Broncos Training Camp and Free Agency Update

Usually the Broncos dive into free agency with reckless abandon. Mike Shanahan and Josh McDaniels both demonstrated that during their terms in Denver. This year has been slow in that area. I mean really, really slow. Perhaps this new philosophy is a good thing. Word out of Denver is that the team is cash strapped due to all the bad deals and signings from the past few seasons. Also, the Broncos are being very picky and selective, and they want to avoid overspending on talent, and looking for good values for certain players. I can't say I totally disagree with this mindset, but I simply not used to it. Frankly, I thought Denver was going to make at least one huge splash in free agency-Charles Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, or Brandon Mebane were my predictions- but it looks like Denver is going to be patient and let things play out. Another reason for some free agency hold up is the Kyle Orton trade never went through. Apparently, Miami and Orton couldn't come together on a deal to restructure his contract once he got traded. So as it stands now, Orton is still with Denver, and he is currently Denver's starting quarterback and outplaying Tim Tebow (Insert nail in head.) It is not the most ideal situation, but again patience is going to be my key this season with the Broncos. My hope is that Orton will still be dealt at some point this preseason, and Tebow will get a chance to run this team as the starter. Remember, it is a long preseason, and their will be some more twists and turns to this story. Here are some other quick thoughts on the Broncos training camp and roster moves.

-Why doesn't Denver just bury Kyle Orton as the number two QB on the depth chart? I'm sure they don't want to that because it will soften his trade value, and he is better than Tebow right now, but screw it make him want to leave Denver so bad that he would come to terms on a new deal with the Dolphins. I think you would get more out of Tebow if he knew it was his job and his team now. Reports have surfaced that Orton looks really good in camp, and Tebow has struggled. Of course this is the case. Orton is an experienced starter in the NFL, and Tebow may never look smooth in practice, but the bigger picture is that we know what Orton is, and he is not the future of this franchise. We still don't know that about Tebow, and we need to find out. Put Orton on the bench and give Timmy his shot.

-One more thing from experience. Don't read too much into camp reports from beat writers and reporters. These guys really don't know much about football, so take what they say with a grain of salt. QBs can look great in one-on-one drills and in skelly. Even in team drills, they can look good or bad, but what really is important is the live action against other teams. Don't get to optimistic on a player or too pessimistic on a guy based on the reports you get from training camp.

-The Broncos have made a few minor moves. They signed Willis McGahee as another RB to compliment Knowshon Moreno. The Broncos signed David Anderson, wideout formerly of Houston, as a potential fourth or fifth receiver. Also, they resigned defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, who should fit well into John Fox's 4-3 scheme. Also, Denver added a pair of tight ends: Dante Rosario and Daniel Fells. Fells played with the Rams last year, and the Broncos could look to him as a H-Back/TE/FB in their offense. Rosario played with Carolina last year, and he is famous for catching a touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme on the last play of the game to beat the Chargers in Week 1 of the 2008 season. The only reason why I remember that was because FOX announcer Dick Stockon called him "Rosario Dawson" after the catch.

-Ty Warren is coming in for a visit. He is coming off a hip injury that made him miss the 2010 season. I like Warren, but I get nervous with defensive lineman and major injuries.

-I just feel really comfortable with John Fox at the helm as our new head coach. One thing you have heard a lot in Denver is the positivity that Fox brings to the team. There seemed to always be a dark cloud hanging over Josh McDaniels and the Broncos the last two years. It seems like the players will enjoy playing for Fox, and he will get the most out of this team. It might not be a great roster yet, but I get the feeling Fox will be able to have these guys buy in and get the most out of them.

-Hopefully next time I will have some more Bronco signings and some other good news from camp!

Christmas in July

After 136 days, the NFL lockout is over. What a excruciating and mind-numbing experience that whole ordeal was. At the end of the day, the NFL was able to get a 10 year labor deal that looks like a win-win for each side. They were also able to avoid missing any preseason or regular season games, except for the Hall of Fame Game. Thank God the NFL is back and now we head into what will be a wild week in the NFL. Rookie draft picks, undrafted rookies, and free agents all need to be signed. Trades can take place, and teams start reporting for training camp in a matter of days. It is going to be fun, and I look forward to chronicling all the major moves the Broncos make as we head into the 2011 season. With that said and the lockout put to bed, here is my annual "Broncos Things to Look For" Training Camp Preview:

What needs to the Broncos have now that free agency will start?

Denver addressed their linebacker and secondary in the draft, but they still need help on the defensive line. The Broncos need to add at least two more defensive tackles, and they could start by resigning Marcus Thomas and/or Justin Bannan. I don't expect Denver to go after a big name DT, but look for them to get a few mid-level rotational guys. After DL, the Broncos must address the cornerback position. After seeing the disturbing details in the Perrish Cox case, I am concerned about their depth at corner. A guy like Richard Marshall from Carolina looks like a nice fit. On offense the Broncos should add a running back to compliment Knowshon Moreno. A lot of people have Deangelo Williams going to Denver, but I don't see them adding him for a huge price. I wouldn't mind seeing Denver go after a bigger back or a bruiser like Marion Barber, especially at a cheaper price than Williams.

What happens with Kyle Orton?

If there was no lockout, then Orton would have been gone before the NFL Draft in April. I've said it before, and I will say it again: It is time to start the Tim Tebow Era. That means that Denver can't hold onto Orton as a backup at his salary. I think Denver will hold onto Orton until they get a good deal. A good deal would be a 3rd round pick and possibly a player as well. I think Orton gets dealt, but not until the middle or end of training camp.

Who else could be cut or traded?

It was reported that Correll Buckhalter might be one of the first cuts the Broncos make. Also, Renaldo Hill could get the ax as well. It looks like Brian Dawkins will stay, but at a reduced price. Perrish Cox could be let go after the details in his rape case were released last week.

Any other moves to our defense?

The Broncos should add a DT and DE in free agency. Also, a cornerback should definitely be on the priority list, but remember Elvis Dumervil is coming back from injury. Just by adding Doom back, the Broncos defense should be better than last year. Plus, if Denver gets anything from 1st round pick Von Miller, then the Broncos defense could be a lot better in 2011.

Any other moves on offense?

Again RB will be a priority, but I hope Denver doesn't overspend on that position. I think the Broncos will take a look at some TEs that get released and cut by other teams. I think WR and the OL are pretty much set for now.

Are we behind other teams because we have a new head coach and there was a lockout for 136 days of the offseason?

I don't think the Broncos are totally screwed by not having a normal offseason and having a new HC. I'm sure it would have helped to have John Fox around his new team, but he is a solid NFL head coach, and I expect Fox to adjust and adapt very well with this situation. Remember, the Broncos are coming off a 4-12 season, and there are still plenty of talent deficiencies on the roster, but Fox is the real deal, and I think he will get the Broncos ready to go in time for the season opener at home vs. Oakland.

Does Tim Tebow win the QB job?

My heart says yes, and my mind is starting to say yes. I really hope Tebow is given the chance to win this job, and I hope he takes advantage of it. I can see how Kyle Orton could still be on the team, and the coaching staff naming him the starter for Week 1, but the right move is to give Tebow the job. After learning the lockout is over, Tebow tweeted "Game On" on his Twitter account. You obviously know he is ready to go, and I think the Broncos pull the trigger with him and not Orton.

Lockout Blues Once Again

I have tried to stay away and not comment on the lockout this summer. I was waiting patiently for the lockout to end to comment on what I thought about this disgraceful labor dispute in the NFL. Last week, I almost typed a review column on the end of the lockout, and I was going to draft it and post it when the lockout ended. It seemed that was going to be the case this week and most likely on Thursday; however, as Roddy Piper once said, "Just when you think you have the answers, I change the questions." That quote sums up this lockout perfectly. Everytime you think it is close to being done, there is a snag or a delay. Everytime you think progress is being made, there is a contradictory statement that the progress isn't moving along as quickly as one thought. Everytime you hear one issue being settled, then you hear another one crops up that is more important. Everytime you hear that they are working towards an agreement, you hear that there is more hard work that needs to be done. Forgive me for being a little angry right now, but I am just representing the masses on this one. I love the NFL and following the NFL-specifically my beloved Denver Broncos-is a passion, hobby, and a way of life for me, but this lockout has definitely affected my affections for the sport I care about so dearly. It has affected all NFL fans deeply as well, and it will get really bad if regular season games are missed. Before I lose it completely, let's review for a second. The last time I posted on the lockout, it looked like this thing would be settled by early to mid July. I was fine with that, and I'm sure a lot of NFL fans were too. Progress was being made, the two parties were gaining trust, core issues were being addressed and settled, lawyers were grinding away, and everything seemed to be on track for a settlement. July 4th came and went without a deal, but there was still reason to believe a deal was right around the corner. July 10th went by and no deal yet, but things are moving the right direction. July 15th was supposed to be an internal deadline for a deal, but that date came and went and still no agreement. The two were to meet with Judge Boylan on July 19th and then the Owners could vote at their meeting on July 21st with the players to either vote the day before or on the 21st. Well, the players didn't vote on the 20th, but the Owners went ahead and voted on the 21st. Did the players follow and vote that night as well? Of course they didn't! Why would they? That leads us to this question: What the hell is going on here. Well, to help answer it I figured I would do a little "Q & A" on what to make of this situation.

Was it a power play by the owners to go ahead and vote on the new CBA on Thursday?

Yes, it was a power play, but I don't think it necessarily is the wrong play by the Owners. In 2006, Gene Upshaw basically did the same thing to the Owners. He gave them a take it or leave it deal as he boarded a plane to go to Hawaii and discuss decertification with the union. The Owners felt that they negotiated everything that was important with the players and basically said, "Here is the deal, we negotiated all the major aspects with you guys, now take it, ratify it, and let's get going with the season." The players might not like that tactic, but time is running short, and I don't think it was a bad strategic move by the Owners.

Do you think Roger Goodell pulled a fast one on DeMaurice Smith?

This is the question that I want answered: What was said between Goodell and Smith before the vote took place and after it went down? It is documented that the two men spoke with each other, but what was said. Did Goodell screw De Smith over? I can't see Goodell going ahead with the vote if Smith was adamant about not doing it. Their trust would be broken, and that kind of move would never result in any deal between the two of them. Something is amiss here, but one thing I think is true is that Goodell and Smith were somehow communicating and on the same page at least. If Smith truly was objecting to a deal, then it is highly doubtful that Goodell would go through with the vote.

Why do you think the players are waiting to ratify this proposal?

In my opinion, the players are doing a couple of things. First, they want to sort out all of the details and make the decision in thoughtful and precise manner. Second, they want to make the owners sweat a little. Third, they want to win a little public relations back by making it look like they want to make sure this deal is the right deal they want to sign. The players are playing a little game with the owners here. Lastly, there are some finishing details and points that they want to get to Owners to look. When that is all done, then I think they will vote on the deal and ratify it.

If this deal gets done, which side would be the winner?

From the details of the proposal, I think both sides got a lot out of this deal and can claim victories. NFL Owners got the revenue split back into their favor. It looks like the owners will get 52% of the revenue, so they got what they wanted there. Also, they were able to put a limit of rookie wages and spending, which is another big win for them. The NFLPA got some really good points too. They rejected 18 games and won that, they received higher minimum salaries, they got reduced training camp and offseason practices, and they got the teams to spend more on the salary floor. It is a win-win for both parties, that will only increase the greater good of the game. The only thing left is for the players to ratify this damn thing.

Who are some of the heroes and villains through this whole debacle?

The villains of this were a lot of the lawyer and legal types. Jeffrey Kessler, outside counsel for the NFLPA, was rumored to be holding up a deal and trying to get the players to continue the fight in court. His name was referenced with pure venom the last few months. Bob Batterman, outside counsel for the NFL, was also referenced as a deal breaker in the last few months from the players' side. Other than that, the heroes of this deal, if it gets done, will be Goodell and Smith. It is said they constantly talked over the real tumultuous times in this negotiation. Remember, this was the first labor deal that both of these men spearheaded. I was very critical of them early on, but both men seemed to realize that they need each other, and both seemed to take control of the ship once it hit rocky waters.

So when does this lockout get put to bed?

Reports on Saturday said that major progress on the remaining issues was all but done, and the NFLPA Executive Committee will recommend the new CBA on Monday. Reports on Sunday made it sound like there was still some unresolved issues; however, most experts believe this deal gets ratified this week at some point by the players-either Monday or Tuesday. We have seen this lockout take many turns, so I won't rejoice until this thing is officially over.

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.