Page 1 of 1
NFL Draft approaches
Posted: March 2, 2007, 9:59 pm
by masteen
Anyone, starting from #1 down, who does not draft Calvin Johnson is a fucking fool.
He's like a bigger, stronger TO. Without the crazy.
Posted: March 3, 2007, 3:10 pm
by Zamtuk
Top 3 can't pick Johnson. Bucs are getting a dream pick at 4 though. I really hope my beloved Browns get Petersen. Even though he is brittle, I think he will really open up our offense so we can finally make use of our recievers. Another rumor thats been going around quite heavily is that the Browns are going to wait until the second (waste) or the third to get Troy Smith. I'm still sour grapes about him rolling over in the BCS game, so not sure how excited I would be to see him go there, though he would be an excellent fit.
Posted: March 3, 2007, 11:25 pm
by Pherr the Dorf
Okoye is going to be a steal for anyone who gets this kid... and yes he is 19 and graduating college.... here's to hopin the 9ers get them
Posted: March 3, 2007, 11:53 pm
by Winnow
This site seems to have a lot of good free info on the NFL 2007 draft:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/
It has updates and profiles on the individual players including the recent combine.
I don't put much stock into the actual mock draft but they have Okoye going 18th to the Bengals:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/mockdraft. ... &year=2007
Whoever gets Zach Miller, TE from Arizona State is going to get another Gonzales, Gates type back. He's awesome catching the ball and can block.
The mock has him going to Green Bay as the 16th pick. That's a good fit as Bubba Franks blows and Favre would dump it off to his TE a lot if he had one.
Posted: March 4, 2007, 9:16 pm
by Kilmoll the Sexy
The Lions have proven that taking a sure bet WR is not always a sure bet. I would probably avoid all the QB's in thsi draft as an overall 1-3 pick as well. Every year there is the "sure #1" QB and how often do they ever turn out to be worth a crap? If I had the number 1 I would trade down if I needed a QB. Someone WILL overpay for Johnson and you could slide down to the middle to grab Quinn and get another pick out of the deal.
Posted: March 4, 2007, 9:35 pm
by Midnyte_Ragebringer
Lions will pick WR again.
Posted: March 5, 2007, 12:12 pm
by Homercles
I havent checked the rap sheets of this years draft class, so I cant say who the Bengals will pick.
Posted: March 5, 2007, 2:09 pm
by Kilmoll the Sexy
My theory is they send their number 1 to the Titans for Pacman Jones and a criminal to be named later.
Posted: March 5, 2007, 2:14 pm
by Sylvus
Hey, they could package Albert Haynesworth with Jones. He might not be an actual criminal (yet) but he's certainly shown potential.
Posted: March 5, 2007, 3:33 pm
by Kilmoll the Sexy
oh man that would be perfect. We canonly hope they have to change the Super Bowl to Las Vegas due to some emergency and that he Bengals make it to that game. can you imagine Pacman having Haynesworth and Chris Henry in his posse in Vegas? I wonder what the over/under on arrests would be by that team out there.
Posted: March 5, 2007, 4:52 pm
by Deward
Calvin Johnson is a beast. I watched the combine on the NFL Network and he is just unbelievable. I am of the opinion that you pick the best player available in the first round and then need after that.
Unfortuantely for the raiders, their need at QB far far far outweighs their need at WR. Johnson likely won't go in the top 3 (he should). The Raiders have to find a QB. I feel sorry for that guy (probably russel) because the Raiders are the armpit of the NFL.
Jamarcus Russel looks good on paper but I don't think any of the QBs are really great this year. Troy Smith throws a great ball but he is so short that I doubt will be drafted in the first day. Maybe mid third round. I wouldn't touch Quinn with a 10ft pole. Whenever I see the guy, I just see a non-leader type. He seems to choke in the big games too.
RB's are probably the weakest group in a decade. I don't think Adrian Peterson will stand up to the rigours of an NFL career. He may produce for a couple seasons but I don't think he will last that long.
Packers do need a receiving threat. Franks is just a blocker now. Martin walked so they are in real trouble here. They could still use another wide receiver but I doubt anyone worth taking will be around at this point. The packers need a RB now as well since Ahman left. I don't know if there is anything left to justify a first round pick though. I would like to see them pick up Brian Leonard in the second round. He is a FB from Rutgers and is way under the radar. Up until last year he carried that team on his back. Last year he plowed the way for a heisman trophy candidate.
Posted: March 7, 2007, 11:18 pm
by Pherr the Dorf
Every Draft I see has Johnson going 3rd.
Russell looks good on more than paper... the kid can throw the ball 85 yards accurately, this is a cannon not seen since Elway came out. What do you think is going to happen to a safety blitzer if he lowers his shoulder? He is going to be a special player if he has any cast around him.
There will be 1 or 2 3-5th rounder runningbacks that will put up great numbers as usual but it is a seemingly weak class I agree.
Once more Okoye to 9ers please and thank you
Posted: March 8, 2007, 5:25 pm
by masteen
I've seen Jamarcus make some truly boneheaded throws during his time at LSU. Yes, he looks like a prototypical QB, but then so did Rob Johnson, and he couldn't drive his team out of a wet paper sack.
But since it's the Raiders, I think it's an AWESOME overall first pick!
Posted: March 8, 2007, 8:30 pm
by Denadeb
Every QB makes boneheaded throws it happens. Something I bet you didn't know was he was the top rated passer in Div 1 football. The kid has the tallent it just remains to be seen if he uses it.
Posted: March 8, 2007, 8:53 pm
by Winnow
I always crack up when the Raiders are playing on Monday Night and the camera focuses in on the owner Al Davis while the announcers pretty much call him batshit insane (using more appropriate verbiage) and you know Al Davis can hear them on the TV even if delayed as he starts shaking his head. Good stuff.
I hope the Raiders finish up in last until a new owner takes them over. Raider Nation is lame and so is the owner.
Posted: April 28, 2007, 7:38 pm
by Winnow
The Cardinals traded up 5 spots to grab Alan Branch (DT) Michigan with the first pick of the second round.
What's the scoop Sylvus? This is the second Michigan player Arizona has picked in the last two years. Good pick or was it a bad move? ESPN says he didn't perform up to his capabilities. (reason why he dropped out of the first round)
Posted: April 28, 2007, 8:29 pm
by Raistin
he played good vs bad,semi good teams. He never stepped up in big games. Id say its a 75% good pick.
Posted: April 28, 2007, 11:28 pm
by Leonaerd
I fucking hate the Lions.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 2:59 pm
by Sylvus
Winnow wrote:The Cardinals traded up 5 spots to grab Alan Branch (DT) Michigan with the first pick of the second round.
What's the scoop Sylvus? This is the second Michigan player Arizona has picked in the last two years. Good pick or was it a bad move? ESPN says he didn't perform up to his capabilities. (reason why he dropped out of the first round)
It's a good pick. ESPN (and Raistin) don't know what they're talking about. He was the key to the best run defense that the NCAA has seen in years. i heard people talk about him not putting up big numbers, but it was more because he made people change their game plan than anything else. He's fast as hell for being as ginormous as he is.
Arizona also picked up Steve Breaston, looks like I might have to become a Cardinals fan.
Leonaerd, I have no idea what you're talking about. I like the Lions picks, at least the ones through the first couple rounds.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 5:01 pm
by Leonaerd
5 WRs in 6 years. 28th in 2006 defensive rankings. That's my issue.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 5:47 pm
by Sylvus
Yeah, but you can't pass up Calvin Johnson, he's too much of a stud. With him and Roy Williams, I think Kitna is going to put up huge numbers this year.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 6:27 pm
by Leonaerd
We sure will. We'll simply lose our games 84 - 49.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 6:50 pm
by Sueven
Sunk costs. It might be true that you've taken an assload of wideouts (although it's actually 4 in 5 years-- Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams, Ernie Sims, Calvin Johnson). However, that's not really relevant-- two of those receivers are no longer on the team. Allowing sunk costs to shape your thinking is a great way to stay in the gutter. Your team only has one real high-caliber wideout (Mike Furrey does not count) and the best player, by far, is a wideout-- I say take him.
The 'we need defense before offense' argument is much stronger than the 'but we just took 3 straight wideouts' argument. But honestly, Detroit needs help on both sides of the ball. In that situation, and when the best available offensive player is substantially better than the best available defensive player... well I think it was the right move.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 6:52 pm
by Leonaerd
Yeah, you're right. I'm just sick of losing seasons.
Posted: April 29, 2007, 7:20 pm
by StupidMcDupid
Brady Quinn looked like he drank bitter beer after the dolphins passed on him

Posted: April 29, 2007, 8:22 pm
by Sueven
I have faith in Rod Marinelli!
Although I suspect that Matt Millen just picks coaches based on whether their last name starts with the letter M...
Posted: April 29, 2007, 8:49 pm
by Leonaerd
Sueven wrote:I have faith in Rod Marinelli!
Although I suspect that Matt Millen just picks coaches based on whether their last name starts with the letter M...

Posted: April 29, 2007, 9:37 pm
by Zamtuk
The Browns had a magnificent draft. I am really excited. And couldn't be more happier with the fate of Quinn. (more on that later) But the draft that worries me the most is the Patriots. They just fucking owned this weekend, hands down.
Also, I'm sad that Troy Smith got drafted, by the Ravens no less. After tossing the championship, for a whole lot more reasons that I even heard about, I'm pissed he even got drafted.
On Quinn, he went to the Dublin Coffman, which was the major rival with my high school, Hilliard Davidson. Then he went to Notre Dame, also a school I really fucking hate. Now, I have to cheer for him on my beloved Browns. So for him to get shafted contract wise was really a plus for me. Oh, and if anyone cares, my high school was 3-0 against him when he played, and recently won states last year. Just a fun fact!
Posted: April 29, 2007, 10:30 pm
by Winnow
Sylvus wrote:Winnow wrote:The Cardinals traded up 5 spots to grab Alan Branch (DT) Michigan with the first pick of the second round.
What's the scoop Sylvus? This is the second Michigan player Arizona has picked in the last two years. Good pick or was it a bad move? ESPN says he didn't perform up to his capabilities. (reason why he dropped out of the first round)
It's a good pick. ESPN (and Raistin) don't know what they're talking about. He was the key to the best run defense that the NCAA has seen in years. i heard people talk about him not putting up big numbers, but it was more because he made people change their game plan than anything else. He's fast as hell for being as ginormous as he is.
Arizona also picked up Steve Breaston, looks like I might have to become a Cardinals fan.
I like what I'm hearing from Branch (except for being pancaked by Levi Brown!)
It also looks like the Cardinals picked up two players that they had ranked in their top 5. Levi Brown/Alan Branch.
April 29, 2007
Branch ready to prove doubters wrong
Darren Urban, Tribune
Mel Kiper was one of the Alan Branch naysayers, apparently, and the newest Cardinal defensive tackle isn’t going to forgive or forget the ESPN draft analyst.
“Mel Kiper has been riding me the whole time,” Branch said after the Cards selected him with the first pick of the second round in Saturday’s NFL draft. “After these next couple of years, I’m going to make sure he eats every word he said.”
Branch tumbled in the draft and he isn’t sure why. Neither were the Cardinals, who had Branch ranked as one of their top players on the draft board — many mock drafts at one point put Branch in as Arizona’s pick at No. 5 overall — and decided to be aggressive as he fell out of the first round.
The Cards dealt their fourth-round selection to Oakland for the chance to swap second-round selections, moving up five spots.
It made sense to coach Ken Whisenhunt, who wanted a space-eater inside on his defense, a player who had impressed the Cards’ coaches during both his interview and workout.
“For that type of player,” vice president of football operations Rod Graves said, “it was worth a fourth round (pick).”
Branch had a couple of sacks and six tackles for loss in 2006 for Michigan, but he was knocked for being underproductive and some wonder about his motivation.
Still, Graves said the reason for Branch’s draft drop was “nothing I could put my finger on, especially that far.”
Branch will play tackle, Whisenhunt said, but is versatile enough to play defensive end and will see some time there.
Branch, who hails from Rio Rancho, N.M., was thrilled to be drafted by a team “right down the street.”
In college, Branch had a chance to go head-to-head against new teammate and Penn State tackle Levi Brown.
“He actually (pan)caked me a couple times during games, so I’m sure he’s going to have a couple jokes waiting,” Branch said.
That’s OK with Branch, who is ready to repay the Cardinals for their level of interest in him.
“I feel I’ve gotten some love from them,” Branch said. “They actually really want me bad to make a trade. I’m going to try my hardest so they didn’t do it in vain.”
I hope Branch was just depressed about Michigan having lost to Ohio State, in their bowl game, and maybe had some girlfriend trouble or something. If he's motivated to prove everyone wrong, it's always a good thing.
Arizona has Michigan's Gabe Watson from last year's draft as well although I can't say how good or bad he did last year.
What the analysts said about Branch before the draft:
Floyd Reese, ESPN analyst): "He has the ability to dominate the line of scrimmage and was a major reason Michigan led the nation in run defense. ... Strong, powerful and agile enough to tie up multiple blockers and force teams to abandon the run ... ability to collapse the pocket as an interior pass rusher ... but he's inconsistent."
ESPN NFL Draft Guide: "Supremely gifted. Takes over game when he gets his motor running. ... Good initial quickness, balance and body control, and plays with solid leverage. Powerful tackler with impressive wrap-up skills. ... lacks and speed and closing burst to consistently make impact as pass-rusher ... mostly a one-dimensional bull-rusher type ... Room to improve hand usage to play off blocks. (Compared to Shaun Rogers of the Detroit Lions)
nfldraftcountdown.com: "Extremely strong and powerful ... terrific athlete for his size. Able to penetrate the pocket and makes plays in the backfield. Stamina and weight have been issues."
Street & Smith's Pro Football Draft Guide: "Outstanding size and athletic ability. Has the size and strength to play two-gap schemes. Quick off the ball. Very agile for a big man. Moves well and smooth. Disruptive. Closes quickly on the ball carrier. Versatile; has played nose tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end. One NFC personnel analyst said Branch, "Once he gets used to his surroundings ... should be able to provide an immediate upgrade in that team's run defense." But S&S also noted that "despite starting 23 games over the last three seasons, he recorded just 18 tackles for loss and nine sacks" and that Branch "has the look of a boom-or-bust selection early in the first round.
Posted: April 30, 2007, 10:53 am
by Homercles
Bengals also snatched up another Wolverine. Leon Hall. Everybody seems to love him.
Hopefully he pans out better than the last Wolverine the Bengals picked in round 1: Chistina Perry.
Shouldnt be difficult. I think Perrys been healthy for 4 friggin games since we drafted him.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 10:50 am
by Kelshara
Didn't have tv thanks to moving

but from what I have seen it looks like Browns, Arizona and Patriots did well. Ugh.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 11:23 am
by Sylvus
Here's an article on Branch vs. Okoye written by Brian Cook. While he is a Michigan Fan, one of his
blogs has won awards for the depth and quality of his research. He charts every play of every Michigan game, and I have not seen a site more thoroughly analyze whole games.
this article wrote:Now, I'm a Michigan fan so feel free to let that color your opinion of my opinion, but this is a prime example of ridiculous postseason movement in response to nothing in particular. Throughout Branch's career at Michigan he was a willing, active player who swtiched from DT to DE whenever the coaching staff required it of him. This year he was the dominant player on a historically great Michigan rush defense. When he announced for the draft he was universally regarded as the top tackle available and a sure top ten pick. After he looked "out of shape" at the combine he slid.
These are the combine numbers.
Okoye Branch
Bench 29 33
40 4.97 4.92
Height 6'2" 6'5"
Weight 300 324
There are rumors that he may have some stress fractures or somesuch, but I haven't heard them widely reported and he was never known for being injury prone while at Michigan.
Here's a previous article Brian had written about him.
this article wrote:Anyone who takes a 19-year-old who was a nice but not dominant player in college over Alan Branch is on drugs or is Matt Millen. Michigan's run defense was the best the NCAA had seen in the past ten yards and Branch was a key component of that. Even when Michigan's defense collapsed towards the end of the year it couldn't be blamed on Branch: against Ohio State he had a fumble recovery and an interception (fifteen yards downfield!); in the Rose Bowl USC's offensive explosion only came after they stopped running entirely. Criticizing his pass rush is odd since he's a defensive tackle, and concerns about his athleticism are kind of ridiculous. At Michigan, Branch consistently tracked down running backs on screens and when they (infrequently) broke past the line of scrimmage. And though his TFL and sack numbers weren't on par with a few other defensive tackles, he got plenty of penetration, disrupting plays but not getting statistical credit for it.
You can check any of the play-by-play breakdowns I did of Michigan's '06 season if you want confirmation of this latter assertion. I especially recommend games against
Notre Dame,
Wisconsin,
Iowa, and the infamous game versus
Penn State in which he nearly killed Anthony Morelli. You'll see many instances in which Branch disrupts the timing of a play without getting a tackle or sack. You will also see the gushing of a man hopelessly in love with a guy playing like a top-five draft pick. Meanwhile, Okoye has a cool name, a cool story, and vastly fewer onfield accomplishments. Taking him over Branch would be rank combine overrating of the most heinous sort.
This was my desktop background at work for a month or so last fall.
Hmm... if that's red x due to off-site linkage, it can be seen
here
Posted: May 1, 2007, 12:18 pm
by miir
Kitna is going to put up huge numbers this year
I'm still laughing from when you posted that.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 12:19 pm
by noel
miir wrote:Kitna is going to put up huge numbers this year
I'm still laughing from when you posted that.
Wait. That wasn't sarcasm?
This just in... or nearly just in... Trent Green isn't going to play for KC anymore.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 12:34 pm
by Sylvus
miir wrote:Kitna is going to put up huge numbers this year
I'm still laughing from when you posted that.
I didn't say what kind of numbers they'd be. What's the single-season interception record??
No, I really think he will put up big numbers. With Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Marcus Robinson (who i've never particularly liked, but at least he's not Bill Fucking Schroeder) and Mike Furrey (who actually had a decent season last year for being a white guy that nobody's ever heard of), as well as a free agent or two that Martz coached in St. Louis he's going to have a number of pretty solid targets to go after. I'm not particularly enamored with John Kitna, but he did throw for 4000+ yards last year, and he's got a lot more talent to work with this year.
Cut me some slack, I'm an optimist who is forced to be a Lions fan due to where I was born and raised. No other team has had the dearth of QB talent/performance that Detroit has historically had. This is our year!
Yeah, I don't really believe that.

Posted: May 1, 2007, 12:37 pm
by noel
Sylvus wrote:miir wrote:Kitna is going to put up huge numbers this year
I'm still laughing from when you posted that.
I didn't say what kind of numbers they'd be. What's the single-season interception record??
No, I really think he will put up big numbers. With Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Marcus Robinson (who i've never particularly liked, but at least he's not Bill Fucking Schroeder) and Mike Furrey (who actually had a decent season last year for being a white guy that nobody's ever heard of), as well as a free agent or two that Martz coached in St. Louis he's going to have a number of pretty solid targets to go after. I'm not particularly enamored with John Kitna, but he did throw for 4000+ yards last year, and he's got a lot more talent to work with this year.
Cut me some slack, I'm an optimist who is forced to be a Lions fan due to where I was born and raised. No other team has had the dearth of QB talent/performance that Detroit has historically had. This is our year!
Yeah, I don't really believe that.

Dude, you have the Pistons, the Tigers and the Red Wings. You DON'T have to be a Lions fan!

Posted: May 1, 2007, 12:43 pm
by Sylvus
Yeah, but football was always the sport I played and enjoyed watching the most. Thank god for my Wolverines.
I'd just like to be able to be passionate about the NFL again. Fantasy football keeps me watching just enough, but man, when we had Barry Sanders I could still love watching the Lions, even though they were shitty. The last few years I've watched more games on CBS than the competing Lions games on Fox.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 12:58 pm
by noel
Sylvus wrote:Yeah, but football was always the sport I played and enjoyed watching the most. Thank god for my Wolverines.
I'd just like to be able to be passionate about the NFL again. Fantasy football keeps me watching just enough, but man, when we had Barry Sanders I could still love watching the Lions, even though they were shitty. The last few years I've watched more games on CBS than the competing Lions games on Fox.
If it makes you feel any better, *we* used to have Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Byron Scott... on the same team
Now we have Kobe... but we have Smush Parker and Brian Cook too.

Posted: May 1, 2007, 1:08 pm
by Sylvus
Bad analogy! Kobe is about as good a player as there is in the NBA today. Your team is basically the Lions when they had Barry, only more competetive. The Showtime Lakers were one of the 3 best teams ever assembled. If basketball is your sport, try watching the Atlanta Hawks for a couple years and then get back to me! Better yet, you like cycling... watching the Detroit Lions play football is like watching Rosie O'Donnel trying to ride a Schwinn 10 speed up the Tourmalet. Only it's just pathetic, without the humor.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 1:21 pm
by noel
The problem with the Lions isn't [necessarily] the talent on the field. It's the lack of talent in the front office dating back to when I first started watching them and they were coached by Wayne Fontes (sp?).
Fair enough though, but bear in mind, at least you have an NFL team.

Posted: May 1, 2007, 1:33 pm
by Winnow
I'm liking Branch more and more. I say this every year it seems, but it looks like this might be the year the Cardinals go places! (make the playoffs)
The Cardinal defense has been on the verge of dominance the past two years . If all goes well, Branch will make a huge difference in defending the run. He's joining some excellent players on the line in Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett and Chike Okeafor. (I'm still not sure how well Gabe Watson did last year at NT. I do remember hearing his name called out on tackles) Arizona is going to have a 3-4 defense so I'm not sure who will be starting but it will be three great players on the line.
I haven't see much of him yet, but I'm liking the new Cardinals coach, Ken Whisenhunt. At first glance, he seems like a clone of Bill Cowher in appearance and looks to be a no nonsense type coach which is a good thing for the Cardinals...we don't need "soft" player's coaches here.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 1:33 pm
by miir
I didn't say what kind of numbers they'd be. What's the single-season interception record??
That's kinda what I had in mind.

Posted: May 1, 2007, 1:44 pm
by Sylvus
Winnow wrote:The Cardinal defense has been on the verge of dominance the past two years . If all goes well, Branch will make a huge difference in defending the run. He's joining some excellent players on the line in Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett and Chike Okeafor. (I'm still not sure how well Gabe Watson did last year at NT. I do remember hearing his name called out on tackles) Arizona is going to have a 3-4 defense so I'm not sure who will be starting but it will be three great players on the line.
As much as I've always liked Gabe Watson (I have a special place in my heart for giants on the defensive line at Michigan), he had some serious motivation issues and even lost his starting job at different points during his tenure at Michigan. I like Branch a lot more than I liked Watson, if that says anything, and I think he's going to end up being a stud for you guys. As much as a DT can be, anyway.
I almost replaced my Anthony Thomas jersey with an Alan Branch jersey (that I would have had to special order to get #80) this year, and only held up when I heard he'd be leaving for the NFL. He was pretty much my favorite player on the team this year.
noel wrote:Fair enough though, but bear in mind, at least you have an NFL team.
I will still never understand why LA doesn't have enough support to keep an NFL team. There are probably more people in the city of LA proper than the whole state of Wisconsin, with tens of millions more in closer proximity than I am to Ford Field. Is Bill Simmons right about what shitty sports fans most of the people in the LA area are? Is it because it's sunny and 70 degrees in November and those of us in the cold have nothing better to do than watch football, while you guys are out surfing?
Very odd.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 3:43 pm
by Leonaerd
Noel wrote:Dude, you have the Pistons, the Tigers and the Red Wings. You DON'T have to be a Lions fan!
Don't forget the college teams.

Posted: May 1, 2007, 3:50 pm
by Zamtuk
There is a reason most midwest states are larger fans of their respective university than of their pro teams.
Posted: May 1, 2007, 3:55 pm
by Knarlz
Sylvus wrote:
I will still never understand why LA doesn't have enough support to keep an NFL team. There are probably more people in the city of LA proper than the whole state of Wisconsin, with tens of millions more in closer proximity than I am to Ford Field. Is Bill Simmons right about what shitty sports fans most of the people in the LA area are? Is it because it's sunny and 70 degrees in November and those of us in the cold have nothing better to do than watch football, while you guys are out surfing?
Very odd.
It's been many years since I lived in So. Cal. but....
In the era of 1 billion dollar statiums, no place in So. Cal is going to build a new one just so football can be played there 10 times a year. And pay the taxes and give all the parking/consessions and luxury box revinue to the team that drives by a few times a year. These were the threats played out by the last teams there. Build me a new home, give me all the cash flow or I blow town. ( It may have been only 500 mill then!)
Thus Al Davis moved out from the old Rose bowl and Goergina Fonteria moved out of Anahiem (Baseball) Statium. While niether got quite what they demanded to stay from their new homes, they made out money wise by moving.
Fuck em both.
Re: NFL Draft approaches
Posted: July 12, 2007, 9:15 am
by Boogahz
I think Roy Williams is the reason for all of the Detroit WR picks! Well, his curse maybe...
http://www.statesman.com/sports/content ... liams.html
Roy Williams is done posing for photographs with other Detroit Lions wide receivers.
Those pictures are like pink slips to the former Texas Longhorns standout, but it's his teammates who are gone in a flash.
First there was a portrait of Williams, the Lions' top draft pick in 2004, and Charles Rogers, their top selection in 2003.
Rogers is no longer in the NFL.
"He had too many drug problems," Williams said of Rogers, who isn't on an NFL roster and was suspended by the NFL for four games in 2005 for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Then there was the picture of Williams and Mike Williams, the Lions' top 2005 pick out of Southern California.
Mike Williams was traded to the Oakland Raiders this offseason.
"He just didn't fit our system," Roy Williams said. "We focus on speed in our offense."
Now there's Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, whom Detroit drafted in April with the second overall pick.
"I'm not unhappy that we took another wide receiver; you need two of them on the field," Williams said. "But no more pictures. I won't do it to Calvin."
Williams, who had a breakout, Pro Bowl season in 2006 with 82 receptions for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns, will be in town Friday and Saturday for the Austin Pro Experience Football camp at Reagan High. He'll be joined by former Longhorns Derrick Johnson, Nathan Vasher, Michael Huff, Bo Scaife), B.J. Johnson and Sloan Thomas.
The camp, for kids from 5 to 17 years of age, costs $200 and includes a free T-shirt and an autograph from Williams.
Why do this in Austin?
"I didn't think we could get all these players out to Odessa," Williams joked about his hometown. "And because we all had such a good time when we were here. I spent four years at Texas, and they had to kick me out or I would have spent 10 more."
Williams, a 2003 All-American, set Texas career receiving records for touchdowns (36), receptions (241) and yards (3,866), but he feels he has unfinished business in Austin.
The one word he uses to describe his college career?
"Disappointing," Williams said. "I never went to a BCS bowl. I never got to beat Oklahoma, which still bothers me a lot, or win the Big 12 championship. My college career was disappointing."
Except he loved it.
To this day, Williams' favorite quarterbacks to play with: Chris Simms and Major Applewhite.
"Chris had an NFL arm, and Major had the NFL brains," Williams said. "Last year I tried to get Chris to sign with the Lions so we could team up again."
To this day, he's still considering building a permanent residence here.
"I can't decide between Austin and Odessa," he said. "I come back (to Austin) at least once a year. I like participating in the 7-on-7 drills with the team and coming back during our bye weeks."
This time he's returning to give back.
He'll even pose for pictures.
"Yes, I will. As long as they're not with Calvin Johnson," he said with a laugh.