This Week in the NFL

Usually the NFL draft is the starting point for "next year's" football season and the highlight of the NFL's offseason. Off the top of my head I would estimate that ESPN has about 5,489 hours of draft coverage from the Super Bowl to draft night. This year the draft was overshadowed thanks to the NFL owners who would make great Middle East dictators or 18^th century plantation owners. Their well documented greed and belief that they will get their way has finally been stopped (twice) by federal judges. A quick recap, owners trying to raise the value of their franchise sold personal seat licenses for multi-year deals at a variable rate so they can raise the prices every year. Then the owners convinced local and state governments to fund their stadiums with taxpayer money and held them hostage with the threat of moving their teams. The owners still believing they could make more money but running out of external options went back to the players and tried to make them take less money then what was already agreed upon. When the players balked the owners proposed playing more games even as undeniable medical evidence proves this is a ticking time bomb. The owners still trying to increase the value of their franchises tried to take the TV contract as revenue even if no season was played. Finally, the players took the owners to court over the TV contract and unsurprisingly the federal court shot down the owners attempt to take the TV money. Like a crack addict that has to get their next fix, the owners then locked out the players arguing that the system that they agreed to and made billions on was no longer sustainable. Like a little kid who didn't get his way the owners took their balls and tees and went home. Again the players went to court and again unsurprisingly a federal judge sided with the players and wrote a stinging report ending the owner's lockout and telling them to get back to business. The owners threatened to appeal (once you go all in with a bluff, get called and lose, regroup don't keep chasing) and commish Roger Goodell has had the "pure arrogance, how dare you question me" face and attitude all week patented by Tiger Woods. The Federal system of justice putting billionaire greedy NFL owners and their hand-picked commish in their place makes me want to start a rousing USA! USA! USA! Chant. With that in mind and the federal courts ruling to get back to business below is a recap of round 1 of the draft held Thursday night and lasting longer than the royal weeding.

1) Carolina: C. Newton QB Auburn: There is no denying his talent and his college career, but there are questions about his ability to adapt to the pro game and his character. I loved watching him in college and I hope he makes it big (I would set his odds at 40/60), but this isn't an ideal situation since he will be forced to play early in his career. Carolina has now spent 2 of their last 3 top picks on QB's, never a good ratio for a team and an indication they will be picking high again next year.

2) Denver: V. Miller DE Texas A&M: So a team that was worst against the run last season (4.5 ypc) drafts a speed rush end to pair with oft injured Elvis Dumervil in a draft deep on run stuffing defensive lineman?

3) Buffalo: M. Dareus DT Alabama: They probably needed OL help more, but it is virtually impossible to trade a top 5 pick, so they went with a versatile D lineman who played for Nick Saban. Seems like a safe hard to argue with decision.

4) Cincy: AJ Green WR Georgia: He should replace Ochocinco and TO's production without all of their antics, his biggest challenge will be convincing Carson Palmer not to retire. If I am Palmer I am re-reading Jake Plummer's SI article on retirement and wishing Green well while I kick my feet up.

5) Arizona: P. Peterson CB LSU: Good decision to stay away from a QB in this spot since they are all vastly over-rated in this draft. In Peterson they get a phenomenal athlete who will be a high quality DB for a decade and help immediately in the return game. My vote for best pick of the top 10.

6) Atlanta (in a trade w/ Clev.): J. Jones WR Alabama: The first true shocker as Atlanta is going all in by giving their entire draft for Jones. Cleveland switches 1^st with Atlanta and gets 2^nd and 4^th round picks this year along with 1^st and 4^th next year. I like Jones pairing up with White, but I don't think anyone outside of Atlanta's war room likes him that much.

7) San Fran: A. Smith DE Missouri: Maybe Jim Harbaugh knows something we don't or maybe he is tanking to get Andrew Luck next season. Either way I am always backing Harbaugh's decisions.

8) Tennessee: J. Locker QB Washington: The biggest shocker of round 1, Locker looked to play himself into the second round after his senior season, but this shows that you only need one team to like you to make it big. Just as athletic as Vince Young, I tend to think he is headed for the same career arc minus the strip club incident.

9) Dallas: T. Smith OT USC: Can't argue with the need, but in a first round without Al Davis I thought Jerry Jones might make a bigger splash. More of a finesse lineman, I wouldn't consider that much of a compliment.

10) Jacksonville (in a trade w/ Wash): B. Gabbert Missouri: Gabbert seemed to shoot up draft boards after his was done playing for Missouri and was working out in shorts. For my money the most overrated player in the draft, he has a tendency to throw drive and game killing INT's, the Skins must have come to this conclusion after watching the Nebraska and Iowa games as well.

11) Houston: JJ Watt DE Wiscy: Love the player, don't like the pick. Houston needs DB help more than any team in the league and Amukamara was still on the board. Watt is a solid DE, but more a run stopper than pass rusher and Houston's opponents threw the ball against them more than any other team in the league.

12) Minnesota: C. Ponder QB FSU: Classic case of the draft overvaluing QB's and then teams getting nervous when they get selected. These four QB's don't deserve to be in the top 12 especially with Dalton, Mallett, and Kapernick still on the board in the second round. Jackson + Webb + Ponder = 0 NFL's QB's for Minny and a back breaking workload for AP.

13) Detroit: N. Fairley DT Auburn: Wasn't this guy in the top 5 a week ago? He dominated Alabama and the BCS title game last season, and will flourish under Jim Schwartz and next to Suh. Slightly different draft strategy than when Matt Millen was making the picks in Detroit.

14) St. Louis: R. Quinn DE UNC: If he is as good as advertised St. Louis is on their way to very good defensive line, hard to give a solid opinion when he was suspended all football season at the University of New free Cars for all Athletes (UNC).

15) Miami: M. Pouncey C FLA: Chad Henne can breathe a sigh of relief, not only does Miami get an offensive lineman, but they don't take Dalton (my favorite QB in this draft). I like Joel Anthony's chances of winning Finals MVP more than the Phins winning a Super Bowl with Henne.

16) Wash (trade w/ Jax): R. Kerrigan DE Purdue: I like the Shanahan influence, trade down for more picks, avoid the overrated QB's and pick a DE to combine with Orakpo.

17) NE: Nate Solder OT Colorado: Both Dallas and NE take tackles 8 picks apart in the first round; I would say Solder is a -500 favorite to be the better player based on those two organizations war rooms. I miss the Raiders and Al Davis' selection, this was the pick they gave up for Seymour.

18) San Diego: C. Liuget DT Illinois: Solid pick, this guy is explosive, 17 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 10 QB hurries, 6 passes batted down, and he just turned 21. That was my Mel Kiper impersonation.

19) NYG: P. Amukamara: Getting the second best cover man in the draft at pick #19 is a steal. The Giants got the biggest value in the first round.

20) Tampa: A. Clayborn DE Iowa: Continues the theme of the draft, defensive lineman, 12 will be selected in the first round. Watt was the only DE I had ranked ahead of Clayborn on my big board (I always wanted to say that last sentence).

21) Cleveland (in a trade w/ Atl and then KC): P. Taylor DT Baylor: Cleveland used some of the entire Atlanta draft they got for the J. Jones spot to move up a few spots and take Taylor. Can't argue with Cleveland's strategy of loading up on picks and players who can play immediately.

22) Indy: A. Castonzo OT BC: He can step in immediately and play which is a must for Indy and their depleted line. Finally Indy stays away from slot receivers, pass rush specialists, finesse linemen, and gets a physical mauler who will be tough to play against.

23) Philly: D. Watkins G Baylor: A couple fun facts, Watkins is a former firefighter from Canada who didn't play football until junior college. He is also the second Baylor player to be drafted in the first round while Notre Dame doesn't have any.

24) NO: C. Jordan DE Cal: I can't say that I know anything about Jordan and Sean Payton didn't seem to know too much about him during his draft interview, he did mention that he was big enough (6'4" 287) to play every position on the line. Works for me.

25) Seattle: J. Carpenter G Alabama: There was a lot of talk about Dalton or Mallett at this pick, like Henne, I am sure Charlie Whitehurst took a deep breath when he heard it was a guard from Alabama.

26) KC (trade w/ Clev via Atl) J. Baldwin WR Pitt: There is no doubt that KC needs an offensive threat next to Bowe, but I was surprised they thought the player to do it was Baldwin. He is big, physical, and athletic, but he has to work on route running, consistency, and discipline. Sounds like a good summation of the Wannstedt years at Pitt along with the off field issues.

27) Baltimore: J. Smith CB Colorado: I hope they asked him his thought process if he was 1-1 with a WR in the 4^th quarter of a tied playoff game on a 3^rd and 15?

28) NO (trade w/ NE) M. Ingram RB Alabama: This is a sign of what RB's are now thought of in the NFL as Ingram was by far the best player on his team (3 were drafted prior to him) and he is the only RB selected in round 1. He does go to an ideal situation in NO with Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

29) Chicago: G. Carimi OT Wiscy: QB's are always overrated in the draft and tough physical not highly athletic offensive linemen are usually underrated. Carimi fits that bill and will be a welcome addition to a Bears line desperate to keep Kristin Cavalleri's finance upright.

30) NYJ: M. Wilkerson DE Temple: His is physically impressive, 6'4" 315 lbs and still runs a 4.96 40. Not only will he will play all over for the Jets, but he validates Miami's hiring of Al Golden. 2011 first round draft picks: Temple 1 player, Miami 0 players.

31) Pittsburgh: C. Heyward DE OSU: Maybe the Steelers front office refused to watch film of the Super Bowl because I don't how you could not go CB over DL after watching that game. Heyward is the son of former Pitt legend "Iron Head" so maybe it was memories of the Blue Bonnet bowl.

32) Green Bay: D. Sherrod OT Mississippi State: The way Packers GM Ted Thompson is going Sherrod will be a permanent starter in the Pro Bowl for the next decade.