Just Some Notes on the Draft:

First off, let me say that I love the new format. I was not sure what I thought about it being segregated in to three days (First day round one, Second day round two and three, Third day round four five and six), but the tams seemed to like it for the purpose of evaluation and decision making, and it was kind of exciting as a fan to have time to get excited again each day.

Second, it was a great day of surprises, trades, and suspense. Russell Okung falling to the 6th pick, Time Tebow being taken in the first round, Dez Dryant falling to Dallas, Jimmy Clausen taken late in the second by Carolina, and many more made it emotional and exciting.

Third, the Seattle Seahawks had one of the best drafts I have ever seen. The best offensive tackle in the draft (Russell Okong) fell to the 6th overall pick, and maybe the best safety in (Earl Thomas) was still there at 14th. Then if that wasn’t enough, they managed to get Golden Tate (WR) in the second round, arguably one of the top two wide receivers in the draft. What a year.

Lastly, it was a great opportunity to see the human condition at its best. There is nothing like seeing young men’s dreams come true. The tears shed with family and friends over the culmination of their life’s work is a moving experience. I am excited and happy for each of them, and wish all the best success.

Happy Draft Day!!!

Well my friends, we have just a few days before the 2010 National Football League Draft. Here at True Football Fans, we are so excited we can hardly stand it. In fact, me and my friends can seem to talk about anything else. We have got the stage set. We all have our mock drafts done. We have talked a lot of crap, we have ironed our jerseys, we have the number for Dominos on speed dial. Got a frig full of beer. And now we are waiting like little kids under a Christmas tree for that most joyous day of the year.

I guess that is kind of the point I am trying to make here. The draft is such a great day. Football fans from all teams gathered. No reason to hate each other for one day a year. Good feelings about the next season. Reasons to have hope. Excitement over trades. It really has become a kind of holiday for me and many of my fellow True Football Fans. We look forward to it as much as the Super Bowl.

So let me just extend my season’s greetings to you. May all your hopes come true this draft. May your team get all the players it wants (except for those my team wants). Have fun, relax, and eat way too much. Happy draft readers.

Who Got the Better Deal

So there was another huge move made in the National Football League this week as the Denver Broncos traded Brandon Marshal to the Miami Dolphins for two second round picks (the 2010 45th overall pick, and next year’s second round pick.

A quick evaluation. I think this was a good move for both team. I know that it is hard to believe that is ever a good idea to trade away a franchise player like Brandon Marshal, but it isn’t likely that the Broncos were not going to get a deal done with him. If they would or could, it would have happened by now, and Marshal would have been a free agent next year. Better to get something for the guy than nothing since the Broncos are not a contender right now.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I would have made the move if I was Josh McDaniels, but I wouldn’t have traded Jay Cutler either. Since he decided to rebuild that team as his own, he has done a great job of getting a lot of good draft picks from which to draw new talent, and this is a nother move in that strategic direction.

It was also a great move for Miami. To get a player of Marshal’s caliber for two seconds is a steal. He is one of the most talented wide receivers in the league. Some teams spend countless picks, including first round picks, trying to get a guy like him. He also makes that offense on its way to being totally complete. They have their future quarterback (Chad Henne), the left tackle of the next decade and a half (Jake Long), their running back (Ronnie Brown) if he can stay healthy, and the now the wide receiver (Bradon Marshal).

So who got the better deal?...Time will tell.

Has Justice Ben Served?

So I know there are going to be 8 billion blogs posted on this subject, if there isn’t already, but I just wanted to make sure someone is addressing both sides of this issue. The Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holes trade to the New York Jets.

I know there are 8 billion bloggers and sports analysts condemning the Ronnies(Steelers owners) and the Steelers right now for the way they are treating Holmes who recently got his second drug possession charge, but how they are not treating Ben Roethlisberger who just got his second accusation of sexual misconduct. Look, I know it looks bad to come down on Holmes the way they did and Ben hasn’t been reprimanded yet, but there are some distinct differences to take into consideration before passing judgment.

First, Ben has not been convicted of any crimes. I know it looks bad, but innocent until proven guilty. Now I am not saying he hasn’t made some bad decision, he has, but he has not broken any laws he has been proven guilty of. Holmes has.

Second, the Steelers were probably looking to get rid of Holmes any way. Mike Wallace emerged last year. Ward is under contract for the next few years. They drafted Sweed in the second round two years ago and still are hoping he develops. They just pick Randle El back up. And holes was due 8 million dollars, they probably weren’t going to retain him anyway with his troubles and they could use the cap space (assuming there is ever another cap).

Third, the Ronnies have been a staple of fair and equal treatment in this league for year. They are staunch advocates of minority hiring and have been a bright spot of ownership in the NFL for decades. Give them the benefit of the doubt here and know Ben’s time will come.

Booms Bust Steals & Rip Offs

So here it is. The 2010 National Football League Draft Boom, Bust, Steal, Rip Off list. This is a short list of those players that are going to live up to expectations (Booms), fail to meet expectations (Bust), are going to way out perform their draft status (Steals), and those that are no worth their draft status (Rip Offs).

Booms:

Russell Okung – This guy has it all. The feet, the feel, the size and the experience. He will be the next Joe Tomas.

Dez Bryant – The best looking receiver since Calvin Johnson. He has all the physical tools. The hands, the concentration, the speed, agility, acceleration, size. If it wasn’t for some media trouble he would be a top 5 or 10 pick.

Bust:

C.J. Spiller – Here is a lack of options pick. Spiller is a good back with a little bit of everything, but he doesn’t have that 1 thing. You look at all the good backs in the league and they do it all well, but the best have that one thing (LT’s vision, AP’s explosion of speed and power…)

Taylor Mays – Here is the next Roy Williams (Cowboys Safety). He is extremely one dimensional, and that just doesn’t work in the NFL. Safeties, even strong safeties need to be somewhat versatile, and Mays is not. He would be better suited for an outside linebacker position if he could gain another 25 lbs. Either way, he is going to bust at safety.

Steals:

Eric Berry – This guy is the next Troy Palamalu or Ed Reed. He has it all. The coverage skills. The hard hitting mentality. The intellect. The speed. Even though he is defiantly a top 10, his value is number 1, so he is a steal anywhere after that.

Jimmy Clausen – If he falls below the top 10, this guy is the steal of the century. It isn’t often that you get a QB that is ready to start in the NFL day 1, and Clausen is. He has the vision, he reads great, is able to work through 3rd and fourth progressions, has great pocket awareness, and has the physical talents (arm strength, size, speed and accuracy). He also has higher potential than even Sam Bradford.

Rips Offs:

Some of the late first round offensive tackles (Charles Brown & Rodger Stafford) – Everyone can use another tackle so people tend to reach at this position. Carolina did it a couple years ago for Sam Baker moving back into the first round. How has that turned out?

Brian Price – There are so many teams looking for a Defensive nose tackle that teams are reaching this year. Now don’t get me wrong, this is the year to do it, but Brian Price in the first round???

Sorry Seattle?

Well the last week has done a lot to shape up what is going to happen on Day 1 of the 2010 National Football League draft, and I thought I would take a minute and shed some light just in case you haven’t figured it out.

Picked number 1 overall in the 2010 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams is quarterback Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma. That’s right, St. Louis cut Mark Bulger from the team this week leaving no doubt that St. Louis is taking Bradford. Now there is always the possibility that they will go after Jimmy Clausen, but all indications are they prefer Bradford.

So what does this mean, Detroit now has whatever player they want. It was possible for the rams to take Suh or Okung (which are the top two on Detroit’s board), but now they have to take a QB.

The next bomb shell was Washington trading for Donovan McNabb. It was possible for them to take Bradford if St. Louis didn’t, or Clausen if they deemed him worth, but not now. Now they are going to take a Defensive or offensive linemen. This is going to depend who is on the board.

If Detroit takes Okung, it is likely that Washington will take one of the remaining D linmen (Suh, McCoy or Morgan). If not, they will take Okung.
So that means Rams take Bradford, Detroit takes Okung or Suh, the Bucks take McCory or Morgan, and Washington takes Okung or Suh.

So what does this have to do with Seattle? They were hoping the Rams would take Suh, the lions would take Okung, Bucks would take McCoy, the Redskins would take Morgan leaving KC with Berry and they would have Bradford fall in their laps.

Sorry Seattle?

For Your Draft Needs

If you are a True Football Fan like me then there is only one thing that you are thinking about right now! The National Football League Draft. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, the draft is almost here. And if you are a True Football Fan like me, then you want to know what is going to happen before it happens. You want a breath of knowledge about the players your team could take. You want to evaluate the experts to see if they really know what they’re talking about. You just want good draft info!

With the draft right around the corner there is a plethora of information out there for you to take in. Combine results, college number, and professional analysis. So who do you turn to for the best information…No one! Let me tell you, Mel Kiper and Todd McShey are usually not even close. I have been doing mock drafts for years and never been beat by either of them. You can do a better job trust me.

What you need is simply a good source of information from which to judge for yourself. And for that, I turn to the annual Sporting News draft magazine. They have the most comprehensive coverage of players and analysis, they provided the most accurate portrait and predictions of team needs, and they have the most current information of all the magazines available.

Sure there are a lot of online sources you don’t have to pay for, and their information may be more current, but you never know the qualifications of these analyst. Sporting news is both reputable and recommended by this site.