HAS SAM TOLD RAMS NO? MCNABB TO ARIZONA? SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CHIEFS' DRAFT POSSIBILITIES.
Sorry there wasn't a post this morning, my provider, Charter Cable, went down last night as I was beginning this piece around midnight. I gave up at 5AM & went to bed. Then this morning my email was down & I spent 40 very frustrating minutes on the phone with Charter. It's still not resolved completely, but what do you want for $104 a month, dependable service? I do hope all the guys at the Ozark Ready Mix plant will understand.
We could see a repeat of the 2004 draft in less than three weeks. There's talk around the league that Sam Bradford's agent has politely told the St. Louis Rams, "Thanks, but no thanks." In other words, if you draft my client, you may have a very difficult time signing him. If you will recall in 2004, Eli Manning told the San Diego Chargers he didn't want to play for them, he wanted to play in New York. So they worked a deal, went ahead & drafted Eli Manning, traded him to the Giants for the 4th overall pick in that draft, San Diego using it to select Phillip Rivers & a 1st round pick in 2005 they used to pick Shawne Merriman & a 2004 3rd round pick they used on place kicker Nate Kaeding. All three Chargers have been selected to the Pro Bowl, Manning won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2008. The Washington Redskins want Sam Bradford in the worst way & when owner Daniel Snyder wants something, he usually gets it, regardless of price. If this deal is offered to St. Louis, they should take it, like the rest of the teams drafting in the top-10, their needs are many & dropping 4 spots while picking up additional picks, is certainly to be considered if & when. This is why both St. Louis & Washington have scheduled private workouts with Colt McCoy, figured to be a 2nd round pick. You could see the team that doesn't get Bradford look to snag McCoy in the 2nd round.
**UPDATE AT 11PM
Saw Sam Bradford on the NFL Network & he said the rumors about him are untrue. Bradford said "I'm going to play for whoever drafts me. Regardless of who takes me, I'm going to be more than happy to get to that city & get to work."
Just when you thought Myron Rolle, safety from Florida State, was going to be the next Rhodes Scholar to play in the National Football League, Cleveland's Shaun Rogers makes his move to impress fans, non-fans, teammates, coaches & just about everybody else with the brains to come in out of the rain. Rogers was arrested at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport yesterday afternoon after a loaded .45 caliber automatic handgun was found in his carry-on baggage. Can you guess what his response was as he was being handcuffed at the security checkpoint? All together now...."I forgot it was in there." Really? The big news in this story is he's still in jail, he hasn't seen a judge yet, so no bail has been set for his release. What a genius.
Remember I told you Donovan McNabb mentioned he wouldn't mind going to Minnesota if he had to be traded? He's now added another team to his list(anything but the Raiders right?) the Arizona Cardinals. If Ken Wisenhunt has reservations about Matt Leinart being his starting quarterback like the rest of us, this might be a smart deal for the Cards. It's quite a drop-off from Kurt Warner to Leinart, it wouldn't be nearly as far with McNabb. If he could be had for Arizona's #1 or a #2 & #5, that might get done. McNabb is 33 years old & should have plenty left in the tank. When asked about McNabb's comments, Wisenhunt said "I hope he gets his wish." Hmmmm.
I shed a tear yesterday & I'm sure you will as well when I tell you the Missouri Governor's Cup game between the Chiefs & Rams won't be a part of the pre-season this year. It's best not to dwell on it, try to move on with your lives as best you can.
I read in The Kansas City Star an interview with Brian Waters & it was mostly his opinion of Brandon Albert & his skills as a left tackle. Waters doesn't want Albert supplanted as Matt Cassel's blindside protector. Is he on the level or is he just being a good teammate? Trying to keep Albert's confidence high knowing Waters has his back? Albert surrendered 9 sacks in '09 after giving up but 4 in '08. At Todd Haley's insistence, Albert lost about 30 pounds before the season started & no offense coach, but Albert wasn't the same player. This is the most critical pre-draft decision the Chiefs' braintrust will have to make.
If they cast their lot with Albert at left tackle, it changes everything, especially the first round pick, #5 overall. If they decide to move him to the right side, either Russell Okung of Oklahoma State or Bryan Bulaga of Iowa should be their 1st round pick. I keep hearing "they can always pick up another tackle in the 2nd or 3rd round." Yes, you can, but it makes the margin for error even greater. If the decision is to move Albert, don't wait to pick his replacement. Is the thinking out in fanland we can replace Albert's ability with a third round player? You might, but the odds start getting longer if they wait.
If not Okung or Bulaga, then who? I hear 'Bama inside linebacker Rolando McLain, Dez Bryant or Tennessee safety Eric Berry. I like all three but picking fifth overall, let's not see another big reach like last year(Tyson Jackson). McLain is 14th in my rankings, Bryant 7th & Berry 6th. McLain relies on instinct, he has very little speed, but he was very productive for the National Champs. I've chronicled my thoughts on Bryant several times on this site, great talent, needs refinement in his route running, coverage diagnosis & his head is very often elsewhere. But Bryant does possess game-breaking ability, something Haley would welcome to an offense led by Jamaal Charles, another game-breaker.
A trade down is a slim possibility at best. I can't see Notre Dames' Jimmy Clausen as a top-5 pick & with as many as six possible first round tackles, what else would another team be willing to trade up for, maybe Suh or Gerald McCoy if they would slip down to #5. Don't get your hopes up, the financial commitment in the top-5 is staggering, it's not a move many teams are willing to make.
I'll explore this more tomorrow & in the next 20 days leading up to the first primetime draft. I will also give you an updated mock draft as it pertains to the Chiefs every week until the draft.
Have comments or questions? Submit your comments by clicking at the end of every article. Please feel free to email me at rich@richsfootballreport.com
We could see a repeat of the 2004 draft in less than three weeks. There's talk around the league that Sam Bradford's agent has politely told the St. Louis Rams, "Thanks, but no thanks." In other words, if you draft my client, you may have a very difficult time signing him. If you will recall in 2004, Eli Manning told the San Diego Chargers he didn't want to play for them, he wanted to play in New York. So they worked a deal, went ahead & drafted Eli Manning, traded him to the Giants for the 4th overall pick in that draft, San Diego using it to select Phillip Rivers & a 1st round pick in 2005 they used to pick Shawne Merriman & a 2004 3rd round pick they used on place kicker Nate Kaeding. All three Chargers have been selected to the Pro Bowl, Manning won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2008. The Washington Redskins want Sam Bradford in the worst way & when owner Daniel Snyder wants something, he usually gets it, regardless of price. If this deal is offered to St. Louis, they should take it, like the rest of the teams drafting in the top-10, their needs are many & dropping 4 spots while picking up additional picks, is certainly to be considered if & when. This is why both St. Louis & Washington have scheduled private workouts with Colt McCoy, figured to be a 2nd round pick. You could see the team that doesn't get Bradford look to snag McCoy in the 2nd round.
**UPDATE AT 11PM
Saw Sam Bradford on the NFL Network & he said the rumors about him are untrue. Bradford said "I'm going to play for whoever drafts me. Regardless of who takes me, I'm going to be more than happy to get to that city & get to work."
Just when you thought Myron Rolle, safety from Florida State, was going to be the next Rhodes Scholar to play in the National Football League, Cleveland's Shaun Rogers makes his move to impress fans, non-fans, teammates, coaches & just about everybody else with the brains to come in out of the rain. Rogers was arrested at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport yesterday afternoon after a loaded .45 caliber automatic handgun was found in his carry-on baggage. Can you guess what his response was as he was being handcuffed at the security checkpoint? All together now...."I forgot it was in there." Really? The big news in this story is he's still in jail, he hasn't seen a judge yet, so no bail has been set for his release. What a genius.
Remember I told you Donovan McNabb mentioned he wouldn't mind going to Minnesota if he had to be traded? He's now added another team to his list(anything but the Raiders right?) the Arizona Cardinals. If Ken Wisenhunt has reservations about Matt Leinart being his starting quarterback like the rest of us, this might be a smart deal for the Cards. It's quite a drop-off from Kurt Warner to Leinart, it wouldn't be nearly as far with McNabb. If he could be had for Arizona's #1 or a #2 & #5, that might get done. McNabb is 33 years old & should have plenty left in the tank. When asked about McNabb's comments, Wisenhunt said "I hope he gets his wish." Hmmmm.
I shed a tear yesterday & I'm sure you will as well when I tell you the Missouri Governor's Cup game between the Chiefs & Rams won't be a part of the pre-season this year. It's best not to dwell on it, try to move on with your lives as best you can.
I read in The Kansas City Star an interview with Brian Waters & it was mostly his opinion of Brandon Albert & his skills as a left tackle. Waters doesn't want Albert supplanted as Matt Cassel's blindside protector. Is he on the level or is he just being a good teammate? Trying to keep Albert's confidence high knowing Waters has his back? Albert surrendered 9 sacks in '09 after giving up but 4 in '08. At Todd Haley's insistence, Albert lost about 30 pounds before the season started & no offense coach, but Albert wasn't the same player. This is the most critical pre-draft decision the Chiefs' braintrust will have to make.
If they cast their lot with Albert at left tackle, it changes everything, especially the first round pick, #5 overall. If they decide to move him to the right side, either Russell Okung of Oklahoma State or Bryan Bulaga of Iowa should be their 1st round pick. I keep hearing "they can always pick up another tackle in the 2nd or 3rd round." Yes, you can, but it makes the margin for error even greater. If the decision is to move Albert, don't wait to pick his replacement. Is the thinking out in fanland we can replace Albert's ability with a third round player? You might, but the odds start getting longer if they wait.
If not Okung or Bulaga, then who? I hear 'Bama inside linebacker Rolando McLain, Dez Bryant or Tennessee safety Eric Berry. I like all three but picking fifth overall, let's not see another big reach like last year(Tyson Jackson). McLain is 14th in my rankings, Bryant 7th & Berry 6th. McLain relies on instinct, he has very little speed, but he was very productive for the National Champs. I've chronicled my thoughts on Bryant several times on this site, great talent, needs refinement in his route running, coverage diagnosis & his head is very often elsewhere. But Bryant does possess game-breaking ability, something Haley would welcome to an offense led by Jamaal Charles, another game-breaker.
A trade down is a slim possibility at best. I can't see Notre Dames' Jimmy Clausen as a top-5 pick & with as many as six possible first round tackles, what else would another team be willing to trade up for, maybe Suh or Gerald McCoy if they would slip down to #5. Don't get your hopes up, the financial commitment in the top-5 is staggering, it's not a move many teams are willing to make.
I'll explore this more tomorrow & in the next 20 days leading up to the first primetime draft. I will also give you an updated mock draft as it pertains to the Chiefs every week until the draft.
Have comments or questions? Submit your comments by clicking at the end of every article. Please feel free to email me at rich@richsfootballreport.com
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