And with the first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Ryan Tannehill, quarterback, Texas A & M.
OK, we're not going to hear that from Mr. Commish Roger Goddell, but the way teams are fawning over the Aggie signal caller you would think it might just happen. With the addition of Tannehill to the top of the draft along with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, it is going to be a heavily scrutinized draft. The great expectations on all three will by far surpass that of 1999, when Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith went 1-2-3 and harken back to the days of 1971, when Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning and Dan Pastorini were the first three names off the board.
There is a strong possibility that Miami may just trade up to #3 and get the pick currently held by Minnesota so they can take Tannehill. The Washington Redskins have already mortgaged a good bit of their future to move up to the second pick, and the Dolphins will have to do the same if they want to insure that Tannehill is their man. The question is 'Will he be worth it?' In both cases, I believe it will be.
Griffin is a rare talent, and proved it during his final year at Baylor. Physically gifted and even more so intellectually, Griffin and Luck will be competing for not only titles but the hearts and minds of football fans for years to come. Tannehill is more of a project, but Miami is the best landing point for him. His college coach is the offensive coordinator, and the new head coach runs a system that suits his talents. He has a veteran in Matt Moore already on the roster who is capable of holding the fort until it is time for Tannehill to take over.
But once again, great expectations may get in the way. It is the expectations of Dolphins fans looking for a quarterback to take over for Dan Marino. They have been waiting for 13 years. Now they have to wait 12 more days to see if their Dolphins either make the move up to #3 or have Tannehill fall to them at #8. If they are lucky, they won't have to sell the farm to get him. We shall see.
Showing posts with label Andrew Luck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew Luck. Show all posts
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
2012 DSA Player Rankings 1.0
After working way too much at my bill paying job, it is finally time to put forth the first DSA Player Rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft. After collecting data from mock drafts of all kinds, there are a number of things that are as certain as you are going to see this early in any draft year:
Andrew Luck is going #1 Overall to the Indianapolis Colts. With the announcement today of Peyton Manning and the Colts parting ways, there is no doubt now that Luck will be the first player taken in the draft.
Robert Griffin III is going #2 Overall, but to whom no one is certain yet. The St. Louis Rams are openly shopping the pick, and who makes the deal will be influenced by who signs the newly free agented Manning. I see the Cleveland Browns trading up to take Griffin, not just because they want the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback but also because the Rams are targeting Justin Blackmon, the dynamic playmaking wide receiver, and going any further down the draft board than 4th puts Tampa Bay into play in possibly selecting Blackmon. The Rams had problems on the offensive line, but that was mostly due to injuries. With a healthy Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith to provide time for Sam Bradford, St. Louis sees Blackmon as this years' A.J. Green, and after seeing how well Green and Andy Dalton worked together in Cincinnati they can only hope for similar results in St. Louis.
Matt Kalil is going to Minnesota with the #3 Overall pick. Christian Ponder showed promise at the end of the 2011 season for the Vikings, and putting Kalil at left tackle will only make him better. Plus, with Adrian Peterson coming back from knee surgery, Minnesota will need the anchor on the left side to protect their young quarterback and to open holes for their all-pro running back.
There are players who are already widely ranging up and down the mock draft boards. Trent Richardson is as high as #4 and as low as #17. Riley Reiff can be found up at #6 and down at #29. Janoris Jenkins is listed at #9 in one mock draft and not even in the first round in two others. While the top of the draft is what I call an Ivory Soap Lock (99 44/100%), the rest of the first round looks to be as unpredictable as ever. So here is the 2012 DSA Player Rankings 1.0:
1) Andrew Luck 1.0
2) Robert Griffin III 2.0
3) Matt Kalil 3.0
4) Justin Blackmon 4.60
5) Morris Claiborne 5.10
6) Quinton Coples 8.00
7) Melvin Ingram 9.60
8) Trent Richardson 10.00
9) Riley Reiff 11.20
10) Courtney Upshaw 13.80
11) Luke Kuechly 14.10
12) David DeCastro 14.80
13) Dre Kirkpatrick 15.60
14) Jonathon Martin 16.00
15) Dontari Poe 16.30
16) Michael Floyd 16.40
17) Michael Brockers 17.90
18) Cordy Glenn 19.10
19) Nick Perry 20.00
20) Ryan Tannehill 20.40
21) Janoris Jenkins 21.10
22) Whitney Mercilus 21.40
23) Fletcher Cox 23.20
24) Devon Still 23.30
25) Mark Barron 24.70
26) Mike Adams 25.90
27) Kendall Wright 26.10
28) Peter Konz 29.50
29) Dont'a Hightower 30.20
30) Jerel Worthy 30.30
31) Zach Brown 30.30
32) Coby Fleener 31.10
33) Stephen Gilmore 31.80
34) Andre Branch 32.70
35) Stephen Hill 34.40
In the next few days, it will be interesting to see what happens to the draft stock of Ryan Tannehill. Where Peyton Manning lands and who trades for the second pick to take Robert Griffin III will determine where Tannehill might land. I see the Browns moving up to take Griffin, and Manning going to a team with a better chance to win now. In the top 10, that would be Miami more than any other team, and I'm starting to get that gut feeling that the team he will land at in San Francisco. Great defense, weapons on offense and one of the best offensive lines in the league. I currently have Tannehill going #6 to Washington, and if everything falls into place the Redskins may be his new home simply because they could not get the other quarterbacks they wanted.
The 2012 NFL Draft season is starting to warm up. I for one am looking forward to it.
Andrew Luck is going #1 Overall to the Indianapolis Colts. With the announcement today of Peyton Manning and the Colts parting ways, there is no doubt now that Luck will be the first player taken in the draft.
Robert Griffin III is going #2 Overall, but to whom no one is certain yet. The St. Louis Rams are openly shopping the pick, and who makes the deal will be influenced by who signs the newly free agented Manning. I see the Cleveland Browns trading up to take Griffin, not just because they want the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback but also because the Rams are targeting Justin Blackmon, the dynamic playmaking wide receiver, and going any further down the draft board than 4th puts Tampa Bay into play in possibly selecting Blackmon. The Rams had problems on the offensive line, but that was mostly due to injuries. With a healthy Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith to provide time for Sam Bradford, St. Louis sees Blackmon as this years' A.J. Green, and after seeing how well Green and Andy Dalton worked together in Cincinnati they can only hope for similar results in St. Louis.
Matt Kalil is going to Minnesota with the #3 Overall pick. Christian Ponder showed promise at the end of the 2011 season for the Vikings, and putting Kalil at left tackle will only make him better. Plus, with Adrian Peterson coming back from knee surgery, Minnesota will need the anchor on the left side to protect their young quarterback and to open holes for their all-pro running back.
There are players who are already widely ranging up and down the mock draft boards. Trent Richardson is as high as #4 and as low as #17. Riley Reiff can be found up at #6 and down at #29. Janoris Jenkins is listed at #9 in one mock draft and not even in the first round in two others. While the top of the draft is what I call an Ivory Soap Lock (99 44/100%), the rest of the first round looks to be as unpredictable as ever. So here is the 2012 DSA Player Rankings 1.0:
1) Andrew Luck 1.0
2) Robert Griffin III 2.0
3) Matt Kalil 3.0
4) Justin Blackmon 4.60
5) Morris Claiborne 5.10
6) Quinton Coples 8.00
7) Melvin Ingram 9.60
8) Trent Richardson 10.00
9) Riley Reiff 11.20
10) Courtney Upshaw 13.80
11) Luke Kuechly 14.10
12) David DeCastro 14.80
13) Dre Kirkpatrick 15.60
14) Jonathon Martin 16.00
15) Dontari Poe 16.30
16) Michael Floyd 16.40
17) Michael Brockers 17.90
18) Cordy Glenn 19.10
19) Nick Perry 20.00
20) Ryan Tannehill 20.40
21) Janoris Jenkins 21.10
22) Whitney Mercilus 21.40
23) Fletcher Cox 23.20
24) Devon Still 23.30
25) Mark Barron 24.70
26) Mike Adams 25.90
27) Kendall Wright 26.10
28) Peter Konz 29.50
29) Dont'a Hightower 30.20
30) Jerel Worthy 30.30
31) Zach Brown 30.30
32) Coby Fleener 31.10
33) Stephen Gilmore 31.80
34) Andre Branch 32.70
35) Stephen Hill 34.40
In the next few days, it will be interesting to see what happens to the draft stock of Ryan Tannehill. Where Peyton Manning lands and who trades for the second pick to take Robert Griffin III will determine where Tannehill might land. I see the Browns moving up to take Griffin, and Manning going to a team with a better chance to win now. In the top 10, that would be Miami more than any other team, and I'm starting to get that gut feeling that the team he will land at in San Francisco. Great defense, weapons on offense and one of the best offensive lines in the league. I currently have Tannehill going #6 to Washington, and if everything falls into place the Redskins may be his new home simply because they could not get the other quarterbacks they wanted.
The 2012 NFL Draft season is starting to warm up. I for one am looking forward to it.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Working out at The Workout
The NFL Scouting Combine is quickly approaching, and when it comes to the quarterbacks there is one question that is always asked: Who is going to throw at the Combine, and who is going to pass on the opportunity, so to speak.
This year, Andrew Luck has already stated that he will not. Robert Griffin III will participate in all the on-field workouts but will not throw. Ryan Tannehill is recovering from an injury and will have to wait until his pro day. But looking at the 2011 Combine, there are two quarterbacks who did throw and it paid off for them.
One was Cam Newton. The Heisman Trophy winner was not a clear choice to go first overall in the draft heading into The Combine. He was not expected to throw but chose to do so anyway. The results were not impressive, to say the least. Questions about his accuracy surfaced right away when he was having trouble hitting his targets on even short routes. But one thing that impressed the Carolina Panthers was that he did choose to participate in the drills in the first place, and put himself out there for all to pick apart and criticize. One aspect of leadership is courage. Having the courage to go out on a limb and take a chance when you can very easily walk away is something every team should look for in its quarterback. Carolina saw what Newton was made of, and it paid off to the tune of 4,000 yards passing and 14 rushing touchdowns, both NFL rookie records.
The other quarterback who took advantage of an opportunity to throw at the 2011 NFL Combine was T.J. Yates from North Carolina. Yates led a team that would have been a national title contender if not for a long list of players who were suspended for the entire 2010 NCAA season for rules infractions. Yates got his chance to throw not as a top invitee but as one of the quarterbacks who got to throw to the receivers during the wideouts workouts. Yates could have just worked out at the UNC pro day, but the opportunity to impress all 32 teams was there and he too advantage. He looked good enough that the Houston Texans selected him in the 5th Round. He made the team as the 3rd string QB, and after injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart he got his chance. Yates led Houston to their first AFC South title and a win in the playoffs against Cincinnati. The Bengals were impressed by Yates at The Combine to the point where Coach Marvin Lewis said that if they had not been able to select Andy Dalton they were going to take Yates. It makes you wonder how many other teams had Yates on their radars after the 2011 Combine workouts, and how many would have overlooked him if he had not had the opportunity that was presented him last February.
The quarterback I see that has the best chance to impress at The Combine is Case Keenum. He is smaller in stature than most of the other quarterbacks, and is seen by many as a product of the Houston Cougar system. But he is a very accurate passer, and if he can make all the throws and hit the targets in unfamiliar surroundings teams may start to say 'He's about the same stature as Drew Brees, and he turned out to be a pretty good quarterback. Perhaps we should take a chance on him.'
That's all a lot of the players at the NFL Scouting Combine are looking for: a chance. Let's hope that those who take that chance can make it pay off in the end.
This year, Andrew Luck has already stated that he will not. Robert Griffin III will participate in all the on-field workouts but will not throw. Ryan Tannehill is recovering from an injury and will have to wait until his pro day. But looking at the 2011 Combine, there are two quarterbacks who did throw and it paid off for them.
One was Cam Newton. The Heisman Trophy winner was not a clear choice to go first overall in the draft heading into The Combine. He was not expected to throw but chose to do so anyway. The results were not impressive, to say the least. Questions about his accuracy surfaced right away when he was having trouble hitting his targets on even short routes. But one thing that impressed the Carolina Panthers was that he did choose to participate in the drills in the first place, and put himself out there for all to pick apart and criticize. One aspect of leadership is courage. Having the courage to go out on a limb and take a chance when you can very easily walk away is something every team should look for in its quarterback. Carolina saw what Newton was made of, and it paid off to the tune of 4,000 yards passing and 14 rushing touchdowns, both NFL rookie records.
The other quarterback who took advantage of an opportunity to throw at the 2011 NFL Combine was T.J. Yates from North Carolina. Yates led a team that would have been a national title contender if not for a long list of players who were suspended for the entire 2010 NCAA season for rules infractions. Yates got his chance to throw not as a top invitee but as one of the quarterbacks who got to throw to the receivers during the wideouts workouts. Yates could have just worked out at the UNC pro day, but the opportunity to impress all 32 teams was there and he too advantage. He looked good enough that the Houston Texans selected him in the 5th Round. He made the team as the 3rd string QB, and after injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart he got his chance. Yates led Houston to their first AFC South title and a win in the playoffs against Cincinnati. The Bengals were impressed by Yates at The Combine to the point where Coach Marvin Lewis said that if they had not been able to select Andy Dalton they were going to take Yates. It makes you wonder how many other teams had Yates on their radars after the 2011 Combine workouts, and how many would have overlooked him if he had not had the opportunity that was presented him last February.
The quarterback I see that has the best chance to impress at The Combine is Case Keenum. He is smaller in stature than most of the other quarterbacks, and is seen by many as a product of the Houston Cougar system. But he is a very accurate passer, and if he can make all the throws and hit the targets in unfamiliar surroundings teams may start to say 'He's about the same stature as Drew Brees, and he turned out to be a pretty good quarterback. Perhaps we should take a chance on him.'
That's all a lot of the players at the NFL Scouting Combine are looking for: a chance. Let's hope that those who take that chance can make it pay off in the end.
Friday, February 3, 2012
To Manning or Not To Manning...
...That is the question for the Indianapolis Colts.
It's amazing. The Super Bowl is being played in 2 days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and I'd say at least half of the talk this past two weeks has been about Peyton Manning.
Now that talk has been ramped up. Manning's doctors have cleared him to play. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, then came out and tweeted that Manning has not been cleared by team doctors. Speculation is that Manning will be released. Or that the Colts will pick up his $28 million option. Or that Manning will retire. Whatever happens, I find it very interesting that the Colts find themselves in a situation that they faced, although with some differences, with a legendary quarterback nearly 40 years ago.
Let's go back to the early 1970's. The Baltimore Colts were Super Bowl champions in 1970, and lost in the AFC Championship game to Miami the next season. John Unitas was their quarterback, but he was at the end of his career. Robert Irsay, the father of the current Colts owner, purchased the Los Angeles Rams and then traded the franchise for the Colts from then owner Carroll Rosenbloom. One of Irsay's first moves was to move on from the Unitas era and start fresh. But Colts coach Don McCafferty was loyal to his old quarterback Unitas, and he did not want to make the change. Irsay then fired the coach who won the Super Bowl just two years earlier.
The Colts went into the 1973 NFL Draft with the 2nd Overall Pick. They then selected Bert Jones, the All-American quarterback from LSU. Irsay wanted to make a clean break from Unitas and then traded him to San Diego. Unitas played one season for the Chargers. He had the will, but his arm couldn't find the way after suffering a number of injuries beginning in the 1968 season. Playing for a bad Chargers team did not help, and the greatest quarterback of his era retired at the end of the season.
The Colts in 1973-74 were not the same team that had so much success in 1970-71. The players on the championship team got old fast, and Baltimore was left with a young team that struggled. But it all came into place in 1975, and Jones led the team to three straight AFC East titles. He also won the 1976 NFL MVP award, and was one of the best quarterbacks in the league during a time when you had Hall of Famers like Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Bob Greise, and Fran Tarkenton, along with Ken Stabler, Ken Anderson and others leading their teams.
But Jones got injured at the start of the 1978 season, and his reckless style of play was starting to catch up with him. He was traded before the 1982 season to the Rams, but played one year before retiring. The injury that shortened his career-a neck injury.
Peyton Manning will most likely be released by the Colts and will be a very sought after free agent. Jim Irsay is going to follow in his father's footsteps and will move forward with Andrew Luck at quarterback. The Colts might struggle at first but I don't think it will be for long. Manning will be playing the role of the Spartan warrior of long ago. Come back with your shield or on it. He could lead a good team to the top, or he could be carted off never to take the field again. But all I can think about is the line in Jurassic Park, when Dr. Malcolm is trying to convince John Hammond that creating dinosaurs is a bad idea:
Yeah but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
Perhaps Manning should stop to think if he should even come back. The NFL is a better league with him healthy and playing. It will take a hit if Manning does as well and his injuries become too much to overcome. I wish Peyton Manning all the best, and most importantly health and happiness. Which he can have by walking away with his shield instead of being carried off on it.
It's amazing. The Super Bowl is being played in 2 days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and I'd say at least half of the talk this past two weeks has been about Peyton Manning.
Now that talk has been ramped up. Manning's doctors have cleared him to play. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, then came out and tweeted that Manning has not been cleared by team doctors. Speculation is that Manning will be released. Or that the Colts will pick up his $28 million option. Or that Manning will retire. Whatever happens, I find it very interesting that the Colts find themselves in a situation that they faced, although with some differences, with a legendary quarterback nearly 40 years ago.
Let's go back to the early 1970's. The Baltimore Colts were Super Bowl champions in 1970, and lost in the AFC Championship game to Miami the next season. John Unitas was their quarterback, but he was at the end of his career. Robert Irsay, the father of the current Colts owner, purchased the Los Angeles Rams and then traded the franchise for the Colts from then owner Carroll Rosenbloom. One of Irsay's first moves was to move on from the Unitas era and start fresh. But Colts coach Don McCafferty was loyal to his old quarterback Unitas, and he did not want to make the change. Irsay then fired the coach who won the Super Bowl just two years earlier.
The Colts went into the 1973 NFL Draft with the 2nd Overall Pick. They then selected Bert Jones, the All-American quarterback from LSU. Irsay wanted to make a clean break from Unitas and then traded him to San Diego. Unitas played one season for the Chargers. He had the will, but his arm couldn't find the way after suffering a number of injuries beginning in the 1968 season. Playing for a bad Chargers team did not help, and the greatest quarterback of his era retired at the end of the season.
The Colts in 1973-74 were not the same team that had so much success in 1970-71. The players on the championship team got old fast, and Baltimore was left with a young team that struggled. But it all came into place in 1975, and Jones led the team to three straight AFC East titles. He also won the 1976 NFL MVP award, and was one of the best quarterbacks in the league during a time when you had Hall of Famers like Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Bob Greise, and Fran Tarkenton, along with Ken Stabler, Ken Anderson and others leading their teams.
But Jones got injured at the start of the 1978 season, and his reckless style of play was starting to catch up with him. He was traded before the 1982 season to the Rams, but played one year before retiring. The injury that shortened his career-a neck injury.
Peyton Manning will most likely be released by the Colts and will be a very sought after free agent. Jim Irsay is going to follow in his father's footsteps and will move forward with Andrew Luck at quarterback. The Colts might struggle at first but I don't think it will be for long. Manning will be playing the role of the Spartan warrior of long ago. Come back with your shield or on it. He could lead a good team to the top, or he could be carted off never to take the field again. But all I can think about is the line in Jurassic Park, when Dr. Malcolm is trying to convince John Hammond that creating dinosaurs is a bad idea:
Yeah but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
Perhaps Manning should stop to think if he should even come back. The NFL is a better league with him healthy and playing. It will take a hit if Manning does as well and his injuries become too much to overcome. I wish Peyton Manning all the best, and most importantly health and happiness. Which he can have by walking away with his shield instead of being carried off on it.
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Quarterback Draft of 2012
The TMG DraftZone is back, and it's time to talk about the upcoming NFL Draft. Last year, interior lineman were a dominant feature on everyones draft boards. It was The Big Uglies that were in the spotlight. In 2012, it will be the pretty boys. Wide receivers, running backs and cornerbacks will get a lot of attention. But the quarterbacks will rule the day.
The top two prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft are quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. The Indianapolis Colts hold the #1 Overall Selection, and have already indicated they will take Luck. St. Louis has the second pick, and with Sam Bradford already entrenched as their signal caller, teams will be falling over themselves wanting to trade and move up to get Griffin. Jeff Fisher is the new head coach of the Rams, but he may as well be a reincarnation of Monty Hall in Let's Make A Deal.
But beyond Luck and Griffin, quarterbacks already on rosters or free agents will be the reason this year will be The Quarterback Draft. The Colts have a decision to make with Peyton Manning. Do they pick up his option for $28 million, and have him serve as a mentor to Luck? Do they sign him and trade the longtime face of the franchise? Do they make a clean break and let Manning become a free agent? Or does Manning say he has had enough, that three neck surgeries are two many for a quarterback, and say it's time to retire?
My gut feeling is that the Colts will not pick up the option on Manning, and that Peyton will retire. But if the right situation comes around, I could also see Manning moving to a contending team for one last run at a championship that would cement his legacy, and that team could be the New York Jets. Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, has publicly supported his quarterback Mark Sanchez, but has also indicated he could pursue Manning if he were available. For arguments sake, let's say the Jets sign Manning. What happens to Sanchez? There is no way he will sit behind Manning, then move back into the starters role after a couple of seasons. His own teammates, albeit anonymously, have criticized his play and work habits. It would not be far fetched that he would demand a trade, and a team like Washington, Miami or Cleveland could be a possible landing spot.
Speaking of which, those three teams are the most likely to trade up with St. Louis to select Griffin. But if Sanchez is available, he could be a less costly move to upgrade the quarterback position. Because the team that trades with the Rams for the second pick will be mortgaging their draft future to get Griffin. Last year, Atlanta traded 5 draft picks to Cleveland to move up to #6 and select Julio Jones. It will take a deal of that magnitude this year to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor. The Browns have the leverage of being able to trade those picks from the Falcons, and they have Colt McCoy in place now who could quarterback the team until Griffin is ready. But after watching Cam Newton and Andy Dalton do what they did in 2011 without the benefit of OTA's and a shortened training camp, and after watching Griffin play last year, he needs to get the ball right away. I believe he will.
The most intriguing free agent quarterback will be Matt Flynn from Green Bay. Intriguing because of excellent results from a small sample size. He started one game against New England in 2010, and played well in a loss. He then started the final game of the 2011 season against Detroit, and set franchise records for yards and touchdowns in a game. And considering the Packers history, those are impressive records. But the question isn't if a team will take a chance on Flynn, it will be which one will.
Finally, what will Denver do in regards to Tim Tebow. John Elway has stated that Tebow will be the teams starter going into training camp, but that endorsement is as lukewarm as a three day old pot of coffee. Brady Quinn is a free agent, and not likely to return, and the only other quarterback on the Broncos roster is Adam Weber, who spent the year on the practice squad. Tebow may have turned the season around for Denver, but the injuries he suffered in the playoff loss to New England should be a warning for the Broncos. No matter how big and tough a quarterback is, if he is a running quarterback he is going to get beat up. Tebow proved that his biggest weakness is as a pocket passer, and I would not be surprised if Weber gets a good look in training camp and in preseason games with the first team starters. If Elway decides to move Tebow, Jacksonville could be a landing spot. You have a new owner looking to fill the stadium and put a winner on the field, and having a hometown hero like Tebow could accomplish both. As long as Tebow can stay on the field.
The 2012 NFL Draft will be dominated by the quarterbacks. Both incoming and already there. Things will start to fall into place once the Colts and Peyton Manning decide what each one is going to do. After that, the dominoes will start falling into place. I can't wait for the push that gets everything going. Let the NFL Draft Season begin.
The top two prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft are quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. The Indianapolis Colts hold the #1 Overall Selection, and have already indicated they will take Luck. St. Louis has the second pick, and with Sam Bradford already entrenched as their signal caller, teams will be falling over themselves wanting to trade and move up to get Griffin. Jeff Fisher is the new head coach of the Rams, but he may as well be a reincarnation of Monty Hall in Let's Make A Deal.
But beyond Luck and Griffin, quarterbacks already on rosters or free agents will be the reason this year will be The Quarterback Draft. The Colts have a decision to make with Peyton Manning. Do they pick up his option for $28 million, and have him serve as a mentor to Luck? Do they sign him and trade the longtime face of the franchise? Do they make a clean break and let Manning become a free agent? Or does Manning say he has had enough, that three neck surgeries are two many for a quarterback, and say it's time to retire?
My gut feeling is that the Colts will not pick up the option on Manning, and that Peyton will retire. But if the right situation comes around, I could also see Manning moving to a contending team for one last run at a championship that would cement his legacy, and that team could be the New York Jets. Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, has publicly supported his quarterback Mark Sanchez, but has also indicated he could pursue Manning if he were available. For arguments sake, let's say the Jets sign Manning. What happens to Sanchez? There is no way he will sit behind Manning, then move back into the starters role after a couple of seasons. His own teammates, albeit anonymously, have criticized his play and work habits. It would not be far fetched that he would demand a trade, and a team like Washington, Miami or Cleveland could be a possible landing spot.
Speaking of which, those three teams are the most likely to trade up with St. Louis to select Griffin. But if Sanchez is available, he could be a less costly move to upgrade the quarterback position. Because the team that trades with the Rams for the second pick will be mortgaging their draft future to get Griffin. Last year, Atlanta traded 5 draft picks to Cleveland to move up to #6 and select Julio Jones. It will take a deal of that magnitude this year to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor. The Browns have the leverage of being able to trade those picks from the Falcons, and they have Colt McCoy in place now who could quarterback the team until Griffin is ready. But after watching Cam Newton and Andy Dalton do what they did in 2011 without the benefit of OTA's and a shortened training camp, and after watching Griffin play last year, he needs to get the ball right away. I believe he will.
The most intriguing free agent quarterback will be Matt Flynn from Green Bay. Intriguing because of excellent results from a small sample size. He started one game against New England in 2010, and played well in a loss. He then started the final game of the 2011 season against Detroit, and set franchise records for yards and touchdowns in a game. And considering the Packers history, those are impressive records. But the question isn't if a team will take a chance on Flynn, it will be which one will.
Finally, what will Denver do in regards to Tim Tebow. John Elway has stated that Tebow will be the teams starter going into training camp, but that endorsement is as lukewarm as a three day old pot of coffee. Brady Quinn is a free agent, and not likely to return, and the only other quarterback on the Broncos roster is Adam Weber, who spent the year on the practice squad. Tebow may have turned the season around for Denver, but the injuries he suffered in the playoff loss to New England should be a warning for the Broncos. No matter how big and tough a quarterback is, if he is a running quarterback he is going to get beat up. Tebow proved that his biggest weakness is as a pocket passer, and I would not be surprised if Weber gets a good look in training camp and in preseason games with the first team starters. If Elway decides to move Tebow, Jacksonville could be a landing spot. You have a new owner looking to fill the stadium and put a winner on the field, and having a hometown hero like Tebow could accomplish both. As long as Tebow can stay on the field.
The 2012 NFL Draft will be dominated by the quarterbacks. Both incoming and already there. Things will start to fall into place once the Colts and Peyton Manning decide what each one is going to do. After that, the dominoes will start falling into place. I can't wait for the push that gets everything going. Let the NFL Draft Season begin.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
To Enter the Draft or Not Enter the Draft...
...That is the question. And it seems that there are more underclassmen with NFL level talent deciding to stay in school. Andrew Luck has been the biggest name, but two players who could have an impact on the draft decided to stay in college today.
Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd were considered two of the best wide receiver prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft. A.J. Green is at the top of the list. Blackmon was widely regarded as the number two choice, and Floyd perhaps 4th or 5th. A rookie wide receiver can be a dynamic playmaker from the start, and Blackmon was seen as going anywhere from 6th to Cleveland down to 14th and the St. Louis Rams. Floyd has been projected as a late first round but more likely a second round selection. A team needing a solid receiving threat could go for defense in the first round and pick up Floyd early in the 2nd. A team looking for that scenario could very easily have been the Cincinnati Bengals.
You can say all you want about players wanting to stay in school, get their degrees, and wanting to play for championships, and I'll be the first to applaud any player who does just that. But with the uncertainty of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, a player who stays in school will get to play NCAA football next season. Coming out early this year may lead to a year of inactivity. Let's all hope that the powers that be have enough sense to slice the money pie so that everyone gets a taste.
Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd were considered two of the best wide receiver prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft. A.J. Green is at the top of the list. Blackmon was widely regarded as the number two choice, and Floyd perhaps 4th or 5th. A rookie wide receiver can be a dynamic playmaker from the start, and Blackmon was seen as going anywhere from 6th to Cleveland down to 14th and the St. Louis Rams. Floyd has been projected as a late first round but more likely a second round selection. A team needing a solid receiving threat could go for defense in the first round and pick up Floyd early in the 2nd. A team looking for that scenario could very easily have been the Cincinnati Bengals.
You can say all you want about players wanting to stay in school, get their degrees, and wanting to play for championships, and I'll be the first to applaud any player who does just that. But with the uncertainty of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, a player who stays in school will get to play NCAA football next season. Coming out early this year may lead to a year of inactivity. Let's all hope that the powers that be have enough sense to slice the money pie so that everyone gets a taste.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
#1 With A Bullet
After his performance in the Orange Bowl, Andrew Luck all but cemented his status as the first overall selection in the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft. Now there are two big questions surrounding the selection of Luck. Will Carolina hold onto the pick, and will Luck enter the draft.
Carolina has a lot of needs, as most 2-14 teams have, and the big question is do they believe in either Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen. There are a lot of teams that need a quarterback, and with the depth at the position this year they may feel that their future franchise quarterback can be found later in the first round. But Luck is as good of a quarterback prospect since Troy Aikman. Accurate, smart, and pro ready. But with Ryan Mallet, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Cam Newton in this draft, the Panthers may decide that if someone offers a Ricky Williams blockbuster deal that it would be too good to pass up with all of their needs on both sides of the ball.
But what may be the bigger question is whether Luck will enter the draft at all. And there are three words that may determine his entry: Collective Bargaining Agreement. Luck is a sophomore eligible, so he has 2 years remaining in college if he decides to stay. The NFL and it's players association appear to be heading for a standoff, and there is a very good chance that a long lockout will ensue. If it looks like there may not be pro football next season, Luck may stay in school, where he knows that Stanford will suit up in 2011. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is January 15th. Luck has eleven days to make up his mind. He is living his own version of an old country song. Heads Carolina. Tails California. We shall see.
Carolina has a lot of needs, as most 2-14 teams have, and the big question is do they believe in either Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen. There are a lot of teams that need a quarterback, and with the depth at the position this year they may feel that their future franchise quarterback can be found later in the first round. But Luck is as good of a quarterback prospect since Troy Aikman. Accurate, smart, and pro ready. But with Ryan Mallet, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Cam Newton in this draft, the Panthers may decide that if someone offers a Ricky Williams blockbuster deal that it would be too good to pass up with all of their needs on both sides of the ball.
But what may be the bigger question is whether Luck will enter the draft at all. And there are three words that may determine his entry: Collective Bargaining Agreement. Luck is a sophomore eligible, so he has 2 years remaining in college if he decides to stay. The NFL and it's players association appear to be heading for a standoff, and there is a very good chance that a long lockout will ensue. If it looks like there may not be pro football next season, Luck may stay in school, where he knows that Stanford will suit up in 2011. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is January 15th. Luck has eleven days to make up his mind. He is living his own version of an old country song. Heads Carolina. Tails California. We shall see.
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