Apr

30

Vote Who Had The Best Draft

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Apr

29

Moss to Pats a Great Move by New England

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The New England Patriots have once again made a solid deal, this time making a deal with the Oakland Raiders to acquire wide out Randy Moss for a 4th round draft choice in this years NFL Draft.  Moss became an afterthought for the Raiders after the team got first pick QB JaMarcus Russell, then later in the day made a deal with the Lions for wide reciever Mike Williams.  It gives Williams a shot to revive a career that has been pretty much lackluster for the Lions.

Moss should be able to get his career, which has been pretty much at a standstill back up to speed with the Pats and quarterback Tom Brady.  It did not seem like the Raiders were all that upset at getting rid of him.  “We felt this was the best scenario for both the Raiders and Randy,” Oakland coach Lane Kiffin said. “We wish him nothing but the best.”   The Pats have already added a couple of wide outs this offseason, including Donte’ Stallworth, Kelly Washington, and Wes Walker.  With Moss, they could even run some solid 4-wideout sets this season.

Moss has made five Pro Bowls in seven years, and had 102 catches for 1,558 yards and 11 TD’s with Oakland.  The trade also is somewhat of a shock considering that the Raiders were long considered to be moving Moss to the Green Bay Packers, a team that Moss mockingly mooned a few years ago in a playoff game when he was still with the Vikings.

So the good get better with Moss in New England.  He will only add even more talent to a wide out core that even without him would have been pretty good.  It may only be late April, but there is no doubt that the Pats are now the clear cut team to beat in the AFC.

Apr

28

Dolphins Shock Everyone with Pick of Ginn Jr.

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Wow.  That is the word that quickly came out of my mouth when the announcement of Ted Ginn Jr. being the 9th overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft to the Miami Dolphins came down.  Ginn, who may have been the best wide out in the draft, was expected to go in the mid to late first round, and I personally had him going #19 to the Tennessee Titans.  Ginn is a wide out that can be a playmaker and all this move does means that the deal to get Trent Green to the Dolphins basically has to be done.

How can Miami pass on Brady Quinn and go with a wide out? Well, again, here has to be what’s happening.  One – Trent Green is going to be your opening day starter for the Dolphins.  That deal with the Chiefs has to be done, and you can bet by the end of the day that he’ll be a fish.  Two – a rumor that has been floating around for the Dolphins to be ready to deal or get rid of Marty Booker as their second wide out has also got to be in the works.  Miami can have a great combo with Chris Chambers and Ted Ginn, and I guess we’ll see how that goes, as that looks like its going to happen.

What a curveball for this draft, and you can bet that Ginn’s home in Cleveland had to erupt when the call came.  It means a TON more $$$ in Ginn’s pocket, and means that the Dolphins have a bigger plan in mind at QB.

Apr

28

Vikings Get Homerun Hitter with Peterson

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Adrain Peterson is the best back in the draft, and this was a great pick by the Minnesota Vikings.  Chester Taylor and Peterson will make a nice 1-2 punch for the Vikings, who with playing indoors at the Metrodome could have a great running game.  Peterson is the home run hitter, can catch the football and could very well be the rookie of the year for the Vikings.

The quarterback spot is still iffy with Tavaris Jackson, but the chance to get a 6-1, 200 pound back with the speed of Peterson, there was no way that the Vikings should have passed on him for Brady Quinn.  It is rare in this league to be able to get a back with the type of power and speed that Peterson has.  Now of course there is the chance of a big injury, and his collarbone is a concern, but the upside on Peterson outweighs the injury that Peterson suffered last season.

Apr

28

Bucs and Adams a Good Fit at the Number Four Spot

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Defense is the way that the Tampa Bay Bucs went with their first pick in Saturday’s draft, and I think that is about the only move they could have made.  Gaines Adams, a stud defensive end from Clemson was the best pick for the Bucs, as they really need to start thinking about re-tooling that defense that is getting older by the day.  He is closer to Simeon Rice when it comes to great Bucs defensive players of the draft, and if he can be that player, then Tampa Bay will be thrilled.

He is a speed guy, and a guy that can make some plays for Tampa Bay in his first year.  Don’t forget that Mario Wiliams was number one overall, and I think that Adams is about the same type of player.  Maybe not 100 percent as good, but very close, and Tampa Bay was able to get him at four instead of having to spend that #1 pick and money on him.

Yes, Tampa Bay is still in some trouble on offense, but they will have time to shore that up before 2007 opening day.  Now though, they have what many consider was and very well may be the best defensive player in the 2007 Draft.

Apr

28

Browns Make Safe Pick Going with Thomas

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The Cleveland Browns for some reason seem to have enough faith in quarterback Charlie Frye to keep him as the starter for one more season, as the team passed today on quarterback Brady Quinn and take Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas.  I know this team well considering I have covered them since 1999, and while Thomas is a safe pick, he is a good pick for this franchise.  The left tackle is a position that this team really needs, and while it is not the glamour pick that fans may have wanted, it was the right pick.

This team cannot run the football very well, and now with Jamal Lewis instead of Ruben Droughens they think with a new 6-foot-6, 311 pound left tackle that it will be enough to start being able to run the ball and be effective in doing it.  Thomas was a brick wall a season ago for Wisconsin, and he has great feet and the only concern is a bit of lack of power, which he had better get if he is going to go toe to toe with the big guys in the NFL.

The biggest concern for the team – remember Robert Gallery?  The Browns are hoping this pick is more in the line of D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

Apr

28

Can Johnson Do Enough to Turn Lions Around?

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Calvin Johnson at 6-foot-5 with 4.3 speed was the best player in this draft, and for that reason, he was not going to last long, which is why the fans of Detroit were on their feet when they heard their ugly franchise had taken him.  Johnson is the best wide out on the roster right now for the Lions, which says a lot considering the money and picks they have spent over the last few seasons on wide recievers.

This is not to let Detroit off the hook by any means.  They still have a ton they have to do with that roster if they are going to try and get back to even .500 in this league.  They have a lot of things they have to do with the skill positions at quarterback and running back, and that is not even talking about a defense that gave up a ton of yards last season with a new head coach.  For now, good move, and about the only move for Detroit, but once the honeymoon is over with Johnson, this team still has a long way to go.

Apr

28

Russell By Far the Best Pick for Oakland

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Did anyone ever think any differently?  Yes Raider Nation, you got your man, and I for one can’t wait to see what LSU Quarterback JaMarcus Russell will be able to do in Silver and Black out in the Black Hole.  It was the right pick at the right time for the Raiders, who missed out a season ago on both Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler.  If they would have taken one of those players, they would have been able to sit back this year and take the best player in the draft – wide out Calvin Johnson.

But such is life for Russell, who will come in with a new coach for a team that has not been competitive since they made a Super Bowl run with Rich Gannon as the QB six seasons ago.  Russell finished his college career at 25-4, and was the best quarterback in college football last season.  That is why as of 12:27 Saturday afternoon, JaMarcus Russell was and will remain as the best pick for the Oakland Raiders.

Apr

25

Steelers Would be Fools to Move Fanaca

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At this point of having a new coach and a new attitude come into Pittsburgh, the team would be foolish to make a move to trade super offensive lineman Alan Fanaca to the Cardinals for the chance to move up in the first round. The rumor bug has been sailing around, saying that Fanaca wants to be reunited with offensive line coach Russ Grimm and former coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, who now both are in Arizona. Whis as the head coach, and Grimm as an assistant.

Fanaca was outspoken when the Steelers upper brass passed up on both Grimm and Whis to hire Mike Tomlin as the teams new head coach back in January. Now, with one year left on his contract, the OL is upset because of the stall in getting him a new deal. This past weekend Fanaca was absent from the teams first mini-camp, though it was not mandatory. The next one is though, and new coach Tomlin has already stated that he will reach out to Fanaca to try and get him to be at the camp.

The Steelers could grab a few draft choices or move up in the first round with the dealing of Fanaca. But, the O-linemen means more to the team than a couple of draft choices, and you can bet that they are going to do their best to try and make sure a deal is done to insure that Fanaca is the anchor of that O-Line for years to come. Both sides are going to play their cards before a deal will finally be reached. Look for some trash talking and then for Fanaca to be back in Black and Gold shortly before or into training camp.

Apr

25

2007 NFL Mock Draft

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Well, everyone else has one – so here at nflgridirongab.com we have done our homework and put together our own mock draft. With just four days left till the big day, here is how we have the first round breaking down with some comments by some of, but not all of the picks.

1. Oakland – JaMarcus Russell QB – No brainer here that if the Raiders want to start rebuilding, they need to do it with a franchise QB, and Russell is just that.

2. Detroit – Joe Thomas OL – The Lions also need a lot of help, and they will get it with this stud lineman.

3. Cleveland – Brady Quinn QB – So much for the Charlie Frye era in Cleveland. The Browns cannot afford to miss on this pick, and Quinn is a lifelong Brows fan, so overall its a perfect match.

4. Tampa Bay – Calvin Johnson WR – The Bucs are in desperate need of a playmaker on offense, and while QB is still a question, Jon Gruden knows they need this big time talent now.

5. Arizona – Gaines Adams DE – Cards could use help on the D-Line, and Adams is the best out there that can help right away.

6. Washington – Amobi Okoye DT

7. Minnesota – Adrian Peterson RB – The Vikings are thrilled to have him, and Peterson will quickly become the best back in the Twin cities since Robert Smith.

8. Atlanta – LaRon Landry DB

9. Miami - Jamaal Anderson DE

10. Houston – Levi Brown OT

11. San Francisco – Adam Carriker DE

12. Buffalo – Marshawn Lynch RB – Bills need a back after trading Willis McGahee to the Ravens, and Lynch is a solid fit.

13. St.Louis – Darrelle Revis CB

14. Carolina – Greg Olsen TE

15. Pittsburgh – Leon Hall CB

16. Green Bay – Patrick Willis LB

17. Jacksonville – Michael Griffin S

18. Cincinnati – Reggie Nelson S – The overall thought is that the Bengals need to shore up the defense, and Nelson will help right away.

19. Tennessee - Ted Ginn Jr. WR – The Titans get a burner with the speedy Ginn from Ohio State in a position they sorely need help in.

20. NY Giants – Jon Beason OLB

21. Denver – Jarvis Moss DE

22. Dallas – Robert Meachem WR – Tony Romo gets some help to go along with T.O. and co. in the high powered Cowboys offense.

23. Kansas City – Dwayne Jarrett WR – Despite the need of an OL as well, Chiefs cannot afford to pass on a WR in this round.

24. New England – Aaron Ross CB

25. NY Jets – Anthony Spencer DE

26. Philadelphia – Brian Leonard FB

27. New Orleans – Brandon Meriweather CB

28. New England – Lawrence Timmons LB – Pats beef up the D with two defensive players in the first-round

29. Baltimore – Justin Blaylock OT – At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, this could be the guy that eventually takes the spot of Jonathan Ogden.

30. San Diego – Dwayne Bowe WR

31. Chicago – Lamarr Woodley LB

32. Indianapolis – Tank Tyler DT

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