NFL Draft-1st Round Live Blog Tonight @ 7pm

Make sure you join us live tonight at 7 pm Eastern for our live blog of the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Y1 and myself will be here throughout the night to analyze all the trades/picks, see how we did with our mock draft predictions, and, most importantly....make plenty of fun of ESPN's coverage! So tune back in at 7 for our always witty, always insightful live commentary. See you then, and bye for now!

Big Ten Expansion and the New World Order of College Athletics

Amid all the noise of the NFL Draft and the playoffs of the NHL and NBA, there is a storm cloud on the horizon that could change college athletics forever. You probably already knew the Big Ten was poised for expansion in the near future. But, did you know they are accelerating those plans? Did you also know the other major conferences, the SEC, ACC, and Pac 10 are already plotting their responses? Where could it all end? Let's take a look into the crystal ball and see!

Background

-Ok, at first, Big Ten expansion seems rather mundane. So what if they go from 11 to 12 or 14, they'll get their big money football title game, increase profits, hit new tv markets, blah, blah, blah. But, what about the ripples of this potential move? I was one of those folks who didn't think anymore about the effects of Big Ten expansion...until I read former Syracuse A.D. Jake Croumathel in this New York Times story yesterday. Here's an excerpt:

Eventually, Crouthamel said he saw the Big Ten, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Southeastern Conference and the Pacific-10 forming four 16-team superconferences and leaving the umbrella of the N.C.A.A. (Just imagine the fight between the SEC and the Pac-10 for Texas.) He said that those leagues would form their own basketball tournament to rival the N.C.A.A. tournament.

“If you look at the history of what’s been going on for the last decade, I think it’s leading in that direction,” he said.

So, 64 teams forming their own intercollegiate athletic association? Their own tv deals, their own academic standards, their own champions? That's crazy talk, right? Maybe not as much as you'd think. To prove how easy it is to envision this scenario, let's tackle what this New World Order of College Athletics (NWOCA for short) would look like.

The Rules

We've taken the teams from the current BCS conferences (Big East, ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big XII, Pac 10). Also throw into the mix are Boise St. and TCU, which have been promoted from the ranks of the mid-majors into the NWOCA. That means some teams are going to have to bite the dust. If you're a fan of these schools remember, it's not personal, it's just business.

(1) Mississippi St. - One half of the Egg Bowl wasn't going to make it into the NWOCA. Both Mississippi schools have been dreadful in football and basketball for much of the last 15+ years, save a few bright spots. Ole Miss wins out due to its history and that scary lookin' Rebel guy.

(2) Iowa St. - Umm, if anyone can give a reason to keep Iowa St. in this conglomerate, that would be the first.

(3) Baylor - Despite the success of Scott Drew's run into the Sweet 16, there just hasn't been enough success on the football field to warrant them staying over teams with richer tradition or more recent success in their region.

(4) Washington St. - No, not the school of Ryan Leaf! A record of 3-22 since 2008, they were the school on the West Coast that missed the cut.

(5) The Big East - The biggest victim of the NWOCA will be the basketball behemoth formerly known as the Big East. Several schools with little or no football will be cut out of the pie. So, we'll join what's left of the Big East with some other smaller basketball powerhouses to create a 12 team basketball league on par with the NWOCA. The new conference with two divisions would look like this:

The Old School Basketball Alliance

Eastern Division

Georgetown

Temple

UMass

St. John's

Providence

Villanova

Western Division

DePaul

Xavier

Dayton

Marquette

Memphis

Butler

-A nice blend of old, dormant powerhouses and programs on the rise. The great basketball schools of the Northeast combined with the best from the heartland, this conference could either be accepted into the NWOCA Basketball Championship for a 76 team tournament, or could be the jewel of whatever's left of the NCAA.

-Ok, now on to the meat of the matter. Here's what the new 16-team superconferences, each with two 8-team divisions, will look like. We'll follow each with some pros and cons to the allignment.

Update: You can compare my conferences with Andy Staples of SI, who looked at what these superconferences might look like back in February. That was back when this was a moon landing level conspiracy...now we're at a grassy knoll level, people!

The New ACC

NorthEast Division

Boston College

UConn

Syracuse

Rutgers

Virgina

Virginia Tech

Kentucky

Louisville

Mid-Atlantic Division

Maryland

West Virginia

North Carolina

Duke

North Carolina St.

Wake Forest

Clemson

South Carolina

Pros: This is the new Big East in terms of basketball prowess. Not only are we keeping tobacco road together in the Mid-Atlantic Division, but we're adding some of the most prestigious programs in the country (Kentucky, UConn, Syracuse, Louisville). Kentucky and Louisville and UConn and Syracuse get to keep their rivalries, while forming new ones with other hardwood powerhouses. The New York media market is also surrounded with UConn and Rutgers, while Duke is practically a bastard child of New York in basketball.

Cons: Clearly the weakest of the conferences in terms of football, but, someone out of the four has to be the whipping boy. Kentucky, UConn, and Syracuse also lose a lot of their historic rivals.

The New SEC

Southwest Division

Texas

Texas Tech

Texas A&M

Arkansas

LSU

Ole Miss

Auburn

Alabama

Southeast Division

Tennessee

Vanderbilt

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Florida

Florida St.

Miami

South Florida

Pros: Wow, if this conference were to come to pass Mark May and those who love the current SEC may self-combust. In one division all of the Florida schools are finally reunited with their rivals to the north in Georgia. Also, Vandy is thrown in to raise academic standards, because we still care about the kids (wink, nudge, wink). On the other side, all of the big Texas schools are kept together. Can you imagine a conference championship between Texas and Florida?

Cons: Many of these schools don't offer much on the hardwood (South Florida, Ole Miss, Texas Tech). Also, some may question the inclusion of South Florida, but you can't argue with their progress in the toughest football recruiting area in the country.

The Big 16 (formerly the Big Ten)

East

Ohio St.

Cincinnati

Michigan

Michigan St.

Penn St.

Pitt

Indiana

Purdue

West

Northwestern

Illinois

Notre Dame

Minnesota

Iowa

Wisconsin

Mizzou

Nebraska

Pros: Notre Dame finally caves in and allows itself to join the NWOCA in the new Big 16 that sweeps the heartland. This may be the most balanced conference in terms of football and basketball. While Michigan and Ohio St. are in the same division, the possibility of them playing a Nebraska or Notre Dame remains possible in a conference championship. Also, little guy Cincinnati finally gets a crack at big brother Ohio St.

Cons: Ok, Northwestern might be a stretch, but again, we have to keep some sense of student-athletics, right? Also, Mizzou and Nebraska miss out on some of their long-standing rivals (Kansas, Texas, etc.). This conference could also use some improvement from programs like Minnesota, Indiana, and Purdue in football.

The Big West (formerly the Pac 10)

Great Plains Division

Kansas

Kansas St.

TCU

Oklahoma

Oklahoma St.

Colorado

Arizona

Arizona St.

West Coast Division

Boise St.

Washington

Oregon

Oregon St.

Cal

Stanford

USC

UCLA

Pros: Little guys Boise St. and TCU finally get to prove themselves against the "Big Boys" and avoid being in the same division. Also, all of the California schools stay together while the possibility of conference championships against the likes of Oklahoma and Kansas could be enticing.

Cons: Again, a bit of a weaker basketball conference, but a resurgence by UCLA and Arizona could do a lot to fix that problem. Also, Colin Cowherd may never want to travel east of Las Vegas ever again...come to think of it, that's actually a pro!

Final Thoughts

-So there you have it...this is what major college athletics could soon look like. Imagine the possibilities! A 64 or 76 team single-elimination Basketball Championship with no Bucknell's or Alabama A&M's taking up bids. A true Football Championship Playoff with the 4 conference champions playing each other in a single-elimination tournament. We can even throw the academic football schools in each conference (Vandy, Duke, Northwestern, and Stanford) a bone with some contrived Scholarly Athlete Trophy! Sure, the idea of Cinderella will be gone forever. There will be no more George Masons, or Butlers, or Boise St.'s but we will have the best of the best consistently playing each other. That's the price to pay for putting the almighty dollar above all else.

What do you think of our fantasy alignment...crazy conspiracy, or legit look at the future of college sports? Let us know by posting a comment below. You can also follow us on Twitter @RSS_Sports. Don't forget we'll be live blogging the 1st round of the NFL Draft this Thursday! Until next time, it's bye for now!

2010 NFL Mock Draft

Time to celebrate! It's our first ever attempt at a Mock Draft! We've poured over all of our rankings, perused the web, spent hours in our central Ohio war room, and collaborated for this special Mock Draft. Here's a quick word on how this works - each of the three of us will take turns drafting for each team. We'll then tell you who we'll pick at that spot, (no trades allowed, hey this is complicated enough). And then, we'll see who gets the most picks right on draft day for RSS Braggin Rights! Mr. Yoder I's picks are in green, Mr. Yoder II's in blue, and Brother Yohey's in orange. Let's Get Ready To MOCK!

1) St. Louis Rams (1-15) - Needs: QB/WR/CB... basically everything

PICK: Sam Bradford (QB-Oklahoma)

-While the Rams have passed on Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez in the past, they can't pass up this opportunity to finally get a franchise QB. They'll do that this year with Sam Bradford.

2) Detroit Lions (2-14) - Needs: OL/DT/RB

PICK: Ndamukong Suh (DT-Nebraska)

-The best player in the 2010 Draft goes #2 to the Lions. Jim Schwartz has to be thrilled to pick up the best defensive player to come along in quite some time. There is some talk of Detroit picking an offensive tackle, but Suh is such a dominant force that he simply cannot be passed up in this spot. Watch the tape of the Big XII title game and tell me the Lions should take anyone else.

3) Tampa Bay Bucs (3-13) - Needs: DT/DE/FS

PICK: Gerald McCoy (DT-Oklahoma)

-Certainly not a bad consolation prize for the Bucs, who have been looking for a dominant presence on the D-line since Warren Sapp. McCoy certainly has the tools and potential to be just as good, if not better than Suh, and will make life difficult for opposing division QBs Drew Brees and Matt Ryan from Day 1.

4) Washington Redskins (4-12) - Needs: OL/FS/to win now

PICK: Russell Okung (OT-Oklahoma St)

- After the recent trade for McNabb to shore up the QB position the 'Skins can look to replace the departed Chris Samuels at LT and Okung fits the bill as the best OL in the draft.

5) Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) - Needs: T/LB/SS

PICK: Eric Berry (S-Tennessee)

-I think this is the first curveball of the draft. The Chiefs need playmakers more than anything. The depth of offensive linemen in this draft leads me to believe they could take a quality tackle in Round 2. In Round 1 they go with the best player available - and that is clearly Eric Berry.

6) Seattle Seahwaks (5-11) - Needs: T/Skill Players

PICK: Trent Williams (T-Oklahoma)

-The run on linemen begins in earnest with Pete Carroll drafting the replacement for Walter Jones. Williams is one of the most athletic linemen in the draft and should have no problem playing left tackle. This also could be a spot where Pete Carroll reaches for a C.J. Spiller or Dez Bryant, if he gets nervous about either being available at 14.

7) Cleveland Browns (5-11) - Needs: Everything, including a coach

PICK: Earl Thomas (S-Texas)

- My compatriots may consider this a reach but Cleveland is in desperate need of a safety and Thomas will suit the bill. He has the versatility to play some CB if it is needed but should patrol the secondary well. ***Note*** Possible trade spot here for someone infatuated with Claussen.

8) Oakland Raiders (5-11) - Needs: T/DT/QB/sanity

PICK: Bruce Campbell (T-Maryland)

-Well, we know Al Davis is going to make a dumb pick here of somebody that has "measurables" and will be a workout warrior. Nobody fits that description better than Campbell, ironically a teammate of current and future Raider bust Darrius Heyward-Bey.

9) Buffalo Bills (6-10) - Needs: WR/QB/DL

PICK: Bryan Bulaga (T-Iowa)

-The Bills will be tempted to pick Jimmy Clausen, but for some reason I see Chan Gailey more concerned with protecting the poo poo platter that is currently entrenched at QB in Buffalo. Plus, Bulaga would be the last man standing from the run on left tackles and would instantly upgrade the Bills run attack.

10) Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) - Needs: Secondary/QB/fans

PICK: Derrick Morgan (DE-Ga Tech)

- No, the Jags won't get Tebow with this pick because that would be a Raider-like reach. They will play it safe and inject some new blood in the DL with Morgan. Rumors are also swirling that the Jags want to desperately trade down as well.

11) Denver Broncos (8-8) - Needs: C/ILB/WR

PICK: Rolando McClain (LB-Alabama)

-Denver's D fell to pieces last season down the stretch. They need somebody to captain the ship, and with a gaping hole in the middle of the defense, Alabama's defensive leader fits what the Broncos need desperately. I can't see Denver going Dez Bryant, seeing as how some consider him a character concern, so defense is the pick.

12) Miami Dolphins (7-9) - Needs: LB/DT/WR

PICK: Jason Pierre-Paul (DE-USF)

-Miami desperately needs a pass-rusher with the loss of Jason Taylor in free agency, and no DE has more potential upside than Pierre-Paul. While his college numbers aren't prolific, he has more raw athletic ability than any other lineman, definitely a boom or bust pick here.

13) San Francisco 49ers (8-8) - Needs: T/CB/FS

PICK: Anthony Davis (T-Rutgers)

- With the departure of Tony Pashos to Cleveland the Niners need someone to step into the RT spot and help keep Alex Smith clean. They do need help at the skill positions, but this is a team that will build inside out.

14) Seattle Seahawks (5-11) - Needs: T/Skill players

PICK: C.J. Spiller (RB-Clemson)

-Possibly the easiest pick of Round 1. Seattle needs a big time running back like the Knicks need LeBron James. Spiller is the most explosive, complete back in the draft, and an absolute gift for Seattle at Pick #14. He'll join fellow Clemson grad Charlie Whitehurst in the northwest... well... at least one of those looks promising.

15) New York Giants (8-8) - Needs: LB/CB/DL

PICK: Sean Weatherspoon (LB-Mizzou)

-Weatherspoon is a player who has been rocketing up draft boards since the end of the college football season. At Mizzou, Weatherspoon was always a defensive leader and dynamic playmaker, but concerns about his "measurables" had him closer to the 2nd round than middle of the 1st. But, looking to replace Antonio Pierce, the GMen will be quite happy to take Weatherspoon at 15.

16) Tennessee Titans (8-8) - Needs: DE/CB/WR

PICK: Dez Bryant (WR-Oklahoma St)

- The surprise move of the draft. If this is Vince Young's resurgence we are witnessing he is going to need another playmaker at the WR position to supplement Chris Johnson's running skills. Bryant can supply that need for Vince and help the Titan offense.

17) San Francisco 49ers (8-8) - Needs: T/CB/FS

PICK: Joe Haden (CB-Florida)

-San Francisco is taking a risk here by not taking Haden at #13 and taking the best of the rest linemen, but with no teams in front of them having a pressing need at corner and Haden slipping slightly down some boards, they still meet a need and get a great player at #17. Starting at this pick though, I could see any of the next 10-12 selections traded away for someone looking to take a shot at a QB in the latter half of R1.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) - Needs: OL/DL/CB/Sex Rehab Counselors?

PICK: Mike Iupati (G-Idaho)

-After trading Santonio Holmes, the Steelers would love Dez Bryant to fall to them. But, with this position being too early for the next WR, the Steelers look to shoring up their porous offensive line with the solid, if unheralded Iupati from Idaho. Hey, even if Iupati doesn't pan out, Big Ben could stick some of his bodyguards on the O-line, at least we know they can fend off drunken high school girls!

19) Atlanta Falcons (9-7) - Needs: DE/CB/OLB

PICK: Brandon Graham (DE/OLB-Michigan)

- The Falcons are going to need some young talent to rush from the ends and get some pressure on the QB's and Graham will be able to do that. He displayed the "Tweener" abilities at Michigan and will be able to showcase that in the NFL.

20) Houston Texans (9-7) - Needs: CB/RB/S

PICK: Kyle Wilson (CB-Boise St)

-With Dunta Robinson gone, Houston needs a replacement at cornerback. They very well could go running back, but it has been the defense that has held the Texans out of the playoffs. They need a lockdown corner and Wilson showed that he was one of the nation's best at Boise St. Wilson routinely made big plays in Boise's biggest games and can do the same for Houston.

21) Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) - Needs: TE/WR/S

PICK: Jermaine Gresham (TE-Oklahoma)

-This may be the lock of the 1st round. With a young and improving defense, the Bengals clearly need to add more weapons around Carson Palmer. Despite injury keeping him out for all of last season, he's still the only tight end who can be a top-tier threat in the passing game.

22) New England Patriots (10-6) - Needs: OLB/DE/Skill

PICK: Ryan Mathews (RB-Fresno St)

- A sneaky pick by Belichick with Mathews. Maroney hasn't lived up to his potential and the Pats need a solid #1 RB and Mathews has that potential. It may not be on many pundit's radars but the Pats will look hard at Mathews.

23) Green Bay Packers (11-5) - Needs: OLB/CB/T

PICK: Sergio Kindle (DE/LB-Texas)

-Losing Aaron Kampman makes the OLB spot in the 3-4 a glaring need for the Packers. Granted, that switch really didn't work anyways... but, Green Bay has a chance to fit a natural player in that position with Kindle. Green Bay could also go secondary here, but with Wilson and Haden gone, Kindle represents the best value and adds another horse to Green Bay's front 7.

24) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) - Needs: OLB/DE/C

PICK: Maurkice Pouncey (G/C-Florida)

-Pouncey is considered one of the safer picks of the 1st Round and the only elite player in this draft that can play center at the next level. He could go much earlier than 24, but with Andy Reid stockpiling young talent on offense, there is no way he will pass up a prospect like Pouncey to help Kevin Kolb even more.

25) Baltimore Ravens (9-7) - Needs: CB/DT/TE

PICK: Devin McCourty (CB-Rutgers)

- An aging Raven secondary will need McCourty to step in and play to keep the defense as good as it has been all these years.

26) Arizona Cardinals (10-6) - Needs: LB/T/QB?

PICK: Carlos Dunlap (DE-Florida)

-Dunlap is a huuuuge character risk. Probably the biggest of the 1st round considering the stupid decision he made to drive drunk before the SEC Championship. Nevertheless, someone will take a chance on him considering his ability at DE. The Cards always need help on defense and getting someone to take down the QB seems like a good idea.

27) Dallas Cowboys (11-5) - Needs: T/S/G

PICK: Taylor Mays (S-USC)

-If Taylor Mays falls this far, Jerry Jones will be doing cartwheels in the Cowboys war room. Say what you will about Mays's durability or coverage ability, but an athletic, hard-hitting safety will be too good to pass up for a Cowboys team with a big need at that position.

28) San Diego Chargers (13-3) - Needs: DT/RB/CB

PICK: Javhid Best (RB-Cal)

- LT's departure opens up the need for a RB and Best will move within the state to team with Sproles to make the Charger backfield more dangerous. He's more of a threat than some of the other running backs on the board.

29) New York Jets (9-7) - Needs: DT/OLB/WR

PICK: Jerry Hughes (OLB-TCU)

-I originally had Golden Tate here, but the Santonio Holmes trade means the Jets will look at the 3-4 OLB position and go with the rising Hughes. Vernon Gholston is my guy, but without a sack in his short career, the Jets need to bring in another option. Hughes is another workout phenom - but played with a terrific defense at TCU and will step into another one with gang green.

30) Minnesota Vikings (12-4) - Needs: S/CB/QB

PICK: Jimmy Clausen (QB-Notre Dame)

-Ok, so assuming Clausen is available at this point, which is unlikely because he'd be snapped up by a trade in the early to mid 20s, this is the surprise of the night. Since trying to forecast a mock draft with trades would involve several days and a slide ruler, Minnesota is the landing spot for the Irish golden boy. Here he can fetch Brett Favre's strained prunes for a couple of years while taking orders from Chili. If Clausen is gone, the Vikes will look to the secondary and maybe Kareem Jackson of Alabama.

31) Indianapolis Colts (14-2) - Needs: CB/S/T

PICK: Nate Allen (S-USF)

- As much as Indy fans love Bob Sanders he hasn't displayed the ability to stay healthy as of late and it is time for Indy to develop a young Safety. It may be a slight reach but they can give Allen time to develop and prosper.

32) New Orleans Saints (13-3) - Needs: OLB/DE/DT

PICK: Brian Price (DT-UCLA)

-Yes, as a Saints fan, I've watched the Youtube highlights of the NFC Championship and Super Bowl about 457 times... and it never gets old. The defending champs have a few needs on defense thanks to some departures so far this offseason. Signing Alex Brown (and possibly Jimmy Wilkerson as well) removes the pressing need at DE. That means the Saints simply must go DT or OLB with this selection at the end of Round 1. I'm going with Price because he matches up well with Sed Ellis in the middle of the Saints D to help stop the run and there are more options in house at OLB. Also, I had a dream about the Saints picking a defensive tackle from UCLA with their 1st pick - and this was before I knew who Brian Price was... yes, I need medical help.

21 Guarantees on Draft Weekend

This upcoming draft is sure to be intriguing for those directly and indirectly involved. The NFL is inviting more draftees to Radio City Music Hall than ever before due to the primetime scheduling (Round 1 Thursday night, 2-3 Friday night and the rest on Saturday). Below are 21 things to watch for and what can be guaranteed at the conclusion of the 2010 NFL Draft.

1. Sam Bradford WILL be the #1 overall pick:

The Rams can't pass for a third year on a potential franchise QB (Ryan in 2008 and Sanchez in 2009). Coach Spagnuolo will want to put his stamp on this franchise who has to recreate the magic of the Kurt Warner days. It can't be said that Bradford will turn into Kurt Warner, but the Rams have to take a chance and the 3rd time will be charm when they select Bradford.

2. The flow of the draft will be determined with the Kansas City Chiefs & Cleveland Browns:

Sitting at #5, the Chiefs will be the first team to determine the direction of those who follow, particularly the Browns at #7. If the Chiefs go the route of OT, which would cause a calm flow of SEA going OT, then Cleveland taking Berry. However, if KC selects Eric Berry at #5, the Browns will either take the next available DB in Earl Thomas, DL (Pierre-Paul, Morgan), Clausen, Haden or move down and collect picks. The intrigue around KC taking Berry may cause Cleveland to move up to #3 or #4 to ensure they get Berry before KC. A little posturing by Pioli and company may shake up this draft.

3. The Raiders will do something stupid:

Can anyone remember when Al Davis made a smart pick in recent history? Heyward-Bey, Russell, Gallery, Huff, Brayton and possibly McFadden. If Al Davis falls in love with Bruce Campbell (or Mike Iupati as Michael Smith indicates) the trend of reaches and bad picks will continue. One has to wonder if Al Davis knows what he is doing these days.

4. Philly fans will hate who they pick:

The fans get off on this stuff. They could pick the reincarnation of Norm Van Brocklin or Reggie White and they still will boo the pick. I hate Philly and I hate their fans, especially LOD shoulder pad dude.

5. Bill Belichick will do something sneaky and wise on draft day:

Doesn't he always; watch for Ryan Mathews to be wearing Patriot colors. It might be the best pick of Round 1.

6. McShay v. Kiper

I'm starting to think that Mel Kiper is the ESPN version of a talk radio host who says ludicrous things to get attention. McShay, although somewhat baffling in his summations, is more rational than Kiper. Bryant to Cleveland at #7? Come on now, Mel! I also heard that Mel hates to take bathroom breaks during the draft, mostly to make sure that McShay doesn't handcuff himself to Mel's chair.

7. Trent Dilfer will make a fool of himself critiquing QB's since he has no idea what he is talking about. Trust me, did you see him in Cleveland and San Francisco? And don't tell me that he earned that Super Bowl ring. He'll tie one of the quarterbacks to Brett Favre or Mark Sanchez and proclaim their eternal greatness. He'll also make sure to sound smarter by talking slowly and loudly.

8. Tim Tebow will get more face time than Bradford, Suh and Clausen combined. The over/unders on cutaways to his house is about 47.5.

9. Colt McCoy, at the end of the next 15 years, will be the best QB in the league. His mentality will set him ahead of the others; and don't undermine him due to his size. Drew Brees 2.0 anyone?

10. Tim Tebow will be right behind McCoy, which puts Bradford a solid 3 out of this class. Clausen will be servicable in his career, but won't make a big impact as a starter.

11. The next LT: CJ, and not because of the 2 letter names. Spiller is dynamic both taking handoffs and catching passes. He will make people remember the glory days of LT... you know, 4 years ago.

12. 100% surefire bust: Dez Bryant. They say he is this year's Randy Moss, but Moss had some top end speed. Bryant will end up being too immature to flourish.

13. The recipient of the Leafie (player who is the most destructive and ruins any future he has in the league): Carols Dunlap - What he did at Florida (DUI, suspended for SEC Championship) was all I needed to see. Physical specimen: Check. Mental specimen: (knock knock) Hello! Anybody in there?

14. Pittsburgh better take a QB in the early rounds, because I got a feeling #7 is going to be finding a new zip code after the season.

15. The winners of the 2010 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns (Safety and QB of the future in this draft along with supplementing the talent they already have.

The losers of the 2010 NFL Draft: Tie --> Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals (Al Davis and Mike Brown choosing the players. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum/Lloyd and Harry).

16. Team that will mortgage their future: Cowboys - New stadium and Jerry Jones wanting to win now coupled with Wade Phillips always hanging in the balance).

17. School with the most draft picks: Oklahoma - Bradford, McCoy, Williams and Gresham all 1st round picks. How does Bob Stoops not perform better and win more titles? Stop the bashing on Tressell; at least he wins some bowl games.

18. School with the least draft picks: Murray State - don't worry, you'll become more irrelevant with the coming college football armageddon.

19. Mr. Irrelevant: Aaron Pettrey, K, THE Ohio State University... it's gotta be some sort of kicker, doesn't it?

20. 2010 Brady Quinn: Jimmy Clausen - My crystal ball predicts a precipitous fall for the young Clausen, if he gets past his "Miami" in Jacksonville.

21. Smartest pick in the 2010 NFL Draft: Round 4, Pick 127 --> Seattle Seahawks select RB from USC, Stafon Johnson. Pete knows this kid and will snag him up knowing how he produced at USC. Johnson was the most complete back in his days at USC and will contribute at the next level as a Pierre Thomas type back.

There you have it draftniks; what to look for this upcoming draft weekend. I hope everyone enjoys the festivities, because I know I will. The Yoders will be live blogging the draft tonight and I'll try and throw in some witty remarks as well. Until next time, be careful out there...

2010 NFL Draft Rankings

Before our Mock Draft takes shape, we thought it would be best to recap our NFL Draft Rankings. Below you'll find links to our Top 5 players at each position - and no, kickers and punters don't count. In each list we'll also share with you a couple players to watch that may be picked in the later rounds. These players might not be the Top 5 picks at their positions, but are the ones that we think will have the best NFL careers.

Top 5 Quarterbacks

Top 5 Running Backs

Top 5 Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Top 5 Offensive Linemen

Top 5 Defensive Linemen

Top 5 Linebackers

Top 5 Defensive Backs

7 Things We Missed This Weekend

Wow. That was quite the weekend of sports action. With the NBA and NHL Playoffs underway, the MLB season in full gear, and the EPL race coming down to the wire - there is a lot of stuff going on! Oh, and the NFL Draft begins this Thursday! Our Mock Draft will be coming later this week, but first let's recap what went on in the world of sports with 7 Things We Missed This Weekend.

1) NBA Playoffs

-The NBA Playoffs aren't known for their upsets, and that was true for each of the series openers this weekend. In 8 series, only 1 road team, Portland, won Game 1. Oklahoma City had a good chance to win in LA, but Kevin Durant and the Thunder shot poorly. The Cavs were in cruise control against the Bulls and the Mavs won a hard fought game against the Spurs. Perhaps the highlight of the opening weekend though was this fracas in Boston's win over Miami which leaves Kevin Garnett suspended for Game 2. At least this time Paul Pierce didn't need a wheelchair...

2) Stanley Cup Playoffs

-The biggest stories thus far from the early stages of R1 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the amount of road wins that we've seen. 10 of 19 games have been won by road teams thus far. Each series is either tied at 1 or stands at 2-1. Under most pressure are the top seeds in each conference - Washington, New Jersey, San Jose, and Chicago are all currently without homeice advantage. We'll take a more in-depth look at the Stanley Cup Playoffs later this week, but for now check out this goal that won't be showing up on Dan Boyle's personal highlight reel to leave the Sharks down 2-1...

3) Ubaldo No No

-It's always cool when somebody throws a no-hitter, and Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first in the long, prestigious history of the Colorado Rockies Saturday night in Atlanta. Jimenez had 6 walks and 7 strikeouts in the game, and was helped by a diving catch in the outfield by Dexter Fowler. Here's the highlights...

4) 20 Inning Game

-On the same night no less, the Mets beat the Cardinals 2-1 in 20 innings! It was scoreless for the first 18! So much for that Steroid Era. Jose Reyes' sac fly in the 20th ended up winning the game for the Mets, who are in the NL East cellar at 4-8. Don't put too much into the MLB Standings before June though, or at least while the Pirates are above .500. Oh, and the highlights? Well, it was scoreless for 18 innings and the game winning run was scored on a sac fly - I think I'd rather watch... darts! With Phil Taylor and James Wade tying 7-7 in the Premier League on Thursday, how about we relive this unreal leg of darts from 2008!

5) Manchester Derby

-In the EPL, Manchester United got back into the title race with a last minute 1-0 win at their city rivals Manchester City. Paul Scholes scored in the last minute of stoppage time to get the win. Later in the day, Tiger Woods' biggest fan John Terry got the boot as Chelsea lost to Tottenham. Those results leave Chelsea 1 pt ahead of United at the top and Tottenham 2 pts ahead of Man City for the last Champions League qualifying place. If Chelsea win at Liverpool on May 2nd they'll likely sweep their last 3 and win the title. Meanwhile, 4th spot will come down to the last game of the season - Tottenham @ Man City. Great stuff to end the season, here's Scholes' winner...

6) Champions League Semis

-The cloud of volcanic ash and grounded flights in the UK has put Fulham and Liverpool's Europa League semis in doubt, but on the continent the Champions League semis appear to be ready to go. Lyon plays at Bayern Munich and Barcelona plays at Inter Milan this week. In their respective leagues, Barca is 1 pt ahead of Real Madrid after winning at the Bernebeau last week, Inter trails Roma by 1 pt in Italy (having won 4 straight Serie A titles), Bayern lead in Germany by 2 pts after winning at Schalke recently, and Lyon is surprisingly 3rd in Ligue 1 trailing Marseille by 9 pts. While English clubs have dominated the CL in the past couple years - this year is a treat because the 4 sides left are the 4 preeminent clubs in the best continental leagues. My picks are Barca and Bayern. I know you're asking for footage of the giant ash cloud instead of more highlights!

7) One Last Thing

-As always, our last thing covers something a little weird or miscellaneous. First, check out this video of Brian Davis costing himself a playoff win at Hilton Head by calling a penalty on himself. Yes, golf is a gentlemen's game. Jim Furyk ended up with the win. Second, I don't know who any of these guys are, but watch as the typical boxing/wrestling scene plays out... 1) Guy interviewed after winning fight 2) 2nd guy jumps into ring wanting a fight 3) The brawl is on - it's a standard formula. I was waiting for Vince McMahon to enter the ring or Rock Newman directing traffic with his giant cell phone. But, as Gus Johnson points out, having this happen on network TV doesn't put MMA into a good light and makes it seem rather cartoonish. Oh well, at least it's fun to watch!

Saturday Sausage Links - 4/17/10

This weekend's Sausage Links are brought to you by umpire Joe West, who caused quite the hubub by calling out the Yanks and Sox for their slow play. Hopefully this article won't take 3 1/2 hours to read, but if it does...we'll just blame the Yanks and Sox anyway!

News

-The reporting officer in Big Ben's Georgia sexcapades resigned recently after it became public that he didn't exactly have the alleged victim's back. So much for protecting the innocent...(SI)

-Count D-Wade among the few who wouldn't like to see himself elsewhere after the Summer of 2010. Thanks for taking all the fun out of our summer, Dwyane. (ESPN)

-Manchester United kept their slim title hopes alive by besting local rival Manchester City Saturday morning thanks to a last-gasp Paul Scholes header. (Sky Sports)

-Ted Ginn (once known around these parts as Teddy Heisman) hasn't exactly seen his career take-off after being traded to the 49ers for a 5th rounder. Apparently that's the going rate for Ohio St. wide outs. (Yahoo)

-Lastly, the NCAA tournament may be closer to finding its rightful television home, the network formerly known as Court TV. If this gets us one step closer to Nancy Grace replacing Clark Kellogg, I'm all for it! (New York Daily News)

The Blogosphere/Opinion

-SI's Jon Heyman reminds us all that, in fact, the Sox and Yanks do take their sweet time playing baseball. (SI)

-Our friends at Real Fake Sports help put the NHL playoffs in proper perspective...at least in the eyes of Gary Bettman. (Real Fake Sports)

-Maybe a 21-year old kid, even if he's the NBA scoring champion, shouldn't try to match mental wits with a guy they call the Zen Master. (Rumors and Rants)

-Here's a look at some of Kentucky's new recruits for the upcoming season after losing 7 players off last year's team. Maybe John Calipari can give this next batch a home version of going to school at UK as a parting gift next year. (Strait Pinkie)

-The Boston Globe's Dan Shaugnesy gives his usual upbeat view on the Celtics chances in this postseason. (Boston Globe)

-Darren Sharper and the Saints are locked in a long version of the waiting game. Ah, the waiting game sucks...let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos! (PFT)

Just For Fun

-In an ironic turn of events, the volcanic ash from an Icelandic volcano that has gridlocked much of Europe has left one country largely untouched...Iceland! Harmless coincidence, or first step towards global domination, you decide. (MSNBC)

-3 reasons from Entertainment Weekly why Team Coco to TBS might be a good thing. Somehow they forgot the part about putting George Lopez on past my bedtime. (EW)

-Jay-Z and David Ortiz might make the strangest courtroom battle this side of Larry King and an 8th wife! Really, after wife #7, shouldn't all blonde women under 60 have been put on notice not to marry the goofy looking guy in the suspenders? (Huff Post)

-And finally, Tiger Woods mistress #2 was arrested for driving with a suspended license. Between porn stars and pancake waitresses, it's hard to keep the numbers and names straight. I do know one cell phone she probably didn't call for bail money! (TMZ)

That does it for the sausage links! Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter @RSS_Sports and let us know what you think by commenting below. Until next time, it's bye for now!

RSS Roundtable: Tiger, Big Ben, and Morality in Sports - Part II

It's time for Part II of our RSS Roundtable. Where our 3 main contributors come together to talk about the biggest issues in the world of sports. Today, we continue our conversation about the importance of character in sports shifting our attention to athletes as role models in society, Big Ben, Dez Bryant, and much more. Here's Part II

We've talked about these different morality and character standards with athletes and role models. So, then does it depend on sport, position, and other factors what we expect of our athletes and their character?

It'd be great and easy to say yeah, everyone should adhere to the same standards of excellence on and off the field. But the truth is that's only for fantasy land. Everything these days is situational.

It's fantasy that we should expect our athletes to be role models for the countless people that look up to them?

I don't agree with the whole role model athlete concept all together. It doesn't matter the sport, it is ludicrous.

Yohey, you looked up to athletes just like everyone else. You're telling me you wouldn't be disappointed if Bernie Kosar was taking 20 year old girls into bathroom bars? Granted he sounds drunk announcing Browns preseason games, but still...

Honestly, no. Because I don't have unrealistic expectations of other people. Aren't they human just like us?

How is it unrealistic to not expect your favorite athlete to NOT sleep around with 15 women or have 7 kids in 5 states?? They are human and deserve second chances, but they also need accountability to their fans, teams, sponsors, and the leagues they represent.

Sponsors yes. Sport yes. But fans? I'm not so sure. I'm sure Wilt Chamberlain was an idol of many kids, but we don't hear about him being shamed because of his records. How about people who have actually accomplished something that has meaning in the world to be role models?

It's fantasy to expect every athlete to follow the same guidelines. A star QB is going to face different responsibilities as the face of a franchise than the 4th string center on the Phoenix Coyotes. The same is true with the discipline each athlete faces. It's much easier to cut someone who's barely on the roster after a DUI than cut a $100 million franchise QB. Not to be preachy, but the problem is with society in general that we exalt these guys like we do. Kids should have parents or other people in their lives worthy of being role models. The days of your favorite athlete being a "role model" are long gone.

But we're the ones fooling ourselves if we think people don't look up to athletes as role models. The truth is that athletes are respected no matter how many hundreds of them are charged or arrested.

We should admire these athletes for their incredible talent and hard work, but realize their faults as well. But, as we heard with Tiger, there's becoming a sense of entitlement with athletes these days that they deserve all the spoils that come with being rich and famous. Just because we admire their ability and skill, that doesn't mean athletes should get a free pass to do whatever they want.

Along the same topic, Oklahoma St. WR Dez Bryant is reportedly being taken off of some team's draft boards because of - you guessed it - character issues. Thoughts?

His issues got him suspended for the season and cost his team, of course that will give some teams concerns.

A guy with bad character can ruin a team, put an entire franchise at risk, cough... Milton Bradley... cough. A team that screws up a draft pick doesn't get a mulligan, so I can understand not wanting to take the risk.

I think Bryant's gotten a bad rap. He made one mistake and has been placed with an X that you wonder if he'll ever be able to shake the character risk label. And, it's not like he's committed/accused of a crime or done something terrible like others we've talked about.

Agreed. Bryant has overcome a lot to get where he has, if anything it's Deion's fault!

If he produces, the issue is gone. That's the view that free agency has instilled, people no longer root for players or care about them - they root for a uniform.

So then why is the bad character tag a factor when talking about Dez Bryant when he hasn't even done anything? It seems a GIANT case of hypocrisy when compared to Woods and Roethlisberger.

The bad character tag is paramount in team sports because you have to trust your teammates.

To me they're separate issues. Scouts and GMs are trying to project Bryant's behavior at the next level, which is next to impossible. Meanwhile, we know the sins of Tiger, Big Ben and the like. I agree with Yohey that guys won't look at Big Ben the same anymore until he wins their trust back on and off the field - don't forget the concussion story last year.

For whatever reason, especially the NFL, character has become paramount to team success. Look at the Saints who have almost gone exclusively with good character guys and won a title. So in the end, we're saying that character and morality does mean something at least in team sports.

You can thank Lawrence Phillips and Ryan Leaf for that.

Of course it means something, it means something in all sports. Tiger was a role model for millions and represented million dollar corporations. Big Ben and other NFLers represent organizations and cities. Is it too much to ask for these guys to set a good example? No, but apparently the burden is too great for some.

And Tiger Woods is the most recognized athlete in the world... shouldn't character count for him too regardless of if he has any teammates?

Yes. We always remember the on-field first, but at some point we remember the man too. For instance, how long until you think of Ty Cobb as the racist fan-beater and stop remembering him as the greatest baseball player of the early 20th century? While we ultimately will remember Tiger first as the greatest golfer ever, eventually this messy chapter will play a big role in his legacy.

So in the end, should we view athletes as role models and expect good character in the post-Tiger world?

No. The age of innocence is gone in this 24/7 news and information world. There are no celebrity role models anymore. Back in the day, when we didn't know everything and there was separation between fans and players we could... not anymore. In the Twitter age, we know better.

We shouldn't view athletes as role models in the first place. If you base your drive and determination on a false image you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

To take a positive spin - it should raise the profile of the real good guys in sports like Kurt Warner just to name one. But I think there will always be seeds of doubt as to who these athletes really are.

I think if we can't expect our favorite athletes to be role models, then sports loses a lot of what makes it so great. If we watch sports and can't invest ourselves with the athletes themselves, then we're just watching some sort of fake sitcom.

I disagree. I invest myself with the team if anything. We root for the uniform and colors in the free agency age, not the persons.

I think that's a step too far as well. Sports has changed with the times. Just because guys are cheats or drunks off the field doesn't change the game itself. If Babe Ruth played today, TMZ or ESPN would follow him around 24/7 to find out all the dirt in his personal life. Instead, he played in a simpler time where athletes personal lives weren't under the microscope. But, nothing on the field has changed since them, it's just that athletes have a different place in our society and popular culture.

Is that the sports world we're in now? Where we can only trust the uniform and protect the shield?

Yep, and to think otherwise is naive.

Call me old fashioned (and probably naive), but for me there still has to be at least some mystique with athletes and a responsibility to be role models and recognize their position in society. I want my kid growing up wearing his favorite player's jersey without fear that he might be dealing drugs, having affairs, getting arrested, or whatever. I want my kid to think the guy he roots for on Sundays is one worth rooting for on and off the field.

Sure there'll be guys that come along and inspire us, but I think we'll have to stay detached from athletes in the post-Tiger world. Ironic, but that's the price we pay for more access to our athletes. We'll always be a forgiving society, but the time of placing athletes on pedestals as great human beings is over.

Athletes are now recognized as role models for what they do off the field (Drew Brees and his work in New Orleans as an example). That is how the role model concept should be built upon, but we have to keep in mind that they will make mistakes too.

Maybe we're in an age where real role models like Tony Dungy will have to really earn their place in society as crossover role models for things outside of their athletic fields.

Exactly. It won't be automatically bestowed on someone just because they throw touchdowns or hit long drives anymore. We have to be realistic that atheltes aren't mythical figures anymore - they are real people with real faults just like in real life. Some athletes are exceptional role models and some are really creeps. It's just that now we have the ability to distinguish the two like never before. In the end, maybe that's a good thing that has come out of the new age.

RSS Roundtable: Tiger, Big Ben, and Morality in Sports Part I

With all of the news surrounding Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger, we thought it would be a perfect time to get back to the roundtable to hit the hard issues and talk about the character issue of sports. How do recent events with Tiger's return and another Big Ben accusation make us view morality and character in sports? Is the coverage and attitudes towards these athletes appropriate? Should we expect our athletes to be role models? Only RSS tells you like it really is. Here's Part 1 of 2...

What did you make of the Masters? Should the character of Tiger and Phil enter into the story?

Y2: Of course it should. While the history books won't show how many times Tiger cursed on the course or how often Phil helped an old lady cross the street, in the present character matters - especially for Tiger, who presented himself as a brand and was proven to not live up to that crafted image. He said he was going to be a new person on the course and ended up to be the same surly Tiger after finishing 4th.

Y1: If you missed the character issue (not presenting Phil vs Tiger as good vs evil) then you were watching something else or wanted to see something else. Tiger's character is the biggest sports story of the year and to be unwilling to make that part of the story in contrast to the guy who won being met by his cancer stricken wife is being blind to what is going on.

BY: Should it? No. Did it? Yes. Tiger said he'd try to cut back on his on-course swearing, but isn't that part of Tiger when he's playing? His raw enthusiasm and drive is incomparable. Besides, everyone knows about the character issues going into the tournament. It does seem a bit odd how Amy shows up at the point in time when Phil won; maybe the Masters wants to show their winner is a wholesome family man?

Y2: It seemed rushed together. Like the Masters people realized, oh crap, Phil's sick wife is here and he's gonna win, let's trot her out and make a Kodak moment.

Y1: Maybe it was a little put together as some have suggested, but it was a real scene, heck they showed a tear running down Phil's face. We don't see that kind of moment in sports often. But, to completely ignore that part of the story (which I highlighted in a column earlier this week) is ludicrous.

Y2: I don't doubt the feelings were real, but the Masters and CBS were all too eager to hitch their wagon to it.

BY: Exactly. They were pushing it hard.

Y2: It wasn't a story in the buildup, until Phil was going to beat Tiger. If Tiger wins, the story is the redemption of Tiger.

Do you guys agree with Mike Wilbon's sentiment that it was "lazy" and "lame" and poor journalism to draw the contrast between Tiger and Phil and the morality issue?

Because something is obviously a story doesn't mean it's lazy. Even if it was contrived by the Masters it's true. But it does show the fickle nature of the media.

Lazy more than lame. You could do that in any sport really. There would be no contrasting if Phil finished 50th and Tiger 4th. Only by Phil winning was it good for golf, or a victory for women everywhere as Rick Reilly moronically stated.

I think to call it lazy is misguided at best and utterly stupid and ignorant at its worst. Journalists are supposed to report stories - Tiger's fall from grace has been on par with steroids as the biggest sports story of the decade. To not enter that into the equation during his comeback tournament and focus exclusively on his on-course performance amidst the scenes that unfolded would be insanity.

All week we heard nothing about Tiger's misdeeds though. Nothing about the trauma he put his family through, the disappointment he caused his millions of fans and kids who saw him as a role model. The story was all the warm receptions before Phil won. Then, when a perceived good guy wins, Tiger gets thrown right back under the bus.

You know why we heard nothing about his misdeeds? Because CBS are the little nerds of sports television who are too scared to tell the real story.

What was lazy was pretending Tiger was coming back from some mysterious adversity instead of his own transgressions.

I think the TV coverage was more the suffocating control that Augusta has over what is covered or not at Augusta. But, let's not kid ourselves - the network's and sports media's bread is buttered with Tiger Woods. They've always been his biggest cheerleaders.

Why shouldn't the networks be his biggest cheerleaders? He's increased PGA ratings on his own and brought more noterity and money to the tour than anyone ever. If there was no Tiger the PGA would be neck and neck with MLS and poker.

So going forward, should Tiger's morality and character remain in the spotlight, or should it be cast aside now that he's back to playing tournament golf?

It shouldn't but will. Only when he starts winning again will people forget about what he did to Elin.

But in the TMZ/National Enquirer world I don't know if it will ever go away. Even this week a huge story was his behavior on the course. There were videos of him swearing all over the blogosphere - you never would have seen that before the scandal dropped.

I do think the Tiger story will have legs unlike any other sports scandal seen before because the celeb media has caught onto it. He'll certainly be placed under a bigger microscope than before... and let's face it, he got a pass for his poor on-course behavior because of his performance, and people still considered him a role model because of his image. Now that his facade has been broken, he's open for more scrutiny in every aspect of his life.

Let's shift to Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes - should character issues take on a different form in a team sport?

No. And this is where Goodell deserves some credit, because football players no longer get a pass for being knuckleheads because they play a violent game.

It depends on who the player is. I think we clearly saw a difference and procedure and punishment depending who you were on the Steelers. Roethlisberger is still on the team and the Super Bowl MVP is gone for a 5th Round pick.

Agreed Yohey. Because Big Ben is a franchise QB, he's going to get a lot more chances and a longer leash than Holmes, no matter how many MVP's he's won. It shows an incredible double standard, but that's the reality of the situation... in spite of the absolutely terrible light that the new reports put him in.

But, it's not like this was Santonio Holmes' first run-in either. It's also hard to say which offense was worse or who "deserves" more punishment and accountability. They both screwed up.

It is fascinating though to hear how those character issues "affect the locker room" and that Big Ben might lose his leadership mantle, placed his career in jeopardy, etc.... when the same media does its best to remove any relation between Tiger's character and on-course performance.

Those are two completely different areas with Ben and Tiger. In football you need the other players to trust you. If they don't than the team won't perform as good as it could and you won't win. However, Tiger only has to worry about himself on the course. You don't need to be concerned with the conduct of others in golf, just yourself.

In all honesty though, golf needs Tiger a lot more than the NFL needs Big Ben. If Big Ben continues to act like a spoiled frat boy instead of the face of one of the league's premier franchises, he'll be dumped because nobody in the NFL is above the shield. Meanwhile, Tiger has to be protected to some degree because if the country turns its back on Tiger, it turns its back on the sport of golf at the same time.

I think that's it. Since Big Ben is the face of a team, franchise, and city that identifies with him, character becomes a much bigger issue in a team sport than in an individual sport. Tiger has no home fan base to answer to.

As with everything else, winning cures all. If the Steelers win then character issues go out the door, but if they start losing you'll see the Big Ben leadership questions start to rise again.

Coming up in Part II we'll take a look at some more tough questions regarding character in sports as we shift to focus more on Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes, Dez Bryant and many more hard-hitting topics. Bye for now...