2009 NFL Draft
Is Darrius Heyward-Bey already a bust?
by Mocking Dan on Jun 25, 2009 2:00 PM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
33 comments
Sometimes a bust pick can immediately be identified. The best instance of that in the 2009 NFL Draft occurred when the Raiders used the seventh overall pick on Darrius Heyward-Bey.
When that pick happened, the NFL Draft world collectively giggled.
But, is Heyward-Bey already hurtling toward bust status, even before training camp has begun?
The case against Heyward-Bey began at his first mini-camp. He reportedly looked pretty bad, albeit against the league's top cornerback in Nnamdi Asomugha. His claim to infamy was dropping passes on three consecutive plays.
This led Heyward-Bey to utter the cringe-worthy line "I'm not in college anymore." Yikes.
The next day, Heyward-Bey was held out of practice for fatigue and soreness. That's not good. It's not like Heyward-Bey is some 38-year-old veteran. He's a fresh, 21-year-old. Should he really suffer from fatigue? Heck, even teammate Javon Walker was free of pain following the practice.
Heyward-Bey is also suffering from a hamstring injury he suffered last month. The injury has been so problematic for Heyward-Bey that he left practice last week after just one play.
Not a good start.
It also won't help that Heyward-Bey has a mostly unproven quarterback in JaMarcus Russell and a weak-armed on in backup Jeff Garcia.
Also consider that Oakland's first three opponents are San Diego, Kansas City and Denver, teams with pretty good cornerbacks. Or that Heyward-Bey has never been known to have great hands.
It might be too early to call Heyward-Bey a bust, but he's certainly not off to a good start.
33 comments | 0 recs |
First pick impressing in minicamp
by Mocking Dan on Jun 2, 2009 1:18 PM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
3 comments
The praise for Detroit's Matthew Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, is beginning to roll in. New Lions head coach Jim Schwartz has been praising Stafford lately as the the finishes up minicamp.
"We've got two criteria for when Matthew will play,'' Schwartz told Peter King of Sports Illustrated. "One is he'll play when he's ready. The second is when he's the best quarterback for us. But so far, whatever the opposite of buyers' remorse is, that's what we have. We knew he had the terrific NFL arm. But we've found out his release is just textbook classic.''
Stafford has reportedly been placing the ball perfectly on tough passes and displaying a picture-perfect motion.
The Lions won't name a starting quarterback until training camp. For now, though, it appears Stafford has the lead on incumbent Daunte Culpepper.
3 comments | 0 recs |
Cushing plans to sack libelous NFL Draft site
by Mocking Dan on May 1, 2009 11:04 AM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
5 comments
NFLDraftBible.com should get ready to hear from linebacker Brian Cushing's legal team.
The newest Houston Texan plans to "take action toward" the site for falsely claiming he tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Almost immediately after the claim went public, Cushing and agent Tom Condon shot it down in an email to ProFootballTalk.com.Now with the draft out of the way, Cushing seems set on filing suit.
“I’m pretty tired of everything happening with all these supposed rumors [and] people trying to tarnish my reputation,” Cushing said on ESPN 1530 in Texas. “I’m not sure what happened. I’m don’t know if it’s my playing attitude [or] people just don’t like how I handle myself. But you know that’s too bad for them.”
As someone who is a huge advocate for not only journalistic rights and also integrity, there's just no way you can back DraftBible. They stood by their claim all along and are likely going to pay for it in the end.
Still no word on whether or not Clay Matthews III, who was also falsely accused, also plans legal action.
I've done a tiny bit of work with NFLDB's head guy Rick Serritella and he seems like a good guy. His site at least gets a lot of interviews and they have a good radio show. But this could quite possibly be the end of the site for running with and backing some seriously false rumors.
And remember boys and girls, the words "allegedly" and "reportedly" are always your best friends in these kinds of situations.
h/t PFT
5 comments | 0 recs |
Second pick Smith to begin Rams career on right side
by Mocking Dan on May 1, 2009 10:02 AM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
1 comment
The clamoring to move second overall pick Jason Smith to left tackle begins ... now!
According to the Associated Press, Smith will the team's right tackle to begin the 2009 season.
The team will start Alex Barron on the left side, a position he's been inconsistent at. Whoever plays the left has the daunting task of replacing All Pro and probably hall of famer Orlando Pace.
Smith, a converted tight end, played two seasons at right tackle for Baylor.
The Rams begin minicamp today. Find more Rams coverage at Turf Show Times.
1 comment | 0 recs |
2009 NFL Draft grades - Draftniks, fans, media averaged
by Mocking Dan on Apr 27, 2009 1:53 AM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
26 comments
To me, it's a little silly to put grades on a draft class a day after the draft is completed.
So, instead of doing it myself, I picked a member of the media (USA Today), a draftnik (Pete Prisco of CBS) and fans (ESPN fan nation).
Grades were put on the high school grade point average scale thusly:
A = 4 | A - = 3.67 | B+ = 3.33 | B = 3 | B- = 2.67 | C+ = 2.33 | C = 2 | C- = 1.67 | D+ = 1.33 | D = 1 | D- = .067 | F = 0 (an A + received four points)
The clear top drafting team was Philadelphia, which landed weapons like Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. By no surprise, Oakland finished last by a wide margin.
26 comments | 0 recs |
Team-by-team day two thoughts on the AFC draft picks
by Mocking Dan on Apr 26, 2009 8:00 PM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
2 comments
• The Jets only had two picks today. In Shonn Greene they have a good short-yardage back. In Matthew Slauson they have a backup guard. Where the Jets really needed to target, and could have, is wide receiver.
• Even with the questionable selection of Nic Harris in round five, the Bills continued their stellar draft. The team got another likely starter in Shawn Nelson and acquired a big cornerback in Cary Harris.
• If it were anyone else other than Bill Parcells, I'd really question Miami's picks. None of their second-day players look like starters. Patrick Turner was a huge reach.
2 comments | 0 recs |
Team-by-team day two thoughts on the NFC draft picks
by Mocking Dan on Apr 26, 2009 7:45 PM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
7 comments
• To me, Dallas had an awful draft. Jason Williams could be a decent pass rusher and Stephen McGee will allow them to run some trick plays. Robert Brewster is a developmental tackle, Victor Butler seems like a special teams player and Michael Hamlin mirrors Roy Williams, who was cut. Mike Mickens was a good pick in round seven.
• It's a little hard to judge the Giants because the team was drafting for depth after filling the need for wide receiver. The team got a lot of talent which should continue it's run of playoff appearances. Ramses Barden should be an immediate factor in the red zone. Andre Brown was a nice third running back pickup.
• The Eagles continued to get weapons for Donovan McNabb in tight end Cornelius Ingram and wide receiver Brandon Gibson. If either Fenuki Tupou or Paul Fanaika can become a decent player on the offensive, this is a great draft.
7 comments | 0 recs |
Best available free agents following the NFL Draft
by Mocking Dan on Apr 26, 2009 7:40 PM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
7 comments
Just because a player goes undrafted doesn't meant they can't excel. Just ask Kurt Warner, James Harrison or Willie Parker.
Here are my best-available players following the draft:
1. Dannell Ellerbe, ILB, Georgia, 6’1, 236
2. Darry Beckwith, ILB, LSU, 6’1, 235
3. Augustus Parrish, OT, Kent State, 6’4, 297
4. Derek Pegues, FS, Mississippi State, 5'10, 195
5. Drew Willy, QB, Buffalo, 6’3, 214
6. Mitch King, DE, Iowa, 6’2, 282
7. Dave Philistin, ILB, Maryland, 6’2, 232
8. Jason Watkins, OT, Florida, 6’6, 310
9. Anthony Heygood OLB, Purdue, 6’1, 230
10. Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson State, 6'2, 190
11. Jeremiah Johnson, RB, Oregon, 5’9, 208
12. Ryan Purvis, TE, Boston College, 6’4, 258
13. Quan Cosby, WR, Texas, 5’11, 205
14. Bruce Johnson, CB, Miami (FL), 5'10, 182
15. C.J. Spillman, FS, Marshall, 6'0, 190
16. Hunter Cantwell, QB, Louisville, 6’4, 236
17. Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State, 5’11, 198
18. Dallas Reynolds, OC, BYU, 6’5, 324
19. Demonte Bolden, DT, Tennessee, 6’5, 292
20. Pannel Egboh, DE, Stanford, 6’6, 267
21. Jonathan Casillas OLB, Wisconsin, 6’1, 226
22. Josh Mauga, ILB, Nevada, 6’2, 245
23. Mortty Ivy OLB, West Virginia, 6’2, 239
24. Worrell Williams, ILB, California, 5’11, 242
25. Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee, 6’1, 216
26. Jeremy Childs, WR, Boise State, 6’0, 196
27. Jahi Word-Daniels, CB, Georgia Tech, 6'0, 194
28. DeAngelo Willingham, CB, Tennessee, 6'0, 200
29. Emmanuel Cook, SS, South Carolina, 5'10, 205
7 comments | 0 recs |
Showing 1 - 8 of 190 Older
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
