Not only are the Bills moving one home game for the next five years to Toronto (as well as a few preseason games), they are being paid $78 million to do so.

On the surface, this looks like a great deal for the Bills, who lose just one game yet make a huge windfall that will keep the small-market team competitive (and it shows how serious Toronto is about attracting and NFL team). But beyond that financial benefit, I can’t help but think it’s a little troubling, that the only way small-market teams might be able to keep up with the Joneses (yes, the pun is intended) — especially if the salary cap ever disappears — is to sell home games. The Bills, as well as the Packers, Jaguars, Panthers, Browns, Titans and Steelers play in cities that can’t earn the revenue bigger cities can. Buffalo can never charge as much for tickets as the Patriots or Giants can, nor can they rake in the extra revenue that the Cowboys can by putting a Nike swoosh on the side of its stadium.

What makes the NFL so unique is the way smaller markets can compete with larger markets, thanks to its revenue sharing plan from its TV deal and the salary cap. Hopefully the NFL never loses that, lest the Packers are forced to start selling home games to Beverly Hills.

With the NFL Draft complete, I feel a little better ranking running backs, though I think no rookies will have the impact Adrian Peterson, or even Marshawn Lynch, did last season. Running backs run much deeper than they did last year at draft time, perhaps because of the injuries and inconsistent play that plagued RB1s last season forced more players to step up and more teams to turn to RBBCs (running back by committee). There are a few RBs that I couldn’t believe I ranked as low as I did, but would you risk Frank Gore as your RB1 in 2008?

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
3. Joseph Addai, Colts
4. Steven Jackson, Rams
5. Brian Westbrook, Eagles
6. Larry Johnson, Chiefs
7. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
8. Willie Parker, Steelers
9. Ryan Grant, Packers
10. Marshawn Lynch, Bills
11. Reggie Bush, Saints
12. Brandon Jacobs, Giants
13. Marion Barber III, Cowboys
14. Laurence Maroney, Patriots
15. Clinton Portis, Redskins
16. Willis McGahee, Ravens
17. Jamal Lewis, Browns
18. Earnest Graham, Buccaneers
19. Julius Jones, Seahawks
20. Darren McFadden, Raiders
21. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
22. Fred Taylor, Jaguars
23. Travis Henry, Broncos
24. Kenny Watson, Bengals
25. Frank Gore, 49ers
26. Michael Turner, Falcons
27. Edgerrin James, Cardinals
28. Chester Taylor, Vikings
29. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers
30. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
31. Deuce McAllister, Saints
32. LenDale White, Titans
33. Justin Fargas, Raiders
34. Tatum Bell, Lions
35. Ahman Green, Texans
36. Rudi Johnson, Bengals
37. Thomas Jones, Jets
38. Cedric Benson, Bears
39. Chris Henry, Titans
40. Ladell Betts, Redskins
41. Felix Jones, Cowboys
42. DeShaun Foster, 49ers
43. Ron Dayne, Texans
44. Kevin Smith, Lions
45. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
46. Warrick Dunn, Buccaneers
47. Selvyn Young, Broncos
48. Ricky Williams, Dolphins
49. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
50. Chris Johnson, Titans
51. Najeh Davenport
52. Jerious Norwood, Falcons
53. Adrian Peterson, Bears
54. Kenton Keith, Colts
55. Sammy Morris, Patriots
56. Brandon Jackson, Packers
57. Leon Washington, Jets
58. Reuben Droughns, Giants
59. LaMont Jordan, Raiders
60. Correll Buckhalter, Eagles
61. Kevin Faulk, Patriots
62. Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers
63. Kolby Brown, Chiefs
64. Vernand Morency, Packers
65. Darren Sproles, Chargers
66. Michael Bennett, Buccaneers
67. Shaun Alexander, free agent
68. Marcel Shipp, Cardinals
69. Greg Jones, Jaguars
70. Kevin Jones, free agent
71. Chris Brown, Texans
72. Jesse Chatman, Jets
73. DeShawn Wynn, Packers
74. Heath Evans, Patriots
75. Maurice Morris, Seahawks
76. Musa Smith, Ravens
77. Derrick Ward, Giants
78. Dominic Rhodes, free agent

The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, a move that was not surprising considering they drafted Darren McFadden over the weekend.

Rhodes left the Colts before last season to sign with Oakland, then was hit with a four-game suspsension for violating the league’s drug policy. As Justin Fargas emerged as a solid NFL running back (and signed a big contract in the offseason), Rhodes apparently became the odd man out. I wonder if LaMont Jordan will be far behind in unenployment.

I also am a little befuddled why the Raideres drafted McFadden when they did just sign Fargas to the big deal in the offseason. Perhaps Oakland hopes the two running backs can turn into the Adrian Peterson-Chester Taylor combination that worked so well in Minnesota last year. But those were the Vikings, these are the Raiders, where nothing seems to go right. McFadden won’t have the initial fantasy value Peterson did last year, and Fargas’ stock just dropped. I think McFadden will be the man in Oakland, just maybe not in 2008.

Sports Illustrated ran a great article last week reviewing the 1998 NFL draft and the stars (like Peyton Manning) and busts (like Ryan Leaf) that emerged from it. There’s a sense of fun looking back at past drafts in any sport to see who succeeded and who sucked. But knowing there are no sure things in the NFL draft, and that plenty of players taken last weekend will succeed and plenty will suck, contribute to why I’m not into the event as many other football fans are. It’s just that there’s so much analysis about all these players, when in reality, all the pundits don’t know what the future will hold for the newest rookies. Unlike the NBA, where most star players are drafted in the first round, NFL stars come from all rounds or no rounds at all. And where you can theorize an NBA player’s immediate impact on draft day, very few NFL rookies make such a quick impact.

Maybe the NFL draft is just not as fun.

I’m not saying the draft is terrible — I understand the appeal for NFL, and college, fans — but I just think it’s become too much of an event. Two rounds on the first day? Enough said.

One piece of news that might affect today’s draft was Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair retiring last week. Though he left without as much fanfare as Brett Favre did last month, it brought to a close the career of a veteran, successful quarterback. Remember the hype when McNair came into the league, how he was going to change the game? He might not have changed the game that radically, but his style of play those first few years might have paved the way for Michael Vick and Vince Young. McNair didn’t produce a Hall of Fame career and came up short in the Super Bowl, but still leaves a success.

As for the Ravens, will they draft a QB or stick with Kyle Boller? The future looks bleak.

Here is my first installment of fantasy rankings for 2008. I’ll continue through the positions after the NFL draft, then update these come August. The only rookie QB that appears to have any fantasy value is Boston College’s Matt Ryan, who likely will be taken by the Rams, Falcons or Jets or drop down to the Ravens, Panthers, Bears or Lions.

As I came up with list, I was impressed with the quality of the second-tier quarterbacks, from Nos. 5-15. For example, I was apprhensive to drop Ben Roethlisberger at No. 14, but realized there are 13 better fantasy quarterbacks in front of him. So if you decide to wait on your QB1, you should still be able to find a solid player later on.

1. Tom Brady, Patriots
2. Peyton Manning, Colts
3. Tony Romo, Cowboys
4. Drew Brees, Saints
5. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
6. Derek Anderson, Browns
7. Donovan McNabb, Eagles
8. Carson Palmer, Bengals
9. David Garrard, Jaguars
10. Vince Young, Titans
11. Philip Rivers, Chargers
12. Eli Manning, Colts
13. Matt Schaub, Texans
14. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
15. Jay Cutler, Broncos
16. Jason Campbell, Redskins
17. Marc Bulger, Rams
18. Matt Leinart, Cardinals
19. Jake Delhomme, Panthers
20. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
21. Jon Kitna, Lions
22. Damon Huard, Chiefs
23. J.P. Losman, Bills
24. Jeff Garcia, Buccaneers
25. Alex Smith, 49ers
26. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders
27. Tavaris Jackson, Vikings
28. Kyle Boller, Ravens
29. Chad Pennington, Jets
30. Rex Grossman, Bears
31. Chris Redman, Falcons
32. Josh McCown, Dolphins
33. Kyle Orton, Bears
34. Kellen Clemens, Jets
35. Matt Ryan, rookie
36. Daunte Culpepper, free agent
37. Joey Harrington, Falcons
38. Brooks Bollinger, Vikings
39. Shaun Hill, 49ers
40. Luke McCown, Buccaneers
41. Kurt Warner, Cardinals
42. Brodie Croyle, Chiefs

Are the Dolphins trying to deal All-Pro defensive lineman Jason Taylor? Reports out of Florida claim they are, though new team executive vice president Bill Parcells has denied that Miami is trying to get rid of its highest-profile player.

If the Dolphins are serious about rebuilding and are looking to the future beyond 2008, it might make sense to trade Taylor and acquire some draft picks in return. Otherwise, Miami still could use a veteran like Taylor for next season.

Finally, the impetus for trading Taylor must not be his appearance on “Dancing With the Stars.” Right now, his appearance on the show might be the most successful thing a Dolphin does this year.

Reports out of Green Bay state the Packers are interested in bringing in Daunte Culpepper as a backup quarterback to the thrown-into-the-fire starter Aaron Rodgers. If the team is trying to reaffirm their faith in Rodgers, I don’t know if this is the way.

Granted, Culpepper isn’t the QB he once was since his myriad of knee problems. But consider this: His last two teams, Miami and Oakland, didn’t exactly have the potential Green Bay has. If the Pack did sign him, how soon before Rodgers has a bad game that they turn to the veteran? It might be a better short-term gain, but it would be a massive no-confidence vote in who was supposed to be the quarterback of their future.

It shouldn’t be an uninteresting year in Wisconsin.

Other teams are courting the Bengals to trade disgruntled receiver Chad Johnson. And to the Bengals’ credit, they aren’t budging. Yet.

Cincinnati received a good offer from Washington — first- and third-round draft picks — which at some point the team might have think about taking (and soon, considering the draft is in two days). But I applaud the Bengals for sticking to their principles. They have made a commitment with Ocho Cinco that he doesn’t want to honor, not because he wasn’t happy with his contract, but because he’s not happy not being the darling of the team he once was. If Cincinnati sticks with its stance it might embolden — or in Arizona’s case, em-Boldin — other teams to not let their prima donnas push them around.

The Dolphins took some of the suspense out of this weekend’s NFL draft when they wrapped up a deal with Michigan tackle Jake Long to be the top overall pick. Long will become the highest-paid lineman in the league (think next year’s top OL free agents will be clamoring for a better deal?), and Miami doesn’t have to worry about a holdout with the first step in its rebuilding project.

Expect to see more pre-draft deals in the coming years. Holdouts are too costly for everyone involved — look at the Raiders and JaMarcus Russell last year (though are the Raiders have been smart enough try something like this?) — and for teams desperate to turn things around (as the team picking first often is), the more certainty, the better.

The pressure now is on Long with his rich contract. Will he be the next Orlando Pace or the next Tony Mandarich? If he has a poor rookie season, at least he’ll be surrounded by enough mediocrity that people might not notice! It’s going to be a long turnaround in Miami.