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Draft Day Blunders by the NFL Bottom Feeders

Ben Roethlisberger on the Lions? Bob Sanders in San Fran? Bullz-Eye.com took the worst five teams over the past five years and re-drafted the first three rounds for them in years 2005, 2004 and 2003. What would these five habitual losers look like these days with a draft makeover?

Arizona Cardinals 2003 Draft Re-Do

No. 17 – Larry Johnson, RB, Penn State (Originally selected by Kansas City at No. 27)
Original Pick: Bryant Johnson, WR, Penn State

No. 18 – Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, California (Originally selected by Oakland at No. 31)
Original Pick: Calvin Pace, DE, Wake Forest

No. 54 – Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State (Originally selected by Arizona at No. 54)
Original Pick: Boldin

Instead of signing the over-the-hill Emmitt Smith in the 2003 offseason, the Cards could have drafted LJ (right) and kick- started his career two seasons earlier than it did in Kansas City. Plus, with their second pick in the first round, ‘Zona could have vastly upgraded a weak secondary with the incredibly well rounded Asomugha. The original selection of Boldin still makes sense given his amazing rookie season (101 receptions, 1,377 yards, 8 TDs) and the degree of success he’s had thus far as a pro.

That would have been one hell of a first day for the Cards back in 2003, assuming of course LJ and Asomugha panned out in ‘Zona like they did in Kansas City and Oakland, respectively.

Final Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is just days away. Who are the Dolphins going to take first overall? Who will draft Darren McFadden? How long will Matt Ryan have to wait to hear his name called? I attempt to answer those questions by projecting the first round with my final NFL Mock Draft.

6. New York Jets
Team Needs: CB, WR, S
Bullz-Eye’s Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Gholston played defensive end at OSU, but he has the size and athleticism to make the transition to outside linebacker at the next level. The Jets could use him in the same capacity as the Cowboys use DeMarcus Ware and the Chargers use Shawne Merriman – as a sideline-to-sideline, pass-rushing monster.
Devil’s Advocate: If Darren McFadden slips past the Raiders at No. 5, it’s doubtful he’ll get past the Jets with this pick. The Jets could also look at a cornerback like Leodis McKelvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

At least 30 of the 31 picks should be right, so you might want to check it out.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Random thoughts from the NBA playoffs: Day 3

Jazz 90, Rockets 84
It doesn’t need to be said, but I’ll say it anyway: the Rockets are done. Kaput. They could steal a game in Utah, but it’s unlikely and it won’t matter. The Jazz are going to win this series…The 27 year-old Luis Scola made a late push for ROY, averaging 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds after the All-Star break, and he went for 14/5 tonight, but the guy is pretty lost defensively. I counted at least three Utah baskets that were a direct result of Scola being woefully out of position. He also committed a bonehead foul that erased a game-tying three with less than a minute to play. I don’t know how good his English is, but it has to be tough to communicate complex basketball strategy to someone who doesn’t speak the language that well.

Cavs 116, Wizards 86
Brendan Haywood deserved to get tossed for his flagrant foul on LeBron. He simply threw a two-hand shove on an airborne player and didn’t make any attempt at the ball. The league has worked hard at cleaning up that garbage, and sometimes the refs go a little too far, but they got it right this time…The Wizards have to have THE UGLIEST uniforms in the league, possibly in all of sports. I don’t know who dreamt them up, but whoever it was should be fired.

Rams eyeing Dorsey?

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network believes that if Jake Long is off the board when the Rams pick at No. 2, St. Louis will select DT Glenn Dorsey.

The Rams would then move 2007 first-round pick Adam Carriker to end, his natural position. Dorsey would start next to NT Cliff Ryan. Schefter thinks that if Jake and Dorsey go 1-2, Atlanta would lean toward Matt Ryan at No. 3.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Glenn Dorsey is the best defensive player in this draft. That’s not a knock on Chris Long, Vernon Gholston or any other prospect – Dorsey is just that good. He was double and triple teamed in many games this year and he still dominated. He’s going to be a hell of a pass rusher in the NFL, but he doesn’t get enough credit for how he plays the run.

I never got why the Rams moved Carriker to tackle last year anyway. I understand his size allowed him to make the move, but his natural position is at end. St. Louis would go a long way in beefing up their pass rush with Dorsey, Long or Gholston but for what it’s worth, Dorsey would be my pick.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Manu Ginobili wins SMOY

Well, I’m one for one in my year-end award predictions. Manu Ginobili was named this year’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring, averaging a career-high 19.5 points to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Ginobili came off the bench in 51 of the 74 games he played this season.

“I really don’t care about coming from the bench if that helps the team to win a championship,” Ginobili said.

Ginobili got 123 of 124 first-place votes for 615 points. Barbosa came in second with 283 points and the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Terry was third with 44.

As the final vote count indicates, Ginobili ran away with the award after his best season as a pro. His season was so strong that some brought him up as a MVP candidate.

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