A summation of my thoughts from NFL Draft Weekend:
The Patriots will win the Super Bowl, or finish 6-10. For all the talent they’ve added, particularly on the offensive end, there’s still only one football. I can see the honeymoon with Randy Moss lasting until Week 9, after the Pats drop another one to the Colts and Moss was open for a second while Tom Brady was being flattened by Dwight Freeney. Really. That’s all it’ll take. Of course, if the last piece of the puzzle is available to you for a fourth-round pick, as Moss was, you fire that deal up, no question.
I’m not worried about Brady Quinn’s (slightly) reduced paycheck as the #22 pick overall. He’s a quarterback; sometimes, they get to do commercials.
“You know who else does commericals? Peyton Manning and his laser rocket arm.” (image courtesy of usatoday.com)
Big winners:
Cleveland Browns - They got the top two guys on their board (Quinn and #3 pick OT Joe Thomas), setting the cornerstones of their offense for the next decade. They gave up next year’s first-rounder to get it done, but that’s still not bad for one weekend’s work.
Arizona Cardinals - Keeping in mind that the Cardinals usually seem to have a good draft, OT Levi Brown (#5 overall) and DT Alan Branch (second round) will immediately help shore up the line of scrimmage in the desert. How did Branch fall that far?
Detroit Lions - Look, I’m never a fan of taking a receiver at #2, and it’s because most of the Lions’ other high-pick WRs haven’t panned out that Calvin Johnson’s not a crazy pick. Thomas would’ve been a better fit, but at least GM Matt Millen didn’t blow it this time. It’s fair enough to point out when improvement is shown, especially in an environment as volatile as the Motor City.
Even today, brave firefighters continue to battle blazes set by rioting fans celebrating the Pistons’ NBA Championship… in 1990. (image courtesy of www.ci.detroit.mi.us/fire)
Biggest Losers:
New York Giants - I actually liked the Giants’ first four picks a lot, but then I realized that not one of them was used on an offensive lineman. I get it now. They’re not only trying to get The Cough fired, they’re trying to get Eli Manning killed. Godspeed, young Manning.
Miami Dolphins - Newly added to the Dolphins’ playbook: direct snaps to Ted Ginn, Jr. Of course, anyone who suffered through Indiana University football in the ’90s will tell you what the real problem in Miami is. Hoo boy.
Green Bay Packers - Does anybody in their front office even watch college football? First-round DT Justin Harrell’s body couldn’t handle playing NCAA football, so I have to admit I’ll be surprised if he can handle half a season of NFL battery. He was a reach anywhere in Round 1, let alone at #16. They didn’t do themselves too many favors in the later rounds, either.
And on a final, somber note, take care up there, Kevin Mitchell.