Something is seriously wrong with the NFL draft.  I can’t think of any other sports that are this messed up about players that have never played professionally before.  Jake Long signs for 57 million dollars with 30 million of that guaranteed and he has never even played a down.  That makes no sense to me.  Is it any wonder teams dont’ want the top pick?

Why not copy the NBA draft completely?  Seriously, the NFL and it’s players would get the best out of it.  Why is Jake Long going to get 30 million at least when he should be getting much less and more money could be spent on more deserving proven players.  Talk about creating competitive balance in the league.  Imagine if the Dolphins were to sign Long to a set contract of 12 million over 4 years with that amount guaranteed and then take the additional 18 million of guaranteed money and use it elsewhere?  We would have more team loyalty, which we all miss and more content fans knowing that our hard earned money is being used wisely instead of a chunk spent on a guy with a good chance of falling flat on his face. 

The Draft needs to change and i think it will.  They already fixed the amount of time the draft takes, why not fix something more important to all of us.

I can’t imagine being a top pick in the coming football draft but let’s imagine you are one of the guys that is a marginal selection.  Your agent told you that you’d probably get selected but you still aren’t so sure.  The draft starts and takes forever.  Let’s be honest, the first round takes 3-4 hours by itself it seems and teams have had months to prepare for this and have scenarios all written out there.  Players will be traded, picks will be traded.  Fans will be excited for their pick, fans will boo their pick.  This is a football rite of passage for some and just might be one of the best days of the year for football.

However, I’m a mid level selection or none at all and I’m nervous.  My phone doesn’t ring at all for the first round, 2nd round or 3rd round.  I’m poor and no girls like me except my mom and some girl that has been hanging around since I was on ESPN as a possible selection.  Players talk about doing anything to take their mind off the situation by going to a movie or eating or anything to keep from focusing on the draft. 

I imagine I would go shopping for anything, just walking around with myself and maybe even stop at a foot locker to check out some shoes.  I find a pair I like and if I got the call already I would just purchase them, but I can’t be sure so I put them back.  As I’m walking out of the store, my phone rings and my agent tells me I’ve just been selected with the second to last pick of the 3rd round.  I go back into Foot Locker and I buy two pair of shoes and leave with a smile and thoughts of why I was even worried in the first place.

Man, how your life can change in seconds.

I was reading today on ESPN about the top 50 draft busts of all time and I thought I’d give mine.  I’m using my own memory and might even have my own team bias in there.  Either way, this time of year is filled with hope for most teams and players and it often goes unfulfilled.  Statistically, a first round player has the same chance as a third round player of making the pro bowl so the draft is very hit and miss for most teams.  The guys I will list were all first round picks who were supposed to lead their teams to the Super Bowl or at least greatly improve their chances. 

5.  Andre Ware/David Klingler-  I put these guys in the same spot because they both came from the same system, were both high lottery picks and both BOMBED in the pros.  They passed 60 times a game in college in the run and shoot and the Lions understandably thought that Ware would do the same thing in Detroit.  He didn’t at all and was gone after a few very forgettable seasons.  Now he’s one of my favorite football announcers.  Klingler, on the other hand, was taken high by the BENGALS and he was horrible.  They should’ve learned from the Ware experiment that run and shoot college qb’s don’t make it in the pros very often.  Pay attention GM’s who like and Hawaii QB.

4.  Curtis Enis-  The Bears, my Bears, took Enis with the 5th overall pick in 1998 and I was hopeful.  Then i watched him play and keep running right into the backs of his own lineman because his head was down.  He was horrible and during his 3 seasons he never ran the ball over 30 yards on one carry.  That is terrible, he was terrible and I still haven’t forgiven him.

3.  Cade McNown-  seeing the theme here?  In fact, I could list all 5 as former Bear draft picks and move right to David Terrell if I had to, but McNown was horrible.  He was the 12th player selected in what was supposed to be a can’t miss QB draft.  Well, McNown missed a lot with his receivers and teammates and he lasted all of 2 seasons.  He was more famous for his Playboy girlfriend than for anything he did as a pro. 

2.  Ryan Leaf-  I just remember him well because he couldn’t handle the media very well at all and didn’t know what to do with the attention.  I’m still of the belief that Leaf could’ve played if he would’ve sat for a couple years and not been thrown into the limelight because he was talented.  But he did get thrown into playing early and he disappointed and he didn’t like being held accountable for his performance.  Any interview with him was pure comedy.  I’m waiting for the next Ryan Leaf but he scared a lot of teams.

1.  Charles Rogers/Mike Williams- Both Detroit Lions selections by GM Matt Millen.  Rogers got hurt each of the first two seasons in the league and then failed some drug tests and is long gone.  He was very talented and I was looking forward to watching him play for a long time, but that didn’t happen.  Mike Williams was the can’t miss wide receiver from USC but I honestly don’t know where he is.  He might still be in the league and might not be.  Sometimes my friends and I play that game where we name a player and then have to answer if he’s in the pros or not.  With Mike Williams I would say he is, but he’s on a thin leash or the kickoff team. 

Many people will say Leaf was the biggest bust of all time but for me it was Rogers because of what my expectations were of the guy.  I’m a big 10 fan and saw Rogers most of college career and he was amazing.  Playing two seasons and getting the boot for drugs will make you a draft day bust and the number1 bust for me.

There comes a time for every franchise where they have to really stand up and do what’s right though it may not feel like it at the time.  The Bengals need to grant Chad Johnson his wishes and trade him. 

The guy kills me.  He plays on a team with one of the best passing quarterbacks in the game on a team that loves offense over all else.  He has had great success and is famous now for what he’s accomplished.  We’ve seen this before with Randy Moss. 

Randy Moss got traded to the Raiders and what happened.  He almost was forgotten and left for dead.  That’s what needs to happen to Chad Johnson.  Trade him to Buffalo, Chicago, Atlanta and let him wallow in suckiness.   Let him see how good he has it.  Joey Harrington didn’t make any receivers famous neither did Michael Vick, Rex Grossman or crap, I can’t even name the Buffalo qb. 

Trade him to Buffalo for some authentic wings and call it even.  Wash your hands with the guy and move on.  Let the franchise develop instead of handcuffed by a guy that is good but not as good as he thinks.  That’s the thing with receivers, without good people to throw to them they go unnoticed and for Chad Johnson that is his own personal hell.

Can you legally demand that a brain scan be done on someone?  If so, I would demand one for Murray St quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt.  The genius was dared 20 dollars to go up to a campus police officer and take his ticket book.  So Jeff Ehrhardt ran up to the officer, pushed him and then took his ticket book before running off. 

Ehrhardt wasn’t just anyone either, he was the conference Freshman of the year in the Ohio Valley so he was well known.  He’s 6*4 210 pounds and a very good athlete.  He wasn’t hiding who he was or anything.  It was a prank as he put it. 

He surrendered to campus public safety and returned the ticket book later.  He did this all for 20 dollars.  Each day at work one of us mock another guy and dare him to do stuff all the time.  We dare him to jump onto a moving train or to break out into song on a big pile of dirt during lunch rush, but we don’t dare him to push a cop and take his ticket book.  If we did it would be for a lot more than 20 bucks.

I’m going to assume that this is being blown up out of proportion as I’m sure it is to a degree.  He probably took the book and brought it back explaining what happened.  I will even assume that the guy he pushed has a little bit of a complex and is on a power trip by charging him with a 2nd degree robbery and that it was all a joke. 

What i don’t understand is why he would do it.  I don’t understand the thought process of doing something for 20 bucks just because you are dared to do it.  This wasn’t a bet he had to agree to fulfill, this was a crime that he was dared to commit over 20 dollars. 

How much is a college scholarship worth?  How much is a potential pro career worth?  How much is your reputation worth and your personal pride worth?  To Jeff Ehrhardt, apparently about 20 dollars.

It wasn’t long ago that I wrote my own mock draft and had Michigan lineman Jake Long on top of the board.  I was mocked a little for it but he’s the safest choice for the Dolphins.  I think he is signable and wants to play football and prove his value and worth.  To me it would have to be between both Long’s, either Chris or Jake and the Dolphins may have decided already. 

However, it isn’t at all uncommon for teams to create a bit of a smokescreen or false interest in a player to draw interest.  Mark my words in fact when I say that Bill Parcells is trying to draw interest in Jake Long so that he can trade this pick.  On most draft boards Long is set to go anywhere from 1-7 depending on need.  He is all over the place.  Parcells wants to get some team thinking he may keep the pick and force that teams hand.  Let’s face it, the Dolphins need 5 Jake Longs if they are going to start competing.  One player isn’t going to help so they are going to trade this choice.  I see no other way.

What teams would be interested?  Most of them actually.  St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Kansas City and the Jets could all take him and be more than happy with that and Parcells knows it.  Parcells also knows that he doesn’t like drafting lineman with high picks anyway.  Is Long that special where he would keep him?  I’m not sure but speculation has him as a potential pro bowler but every player taken in the first round is a potential pro bowler. 

All I’m saying is that Jake Long won’t wear a Dolphin uniform because the player the Dolphins really want is probably sitting at number 3-5 right now and I think they will get their man.

It was announced on Tuesday that Kansas cornerback Agib Talib and Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham had told NFL teams that they had tested positive for marijuana several times while still enrolled in school and while playing for their respective schools.

I’m not here to judge right or wrong on anyones personal lives but I do debate choices all the time.  Talib is the higher draft choice after having an amazing season.  Manningham has always been a playmaker and was certain to be a first day draft choice.  Does this make teams shy away or move toward them?

Several years ago Warren Sapp did the same thing and admitted that he had a marijuana problem in college.  He slid in the draft considering his talent.  These two players are not Warren Sapp but the times have changed in the past 15 years or have they?  Randy Moss had some supposed character issues and he slid in the first round a long way and teams wish they could do that again.  Is either player worth the risk really at this point or are they a risk at all?

Most players, especially these two, would try to lump as many athletes as they could into the same pot saying that they are all using marijuana and that they should be separated because of their honesty.  They are also faced with admitting something rather than have the team find out on their own that their were issues. 

For Talib this could be very costly because he may slide out of the first round altogether.  Manningham will not be effected in my opinion.  I still expect him to go in the 3rd-4th round to some team and wash out like most Michigan receivers do. 

I can think of one solution for the problem and that’s to not smoke pot at all, but that ship has sailed.  They made the best of the situation by admitting the problems and now they must face the consequence and convince teams that they aren’t character risks.  Isn’t it all a big crapshoot anyway?

So we find out today that Michael Vick is writing letters to Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and that Blank is writing back.  I thought I’d write my own version of what those letters might actually look like.

 ”Dear Mr. Blank,

 I’d like to thank you for ignoring all the possible warning signs about my behavior and paying me a ridiculous amount of money to not be able to hit a moving target 10 yards down field.  I’d like to thank you for being dense enough to respond to these letters which in turn leads me to believe that I’ll have a job when I get out.  I’m making 12 cents an hour washing pots and pans, but making 12k an hour on interest that you paid me in bonus money from a few years ago so I’m ok.  I’m sorry that I dragged the team through the mud and cost you further millions because you had to play Joey Harrington at QB last season.  Good luck this year as well and I look forward to ripping you off more in the future.

 sincerely,

Michael Vick

“Dear Michael,

 ”Things in Atlanta are crazy.  The Falcons are terrible and you may have heard that we waived Harrington.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he is the next pro player to come out of the closet and I’ll be supportive of him.  I appreciate you writing me and apologizing and because of that I am willing to offer you a contract when you get out but only if you’ll promise me to be good.  I don’t want to get dragged through the mud again.  I hope you’ll forgive me for trying to get some of the bonus money back from you but I lost so much money last year with the team being horrible and losing out best player to prison and all that I had to do something.  Keep the letters coming and don’t get hurt.

 Sincerely

Arthur “de de dee” Blank”

C’mon Arthur and let him go.  This is going to go nowhere.  Write him back and tell him you forgive him but don’t enable the guy.  Vick is no dummy when it comes to taking money and then not performing so this will be no different.  Vick will say all the right things and get a contract from Atlanta when he gets out only to let everyone down again at some point, whether with his play or his actions.  Yes, it is a pointed opinion of him and I’ll never take away someones ability to change but I’d like to see it first and not just trust a letter after a few months.

After his 200th chance, Chris Henry was finally released by the Bengals after being arrested for hitting an 18 year old and busting his car window out. 

I don’t know Chris Henry personally and I probably never will but I would really want to ask him what is running through his head.  Less than 1% of college football players play in the professional ranks and this guy has been given chance after chance because of his talent and he’s thrown it all away.  Who knows how many countless dollars are down the toilet not to mention the families that he potentially could have blessed through service or kindness. 

I don’t know the man and he may be a nice guy but if some 18 year old is smarting off to you and you are a grown adult just walk away and move on and smile knowing he only wants what you have or to pull you down to his level.  It worked.  Chris Henry is the NFL version of Chris Anderson from the NBA and he may get another chance but with the commissioner the way he is lately I highly doubt it.

I was listening to talk radio like I love to do in the morning and I heard an interesting discussion on Matt Leinart and if his coach was right to scold him for what happened over the weekend.  For those that don’t know, Leinart got in trouble for some photos taken of him at a recent party where he is seen in some interesting situations.  Let’s clarify that he was drinking and in the hot tub with a few women and that one of the photos has him holding the beer bong. 

Does his coach have the right to reprimand a kid for his choices away from the game?  Does the kid have every right to do as he pleases as long as it doesn’t interfere with football?

Both viewpoints shared were very good and my opinion is in agreement with the fact of just leaving the kid alone.  He’s young, rich, single, good looking and is really enjoying life.  Sure, I don’t drink and never have but I can’t condemn someone for it.  I believe it is none of the coaches business or the teams business and just let him be.  If you are going to talk to him, just talk to him but don’t make a big deal about it.  Leinart knows and I’m sure his parents are giving him an earful after having a kid out of wedlock already so this isn’t his first go round with this type of publicity. 

If we start having coaches call players all the time and scolding them then we will have some high NFL coaches phone bills because we got guys a lot worse off.  I’m not saying I don’t see the coaches side because I do.  I see the fans side as well and wanting him to be a role model and all that, but this is a personal choice for someone who by our knowledge isn’t breaking the law.  Leave him be unless he can’t play QB anymore and then give him all the criticism you want.