as much on the premium positions (QB, DL, including pass rushing linebackers & OL) but rather look for skill players with great athletic ability or for hybrid type players who can create mismatches. Additionally many teams seem to be drafting more need based than value based. There are more than a couple of ways to win in the NFL but the greatest chance for success comes from focusing your resources on the premium positions. A team cannot have an 8-10 year run of high level football, like the Colts, Eagles or Pats, without a great quarterback, the ability to protect that quarterback and disrupting the other team’s quarterback. You can have a couple of good years and even win a super bowl but you have no chance at a dynasty. Aside from giving you the best chance to win those positions are premium in that they have longer shelf lives than the skill positions.
There is no prevailing wisdom on which positions are most likely to produce a bust in the NFL. Every position has produced top picks that have busted and late round picks that have become great. I used to hear that drafting a quarterback in the top five and having him bust will set the franchise back five years. I don’t buy it. Most of the teams in the league have learned to manage the cap well and can overcome a bad selection much quicker. The important thing is not to let a bad selection cloud your judgment during a later draft. The Bengals, with a history of ineptitude, didn’t allow the failure of Akili Smith to dissuade them from drafting Carson Palmer.
In a league littered with injuries, contract disputes and salary cap issues, I don’t agree with the idea of using a top draft pick on a lesser quality player because there’s a need at that position. You can never have enough depth in this league. Regarding quarterbacks, the reality is too many teams seem content to move forward with average or below average players at that position. Not having a dire need for a player at a specific position doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an attempt to improve it, particularly if it can be done at a premium position. Furthermore I am a believer that competition brings the best out of athletes. When you have a quality guy at a position and you use a high draft pick for a player at the same position chances are it will motivate the first player.
In this year’s draft the Raiders could have selected Darren McFadden or Glen Dorsey. If they weren’t concerned about Dorsey’s health they should have drafted him. Last year the much criticized Texans did the right thing by picking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. The explosive skill players excite the fans but ultimately are less important when it comes to winning.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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A PERSPECTIVE ON EARLY SEASON QB INJURIES
A PERSPECTIVE ON EARLY SEASON QB INJURIES
By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online
As soon as it was confirmed that Tom Brady was done for the year there was an apparent comparison to the Vinny Testaverde injury in 1999. Not to compare Testaverde to Brady but each team was favored to win their conference and each lost their QB for the season in the first half of the first game.
There is a distinct difference between the two scenarios. The Jets came into the 1999 season looking for their first super bowl in thirty years, coming off a tough loss to Denver the previous year in the AFC championship game. Elway chose to forego a potential three-peat and retired leaving the Jets as the AFC favorites. The season shattered with the Testaverde injury and no proven backup on the roster. By the time Parcells made the move to Ray Lucas it was too late to get into the playoffs. In essence the Testaverde injury ended the short Parcells era and pushed the franchise back into a struggling state.
For the Patriots this is another challenge to a team that has dominated the league for the last seven years. During this run they have already banked four super bowl appearances and three wins. Not to say they wanted this to happen but the coach and the veteran players on this team (Seymour, Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, Faulk, Light, etc.) have to be intrigued by the prospect of winning without Brady. Regardless of this season’s outcome the Patriots are still in the middle of their run with no end in sight.
The Vince Young injury created an opportunity for the Titans. The Titans made the playoffs last year in spite of Vince Young not because of him, with Young’s struggles continuing in the first game of this year. After an exceptional rookie year the league has caught up to Young, proving again that for a QB in the NFL your legs can only take you so far. There is no question that before the injury the Titans were going to have to consider pulling Young for Collins at some point this year if the struggles continued. It didn’t take long for Coach Fisher to say that Collins is his QB as long as they are winning Without speculating on Young’s emotional state and whether or not that is what prompted Fisher’s comments it is clear that they’re patience was running thin with Young.
The Chiefs need to move on from the Brodie Croyle experiment. Even if Croyle can play at this level he is too injury prone to rely on. The Chiefs should pick in the top five and Matthew Stafford should be the only guy on their first round draft board.
Alex Smith’s injury ended any hopes of him living up to his draft status with the 49ers. Starting another unproven quarterback there was a hope that Smith would have one more crack at being the guy. Now Smith’s season is over, he’ll likely be cut in the offseason and will probably be lumped with the high pick QB busts (Couch, Leaf, Akili Smith, Shuler, Mirer).
Kyle Boller going down with an injury just pushed forward the inevitable of Joe Flacco starting. Even if healthy, Troy Smith was only going to be a short stop-gap for the Ravens. The Ravens are again trying to figure out a position they never seem to have success with.
By Danny Zyskind for Football Reporters Online
As soon as it was confirmed that Tom Brady was done for the year there was an apparent comparison to the Vinny Testaverde injury in 1999. Not to compare Testaverde to Brady but each team was favored to win their conference and each lost their QB for the season in the first half of the first game.
There is a distinct difference between the two scenarios. The Jets came into the 1999 season looking for their first super bowl in thirty years, coming off a tough loss to Denver the previous year in the AFC championship game. Elway chose to forego a potential three-peat and retired leaving the Jets as the AFC favorites. The season shattered with the Testaverde injury and no proven backup on the roster. By the time Parcells made the move to Ray Lucas it was too late to get into the playoffs. In essence the Testaverde injury ended the short Parcells era and pushed the franchise back into a struggling state.
For the Patriots this is another challenge to a team that has dominated the league for the last seven years. During this run they have already banked four super bowl appearances and three wins. Not to say they wanted this to happen but the coach and the veteran players on this team (Seymour, Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, Faulk, Light, etc.) have to be intrigued by the prospect of winning without Brady. Regardless of this season’s outcome the Patriots are still in the middle of their run with no end in sight.
The Vince Young injury created an opportunity for the Titans. The Titans made the playoffs last year in spite of Vince Young not because of him, with Young’s struggles continuing in the first game of this year. After an exceptional rookie year the league has caught up to Young, proving again that for a QB in the NFL your legs can only take you so far. There is no question that before the injury the Titans were going to have to consider pulling Young for Collins at some point this year if the struggles continued. It didn’t take long for Coach Fisher to say that Collins is his QB as long as they are winning Without speculating on Young’s emotional state and whether or not that is what prompted Fisher’s comments it is clear that they’re patience was running thin with Young.
The Chiefs need to move on from the Brodie Croyle experiment. Even if Croyle can play at this level he is too injury prone to rely on. The Chiefs should pick in the top five and Matthew Stafford should be the only guy on their first round draft board.
Alex Smith’s injury ended any hopes of him living up to his draft status with the 49ers. Starting another unproven quarterback there was a hope that Smith would have one more crack at being the guy. Now Smith’s season is over, he’ll likely be cut in the offseason and will probably be lumped with the high pick QB busts (Couch, Leaf, Akili Smith, Shuler, Mirer).
Kyle Boller going down with an injury just pushed forward the inevitable of Joe Flacco starting. Even if healthy, Troy Smith was only going to be a short stop-gap for the Ravens. The Ravens are again trying to figure out a position they never seem to have success with.
