NFL Draft 2013: Around The NFCW Through Day Two

Notes from NFCW draft moves:
- The SF Niners had a ton of picks and have maneuvered up and down the board through the first few days but they've definitely improved their roster. When I look at the Niners objectively (admittedly, I would like them to lose all their games), I see a team that needed more lateral speed and tackling ability on the edges to slow down so called factor backs like A.Peterson, R.Rice, and M.Lynch, but also needed a bruising safety to punish versatile downfield threats like the bigger pass catching tight-ends and the thicker WRs you see out of Green Bay and the NYGiants. They got those guys in the form of 2 DEs and one of the better safety prospects in this draft. They also added a small school pass catching Tight End to help offset the loss of Delanie Walker. The rich get richer, but this team still isn't invincible in the NFCW.

- The St. Louis Rams were an underrated squad in 2012. By season's end I was convinced they were just suffering from execution problems and already had in place a pretty solid core of talent on both lines and up the middle of the defense. What they were missing was surehanded playmakers, so they went out and got two of the highest rated WRs in the this draft. It helps that huge holes were left by the departures of Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson to the AFCE; I usually think skill position players that aren't 100% locks are luxury picks, but the Rams honestly had a need. I would say this makes their offense much improved, but considering the secondaries and linebacking cores the Niners and Seahawks already have in place, the Rams are still looking up in the division from a match-up perspective. At the very least, by the end of the 2013 season, Coach Fisher will know exactly what he has in Sam Bradford.

- The Arizona Cardinals had a lot of talent on defense, and a lot of talent on offense, but desperately needed a quarterback and quality depth on the back end. I guess they've addressed that. They took a run stopping LB in the second and shocked the world taking honey badger Tyrann Matheiu in the 3rd. He can slide right into a safety role and return punts and should pair nicely with LSU BFF Patrick Peterson. Honestly, that early win streak notwithstanding, this team was so jarringly bad week in and week out in 2012 I can't even rightly evaluate their picks. Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer can't take them anywhere but up.


I'll be doing a profile on every seahawks draft pick over the next few days, and a more general outlook on the draft's bigger storylines.

NFL Draft 2013: Day One Winners and Losers

Football is finally back, folks. And after watching the commish stumble on stage for a few hours making announcements, day one is wrapped up and in the books. We saw some strong picks from start to finish, a few head-scratchers in the middle, and a moving speech by Joe Andruzzi. I'm of the opinion that you can't really analyze how well a draft went until opening day rosters are compiled, but here's a dirty take on my day one winners and losers:

First, the winners.

1. The Minnesota Vikings clobbered day one. They were barely a playoff team, riding the legs of Adrian Peterson past the final weekend. I still believe with all my heart that the Packers threw that last game to avoid having to play the Bears, but that's neither here nor there. They started the day with 2 first round picks and a ton of needs, and beginning with pick 23, improved substantially on both sides of the ball with three selections. I thought Sharrif Floyd out of Florida was the best DT in the draft and he fell to them; next they moved on Xavier Rhodes out of FSU who I had rated as the third best DB behind Dee Milliner and the Honey Badger; finally, they traded a king's ransom of probable bit players to New England to fill the glaring gap at WR with the Volunteer Cordarelle Patterson. I still think Christian Ponder is at his absolute best a second tier NFL QB but the Vikings addressed three huge needs at critical positions with total locks in this draft class. If they can get a competent LB, a two down DE, and a nickel corner on day two, they shouldn't need another impossible season from Mr. Peterson to make the playoffs in 2013. Just a decent season.

2. EJ Manuel did everything he could and was rewarded for it. I don't think the Bills reached on him. Florida State is quickly developing a pedigree for QBs, even if Christian Ponder has been underwhelming at times. The Bills definitely need some sure talent under center after the Harvard guy disappointed, and with the read-option in vogue, their ownership did the right thing here. The Bills still have huge holes all over the OL and at CB, and they could stand to get quality depth at the skill positions, but much like Ponder before him, EJ Manuel has to feel pretty good about the opportunity he's been given to really establish himself with a new coaching staff. I'm happy for him.

3. Bill Belichick found some spare picks to pick up some spare parts. There's not much to explain here. Belichick knows how to play the draft and fleece other franchises and turn their perceived strengths into weaknesses. He knows when to pounce. The Patriots started this weekend with a relative shortage of picks and when the opportunity came for Billy Boy to acquire a few more, he traded 1 possible starter for least 3 probable contributors. It stands out as a good move.

And now, the losers.

1. The New York Jets continue to confuse. That team has been in full blown rebuilding mode for a while now. They have holes all over both lines, the state of the locker room is in shambles, they just traded their best player, Coach Ryan is probably a lame duck, and QB Mark Sanchez is out of chances. I usually give free points to teams who can find a way to pick twice in the first round because that's double the ammunition to get potentially big-time contributors, but I feel like the Jets "missed" on both. They took the consensus best CB Dee Milliner in the draft at 9, and while it would have been a great pick for say the Panthers, or Chargers, the Jets really should have addressed their offensive line here with either the best rated OG in Chance Warmack or the next best rated OT in DJ Fluker, and it's no surprise both of those players immediately went after the Jets made their first pick. At 13, they took Richard Sheldon while both Star Lotulelei and Sharrif Floyd were available. I want to say I'm shocked but I'm not really shocked because this is just same old-same old from the Jets the last couple years. The picks aren't terrible bad, but how does this day one help that offense throw or run the ball any better? Their futility on offense is what's put them in this hole.

2. The Miami Dolphins are just trolling us at this point. It's pretty obvious they bit the Eagles' feint on Dion Jordan and moved up to beat Philly to him, but it was totally unnecessary. Jordan is a great talent and all, but I'd put money down that even had Jordan been there at 4, Chip Kelly was sure as shit taking Lane Johnson. He addresses a way bigger need for Kelly and the offense he's trying to install. Considering the Dolphins gave up a pick to "steal" draft position on a player that was more hype down the stretch than solid established talent, I have to say Miami just looks silly. And after this offseason, with all the goofy contracts they've handed out, it's just more of the same.

3. The 2013 QB class is paying the price for GMs unwillingness to deal out of value. I've been saying it for years: just because you don't have a great QB right now doesn't mean you need to "waste" a first round pick on one. I think the league is finally getting it. I feel bad for Geno Smith, who was effectively embarrassed on national television by 30 NFL franchises, but the truth is, it's not surprising. 6 or 7 franchises have question marks at QB but not definite holes. 1 or 2 could have afforded to draft a QB in the first round but only one of them did. I mean, I'm more surprised that Eddie Lacy (or ANY runningback for that matter) didn't go in the first than I am Geno Smith still doesn't have a team. But considering how hot QBs are and have been since forever, it is a little telling that Geno and Barkley and Landry Jones and their outfit have been pushed back til day two or beyond. Again, good for you EJ Manuel.


I'll do another writeup after day two, tomorrow. I'm anticipating strong moves from the Raiders, Patriots, and Niners.

Screw Iginla, Bruins Pick Up Jagr

Jagr is a beast. He is a sniper. He is a man with a singular goal. That goal is playing hockey in its purest form. Simply put, Jaromir Jagr is the hockey equivalent of a mercenary.

Yeah, mercenary is the word. He has bounced between teams, selling himself to the highest bidder with no regard to league or loyalty. He left the NHL for the KHL and came back again. He spit in the face of his old Pittsburgh Penguins and joined the rival Philadelphia Flyers. The mulleted mercenary had a stint in New York, then bolted for the Dallas Stars when they gave him a one-year, $4.5 million deal. However, at this moment, he will wear Bostons Black and Yellow.

Some people are still crying about the Iginla trade. Those people need to go shut their head in a door. The Bruins don't need a franchise player that spent his best years at another team. The Bruins need a man that is there for a singular job. A Mercenary. Jagr is a pro. He cares only about hockey and obviously knows how to adjust to new surroundings. He simply gives no fucks about team politics, he is an in and out guy with points and another cup on the brain. One of the best. No, he is not as gritty as other players. But the real question here is "do the Bruins necessarily need another power forward or more toughness?" If Milan THE GOOCH Lucic quits playing his worst and weakest hockey, they will have power and grit locked up.

What they need is someone to address their terrible, and I do mean terrible, power play. It ranks 24th in the NHL, converting at only 15.2 percent.That is garbage, but that is where Jagr can be the most effective. In this short season, Jagr has 6 power play goals and 26 points. He has as many goals in total as Bruins’ goal-scoring leader, the NOSE FACE KILLER Brad Marchand. That’s three more power-play goals than any current Bruin. Jagr and Krejci on a line will absolutely crush. Great day to be a Bruins fan.

This man's highlight reel speaks for itself, and if he wants to stop in at TD Gardens on his way to the hall of fame, we will be glad to have him.

P.S. #2 in this video is seriously one of the best examples of a pure goal scorer you will see on the ice.

P.P.S. If you find a pro sports mullet better than Jagr-meisters, I challenge you to post one.