2008 NFL Off season thread.

[burn_baby_burn]

Watching the NFL Combine the last couple days. I have been getting really excited for the upcoming NFL Draft. Since the Chiefs have such a high pick this year, I think my interest in this years draft is at an all time high. I was wondering what was on the other NFL fans wish lists for the upcoming draft? For me it is Michigan's OT Jake Long.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jake-long?id=278

God knows the Chiefs need to upgrade the O-line. This guy looks like the real deal. Only had 2 penalties his entire collegiate career. He only gave up one sack this last season. Most of the Chiefs Lineman were giving up one a game (or more)

[rubecube]

My wishlist -

DE - Derrick Harvey, Calais Campbell
WR - Limas Sweed, James Hardy, Malcolm Kelly
S - Kenny Phillips

[Sainters7]

I dont even know where to begin, there's so many holes on that Saints D. I'd be happy with any of these as a first round pick(at #10 over-all), in this preference:

1. DT- Sedrick Ellis, USC
2. DT- Glenn Dorsey, LSU
3. OLB- Keith Rivers, USC
4. CB- Leodis McKelvin, Troy
5. S- Kenny Phillips, Miami

Ellis and Dorsey will probably be gone by #10(possibly Rivers too), but a man can dream...

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by rubecube

My wishlist -

DE - Derrick Harvey, Calais Campbell
WR - Limas Sweed, James Hardy, Malcolm Kelly
S - Kenny Phillips

Lots of talk about the Dolphins trading the #1 pick away. Think the Eagles will be interested in Chris Long?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Ryan Clady to Denver please....

oh and Lex Hilliard on day 2!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Lots of talk about the Dolphins trading the #1 pick away. Think the Eagles will be interested in Chris Long?

They'd love to have him but there's no way they'd trade up to get him. AR loves him some draft picks.

[burn_baby_burn]

Some of the stuff I have been reading about the Dolphins and draft day. Makes it sound like the Dolphins would rather trade the first overall pick since it will cost them $30 Million in guaranteed money. Are Agents driving the market to high? Will we see more teams looking to trade that first pick since it is a bit of a crap shoot and an expensive one at that?

[Bobblehead]

Unless there is a consensus #1 player coming out, and that player fills that team's need, then I think every team has decided that the top overall picks are too expensive of a crap shoot.

What team has the guts to draft a player top overall then not sign him?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Unless there is a consensus #1 player coming out, and that player fills that team's need, then I think every team has decided that the top overall picks are too expensive of a crap shoot.

What team has the guts to draft a player top overall then not sign him?

San Diego Chargers.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

San Diego Chargers.

Yeah, but I think they learned their lesson the hard way *cough*Ryan Leaf*cough*

I'm dismayed about Alex Smith. I haven't given up on him, there are lots of excuses (different OC each year, poor O-line, etc) but at some point you need to play someone who can execute, regardless of the fact that you have a #1 overall at the same position.

[burn_baby_burn]

Look at some of the recent QB's taken first overall that have been given up on. Tim Couch by the Browns and David Carr by the Texans. Its a crap shoot. If you look at the active QB's in the league that are probably going to be in the Hall of Fame. Peyton Manning drafted first overall, Tom Brady drafted in the 6th round (199 overall), Brett Favre drafted in the 2nd round (33rd overall). So finding a franchise QB has a little bit to do with luck.

But to be fair to guys like Alex Smith, Couch, and Carr. They had no protection early on in their career's and had the living snot kicked out of them especially Couch and Carr. That has to sour a young QB to some degree.

[burn_baby_burn]

Myron Cope passed away this morning.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3266796

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Look at some of the recent QB's taken first overall that have been given up on. Tim Couch by the Browns and David Carr by the Texans. Its a crap shoot. If you look at the active QB's in the league that are probably going to be in the Hall of Fame. Peyton Manning drafted first overall, Tom Brady drafted in the 6th round (199 overall), Brett Favre drafted in the 2nd round (33rd overall). So finding a franchise QB has a little bit to do with luck.

But to be fair to guys like Alex Smith, Couch, and Carr. They had no protection early on in their career's and had the living snot kicked out of them especially Couch and Carr. That has to sour a young QB to some degree.

Speaking of Carr, the Panthers cut him this morning, as per rotoworld.

Speaking of high first round QB busts, I have an old issue of SI from '99 and had to chuckle at this cover. Those poor Browns were screwed no matter which way they turned:

[burn_baby_burn]

I remember when the Bengals led by Akili Smith, beat the Tim Couch Browns. Akili Smith said in SI that he was going to beat the Browns every time he faced them to make them pay for not taking him first overall.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I remember when the Bengals led by Akili Smith, beat the Tim Couch Browns. Akili Smith said in SI that he was going to beat the Browns every time he faced them to make them pay for not taking him first overall.

...and in the end, he couldn't even throw for 100 yards in a game against the Toronto Argonauts. Oh sweet irony!

[burn_baby_burn]

Despite all that, he is still a millionaire. Something needs to be done with rookie contracts in the NFL. You get a huge pay day without lifting a finger for your team. If you pan out? Great! If you don't? Too bad for the team that wasted their time and money on you. I'm sure if that did come up in the CBA. The NFLPA would push for guaranteed contracts.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Despite all that, he is still a millionaire. Something needs to be done with rookie contracts in the NFL. You get a huge pay day without lifting a finger for your team. If you pan out? Great! If you don't? Too bad for the team that wasted their time and money on you. I'm sure if that did come up in the CBA. The NFLPA would push for guaranteed contracts.

Completely agree, this is one area where the NHL is miles ahead of the NFL. It's beyond ridiculous that players can get paid that much money(especially top 10 picks) despite never playing a down in the NFL. They're essentially being paid for what they did in college. Meanwhile, proven NFL vets have a hell of a time re-signing for a big money contract, like Larry Johnson for example, with your Chiefs. The irony is, alot of the time its because teams can't afford to, because they need to save the big money for their draft picks. The fact that the Saints 1st round pick, WR Robert Meachem was our highest paid WR on the roster, despite not even playing a single down all year(and it wasn't just due to injury either) shows how ridiculous it's gotten. I think the main reason Houston passed on Reggie Bush in '06 is because that with his hype, and him being selected #1(meaning you couldn't "slot" him, as the Saints were able to do at #2), he was going to ask for unheard of numbers, which Houston obviously didn't want to pay.

And every year it gets worse. The #1 pick every year seems to get a slight increase over what the #1 pick received the previous year, I think they use last year's money as a base and push for slightly more. It's insane to think that this year, in a draft where there's not even a concensus #1 pick(or concensus "surefire" pick), whoever gets selected first over-all is going to surely break the record as the highest paid rookie ever(until next year of course). It's out of control, and the NFL badly needs a rookie cap. You should be getting rewarded for what you do at the NFL level, not the collegiate level.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

....

oh and Lex Hilliard on day 2!

Homer.

Saints supposedly have their eye on Rodgers-Cromartie. I'm not sure if that would change if they sign Asante Samuel. I'll cry if they choose offense again unless Long falls to 10.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Homer.

Saints supposedly have their eye on Rodgers-Cromartie. I'm not sure if that would change if they sign Asante Samuel. I'll cry if they choose offense again unless Long falls to 10.

I think the signing of Samuel would change things. If they land Samuel I'd hope the Saints would stay away from corners in round 1(although I'm not so sure of the accuracy of these Samuel rumours). Get Samuel and McKenzie(as long as he's fully healthy) as your starters, and Jason David and Usama Young as your nickel and dime corners, and suddenly that's a pretty nice looking group of corners. Personally my top choices would be to land Ellis or Dorsey(doubtful they'll still be on the board by #10), because as bad as our secondary was last year, I think the key to stopping the pass in this day and age of easy P.I. calls is getting a vicious pass rush on the QB(ala the Giants). Ellis combined with Thomas would really help free up space for Smith and Grant, that would be one fearsome DL. If not either or them, I'd love to see Rivers replace Shanle at OLB for us, that guy was a monster at USC.

Honestly though I almost hope the Samuel rumours are false, as the Saints are also sniffing around Jonathan Vilma right now, that would be a huge upgrade over Simoneau IMO(who needs to go). On a side note, I love how the Saints are in the mix with every defensive marquee UFA right now, you can tell they're trying to dramatically upgrade that D with a big signing or two, unlike slight tweaks like last year with David, Simmons and Kaesviharn.

[burn_baby_burn]

Smart money says stay away from Samuel. big name UFA's are expensive and he will end up commanding more money than he is ultimately worth. Very rare that a player signs as a UFA with another team and continues with the same success they enjoyed with their original team.