2/24 | Predictions</h1> <article> <h1>2/24 | Predictions</h1> <p>2007-02-23T22:20:00.000-05:00</p> <p><strong>(10/8) Pittsburgh @ (12/12) Georgetown (2, CBS)<br />.::.Breakdown:</strong> Obviously with Aaron Gray out for tomorrow’s tilt, Georgetown will be favored. Even with a healthy Gray, the Hoyas are too hot to lose at home in a nationally televised game. Look for Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green to combine for 38 points and 17 rebounds. Pitt guard Levance Fields counters with 23 points, but it’s not enough.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> Georgetown 68, Pittsburgh 61<br /><br /><strong>(16/16) Marquette @ (NR/23) Notre Dame (3:30, ESPN Full Court)<br />.::.Breakdown:</strong> Crucial game for both 9-5 teams. Would love to call this the Big East Game of the Day, but Pitt-Gtown earns that billing. Notre Dame is 17-0 at home this season and with the fourth and final bye for the Big East tourney on the line, the Irish will sneak past the Eagles.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> Notre Dame 72, Marquette 65<br /><br /><strong>Georgia Tech @ (24/19) Virginia (3:30, ESPN Full Court)<br />.::.Breakdown:</strong> For Georgia Tech it’s a must win game, but with the game being played at Virginia … it’s almost impossible. J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary combine for 44 points.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> Virginia 75, Georgia Tech 64<br /><br /><strong>(3/3) Florida @ LSU (3:45, CBS)<br />.::.Breakdown:</strong> LSU is off the bubble, but this game could put them in better shape for the SEC tourney. However, Florida won’t lose for a second consecutive Saturday.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> Florida 66, LSU 59<br /><br /><strong>Auburn @ (25/25) Alabama (5, ESPN Full Court)<br />.::.Breakdown:</strong> The Crimson Tide lost a crucial game to Tennessee the other night, so the remaining three games are even more important. Good news for Alabama…those three games are at home against Auburn, Ole Miss and at Mississippi State. <br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> Alabama 69, Auburn 55<br /><br /><strong>(21/22) BYU @ San Diego State (6)<br />.::.Breakdown:</strong> BYU is already close to being a lock, but a win at San Diego State would definitely help their cause. Problem is Brandon Heath and company will pull off the upset at home … especially considering the Aztecs got smoked the last time these two teams played.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> San Diego State 78, BYU 74<br /><br /><strong>Stanford @ (4/4) UCLA (6)</strong><br /><strong>.::.Breakdown:</strong> Both teams are headed to the NCAA tournament, but somebody has to win this game … it’s UCLA behind – yeah, you guess it – Arron Afflalo.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> UCLA 84, Stanford 71<br /><br /><strong>Washington @ (23/24) Oregon (10:30)</strong><br /><strong>.::.Breakdown:</strong> Washington needs to win if they want to remain in bubble conversations, if not they’ll have to make some serious noise in the Pac-10 tourney. The Ducks have been faltering as of late, but the win against Washington State on Thursday gets them back on track. Aaron Brooks will score 26 and the Ducks squeak at the ‘w’.<br /><strong>.::.Prediction:</strong> Oregon 83, Washington 79</p><p><br /><strong>Rankings:</strong> AP/ESPN</p><p><strong>Season Record:</strong> 8-4</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>1/17 | Predictions</h1> <p>2007-01-17T18:39:00.000-05:00</p> <span style="font-size:85%;">(23/25)</span> Virginia Tech @ Florida State <span style="font-size:85%;">(7)</span><br /><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: FSU 74, Virginia Tech 71<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(20/20)</span> Notre Dame @ Villanova <span style="font-size:85%;">(7, ESPNU)<br /></span><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: Villanova 70, Notre Dame 66<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(4/4)</span> UNC @ <span style="font-size:85%;">(19/16)</span> Clemson <span style="font-size:85%;">(7, ESPNHD)<br /></span><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: UNC 82, Clemson 74<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(22/24)</span> Tennessee @ Auburn <span style="font-size:85%;">(8, FSN South/Sun Sports)</span><br /><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: Tennessee 68, Auburn 61<br /><br />Mississippi @ <span style="font-size:85%;">(16/19)</span> LSU <span style="font-size:85%;">(8, n/a)</span><br /><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: LSU 80, Mississippi 68<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(10/9)</span> Alabama @ Vandy <span style="font-size:85%;">(8, n/a)<br /></span><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: Alabama 68, Vandy 67<br /><br />Purdue @ <span style="font-size:85%;">(2,3)</span> Wisconsin <span style="font-size:85%;">(8, ESPN Full Court)</span><br /><strong>.::.Prediction</strong>: Wisconsin 73, Purdue 58<br /><br /><strong>Rankings</strong>: AP/ESPN<br /><strong>Season Record</strong>: 3-2<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>1/16 Lots of action on...</h1> <p>2007-01-16T20:18:00.000-05:00</p> Tuesday, January 16 we have lots of college basketball on _________ [insert whatever the hell ESPN calls their Tuesday nights of basketball]. <br /><br />>Pitt is hosting the always tough Connecticut. (ESPN2, 7)<br /><br />>Maryland travels to ACC rival Virginia. (Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports, ESPN Full Court, 8)<br /><br />>A nice SEC matchup w/ Kentucky @ South Carolina (ESPNHD, 9)<br /><br />>And the game of the night ... two ranked teams Texas @ Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 9)<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>1/9 | Ohio State @ Wisconsin (Halftime report)</h1> <p>2007-01-09T22:00:00.000-05:00</p> Well, now that I've finished wiping the drool off my face from staring at Erin Andrews, the 1st half was exactly what I expected. Physical. Low scoring. Big Ten basketball at it's finest. <br /><br />In the matchup of the fourth and fifth ranked teams, Greg Oden has as many points and rebounds as he does fouls: 2. Ivan Harris is leading the way for the Buckeyes with 11 points on 3-6 shooting from long distance. On the other side of the sideline, Kammron Taylors paced the Badgers in the 1st half with 11 points. <br /><br />Look for Ohio State head coach Thad Matta to continue to try and pound the ball down low to Oden. If that doesn't work, Daequan Cook and Ron Lewis better step up their games. <br /><br />Wisconsin is shooting 43 percent from the field compared to the Buckeyes 27 percent, so if the Badgers want to win this game they're going to have to capitalize on OSU's shooting woes.<br /><br />Now back to the game ... and Erin Andrews.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>1/9 | Ohio State @ Wisconsin</h1> <p>2007-01-09T21:38:00.000-05:00</p> 7:46 left in the 1st half, Wisconsin up 19-13. Greg Oden has two fouls already. Not good for the Buckeyes.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>December 9 Predictions (Late shift)</h1> <p>2006-12-09T17:15:00.000-05:00</p> <strong>Arizona </strong>(14 - AP, 15 - ESPN/USA TODAY) @ <strong>San Diego State </strong>(Not Ranked)<br /><strong></strong><br />Upset alert is at level 11 out of a possible 10. <strong>Brandon Heath</strong> (20 ppg, 2.4 spg) is probably the best guard on the West Coast and his Aztecs have tied the best nine-game start in school history. <br /><br />They are going up against the legendary <strong>Lute Olsen</strong>, though folks, and his 14th ranked <strong>Wildcats</strong> are ranked that high in the country for a reason. <br /><br />Highly touted freshman <strong>Chase Budinger</strong> (19.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) gets all the attention, but <strong>Ivan Radenovic</strong> (18.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg)<br /><br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> San Diego State 75, Arizona 70<br /><br />=====<br /><br /><strong>Washington</strong> (13, 8) @ <strong>Gonzaga</strong> (18, 18)<br /><br />With the nation's longest home winning streak, the Bulldogs will have their hands full with in-state rival the Washington Huskies. <br /><br />Gonzaga through the first couple weeks, were much better than I gave them credit for. Then when I start giving them daps, they go off and lose to Washington State (useless info of the day: my alma mater Radford lost to the Cougars by 17 ... but WSU is 8-1 this year).<br /><br />So I'll just keep my mouth shut about Gonzaga. I will say that they will look for a big game out of <strong>Josh Heytvelt</strong> (17.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) as he goes up against HS class of 2005 Top 10 recruit <strong>Spencer Hawes</strong> (12.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg).<br /><br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Gonzaga 72, Washington 68<br /><br />=====<br /><br /><strong>Xavier</strong> (24, NR) @ <strong>Creighton</strong> (NR)<br /><br />A lot of readers have been writing me this week telling me to keep an eye on Creighton in this matchup. I respect <strong>Dana Altman</strong>. He's a great head coach and his BlueJays will have a great season in the Missouri Valley Conference and will move onto the NCAA tournament. But they won't get past the X-men.<br /><br />Xavier is one of the most balanced teams in the country. Yeah I said it. And no I haven't been drinking the kool-aid. Forwards <strong>Josh Duncan</strong> (13.6 ppg, 5 rpg) and <strong>Justin Doellman</strong> (10.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) complement each other wonderfully. <strong>Stanley Burrell</strong> (11.8 ppg, 3.4 apg) is the best guard in the state of Ohio and probably the best guard in the A-10. <strong>Justin Cage</strong> ( 9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is one of the most versatile players in the nation. Oklahoma transfer <strong>Drew Lavender</strong> (6.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) is beginning to gel with the rest of the team. Head Coach <strong>Sean Miller's</strong> squad will get to at least the Sweet 16 and beyond.<br /><br />Sorry, but no upset here.<br /><br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Xavier 77, Creighton 71<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>December 9 Predictions (Early shift)</h1> <p>2006-12-09T14:06:00.000-05:00</p> <strong>Wisconsin (11 - AP, 12 - ESPN/USA Today)</strong> vs.<strong> Marquette (17, 20)</strong><br /><br />If you're a big fan of guard play ... this one is for you. Everyone is on the <strong>Dominic James</strong> (17 ppg, 4.2 apg) bangwagon, I'm not sold on him yet. Let's see what he can do against the Badgers stud-studded backcourt in <strong>Kammron Taylor</strong> (11.9 ppg) and <strong>Alando Tucker</strong> (19.3 ppg).<br /><br /><strong>Wes Matthews</strong> (Marquette) and <strong>Michael Flowers</strong> (Wisconsin) are underrated and watch for them to have big games.<br /><br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Wisconsin 64, Marquette 59<br /><br />=====<br /><br /><strong>Texas A&M (6, 6)</strong> vs. <strong>UCLA (1, 1)</strong><br /><br />Things don't get any easier for the Aggies. After losing at LSU on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's NCAA tournament classic, the Aggies now have to travel to Cali to face the #1 Bruins. C'mon that's not fair. Well life isn't fair, so <strong>Acie Law</strong> (13.6 ppg, 4.8 apg) and company has to deal with it.<br /><br />Texas A&M boasts four guys that average in double figures going up against the Bruins, who also have four that are up in double figures. <strong>Arron Affalo (</strong>17.1 ppg<strong>)</strong> vs <strong>Law</strong> is going to capture everyone's attention and rightfully so.<br /><br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> UCLA 84, Texas A&M 77<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>A great night for college hoops...</h1> <p>2006-12-05T22:25:00.000-05:00</p> I'm so glad I have off "work" tonight. Got to witness Oklahoma State-Syracuse (ESPN HD). Then the ending of Northern Iowa @ Iowa (ESPN Full Court). Now flipping between Louiville-Arizona (ESPN HD), Cal State Fullerton @ UCLA (Fox Sports College Sports), Gonzaga @ Washington State (Fox Sports Pacific) and Texas A&M @ LSU (ESPN Full Court) - a rematch of last year's NCAA tournament classic.<br /><br />The Louisville-Arizona game ... everyone is talking about the Diaper Dandies - Derrick Caracter and Chase Budinger - of Louisville and Arizona respectively, but the real matchup to watch is Juan Palacios (U of L) vs Ivan Radenovic (U of A).<br /><br />A great night for college hoops...<br /><br />P.S. I have a guy crush on Dick Vitale.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Jimmy V</h1> <p>2006-12-05T21:28:00.000-05:00</p> When I was kid I loved college hoops (still do, it's my #1 passion), but I remember at the time Jimmy Valvano's spoke at the 1993 ESPY awards, I was just 10 years old. I thought he looked weird, thought he talked weird, but I knew he was an important figure in college hoops. I was fairly young to realize what he had accomplished and what he was dying from, but I just remember my dad telling me all the great Valvano moments. I had the remote control on that day and in most cases with some guy talking for more than two minutes, I would have changed the channel. Not that day. Not that speech. Even if I was a 9 year-old or a 10 year-old at the time, I was drawn to him and to his speech.<br /><br />"30 seconds ... what are you nuts ... enjoy your life with all the precious moments you have...don't give up, don't ever give up."<br /><br />Everytime I watch his speech - being played right now on ESPN - I still get choked up.<br /><br />He was and is the face of college hoops.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Orange Bowl...</h1> <p>2006-12-05T21:10:00.000-05:00</p> Oklahoma State vs Syracuse right now who have brought seas of orange. <br /><br />Oklahoma State was up 67-54 with 3:52 remaining, a minute left now ... 67-64 OK State. <br /><br />Great game so far. <br /><br />Paul Harris is about to take over.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Big week of NCAA FB? How about NCAA hoops...</h1> <p>2006-12-03T21:29:00.000-05:00</p> What a week it was - in fact - still is, in the world of college hoops.<br /><br /><blockquote><p><strong>.::. </strong>Georgetown-Duke was a sloppy game but still came down to the wire. Bottom line: both teams are overrated.<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>Just as I was beginning to write a piece about Maryland basketball being a top 10 (maybe even top 5) program ... they fall to lowly Notre Dame. Still at 8-1 the Terps are a team to be afraid of come March.<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>Nice week for University of Florida football program; not the same for the basketball team.<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>Speaking of football: while we won't see an Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the championship; in basketball, don't be surprised to see a Ohio State-UNC rematch for the championship.<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>I have no idea who Missouri has played, but just throwing it out there ... they are 9-0.<br /> <br /> </p><p><strong>.::. </strong>I told you Marquette is overrated.<br /> <br /> </p><p><strong>.::. </strong>Butler and Marist are two teams that weren't in my preseason Top 10 Mid-Majors, but should've been. They'll be in my next batch, because guards A.J. Graves (Butler) and Jared Jordan (Marist) are two unknown studs of college hoops.<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>So let's get this straight. Gonzaga lost Adam Morrison to the NBA, but somehow they are 8-1 with wins over UNC and Texas. Hmmm...<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>The ACC > Big East.<br /> <br /></p><p><strong>.::. </strong>Have to do it ... big congrats to my Radford Highlanders of the Big South Conference for upsetting the Richmond Spiders (@ Richmond) by 17. Next up for RU? A home date with 2006 Final Four squad George Mason.</p></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>October 6 | The most interesting stat...</h1> <p>2006-10-06T14:06:00.000-04:00</p> Baseball is a game of stats. Analysts, fanatics, hitting coaches drool over them. Well just because it's the playoffs don't think the importance of stats are going to change. <br /><br />In 8 playoff games thus far, the away team has won 5 of those games.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>October 5 | MLB Predictions</h1> <p>2006-10-05T20:18:00.000-04:00</p> 1st round of MLB playoff predictions...<br /><br /><strong>Doug McKinney</strong><br />Oakland-Minnesota: <strong>Minnesota Twins</strong><br />Detroit-New York (AL): <strong>New York Yankees</strong><br />St. Louis-San Diego: <strong>St. Louis Cardinals</strong><br />Los Angeles (NL)-New York (NL): <strong>New York Mets</strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>Rocky Parrish</strong><br />Oakland-Minnesota: <strong>Minnesota Twins</strong><br />Detroit-New York (AL): <strong>Detroit Tigers</strong><br />St. Louis-San Diego: <strong>St. Louis Cardinals</strong><br />Los Angeles (NL)-New York (NL): <strong>Los Angeles Dodgers</strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>Derek Miller</strong><br />Oakland-Minnesota: <strong>Minnesota Twins</strong><br />Detroit-New York (AL): <strong>Detroit Tigers</strong><br />St. Louis-San Diego: <strong>San Diego Padres</strong><br />Los Angeles (NL)-New York (NL): <strong>Los Angeles Dodgers</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Trade Market: Alfonso Soriano to any of 20 teams (rumor)</h1> <p>2006-07-29T17:31:00.000-04:00</p> my thoughts...<br /><br />http://www.natsfanatics.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=28<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Trade Market: White Sox turn down Crisp for Buehrle (rumor)</h1> <p>2006-07-29T16:08:00.000-04:00</p> <strong>Red Sox get:</strong><br />Mark Buehrle<br /><br /><strong>White Sox get:</strong><br />Coco Crisp<br /><br />As reported by the <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/07/sox_ask_for_bue.html">Boston Globe</a>, the White Sox turned down an offer from the Red Sox that would send OF Coco Crisp to the White Sox for starter Mark Buehrle. So, as it stands, this is just a rumor.<br /><br />It's no seacret that the White Sox aren't too thrilled with the production they've received from rookie center fielder Brian Anderson. Even if ESPN reported that he wouldn't be part of a deal to the Washington Nationals for Alfonso Soriano. <br /><br />Buehrle, a left-handed starter who likes to work quickly, is suffering from a case of "tale of two seasons" syndrome: starting the year off hot, before going 0-5 in his last five starts. He's still one of the more reliable pitchers in the game - and if it helps matters - he's 3-1 all-time at Fenway Park with 12 strike outs in 4 games.<br /><br />Crisp, despite injuries, has played pretty well this season. He would be a major upgrade over Anderson in CF for the White Sox. <br /><br />If Crisp were moved, that would pave way for Wily Mo Pena. While Mo Pena would help the Red Sox offensive attack tremendously, is it at the expense of having a linebacker playing centerfield? That's a lot of routine singles/doubles that could turn into triples and inside the park home runs.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Trade Market: Carlos Lee to the Rangers (official)</h1> <p>2006-07-29T13:53:00.000-04:00</p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brewers get: </span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">OF</span> Kevin Mench <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RHP</span> Francisco Cordero <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OF</span> Laynce Nix <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rangers get:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> LF</span> Carlos Lee<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> OF</span> Nelson Cruz<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> LHP </span>Julian Cordero<br /><br /><b></b>The Rangers - who weren't supposed to be major players in the trade market - got the two best players involved in this six-player deal. Carlos Lee has been rumored to be heading out of Milwaukee for sometime now and with Texas acquiring him, there aren't too many big time bats left on the market. Lee will bat in the middle of the line-up, helping a struggling Rangers offense. Cruz wasn't getting any looks in Milwaukee, but Texas has found a place for him, adding him to their MLB roster. The book on Cruz is that he has awesome power, will knock in some runs, steal some bases, but will have his fair share of strike outs. In AAA-Nashville, he compiled 20 HRs, 73 RBIs, stole 17 bases ... but struck out 100 times.<br /><br />With this move it seems the Brewers are packing in the rest of the season. Although Mench is capable of hitting 20 homers and driving in 70 runs, the Brewers lost a lot in this deal, even if Lee was going to be a free agent in the offseason. Francisco Cordero could relieve Derrick Turnbow of his closing duties. Laynce Nix has been a minor leaguer as long as Lance Bass has been, well, happy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner:<br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>US Open | Ferrie who?</h1> <p>2006-06-16T16:13:00.000-04:00</p> Kenneth Ferrie leads the US Open -3 overall (-4 today). I am thinking the same thing as you. Who the hell is Kenneth Ferrie?<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>US Open - Winged Foot Nightmare</h1> <p>2006-06-16T14:34:00.000-04:00</p> Phil Mickelson is about to tee off on the 5th (+2) ... wow smoked it. Great shot.<br /><br />Most golfers competing in this US Open haven't been able to say the same thing. Winged Foot to golfers has been like the Boston Marathon to Star Jones. <br /><br />Poor Tiger Woods. He finished the first two days with a +12, most likely cutting his US Open short. He claimed after today's round (76) that he was "pissed" and that he "wasn't ready to play golf this weekend."<br /><br />Some "sleepers" to keep an eye out for: Jim Furyk (+1), Jose Maria Olazabal (+4) and Adam Scott (+4). <br /><br />My selection: c'mon now. Mickelson.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>End of 1st round...</h1> <p>2006-04-29T17:17:00.000-04:00</p> Lots of surprises, lots of tears and not enough Rachel Nichols. Taking a quick peep at the picks, San Fran came out as a winner. Laurence Maroney (New England) and Deangelo Williams (Carolina) were steals as well as Santonio Holmes at the 25th pick by Pittsburgh. Funny how three of the best teams in the NFL just got even better.<br /><br />More coverage to come later. Nice to see the Redskins make a move. I have no idea how Dan Snyder comes up with all the money. Nice for him, lucky for us.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Congratulations Tye Hill</h1> <p>2006-04-29T14:42:00.000-04:00</p> I can't really explain how happy I am for Tye Hill to go with the 15th pick. He's a small town guy, from a little place called St. George, and he's been making moves ever since. Always a classy guy at Clemson, Tye moved to corner his sophomore year and flourished. With track speed and some real football toughness, he should be a solid NFL corner.<br /><br />I can't wait to see how fast he runs on the fast track in St. Louis.<br /><br />Congrats Tye! Make us proud.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Take It away cody</h1> <p>2006-04-29T14:29:00.000-04:00</p> i'll defer to Cody the clemson tiger to tell you why Tye Hill is a great pick for the Rams.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Rating the Draft Thus Far</h1> <p>2006-04-29T14:00:00.000-04:00</p> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Making the Grade:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> How Have they Done?</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Houston Texans</strong>- Mario Williams, DE, N.C. State</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Why? Why did you draft Sam Bowie when you had courted Michael Jordan? Oh well, Williams will make many pro bowls, but he will not be Reggie Bush. You can't really go wrong drafting number one, but I give the Texans two thumbs down for blowing this opportunity.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: C</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>New Orleans Saints- </strong>Reggie Bush, APB, USC</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Kudos to the Saints for taking a look at all of the options, then laughing at them and making the smart decision. They drafted the new face of their franchise - a guy with hall of fame talent. He's an even better person than he is football player and should stand as a nice foundation for the future.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: A+</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Tennessee Titans- </strong>Vince Young, QB, Texas</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Its an interesting pick, but you can't doubt the talent in Young and the fact that it fills a need. Jeff Fisher is familiar with a mobile quarterback and Vince Young will have a nice nucleus of young players around him. This is a solid pick and there really was not anything else they could do with this one.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: B</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>New York Jets- </strong>D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LT, UVA</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Very good pick here for the Jets. They feel solid at quarterback and left tackles are generally safe picks early in the draft. Ferguson is a guy with incredible talent and some upside. He will be a dominant tackle in the league for the next fifteen years and gives the Jets something to build around on their revamped offensive line.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: B+</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Green Bay Packers-</strong> A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Green Bay went the safe route with the solid linebacker out of THE Ohio State University. Hawk has been a solid player for years at Ohio State and should make an immediate impact in Green Bay. Hawk appears to be a bigger version of Dan Morgan and could be bound for many pro bowls. In this pick, the Packers got a talented player and filled a need for Green Bay.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: A-</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>San Francisco 49ers- </strong>Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">San Fran could have used a QB here, but wait, they drafted one 1st overall last year. Davis will give that offense a much needed weapon. To be blunt, there are too many holes in the 49ers to fill in just one draft, but Davis is a good start. They probably should have gone defense in this spot, but its hard to pass on a freakish athlete like Vernon Davis.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: B</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Oakland- </strong>Michael Huff, DB, Texas</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I don't like it. Simply put, they shouldn't have passed on Leinhart in this spot. Huff is a good player, but there will be DBs availible in the 2nd round that are comparable to Huff in ability. He is not the game changing DB that we normally see taken in the first ten picks. If Oakland is going to have success on the field, they need a good quarterback who is in it for the long haul. Tough loss here for Raiders' fans, who could have had the local boy throwing touchdowns.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: D</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Buffalo- </strong>Donte Whitner, DB, Ohio State</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Bizarre pick, but Marv knows best. I think Whitner is underrated and will be a good player, but this is a little bit of a reach at number eight. Strange pick for the Bills, but perhaps they know something that I don't.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Grade: C+</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Detroit-</strong> Ernie Sims, LB, FSU</span><br />Sims has risen up draft boards steadily. This is a very good pick for Detroit. Maybe Matt Millen will finally learn that wide recievers don't win championships. Sims should be a good fit with that improved D in Detroit.<br /><br />Grade: B<br /><br /><br /><strong>Arizona-</strong> Matt Leinart, QB, USC<br />Consider Arizona the big winners today. Denny Green had a big smile for a big reason. Great catch here with the west coast QB coming down to the valley. He should energize the fan base and provide stability. Leinart fell a little bit, but his loss will be 'Zona's reward.<br /><br />Grade: A+<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Tye Hill will be a Hit</h1> <p>2006-04-29T13:48:00.000-04:00</p> <strong>Don't sleep on Tye Hill.</strong><br /><br />4.3 Forty, fastest man in the draft. This guy was the real deal at Clemson, locking down an entire side of the field and delivering big hits as well. I had the opportunity to watch Hill for four years at Clemson and I can honestly say that he is a class guy.<br /><br />Whoever picks up Hill in this next hour will be getting one heck of a football player and an even better person. I thought it might be St. Louis at 11 to take him, but he might fall a little bit now. I look for Tye to be the next DB taken, probably ahead of the over-hyped Jimmy Williams.<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>One More Matt Leinart Odd</h1> <p>2006-04-29T13:44:00.000-04:00</p> 100% chance he celebrates by having sex with a cast member of MTV’s Laguna Beach<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Matt Leinart Odds</h1> <p>2006-04-29T13:27:00.000-04:00</p> 80% chance Matt is a top ten draft pick.<br />90% chanceMel Kiper calls him a steal<br />70% chance Matt's mom Cries when he answers the phone.<br />0% chance anyone every says to me "Hey Danny, you remind me of Matt Leinart"<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> </main></body></html>