The Crystal Ball 2013 Draft Review Extravaganza

Ok who’s ready for The Crystal Ball Draft Review Extravaganza? What? I’m a month late? No I’m not. You cannot properly judge the draft in its immediate aftermath. It takes time to properly assess the impact of any given draft. Or so the experts tell me. So I’m taking my time.

Opening Kickoff

Here’s why everyone loves the draft, and why it’s in spring. The draft is just like spring, it’s about renewal and a fresh start. It doesn’t matter how bad you were last year that was last year. This is now, and things are looking up. I think each draft pick in NYC should be given a bouquet of spring flowers just to ham fistedly hammer the point home.

Every team wins, no one loses. You never, ever hear any team head coach, owner or general manager go, damn well that sucked. No, it was we got every guy we targeted, these guys will help us out immediately and this will turn things around.

And that’s why fans love the draft, now more than ever. It provides hope for a better tomorrow. After the picks are in, every fan can easily talk themselves into any pick their team made. Why? Because none of them have yet to hit an NFL field. Right now they are all nothing but potential that could be hall of fame caliber. And the sky’s the limit and this year’s the year Cleveland goes all the way!

The Way the Draft Was

Ok, yes, the NFL commercials for Leon Sandcastle are cute and witty. But give me a break. If Deion Sanders could still play, he would. He desperately misses the limelight, and it shows.

Good gravy, what a horrible reality show the draft is becoming. E.J. Manual, the first round pick for the Buffalo Bills, was emotionally wrought by the entire moment. He had come so far, especially with his mom’s battle with breast cancer that he broke down on stage. And thank you NFL Network for jamming a camera and Deion Sanders into his face as fast as possible to prod him mercilessly and talk about it. Why didn’t we just escort him over to a couch and have a segment reminiscent of The View?

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was invited to NYC and then snubbed worse than Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 draft. Poor Geno didn’t get picked until the second round, the next day. Unfortunately Smith was drafted by the New York Jets, or where quarterback careers go to die.

Here’s why I am at least entertained by the evil genius that is Bill Belichick. The NFL and the Patriots had planned a whole Boston tribute to occur before the Patriots pick in the first round complete with a special jersey, the playing of “Sweet Caroline” and former guard Joe Andruzzi, who helped at the Boston Marathon after the bombing. They were all set to put on this little show and pat themselves on the back for “caring” about those impacted by the bombing. The NFL had its self congratulatory moment all set in order to ingratiate themselves into something of which they had no part.

But Belichick said to hell with that noise and traded the pick away thus spoiling the moment. Screw emotion, screw grandstanding, screw sentiment, I’ve got a job to do! Love him or hate him, at least he’s consistent.

The feting of Mr. Irrelevant, the last guy taken in the NFL draft. See, this is what the draft should truly be about, not 40 times and upside!

The Steel Pit

Well I’d say Pittsburgh’s draft choices were at the very least interesting and telling. Let’s take a brief look at the latest to don the Black and Gold.

1^st Round – Jarvis Jones – linebacker – The obvious replacement for James Harrison. I bet he’s starting soon.

2^nd Round – Le’Veon Bell – running back – Another rookie starter. You doubt that? You really think he’ll be supplanted by Jonathan Dwyer or Isaac Redman?

3^rd Round – Marcus Wheaton – wide receiver – How do you combat losing Mike Wallace? You draft a younger, cheaper version.

4^th Round – Shamarko Thomas – safety – The team traded away a future pick to get this guy, which says a ton since they never do stunts like that. Let’s see, small, agile, hits like a ton of bricks. Hmmm, sounds like another safety I know….

4^th Round – Landry Jones – quarterback – It would seem that not only is the Byron Leftwich era at an end, but so is the Charlie Batch era. Hey, he may not suit up on Sundays, but he’ll still be in the ‘Burgh doing good works. Good on you Charlie!

5^th Round – Terry Hawthorne – cornerback

6^th Round – Justin Brown – wide receiver

6^th Round – Vince Williams – linebacker

7^th Round – Nick Williams – defensive tackle

The last four guys were all drafted for depth at each position. Now, odds are that they’ll make little to no impact the first season or two. But you never know. Oftentimes, late round draft picks or undrafted free agents can make a world of difference. Anyone ever heard of Tom Brady, Terrell Davis or Arian Foster? Just because we know little of these cats now, doesn’t mean that will remain the status quo.

In other news, James Harrison signed with the Cincinnati Bungles to be their new linebacker. I’m not sure what I think about this. James is a big part of Steeler history, and sure he needed a job, but the Bungles? Well, here’s hoping Mike Adams makes a fool of him twice a season.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

J. J. Watt does it again, this time surprising and hanging out a 12 year old leukemia patient who’s a big fan of the Texans’ defensive end. I love this guy, he totally gets it. He gets all the good and wonderful things he can do from his position as a professional athlete. Between him and Brett Keisel, there’s just something about defensive ends. Just tremendous.

So Jacoby Jones is going to be on Dancing With The Stars. Man I just cannot get away from the Ravens. (Wait until next installment)

The Super Bowl potentially on a Saturday? See, initially this annoyed me because this all stems from trying to cram this big event into New York City during a time of the year when it should never happen. But then I thought. If the weather does turn crappy, and they do move the game to Saturday, then tons of businesses will see better sales (see snack foods, beer). And when they see better sales they will subtly pressure Goodell to make this a permanent change. Since I hate staying up late to watch a game and then go to work early the next day, I’m rooting for snow!

The Jets finally got off their duff and traded Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay. They had to clear room for their next headline grabbing controversy.

And after reading this commentary on the Great and Powerful Jerry Jones, I maintain the point I’ve been making for years. If Jerry Jones the owner wants a successful football team, he needs to fire Jerry Jones the general manager and then get out of the way.

This article argues the point that Roger Goodell is worth his almost $30 million a year salary. I argue that a) no one no matter what they do is worth that kind of compensation, b) I’m not sure how you can accept that kind of money and not feel shame in some way knowing how many people have so little, and c) how much of that was subsidized by player fines?

Unsurprisingly, the Jets cut Tim Tebow. Ok, I know, he’s not a good quarterback. His mechanics are terrible and his decision making leaves much to be desired. But allow me to play devil’s advocate one more time. How are those things ever going to improve unless he gets a fair shake? So far both teams for whom he played couldn’t have cared less about his development and kicked him to the curb at their earliest convenience. We’ve seen he has the leadership intangibles. If only one team would take a change and work with him, I bet he’d be at least above average. That’s more than I could say for Blaine Gabbert.

The Minnesota Vikings cut punter Chris Kluwe, ostensibly due to performance and pay grade. Yup, I’m sure that’s it, and not that he’s a big lightning rod for controversy or is unafraid to speak his mind or anything like that. Nope, just performance and pay.

At least the Vikings can console themselves with their hot new uniforms from Nike. Considering Nike’s track record with redesigns, I’m surprised the jerseys don’t have a Viking fur pelt design worked in.

Upon Further Review

Recently a brouhaha has emerged surrounding the team name for the Washington franchise. There has been increased talk about and building support for Washington and team owner Daniel Snyder to change the name Redskins, a derogatory term for Native Americans.

Snyder maintains the stance of no; he will not change the team’s name, maintaining the great Redskins traditions. Yup, like the one where they were the last team in the NFL to employ African Americans? But I digress.

This is a very sensitive issue that gets little traction because most Americans to not recognize the struggles of Native Americans and how they perceive imagery like the Redskins name and logo. To emphasize this, a recent widespread poll shows support for the team to keep its nickname.

Native Americans tend to have a very different perspective of sports imagery and their place in it. A daylong symposium earlier this year at the National Museum of the American Indian discussed the issue of sports imagery. To what should be a surprise to no one, but I bet will be, the Native Americans had very different thoughts and feelings regarding this issue.

Now, just to add the appropriate level of ridiculousness to the proceedings, ten members of Congress are urging the team to change its name. Snyder doesn’t seem to be one to cave to congressional pressure, but who knows where this may lead. I bet if a threat to the NFL’s antitrust policy was unleashed, Roger Goodell would be on a plane to DC with a list of new names faster than you could say Hail to the Redskins.

Congress getting involved is a bad idea. People never respond well when they’re forced to do something, and if these congress people get their way, that’s precisely what this will be. This will cause resentment and much political machinations throughout the D.C. Belt, and more than likely some serious backlash from the NFL fan base and especially those of Washington fans.

And besides, Congress should not be interfering in the free enterprise of a sports franchise. The free market typically determines how a business is run. If the money starts to dry up, trust me Snyder would be the first one cheerleading a name change. This country is facing unprecedented problems. We have terrorists bombing embassies and marathons with no public ramifications other than arguing amongst ourselves over who is at fault. We have a skyrocketing economy, but oddly enough still stagnant job growth. We have a space program now stuck in the early 1950’s and at the mercy of the rest of the world. We have a government clumsily trying to spy on the free press. And we have freefalling educational standards and rising apathy to the point where American Idol gets more votes than a general election. There are problems in this country that need the attention of our elected leaders. This is a problem that can be handled by the people.

The only way to really change people’s minds and effect true change is through education. Get the word out, educate, teach and show the population at large that this nickname, and others like it, is a hurtful, shameful reminder of a past of which no one in America should be proud. Show people the team would not be lessened by changing its name. Other franchises have done the same thing for various reasons. Who remembers the Washington Bullets at this point?

If you get people to open their minds and hearts, the change you want will come naturally, organically and enthusiastically. If you force people do change just because you say it’s good for them, history is rife with evidence that tact does not end well.

He Said He Said

“If I were an agent, I'd bang into my clients' heads from the moment they signed: "Believe nothing. Believe absolutely nothing. You'll go when you go." – SI.com’s Peter King regarding Geno Smith’s tantrums about not being a first round draft pick

I think the bigger problem is that too many athletes have heard all their lives how great and special they are from everyone, and then when an agent or manager tries to bring a little reality to their situation, they tune said agent out.

"He did a nice job calling the defenses. He was the signal-caller out there. It will be interesting to follow his progress, having been away from football for so long."

-- Falcons head coach Mike Smith on linebacker Brian Banks

Ok honestly. Who is not rooting for this guy? You must have a heart of stone to not want to see this guy succeed. Belichick, I’m looking in your direction.

"We both competed our best, tried to be the best of friends we could, and honestly, under different circumstances, we would be really good friends, it's just hard when you're competing like that. There's just professionalism about it that you don't get too close to guys like that. You're just professional, and you're cool and if the guy has a flat tire on the side of the road, I'm going to stop, I'm not just going to blow by him, but at the same time, I'm not sending him gifts on his birthday or anything." - Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on his competition with Tim Tebow last season

Wait, when was the competition? I must have missed that part because it appeared that Rex Ryan wasn’t giving Tebow that job unless every other quarterback was in the hospital and the referees said that Rex could not suit up mid game.

“If we speak..we say it the wrong way. If we do not speak we are cowards….In the land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness.” – Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III tweet regarding athletes speaking out on anything other than their sport

He’s dead on right, and we’re all guilty of the duplicity. We cry that Michael Jordan takes no stand on any social issue or injustice, and then scream at someone like Chris Kluwe to shut up and focus on sports. Come on people, what do we want here?

Idiot of the Draft

Ok, so this could have been everybody, including the nimrods that wasted a Saturday watching rounds 4-7. Come on people, get off the couch!

But I do like to single out one dunce, so for the draft I’ll go with new Jets quarterback Geno Smith.

Smith had been riding high for a while, and at various times was predicted as a first round draft pick. However before the draft, several articles appeared questioning Smith’s abilities and leadership. His draft stock wavered.

Cut to Draft night, round 1 where Smith spent the entire night hanging out in the green room as no one took a chance on him. His eventual team, the Jets, had 2 first round picks and used neither on Smith.

After round 1, Smith was adamant he was going home, and wouldn’t humiliate himself to sit in the green room again. Somehow he was convinced otherwise and rode it out until he became a New York Jet in round 2.

Now, sure I bet that was humiliating, and humbling and probably just downright embarrassing. I mean you think you’ll go in the first round, you have talent and stats to say, yeah this could happen, and then for no one to even take a sniff? Ouch.

But this was an opportunity for Smith. He was drafted by a team with a horrible quarterback situation. He easily could be the man, the toast of NYC. He obviously is now motivated due to the “slight” of being drafted in the 2^nd round. He could have turned this in his favor and even culled public opinion on his side.

But like any idiot, he didn’t. He whined about it, pouted about it and even went so far as to fire his agents over it. Yup, that sounds exactly like the kind of leader I want on my team. Good luck there Jets fans, looks like you got another good one. I-D-I-O-T. IDIOT! IDIOT! IDIOT!

On Tap This Week

Ok, so that wasn’t much of a review. Big whoop. Since most draft picks are not even signed yet to their teams, what does it matter? I’ll review them all next February in a new segment called, did any of the 2013 drafts make a meaningful contribution to this year’s Super Bowl winner? That’s a bit wordy, we’ll tighten it up before then. Early previews: Probably Not.

Stay tuned, there are one or two items that will hit next month and then a small hiatus until training camp.