2006 NFL Off-Season

[Guest El Satanico]

I was always under the impression that the issue with Rodgers, was fans thinking the Packers should be drafting to make one last SB run with Favre, and not for rebuilding.

[Vern Gagne 0]

That's correct. I was more refering to the people who weren't fans of Rodgers.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Is that the same Adam Schein from WFAN in NY? He's smart and good at his job.

 

He's my favorite host on the station, too bad he's not around very much anymore.

[Damaramu 0]

Sean Salisbury just choked to death on the ESPN NFL Draft special. The reason? Reggie Bush's dick.

[therealworldschampion 0]

LenDale White apparently tore his hamstring, which may cause him to fall in the draft.

[Brett Favre 0]

Good. I'm saying it right now. If he falls to 29, the Jets will take him. Curtis Martin wants the Jets to draft him. And if they don't take him at 29, and he falls to 35, he'll most likely be picked by the Jets there.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

ESPN's "NFL draft preview special" has been about half USC/Bush/Leinart worship, and half Dallas Cowboys season preview/"can TO and Parcells get along?" speculation.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

ESPN's "NFL draft preview special" has been about half USC/Bush/Leinart worship, and half Dallas Cowboys season preview/"can TO and Parcells get along?" speculation.

 

The NFL Network coverage is much better.

[Robert 0]

Vernon Davis Video

 

This kid is a fucking freak of nature. He can split out as a WR, and if the Packers take a guy on offense, take him. I'm still for AJ Hawk, but knowing Thompson, he'll go offense.

[Damaramu 0]

What I think's funny is all the NFL guys are going on about how Vince Young is still above Leinart. They keep repeating that they've been told that by NFL scouts.

But whenever you ask an ESPN analyst like Kiper or Salisbury or whoever it's "OH Leinart is just leaps and bounds above Young!!"

 

Also where did this "Leinart just wants to be Mr. Hollywood!" stuff come from? I mean I hate celebrities as much as the next guy.....

[MrRant 0]

LenDale White has a torn hamstring...

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Apparently an UCONN basketball player (Ed Nelson) is going to pursue a career in NFL as a tight end. If he's anything like the last b-ball player turned TE, then someone better give him a look.

 

(The last guy would be one Antonio Gates)

[2GOLD 0]

Apparently an UCONN basketball player (Ed Nelson) is going to pursue a career in NFL as a tight end. If he's anything like the last b-ball player turned TE, then someone better give him a look.

 

(The last guy would be one Antonio Gates)

 

And of course Tony Gonzalez as well. That jumping ability and ability to work between guys is just the perfect training.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Ted Thompson is now in love with Vince Young: "If you have a chance to draft Micheal Jordon- you draft Micheal Jordon - regardless of who's already on your roster"

Well, Thompson does come from the "draft the best player available regardless of need" school of thinking which requires a short bus with drool bibs and extra safety belts to get to. Which is exactly why Green Bay drafted Rodgers last year even though it's evident that Favre still has time left to play and that they had far more glaring needs on the offensive line and on defense. While I think Vince Young might turn out to be a good prospect (and actually probably better than Leinart), unless the Packers swing a deal for Aaron Rodgers, there should really be no way that they draft another QB this year, especially considering there's no need for one, unless he's rafted in the later rounds, which is quite plausible.

 

Madden thinks Favre might get traded if he does decide to play another season.

NEXT

 

For the Packers fans out there (or NFL fans more knowledgable than me), what is so wrong with Aaron Rodgers? I know that he is no Brett Favre and the organization will have some growing pains with him at the helm, but the way people are talking it sounds like he will never be capable of playing in the NFL and the Packers were morons for taking him. Wasn't this guy neck and neck with Alex Smith to be the no. 1 overall pick just a year ago?

Part of it is the believe he's a Tedford QB.

 

Bingo. Further emphasis came on the next page, and not only all that, but Favre (rightfully so) believed that it was a bit of a slap in the face to him, like as if the organization was already trying to push him towards retiring by drafting his successor despite the fact that Brett's only 34. NFL QB's can usually play until 37, 38, especially Favre who hasn't lost even a little bit of the zip on his throws. His decision-making's not a factor, either; he's always thrown shitloads of interceptions. And, seeing as how the Packers ended last year 4-12 and in a top ten draft position this year with a MUCH better QB class (last year the only two QB's were Smith and Rodgers, and both don't even seem like they'd pan out anytime soon), it would've been a smarter idea to draft somewhere else. Imagine if the Packers had taken Lofa Tatupu instead (who wasn't drafted until pick #45 and ended up ROTY) and had him play OLB with Barnett and Diggs. Even if they still ended up in the top 5, this year they'd have a chance at Cutler, Leinart, or Young while already having a playmaking linebacker. That's my beef with Rodgers aside from him being a Tedford QB, although if/when the Pack draft A.J. Hawk this year (or Mario Williams, but I hope not.. more on that in a bit), they might atone for that.

 

These two excerpts from Dan Pompei's column from the The Sporting News sometime ago (can't find the date, but the full article is here on Yahoo!) more or less explains why I find A.J. Hawk to be the better pick:

I dim the lights and turn on the N.C. State tape of Williams for the 200th time. I see a beast who swats away 320-pound blockers as if they were flies. He can pass rush through offensive tackles or go around them. I see a huge, explosive end who will pose matchup problems for many offensive tackles. I see a powerful tackler-a player who can shed a blocker and make a play against the run. I see rare athleticism for a guy who is 6-7, 295. I see a bigger Julius Peppers.

 

But I don't like everything I see. I don't see the kind of instincts I look for. I see a lineman who doesn't always read the play correctly. I see a player who needs to develop an inside rush and learn to split double-teams. I see a player who doesn't go the same speed on every down. I see a player who performed unevenly last year and subsequently was pulled from the starting lineup for a game.

 

I see the physique of an alien and 14 1/2 sacks last season, but I also see a player who, according to a vote by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, was the fourth-best defender in the ACC. Williams received four votes for defensive player of the year, compared with 31 for Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, 17 for Boston College end Mathias Kiwanuka and 14 for Virginia Tech end Darryl Tapp.

I see quite a contrast in Hawk. He led Ohio State three seasons in tackles, was named an All-American and the team MVP twice and, as a senior, won the Big Ten defensive player of the year award and the Lombardi Trophy.

 

But I owe it to myself to look at Hawk again, so I pop in the Ohio State tape. I see a player who is all over the field. I see someone athletic enough, fast enough and stout enough to play any linebacker position. I see a linebacker who has an uncanny feel for the game, who almost always reads plays as if he had designed them for the offense. I see a defender who can take on offensive linemen and disengage about as well as anyone I can remember-and then make tackles surely and violently.

 

I see a blitzer who is so skilled, he had only five fewer sacks than Williams put up last season. I see a linebacker who can make plays from hot dog vendor to beer stand. I see an intimidator, a leader. I see a player who is as safe a pick as any in the draft-and a finished product.

 

To me, production in college means a hell of a lot. And not only did A.J. Hawk produce (and be the superstar on defense who'd help beat a heavily favored and loaded offense in Miami to win a national championship) but he did spectacular at the combine as well. As with any draft pick, there's no such thing as a "sure thing", but you look for the little things that might add up to that based on prior experiences. You could draft a player in the 6th round who'll end up being much better and valuable than any in the first three. The examples of Tom Brady and Terrell Davis already have hammered that in over and over again.

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

Misappropriation of Funds! Malfeasance!

Thank God for organized labor! As John Clayton of ESPN.com reveals, GBP really doesn’t want Arrington or Woodson—they just need them to get in compliance with the new CBA:

 

 

In some ways, Favre’s retirement could be a financial disaster, but not in the way you would think. With his $3 million roster bonus and $7 million in salary, Favre would make $10 million this year if he plays. The Packers would save $10 million of cash if he doesn’t, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. They currently have a payroll of around $76 million, but that doesn’t include draft choices or any other free agent signings. Not having Favre would take the payroll down to $66 million. With the new collective bargaining agreement, teams must have a minimum cash payroll of $85.5 million, meaning the Packers would have to spend $19.5 million just to make the minimum. With 218 of the 351 free agents already off the market with signed contracts, what would the Packers do with the extra $10 million from Favre. There aren’t enough good players to buy at that price.

 

In other words, GBP right now is like a little gramma driving her Buick under the breezeway’s minimum speed limit. You still see that a lot on I-794, but really…

 

They’re going to find all this extra cap room under a floorboard in TT’s house one day, along with his fingernail clippings for the past 15 years. And somewhere, Ron Wolf will still be laughing.

[the pinjockey 0]

They ought to just give Favre the bonus right now anyway, that'll eat up some cap room. I'd rather do that then spend the absurd money Arrington is looking for or spend anything on Charles Woodson. Waste money this year, but leave long term flexability.

 

They could always resign Javon Walker as well and give him a big year one number.

[Damaramu 0]

LenDale White has a torn hamstring...

 

How come the one player I like at USC is the one that things are going wrong for? I am seriously cursed.

[UZI Suicide 0]

Pac Man may be in a little trouble..

 

 

Titans | Police and courts: Drug bust in Tennessee

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 08:35:41 -0700

 

Jim Wyatt and Christian Bottorff, of the Tennessean report nine people were arrested on suspicion of having roles in two major drug rings that trafficked cocaine and marijuana in Sumner and Davidson counties in Tennessee. One man, from Nashville, has possible ties to Tennessee Titans CB Adam Jones, authorities said Friday, April 14. Officers seized 1,653 pounds of marijuana, 128 pounds of cocaine, more than 20 vehicles and $608,000, police said. Many of the questions at a news conference surrounded the possible connection to Jones. Davidson County District Attorney Torry Johnson said that Jones is an acquaintance of suspect Darryl Jerome Moore, an aspiring rap singer who was released early last year from federal prison in California. Jones' nickname was embroidered as "Pac Man" on the black leather seats of a 2004 Cadillac XLR, a pricey sports car that authorities confiscated from Moore's apartment. Jones' Nashville attorney, Roger May, said yesterday that the car does not belong to his client, and he said he does not know if Jones ever owned or drove the car. Jones' sports agent, Michael Huyghue, said yesterday that he had advised his client not to comment

[teke184 0]

More probable cause to change Adam's name from "Pac-Man" to "Dumbass"...

[the pinjockey 0]

Thank god Dr.Z is around to let us know about his sleeper, Vernon Davis http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...index.html]link , this just in Reggie Bush is going to be a high pick as well.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I honestly think how good Vernon Davis would be in the NFL really depends on where he is taken.

[the pinjockey 0]

I think, at worst, he will be a very good TE. At best, I don't see why he can't dominate at TE or WR. I don't see why, with his speed, he couldn't transition to WR if a team already had a TE (looking at you Eagles). He is essentially a TO clone when it comes to size, so he isn't too big for the position.

 

If he goes to SF, then of course he will be hurting early on given he would already be the number one option, but that will be the case for just about anyone. Otherwise, everyone else drafting in his range has some offensive weapons: Oakland (Moss), Buffalo (McGahee,Evans), Detroit better not go offense but they have the Williamseseses, Arizona (Boldin, Fitz), St. Louis (Holt, Bruce, Jackson). As long as he avoids that 6th slot he will be going to a decent situation for himself.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Oakland- Brooks as the QB?

 

Buffalo- LOSMAN?

 

Detroit- Like you said, they shouldn't go offense.

 

Arizona- Warner's alright, but not a long term solution.

 

St. Louis- Just a mess at the QB position.

 

No I don't think they are good situations.

[Black Lushus 0]

I'd like to give JP Losman at least one more season before I completely write him off as Rob Johnson ver. 2...he's shown here and there he can play, let's see what he does with a pretty damn decent receiving core of Evans, Price and Andre Davis.

[the pinjockey 0]

I think you underestimate Brooks, Warner, and Bulger. They aren't QBs that are going to lead their teams far, but they aren't bad enough that they will stifle someone like Davis. Losman has to improve, but it is hard to write him off already when it was essentially his rookie year last year.

 

Don't get me wrong, he isn't going to end up in a good team situation. But for him personally, they aren't terrible options.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I think you underestimate Brooks, Warner, and Bulger.

 

Not at all. I think if everything fell in place, they'd be great assets to their teams. I don't think it will though. The guy that I think might have the best season of the three is Aaron Brooks, and that's because he, for the most part, actually plays most of the games. He will also have a big chip on his shoulder (though New Orleans fans will tell you he doesn't care enough about that chip), and it certainly helps having the best 2 WR combo of the league and possibly the best 4 WR combo as well (Anyone who puts anything above Randy Moss and Jerry Porter is just blatantly hating). The issue is if the Raiders, with new coach Art Shell, would utilize those talents in the right way, and they need to balance it out with Lamont Jordan, in order to be effective. Should that happen, I can definitely see Oakland's offense being in the top 5, if not the overall team.

 

Kurt Warner on the other hand, certainly helps that he has Edge now, but unless they address that O-line, he won't see even 10 games.

 

Bulger? Meh I think he's declining, but you know, I may be wrong.

[SpikeFayeJettEdBebop 0]

Redskins resign WLB Warrick Holdman.

 

Also, ESPN is now talking about the Texans not taking Bush. Yeah it's probably just crap, but personally, I def. think they should trade out of number 1 because Bush may be good, but I don't think he'll help the Texans too much.

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

Ted Thompson hasn't worked out 1 on 1 with any top 5 prospects:

 

Don't Need to See You

In a now rather standard dissection of GBP’s seeming lack of direction, an Orlando Sentinel writer, Chris Harry, notes that the team has failed to invite any of the draft’s Big Five to Green Bay for personal interviews/workouts.

 

Harry assumes that means TT is planning to trade out of the #5 slot and accumulate more picks. I assume that TT is pullling an anti-Sherman—not allowing face-to-face impressions to convince him that he suddenly knows a young man’s character.

 

 

As former NFL scout Jeremy Green points out on ESPN, however, you need to grab the scrotum and ask for the cough yourself:

 

Over the course of my scouting career, I have found that the best way to learn about a player’s character is to interview him yourself. College coaches can have agendas at times, so you never know what they might say about a player. I have been on school calls when coaches would look you straight in the eye and tell you, "Johnny is a great kid." While he is saying it, I am looking at my notes and realize little Johnny has been arrested three times during his college career.

 

Green goes on to mention three prime examples: a guy who wouldn’t stop talking about how much he loved to play the piano instead of play football, a guy who wouldn’t shut up about how much he loved zoos over football; and a guy who wouldn’t say anything, except about how much he hated football. All three were taken in the first round, and all three have been busts.

 

I don’t know what I feel worse about right now: That Ted Thompson doesn’t want to talk to these guys, or that Ted Thompson is the guy who would.

 

 

-------

[LaParkaMarka 0]

As former NFL scout Jeremy Green points out on ESPN, however, you need to grab the scrotum and ask for the cough yourself:

 

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Green goes on to mention three prime examples: a guy who wouldn’t stop talking about how much he loved to play the piano instead of play football, a guy who wouldn’t shut up about how much he loved zoos over football; and a guy who wouldn’t say anything, except about how much he hated football. All three were taken in the first round, and all three have been busts.

 

I assume the piano guy is Joey Harrington. Who's the other two?