Post draft thoughts

I will not be listing any team NFl Draft grades because I do not believe this is realistically possible. Media grades of each team’s draft picks cannot possibly predict what will occur in the future.

Some teams managed to draft a lot of the more well-known players out there and are therefore were rewarded grade-wise for this.

Without three years of pro development, it is impossible to know what will happen to each player.

Some lesser-known and even small college players will come out of no-where to make a big impact on their squads.

The third through seventh rounds, also known as the scouts rounds, are what really matter. These picks fill a team’s roster. Many will do nothing more then sub-in for starters or secure spots on special teams.

These roles are very important to the success of a team though. A nickel or dime back making a tackle short of the first-down marker or a backup linebacker making a key block to spring the kick or punt returner can be a huge part of the game.

The Chiefs trading of fan favorite defensive end Jared Allen before the draft created a lot of publicity. It should be noted that few players in the league make me watch week after week purely because of the passion they bring to the stadium every Sunday. He was one of the those players in KC.

Watch out for those undrafted rookies with something to prove. There are always a few that stand out through the training camps and really make an impression. These players are particularly interesting to watch and they also can make a difference for the team that takes a chance on them.

NFL Mock Draft (4/23/08)

1. MIA- Jake Long, T Michigan

2. STL- Chris Long, DE Virginia

3. ATL- Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU

4. OAK- Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas

5. KC- Matt Ryan, QB Boston College

6. NYJ- Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State

7. NE- Keith Rivers, OLB USC

8. BAL- Ryan Clady, T Boise St.

9. CIN- Sedrick Ellis, DT USC

10. NO- Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy

11. BUF- Devin Thomas, WR Michigan St.

12. DEN- Chris Williams, T Vanderbilt

13. CAR- Derrick Harvey, DE Florida

14. CHI- Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois

15. DET- Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon

16. ARI- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Tennessee St.

17. KC- Branden Albert, G Virginia

18. HOU- Jeff Otah, T Pittsburgh

19. PHI- Mike Jenkins, DB USF

20. TB- Limas Sweed, WR Texas

21. WAS- Calais Campbell, DE Miami

22. DAL- Felix Jones, RB Arkansas

23. PIT- Gosder Cherilus, T Boston College

24. TEN- Phillip Merling, DE Clemson

25. SEA- Jon Carlson, TE Notre Dame

26. JAC- Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina

27. SD- Kenny Phillips, S Miami

28. DAL- Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma

29. SF- Quentin Groves, DE/OLB Auburn

30. GB- Aqib Talib, DB Kansas

31. NE- Forfeited

32. NYG- Brandon Flowers, S Virginia Tech

Neshek’s Influence

This article on Yahoo Sports got me thinking.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-neshek041108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This isn’t the first article on Neshek and it probably won’t be the last. ESPN Magazine had a feature involving him last fall. They were doing a fan theme and Neshek talked about autographs. There’s a surprise.

Obtaining autographs is what Neshek does. He has since childhood and probably always will. I’m sure many Major Leaguers probably casually collect some autos. But there are two differences between them and Neshek.
First Neshek has an amazing collection. Secondly, Neshek doesn’t just make autograph seekers happy by signing for them after games. He still acts like one of them.

He started a blog about collecting autos and connects with fans on a whole other level.

I sent him a few a cards and got them back signed within 6 days. He personalized them to me and added best wishes. What a cool guy.

He even trades autographed cards on his site, plus sells game-used pieces of memorabilia he uses during the season (obviously autographed) on the site with the proceeds going to charity.

He is simply an ambassador for the game of baseball. I have never heard of anyone like him.

The middle relief pitcher with an odd release is simply a different breed of player.

I can’t compare any other athletes with him. In football, some greats of the game have good signing habits such as QB greats Joe Theismann, Jim McMahon and Ken Stabler, but none have ever started a blog to communicate with others who share the same hobby.

I truly appreciate Neshek’s efforts and hope other players will open up a bit more in the future to their fans.

NFL Mock Draft (4/3/08)

1. MIA- Jake Long, T Michigan. The first pick will come down to three players, Jake Long, Chris Long or Matt Ryan. Parcells had a crazy-talented O-line in Dallas and he knows first rounds pick must be used to acquire talented blockers. It will be interesting to hear reports out of Miami about QB John Beck’s progress.

2. STL- Chris Long, DE Virginia. After at least partially fixing the interior line last year, the team adds depth because starters Leonard Little and James Hall are aging and declining. If they were obsessed with Glenn Dorsey, they could move Adam Carriker back to DE, where he played in college.

3. ATL- Matt Ryan, QB Boston College. Chris Redman simply won’t cut it and the team must get a new icon to replace Vick. The offense needs help all over so hopefully he won’t get stuck with bad supporting cast and then be graded unfairly. It’s just a matter of when he will be inserted in the starting lineup.

4. OAK- Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU. Why not replace Warren Sapp with another high-motor game-altering defensive tackle. He tore up workouts and is once again considered a top pick. The only concern is injuries. Dorsey and resigned Tommy Kelly should really be a force.

5. KC- Ryan Clady, T Boise State. Clady is moving up some draft boards because of his athleticism. The Chiefs could use anyone on their O-line. This pick becomes more likely as Clady’s stock improves and thus selecting him seems less like a reach.

6. NYJ- Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas. The more I think about it, the more I become excited with the idea of McFadden in New York. The O-line is partially revamped and full of potential with first round picks Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson likely to improve. Plus they added FB Tony Richardson who can really be an asset. Just ask Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson.

7. NE- Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB Ohio State. Mike Vrabel and others are aging and the team released Roosevelt Colvin. Gholston could staight up get to the passer in a 3-4. He showed his elite talent in work-outs and is primed to be a top ten pick.

8. BAL- Keith Rivers, OLB USC. Ray Lewis and Bart Scott are aging and what would Baltimore be without intimidating linebackers that straight up make plays? Rivers has excellent closing speed and is a sure-tackler. They could also target a defensive back here pretty easily. None of them consistently rate this high as of now however.

9. CIN- Sedrick Ellis, DT USC. The Bengals would go party, ok any other team would be allowed to, if Ellis falls to pick nine. He is a top rated player and has the potential to make plays against both the run and pass. Ellis also plays with a high motor. Cincinnati is hoping he is a pastor off the field. They could also draft a receiver.

10. NO- Aqib Talib, DB Kansas. Talib isn’t rated overly high by all the teams but the Saints can afford to take a chance on the risk-taking corner who does well against shorter receivers. Leodis McKelvin is also possibly an option.

11. BUF- Limas Sweed, WR Texas. All the receivers have some question marks surrounding them. With Sweed it is his injury status. Malcolm Kelly hasn’t been working out for anyone so Sweed is moving past him on some draft boards.

12. DEN- DeSean Jackson, WR Cal. Brandon Marshall got taken out by McDonald’s and Javon Walker left for Oakland so the team needs a play-maker pass catcher. Jackson didn’t run a whole lot of routes at Cal so he will need some adjusting time. His return skills are top-notch and he can make an immediate impact there.

13. CAR- Derrick Harvey, DE Florida. Rumor has it the team sent a whole heap of personnel to his workout and they took the time to speak with Harvey’s parents. DE Mike Rucker is aging and might not resign, and Julius Peppers needs someone to stop consistent double-teams from occurring against him.

14. CHI- Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois. Some have said quarterback Brian Brohm could be selected here but many don’t even give him a first round grade. Why not select the in-state guy with enormous potential? Cedric Benson needs a change-of-pace back with more speed to aid him if he isn’t simply replaced.

15. DET- Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon. Kevin Jones left in free agency and Tatum Bell can’t carry the load. Stewart just had surgery but will be ready to go come training camp. His ability to be a complete back makes him really sought after, if he can stay healthy.

16. ARI- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Tennessee State. Antrel Rolle is moving to safety and the team straight up needs more defense. Carlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett are good players so why not add some more pieces to the puzzle on the d-side of things?

17. MIN- Phillip Merling, DE Clemson. The team must improve the pass rush to make the defense great in every aspect. If the defense can take another step forward and the offense is efficient with it’s “double-headed dragon” rushing attack, the team could go places.

18. HOU- Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy. McKelvin has dropped on many boards because of a bad Senior Bowl and scouting combine. He still has potential and the Texans also need just a few more pieces on defense to be dominant. The offense however, is another story.

19. PHI- Jeff Otah, T Pittsburgh. Once again, why not take the in-state guy? Otah might go higher as several teams need tackles to come in and make big impacts. The team needs to protect McNabb. A receiver might also be coveted here.

20. TB- Devin Thomas, WR Michigan St. Thomas has vaulted up boards due to workouts and the team would be delighted if he is still here. Besides Joey Galloway, the team really lacks consistent receiver play. None of the receivers can go deep so defenses are starting to creep up. Also offensive line depth is needed.

21. WAS- Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma. For some reason he hasn’t been working out and thus his stock is dropping. When looking at the Redskins WR core, besides Moss and Randle El, there isn’t a whole lot. Kelly is a bigger, possession type receiver that will help move the chains.

22. DAL- Felix Jones, RB Arkansas. Once again Arkansas alum Jerry Jones selects the other Razorback “back” with some breakaway speed. A changup from pounder Marion Barber would help the offense. With two picks, they can pick the best players available at each pick.

23. PIT- Chris Williams, T Vanderbilt. The O-line is in desperate need of upgrading, especially with Big Ben in his prime. Williams has an even better grade by some teams so if he is gone they could go with Branden Albert from Virginia.

24. TEN- Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina. Tennessee lost several d-linemen in free agency and Albert Haynesworth reportedly wasn’t at a recent camp. Balmer can instantly be added to the rotation and help keep the defense playing at a decently high level.

25. SEA- Fred Davis, TE USC. They will have their pick of tight ends between Davis and Purdue’s Dustin Keller, who is super-tall and doing well at workouts. A top-flight tight end would make a real impact in the team’s passing attack.

26. JAC- Calais Campbell, DE Miami. The team seems destined to select another huge player to add to the roster. Campbell has the ability to aid the team’s lacking pass rush. With just a few additions the Jaguars will be competing in the playoffs once again.

27. SD- Mike Jenkins, DB South Florida. The team lost Drayton Florence in free agency. They could very well just draft the best-rated player available with so much talent already on the roster. A backup running back will be acquired at some point.

28. DAL- Brandon Flowers, S Virginia Tech. The team needs a safety who excels in coverage to lineup next to Roy Williams. Flowers has risen up on draft boards recently and could land in the first round.

29. SF- Branden Albert, G Virginia. The team needs o-linemen that can help immediately, especially in the run game where Frank Gore can be very dangerous. Larry Allen is ancient and at some point will hang it up, right?

30. GB- Dustin Keller, TE Purdue. He has risen up boards and could be a sleeper pick here. The team likes to use multiple tight ends and fullbacks on many occasions. Bubba Franks is gone and Donald Lee isn’t overly quick though he has good hands.

31. NYG- Dan Connor, LB Penn State. Connor is what he is. A smart player who will simply lineup and play ball. He might slip into the second round like Paul Posluszny last year, but it won’t matter. He will impress coaches and make tackles.

NFL Mock Draft #2 (3/23/08)

1. MIA-Chris Long, DE Virginia. The Phins need a can’t miss prospect and Long could very well be that. He will make an immediate impact and can play outside linebacker in a 3-4. He impressed at his Pro Day and will make his dad proud in the pros.

2. STL-Jake Long, T Michigan. Offensive line and defensive line are the main needs. Al Saunders will get the offense going but Marc Bulger will need some time to make things happen. Long also will aid the run game and talented running back Steven Jackson will be delighted with the pick.

3. ATL-Matt Ryan, QB Boston College. Rumor has it that G.M. Arthur Blank is impressed with Ryan. Obviously the franchise needs a new identity and first round quarterback definitely aids with the process. Ryan has a decent arm and many believe he has the intangles to be a consistent player at the next level.

4. OAK-Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU. The Raiders will be the wild-card in the draft as usual. Running back Darren McFadden is tempting here but they resigned Justin Fargas and are interested to see what Michael Bush can do. Dorsey will combine with Tommy Kelly to create havoc on the inside for a team in need of play-makers.

5. KC-Ryan Clady, T Boise State. The Chiefs simply need linemen to provide Larry Johnson running lanes. Clady or Jeff Otah are the choices here and both will be reaches. The need is so great that unless they trade down, they simply must pick up a blocker here.

6. NYJ-Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas. The team will take any play-makers and McFadden will put fans in the seats with his balance of power and speed. With an improving o-line, the team could do some things offensively. They would regret passing on him if the Patriots picked him up with the next pick.

7. NE- Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State. Unable to sign any free agents to help the aging linebacker core, they use the draft to acquire youth. Gholston has tore up workouts and can play outside linebacker in the famous Patriots 3-4.  The cornerback position could also be addressed here.

8. BAL- Aqib Talib, DB Kansas. Talib has had varied grades by teams but the Ravens have a definite need on the corner. Baltimore’s corners are really starting to show age and Talib provides depth. He could possibly play safety and played a little receiver in college.

9. CIN- Sedrick Ellis, DT USC. Ellis shouldn’t drop this far but if he does the Bengals will be licking their chops to select such a talented defensive-linemen. The D-line is a top need for the team and Ellis can start right away for the defense in need of improvement.

10. NO- Phillip Merling, DE Clemson. Pass rush is a real need for the Saints after they addressed the linebacker core in free agency. A stingy defense would allow the team to make the playoffs once more if the offense stays explosive and the running backs can stay healthy.

11. BUF- Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma. Finding a receiver opposite of Lee Evans will help the team tremendously. Kelly doesn’t rate quite this high and other receivers could be considered. The team did good by signing DT Marcus Stroud and LB Kawika Mitchell to shore up the defense.

12. DEN- DeSean Jackson, WR Cal. The Broncos lost Javon Walker and need some speed on the outside. Jay Cutler will love throwing fly routes to Jackson who’s speed can be an immediate asset. Jackson will also aid special teams with his return skills.

13. CAR- Keith Rivers, LB USC. After losing Dan Morgan the team will look to the draft to replace him. Combined with Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, Rivers will make the LB core a real athletic one. Defensive line could also be considered here as Kris Jenkins will need to be replaced.

14. CHI- Limas Sweed, WR Texas. Bernard Berian was lost in free agency and Grossman needs more targets. They also lost Muhsin Muhammad and none of their other receivers are proven besides Marty Booker who recently came back to the Bears. Other receivers like Devin Thomas or James Hardy could be considered. Sweed will look to rebound from a season-ending injury during his senior year to make some noise in the NFL.

15. DET- Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois. They will have their pick between Jonathan Stewart and Mendenhall, who has quickly climbed charts since the end of the year. Since Kevin Jones was released they are in need of a difference maker at running back who has the skills to be a balanced runner.

16. ARI- Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida. The Cards plan to move Antrel Rolle to safety and thus have a need at CB. Jenkins had a productive career in South Florida and can fill-in nicely.  They could also use both a linebacker or a defensive lineman and could choose either with this pick.

17. MIN- Derrick Harvey, DE Florida. Once again the team is forced to use a first round pick on a defensive end to improve the pass rush. Harvey is a giant with speed and could potentially make a big impact. One consistent pass rusher could make this defense an elite one.

18. HOU- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Tennessee State. Houston attempts to add another great player to a rising defense by selecting the small school talent. Despite not looking amazing during his college career, Dominique is rising up draft boards due to amazing workouts and a real nice 40 yard dash time.

19. PHI- Jeff Otah, T Pittsburgh. Due to injuries and inconsistency, the Eagles are forced to improve their o-line. Winston Justice has been inconsistent and the other major contributors are aging. Otah or Chris Williams will be considered. A defensive end to replace Jevon Kearse could also be selected.

20. TB- Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon. I know it’s a bit of a wild card but Stewart is an amazing talent and Cadillac Williams not be ready to start the season. They have Earnest Graham, Michael Bennett and Warrick Dunn on the roster but Stewart could make a much bigger impact than any of them. Receiver and cornerback are also needs for the Bucs.

21. WAS- Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina. Balmer could go higher than here. Washington needs more solid play on defense. Linebacker could also be considered here and LB Dan Connor could be the choice. Balmer is talented player and could get in the rotation immediately.

22. DAL- Mario Manningham, WR Michigan. Terrell Owens is getting a little older and Terry Glenn is practically ancient. Adding depth here is a good choice, especially when they have another first round pick. The defense will also need a few additions, including depth at safety.

23. PIT- Chris Williams, T Vanderbilt. Pittsburgh’s amazing offensive-line started to fall apart even before Alan Faneca left in free agency. Williams has a solid grade and can make a good impact in the griding Steeler offense. A super tall wide receiver could go here if Big Ben has his way.

24. TEN- Devin Thomas, WR Michigan State. Thomas has been rising on boards really recently and getting Vince Young play-makers is a top priority. Signing tight end Alge Crumpler was a great decision and getting some receivers will help even more. The secondary could also use some help.

25. SEA- Fred Davis, TE USC. Tight end is arguably the team’s greatest need. Anyone who saw Marcus Pollard drop passes for them in the playoffs would probably agree. Davis has the speed to get open in the middle and has good hands. Youth at receiver is also a need.

26. JAC- Calais Campbell, DE Miami. The team is close to winning a championship and just needs a few more pieces. The New England game illustrated the team’s lack of pass rush. Campbell can aid the already stout run defense while also adding the ability to get to the quarterback.

27. SD- Branden Albert, G Virginia. The team could very well draft the best player available because of the team’s depth. Albert wouldn’t start immediately but will make a difference in the future. Felix Jones could be a possibility as the team looks to replace Michael Turner.

28. DAL- Felix Jones, RB Arkansas. There are trade rumors involving the Cowboys moving up to select McFadden who is from the same school that owner Jerry Jones attended. If he is unable to trade up, he could draft the other Arkansas running back. Marion Barber is a beast but they need a back-up as Julius Jones left in free-agency.

29. SF-James Hardy, WR Indiana. New coordinator Mike Martz needs weapons to make his magical offense work and this 6′6 receiver could help. The under-achieving team could go many directions with the pick though. The defense needs more 3-4 linebackers and they could pick one up here.

30. GB-Leodis McKelvin, DB Troy. The Packers amazing defense does have a small weakness as cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson are both getting rather old. McKelvin has dropped a little recently in rankings but is a great athlete and he can be mentored for awhile before being needed.

31. NYG- Dan Connor, LB Penn State. After losing Kawika Mitchell in free-agency the team needs to a replacement. Offensive line help is also needed. The Giants also lost Gabriel Wilson in free agency and could look to add a safety with the last pick in the first round.

Cause for Concern

Things seemed good. I was traveling across the Midwest on my way home for spring break. There were practically a million birds traveling through the sky. Talk about a sign of spring. Baseball was truly on my mind. Then on Sunday, things got better. I was watching the Adams Family movie on WGN when the channel started its Cubs coverage and when the game started, it said from Surprise Arizona. Wait I thought, the Royals play in Surprise. Wow I thought, a chance to watch spring training KC coverage. Never before had I received such a wonderful opportunity. Watching all the prospects seemed really intriguing.

Both teams started with some stars on the field. The Royals had practically their entire starting lineup on display with new acquisition Brett Tomko on the mound. The Cubs used a mixture of prospects and starters. Hmmm, I thought, KC should be able to compete.

Just a few short innings later disgust filled my mind. Bad pitching, ugly at-bats and awful fielding errors left me feeling a little less ready for the future season. Once football is over, my time and energy goes directly toward the NFL Draft and watching my Royals.

It was a bad sight on Sunday. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought new manager Trey Hillman was stressing fundamentals in camp? Sure it could be a fluke. One game doesn’t always mean anything. But it was the starters out there, and they didn’t exactly look enthusiastic.

I thought this was the year that things changed and the AL division bottom-feeders known as my Royals finally made an effort to rise up toward respectability.

Sure I will still watch this season. I just hope they get things together. They need quite a few youngsters to step up real quick. Watching prospects develop is interesting so at least there are positives present.

Things can change and momentum can build. It could happen, I find myself saying year after year. I guess as long as they show up, the summer will be a good one.

Collecting autographs of favorites easier than it seems

When putting together a collection of autographs from one’s favorite team, there are few things to take into account. First off, when it comes to a high-profile star player, it really depends on the individual. Sending auto requests to the team site or the home address can be successful.

The easiest way to obtain graphs is to get the lesser known guys who are more likely to feel honored for the letter and request. Finding items such as cards or photos of these players can be harder but its worth it and one can get quite a few graphs sooner rather than later. Also when it comes to getting autos of former players, quite a bit of success can be had.

I have sent around 20 to 30 auto requests to former players since January and received around 20 back already! I hit former Royals real hard and had some luck. Several KC HOF players are willing signers and most sign and get the item back really fast.

There are many auto’s to be had out there so all you need is a good collector site to obtain addresses and learn of successes, some cash for envelopes and stamps and cards or whatever you want signed and some energy to get the request letter written and the envelope sent out.

NFL Mock Draft #1

1. MIA-Chris Long, DE Virginia. The Dolphins need a sure pick and Long is as sure as they come. Dorsey has a lot of potential but injury concerns might hurt his stock.

2. STL-Glenn Dorsey , DT LSU. The Rams need a lot of help on defense but there isn’t guy in the secondary worth drafting so high. Big Glenn combined with Adam Carriker and Leonard Little will be a strong combination.

3. ATL-Jake Long, T Michigan. Although the Falcons need to draft a big name to start the image makeover, the team’s new G.M. is from the Patriots. Thus they will take the best player available. Long is real solid and can contribute immediately.

4. OAK-Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas. If the Cowboys don’t trade up Al Davis won’t be able to pass up this amazing talent. Sure there is character issues, wait that makes him more attractive to the Raiders.

5. KC-Ryan Clady, T Boise State. After sulking for awhile as Jake Long doesn’t make it this far, the Chiefs take the next best thing in Clady who is athletic as the big men come. Check out his block on the famous touchdown play vs. Oklahoma as he seals the way for Ian to make the proposal.

6. NYJ-Sedrick Ellis, DT USC.  Despite being attracted to Ryan, they have too much invested in Pennington, Clemens and possibly Brad Smith? The d-line needs all the help it can get and Ellis has been tearing up workouts and is athletic enough to play some DE in the 3-4.

7. NE-Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio St. This super freak will end up where most other tremendous athletes do, in Foxboro. He will probably look real good at outside linebacker and guess what, the Pats just released Roosevelt Colvin.

8. BAL-Matt Ryan, QB Boston College. I know seeing him this far down seems not possible but teams seem to have different views about his potential. With several top pick qbs not performing well as of late, it makes it hard to invest so much. The Ravens however, need a successor and can release Boller if Ryan somehow falls to them.

9. CIN-Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina. The next athletic d-lineman from NC is here. Hopefully he will do better things than Ryan Sims.

10. NO-Keith Rivers, OLB USC. He is a little bit of a reach here because of his recent injuries concerns but you have to like his athletic nature. A strong defense tranlates into wins for the Saints and their big time offense.

11. BUF-Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma. Getting someone to take attention off Lee Evans is a top priority. Kelly has the potential to command double teams and will make a big impact.

12. DEN- Derrick Harvey, DE Florida. Why not add another defensive lineman from Florida to fix the pass rush which seems to be a top priority year after year. They have greater needs at linebacker but no others are good picks here.

13. CAR- Leodis McKelvin, DB Troy. This up and coming defensive back can immediately add some speed to the secondary that needs some help. Hopefully the return of the moose and Dwayne Jarret’s possible improvements aid the WR core.

14. CHI- Aqib Talib, DB Kansas. A lot of mixed views are coming his way as of now. They will look at receiver hard with the losses of Muhammad and Berrian. DeSean Jackson is valuable but with Hester his return skills will go to waste.

15. DET- Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon. Mendenhall is closing the gap fast and possibly passing Stewart on many team boards but Stewart is an absolute beast that brings a physical running attack to Detroit. They also need major DB help.

16. ARI- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DB Tennessee-State. Another great athlete that will help shore up Arizona’s spotty secondary. After moving Rolle to safety there is a vacancy. They also need d-line improvements.

17. MIN- Phillip Merling, DE Clemson. Despite using numerous picks on defensive ends, they just haven’t panned out so for now, the Vikings are forced to take another. Despite some people’s views, I think the WR core will be ok with Rice and Allison and Wade.

18. HOU- Mike Jenkins, DB USF. It is exciting to the see the Texans young d-players develop each year. They add another here to help the secondary catch up to the progess of the LBs and D-linemen.

19. PHI- Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt. They have an older O-line and Winston Justice as a backup. So far I’m not impressed with him. They can choose between him and Jeff Otah.

20. TB- DeSean Jackson, WR CAL. The Bucs salivate as Mr. Stretch the Field himself slides to pick 20. With Ike Hilliard and Galloway aging, they have a real need for speed.

21. WAS- Jeff Otah, T Pittsburgh. With numerous O-line injuries, they add some youth. If only a talented young safety was available. RIP Mr. Taylor. They are gonna miss him.

22. DAL- Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois. Assuming they don’t trade up, Mendenhall or Stewart would be a great addition with game-changing speed that Barber doesn’t have. No offense to him because frankly if I was anywhere near him he would purposely run me over on his way to the endzone.

23. PIT- Quentin Groves, DE Auburn. Another great athlete that can play either in a 4-3 or 3-4. They need d-line help because when Aaron Smith got hurt, teams noticed and took advantage.

24. TEN- Mario Manningham, WR Michigan. Wide receiver help is at the top of the list. They resigned Gage which could prove smart but more aid is needed. Sweed will be looked at. Another Longhorn to Longhorn connection? If only Limas hadn’t gotten injured.

25. SEA- Reggie Smith, DB Oklahoma. This young guy has lots of talent and Seattle’s secondary never seems fixed despite several attempts to do so.

26. JAX- Lawrence Jackson, DE USC. They simply need a better pass rush and they lose McCray. Another huge athlete comes to town. Have you ever noticed how small Jones-Drew and Northcutt look on the sideline and in the huddle?

27. SD- Branden Albert, G Virginia. O-line is getting older so for now this is the pick. Hopefully he will fair better than the last few o-linemen from the big V. Maybe D’Brick and Elton Brown can resurrect their careers.

28. DAL- Limas Sweed, WR Texas. Chances are a Longhorn staying in Dallas will call for a standing ovation. One can’t ever be sure with T.O. and Glenn is just simply old.

29. SF- James Hardy, WR Indiana. This 6′6 beast isn’t crazy fast but he seems unstoppable when he runs good routes. Talk about needing WR help.

30. GB- Calais Campbell, DE Miami. This 6′6 beast, wait that sounds familiar. Anyway this giant can aid a d-line starting to age. Fan favorite KGB can’t play forever and this guy can stop the run and get to the passer.

31. NYG- Dan Connor, LB Penn St. Antonio Pierce is aging and injuries hurt the group this past year. Connor doesn’t stand out in workouts but his film doesn’t lie, he’s simply a football player.

Autograph hounds hindering hobby

I started reading a blog about some guys who make a yearly trek down to several spring training sites in order to obtain autographs. This seemed very intriguing to me, not only because I have never been to spring training and wanted to here about it, but also because getting so many autographs and meeting so many players in just a week sounds amazing. One of those guys obtained around 200 autographs during his first day on site. That is remarkable. I have not obtained that many through mail requests during this whole year, my first as an avid autograph collector.

I was stoked to read about the daily entries after reading about the first day. Then I noticed a link about the collector to a website. I became intrigued and clicked away. I then found out the guy operated a cards for sale inventory webstore. This really saddened me. I can’t ever imagine selling my memorabilia unless basically I was on the verge of being broke and starving. Many pieces have great stories about the obtaining of them, especially those pieces obtained at spring training.

The guy repeatedly asked players to sign numerous pieces and sometimes this added up to over ten items. Are that many autos of one player really needed? If they are for sale, then I bet so. Players aren’t stupid and understand when guys are out to make a buck. This really hurts the hobby because people like myself have a harder time obtaining autos in some instances because players question whether the item will just be on Ebay tomorrow. I realize that I am becoming an adult and this shouldn’t be a concern that an adult should worry about. However when a young person has a harder time getting their hero’s graph because of the auto hounds out there, a problem exists.

P.S. I received four cards in the mail today, one autographed card a piece from football players Andre Reed and Brian Blades and baseball players Mark Grace and Bobby Bonilla. You can assume they will be displayed on my apartment wall the rest of the year and not for sale online any time soon.