An Early Look at 2011

I am so desperate to write about something for the upcoming NFL season, but I have been hesitant because I was worried about what this labor strife is going to do to the actual season. The cautious optimism feeling is a little contagious, and I know I am going to have to fit in some major writing if this dispute gets settled later on this summer, but I have the time right now to give a little look at to what is in store for 2011. Obviously, the faces and makeup of each team will be totally different from what they look like now because over 400 free agents will be available, college free agents have to be signed, and trades involving some big name QBs (McNabb, Kolb, Palmer etc..)will be evolving. Here is an idea of some teams I like going into next year and some that I don't like:

Teams I Like or Bounce Back:
1) Dallas: The Cowboys are due for a big bounce back year. Tony Romo will be back healthy, and Jason Garrett looks like he can pump the tires on this team. Their first four games aren't brutal (@Jets, @SF, vs. Wash, and vs. Det). Look for the Cowboys to be very competitive all year.

2) New York Giants: Everyone is going to talk about their recent struggles down the stretch, but look for a big year from the G-Men. If you're looking for a team to win the division, put some cash on the Giants. I think they silence many critics this year.

3) Detroit: Many people will pick the Lions as a sleeper playoff team, but I don't know if I'm there yet with them. Right now they look to me like one of those dangerous 8-8 or even 9-7 teams that no one wants to play down the stretch. I'm not sure if I will pick them to make the playoffs, but they will definitely be in the mix.

4) Oakland: Again, this is a team that people will look to as a potential wild card team, but I don't know if they are going to the playoffs just yet. I think the Raiders have a lot going for them in 2011. I like their makeup offensively and defensively, but the two concerns for me are new head coach Hue Jackson and QB Jason Campbell. Those two factors could derail my pick for them in the playoffs.

5) San Diego: You could pick the Chargers every year, but my sense is that a lot of people will be down on the Chargers. I won't be one of them. Look for SD to bounce back from a disappoiting 9-7 non-playoff year and take back the AFC West in 2011.

6) Cleveland/Houston/Jacksonville: Someone from this trio will surprise people this year. If I were a Browns fan, I would hang my hat on Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis and nice start to the season (Cincy,@Indy,Miami, and Tennessee). If you are a fans of the Jags, you have to think that one of these years you can finish strong and make the playoffs. Don't forget Jacksonville was 8-4 and 7-5 the last two seasons, and lost the remainder of their games each year to miss the playoffs. Plus, I love the Blaine Gabbert pick because you can't rely on David Garrard forever. If you are a Houston fan, then you love the fact that Wade Phillips is your defensive coordinator. This team is very close to making a run at a playoff berth, and they have been the sexy pick the last two seasons. This could be their year they finally break through.

Teams I Don't Like or Fall Off:
1) New York Jets: I just don't think the Jets can duplicate what they did the last two years. Also, the new cap rules should really affect the Jets roster tremendously. The Jets have caught every break along the way the last two years, and I just think the odds will catch up to them this year.

2) Kansas City: The Chiefs followed the classic formula last year: Decent young team+Easy schedule+ Good start and ended up 10-6 and champs of the AFC West. Then, they got exposed badly Baltimore in the first round and that was it. I don't love Todd Haley as a head man, and the Charlie Weis departure is going to hurt them.

3) Chicago: The Bears really weren't as good as their 11-5 record and their NFC Title Game appearance indicated. No matter what the Bears do in free agency, I just don't see them being as good this year. They smell like a classic 8-8/7-9 team in 2011.

4) Tampa Bay: I'm sure a lot of experts are going to pick the Bucs to make the playoffs, but I'm not going to be one of them. I still don't trust them, and I want to see them when they have the bullseye on their chest this time around.

5) Philadelphia: If it wasn't for Mike Vick, Philly would have been 7-9 last year. The Eagles will be good, but I don't see them winning the NFC East next year. Right now, the Eagles look like a 9 win team that falls short of the playoffs.

6) St. Louis Rams: People loved the move that the Rams made when they hired Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator. In time it will be a good move, but be careful about McDaniels' influence on Sam Bradford this year. There could be some growing pains this year. My other concern with the Rams is what the other teams in the division will do when free agency starts. If the Rams fall behind on some key moves, they might not be a threat to win the division this year.

Lockout Update

The NFL owners met yesterday to get an update on the secret negotiations that have been taking place between the Labor Committee and the NFLPA for the last month. It sounded like most of the ownership is on board with the new proposed plan, and Roger Goodell and the committee will look to continue negotiating with the players in secret this week. As much as I wanted to post about the secret negiotiations, I didn't want to jinx the optimism that surrounds it. We'll see where this leads us and hopefully there can be a settlement and an agreement on a new CBA very soon. Many experts feel that the date of July 15th could be a day where Free Agency begins and the new league year opens. It would give the teams a few weeks of free agency, trades, and roster moves, and it will also set up for training camp to start on time in late July and early August. Also, there would be no change or postponing of any preseason games. This leads me to think about what my summer timeline could be like on the Bronco Blog. If we go ahead and say that this thing gets settled by July 15th, here is what the calendar looks like for the Blog:

July 15th through August 1: Updates and blog posts on all of the Broncos moves in free agency and with their roster. There will be a lot of movement with over 400 free agents possibly on the move.

Middle of August: I will then need the time of training camp to digest all the moves and make my selections and predictions on the Broncos and the upcoming NFL season. I usually file this blog post, which is my favorite one to write, around the beginning of August, but it will be around the middle of August when I write it this year.

Hopefully, I will have some good news to report about the settlement of the NFL CBA and the end of the lockout. Of course there is always the real threat of these negotiations breaking down, so with fingers crossed I wait for good news.

Lockout Blues

One of my favorite films of the past decade is "Charlie Wilson's War." Everytime it is on cable, I get sucked in and can't stop watching it. The main premise of the film is how Congressman Charlie Wilson, played by Tom Hanks, was the main contributor to the United States covert and secret backing of Afghanistan in their attempt to thwart the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Wilson teams up with CIA man Gust Avrakatos, portrayed superbly by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, in this secret war against the Russians. The CIA and American Forces supplied, trained and bolstered the Afghan freedom warriors in an eventual victory over the Soviets. The film was so good that I immediately bought the novelized version. Of course books are always better then the movie, and this case was no different. Unfortunately for the United States, these same Afghan fighters that were trained and supported by us in the fight against the Russians, turned their backs on us and many of those fighters became terrorists and sworn enemies of the United States-including our old nemesis Osama Bin Laden. The quote that sticks out for me in the entire book is when Avrakatos talks about how the United States Government underrated and also bailed on the Afghans, which led to a hotbed of distrust and anger towards our country. As Avrakatos puts it, "We went ahead and fucked up the endgame."

That quote is something that I continue to hear in my head as this NFL lockout continues. Years from now Roger Goodell, John Mara, DeMaurice Smith or even Drew Brees could be making this same statement about the current lockout and its' affect on the NFL brand. It is so frustrating to think that as we approach Memorial Day, the lockout is still going on, and there seems to be no end in sight. The only thing that we can look forward to is the appeals hearing on June 3rd with the 8th Circuit Court. The court will make their decision on whether to lift the lockout or not-at this point all signs look to the NFL winning the appeal, and the lockout continuing. Unfortunately, the judges won't make their ruling until at least the end of June or early July (You gotta love those courts!).

That puts us back at square one. The lockout will still be in effect, and the ball will be in the players court. DeMaurice Smith has not backed off of his rhetoric, and it is very hard to see him leading the players back to the table to get a deal. The players count continue with the litigation route, but those cases won't be heard for many months or even next year. If the players want to play this season like they said they wanted to, then Smith has to move past his ego and get back to the table in July. If he doesn't do that, then the lockout will continue into the season and regular season games will be missed, postponed or cancelled all together. Until there is any substantial news on an agreement, I will be locking myself out of posting. Both sides have already robbed me of the fun of an NFL offseason, and I'm not going to post until there is some real news on this dispute. Until then, I will continue to enjoy the NHL Playoffs, NBA Finals, and whatever cheap reality show I can get my hands on.

Remember what Gust said, "We went ahead and fucked up the endgame." I'm hoping that this quote doesn't come back to haunt the NFL Owners, the Commissioner and more importantly the head of NFLPA, Mr. DeMaurice Smith. We are going to find out this summer if this rings true or not.

Broncos 2011 Draft Review

The Broncos concluded their draft on Friday and Saturday night. Here is a look at the Broncos 2011 Draft class and my thoughts on each selection.

Round 2
(Denver traded back from number 36 overall and picked up San Francisco's fourth and fifth round pick)
-Rahim Moore: Free Safety, UCLA (#45 overall)
-Orlando Franklin: Offensive Tackle, Miami (#46 overall)

Round 3
-Nate Irving: LB, NC State (#67 overall)

Round 4
(Denver traded their fifth round pick to get into the fourth round and ended up with two 4th round selections)
-Quinton Carter: SS, Oklahoma (#108 overall)
-Julius Thomas: TE, Portland State (#129 overall)

Round 6
-Mike Mohamed: LB, California (#189 overall)

Round 7
-Virgil Green: TE, Nevada (#204 overall)
-Jeremy Beal: DE, Oklahoma (#244 overall)

Thoughts and Opinions:
-I obviously did like the Von Miller pick in round 1 because of the impact that Miller can bring.
-I really liked the Rahim Moore pick in the second round because he was the best safety on the board, and Denver desperately needed a new FS. Moore could start from day one, but I also liked how Denver traded back and acquired San Francisco's fourth and fifth round picks, which they didn't have before the draft began.
-I was surprised that Denver took Franklin with their other second round pick. Some sites had him ranked as the 16th best offensive tackle in the draft. I thought Denver could have taken Marvin Austin or Stephen Paea at that point, but they didn't. Hopefully, Franklin comes in and replaces Ryan Harris at RT and produces.
-I was surprised that Denver went linebacker again when they took Nate Irving in round three. I do love the fact that Denver completely revamped their linebacker corps. The LBs have been a weakpoint in Denver since 2006. It looks like Irving could step in a start right away too. If that happens, then this was a great pick.
-I have no problem with Denver taking Carter in the fourth round, but I was hoping they would have addressed their DTs in this round. They didn't and Carter could eventually replace Brian Dawkins at SS, and he could help on special teams.
-I was surprised to see the Broncos trade up and grab Julius Thomas, who is a project at TE. I hope he doesn't turn out to be the second version of Wesley Duke.
-Mike Mohamed in round six adds more LB depth and can help on special teams.
-The Virgil Green pick was applauded by many of the draft experts. I saw some mock drafts that had Green going in the fourth round, so to get him in round seven it was considered a steal. He might end up a better player than Thomas.
-Jeremy Beal was going in the third and fourth round of some other mock drafts, and the fact that Denver got him in the seventh round was a steal. Hopefully, he will make the team and contribute in some way.
-Overall, I hate draft grades, but I would have to say that Denver did well. They add at least 3 and probably four new starters. They totally revamped their LB unit and added some youth to their secondary. I'm happy with most of the picks, and I think this was a nice first draft for the Elway, Fox, and Xanders trio.

Here are my other thoughts and opinions on the rest of the 2011 NFL Draft:
-There is always a shocker in the top 10, and the first shock came when the Titans selected Jake Locker at number eight.
-The buzz was still there for Locker, but it kept going when Jacksonville traded up and took Blaine Gabbert. I thought it was a smart move by the Jags, and you can't win the division with David Garrard. Good job by Jacksonville looking towards the future.
-The buzz was still going when the biggest surprise happened next: The Vikings selecting Christian Ponder at number 12. The response from the crowd was hilarious, and even Jon Gruden got caught shaking his head on ESPN's telecast.
-The first seven picks were not surprising, but as soon as the Titans picked Locker, the draft started to gain some steam.
-The fact that Nick Fairley fell to the middle of the first round is really shocking. Fairley was going in the top three from about December all the way to the end of March. Fairley, Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vandenbosch pose a nice trio upfront for the Lions in 2011.
-How about Da'quan Bowers falling all the way to the second round? Amazing that a month ago he was considered a top five pick.
-I love the Giants pick of Prince Amukamara at number 19. Not one mock draft dating back to October had him going past 10. You can never have enough corners in today's NFL.
-The Saints made a great move by trading up for Mark Ingram late in the 1st round. They got the best RB in the draft. Is Reggie Bush's days in New Orleans over?
-The Pats needed to get an impact WR or DE and they got neither. Stop blowing smoke up Bill Belichick's ass for the way he manipulates the draft. This was the perfect opportunity for the Pats to trade up and get A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Aldon Smith, or even Robert Quinn. They didn't do that, and I don't think they widened the gap between them and the Jets in the AFC East. Plus, everyone loves the Ryan Mallett pick in round three, but when is he going to contribute?
-The Browns followed the Belichick formula, and recouped a lot of picks, but where is their impact player? Phil Taylor, Jaball Sheard, and Greg Little are nice picks, but none of them is the impact or blue-chip player the Browns desperately need.
-The same teams always draft well and this year was no exception. The Giants got Amukamara and had Marvin Austin fall to them. The Packers nabbed Randal Cobb in round two. The Ravens got Jimmy Smith at the end of round one, and the Steelers got Cameron Heyward in round one. Also, the Eagles did well once again. The same teams do well every year.
-The networks have to stop showing the players on the cell phones before the picks get announced. It ruins the suspense of the announcement of the picks. Just wait until after Roger Goodell announces the picks to show the player's reaction.
-The Draft should be set up as follows: Rounds 1 and 2 on Friday, Rounds 3 and 4 on Saturday, and Rounds 5 through 7 on Sunday.

Broncos Select Von Miller Number 2 Overall

The NFL Draft began its' three day extravaganza last night. The Broncos selected Von Miller OLB out of Texas A&M with the second pick overall. By Wednesday, Miller to the Broncos really picked up steam, and by Thursday night it was all but a certainty that Denver was going to pick the NCAA's leading sacker. The Broncos desperately needed an impact player in their front seven. The Broncos currrently only have one All-Pro or "Blue Chip" player on their defensive front seven. Elvis Dumervil can't do it all by himself. The last time the Broncos had an All-Pro linebacker was Al Wilson, and he last played in 2006. I do like this pick because I feel that Miller can bring an instant impact to the game. I wouldn't have minded Marcel Dareus, the DT from Alabama, here either, but Denver instantly improves their defense and their pass rush with Miller. Miller will play outsided linebacker in John Fox's 4-3 scheme, and he will be a three down player. Miller will certainly earn his money by rushing the passer off the edge on third down and in nickel situations. People who criticize the pick are saying that Miller is more suited for an OLB in a 3-4 defense and not a 4-3. My response is that I'm pretty sure John Fox knows how to run a defense. He will find a way to get the most out of Miller's skills. Also, the impact of a pass rusher is greater then the impact of a defensive tackle. I like Dareus, but like Glenn Dorsey and Gerald McCoy he might not be able to make an impact right away for the Broncos defense. Miller, if he plays as well as advertised, can get to the QB and rush the passer. It will be a nice compliment to Dumervil coming off the other side. I am just glad Denver made a defensive choice and didn't do anything stupid at number two. I'm glad they didn't take Blaine Gabbert or A.J. Green. They need help badly on defense and their defense just got better last night with the pick of Miller. He has no major off the field concerns or character issues, so let's hope gets going right away in Denver and contributes from the start. Good first pick by the Broncos braintrust of John Elway, Brian Xanders, and John Fox. Now, hopefully Denver can get a solid DT in the second round with one of their two picks. A safety or offensive tackle could also be available with the second of their second round picks. Maybe the Broncos also address their TE position in round three. In any event, I feel the Broncos 2011 draft is off to a good start.

The Inaugural NFL Mock Draft!

I love the draft, and I love reading mock drafts as far back as October. I never actually did a mock draft myself because it is so hard to try and figure out trades and where certain guys are actually going to go. Last year was a perfect example. Many people had San Diego taking Ryan Matthews in the first round, but most people had the Chargers nabbing in late in the first round. The Chargers used some of their later picks and moved up to grab him higher in the first round. That threw off a lot of mock drafts. It is not an exact science, and I don't believe a lot of what teams say around this time, but it is going to be fun and give it a shot. Without further ado, here is my first ever NFL mock draft...........

Round 1:

1. Carolina Panthers select Cam Newton QB, Auburn.

-The Panthers need to make a splash and although they drafted Jimmy Clausen last year, Newton's upside, potential, and instant credibility give the Panthers something to build around.

2. Denver Broncos TRADE with San Francisco 49ers. Denver gets San Francisco's 7th overall, 2nd round pick (45th overall), and 5th round pick (141 overall).

San Francisco 49ers select Blaine Gabbert QB, Missouri.

-The Jim Harbaugh Era begins with a quarterback. The Niners move up from 7th to get Denver's 2nd overall pick. The Niners get their man to lead them into the future.

3. Buffalo Bills select Marcell Dareus DT, Alabama.

-The Bills get the best defensive player on the board to rebuild their awful defensive line. GM Buddy Nix loves the SEC, and he can't pass up on Dareus.

4. Cincinnati Bengals select A.J. Green WR, Georgia.

-The Bengals are ready to move on from both Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer. They missed out on Gabbert, but get the top wide receiver in the draft.

5. Arizona Cardianls select Von Miller LB, Texas A&M.

-The Cards will look to add a QB later in the 2nd round and will probably end up with Marc Bulger, so they grab the best linebacker in the draft in Miller. He will immediately improve their pass rush.

6. Cleveland Browns select Julio Jones WR, Alabama.

-The Browns need some offensive firepower and new head coach Pat Shurmur is an offensive coach and GM Mike Holmgren is an offensive guy as well. They have Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis, and now they add Jones to form a nice trio of skill players on the offensive side of the ball.

7. Denver Broncos select Patrick Peterson CB, LSU.

-The Broncos traded back and still got one of their best players on the board. Denver will use some of their second round picks (3) to address their defensive line and front seven. The Broncos get a big time corner to bookend with All-Pro Champ Bailey.

8. Tennessee Titans select Nick Fairley DT, Auburn.

-The Titans wait on selecting a QB, and they add a potential blue-chipper in Fairley. He might finally be the perfect replacement for Albert Haynesworth.

9. Dallas Cowboys select Tyron Smith T, USC.

-The Cowboys are a still a talented team, so they need to just fill in some spots and they should be competitive in 2011. They need a tackle and they get the best one in the draft.

10. Washington Redskins TRADE with New England Patriots. Washington gets New England's 17th overall selection and New England's 3rd round selection (74th overall).

New England Patriots select Robert Quinn DE, North Carolina.

-Unable to get A.J Green or Julio Jones, Bill Belichick moves up and snags Quinn, who might have been a top-5 pick if he came out last year. The Pats desperately need a pass rusher and they get it with Quinn.

11. Houston Texans select Prince Amukamara CB, Nebraska.

-The Texans need a corner in the worst way, so they go for Amukamara and get him. He should be able to at least help the Texans' secondary is some way as a rookie.

12. Minnesota Vikings select Jake Locker QB, Washington.

-This might be the reach of the draft, but the Vikings can't go into next season with Joe Webb. With the lockout, they might not be able to get Donovan McNabb, so why take the chance. The Vikings need something to build on for the future- especially if they are trying to get a new stadium.

13. Detroit Lions select Aldon Smith DE, Missouri.

-Smith's stock has risen tremendously since the end of last season. He has the potential to be another dominant pass rusher. The Lions will add him with Kyle Vandenbosch and Ndamukong Suh on that suddenly nasty D-Line.

14. St. Louis Rams select Corey Liuget DT, Illinois.

-Liuget is a legit player on the defensive line. The Rams need help on the interior of the line, and Liuget fills that area of need.

15. Miami Dolphins TRADE with San Diego Chargers. Miami gets San Diego's first round pick (18th overall) and San Diego's 3rd round pick (89th overall).

San Diego Chargers select Ryan Kerrigan DE, Purdue.

-A.J. Smith needs some help in the pass rushing department to go alongside Shaun Phillips. They move up to get Kerrigan, a high-motor guy, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars select Cameron Jordan DE, California.

-The Jags probably wanted Kerrigan, but they will settle for Jordan, who projects to be a very solid pass rusher, and the Jaguars need help in their pass rush.

17. Washington Redskins select J.J Watt DE, Wisconsin.

-Mike Shanahan moved back too far and missed out on Jake Locker. He will try to get one later in the first round, but he gets a solid DE in Watt, who will be able to help out in the 3-4 scheme.

18. Miami Dolphins select Mark Ingram RB, Alabama.

-A lot of experts have the Fish getting Ingram at some point in this draft. They will lose Ricky Williams, so why not add the best running back in the draft.

19. New York Giants select Anthony Castonzo T, Boston College.

-The Giants need to retool their offensive line, and Castonzo fills that need. He also is versatile and can play guard as well.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Da'Quan Bowers DE, Clemson.

-The Bucs gets Bowers, who falls all the way to number 20 overall. Bowers' mentor was Gaines Adams, the former Bucs first round pick from a few years back. Bowers' knee uncertainty helped in his freefall from a top five pick, but if he is healthy he could really help out that young Buccaneer defense.

21. Kansas City Chiefs select Gabe Carimi T, Wisconsin.

-The Chiefs need help at WR and Tackle, but they will address their need for receiver later on in the 2nd round. They grab Carimi to fill their need at RT.

22. Indianapolis Colts TRADE with the New York Jets. Indianapolis receives the Jets 30th overall selection and the Jets 3rd round selection (94th overall).

New York Jets select Jimmy Smith CB, Colorado

-The Jets have many free agents to sign in the offseason, so they will discard their 3rd round draft pick to move up and get the best cornerback left in the draft. They probably will end up losing Antonio Cromartie, and last year they selected Kyle Wilson, who didn't distinguish himself at all. Smith, has many character concerns, but Rex Ryan won't mind adding him to that locker room. Smith complements Darrelle Revis nicely in the secondary for the Jets.

23. Philadelphia Eagles select Derek Sherrod T, Mississippi State.

-The Eagles miss out on a corner, so they go with Sherrod to help protect Michael Vick and improve that offensive line. The Eagles have two picks in each of the fourth and fifth round, so look for them to move up in the second or third round and make a move for a cornerback.

24. New Orleans Saints select Adrian Clayborn DE, Iowa.

-The Saints need help on the D-Line, so they add a pass rusher, who has a tremendous amount of potential. This could a steal here late in the first round.

25. Seattle Seahawks select Muhammad Wilkerson DL, Temple.

-The Seahawks need to fill a gap on the defensive line and Wilkerson's name has been mentioned at all different spots in the first round.

26. Baltimore Ravens TRADE with Chicago Bears. Baltimore gets Chicago's 1st round pick (29th overall) and their 4th round pick (127th overall).

Chicago Bears select Nate Solder T, Colorado.

-The Bears desperately need help on the offensive line, especially at tackle. They had to address that early on, and they move up to grab Solder. Solder should come in and start right away for the Bears.

27. Atlanta Falcons select Justin Houston DE/OLB, Georgia.

-The Falcons need to add some depth to their pass rush, and Houston could fit that bill and create quite a tandem with John Abraham. At 13-3, there aren't many holes in Atlanta's program, so they just build upon what they have going.

28. New England Patriots select Mike Pouncey C/G, Florida.

-The Pats will probably trade this pick, but if they stay then they grab Pouncey, who instantly helps and starts on their offensive line.

29. Baltimore Ravens TRADE with Washington Redskins. Baltimore gets Washington's 2nd round pick (41st overall).

Washington Redskins select Christian Ponder QB, Florida State.

-Mike Shanahan needs to get a QB in the first few rounds of this draft. Ponder played in a pro-style offense at FSU. Shanahan can have Ponder compete with Rex Grossman, and if there is anyone who can develop quarterbacks, Shanny is one guy that can do it.

30. Indianapolis Colts select Danny Watkins G, Baylor.

-This might be a reach for the Colts to get Watkins, but they need to address their O-Line in the first round.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers select Aaron Williams CB, Texas.

-You can never have enough help in the secondary in today's NFL. The Steelers front seven in superb, but the back end of their defense can be suspect on the corners. Williams is versatile and can possibly play safety too.

32. Green Bay Packers select Cameron Heyward DE, Ohio State.

-The Packers need to add some help on their defensive line, and Heyward could be that guy. He was considered a top-15 pick in the fall, but he drops to the end of the first round. He fills a void left by Johnny Jolly and possibly Cullen Jenkins.

Here are some of my other predictions for other rounds of the draft:

1) Miami Dolphins will end up selecting Andy Dalton QB, TCU in the second round. They will package their 3rd round picks to get into the second and get Dalton.

2) Ryan Mallett will end up going to the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round. Cincy will need to grab a QB, and they will get him in round 2.

3) Tennessee will address the QB situation in the 3rd round when they select Colin Kaepernick out of Nevada.

4) The Broncos should use their 3 second round picks on: Marvin Austin DT, North Carolina, Kyle Rudolph TE, Notre Dame, and Bruce Carter LB North Carolina.

2011 NFL NETWORK THURSDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE

Here is the NFL Network's slate of games for the 2011 season on Thursday Night Football.....

Week 10: 11/10- Oakland at San Diego- 8:20pm

Week 11: 11/17- NY Jets at Denver- 8:20pm

Week 12: 11/24- Baltimore at San Francisco- 8:20pm

Week 13: 12/1- Philadelphia at Seattle- 8:20pm

Week 14: 12/8- Cleveland at Pittsburgh- 8:20pm

Week 15: 12/15- Jacksonville at Atlanta- 8:20pm

Saturday 12/17- Dallas at Tampa Bay- 8:20pm

Week 16: 12/22- Houston at Indianapolis- 8:20pm

-NFL Network at least tries to spread the wealth around and this slate of games is no different.

-Raiders/Chargers is a nice way to start the games off, and the Raiders should be improved.

-I love the Jets at Denver game. It will be a tough game for the Jets and the short week could level the playing field for the Broncos.

-The Thanksgiving game doesn't do much for me, but it will be at least interesting to see the Harbaugh brothers battle each other.

-Philly at Seattle has all the makings of a stinker on December 1st.

-Browns/Steelers is a solid matchup, and I thought that was going to be the TNF Thanksgiving game. I missed it by a week.

-Jacksonville at Atlanta is pretty weak in my opinion on December 15th.

-Dallas always gets the Saturday Night game for NFL Network. They have the last three in a row (Baltimore, at New Orleans, at Arizona).

-Houston at Indy is a nice way to end the schedule because it will be interesting to see if Houston is in the mix for a playoff berth.

-Overall, a decent schedule of games, but not one game really stands out as a must watch game, except for the Broncos-Jets matchup on November 17th of course.