We're back with Final Day Coverage of the NFL Draft and Rounds 4-7. This won't be as much of a live blog, but thoughts throughout the day. We'll be back Monday with our much anticipated Draft Grades. Already today we've seen some surprises, steals, and slides as teams look for the next All-Pro late round gem. *Round 7 has come and gone, Mr. Irrelevant finally announced after a rambling speech and a classic chant of "Overrated, Overrated" from the NYC crowd. The pick is Tim Toone from Weber St. who evidently had a "priority free agent" grade. Ironically I think I have a priority free agent grade too. With that, we draw to a close our live coverage of the NFL Draft. Thanks for everyone who dropped by for our thoughts, we'll try and make sense of it all with our Draft Grades coming soon! Bye for now.
*The Bengals just made my favorite pick of R6 by grabbing Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe. In fact, I was stunned Briscoe's teammate went in R5 to Atlanta before Briscoe. Briscoe put up massive numbers at Kansas. All you need to know about Briscoe is that he put up 14/242/2 in the Border War against Mizzou this year. He and Jordan Shipley can help improve a declining Cincy passing game.
*Jonathan Dwyer is finally drafted in R6 by the Steelers. With the loss of Willie Parker, he should be able to get some carries behind Rashard Mendenhall.
*Well, while we're all talking our teams, I have to say the Bears pick of Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour was certainly a surprise. With Jay Cutler still a few years shy of 30, there really wasn't a need for a developmental QB. If anything, the Bears should've been looking for an experienced backup, instead of what they currently have in Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez. But...after you consider LeFevour's success in college, and his makeup, he could be a guy that can be at worst a solid backup, and can maybe even start in a few years if Cutler falls flat. The best part though, seeing LeFevour being interviewed in his home outside of Chicago with a Walter Payton jersey hanging in the background. That's one of the special moments of the draft when a kid can go to the team of his childhood, you could tell it was a special moment for LeFevour.
*Brother Yohey here. I have to say I am quite pleased with Cleveland being able to snag USF WR Carlton Mitchell. He is a player that they have worked out and should be able to get the chance to catch on with the team. The receiving core of Massaquoi and Robiskie need time to develop, and with Mitchell and hopefully the addition of some veteran WR would make the Browns receiving core much improved. McCoy to Mitchell in the future? Possible.
*By the way, one last thought on the Millen/Jaworski/Poland controversy, I understand that we live in a world that is too PC a lot of the time. But, any time you use a word that's defined in the online Racial Slur Dictionary - an on-air apology is a good idea.
*A couple of guys to note: Jonathan Crompton (QB-Tenn) who for some reason is a favorite of Ron Jaworski. He goes to the Chargers, which means he won't throw a pass for 4 years and then be mysteriously traded away as a franchise QB. RB Anthony Dixon finally goes to SF, although as a giant power back he isn't that much of a changeup for Frank Gore. Also, if ever healthy, DE Greg Hardy from Ole Miss could be a steal for Carolina.
*Maybe we just need to start a blog on Stupid Things People Say?
*Oh, and Round 6 has started. In the last 4 days we've had Lawrence Frank drop the F-bomb and S-bomb, Jon Gruden say dumb@$$ on air, and now Matt Millen using an ethnic slur. This has been a banner weekend for ESPN. Odds are that the next ESPN personality to swear/say something stupid is Mel Kiper Jr. as he seeks to destroy Todd McShay.
*By the way, almost on cue (see below a few paragraphs) Rex Ryan has hogged back the spotlight.
*WTF was that with Matt Millen and his apology?? The only thing I remember Millen and Jaworski talking about was fried bologna sandwiches - is that offensive to Polish people? Was it something else?? Did anybody remember anything offensive that was said there?? Maybe I might have missed something that was actually offensive. Wow. That was insanely awkward. Hundreds of folks at ESPN have said much worse over the years. Simply bizarre.
**Update: I didn't catch it... sorry, I might have tuned out after the thrilling bologna sandwich analysis. But, evidently Millen called Jaworski a "Polak" which, of course, is a derogatory term - apology probably justified, especially in the hyper politically correct age. Maybe Millen was watching an episode of All in the Family and thought it was a good idea to say again on National TV. (Insert screaming Lions fans begging for their own apology)
*Just to chime in on Y1's Saints parade - the Browns make one of the best picks of Round 5 with one of my guys to watch Larry Asante. Cleveland reached for TJ Ward in R2 at the same position, and Asante might end up being a better player.
*The Saints make another move up for C Matt Tennant from BC. It's not a bad developmental pick with Jonathan Goodwin there although I'm not a fan of giving up a 2011 4th Rounder. Tennant had a 2nd round grade from a lot of folks, so it is somewhat of a steal. Also, don't forget that Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks came from the mid to late rounds of the Draft. The fascinating thing is that the 158th Pick was held by 6 different teams!! Not to be Jayson Stark, but that has to be a record, right?
*I know the Seahawks are having a great weekend, but 2 Pete Carroll interviews? There are 31 other coaches in the league. Rex Ryan has got to be considering a drastic step to get the spotlight back on himself - eat Pete Carroll. Yes, I know 2 fat jokes in a row is rather harsh, but it's Day 3, give me a break!
*Wow. Jason Campbell is a Raider. It's a move that certainly makes sense, especially when you consider that Bruce Gradkowski was pencilled in as the starter. At least JaMarcus Russell has more time on his hand to pursue his true calling - eating KFC Double Downs.
*My goodness, can ESPN please mix up the music coming in and out of break just a little bit? I think I've heard Empire State of Mind 78 times.
*A 5th Rounder worth watching that could end up starting early on is 3-4 DT Cam Thomas going to San Diego, who let Jamal Williams go in the offseason. Thomas was great value at that spot and fills a need - to me, those have always been the best sort of draft picks, right?
*At Pick 146, a lot of players that we highlighted are still available - QBs Jarrett Brown and Tony Pike, RBs Jonathan Dwyer and Anthony Dixon, WRs Dezmon Briscoe and Danario Alexander, DE George Selvie and Ss Kurt Coleman and Larry Asante.
*I'm somewhat surprised at all of the veteran trades and the lack of value that teams are getting back. Players that have produced in the league are being acquired for nothing less than moving up a few picks in Round 5...
-Lendale White & Leon Washington to Seattle: Low risk moves that could pay big dividends. White is reunited with Pete Carroll and he also gets a playmaker in Leon Washington. With Justin Forcett as the steady down to down back, the Seahawks now have a complete backfield.
-Kirk Morrison to Jacksonville: Morrison became expendable after the arrival of Rolando McClain in Oakland. It's a solid move for the Jags to pick up a veteran LB. But again, it's not Tim Tebow.
*By the way - did you know which local market had the highest ratings for the Draft? Jacksonville! Home of the Jags... and Tim Tebow! You don't think there is a correlation there? Yes, eh might have been a reach, yada yada yada, but still, Tim Tebow might have put enough butts in the seats to ensure the Jags stay in Jacksonville.
-Other big names left to watch throughout the day include Marshawn Lynch, Albert Haynesworth, Jamaal Brown, John Henderson, and Jason Campbell.
*The obsession with QBs in the later rounds is a little overblown. For every Tom Brady there are 7 Giovanni Carmazzis. I'm high on Dan LeFevour and I know Brother Yohey likes Mike Kafka, but none of these guys are going to make or break a draft Monday morning. Trying to project any as a future Pro Bowler is near impossible.
*I absolutely love the Saints' trade up to get LSU DT Al Woods in Round 4. Their major detriment on defense was an inability to stop the run. A run stuffing DT was the Saints' #1 need - and while it came a few rounds later than anticipated, the Saints got that guy in Woods. Now, with Alex Brown replacing Charles Grant and the drafting of Woods, the need has at least been addressed. Mark it down, by the end of the season Al Woods will start at DT for the New Orleans Saints. You can rarely say that for a 4th Rounder going to a Super Bowl team.
*Not sure what to make of New England and Baltimore doubling up on TEs in the draft. Aaron Hernandez (NE) and Dennis Pitta (Bal) already drafted TEs yesterday. I suppose with so many picks and talent already on the teams, maybe they think that at least one of their picks will develop.
*With Todd McShay and Mel Kiper on set together, look for any clues that might solve one of the great mysterys in sport, do these guys really hate each other? At least it will make Day 3 interesting. Also, I like Trey Wingo much more than Chris Berman, but his bromance with Jaws is rather annoying.
*I'm going to count our Mock pick of Oakland nabbing Maryland OT Bruce Campbell at #8 as correct. Hey, we got the team and player right, we were only 98 picks off... speaking of Campbell - that Sport Science feature was awesome. Fantastic move by ESPN to pick up that franchise from the ever disappearing Fox Sports Net.
*While St. Louis probably should have used the leverage with the 1st pick of Day 2 to move down and get more picks, they made the right call with WR Mardy Gilyard to start Day 3. Gilyard has the goods to contribute right away - on special teams especially.
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