2008 NFL Off season thread.

[Sainters7]

Good God, are any of the other Saints fans on here having a very difficult time reading the Saints boards the past week or two? Since most of them on there are also from Louisiana, they are also LSU fans, and are absolutely DYING for the Saints to trade way up and grab Glenn Dorsey. Alot of em are absolutely fine with the notion of giving up our 1st and Will Smith, and now I've even heard our 1st and JAMMAL BROWN, just to jump up to 2nd and nab Dorsey. Are you kidding me?!?!? Take off the purple and gold homer glasses there fellas, and let's think rationally for a second.

I'm almost surprised I haven't heard rumours for Drew Brees and a 1st just to land their beloved Dorsey, geez. I think I'm gonna stay away from the Saints boards until after Dorsey's been selected in the first 2-4 picks.

[Saint Troy]

Well I think the Saints will move up if Dorsey is still there at 5, other than that they'll go to 7 and get Ellis. I think both guys are studs, but I'm a little worried about Dorsey's legs. There is no way in heck they move Brown or Smith to move up a few spots, Loomis and Payton are not imbeciles.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Well I think the Saints will move up if Dorsey is still there at 5, other than that they'll go to 7 and get Ellis. I think both guys are studs, but I'm a little worried about Dorsey's legs. There is no way in heck they move Brown or Smith to move up a few spots, Loomis and Payton are not imbeciles.

Oh absolutely, it wasn't a knock on Dorsey. I'd have him #1 on the draft board for the Saints. I just think the idea of moving from #10 to #2(which some rumours have suggested) is absurd, especially when a similar DT in Ellis can probably be had by moving up only a couple spots(which, by what my Ravens fan buddy tells me, can be done if Matt Ryan's already off the board by the time Baltimore's on the clock at #8)

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I've heard that Herm likes Gholston a lot. I have a feeling they'll take Ryan if he falls to 5 though. Don't think they should. They will be one of the most intersting teams to watch this weekend.

Its interesting how the Chiefs biggest need was OT. Then they trade away their best player and all of a sudden the most pressing need is to fill that hole.

[Displaced Flames fan]

CLADY!

I was sure he'd be gone. I'm pretty stoked!

[KTown]

I like what the big tuna is doing in Miami!!!!

I like Henn with the 57th pick, solid pick and more options at QB for the fins.

[Clever_Iggy]

I heart the NFL draft. The NHL and MLB drafts more often than not feature players a few years away from the big show and the NBA is just lame.

Miami - Long and Henne? I half expected them to take Hart in the later rounds. I didnt like Henne when he was at Michigan, but one thing that can be said for the top 3 Michigan players (Long, Henne, Hart) is that they have loads of character. Those three alone kept that Michigan team together at the start.

Now, the AFC West:

Oakland - They got the best talent in the draft... at a position in which they are 4 (now 5) deep. Sigh... Skeletor is still alive and well. Meanwhile Derrick Burgess is going to have to do it all by his lonesome on the d-line. Trading for Hall (2nd rounder) and last year to NE (3rd rounder) left this Raiders fan a little bored after #4.

Kansas - Congrats. You guys cleaned up. I (a Raiders fan) would have preferred Dorsey, but, to then pick up Brandon Albert who to some was the second best offensive lineman in the draft? Nice. And Charles in the third round is nice because I think LJ isnt going to be a Chief for much longer (headcase).

Denver - Clady was a good pick. Some question his runblocking skills and his footwork, but if there's a team in the NFL that can develop an offensive line, it's Denver. I watched a lot of Spencer Larson in Arizona the past few years. Displaced, I think this guy can be a contributor in a couple seasons. Will be a special teams guy to start, but I do think he's got the skills to see the field on defense. Sorry about the Ryan Torian pick... Denver should know to stay away from those ASU types .

San Diego - Not a whole lot of need on this team. Antone Carson is another Arizona pick and a Thorpe winner. He's small but lightning quick and was a game changer for the Wildcats. He'll contribute immediately on PR/KR and may slide into some nickel and dime packages. A couple interesting picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds with Hester and Thomas (FB/RB). But, when you are going to win the division for the next couple years and you have the best draft record over the past 5 years, you can take some liberties.

[rubecube]

Eagles are now suing T.O. for the money awarded to them in arbitration.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8...asn't-paid

[Pagal4321]

Jay Cutler has diabetes.....terrible news.

http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_9124884

[Sainters7]

Those loveable Bengals are at it again, this time it's Ahmad Brooks. He and another were arguing very loudly, to the point where a woman had to come over and tell them to be quiet, as kids could hear them in the park. So Brooks does what any sensible person would do, and punches her in the face, leaving her with a black eye. Court date is set for June.

Really, what is there even to say anymore about this team?

http://boards.bengals.com/showthread.php?t=18659

[Montana Moe]

Marvin Harrison involved in shooting Tuesday, firearm registered to him found at the scene:
No link on ESPN yet, though arrest is forthcoming. Due to Pennsylvania law, a firearm involved with a crime = automatic arrest of firearm owner.

I guess this is about the last guy I would think of getting into trouble.

Per ESPN: Harrison is a part owner of "Playmakers," a bar in Philadelphia. This is where the incident happened. An individual that had trouble with Harrison before showed up, and a melee ensued.

Finally, a link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3378829


Edit: As this story evolves, initial reports are being refuted, we'll have to see how it all shakes out. ESPN possibly jumping the gun, again...

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Jay Cutler has diabetes.....terrible news.

http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_9124884

Sounds like Jay is pretty relieved to know what the heck was wrong with him physically and that he won't have to deal with it anymore even if it means this kind of a disease. Sounds like he's eager to play at full strength.

[Displaced Flames fan]

This is not sounding good for Marvin Harrison at all. Seems he's not been very truthful with the police thus far. A 3 year old boy was injured in the shooting by shattering glass from a stray bullet. That's not going to sit well.

[burn_baby_burn]

Surprised this hasn't been posted yet.

Cedric Benson pepper spayed by police while Yachting in Texas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3383731

[Bobblehead]

I get an RSS feed of SI.com's NFL stories.

3 of the 7 most recent stories are of players in trouble:

# Michael Lombardi: Next year's finish built with offseason work - 11 hours ago
# Benson says he wasn't drunk, will fight charges - 15 hours ago
# Steelers rookie Mendenhall robbed at gunpoint - 15 hours ago
# Falcons' Boley charged with battery against wife - 21 hours ago
# Former Lions DE Porcher sentenced for assault - 18 hours ago
# Bucs' rookie Hayes pleased to have fresh start - 15 hours ago
# Titans' RB Little looks to return after ACL injury - 16 hours ago

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I get an RSS feed of SI.com's NFL stories.

3 of the 7 most recent stories are of players in trouble:

Geez. It's stuff like this that makes me really love the NHL. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely live for the NFL. I can admit I'm an NFL fan 1st and an NHL fan 2nd. But you almost NEVER hear about this kind of stuff in hockey. Can you imagine waking up to a headline like "Miikka Kiprusoff gets in barfight, has to be tasered by police and arrested"? Even the thought of it makes me laugh out loud, its just so unlikely. I remember a few years back Jim Rome talking about how much he likes interviewing NHL players, as for the most part they're all good guys from small Canadian towns with good families. Anyways, back on topic...

Poor Mendenhall. Dude gets injured in his first ever day of NFL mini-camp, to the point where he has to fly home to Chicago. Then when he gets there, he gets robbed at gunpoint. Now THAT'S a bad week!

[Bobblehead]

The Michael Lombardi article in that list is interesting. Seeing what was going in the the 49ers war room at the '86 draft, how Bill Walsh moved down, got more picks and was able to draft so many starters is amazing.

[burn_baby_burn]

And the NFL forced ESPN to cancel Play Makers because it portrayed pro football in a bad way. Play Makers had nothing on the reality of the NFL.

A lot of the problem comes from the neighborhoods a lot of the NFL players come from. Poor ghettos in the US. Incidents that shock the general public are every day occurrences in these poor neighborhoods. Some of these athletes are able to distance themselves from the bad influences from their past. While others can't.

I think some of it stems from racism as well. Some white police officers in the US may see a black male driving an expensive car or, in Bensons case, a 30ft boot and get envious.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Geez. It's stuff like this that makes me really love the NHL. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely live for the NFL. I can admit I'm an NFL fan 1st and an NHL fan 2nd. But you almost NEVER hear about this kind of stuff in hockey. Can you imagine waking up to a headline like "Miikka Kiprusoff gets in barfight, has to be tasered by police and arrested"? Even the thought of it makes me laugh out loud, its just so unlikely. I remember a few years back Jim Rome talking about how much he likes interviewing NHL players, as for the most part they're all good guys from small Canadian towns with good families. Anyways, back on topic...

Poor Mendenhall. Dude gets injured in his first ever day of NFL mini-camp, to the point where he has to fly home to Chicago. Then when he gets there, he gets robbed at gunpoint. Now THAT'S a bad week!

I completely agree, this is a very accurate account of hockey players. signed:

Rick Tochett
Danny Heatley
Jay Boumeester
Ryan Clowe
Mark Bell
Ed Belfour
Peter Worrell
Steve Chiasson
Rob Ramage
Craig McTavish


And that's without thinking much, The reality is that the NFL has more than twice as many players at any given time, and overall goes thorugh 3 or 4 times as many players as the turnover is so high in pro ball. So when you factor in the difference scope and the difference in demographics the NHL is far from lilly white.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Rick Tochett
Danny Heatley
Jay Boumeester
Ryan Clowe
Mark Bell
Ed Belfour
Peter Worrell
Steve Chiasson
Rob Ramage
Craig McTavish
Jon Kordic
Bob Probert
Darren McCarty
Sandis Ozolinsh
Theoren Fleury
Doug Gilmour
Patrick Roy

Fixed.