From a bunch of you cats
Draft thoughts please? Grades. Winners/losers etc.
Gang -
Well, that was a ton of fun. Seriously.
Well, unless you are a Browns fan. And we are not going to say so-and-so is a bust and so-and-so is a stud, but the draft is as much about value as it is about talent. In that regard, the Browns turned picks 1 and 4 into prospects that ranged between 12 and 14 - at best - on most boards.
To that end, the Browns have the day 1 draft haul we like the least. Sure, Baker Mayfield could be Brett Favre-light and Denzel Ward could be a 10-year starter and then it will be brilliant. But we will ask these two questions: One, can you name a quarterback in the modern-era who has had as many off-the-field issues as Mayfield who became a bona fide NFL starter? Two,
Here are the top and bottom five grades from franchises in Thursday's round one:
F - Cleveland. Hate the Browns' draft, as we mentioned, on value as much as anything else. Cleveland could have easily had those same two cats while moving back and the Browns still managed to take risky unknowns at 1 and 4 with certainties at DE, RB and OL still on the board. Browns going to Brown.
F - San Francisco. The 49ers panicked with Quenton Nelson, Roquan Smith and Denzel Ward off the board and grabbed a right tackle at No. 9.
F - Roger Goodell. Man, if you go to a place you get booed - in Dallas mind you - with Witten, Aikman and Staubach on stage then you have no shot. Heck, that was the worst reception by a Dallas crowd since Kennedy outside the Book Depository.
F - Dallas. Leighton Vander Esch? Seriously? Leighton Vander Esch sounds like your accounting firm. Leighton Vander Esch? Over Rashaan Evans and with receiver Calvin Ridley on the board? Here's betting the Cowboys are going to regret this pick.
F - Seattle. Rashaad Penny? Say what? Hey, Penny may be a fine running back, but would you rather have Penny - as a first-rounder mind you? - over Derris Guice, Sony Michel or Nick Chubb? Oh my, and it's not like the Seahawks did not have a lot of needs. (Josh Jackson as Richard Sherman's replacement likely made too much sense, we suppose.)
C - Tampa Bay. It could have been the best value move of Thursday's first round by far. The Bucs were pegged to be a perfect match for Derwin James at No. 7 overall. The Bucs dealt 7 to the Bills for two second-rounders and still could have landed James at 12. It would have been perfect, until the Bucs pulled a Bucs and picked a Vita Vea, a defensive lineman for a team that has added a lot of defensive linemen in the last six months.
A - Indianapolis. The Colts got a 10-year Pro Bowl-level player at a position of great need in Nelson and added three second-round picks to do it.
A - David Shaw. Yes, Kiper and Co. were on the ESPN broadcast, but the Stanford coach was aces on the Fox broadcast when we clicked over. (Side note: Louis Riddick may be the best NFL analyst not named Tony Romo working in TV today.)
A - Los Angeles Chargers. As a ton of other teams were wheeling and dealing, moving up for quarterbacks or moving back for picks, the Chargers stood still and watched as a bona fide top-seven or -eight overall player fall into their laps at No. 17.
A - Ozzie Newsome. In his last draft as the Ravens GM Newsome - a former tight end - landed the best tight end on the board to add to an offense in need of perimeter help. Hayden Hurst is a great player, and did we mention that the Ravens added a slew of picks in doing it? Then to make it complete, Newsmen traded back into round one at 32 and got Lamar Jackson. You go Ozzie Newsome, and if Jackson hits, think of the draft legacy Ozzie leaves from starting with Ray Lewis.
A - Rookie quarterback story lines. Sam Darnold's grandfather, a dude named Dick Hammer, was the Marlboro Man. Josh Rosen's grandfather started the Wharton Business School and his parents were champion ice dancers.
BONUS A - Alabama. Dude, the program puts out studs. And I can make a hard argument that potentially two of the best five picks in round one were Minkah Fitzpatrick at 11 and Calvin Ridley at 26.
Feel free to offer your feedback, and here's a starting point: Why do draft analysts say quarterbacks can go and learn from a veteran? How many current NFL starters are falling all over themselves to train their replacements and give up their gigs?
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throws a touchdown pass under pressure from the Eagles' Fletcher Cox during an NFC divisional-round playoff game last January in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 15-10. The teams will play a rematch Sept. 6 to open the NFL schedule.From Scott
Which quarterbacks had the best and worst day Thursday? Thanks for all you do online and on the radio.
Scott -
Good question, and let's review.
Quarterback winners:
Matt Ryan. More on this in a moment, but even as the Falcons had a need across the defensive front, getting Ryan another weapon in Calvin Ridley certainly has to make Ryan smile. (And know this, speaking of value, if you are Mike Ryan headed into a contract negotiation that could be record-setting, maybe you'd be willing to give back a little more coin at the table to play with all those skill dudes and for a team willing to provide you pieces.)
David Carr. OK, the Raiders moved from 10 to 15 and got a third-rounder in return. At 15, the Raiders took a pick-and-place tackle in UCLA's Kolton Miller. (Something that has to make Carr happy considering he'll face pass rushers Justin Houston, Von Miller - as well as Bradley Chubb - and Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa six times a year.) Then they turned around and dealt that No. 3 to Pittsburgh for Martavis Bryant.
Eli Manning. Debate whether the Giants should have picked Sam Darnold or not, but there is no debating that Manning has to be smiling with a) his increased job security and b) the addition of Saquon Barkley gives the Giants arguably the most athletic RB-TE-WR trio in the league.
Josh Rosen. Say what you want about his quotes - and we're sure the league will scrub the personality out of him - but dude seemed overly motivated and of the rookies picked in round one, who among them goes to a place with a more clear path to the QB1 gig ('cause we all know that Sam Bradford is going to get hurt) and which team that took a rookie in round one has skill guys like Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson around the newcomer?
Quarterback losers:
Baker Mayfield. Yes going No. 1 is cool, but well, you know the history of the Cleveland Browns, right?
Joe Flacco. Heading into his next to final year under contract, Joe meet Lamar, Lamar meet Joe. Try to show him the ropes.
Patrick Mahomes. The second-year Chiefs Qb is the presumed starter, and consider the pass rushers he's going to face in the AFC West now that Denver has added Chubb to Miller, the Chargers have their tandem and the Raiders have Khalil Mack?
Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley had four catches in last month's national championship victory over Georgia, including a 7-yard touchdown reception that tied the game with 3:49 left in regulation.From Mike
Did you think Titans or Falcons got the better Alabama player?
Thanks and looking forward to Press Row today. I've heard you are partial to the draft.
Mike -
Thanks. If you get the chance come join the Press Row crew at Choo Choo Golf Academy from 3-6 today. Good times. (It's off Mackey Road in East Brainerd.)
If we were to grade the entire draft process, we think the Titans and the Falcons were each in the B-to-B-plus range.
Evans has multiple skills and can play inside, outside and even rush the passer on third down. Here's betting the Titans' move up to get Evans - head coach Mike Vrabel likely thinking he needed to get in front of the Patriots - was needed.
Tennessee gets kudos for being aggressive and getting a dude who can help now and into the future.
Atlanta just sat back and watched as Calvin Ridley continued to drop. Considering stats with a throw-first quarterback during his freshman season, Ridley is every bit the pro prospect Amari Cooper was a few years ago.
We love the addition of Ridley in terms of value right now - the running backs, Julio Jones, Sanu and Ridley gives Matt Ryan arguably the best collection of weapons in football. And if the social media smokescreen that Julio pulled with the Instagram cleansing means he's going to explore free agency, we thing Ridley could be a No. 1 receiver down the road.
Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)From Benny C.
Hey man, love the show and your writing style.
I was talking with a friend of mine and we wanted to ask you if the fact there's now an Uncle Drew movie, does that make it the best commercial of all time?
Thanks for your thoughts and keep up the great work.
Benny C. -
Thanks for the kind words. That's such a fun question, and it has great merit.
Yes, a feature film from a commercial transcends almost all previous standards.
If we had to offer a Rushmore of commercials that transcend ads, we'd starter with the "Hey Vern" guy who got a series of "Vern Saves" movies after starting as a commercial. There was the Max Headroom concept that became a TV show back in the day.
There also was the Greco commercials with the cavemen - "So easy a Caveman could do it" - that spawned a sitcom. Yes it was a terrible sitcom, but that still is a monster achievement in marketing.
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a solo home run off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey in the second inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Cincinnati. Acuna recorded his second major league hit overall and his first home run. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)From BravesBacker
How dumb are you really? Ronald Acuna finishing as a .200 hitter after one game?
I am done with your negative bull(poop)!!!
BravesBacker -
You are so right. And with another day to reflect on Mr. Acuna, we now have qualitative proof that he will lead the league in hitting (he's on pace to hit .444 after all) and the rest of his numbers will be just as impressive.
Played out over the rest of the season, here are Acuna's projections: 140 games; 630 at-bats; 140 runs scored; 70 doubles; 70 homers; 140 RBIs; a 1.333 slugging percentage.
That could be good enough for MVP consideration, don't you think?
(Negative or not, and while we appreciate you swinging by the 5-at-10, well, if you are that oppose to sarcasm, well, hey, enjoy the day dear reader.)
FILE - In this May 18, 2015 file photo, U.S actor, Al Pacino is seen in London. This year’s Kennedy Center honorees include musicians who span genres including pop, rock, gospel, blues, folk and classical _ and an actor known for his extraordinary range. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Thursday, June 23, 2016, that actor Al Pacino, rock band the Eagles, Argentine pianist Martha Argerich, gospel and blues singer Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter James Taylor will be honored for influencing American culture through the arts. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File) This week's Rushmores
Rushmore of Pacino movies (non-Godfather edition): Heat, Scent of a Woman (although it was so critically acclaimed he has been playing the same character for the last 25 years), Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon.
Rushmore of appetizers: Cheese sticks, those spicy shrimp things (Bang-Bang or whatever you call them), wings (of course wings), and potato skins
Rushmore of William: Shakespeare, Wallace, Faulkner, Shatner
Rushmore of surprising NFL draft busts: Keith McCants, Matt Leinert, Trent Richardson, Charles Rogers.