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How I won $38,000.

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Xavier Cromartie

Entry posted by Xavier Cromartie ·

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I've played ESPN's Draft Forecast game for a few years. In this game, you predict the first 15 draft picks. I usually do very well. In 2005, I was 141st out of 46,000 people. But, only 1st place wins the prize:

 

Grand Prize: 2007 HUMMER H3 and a Trip for Two (winner plus one guest) to the ESPN Studios in Bristol, CT.

Trip includes a VIP Experience in Bristol CT for winner and (1) guest consisting of round trip coach air transportation from major U.S. gateway airport nearest winner's primary residence in the U.S., 3-night standard double occupancy hotel accommodations, ground transfers to/from the airport.

Approximate ARV: $38,000.

 

So, let's go over my entry this year. I decided not to project any trades, because afterward I probably would wonder what I was thinking.

 

1. Oakland - JaMarcus Russell. It was reported that they would take him.

2. Detroit - Calvin Johnson. It didn't matter whether they traded the pick, because CJ would be #2. Some people had Adams here.

3. Cleveland - Joe Thomas. This one ruined many people. Quinn seemed like the pick until Friday. Peterson was also possible.

4. Tampa Bay - Gaines Adams. There really was no other choice here.

5. Arizona - Levi Brown. Since they didn't have to think about Thomas, it was pretty obvious they would take Brown.

6. Washington - LaRon Landry. I knew he was their top choice, but I was worried they might trade down.

7. Minnesota - Adrian Peterson. They wanted Landry, but they were happy to take Peterson.

8. Atlanta - Jamaal Anderson. I was extremely worried about this pick, but I had info that with Landry and Brown gone, they would take him.

9. Miami - Brady Quinn. Total stunner here when they took Ginn. But I figured it wouldn't disrupt the rest of my picks too much.

10. Houston - Amobi Okoye. I was worried here too, because I had very little Texans info, and they were talking trade with Denver. I had to go with what made sense. Revis was possible.

11. San Francisco - Patrick Willis. Easy pick here. Only worry was that Denver would trade to 10 for him, and then SF would take Carriker.

12. Buffalo - Paul Posluszny. A reach that I thought they'd do. They traded up 9 spots in round 2 to get him, showing that the info was right. It was 50/50 between him and Lynch. I figured they'd be happy with a guy like Kenny Irons in round 2.

13. St. Louis - Adam Carriker. Didn't consider anyone else, based on how the picks beforehand went.

14. Carolina - Brandon Meriweather. Another unorthodox choice. The info was that the second safety on their board (after Landry) wasn't Reggie Nelson. The trade to the Jets probably helped me.

15. Pittsburgh - Lawrence Timmons. I made this change just before the draft. I knew right before the pick that I would win if they picked Timmons and lose if they didn't. When I heard Goodell begin to say 'Lawr...', I went crazy.

 

And the final results came. I won. Team 'never kissed a girl.' 12 out of 15 picks exactly right makes me better than 34,000 other people. I called both of my parents and told them. I had some vacation plans, but I'm canceling them for this Bristol trip. Don't know when it will be, though. Don't know whom I'll take with me on the trip, either.

 

Bonus: Here is the transcript of my conversation with my boy Tercer throughout the draft.

 

[Russell pick]

<Tercer> enjoy this moment, russell, this will be your best moment as an NFL qb

<Arc-> 32 points.

<Tercer> yea, i'm perfect so far

<Arc-> a few people in our group aren't ;p

<Tercer> at least they both had CJ #1 and not someone else

<Arc-> there's another page

[Johnson]

<Arc-> cleveland should take adams to muck up the trade

<Arc-> and make tb give them extra picks for him

<Tercer> yea, that would be smart of cleveland (not)

<Arc-> only 26 perfect teams already

<Arc-> #3 pick will separate things

<Tercer> yup

<Tercer> i went on a limb at AD, but how can you turn down a phenomenal RB talent...

<Tercer> check out quinn's g/f.. i think i see dollar signs in her eyes

<Arc-> will she leave him after he gets 9th pick money

<Arc-> am i the only one in our group who has joe thomas here

<Tercer> that would be hilarious if she was next to Joe Thomas if he goes here

[Thomas]

<Tercer> whoops :)

<Arc-> ;)

<Arc-> only one other guy had it

<Arc-> and he has quinn going next

<Tercer> sounds like you're large and in charge

<Arc-> for the moment

<Arc-> could easily fall apart later

<Tercer> they seriously need to make picks last 10 mins

<Arc-> man why is sal talking quinn ;(

<Arc-> i concur

<Tercer> i think TB should take Quinn and create some real QB controversy

<Tercer> its looking like Det will hang onto CJ

<Arc-> they got a million qbs

<Tercer> it was a joke ;)

<Arc-> hehe

<Arc-> don't you think they pull a manning/rivers here

<Tercer> it's very possible... hard to say because we're talking matt millen here

<Arc-> haha

<Tercer> i think det should do it cuz they need picks and they have some reasonable WR talent... they should flip flop 2/4 AND get TB's two 2nd rounders tho

<Arc-> yes

<Tercer> it's leigh steinberg who claims sometimes he has his players fake a phone call to try to get teams to draft them.. do teams really have the espn cast on while they're making their decision?

<Arc-> well they probably have a tv on in their war rooms

[Adams]

<Arc-> look who's the sole #1 ;)

<Tercer> is it lonely at the top?

<Arc-> yes

<Arc-> wish i had an asian girl with me

<Tercer> ;)

<Arc-> hope the cards don't screw me by taking peterson or okoye

<Tercer> you're fine w/ levi brown.... he really moved up the charts and works well at RT... unless they trade :]

<Tercer> they list david carr as a key loss for HOU... i disagree

[brown]

<Tercer> man, i should've stuck w/ my first instincts

<Tercer> i'm gittin killed!!

<Arc-> hehe ;)

<Arc-> i'm not so confident about the rest though

<Tercer> man, this is gettin' interesting for the texans, b/c AD has an EXCELLENT chance of falling and the fans will roast the team if they pass him up

<Arc-> skins might go anderson or trade

<Arc-> falcons will take peterson if vikes don't, i believe

<Tercer> no way

<Arc-> they would make him the featured back and use norwood like bush

<Tercer> will minn take quinn?

<Arc-> don't think so.

<Arc-> hope the skins take landry instead of okoye/anderson

<Tercer> i foresee a trade

<Tercer> not sure where or who

<Arc-> someone who wants peterson

<Tercer> quinn's g/f is looking pissed.. she just went from a mercedes to a bmw

<Tercer> quinn's sister should be there in support wearing a half vikings/half dolphins jersey

<Arc-> landry looks happy

<Tercer> it could be a game

<Tercer> Wash should be going for DL help.... they have a good backfield

[Landry]

<Arc-> the streak continues

<Tercer> please continue to fall, fall, fall AD

<Arc-> i think he goes to us ;)

<Tercer> aww naww

<Tercer> take greg olsen instead

<Arc-> haha

<Arc-> i hope atl takes anderson ;o

<Tercer> okoye is starting to fall ;)

<Arc-> only slightly

<Tercer> Leon Hall

[Peterson]

<Tercer> durn :(

<Tercer> that's a steal for the vikes

<Arc-> i like it.

<Arc-> falcons might ruin me here ;(

<Tercer> yea, you need to run as much as possible to keep your secondary off the field

<Arc-> but i heard if landry and brown were gone the falcons would take anderson

<Tercer> it'll be one of: leon hall, okoye, anderson

<Arc-> haven't they drafted enough CBs lately

<Tercer> i think you're guaranteed to win this bracket... everyone is gonna get screwy on the latter half

<Tercer> you can never have enough CBs

<Arc-> well i think picks 9, 11, 13 are right

<Tercer> it's looking like the den/hou trade should go down

<Arc-> man i hope not

<Arc-> although i heard they like okoye too

<Arc-> but they would trade for willis probably

<Tercer> den wants okoye or willis

<Arc-> quinn's girl looks like ashley tisdale 15 years from now

<Tercer> that's just sick, mayne

[Anderson]

<Tercer> ;)

<Arc-> YES.

<Tercer> and okoye continues to spiral down down down

<Arc-> your texans will ruin my draft probably

<Arc-> come on, take him

<Tercer> will mia just get on w/ it and take brady quinn

[Ginn]

<Tercer> WHAT

<Tercer> as his g/f quietly slinks away ;0

<Arc-> that was my reaction

<Arc-> TED GINN?????????????????????????????

<Arc-> how far does he fall

<Arc-> surprise of the millennium

<Tercer> please please please trade the pick away !!

<Arc-> take okoye

<Arc-> ted ginn.

<Arc-> what the heck.

<Arc-> this is madness!

<Tercer> that's an expensive price tag to take a KR/PR @ 9

<Tercer> [12:32] <Arc-> well i think picks 9, 11, 13 are right

<Tercer> Not so fast!

<Arc-> never on earth would have put ginn there

<Tercer> maybe quinn'll join his bro-in-law in GB

<Arc-> looking forward to picks 12 and 14

<Arc-> hoping they payoff

<Arc-> quinn to kc i think

<Tercer> @ 23?

<Tercer> i think someone moves up 1st

<Tercer> i'm hearing all okoye for the texans, so you can sigh

<Tercer> hou/buffalo working on a trade

[Okoye]

<Tercer> nuts

<Arc-> nice pick.

<Arc-> HOW COULD THE DOLPHINS DO THAT TO ME.

<Tercer> bleck.... they should've gotten that 2nd rounder back

<Arc-> yes kc 23 because who would move up

<Arc-> sh*t i'm ranked #2 overall

<Tercer> 'grats

<Arc-> 2nd place gets the same prize as 50,000th

<Arc-> hope those posluszny and meriweather picks work out ;)

<Tercer> ;)

<Tercer> are you 2nd guessing your tiebreakers

<Tercer> man, the CBs are falling

<Arc-> no i think the tiebreakers are fine because it's CB and S

<Arc-> and there should be 4 safeties and 4 or 5 CBs

[Willis]

<Arc-> i'm #1 overall now

<Arc-> at least tied

<Arc-> don't know where the leaderboard is

<Arc-> but it says 1

<Arc-> if these picks are right i have to win

<Tercer> http://games.espn.go.com/draftforecast/leaderboard

<Tercer> T4

[Lynch]

<Arc-> sh*t i had lynch and switched

<Arc-> ooh the other guys missed too

<Arc-> f*ck i could have won it there though

<Tercer> ;)

<Arc-> thought they'd wait until r2 for rb

<Tercer> i got it right, i think i'm making a comeback

<Arc-> gonna come down to 14 and 15

<Tercer> man, the CBs keep on dropping

<Tercer> i actually think leon hall will be a bust, so it's good that he's being passed on

<Tercer> maybe revis goes first

<Arc-> i had revis at pitt

<Arc-> but wussed out.

<Arc-> gotta be carriker here

<Arc-> then if it's meriweather i gotta win

<Arc-> sh*t some people moved up

<Arc-> ugh. i should have stayed with lynch.

<Arc-> a $38000 mistake.

<Tercer> that's before taxes, if it makes you feel any better

<Tercer> carriker or leon hall?

<Tercer> do you think quinn is crying in the green room?

<Arc-> yes he is.

<Arc-> he expected a $50m contract

[Carriker]

<Tercer> looks like the last 2 will make or break you

<Arc-> yep

<Arc-> didn't pick meriweather on a whim

<Arc-> had some info

<Tercer> brady quinn was smart to not come out last year where he would have gone in the 20s so that he could come out this year and go in the 20s... but at least inflation is working for him!

<Arc-> haha

<Arc-> wouldn't mind quinn here if timmons goes 15

<Arc-> if it results in the W

<Arc-> waiting for the carriker numbers to run

<Tercer> does car go with quinn even tho they have delhomme & carr?? i think they pass

<Arc-> likely a pass but they might say f them

<Arc-> come on meriweather.

<Tercer> trade, you're f-ed

<Tercer> NYJ

<Tercer> take quinn

<Arc-> ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffck

<Arc-> might have a chance if timmons goes 15

<Tercer> or leon hall?

<Tercer> possibly revis

<Arc-> a cb.

<Arc-> i think the jets like revis

<Arc-> waiting for carriker points still

<Tercer> the jets traded 4 for 1? did i hear that right

<Tercer> n/m, i heard it wrong

<Tercer> 1&6 for 1,2&5 not that bad

<Arc-> if it's timmons 15 i win

<Arc-> i think

<Tercer> are you praying not for revis

<Arc-> sh*t

<Arc-> if it's olsen i might not win

<Arc-> doesn't matter which corner

<Tercer> i meant revis at 15

<Arc-> 15 has to be timmons i think

<Arc-> or i lose

<Arc-> no one has either corner going here

<Arc-> one guy gets 16 if it's hall

<Arc-> but doesn't matter if i get 32 for timmons

<Tercer> if you win the hummer, will you trade it for a MINI

<Arc-> i'll probably sell it

<Arc-> but i get a trip to bristol too

<Tercer> will you be the next nightly analyst

<Tercer> you should write your own ESPN commercial and bring it with you

<Arc-> hehe

[Revis]

<Arc-> ok i think i'm safe

<Arc-> that also takes away a potential pitt pick

<Arc-> hey you're #2 in vatech ;)

<Tercer> im 2277 overall

<Arc-> numbers still haven't run

<Tercer> i noticed the name change after you have a chance to win ;0

<Arc-> ok they ran them

<Tercer> so is it timmons or bust for you

<Arc-> yep

<Arc-> no one else has him

<Tercer> better hope hall isn't the pick, or no trade

<Arc-> don't care who it is if it isn't timmons

<Arc-> can't describe my feelings at the moment

[Timmons]

<Tercer> no way

<Arc-> I F*CKING WON

<Arc-> I F*CKING WON

<Arc-> I F*CKING WON

<Tercer> Arc- just won a Hummer

<Arc-> $38000!

<Arc-> $38000!

<Arc-> $38000!

<Arc-> $38000!

<Arc-> TRIP

<Arc-> VACATIOn

<Arc-> HOLY SH*T

<Arc-> HOLY F*CK

<Arc-> HOLY F*CK

<Arc-> going to run the f*ck around

<Arc-> HOLY SH*T

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Failed Bridge

Congrats. I went to go play it but lost my patience with it as it kept moving other players out of spots I placed them in when I put somebody else near there. I had the first 8 correct and still thinking Miami was not going to draft a QB because of Culpepper would have had Meachem at #9 (since I knew they were shopping Booker and they cut McMichael, thus they needed more guys to catch the ball). If you remember I was the only one that had Quinn slide down to nearly where he went too. I had KC taking him and it ended up that the Browns traded back up into the first right infront of them to get Quinn.

 

One thing you could do when you go to Bristol is pimp out alkeiper's work. I've said for 3 years now that the guy should be writing or working for ESPN in some semblence with his baseball knowledge. If you got his foot in the door that would be cool shit.

 

You gonna keep the Hummer? I'd sell it with gas prices starting to near $3 a gallon once again.

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Xavier Cromartie

Thank you. You lost patience ordering 15 players? Oh the kids these days. You did have Quinn's falling correct; well done. They do need more pass catchers. But Chambers will be good if they use him correctly (unlike all of last year), and Hagan is promising.

 

I think it would be better to start up a small business or write a book than be ESPN's lackey.

 

I am hoping to convert the Hummer into some straight cash homey.

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Failed Bridge

I clicked the link with 20min to go before work. Patience wasn't something I had at that moment in time and I never got back around to doing it.

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