NFL Draft - Day 1 Reax

A few things from the first day of the NFL Draft, and my reaction to the Oakland-New England trade for Randy Moss.

First, the positives and negatives of the Randy Moss trade:

POSITIVES

The risk/reward factor: the knock of Moss is widely known - a locker room cancer, loafs on plays, gives up on his team, etc. But if Moss does that in NE (depending on how Moss restructures his K), the risk is only giving up on (effectively) a fourth round pick. New England had success with former "cancers" Corey Dillon and Byron Cox, and has the veteran base to keep Moss in check. Moss apparently ran a 4.29 40 yesterday for Patriots scouts, putting to rest any rumors that he lost his deep speed. When he plays hard, he remains a top 5-10 receiver in the league, and provides the Patriots with now 2 deep threats (with Donte Stallworth). The Patriots have never provided Brady with half the talent at wideout he will have this year. One can't underscore how much winning helps cure locker room ills, and NE is certainly the odds on favorite to take Super Bowl XXXXII.

NEGATIVES

New England is beginning to (at least on paper) show they are relaxing their "boy scout" standards for players. With the additions of Stallworth, Meriweather, Kelley Washington, and now Moss, NE is risking ruining what is generally regarded as one of the sturdiest locker rooms in the NFL. They also create a significant logjam at wideout - Moss, Stallworth, Washington, Wes Welker, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Troy Brown (who will return), and last year's second round pick Chad Jackson (for whom they traded up in the 2006 NFL Draft). Normally, having too much talent at a position is one of those "good problems" - but with NE's difficult-to grasp scheme (see Jackson, Chad), and the premium NE puts on the symbiotic relationship between its wideouts and Brady, the potential revolving door puts this at risk. Supporters of Moss claim that he (like Dillon) has only wanted to win (which is why he does things like, say, moon the crowd at Green Bay...yeah, that's it). Also, NE kept their locker room in check with strong veteran leadership...some of those vets are gone, and continuing to bring in more players with a checkered past may put some strain. Finally, in a less relevant note, the talent they provide Brady this year, the whole Brady-has-never-had-talent-of-Manning argument goes right out the window.

In sum, it is a great risk-reward move for the Pats, but they better be sure the vets keep him in line, and that they win, to maintain a "Patriots-type" of locker room.

Some Day 1 thoughts:

(1) As soon a Miami passed on Brady Quinn, I called my friend, BobbyBo, a big Browns fan and told him if Quinn falls, Cleveland needs to trade up to get him. Sure enough, Cleveland made the move, got up to 22, and got their "franchise QB." In related news, hell froze over and pigs flew as I actually got something right about the NFL Draft.

(2) Good drafts for the following teams:

Buffalo - Lynch may have been a reach, but Poslusnzy and Edwards were good value....luckily for me, and the Patriots, they are still the Bills....which means they'll suck.

Arizona - Branch, classified as a "boom or bust", is still a steal at 33, and Buster Davis will be "Ernie Simms Lite", which means he'll suffer from at least 5-6 self-induced concussions this year.

Carolina - Beason fits well, Jarrett will fill Keyshawn's shoes in a year, and Kalil went to USC....which means he's used to playing at high level for money. Sorry...couldn't resist.

Denver - Moss and Crowder will help Denver's below average pass rush...and by below average, I mean non-existent.

Detroit - For three reasons: (1) Calvin Johnson; (2) Calvin Johnson; and (3) Calvin Johnson. Passing up the opportunity for John Beck may hurt, and Drew Stanton is not the answer, but at least Detroit didn't screw up the No. 2 pick...which means they'll trade him for Gaines Adams within the next 2 hours.

Miami - I'm happy they passed on Quinn because even though I think he has Joey Harrington written all over him (which is more likely to happen with a below average Cleveland team), having to see him two times a year is something I would not want to happen...he may have read my article and, you know, gotten good. Ginn was a stretch, but has the potential to be the next Dante Hall (and give me diarrhea twice a year in the process), but Beck will be good, and Lorenzo Booker is an example of one those players that, if he was being paid to play at USC, he would have been good in college.

Minnesota - Peterson will be great, Rice may not be fast, but he will be better than Troy Williamson...what, you don't know who Williamson is? Yes, he is a NFL wide receiver....was even drafted with the 7th pick. You remember Vikings fans? Hello? McCauley is a Pat Hill type of player...I actually don't know what that means.

NY Football Giants - Ross may be the only guy that can actually cover anyone in the draft (you know my opinion on Leon Hall) and, as for Steve Smith, see Kalil, Ryan above.

NY Jets - Damnit Jets, why did you have to go and have a good draft? Revis will, at a minimum be a playmaker (unfortunately for them, sometimes for the other team) and David Harris will be great. Side note on Harris - I predicted either him or Woodley would be in a Pats uniform. Word is, Pats were trying to trade down from their 28th pick (which they traded with SF for next year's 1st and the 4th round pick that became Randy Moss) to the middle of the 2nd round to get Harris at his "predetermined value." So, at least I was right in theory...which again means I wrong.

Oakland - this is IN SPITE OF taking Jamarcus Russell...come talk to me in 3 years. Quentin Moses was a top 15 pick until he took his senior year off, and Zach Miller fills a need. Plus, maybe teaming Michael Williams back up with Lane Kiffen will remind Williams that he plays this sport professionally now....you know, like he did at USC (I can't help myself today).

Pittsburgh - Timmons and Woodley have me worried about the health of the QBs they play in the next few years....

San Francisco - The Staley trade remains TBD, but Hill can fly, Ray McDonald has potential if he can stay out of trouble (which means he won't) and as for my opinion of Patrick Willis, see my previous post.

Tennessee - Great value picks with Henry and Paul Williams, and Griffin has all the potential to keep up the Bobby Wade and Albert Haynseworth style of play in Nashville, i.e. utterly dirty and bushleague.

Washington - Laron Landry. Best defensive player in the draft and, by all accounts, a good character guy....hopefully Sean Taylor won't taint him and convince him that spitting on people is acceptable.

(3) You may be wondering why I left Cleveland off the list - or you may not care. Either way, the reason is their result is TBD. If Quinn turn into a legit NFL QB, and justifies trading away next year's first round pick (potentially top 10), then great draft. If not, weeeeeell....

(4) How uncomfortable is watching Steve Spurrier say "click clack" on the Under Armour commercial?

(5) I love the T.J. Houshmandzadeh commercial. Absolutely love. Championship!