I was listening to Mel Kiper on ESPN radio a couple of days ago, and he directly said that Jake Long was the most overrated player in the draft. He mentioned that Jake Long was a “work-in-progress” as a pass-blocker, but would make an immediate impact as a run-blocker. I have heard EVERY draft analyst say that they did not expect Long to make a great left tackle in the NFL. Rather than be a great left-tackle in the NFL, Long will likely make a good right-tackle. This is due to his slower feet and innefficiencies in pass-blocking. I am not saying Long won’t be good at the next level, but there seems to be a lot of question marks for a guy who is getting $30 million guaranteed. I hope he isn’t the next Robert Gallery, and I hope Bill Parcells isn’t making a huge mistake in his first major decision with the Miami Dolphins. I will say this…Bill Parcells is a genius and if he thinks Jake Long will be a good NFL player, then he probably will be. However, if Long proves to be a bust, and Matt Ryan, Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, and Glenn Dorsey emerge as perennial pro-bowlers…the Dolphins will look back and realize they made a huge mistake when they probably shouldn’t have.

DISREGARD EVERYTHING YOU JUST READ FOR A MOMENT….don’t be surprised if Parcells tries to deal Long on draft day. Most NFL GM’s believe he has something up his sleeve. The Dolphins may end up with Gholston, Long, or Dorsey after all…and it would only make draft day much more fun.

Ok, I know Joe Paterno is one of the greatest coaches of all time, and I know he has done more for Penn State than can be put into words. I also know that most people disagree with me when I say that he needs to go sooner rather than later. I know the guy can still coach and he can obviously still recruit. However, the man is 81-years old. He could drop dead at any moment of any day. Even if he doesn’t drop dead, he could become vastly ill. I know that sounds terrible, but it is the truth. I am not saying Paterno must leave the field completely. Perhaps, he could could still participate in recruiting or as an Associate Head Coach. At the very least, Penn State should find a coach to fill Paterno’s shoes once he leaves…ala Florida State. Paterno may coach another 10 years and everything will be fine, but at what point do players become concerned about the longevity of a coach who is recruiting them.  Is Penn State going to wait until Paterno dies of old age to find a new coach? Joe Pa looks frail and he looks tired. I love Joe Paterno and his coaching style, but every era must come to an end at some point. Hopefully, Paterno and the Penn State athletic program won’t wait too long.

Who will be the first pick in the NFL Draft? Honestly, nobody knows. This is the first time in a few years in which we have a draft with so many potential #1 picks. Personally, I believe the Dolphins should choose between two players: Chris Long and Matt Ryan.

Chris Long is a guarantee at the next level. He provides great versatility and explosiveness coming off the edge, and will immediately contribute as a dominant pass-rusher. His dad is a fellow by the name of Howie Long…so I think he also has gene structure in his favor. Nevertheless, my personal pick would be Matt Ryan. Though he will likely go to Atlanta, Baltimore, or Kansas City I believe Miami should take him with the first pick. Matt Ryan has every component needed to be an elite NFL quarterback. He seems to have the needed swagger that inspires people around him to play at a higher level. Like many analysts say about Ryan, he just has “it.” There are also two more logical reasons why Ryan is the perfect fit for the Dolphins:

1. Josh McCown and John Beck are Miami’s top two quarterbacks. Oh I forgot…a guy named Casey Bramlet from Wyoming is third on their depth chart. Does anyone truly believe any of those three players can lead Miami to the playoffs…or much less a winning record. Last I checked, Bill Parcells likes to not only make the playoffs, but also win in the playoffs. To achieve that you must have a talented and strong-minded quarterback. So far, John Beck has not looked close to where he needs to be as an NFL quarterback.

2. Miami’s fan base is tired of watching their team lose. The Dolphins need to create some excitement for their fans and their players. They need to create some anticipation for the future…maybe sell-out some games or sell some jerseys. Is there even one player on the Dolphins roster that creates revenue for the franchise? Do kids ask for Josh McCown jerseys for Christmas? They have Ronnie Brown…thats it! I love Ernest Wilford, but did you know he is the #1 wide receiver on their depth chart? In addition, do you think a defensive player or an offensive lineman (both whose names will be “Long”) will create the kind of excitement and hope the Dolphins fans are looking for? I think I know the answer to that question. Let Matt Ryan be the savior…I believe he has what it takes to handle the pressure.

Summary 

I don’t know if Matt Ryan will go to the Dolphins, but I doubt he would disappoint their fans. He reminds me of a young Tom Brady because of his body-type and mental toughness. Regardless of what happens, Parcells has his hands full in Miami. Though he has put together some pieces by adding a big receiver in Ernest Wilford and a veteran safety in Chris Crocker, there are many pieces of the pie still missing. If I had to guess, I would say that Parcells will elect to trade down on draft day to avoid having to pay the guaranteed $30 million that goes along with having the #1 pick. Much of Parcells decision on draft day is up to John Beck. If Parcells believes Beck has a future in Miami, there is no chance he will draft Ryan. In addition, keep your eye out for Chad Henne. Apparently, the Dolphins are very interested in drafting Henne in a later round with plans on developing him into their quarterback of the future.

Fortunately for me…I am in Cancun for about a month. Therefore, my posts will be few and far between. Also…Brett Favre supposedly retired today. What are the odds he returns to play again?

I went to Virginia Tech and watched Eddie Royal return several kicks/punts for touchdowns. I have personally witnessed his speed and agility. Eddie Royal, who is known by Hokie fans as “Fast Eddie,” had a great day at the NFL combine yesterday. Royal ran the fifth fasted 40-yard dash out of the receivers with a 4.39, and had the most reps on the bench press of all the receivers (24). What is so impressive about that is that he is a small receiver at 5′10″ and 182 lbs. Royal also finished in the top ten in the vertical jump, broad jump, and the 60-yard shuttle. Royal is currently projected to go in the third round. For more information on the combine, go to www.NFL.com.

I hope New England doesn’t completely unravel everything they built in the 2007 offseason. The Patriots decided not to tag Randy Moss as a franchise player, which will likely leave him “playing” the market. The Patriots also passed on the $6 million option for Donte Stallworth, which makes him a free agent. Wes Welker is a fantastic possession receiver, but he is not a #1 receiver and neither is Jabar Gaffney. Welker and Gaffney will not be nearly as effective if Randy Moss and/or Stallworth aren’t on the field. The Patriots can afford to lose Stallworth, but not Randy Moss. New England set all kinds of offensive records this past season, largely due to Randy Moss and his ability to stretch the field. I will be shocked if Randy Moss is not a Patriot next season. The better question is: which is more likely?…Moss or Belichick with the Patriots next year? I can’t answer that question yet, but it is possible that neither one of them will be on the New England sidelines next season. For more information on the Randy Moss situation, click on the link below:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AtSfXOCzBIZFXuThHlgdWw1DubYF?slug=ap-patriots-moss&prov=ap&type=lgns

The War in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, abortion policies, immigration policies, healthcare policies, energy policies, foreign policies, steroids in baseball, Homeland Security, “spygate,” economic issues…these are all very important matters that our politicians should be discussing and contemplating. Hmm….something seems odd about that previous sentence. What has happened to our country? Sports are no longer just “games.” If they were “games,” then our own politicians would not be holding hearings on steroids and investigating professional football teams for spying.  Senator Arlen Specter is investigating the New England Patriots because they have been accused of spying on other teams in the NFL. I want to repeat this one more time so that people can understand how ridiculous I think this is…Senator Arlen Specter is investigating the New England Patriots because they have been accused of spying on other teams in the NFL. I do believe that “spygate” is an issue that needs to be seriously addressed, but it is absurd that a Senator has the right to go into the league and start an investigation.  There should be an investigation…but not by a Senator of Pennsylvania. Why would any true sports fan want that? How could any true sports fan feel comfortable with our politicians becoming a deciding factor in sports? How could anyone watch the Clemens hearing and not notice that the Democrats favored McNamee and the Republicans favored Clemens? I could not believe that even when dealing with sports, their opinions were split by party lines. Do people not find that absurd?

I have a vision…The 2009 State of the Union will go something like this:

“My distinguished and fellow citizens…we gather here tonight to discuss matters of great consequence to our beautiful nation. With all the promise and pride our people have shown since its birth, we have now been put in jeopardy by two obstacles that will be very difficult for our nation to overcome: steroids in baseball and “spygate.” Even the cruelty of Al-Qaeda can not match what the incompetence of Bud Selig, and the slyness of Bill Belicheck with a camera have done to our country. The validity of homeruns and Super Bowl titles is by far the most important issue this country has ever faced. Only through the hard work of Senator Mitchell, Senator Specter, and many Congressmen and Congresswomen, has our country emerged from these tragic events thus far.  Can we get through this difficult time? All I can say is we will work….we will fight…and I promise…we will emerge victorious!”

Give me a break.

The Mitchell Report has proven to be a disaster, and the hearings have been embarrrassing for everyone involved. The Mitchell Report accused players and trainers…but only a fraction of those that are guilty of doing steroids. The hearings have been painful to watch on both sides…not just for the players. When did Palmeiro get his 300th hit again? The members of Congress have made absolute fools of themselves on a consistent basis. Are we going to have a Congressional hearing on every single conflict in sports? I hope not. I understand the importance of these issues, but our Senators and Congressional members should not be involved. Their place for debate is elsewhere. For the record, I am as far from a New England Patriots fan as possible. 

Randy Shannon had a tough season this past year as the Miami head football coach. His team went 5-7 and failed to make a bowl for the first time in recent memory. Obviously, the players on the field were not “his” players since he had not recruited them….or were they? Actually, many of the defensive players were “his” players since he was the defensive coordinator for the Canes prior to becoming the head coach. Either way, Shannon made a huge step this offseason as he was able to produce the #1 ranked recruiting class in the country. His class was highlighted by many good defensive players, including five-star linebacker Arthur Brown, five-star defensive tackle Marcus Forston, and a variety of other four-star linebackers and defensive tackles. Most importantly for Randy Shannon and the Miami coaching staff, was their ability to land some great offensive players as well.  After a dismal season on the offensive side of the ball, it was essential for the ‘Canes to bring in some offensive linemen who could protect their quarterback, and some athletes at the receiver and running back position who could produce more big plays. Offensively, their recruiting class was highlighted by a spread of four-star recruits. Among them, were  a group of wide-receivers, including  Tommy Streeter, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, and Davon Johnson. Also in the class were quarterback Jacory Harris and offensive linemen Benjamin Jones and Brandon Washington. This Miami class produced 2 five-star recruits, 15 four-star recruits, and 8 three-star recruits.  It would have been nice to see a few more offensive lineman or an elite running back in this class, but I have a feeling they can get by with what they have. One other note of importance…the four-star quarterback, Jacory Harris, is 6′4 and 169 lbs. He better start lifting a lot of weights if he expects to see the field anytime soon. 

Clearly, this is a fantastic recruiting class, and Randy Shannon does not have room for error in the future. He can afford to have another mediocre season next year, but if his team struggles in 2009, Shannon will likely be a defensive coordinator again by 2010.

On Aaron Rodgers Often Getting Hurt: 

Comment:

What do you mean Rodgers can’t play a quarter without getting hurt. Did you see the GB Dallas game as$hol#!!!!!!!!!!

 I was called an a$$hole because I have the opinion that Aaron Rodgers has shown a durability problem. Fortunately for me, I am not even close to being the only person that has this opinion of Aaron Rodgers.   For example, on one Packers fan site, cheeseheadtv.com, an article titled “From Iron-Man to Mr. Glass” said Rodgers “simply could not stay healthy.” It is true that Rodgers had a great game against Dallas. However, I must make two points that I consider quite valid. One…they lost that game. Two…that was only one game. So until Rodgers becomes the starter and proves he can stay healthy on a consistent basis, I will continue to have the same opinion of him.

 On My Quarterback Rankings:

Comment:  

Haha, ditto to the dude above. Also, you rank Garrard in the top 10 after just one season? WTF man? Brees is an elite QB, certainly more deserving than Garrard. Let’s look at what Brees has done in the past 4 seasons: threw for over 24 TDs each season, made 3 Pro Bowls, had a QB rating above 89 each year, threw for more than 3100 yards each of those seasons and completed better than 64% of his attempts. Tell me which QB you would rather have on your team?

I will admit that I made a mistake in my rankings. However, I still do not think Drew Brees is necessarily a better QB than David Garrard. They are both very good quarterbacks, but also two players who have different roles and play in different systems. They both had good seasons, but lets not forget the Saints had a 7-9 record in the worst division in football, and the Jaguars had an 11-5 record in the deepest division in football. Drew Brees threw 18 interceptions during the regular season, while David Garrad only threw three. It is true that Brees had 10 more touchdown passes and far more passing yards than Garrard, but Garrard also played 4 less games than Brees. In addition, Brees had a QB rating of 89 this past season, while Garrard had a QB rating of 102. I am not saying Garrard is definitely better than Brees, but I wouldn’t say Brees is definitely better than Garrard either. Don’t forget that these rankings were not based on a body of work, but where I think each quarterback stands going into next season. And for the record…I would have rather have Garrard than Brees as my starting quarterback going into next season. My corrected QB rankings are below:

1. Peyton Manning

1. Tom Brady

3. Carson Palmer

4. Tony Romo

5. Brett Favre

6. Matt Hasselbeck

7. Ben Roethlisberger

8. David Garrard

9. Drew Brees

10. Donovan McNabb

10. Eli Manning

I don’t need to say much in this post. The NFL draft class of 2004 delivered us Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger. Many have considered the quarterbacks from the class of 2004 a disappointment. To start off with, people seem to forget that it takes time to make the transition from college football to the NFL. Why are fans so impatient with quarterbacks? Even Peyton Manning wasn’t very impressive his first couple of seasons. Statistics combined from the Eli Manning, Ben Roelthisberger, and Philip Rivers era are listed below:

1. 11-6 combined playoff record

2. Two Super Bowl titles, two AFC Championship Game appearances

3. Manning has made the playoffs 3 consecutive seasons

4. Combined for approximately 220 touchdowns and 176 interceptions

5. Draft class also includes Matt Schaub

The 2004 draft class may not be quite as good as the class of 1983, which included Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, and Kenny O’Brien…but Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matt Schaub are off to a good start.