RAVENS - BEARS TRADE DEBACLE WORSENS, THE NFC WEST IS MISSING OUT & WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE CHIEFS TONIGHT?
While the clock was running down last night for the Baltimore Ravens, they were working out a trade with Chicago. The Bears wanted to move up from their spot at 29 to insure they could get one of their top two choices left on their board, Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi & Pitt wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. Chicago figured Kansas City would grab one of the two at 27 & everyone expected New England to trade out of the 28th spot, so it was a wildcard. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome & Bears boss Jerry Angelo agreed on a 4th round pick to allow Chicago to move up to #26. Both teams are required by league rules to notify the NFL officials on-site of the agreed-to trade. The Bears failed to make the call, that was why you saw one-half of a very heated telephone conversation a league official had with Newsome. He said Bears' GM Jerry Angelo had "agreed to the trade & we allowed the time to expire & now we want our 4th round pick." Angelo took full responsibility for the gaffe, but it failed to soothe any ruffled Raven feathers. The Chiefs rushed to the podium once Baltimore's time had expired to select Baldwin. The Bears were hopping mad, figuring they were about to lose both players but had no one to blame but themselves. In the end, Baltimore took troubled corner Jimmy Smith, as I predicted & the Patriots did trade-out with the Saints, who took Mark Ingram. That left Carimi there for Chicago on the next pick. Flash forward to this morning, Ozzie Newsome still wants the Bears' 4th round pick. It's up to the league now, I doubt Newsome will get his wish altho I believe he's 100% right.
SI.com's Peter King made a great point last night. He pointed to why New England is a perennial contender, they understand how to exploit the draft. This draft is a perfect example. Look at the total number of picks each team in the AFC East has in the premium rounds, 1-3.
New England - 6
Buffalo - 3
NY Jets - 1
Miami - 1
In fact, as King points out, the Pats pick 28th in round four, one ahead of the Jets. So New England has 6 selections before the Jets pick again. They have 5 before Miami picks 19th in round 4. The Patriots will kickoff tonight's second round with the first pick, obtained from Carolina, they'll have 3 second-round picks & 2 third-round selections tonight.
It amazes me how the NFC West, a QB wasteland for the most part, continues to pass on signal callers in the draft. Arizona, Frisco & Seattle could have easily picked a quarterback last night but didn't. If you're in a division with Sam Bradford & a 9-7 record will put you in the playoffs, how do you sit tight with Alex Smith, John Skelton & Charlie Whitehurst? If the Rams draft well today & tomorrow, they could put some distance between themselves & the rest of this punchless division.
No word yet on the league's appeal to stay Judge Nelson's decision to rescind the lockout. If the stay is granted, we go back to square one, nothing happens. No free agency, trades, player movement, OTA's, mini camps, coach-player conversations, medical attention or anything resembling business as usual. The owners continue propped up against the ropes, absorbing body shots, keeping their hands up so they're not KO'd. Great strategy, let the players keep chipping away, winning small victories. The "Billionaires' Club" isn't used to taking orders, especially from a woman, theses guys make the decisions & give the orders. This ego problem these men have is going to net them zip, if they don't sit down ASAP & hammer out a deal, they'll continue to lose more of these small battles. This war can't be won by ownership. Judge Nelson's decision appeared to be aimed at the fans, yes the players got the best of it, but they didn't get everything. Ownership should pack it in, get to the bargaining table & negotiate a proper deal. End this madness.
On a related note, the booing of Commissioner Roger Goodell became tedious last night. I had no problem hearing the first couple of blasts, but when it continued into the player introductions, it was really crappy & selfish. These young men were realizing the dream of a lifetime, their families were there & the booing was bad form, let these kids have their moment in the spotlight, one they certainly deserve after years of hard work & sacrifice.
The Chiefs selection of Jonathan Baldwin has brought out a number of the "torch & pitchfork" crowd. After Scott Pioli's choir boy draft of last year, Baldwin came as a "big disappointment" to some & "somewhat shocking" to a few others. He has shown some attitude problems, he criticized his QB & coaches for "hurting his draft stock." Sadly, he was right, but you never, ever do such a thing outside your locker room, it just isn't done. It's a sign of immaturity no doubt. It was pointed out to me in an email from an angry female Baldwin "was arrested for molesting a woman, but the charges were dropped because of who he is." Not true, the fact is he was charged with indecent assault, summary harassment & summary disorderly conduct for allegedly fondling a woman on a bus. The charges were not dropped, Baldwin was acquitted by a jury on all counts. If Chiefs' fans think they will build a championship squad with nothing but team captains, academic all-stars & good samaritans, think again. There will be an occasional character, a goofball here & there or even an immature, selfish wide receiver. At least they can change, mature, grow out of that type of behavior. If it were up to me, I would have selected offensive tackle Gabe Carimi, Pioli cannot continue to neglect his offensive line. Remember, I wanted Russell Okung last year instead of Eric Berry, I'm a big believer in a dominating offensive line. I fully expect 1 & maybe 2 O-linemen to be selected tonight. But give Baldwin a chance before you write him off for not being "citizen of the year" let's see what he brings to camp before we pass judgment.
Some names to watch for this evening would include:
OLB Bruce Carter - North Carolina
OLB Dontay Moch - Nevada - ran 4.40's at 248-pounds
OLB Chris Carter - Fresno State - accomplished pass rusher
OG/C Rodney Hudson - Florida State
OG Clint Boling - Georgia - played both guard & both tackle spots at Georgia
OG Orlando Franklin - Miami
C Stefan Wisniewski - Penn State
NT Jerrell Powe - Ole Miss
OT James Brewer - Indiana
OT Marcus Gilbert - Florida
I'm going to give you a nickname to remember, "Vanilla Gorilla". I'll tell you more before day three of the draft begins.
SI.com's Peter King made a great point last night. He pointed to why New England is a perennial contender, they understand how to exploit the draft. This draft is a perfect example. Look at the total number of picks each team in the AFC East has in the premium rounds, 1-3.
New England - 6
Buffalo - 3
NY Jets - 1
Miami - 1
In fact, as King points out, the Pats pick 28th in round four, one ahead of the Jets. So New England has 6 selections before the Jets pick again. They have 5 before Miami picks 19th in round 4. The Patriots will kickoff tonight's second round with the first pick, obtained from Carolina, they'll have 3 second-round picks & 2 third-round selections tonight.
It amazes me how the NFC West, a QB wasteland for the most part, continues to pass on signal callers in the draft. Arizona, Frisco & Seattle could have easily picked a quarterback last night but didn't. If you're in a division with Sam Bradford & a 9-7 record will put you in the playoffs, how do you sit tight with Alex Smith, John Skelton & Charlie Whitehurst? If the Rams draft well today & tomorrow, they could put some distance between themselves & the rest of this punchless division.
No word yet on the league's appeal to stay Judge Nelson's decision to rescind the lockout. If the stay is granted, we go back to square one, nothing happens. No free agency, trades, player movement, OTA's, mini camps, coach-player conversations, medical attention or anything resembling business as usual. The owners continue propped up against the ropes, absorbing body shots, keeping their hands up so they're not KO'd. Great strategy, let the players keep chipping away, winning small victories. The "Billionaires' Club" isn't used to taking orders, especially from a woman, theses guys make the decisions & give the orders. This ego problem these men have is going to net them zip, if they don't sit down ASAP & hammer out a deal, they'll continue to lose more of these small battles. This war can't be won by ownership. Judge Nelson's decision appeared to be aimed at the fans, yes the players got the best of it, but they didn't get everything. Ownership should pack it in, get to the bargaining table & negotiate a proper deal. End this madness.
On a related note, the booing of Commissioner Roger Goodell became tedious last night. I had no problem hearing the first couple of blasts, but when it continued into the player introductions, it was really crappy & selfish. These young men were realizing the dream of a lifetime, their families were there & the booing was bad form, let these kids have their moment in the spotlight, one they certainly deserve after years of hard work & sacrifice.
The Chiefs selection of Jonathan Baldwin has brought out a number of the "torch & pitchfork" crowd. After Scott Pioli's choir boy draft of last year, Baldwin came as a "big disappointment" to some & "somewhat shocking" to a few others. He has shown some attitude problems, he criticized his QB & coaches for "hurting his draft stock." Sadly, he was right, but you never, ever do such a thing outside your locker room, it just isn't done. It's a sign of immaturity no doubt. It was pointed out to me in an email from an angry female Baldwin "was arrested for molesting a woman, but the charges were dropped because of who he is." Not true, the fact is he was charged with indecent assault, summary harassment & summary disorderly conduct for allegedly fondling a woman on a bus. The charges were not dropped, Baldwin was acquitted by a jury on all counts. If Chiefs' fans think they will build a championship squad with nothing but team captains, academic all-stars & good samaritans, think again. There will be an occasional character, a goofball here & there or even an immature, selfish wide receiver. At least they can change, mature, grow out of that type of behavior. If it were up to me, I would have selected offensive tackle Gabe Carimi, Pioli cannot continue to neglect his offensive line. Remember, I wanted Russell Okung last year instead of Eric Berry, I'm a big believer in a dominating offensive line. I fully expect 1 & maybe 2 O-linemen to be selected tonight. But give Baldwin a chance before you write him off for not being "citizen of the year" let's see what he brings to camp before we pass judgment.
Some names to watch for this evening would include:
OLB Bruce Carter - North Carolina
OLB Dontay Moch - Nevada - ran 4.40's at 248-pounds
OLB Chris Carter - Fresno State - accomplished pass rusher
OG/C Rodney Hudson - Florida State
OG Clint Boling - Georgia - played both guard & both tackle spots at Georgia
OG Orlando Franklin - Miami
C Stefan Wisniewski - Penn State
NT Jerrell Powe - Ole Miss
OT James Brewer - Indiana
OT Marcus Gilbert - Florida
I'm going to give you a nickname to remember, "Vanilla Gorilla". I'll tell you more before day three of the draft begins.
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