Back for round two. If you're unaware, I've decided to keep a running diary of the NFL Draft, separating it into two parts. Scroll down (it might take awhile) and check out the Part I, which covers the first sixteen picks of the first round. After taking a break, stretching the back and ordering some grub, it's time to get back on the horse and close this bitch out, so here we go.**Also, be sure to check out my late night post from Friday night/early Saturday morning for an update of the last two months**
3:38 pm - My my my, what a surprise. While I was away, it seems that the Broncos moved up in the draft (for perhaps the 14th time in the last 9 years) in a trade with Jacksonville to grab Jarvis Moss, a DE from Florida at spot 17. Last year, the Broncos started out the season with an unstoppable defense, got whipped by the Colts, and were never the same. Another draftee with character issues, the guy might go far to improve an insufficient Denver pass rush.
The next pick was by the Cincinnati Bengals, who had to ask the commissioner if Michigan CB Leon Hall was actually still available or if they were hallucinating thanks to Chris Henry's bong smoke. Turns out that the best corner in the draft was, in fact, still there at 18 and the Bengals wasted no time in grabbing him and praying that he's a quality, law abiding citizen. Wouldn't that be a nice change of pace?
3:45 pm - By the way, my new favorite ESPN commercial has to be the one featuring Big Papi trying on Jorge Posada's baseball cap and trying to convince Wally, the Red Sox mascot, that there's nothing going on. Classic. Wally the Green Monster should get a nomination for his roll: to communicate such disgust and anger without speaking a word is a momentous moment in commercial history. Bravo.
3:49 pm - Bad news for the Eagles. The Titans opted to not give Vince Young a better receiving threat and went ahead and grabbed Michael Griffin, the safety from Texas, the same Michael Griffin that was expected to be there for the Eagles at the 26 spot. Reggie Nelson, the safety from Florida, is still on the board, but after that the group of quality secondary players begins to thin. Let's hope we start seeing some lineman and WRs coming off the board.3:56 pm - Time for the fucking football Giants of New York. The fans are out in force, apparently unaware of the imminent collapse of their beloved team later this season. Poor bastards, they're dead in the water and they don't even know it.
And with a nice little "fuck you" directed towards the Eagles draft hopes, the G-men select another kid out of Texas, cornerback Aaron Ross. Now I'm really getting worried. The good news is that a lot of DEs are still available, and adding youth to an aging position wouldn't be entirely bad. On the other hand, the list of players in the secondary continues to shrink, and with teams like the Patriots and Chiefs still ahead, we need to start dodging some bullets.
Worse yet, Phil would have done the always hilarious "Phil Dance" (which he's actually never done) had the giants selected Brady Quinn. Seriously, how funny would it have been for NY to take a QB and serve Eli Manning notice that he won't be able to keep his job after this season just on his pedigree alone.
4:03 pm - At the 21st spot in the draft, the Jaguars (who traded down with the Broncos) just took Reggie Nelson (S, Florida), and now I'm going to jump off a ledge. So much for dodging bullets.
4:05 pm - We're officially at a bit of a low point. . . . that is, until I went back and checked out this video of an American ballplayer getting hit by a pitch in a Japanese league and the ensuing hilarity. I feel better already.
4:10 pm - I have to admit, having Keyshawn on the ESPN panel really hasn't turned out to be that bad of an idea. When you consider the shoes he is filling (the human crack-pipe, Michael Irvin), he really didn't have to do much. Don't try to speak every two seconds, don't try and talk over the other members of the panel, and don't limit your praise to wide receivers and TO; a pretty straight forward formula for success.
And you know what? So far, so good. Sure, Keyshawn hasn't exactly contributed much in the way of insider knowledge or impressive game-film analysis, but he's also not dragging down the coverage. Considering the company he's in (Mort, Young and Berman can easily handle the load and keep Mel Kiper and his raging draft boner in check), he's done what I hoped he might do which is he hasn't rocked the boat. Well done Keyshawn, I approve.
4:17 pm - Huge news. Cleveland, after passing on Brady Quinn at the three spot and opting instead to bolster their offensive line, now traded up (way up) from the second round to the spot held by Dallas to snag the still free-falling Quinn from the commissioners secret lair. They had to give up their second round and their first from next year (oof) to do it, but it's quite possible that this might be a great move. Cleveland now has a chance to not only have the best offensive tackle in the draft, but they also grab a QB who was thought to go in the top 3. A first rounder next year is pretty heavy, but if they finish the season in the 8-8 range then we'll have to show respect to the Browns front office.
On a sad note, Quinn came within two spots of tying Rogers for the biggest free-fall of a projected top pick in the first round in recent history. Damn. Well, it was a good ride while it lasted.
Time for a BBQ wings break, but I'll be back in time for the Eagles.4:37 pm - After covering my face in BBQ sauce and spending five minutes cleaning myself up, I'm ready to finish up. While we were away, Kansas City decided to ignore their senior citizen offensive line and instead get some WR help to compliment a new QB and a solid running game by picking up Dwayne Bowe of LSU. At the very least, it gave ESPN an excuse to show clips of KC head coach Herm Edwards, maestro of the "Miracle of the Meadowlands" and one of my favorite people in football (you should remember him from his infamous "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME" press conference). Up next is the Patriots at 24.
4:47 pm - I'm convinced that we're in the middle of a full-fledged anti-Eagles conspiracy. The Patriots just yanked yet another safety off the big board, this time Brandon Meriweather out of Miami. Another player with a troubled past (he took part in the Miami on-field fight against Florida International during last years college season), it seems that the Patriots feel they can keep this kid in line and overcome any character issues there may be.
4:56 pm - It's official, the Philadelphia Eagles are now on the clock. The Panthers pulled a "who dat?" and drafted Jon Beason, a LB out of Miami (and on cue, the people at radio city music hall hit up the Rocky soundtrack as the fans give an Eagles chant). At this point, the Eagles should probably take the best defensive player on their board: Alan Branch (DT, Michigan); Jamaal Anderson (DE, Arkansas); Paul Posluszny (LB, Penn State); and Chris Houston (CB, Arkansas).
4:58 pm - And right on cue, the Eagles trade away their pick to Dallas. Please excuse me while I stick my head in an oven and resuscitate Phil.5:02 pm - We finally find out the details of the trade: Dallas gets our first after they traded out of theirs, Philadelphia gets Dallas' second, third and fifth. Considering the fact that all the players we really wanted (IE the safeties) were off the board, it seems the Eagles front office felt it was better to move down to the second round and grab a few more picks along the way. I'm going to give them a pass on this one because A) I trust the front office and B) I don't have to watch them waste a pick on a WR. If it was any other team though, it'd be a much easier pill to swallow.
At least this running diary hasn't been reduced to a complete waste of time (um, right).
5:06 pm - With the 26th pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagl. . . . er, the Dallas Cowboys pick up the big boy from Purdue, DE Anthony Spencer. He would've looked better in green.
Great, so much for not being bitter.
. . . .
5:11 pm - I'm going to be honest here. That trade really took the wind out of my sails. Sorry, but I just don't have the heart to stick around here for the rest of the first round (I guess I'm no Bill Simmons, I apologize). I give. Uncle. I quit. My back hurts, I'm utterly disappointed, I haven't showered since yesterday and I've given myself carpal tunnel.
So what are we left with? Here's the summary:
5239 words
24 farts (including two triples, a double and 4 squeakers)
7 funny links
4 first round trades
2 big curveballs
a Virginia Tech tribute
2 new Madden '08 commercials
1 embarrassed Notre Dame QB
and zero Eagles draft picks
What a day. Hope you enjoyed the read (even if it takes you a couple of hours to finish it). Consider it my gift to everyone.
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