All Day Sports Talk

Stafford to become a Lion

The debate over the number one pick has ended. The historically bad Lions will select Georgia QB Matthew Stafford to become the face of their franchise.

Not only will Stafford be the first pick tomorrow, but he'll immediately become one of the highest paid players in the league. He will join Albert Haynesworth as one of two NFL players with 40+ million dollars guaranteed on their contracts.

This money will bring even greater expectations on Stafford, who will undoubtedly be compared to last year's rookie sensations at QB, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco.

The Lions skipped on a safer pick. They could've followed the Bill Parcells model and draft an offensive tackle. Either one of Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe could've came in and started next year. Or the Lions could've gone with star linebacker Aaron Curry, who would team with Julian Peterson and Ernie Sims to give the team a lethal second level.

They went with Stafford, and showed faith in their current bookend tackles (veteran Jeff Backus and youngster Gosder Cherilus), because they feel he can be the same type of leader and playmaker that somebody like Matt Ryan is for Atlanta. Maybe nobody is expecting him to take Detroit to the playoffs, but certainly the expectations of more high-octane offense will emerge in Motor City over the next few months. Stafford has all the physical tools and he'll be airing it out to one of the best packages of raw talent in the entire league, Calvin Johnson.

Now the Lions just need to address the defense and they might win a game or two next year.

Should the Bears try to grab Holt?

Orlando Pace certainly thinks so.

It's natural that Pace would like to see his former teammate in Chicago. Do the Bears feel the same way? I think they should.

Torry Holt may have had a rough year last year, but that does not mean he's regressed into a has been. The Rams had a horrible team last season, and most receivers would find a hard time trying to put up numbers there.

Just look at the one year turnaround Randy Moss had when going from Oakland to New England. With Holt's age, his resurrection probably won't be that pronounced, but I still feel he has a few 1000 yard seasons left.

In Chicago, he'll have Jay Cutler throwing him the ball, Matt Forte keeping defenses honest, and an emerging threat at TE in Greg Olsen. If the line can keep Cutler upright, then Holt could have a great season.

Maybe Chicago is not at the top of Holt's list, but the Bears should still call and give it a shot. Finding receivers in the draft to start as rookies is no guarantee. Holt could be plugged into the lineup immediately, and make the Bears offense look pretty solid going into training camp. 

Making a Case for Matthew Stafford

While I definitely side with the school of thought that Detroit should pick an offensive tackle with their first pick overall, I certainly don't think Matthew Stafford would be the colossal disaster that some of his detractors are predicting.

Stafford probably takes some extra criticism because Georgia failed to live up to their preseason hype. Not only did the Bulldogs fail to win the National Championship, they didn't even make it to a BCS Bowl Game.

Is the '08 criticism of Stafford warranted? Definitely not. He certainly grew and improved as a quarterback between his '07 and '08 seasons. In 2007, he threw for 2523 yards, a 55.7 comp. %, 7.25YPA, 19TD-10INT, and a 128.92 QB rating. In 2008, he went 3459, 61.4, 9.03, 25-10, and 153.54. His stats grew as his responsibility and expectations in the offense grew. Stafford may be the face of Georgia's failures, since he's the QB, but he was hardly the reason. The Bulldogs gave up 40+ points in all 3 of their losses. Plus, there was a game of musical chairs on the offensive line all season. Stafford played well, all things considered.

Moreover, the physical tools he has are amazing. Detroit won't be able to find a quarterback with Stafford's skillset in the later rounds of this draft. He has a big arm and can make all the throws. Him and Calvin Johnson would be a highlight reel waiting to happen.

Yes, I know he's just a junior. But, he did start for three years in the SEC. This isn't a case like Mark Sanchez where teams only have one season of tape. Stafford likely could come in and start week one if the Lions so desired.

The protection for him might not be as bad as previously imagined either. William Beatty or Eben Britton will be available at 20, Jeff Backus can slide to RT, and if the Lions wanted, they could go interior line in the second, where Max Unger will be available.

Whichever way the Lions go, fans will squabble about how it was the wrong decision.

Does Michael Vick fit into the NFL anymore?

A year ago, many agreed that Vick would have no problem finding work if he ever got reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

How the times have changed. A league once filled with teams that took victories over character has seen Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress, Matt Jones, and Pacman get cut.

Where does somebody like Vick fit into a NFL where multi-million dollar contracts aren't waiting for the guy with the best 40 time? Atlanta certainly doesn't want him. Oakland and Dallas, usual suspects for troubled players, have quarterbacks. Maybe a troubled team like Detroit or Kansas City? Unlikely with new coaching staffs in place.

Maybe he signs on somewhere to run an option package? Possible, but is it worth the headache? Not when the NCAA has plenty of capable 'wildcat' quarterbacks coming up.

Vick will bring a huge media circus, and most teams will want to avoid that distraction. Especially when the distraction is coming from a player who hasn't been playing football recently, and when he did, struggled to maintain a completion percentage in the 50s.

Good thing he has a construction job lined up. The NFL is hardly a guarantee for Vick anymore.

Bears ready to roll over North?

The Bears have sent two first round picks, a third, and Kyle Orton to the Broncos from Jay Cutler and a fifth, according to Jay Glazer.

The move should make the Bears preseason favorite in the NFC North. The team was competitive till the end last season, and Cutler now gives them a decisive advantage over division rival Minnesota in the all important quarterback position.

The development of LT Chris Williams, along with Matt Forte and Greg Olsen, should give the Bears a respectable offensive unit. Adding a RT and WR is still desirable, but luckily the Bears are in a division where a flawed team can still thrive.

The defense still needs some work, and the second round pick should look to address that side of the ball. Help along the defensive line would be desirable. Maybe they get lucky, and a high potential player like Michael Johnson falls into their lap.

If not, they could go wide receiver, and hopefully find a player who can step in and start this year.

Regardless of who they draft, the Bears have set themselves up to win the NFC North this year. Jay Cutler is entering his prime, and should terrorize NFC North defenses for years to come.

Broncos to Trade Cutler

Pat Bowlen, owner of the Broncos, has made it clear that the team will look to trade young quarterback Jay Cutler. The relationship between Cutler and the organization began to sour after Josh McDaniels allegedly tried to acquire Matt Cassell from the New England Patriots.

While Cutler has all the physical tools in the world, McDaniels probably can do without the 18 interceptions (2nd in the league). The system he'll implement in Denver will likely be less vertical, so the need for Cutler's huge arm won't be necessary. Decision making will be at a premium, and McDaniels likely has more faith in a guy of Matt Cassell's mold.

However, I feel good quarterbacks are hard to find, and Denver made a big mistake by flirting with the possibility of acquiring Matt Cassell. Maybe Cutler still has some holes in his game and doesn't fit McDaniels system perfectly, but a good head coach will find a way to make a talented player fit his system.

Now the Broncos are in a situation where Chris Simms is the only experienced signal caller on the roster. The options on the free agent market aren't anything to write home about either. Meanwhile, the draft's top quarterbacks are underclassmen. Who knows, maybe the Broncos like Mark Sanchez. He played in a West Coast offense at USC and might be able to fit in well with McDaniels. Still, he is a player who only started one season in college, and played in a conference with suspect defenses. Not exactly an upgrade over Cutler.

McDaniels really shot himself in the foot here. The New York Jets, Tampa Bay Bucs, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, or San Francisco 49ers would all glady welcome the presence of somebody like Cutler to their lineups. He'd be the immediate answer at the most important position in the game. On the other hand, the Broncos will be starting over. A new QB, a new offensive gameplan, and the transition to the 3-4 defense.

At least with Cutler they would've been competitive through this transitional year. Now, Denver might end up being the worst team in the AFC West. Good job, Josh!

NFL extends deal with DirectTV

The NFL has recently extended its deal with DirectTV. The new deal pays the league $1 billion per season from 2011 to 2014. The billion dollar rights fee is guaranteed, which will give the owners a significant war chest if they decide to lock the players out in 2011.

The players want a bigger piece of the revenue pie, but going to war the owners might not put them in a better place than they're currently in. For starters, if a deal is not reached, the 2010 season will be uncapped. While this sounds good for the players, the uncapped season comes with a lot of strings that would hinder player movement. For instance:

• Players would need 6 years of service to become an unrestricted free agent
• each team would have 2 transition tags
• no salary floor, which means some teams will definitely cut salary significantly
• the teams reaching the championship games would have to lose a free agent to sign one
• the teams reaching the divisional round would also face strict restrictions on player movement

The free agency pool would be severely limited in 2010 if the players do not try to reach a deal with the owners, and many players hoping to break the bank in 2010 will be very disappointed. The owners are already preparing to weather a work stoppage, and I don't think players realize that it's very likely the 2011 season will be lost. They should try to negotiate as soon as possible, to salvage the 2011 season, and get an offseason in 2010 that is not constrained by so many restrictions.

NFL Mock Draft

With the NFL Draft fast approaching and free agency well underway, team draft needs are becoming more defined by the day. Heated debate still rages over who Detroit should pick to rebuild their franchise, how far Andre Smith and Michael Crabtree should fall, and who the top offensive tackle should be. So, without further ado, here's my first shot at the 2009 draft:

1) Detroit Lions: OT Jason Smith - Baylor

I don't see any point in the Lions drafting a QB, unless they can keep him upright. If not, Matthew Stafford will have the same amount of success as Joey Harrington. I think the new coaching staff believes this too, and will focus on building the team from the inside out. While many will argue that Eugene Monroe is the best tackle in the draft, Smith brings a mean streak to the table that Jim Schwartz will love. The former tight end is fleet footed and should be able to pass protect at the next level, while bringing the strength and nastiness needed to be a dominant run blocker.

2) St. Louis Rams: OT Eugene Monroe - Virginia

The Rams would've jumped at the chance to draft Jake Long last year, and now with Orlando Pace out of the picture, have an even larger need at offensive tackle. Monroe was good enough to keep Branden Albert at guard last season, and should developing into a top pass protector in the pros.

3) Kansas City Chiefs: LB Aaron Curry - Wake Forest

Might be the best player in the draft. The Chiefs have already addressed their QB needs with Matt Cassell, and misses out on the top premier tackles in the draft. However, their consolation prize of Curry should be the building block of the Chief defense for many years. He's position and scheme versatile, which should give the new coaching staff some flexibility.

4) Seattle Seahawks: DE Brian Orakpo - Texas

I'm sure they were hoping for Aaron Curry to be here when they traded Julian Peterson to the Lions, but Detroit not selecting a QB first overall will certainly mess up the Seahawks' board. While B.J. Raji is a strong possibility here, the team just traded for Cory Redding and signed Colin Cole. With the interior line addressed in free agency, getting a pass rusher to lineup opposite Patrick Kerney would make sense here. Orakpo was a solid performer at Texas, and will give Seattle a honest effort against the run and pass.

5) Cleveland Browns: OLB Everette Brown - FSU

This might be a reach here, but with Orakpo gone, Brown is the next best conversion guy on the board. Kamerion Wimbley just hasn't gotten the job done. They need a guy who can come in and play from day one, and Brown could legitimately be a 10+ sack guy next year. It will be a hotly debated pick, but I believe the production from Brown will justify this top five selection.

6) Cincinnati Bengals: OT Andre Smith - Alabama

The flap at the combine likely cost Smith a top three selection, and his body condition at his pro-day will keep him from being a top 5 pick. Still, he was a dominating player in the SEC and should be able to play well at the next level. Good tackles are hard to find, and Smith will provide an instant upgrade over any OT on the Bengals' roster. The question with Smith is whether or not he can handle playing left tackle in the pros. With his massive size, he might not have the lateral quickness to handle NFL edge rushers, but his dominant run blocking ability should help him become a great RT down the road.

7) Oakland Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin - Missouri

Speed, speed, and more speed. Al Davis loves guys like this, and I'm sure he's dreaming of Maclin streaking down the sidelines with JaMarcus Russell launching 50-60 yard bombs down the field. I think Michael Crabtree is a better all-round player, but he wasn't able to workout. Plus, he might not be the vertical threat that the Raiders typically look for in their wide receivers.

8) Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech

The Jags have needed an elite wide receiving talent for years, and this is the year that they'll finally be able to address that. Maybe he didn't workout, but it's not like Crabtree tore his ACL or MCL. He was a stud in Lubbock and he'll continue to be a stud in the NFL. He's a great route runner, has sure hands, not afraid of traffic, and will get yards after the catch. The injury to Crabtree is the best thing to ever happen to Jacksonville.

9) Green Bay Packers: DT B.J. Raji - Boston College

The Packers could go any number of directions with this pick. The OTs are old, the defensive line was bad last year, and the linebackers underachieved. With Dom Capers and his 3-4 scheme coming in, I think Raji would make the most sense. The scheme won't work without a capable NT, and Ryan Pickett is near the end, so fortifying the positiong with some youth would make a lot of sense. Going for a player like Aaron Maybin might happen, but I feel the Packers think players like Jeremy Thompson or Jason Hunter could emerge to bookend Aaron Kampman.

10) San Francisco 49ers: QB Matthew Stafford - Georgia

The 49ers might like Shaun Hill, but he doesn't have the upside to be an elite QB. Stafford brings that Pro Bowl potential with him, and thanks to Hill, won't have to be thrown to the wolves in his rookie season. People are quick to criticize Stafford for 'underachieving' this past year at Georgia, but the offensive line was in shambles from day one. He has all the tools a coach could ask for, and with the right coaching could develop into a franchise QB.

11) Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin - PSU

I'm not a huge fan of Maybin in the 4-3. I think he's too small and would be better suited to playing OLB in a 3-4. Still, he offers intriguing potential as a pass rusher, and should put more weight on as he gets older. This is a high risk pick, but Bills need more of a pass rush and Maybin has tons of big play potential.

12) Denver Broncos: DE Tyson Jackson - LSU

The Broncos are going to a 3-4 and could use help at NT, DE, and linebacker to rebuild their defense to the scheme. Ultimately, I think they'll go with Jackson, who should be able to fill the 5-technique role in the new defense.

13) Washington Redskins: OT Michael Oher - Ole Miss

The Skins could use some help at OT, and Oher offers a ton of potential. He's been inconsistent in college, but great Senior Bowl practices have begun to restore hope that he can one day realize his vast potential. Maybe he doesn't pan out on the left side, but Oher should at the very worst be a starting right tackle in the NFL.

14) New Orleans Saints: DB Malcom Jenkins - OSU

Was once seen as a top 10 selection, but a bad combine severely hurt his draft status. Now some analysts are saying he might have to play safety at the next level. It shouldn't matter to much to the Saints. Their defense and secondary, in particular, need improvement. They would gladly welcome a player like Jenkins, whether he's playing centerfield or corner.

15) Houston Texans: LB Brian Cushing - USC

The Texans have dedicated a lot of their recent draft picks to defensive line, and used free agency to further bolster the unit. Now I think they'll look to address the second level, and Cushing is a very promising pro prospect. He's a versatile guy that could play inside or outside at the next level, and would instantly start as an outside linebacker for an emerging Texan defense.

16) San Diego Chargers: LB Rey Maualuga - USC

The return of Merrimen will bolster the OLBs on this team, and adding Maualuga via the draft will give the team an inside linebacker that opposing offenses will fear. Maualuga gets caught by play-action at times, but good coaching should fix that. In the meantime, they can enjoy the bone crushing hits he dishes out to running backs.

17) New York Jets: QB Mark Sanchez - USC

With Brett Favre gone, the Jets need to once again address the QB position. Currently, the team doesn't have a QB of the future on their roster, so if Sanchez falls to them, they'd be smart to jump on the opportunity. His small body of work at USC scares some people away, but he has a good arm and worked in a pro-style offense under Pete Carroll.

18) Chicago Bears: OT Eben Britton - Arizona

The Bears could go a lot of directions with this pick. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Percy Harvin went in this spot, but the Bears lost John Tait and John St. Clair, so they need a starter opposite Chris Williams. This would also allow them to move Frank Omiyale inside, where he might be best suited.

19) Tampa Bay: DT Peria Jerry - Ole Miss

The Bucs could use an interior presense to compliment Gaines Adams on the outside. Jerry could be the disruptive one-gap player the Bucs haven't had in years. A disruptive inside force could also help Adams take the next step as a player, by giving him more chances to work on an island against opposing left tackles.

20) Detroit Lions: QB Josh Freeman - Kansas State

If Jay Cutler keeps pushing for a trade, then this pick could be part of a package for him. If not, the Lions address their need at QB by taking Freeman. By taking their QB of the future at 20, the Lions won't feel the same pressure to thrust him into a starting role, like they would if they took Stafford at number one. Freeman has the tools to start in the NFL, but he'll need some practice in a pro-style offense before he can become the full-time starter. Going OT first, and taking Freeman at 20 might not be sexy, but it could pay off for the Lions in the long-run.

21) Philadelphia: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey - Maryland

Desean Jackson is a great vertical threat, but he's too small to be a number one guy. Heyward-Bey adds length and athleticism to the Eagle offense. He'll give McNabb a target in the redzone and, along with Jackson, stretch defenses out to open up lanes for Westbrook.

22) Minnesota Vikings: C Alex Mack - California

They need a guy to replace Matt Birk. He was a standout player at Cal, and I was impressed by his predraft practices. The Vikings favour the run, so it would be to there benefit to keep the offensive line in top shape.

23) New England Patriots: LB Clay Matthews - USC

This might be a reach, but I think he's the type of player that Belichick will fall in love with. Matthews is a high motor guy that would look good playing OLB for the Pats. I liked what I saw of him at the Senior Bowl, and his versatility will allow Belichick to play the hybrid 3-4/4-3 that he prefers.

24) Atlanta Falcons: DT Evander Hood - Missouri

Mike Smith comes from a defensive background, and the Falcons don't have a great defense yet. So, I think the Falcons will come out this year and look to address that side of the ball. I think the Falcons could look to linebacker at this spot too, since the position has been hit hard by free agency.

25) Miami Dolphins: OLB Clint Sintim - Virginia

Joey Porter had a great season last year, but the Dolphins could still use some depth at OLB. Sintim would be a good outside rusher in their system, and would help combat the excellent passing game of Tom Brady and the Patriots.

26) Baltimore Ravens: CB Vontae Davis - Illinois

He needs some work, but Davis is as good an athlete as any defensive back in this draft. The Ravens have signed Foxworth, but they still need another starting corner. Davis could be a steal at this point, if he pans out to his potential.

27) Indianapolis Colts: LB James Laurinaitis - Ohio State

The Colts would much rather pick Hood or Peria here, but neither guy falls this far in my draft, so the Colts try to improve their run defense with a linebacker. Laurinaitis hurt his draft status a lot by coming back this season, but he's still a good prospect who was productive in college. He should be a solid, although not amazing, starter in the NFL, like former Buckeye A.J. Hawk.

28) Philadelphia Eagles: RB Chris 'Beanie' Wells - Ohio State

The Eagles could use a player to compliment Westbrook. Wells could definitely give the Eagles a 'smash & dash' combo in the backfield. Injury concerns are the only reason he falls this far. Wells has shown he can be a stud when healthy, and sharing the carries in the NFL should keep him off the IR.

29) New York Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks - North Carolina

Everybody has seen the highlights of Nicks by now. He's a sure-handed receiver that runs great routes. He's great insurance for Burress not coming back, since Nicks can come in and start right away.

30) Tennessee Titans: WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers

He has been very productive for Rutgers, and will give a lot of help to a less than stellar Titans' passing game. He has a good body type too, which should help him become a big physical number one wideout in the pros.

31) Arizona Cardinals: RB Knowshon Moreno - Georgia

The Cardinals need help in the running game. Their passing offense is a thing of beauty, but a starting tailback is a must. I like Tim Hightower, but he's more of a number two to me. Moreno has gamebreaking ability, and the Cardinals will be delighted that he dropped down so far.

32) Pittsburgh Steelers: OT William Beatty - UCONN

The Steelers are the champs, so they don't have too many holes, but the offensive line is the one unit on this team that could use some help. He has good size, I liked what I saw from him in predraft practices, and I think he can start for the Steelers in week one.