Accurate draft grades
Everyone is falling all over themselves to grade last weekend's NFL draft.
Hey, we're in that group too. We love the draft. You know this. But accurately grading whether the Bears deserve an F for moving three picks to move up one spot is useless until we see what happens with Mitchell trubisky.
Case in point: When the Falcons moved a truck load of picks to Cleveland to get some dude named Julio, everyone thought it was too much. You think it's too much now for the game's best wide out when he's healthy?
With that, if we're going to grade a draft, let's go back three years and grade the 2014 draft with knowledge of what the players have and have not done. We're not going to offer 32 complete grades. Instead we'll do the three best and worst. Deal? Deal.
A+++ - Oakland Raiders. This ranks right there with one of the best drafts of the last decade considering the Raiders added the best defensive player on the planet right now with Khalil Mack, franchise quarterback Derek Carr in round two, Pro Bowl guard Gabe Jackson in round three and defensive starters Justin Ellis and Keith McGill in round four. That's star power and production.
A - Atlanta Falcons. Jake Matthews is a legit left tackle. Devonta Freeman was a fourth-round home run. And Ra'Shede Hageman and Ricardo Allen are defensive starters.
B+ - New England. And this grade is high praise considering the Pats whiffed on first-round pick Dominique Easley. But a future quarterback and big-time trade chip in Jimmy Garoppolo as well as starters Bryan Stork, Cam Fleming and James White came in subsequent picks. Also of note: Malcolm Butler, an All-Pro corner, was added as an undrafted free agent in this class.
Honorable mention to the Steelers, Giants and Packers.
As for the worst, well, look around the league and it will not be too hard to figure.
Chicago, Cleveland (who took Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert in round one in 2014) and the New York Jets whiffed on almost all their picks. We'd add in there the terrible draft Chip Kelly had with the Eagles too.
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, right, drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors' Patrick Patterson (54) in the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series,, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) NBA playoffs
OK, we'll repeat Darren Rovel's tweet asking if LeBron James is the best passing forward in NBA history.
True or false.
Last night was an interest start to two potentially interesting series. Notice we did not say last night was an dramatic start.
First, James and the Cavs throttled the Toronto Raptors, a team many thought could scare the defending champs. And they still could. It's only one game. But Toronto could not slow down the Cavs offense, which was triggered by James and was amazingly efficient from the start. (Cleveland had 20 assists on its first 27 baskets.)
In the West, Houston went to San Antonio and cleaned the Spurs' clock. It was staggering and overwhelming.
Does that change the perception of either series? Maybe a little.
And we think the Houston landslide was more pointed and grabbed homeport for the series. Houston shot 50 3s - making 22 of them - in a flurry of bombs that San Antonio could not match. Simply put, the Rockets when they are making 3s change the dynamic. They rendered Spurs star forward LeMarcus Aldridge useless by stretching the floor. (He was minus-36 in 25 minutes friends.)
It was stunning. In both cities.
Kentucky Derby 143 hopeful Gunnevera, ridden by exercise rider Victor O'Farrel, gallops at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Sunday, Apr. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Garry Jones) Kentucky Derby contest
Man, what are we thinking? The run of 5-at-10 contests continue, and we forgot to mention it yesterday.
That's right with Saturday's running of the Kentucky Derby, we are obligated for a good Derby contest. Right? Right. Here are the odds on the field as of now:
Classic Empire 4/1
Always Dreaming 4/1
Irish War Cry 13/2
McCraken 7/1
Gunnevera 12/1
Gormley 16/1
Practical Joke 16/1
Thunder Snow 16/1
Girvin 16/1
Hence 22/1
Irap 25/1
Tapwrit 25/1
Lookin At Lee 28/1
Battle of Midway 28/1
J Boys Echo 33/1
Sonneteer 33/1
Patch 40/1
State Of Honor 40/1
Untrapped 50/1
Fast and Accurate 66/1
Royal Mo 33/1
You know the drill. Pick the winner and you get a point; pick the last-place horse and you get 1.5. Who's in?
You know the drill. Need submissions by close of BID-ness on Friday.
This and that
* This is amazing. David Ross, the former Cubs and Braves catcher is competing on Dancing With the Stars. During this practice session, he dropped his partner. In return, she squeezed the cheese right in his face. Seriously.
* Here's a good update on Keionta Davis, the UTC All-America defensive end who went undrafted because of a bulging disc. Good work from TFP UTC beat ace Mean Gene Henley.
* Speaking of good work, here's a thorough wrap of the SEC East spring practice from TFP SEC ace and Press Row co-host David Paschall. Expect the West tomorrow.
* Thought this was interesting as these states produced the most NFL picks in this draft. Also thought this was interesting, as it details which high school programs have produced the most NFL picks in the last decade or so.
* Butch Jones needs to get this kid some shoulder pads. That's a UT sprinter dropping an electronically timed 4.12 40.
Today's question
Let's do some "True or False." It's a Tuesday after all.
True or false, the Cavs will be tested in the East playoffs.
True or false, one of the three quarterbacks picked in the first round will be a consistent Pro Bowler.
True or false, Hoof Hearted is the best horse name of all time. (Watch and enjoy.)
Lots of quirky baseball anniversaries on May 2 through the years.
On this day in 1876, Ross Barnes hit the first home in National League history. We are unsure if he flipped his bat. On this day in 1908, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is registered for copyright. Allegedly a young Harry Caray took a big swig of whole milk when he first heard the tune. On this day in 1920, the first National Negro League game is played in Indianapolis. On this day in 1939, Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games ends. On this day in 1941, Ted Williams' average fell to .308. That was the lowest it would be all season as he finished at .406.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is 45 today. Six years ago today, Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy Seals. Five years ago today, Junior Seau committed suicide.
As for a Rushmore, on this day in 1892, World War I flying ace The Red Baron was born. What's the Rushmore of people with a color in their name?
Go.