Shocking

Color me shocked that NFL teams are openly violating their own lockout by illegally contacting undrafted free agents. I mean, the NFL has been so principled throughout this whole process!

NFL Draft Live Blog

Are you ready for the biggest waste of time of the year? I know I am. I'm also ready to watch the yearly ritual of rich white men buying and selling athletic young black men. Amazingly, we are not talking about 19th century slavery, but rather the NFL Draft.

Despite all of this, I can't help but write about this stuff. Mostly, I just hope the Seahawks don't draft Jake Locker.

7:04--(DL)Hope all is well in the Land of Depressing Sports. So far, I'm happy about the audience chanting at Goodell.

7:05 (EL)--God, Goodell is a schumuck

7:05--(DL)The Panthers "can't miss" on this pick, yet they pick Cam Newton.

7:09 (EL)--Welcome to the new Alex Smith! The NFL has an iron rule--"new regimes equals new quarterbacks." Even if the new quarterbacks suck. Fail, fail, fail.

7:12 (DL)--Denver has a ton to choose from here, but it'll clearly be Von Miller at this point.

7:13 (DL)--That should be fine. Xanders looked at a computer!

7:14 (EL)--I hope Miller punches Goodell in the face.

7: 19 (EL)--I like the Dareus pick. However, I want to again point out that the Buffalo Bills have far and away the worst name in professional sports.

7:20 (DL)--Who's going to throw to him? Palmer's out. Jordan Palmer to AJ Green!!

7:25--(EL)--How does Marvin Lewis still have a coaching job? AJ Green off to irrelevancy land. Also, you'd think that for all the high draft picks Georgia has had over the years, they'd win some important football games. You'd be wrong. Same goes for Clemson and UCLA.

7:29 (DL)--I know that "best player available" is valuable, but that's only a minor need for Arizona.

7:31 (EL)--Daryl may be right about this, but what the Cardinals need is a QB and they are smart enough not to waste their pick on one of these crappy QBs this year. Might as well take a potential shutdown corner and kick returner.

7:34 (EL)--Julio Jones is rocking that fucking bow tie

7:37 (DL)--Wow...what an awful trade for the Falcons

7:37 (EL)--Julio Jones had better be the next Jerry Rice for the Falcons to give up that much. Did the Browns also demand Matt Ryan's first born son? Great trade for Cleveland.

7:40 (DL)--How many weeks do they deal with Jones' drops before declaring him a bust. A total snowjob for Cleveland.

7:41 (EL)--This could be the greatest thing to happen to the Cleveland Browns since 1987! Oh, wait....

7:42 (EL)--I don't know anything about Aldon Smith, but I do know that the 49ers made a really good move by not picking one of these crappy quarterbacks. Blaine Gabbert=Alex Smith. They already have that guy. Take someone who is going to help you.

7:45 (DL)--Wow...disaster.

7:48 (DL)--Locker is a winner...at least eight times in college. Gruden should really shut up.

7:49 (EL)--Tennessee saves me from the indignity of the Seahawks drafting Jake Locker. I think Bud Adams has been hanging out with Al Davis a lot lately. Jake Locker is a terrible, terrible pick. And now Chris Berman is comparing Locker to Brett Favre.

7:51 (DL)--Locker is the anti-Vince Young? Because he's white? They're the fucking same...good lord....

7:53 (EL)--I was going to make the same comment as Daryl above. Love the coded racism of professional sports. Locker--white and safe, Young--black and scary. As Daryl says, they are the same quarterback.

8:00 (EL)--Jacksonville trades up for Blaine Gabbert? The 3rd crappy QB goes! That ought to continue the utter irrelevancy of Jacksonville Jaguars for another several years. Also, Gabbert has dumb hair.

8:02 (DL)--And Blaine Gabbert is one of the worst possible names.

8:06 (DL)--Who knew that a teal hat could make you look less like a douche?

8:08 (EL)--The Wonderlic probably doesn't have a whole lot more value than other standardized intelligence tests. But it's worth pointing out that Jake Locker had the lowest score of any leading QB this year, including the supposed dumb Cam Newton. But somehow he is the anti-Vince Young. He's dumb as a rock! But hey, he's white! Don't you understand--he's WHITE!!!!!

8:09 (EL)--I think the last black player to play for the University of Wisconsin was Ron Dayne.

8:15 (EL)--Nick Fairley just made Julio Jones' bow-tie look chumpish.

8:17 (DL)--Tavarias Jackson will still start for the Vikings next year. Ponder will be terrible.

8:18 (EL)--Kiper just compared Ponder to Chad Pennington. And that's the upside. Horrible pick. Horrible. My Packer fan friends are very happy right now.

8:20 (DL)--Oh, Bill Musgrave is the QB coach. It's like looking in a weak-armed mirror.

8:21 (DL)--Fairley and Suh is scary as hell.

8:22 (EL)--Here's why I don't like this Fairley pick (bow-tie notwithstanding)--the Lions always pick the best player available. OK they have sucked for a long time and have a lot of holes, though less than they used to. But--the OL sucks. And Matthew Stafford is always hurt. So why not pick the best OL available. Don't you have to do this at some point? I don't like this at all. Plus the highlights of Fairley dominating the Oregon offensive line is making me want to break my television.

8:28 (DL)--How is it that Gruden can both look and move like a marionette puppet?

8:28 (EL)--So far, this draft is refreshingly Todd McShay-free.

8:31 (DL)--I'm certain they're drafting Dalton.

8:37 (DL)--I was wrong. Pouncey is a solid pick.

8:42 (DL)--I still laugh every time #8 comes on the ticker. Tennessee, you fools....

8:45 (DL)--Apparently, according to the commentary team, no team has made a bad choice yet, only surprising ones. Clearly nobody does wrong in the draft...ever.

8:46 (EL)--It seems that Daryl doesn't understand the level of whiteness Jake Locker brings to Tennessee.

8:50 (DL)--Is there a way to make moneyed Tennessee any whiter than it already is?

8:53 (EL)--If there was a way, it was accomplished tonight.

8:53 (EL)--Will anyone really miss Chris Berman when he retires? The verbal puns got old 20 years ago.

9:06 (DL)--I think that what is shocking me most is how normal and banal this draft has been.

9:08 (DL)--Aside from, of course, what will go down as "The Cleveland Boondoggle."

9:15 (DL)--How many times in his life has Chris Berman uttered the phrase, "Fill that Jolly Roger!"?

9:17 (DL)--Kiper's right, and I'm positive that Gruden is drunk.

9:21 (DL)--Oh, fuck you Peyton Hillis. Number one, button up your shirt. Number two, being voted in by Cleveland does not make you a star.

9:22 (EL)--Peyton Hillis thanks his Lord Jesus Christ for the ability to wear that unbuttoned shirt. This is literally the most exciting thing that's happened in the last hour of the draft.

9:30 (DL)--The Hangover II looks like the most unnecessary sequel of all time.

9:31 (DL)--Even Hardbodies 2 had harder bodies; this just looks more expensive.

9:32 (EL)--And now it's time for the ritual festishization of the military, reminding me why I should hate football but can't get away from it.

9:33 (EL)--If Roger Goodell wraps himself in the flag tightly enough, will the public forget what a complete fucking douchebag he is?

9:36 (DL)--That's all so disgusting...just yuck....

9:38 (DL)--Ladies and gentlemen...your heroes.

9:42 (EL)--Cameron Jordan completely shut down Oregon this year. Great pick for the Saints.

9:46 (EL)--Given the quality of defensive linemen left, I am going to be very irritated if the Seahawks don't draft one, unless they trade down.

9:51 (DL)--Drafting, Pete Carroll style.
 
9:52 (EL)--Sigh. The Seahawks absolutely need an interior offensive linemen, but I also feel they could have traded down and still picked up James Carpenter. Still, the interior OL really sucked last year. Ever since Steve Hutchinson left for Minnesota, Seattle's had no running game. So maybe this will work out. Still, I'd like to see good value at the pick and this is not that.

9:54 (EL)--To be clear, Pete Carroll drafted very well last year with Okung, Earl Thomas, and Golden Tate. Other than the Whitehurst trade, the personnel moves have been good. We'll see about this. Maybe it'll be worth it. Would like to see former Duck Max Unger get healthy and work with Carpenter to provide solid guards and open up some holes for the lame-ass running backs.

9:57 (EL)--I think Jimmy Smith is trying to get over his character issues by surrounding himself with white people on TV. Knowing the NFL's racial politics, this might actually work.

10:08 (EL)--I really like that Jimmy Smith pick by the Ravens. The whole character thing has gotten out of control. If you have someone totally crazy like Pac-Man Jones, OK. But LaGarette Blount didn't get drafted last year because he punched a guy. Then he ended up the top rookie running back. Jimmy Smith is a stud corner and a top 10 talent. With the level of mentoring he's likely to receive in Baltimore, this is very good.

10:15 (EL)--My only concern about the Saints drafting Mark Ingram is the likelihood that they are going to dump Reggie Bush and Pete Carroll throws a ton of money at Bush to come and suck in Seattle.

10:38 (EL)--And there ends one of the most boring 1st rounds in history. This is what I learned tonight: Peyton Hillis demonstrated that each team should pick its douchiest player to announce the picks. I totally want to see Tim Tebow present Denver's picks. Can you imagine how awesome it would have been to hear Deion Sanders present picks back in the day? This would make things so much more interesting!

The Lockout

Yesterday court ruling lifting the NFL lockout might well be the end of the road for the NFL owners' attempt to screw over their players. Ed Valentine persuasively argues this and notes how utterly evil the owners are:

The NFL owners are still in denial, as evidenced by their stubborn refusal to get back to work and stop their appeal of Judge Nelson's decision. But the truth is, it's over. In fact, it's probably true that it was over from the moment when Smith rallied his players, won their confidence, and got them to go along with the gutsy move to decertify the union after months of non-negotiation.

From the beginning the sports media has been quick to note that neither side was willing to compromise, but what Smith did was make it clear to the players that they had no reason to compromise. They were, after all, being asked to give up revenue they had fought hard for as the starting point of any negotiations. The central facts leading to the lockout were not in dispute: the National Football League pulled in more than $9 billion last season, and the owners wanted the players to give back one billion of their share from the first snap. Not because the owners were suffering any economic hardship -- certainly none that they were ready to open up their books to reveal -- but because they wanted the players to pay for new stadiums.

In case you're wondering who has been footing most of the bill for these new stadiums over the years, the answer is: you, or rather, us. For the most part, the NFL, largely by threatening to move franchises to new cities, has always been able to snooker local politicians into forking over the taxpayers' money for new venues -- you know, the ones with the luxury boxes that you can't afford.

After years of preaching the virtues of the free market while profiting on municipal and state money, the public teat, it appears, has run dry. The owners' response was to turn to the NFLPA and say, in effect, we need some new suckers to foot our bills.

The players' reaction, expressed through DeMaurice Smith, was "Does Ford demand that autoworkers pay for the cost of new factories?"

Far less valuable, as per normal, is Gregg Easterbrook, who takes the classic "sure the owners are bad but the players are super greedy and although I claim to be a liberal I have no problem busting an athlete union" line. 

The NFL Owners--Pure Evil

Bill Simmons really savages the NFL owners and their upcoming attempt to crush the NFL Players Association. The day's must read.

Labor and the NFL Lockout

The AFL-CIO has developed an interesting strategy over the past couple of weeks--tying themselves very closely to the upcoming lockout of NFL players. It's a fairly transparent strategy--unions get nothing but negative publicity in today's media. But Americans love the NFL and will revolt if they don't get their football in the fall. So what better way to generate positive energy for the labor movement than promote the NFLPA as a typical union. This has been all over the AFL-CIO Twitter feed for instance.

It's hard to blame labor for taking this strategy. I mean, why not at this point. I'm not sure how useful it's going to be--I'd guess most Americans are going to blame the players for the labor stoppage despite the fact that it's a lockout rather a strike. But how many people really know the difference? Professional sports unions aren't exactly noted for their working-class solidarity either--a bunch of wealthy Republicans are probably  more embarrassed to be union members than likely to display class pride.

Where this strategy gets a little more skeptical is to call the NFLPA a model union. The NFL's player union is notoriously the weakest of the professional sports unions. The last labor stoppage, in 1987, was a disaster. Players scabbed left and right, or right and right really, given that among the first scabs was Seattle WR and future right-wing congressman from Oklahoma, Steve Largent. Yet Roger Bybee's article on labor strategy from In These Times suggests the labor movement use the NFLPA's revenue sharing scheme as a model:

Back in the 1982 NFL Players Association's strike, as I discussed last week, the union began by crafting a strong message stressing that the owners were merely an impediment to a great sport ("We [the players] are the game").

They trained the NFLPA members to speak to every public meeting they could, developed their own media, and seized every opportunity to spread their message on commercial media.

Ultimately, the players out-strategized and out-hustled the owners, winning a remarkably radical demand for a guaranteed percentage of the wealth that they create.

While the NFLPA is putting many of those lessons to work against the NFL owners' threat of a lockout next month, the 1982 NFLPA strike created a playbook from which the rest of the labor movement could also learn.

Maybe. But it's quite clear to me the real advantage of calling this a model is to remind Americans that their favorite athletes are union members. That's fine and all. But it reeks of desperation. 

Worst 100 NFL Players of All Time

This list of the worst 100 NFL players is pretty fantastic. Part 1 here. Part 2 here. There are many gems. I'm a big fan of Bob Timberlake:

The Giants signed Timberlake to a two-year, $85,000 deal, but he couldn't beat out Earl Morrall for the starting quarterback job. When the team's primary kicker suffered an injury, Timberlake was inserted into his spot. On Oct. 3, 1965, Timberlake hit a 43-yard field goal in a 23–13 win over Pittsburgh. He missed his next 14 field goal attempts and was cut before the following season.

I also thought Kim McQuilken was fantastic as well:

One can certainly argue that McQuilken belongs at No. 1 on this list. In five NFL seasons, the Lehigh product threw for four touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He went on to become executive vice president of the Cartoon Network, which is somehow appropriate.

Really, there are so many excellent candidates for this list. Amazingly, Ryan Leaf was only #6 and JaMarcus Russell #13. 

Cowboys Fail

My joy at the Cowboys 1-4 start is well-explained over at Deadspin. Discussing why people hate the Cowboys so much, they state:

A third of the teams in the league have won Super Bowls since the Cowboys last did, so they're not the unstoppable juggernaut who wins too damn much. The Packers were a mid-90s mini-dynasty who emerged from dark days to be lovable underdogs, so it's not as if historical trends dictate our rooting interests. Yet there's still plenty of hatred for Dallas.

You know why? Because they're the motherfucking Cowboys. You don't get to dominate a decade with an unlikable team of criminals, monopolize the Thanksgiving day game, have a prickly, senile drunk of an owner who should be a cartoon character, draft and promote a pretty-boy semi-celebrity as your quarterback, build a billion-dollar stadium in the middle of a recession as a monument to a legendary status to which only you subscribe, put a hole in the roof because you're convinced God likes your team, call yourself America's Team, have bandwagon fans around the country, and just generally be insufferable twats who genuinely believe you're some kind of institution that's bigger than the game, and not have the nation dance in the streets when you're piddling around in your own mediocrity.

Yes indeed. 

2010 NFL Preview-AFC West

San Diego Chargers (10-6): It pains me to say that, at least for one more year, the Chargers will take the division. It won't be a slam dunk by any stretch, because the division has improved in every team except for San Diego, who are missing two very valuable pieces. Without Marcus McNeill to protect Philip Rivers at left tackle and without Vincent Jackson for him to throw to, he's going to have a pretty hard time of it, especially with a diminished defense. They're banking big on a running game they've never seen. Ryan Matthews may be superb, but pretending they return to the LT days with Matthews is delusional.

Denver Broncos (9-7): The loss of Elvis Dumervil is devestating, but by all accounts, Robert Ayers and Jarvis Moss, both disappointing thus far in their careers, have stepped their games up considerably. That the consensus that the Broncos will be incredibly bad is really stupid and nobody has given a real explanation for why. Normally, it comes down to a general hatred for Josh McDaniels. They've improved at every position except receiver, and that's even addition by subtraction. Marshall was nothing but a distraction. The D-line is way tougher, their secondary is superb, the O-line is one of the best in the league, Kyle Orton has looked fantastic in the preseason. I see a pretty good, but not quite playoff-bound team.

Oakland Raiders (7-9): Oakland is on the way up. If they get there, I'm going to get physically sick, literally, probably for days. I've always thought Jason Campbell got a raw deal in Washington. He'll do well in Oakland, if for no other reason, because the team actually wants him there. Confidence goes a long way at that position. I think they had a sadly excellent offseason, with draft picks that don't make Al Davis look like an insane fool (though he still is, of course). If Davis is willing to keep players and coaches consistent for a couple of years, they might be closer to where they were a decade ago.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-11): The Chiefs are going to be better than their five wins make them look. Like the Raiders, they've improved in all facets. Not quite as much as Oakland, but they had farther to go anyway. Matt Cassel isn't very good, and might do better with his old job as a Bruce Campbell impersonator, but he's helped by a huge upgrade with Thomas Jones at running back, improvement on both sides of the line and, also like the Raiders, actually consistency from year to year. The only question is whether OC Charlie Weiss eats one of the players during halftime.

NFL 2010 Preview-AFC East

Miami Dolphins (11-5): So, about a month ago, Erik calls me up because he wants to make fun on Teddy Bruschi who, in Erik's unesteemed opinion, had just said two of the dumbest things he'd ever heard. He asked me two questions. The first, "Who will be the comeback player of the year?" I can't remember my answer, but Bruschi's was Wes Welker, which is indeed stupid. The second, "Who will be the most improved player this year?" I answered with Chad Henne. This was Bruschi's answer and, of course, Erik was flabbergasted. It made me laugh. With Brandon Marshall demanding the ball, a solid defense, and the perfection of the Wildcat, Henne may not be the most talented quarterback in the world, but he's going to look great.

New England Patriots (9-7): New England's goose is finally cooked. They're old and beat up, they have no running game, and their defense is suspect. Tom Brady is still a very good quarterback, one of the best, but his receivers get worse every year. How many games will Wes Welker play before destroying another knee? That they believe they can continue with Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris at running back tells me they think they're better than they are. Nine wins isn't bad, of course, but their loser fans will be disappointed without another playoff run. They really need to think about a certain amount of rebuilding, but they are much too arrogant for that.

New York Jets (7-9): I love a team that talks smack, but if you don't back it up, you wind up like me in fantasy football: hated and bad. This is the Jets, who are a massively overrated group who pulled a real Redskins-style offseason, signing up every veteran jerk on the market. Mark Sanchez plain isn't good and, while their defense certainly is, they aren't going to be able to score any points. It'll be funny to watch them fail, since they think so highly of themselves. Will Revis get complacent now that he's been paid? It's always a danger; teams are certainly going to test him this year. I'm sure he wants them to bring it on, but these guys aren't going back to the playoffs this year, no way.

Buffalo Bills (4-12): It's easy to forget that they field a team in Buffalo, but I'm always reminded when I see their low number on the scoreboard. This is a terrible team; not quite Rams terrible, but really close. CJ Spiller has a chance to be good, but not on this team. They have some good players on defense and Lee Evans is an excellent receiver who has had a waste of a career due to the ridiculous choices the team makes at quarterback. They're going to be brutal to watch this year. Four wins might be a stretch.

2010 NFL Preview-AFC North

Baltimore Ravens (11-5): The Ravens retake control of the South this year by way of its excellent young quarterback and running back, and the hugely improved receiving corps. It may be a bunch of number twos, but they're two of the best second receivers in the game. They're both going to do very well with Flacco throwing to them. The defense is great, of course, but we always knew that. As old as some of their players are, the organization has been consistently great at replenishing their bench with young players and, when they finally get to play, they fall right into the squad's usual high-quality play.

Cincinnatti Bengals (10-6): I'm still a believer in TO, and next to Ochocinco, Carson Palmer once again has a fantastic duo to throw to. They're getting old, true, but Owens hasn't slowed down much at all, at least given how long he's been playing. They don't have a real running game, and Cedric Benson doesn't count, so they're going to get a lot of chances for big plays. There are going to be a whole lot of high-scoring affairs, but I think the defense is improved enough to keep the score down for them. They're not going to win pretty, but they get to play the Browns twice, so that pads their schedule.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9): The Steelers are going to be pretty bad this year, but it's not because The Rapist is out. I think they're going to win at least two with Dennis Dixon under center (Hook 'em Ducks!). When The Rapist comes back under center, he's going to be out of step with the rest of the team; it's easy to think the team has started giving up on him anyway. Plus, he'll be frustrated since he hasn't raped anybody in nearly a year. Beyond the quarterback play, the vaunted running game is a mess and, while their defense is good, they're getting pretty old. Mike Tomlin's job won't be in jeopardy, but The Rapist's might.

Cleveland Browns (5-11): Trend should feel good; five wins is quite an improvement. They're still one of the worst teams in the NFL, but they aren't the worst. Jake Delhomme is a terrible quarterback, but I guess that's forward progress from the Anderson/Quinn gambit they've been trying. Eric Mangini is a terrible coach and seems like a real asshole, but he may just look that way. Their defense is their saving grace, especially the linebackers, who I think is one of the deepest and most underrated groups in the league. Otherwise, not so much. Josh Cribbs is pretty good, but it appears that they believe they can win with only him. They can't.

2010 NFL Preview-AFC South

Finally, to the only conference that actually matters.

Indianapolis Colts (12-4): You really can't bet against Peyton Manning. He's the best quarterback in the league and the best quarterback of the last decade; even at his age, he has shown absolutely no sign of slowing down. Even when the defense isn't very good and even when you've never heard of any of his receivers, Manning finds a way to win. The team has no running game and it seems like they should be declining, but I've thought this for years and they win their division every time. Until they prove otherwise, I just can't pretend like they'll be bad.

Houston Texans (9-7): Since Gary Kubiak became coach of the Texans, I've rooted for their success and I've certainly overrated their chances. But now that they're being heralded as one of the big rising teams, I'm the one calling them overrated. The front seven of their defense I thought was going to be so great has consistently underperformed and their secondary is really pretty bad. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are both good players, but the offensive line is still a mess, making it the sack-happy affair it always is. Arian Foster is touted as a great new running back, and all because he's better than Steve Slaton. That's great, I can think of fifty backs I'd rather have than Slaton.

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8): The Jags have a great running game, and a pretty good line, but that's about all. David Garrard doesn't make many mistakes and won't lose any games for the team, but he's not going to carry the team on his back either, especially with their receiving corps, a lackluster group for years and now fronted by Mike Sims-Walker...hot. The defense isn't much better. I like Jack Del Rio, but I think he gets fired after this season. The team hasn't been terrible under his watch, but he hasn't taken them a single step forward.

Tennessee Titans (5-11): In the up and down world of Vince Young, this is going to be another down year. Probably another benching, as well, and probably more pouting. It's probably not all his fault, though. He's constantly under pressure and he has nobody to throw to. Chris Johnson is sure nice to have, but he's going to be a huge target this year, especially with his claims of another 2000-yard season, so he'll be a little down. Jeff Fisher keeps his defense going year after year, and I've heard of nearly nobody on that side of the ball, but I expect them to still be pretty good. Too bad they're going to be forced back on the field after all those interceptions.

2010 NFL Preview-NFC West

San Francisco 49ers (10-6): How do you know you're writing about the worst division in the NFL? The best team--by far--is starting Alex Smith as their opening day quarterback. Don't get me wrong, Mike Singletary is an excellent coach (though I'd be too scared to say otherwise) and they have excellent players in Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree, but Alex Smith? That's like telling me they're throwing Tim Couch out there; it just doesn't make sense. They aren't great defensively, but they have the best linebacker in the game in Patrick Willis; he's a great leader and that doesn't hurt. I figure they'll lose only one division game and make the playoffs, but I don't think they're quite good enough to do much past that this year.

Arizona Cardinals (7-9): Speaking of quarterbacks, how does Jeff Garcia not have a job in the NFL. The Cardinals rightfully get rid of Matt Leinart, but how can they possibly think that Derek Anderson is the answer? All Jeff Garcia has ever done is throw for a ton of yards on crappy teams and caught flack for it. He's playing in the UFL; he wants to play and he's clearly better than Anderson. I don't understand. Regardless, Larry Fitzgerald takes a huge hit with him under center and the loss of Anquan Boldin to the Ravens. He's a great receiver, but they don't have a lot to help him. I'm not sold on their running game and nobody covets their defense; the Cardinals are much closer today to what they were five years ago than in their run to the Super Bowl.

Seattle Seahawks (6-10): This has all been so hilarious. First, they hire Pete Carroll, the most abhorant coach in the Pac-10. Then, he trades actual picks for Charlie Whitehurst to back Matt Hasselback up. Finally, he stocks his team with former USC players, including Mike Williams, the former Trojan washout. I'm guessing that Carroll covered the football in frosting in practice, finally finding a way for Williams to chase after the ball. Imagine his suprise when there's no frosting on the ball during the game; I sense a huge breakdown. Seattle seems to have never realized that they began to dwindle in about 2006, and now it's too late. Seeing the Seahawks lose and seeing Pete Carroll fired in discrace are both worth waiting for. Plus, Erik will be miserable watching it, though he'll say he doesn't care. There's a lot of win in Seattle's sucking.

St. Louis Rams (2-14): Once again, the quarterback is the story of the team. Is there nobody the Rams could get that could stay the starting of Sam Bradford? Given the right circumstances, I think Bradford could be a very good NFL quarterback and, though it was fun to hang out with Erik in a bar in Jonesboro, AR, and see Bradford get injured, I'm actually a fan of his. The circumstance he's in, however, is closer to David Carr than Aaron Rogers, and that doesn't bode well for his future. It appears to have worked with Matt Stafford, so I guess we'll see. Otherwise, they have one good player on offense in Steven Jackon, who has been overworked for years, and one good player on defense in Oshiomogho Atogwe, who is irrelevant when the rest of the D sucks. They were the worst in the NFL last year and so again this year.

2010 NFL Preview-NFC East

God, I loathe this division....

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6): Because I seethe with hatred for every other team in the NFC East, the Eagles become my de facto favorite. Regardless how I feel, though, this is really the only team good enough in this overrated division to compete with the real contenders in the conference. Philly will take a step back with Kevin Kolb replacing Donvovan McNabb at quarterback, but his very young, very good receivers will certainly minimize the damage, and LeSean McCoy, my favorite young back in the league, is perfectly suited to this offense. Eagle fans will go crazy on sunday when they lose to Green Bay, calling for Kolb's head when he throws two picks and bemoaning the defense's four TDs allowed to Aaron Rogers, but they're still winning the division, don't worry.

New York Giants (8-8): The first of two .500 teams, the Giants get the first not because they're slightly less disgusting for me to talk about. Eli's an overrated fool, riding the coattails of his superior brother, and he doesn't have anybody to throw to. I think Brandon Jacobs will show a resurgance in power now that he's in a secondary role, but for Tom Coughlin to think that Ahmad Bradshaw is a worthwhile starter makes me think he takes roster advice from his quarterback. Their eight wins come via their defense, which I think will be ferocious after a couple of down years, if Eli doesn't tire them out with too many picks or try to teach them math.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8): What can you say about a team called a Super Bowl contender every year, even though they've one a single playoff game in over a decade, and that was last year. Not only is "Playboy" Tony Romo the most drastically over-hyped quarterback in the league today, he has to play behind a barely above average line, when they're healthy, and a poor one in the state they're in to open the season. It's laughable to say this, but they're going to sorely miss Flozelle Adams, who they jettisoned for good reason and replaced with nothing. Admittedly, I really like outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, but they aren't enough to overcome an average defensive line and a bad secondary. Seriously, when did the Cowboys have a safety worth a shit? Many of the Cowboy fans who can read and work the internet read this site; maybe one of them can tell me.

Washington Redskins (5-11): Forgive me if I snicker at the latest Dan Snyder moves to win a Super Bowl this year, but it's the same every year, although these annual add-ons don't always get along too well. I can't exactly argue with removing Jim Zorn from power--John Zorn could have done as well--but the Mike Shanahan insertion is suspect. The man reason for his success in Denver was the hands-off attitude of owner Pat Bowlen. Dan Snyder is more hands-on than your creepy uncle and he'll hamstring his coach's precious control. Luckily, he has his little son as his OC, knowing that he taught Kyle long ago not to talk back to his father. McNabb will work really well in his offense, though, and should put up some good numbers. Overall, however, this is an awful team. Will Dan Snyder give Shanahan the same two years he gave Zorn? I say no.

2010 NFL Preview-NFC South

Green Bay Packers (12-4): The only place I don't see as completely solid is at running back. I've never been sold on Ryan Grant, but he'll look better than his ability through the superiority of the passing attack. The organization has done a brilliant job of drafting over the past few years, building a very solid, very young squad. Aaron Rodgers is a top-5 quarterback and their defense is very tough. Green Bay is my pick for the NFC Championship.

Minnesota Vikings (10-6):The Vikings have a superior defense and some hugely talented players, but there are too many oddities for me to think they'll be a great team. Brett Favre's age; Adrian Peterson's fumbles; Percy Harvin's migraines; these are Minnesota's main offensive weapons and their offense could collapse at any given time. If any of this does hurt them, and it will, the defense is good enough to compensate and help them win games, but they're no coop of spring chickens anymore, either. Tonight's opener is the perfect test for this team in all aspects.

Detroit Lions (7-9): The post-Millen era of the Lions is in full swing, and they've continued to improve across the board. Matt Stafford comes into his second season under center with improvment in all facets. He's had more consistency, both in players and in coaching, than any Lions QB in a decade, which is obviously a big reason why. He has a potential superstar behind him in running back Jahvid Best and, of course, Megatron. This is an up-and-coming offense, for sure. Ndamukong Suh will be a monster at defensive tackle and help their entire defense tremendously. No winning season in Detroit yet, but they're at least as good as the Bears. That, however, says more about the Bears than it does the Lions.

Chicago Bears (6-10): The Bears of recent years remind me of the Dallas Cowboys: they always pick up one huge free agent and declare themselves Super Bowl bound, even while they take clear steps backward. Last year was Jay Cutler and his own brand of high-octane suck; this year, Julius Peppers comes in to delight Bears fans with whiney, lazy play and OC Mike Martz gets to help Cutler with his record-breaking season...for interceptions. Combine a quarterback who slings the ball down the field without looking with a coordinator whose philosophy is to throw the ball where the receiver isn't and you wind up with a big shiny pile of garbage. This is a team deep on its way down without ever having realized it.

2010 NFL Preview-NFC South

I skipped football prognostication last year, both because I'm lazy and terrible at prognostication, but I felt like doing it again for '10. I'll start with the teams playing on the silly Thursday game, which does little but diminish Sunday's actual opening to the season. Anyway, to the NFC South.

New Orleans Saints (12-4): The only thing that keeps the Saints from contending again for the Super Bowl is overconfidence. They've spent all kinds of time on floats during the offseason; does their celebratory mood hint at satisfaction? Excluding the loss of Darren Sharper, no doubt a significant one, they're the same team of overachieving workmen. I doubt Drew Brees will put up the same kinds of numbers he did last year, but it's hard to argue that, as a whole, they aren't the team to beat.

Atlanta Falcons (9-7): I like Matt Ryan; I think he's developed into a really good quarterback. I think Mike Smith is an excellent coach who is a lot angrier than he looks like he ever could be. I don't like that they continue forward with a number one receiver and a slew of number fours. I mostly don't like that they insist on running Michael Turner five hundred times a season. Good as he is, he's not made of stone and I think we're going to see very similar numbers to last season. Combined with a vastly overrated defense, I claim nine wins for Atlanta, but it could just as easily be seven.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8): I seem to be in the vast minority of people who believe the Bucs will go a long way toward turning it around this year, but I think a lot will depend on the improved play of QB Josh Freeman, who was thrown in much to soon, but should be much more functional. If it is as it appears, Carnell "Corvair" Williams might have some legs under him once again. If that's wrong, though, the other options aren't pretty; people named Huggins and Lumpkin do not inspire confidence. I like their defense, though, and Raheem Morris was the coach I wanted in Denver last year, so I believe in them. I've always been a fan, though, except for the Gruden days, where they made me sick.

Carolina Panthers (5-11): Matt Moore is not a real starting quarterback; not in the NFL, not in the UFL, maybe in the Arena League. If he busts, as I believe he will, they're left with Jimmy Clausen, the douchiest quarterback since Philip Rivers. I hope for the best for Jonathan Stewart and, barring his ridiculous foot problems, I think he's one of the best young running backs in the league, but the team surrounding him is not very good. Their talented players are ancient and people are going to realize that Jake Delhomme wasn't the only problem in Cackalacky. People rave about their defense but, aside from John Beason, I see spares. Mostly, though, nothing good comes from Matt Moore at QB...nothing.

NFC North tomorrow, since they're playing.

NFL Draft Live Blogging, Day 1

10:13--EL--A few thoughts about the last third of the round.

1. The Cowboys are incredibly stupid. While I think Dez Bryant could be an excellent receiver, how many resources is Jerry Jones going to spend on WRs? Endlessly evidently. If he thinks the Cowboys are a WR away, he's crazy. Plus, with Miles Austin's emergence last year, this makes no sense.

2. Agreed with Lyrad about the Lions trading up for Jahvid Best. Very strong pick. Team is making the right moves, though they really need a left tackle.

3. I can't believe Jimmy Clausen is still on the board. This makes no sense. Expect Cleveland or Buffalo to trade up for the 1st pick of the 2nd round to grab him. The Rams should be happy to trade that pick given that they just drafted a 1st, there are lots of good players on the board, and they should get good return on the pick.

4. Also, I again want to congratulate Lyrad for the Broncos awesome draft. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos Quarterback. Maybe Elway will allow him to wear #7!

10:08--LS--Well, that was fun until pick 22. Back tomorrow for 2nd Round action....

9:51--LS--It's kind of funny. I've spent the last thirty minutes in a strange haze of confusion and nausea, but came out just in time to see the Lions make a really strong move. Great trade up, great pick. They're far from complete, but they have quality players all over the field now. They're a far cry from where they were this time two years ago.

9;23--LS--I don't get it at all; we'll see what happens, but I don't see how that's smart at all. Tebow sounds like a doofus and he looks like an idiot, but at least they preemptive strike on Jesus eye-black. If McDaniels has some idea of a Chip Kelly-style Taser position and he's out there doing anything but throwing for half the snaps, I'm fine. Otherwise, why pay this moron to sit on the bench to plat tic-tac-toe with Brady Quinn (news flash: Quinn wins 100% of the time) and pray? I'm holding out judgment, but I have a hard fucking time with this one.

9:11--EL--I just want to say that Tim Tebow going to the Broncos is the greatest moment in draft history. Lyrad has been a Broncos fan for his entire life. He also hates Tim Tebow. I am going to get a laugh out of this for many years. This is awesome. The Broncos are going to suck, they have the greatest douchebag in recent NFL history, and Josh McDaniels never drafts what he needs--front 7 guys. This is awesome. Absolutely freaking awesome. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

9:00--LS--What a typical pick for the Cowboys. Watch your necks, Dallas, it's Dez's barber chair now.

8:52--LS--It's late in the 1st, so at least he didn't go top ten, but Bulaga is another Robert Gallery; move him to guard now.

8:48--LS--Thomas is a good player, and huge, but we'll see about this. Receiver is a huge need for Denver, obviously, so that fills the hole. Still don't know what they gave up to move back into the first, but it seems like a strong pick.

8:40--LS--What the fuck?! The Tebows all wear aqua and sport matching faux-hawks; what a bunch of losers.

8:26--LS--It's pretty high to draft Iupatu at 17, but he'll be a good player. On another note, ESPN has to reconsider the five-man commentary booth. They're stepping all over each other like crazy.

8:17--LS--I'm down with JPP, and this was a really strong pick, as long as he's better than Matthias Kiwanuka, the last DE they drafted.

8:07--EL--If I were choosing for Seattle, I probably would have gone with Morgan. But Earl Thomas is a very good player in a real position of need. It's impossible to complain about Thomas. Seattle's secondary was horrible last year; they literally have almost nothing at safety. Were this a team with less needs, I'd be very happy. Given that Seattle is so bad, I probably would have emphasized a pass rusher. 

8:06--LS--Thomas should be a really good safety for Seattle. He'd better be; he's going to be on the field for 45 minutes a game.

8:01--EL--In response to Lyrad's comment before about Al Davis buying the Jaguars--that was a terrible pick by Jacksonville. Why do you take maybe the 35th best player in the draft at 10? Even if you are convinced this is your guy, why don't you trade down? You know no one is going to take him at 15. For a franchise already on the ropes, that was a horrible selection. 

7:58--EL--Obviously one of the appeals of the draft is the trade tension. What will happen? But some of these trades make no sense. Why did the 49ers trade up from 13 to 11 to get OT Anthony Davis. They know Denver isn't going to make that pick at 13. Miami isn't going to at 12--they need help on defense. Hell, Seattle isn't going to take him at 14--why not trade down? I know they only gave up a 4th, but a 4th round pick is a useful chip. 

7:57--EL--This draft is working out great for the Seahawks. They desperately need help at defensive end and safety. Derrick Morgan, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Earl Thomas are all available. They can either trade down or have their choice. They could also take Dez Bryant at WR. Very nice. Don't screw it up Carroll!!!!

7:52--LS--Love it, love it, love it...Josh McDaniels is doing a really good job. The Broncos will be taking center Pouncey at 25. Great stuff.

7:41--LS--I love the trade down, though I wish I knew what the Broncos got for him. The 49ers are clearly going to pick Clausen, but now I wonder if Denver trades back down from 13.

7:39--LS--In other news, Al Davis just bought the Jaguars.

7:33--LS--Yeah, the Raiders can suck it; he's failure with them. CJ Spiller to the Bills is a really stupid pick unless they have a trade in hand for Marshawn Lynch. This pick costs them a ton of money and it makes them no better. What do I expect from Buffalo?

7:30--EL--While I like the Raiders picking McClain because it pissed Daryl off so much, if you are the Raiders, do you really need a linebacker with this pick? 

7:25--LS--I sure wish Denver still had that 14 pick. But we have Antonio Smith, so that's pretty good. Nothing very shocking so far; I sure do wish Carroll had done something stupid, but I'll have to wait. You can have Bryant at 14; I just hope that Rolando McLain is there at 11. Raiders are up, so expect somebody you've never heard of...goddamn it. I hate the stupid fucking Raiders. Ok, I still don't want stupid Dez Bryant, now we can definitely trade down into the 20s...fuck....

7:17--EL--Very happy about Okung. The Seahawks need so very much. But they need an OT the most. I feel the #14 pick is also key. The Seahawks have drafted horribly for years. They can hopefully get Jason Pierre-Paul, Dez Bryant, or CJ Spiller at 14, all in areas of need. 

7:08--LS--Well, it must be destiny for you Erik. Carroll will probably shock us with a USC player, though.

7:07--EL--I like that Eric Berry pick for the Chiefs. Not only does their secondary suck, but it now gives the Seahawks the choice of offensive tackles. This could be good. Though Carroll will probably blow it.  

7:05--LS--If a conference has to have the first five picks for the first time, at least it isn't the SEC. But yes, Stoops is a fucking jerk.

7:00--EL--It's also kind of hard to believe that Oklahoma didn't win a title with that much talent. 3 of the top 4 picks? Crazy. I guess that's what happens when you lose your QB. Also, Bob Stoops is a jerk. 

6:59--EL--I like that Trent Williams pick for the Redskins largely because it might open Okung up for the Seahawks. I believe Walter Jones was also the 6th pick in the draft. It's destiny. 

6:55--LS--I thought it was like watching your mom.

6:54--EL--I do like that McCoy pick. Tampa has young talent elsewhere. But their run defense was atrocious last year. It was like watching the Broncos. 

6:50--LS--Who wants to bet on the first draft pick to be charged with sexual assault? Dibs on Jimmy Clausen!

6:49--LS--I'm mixed on the pick, but I think he'll be a solid player. McCoy going to the Bucs will be the better pick because of the system they already have in place. I'm not sold on Okung, personally.

6:45--EL--While Suh was awesome in college, the number of defensive tackles to bust is very very high. Also, the Lions really need an offensive tackle. Matt Stafford was destroyed last year. If he keeps getting crushed by defenders, how long will he last? The Lions should have taken Russell Okung. 

6:41--LS--For the first time in years, I see a highly touted QB as a can't-miss pick. With my skill at projection, that probably means his arm will fall off in training camp.

6:39--Lyrad Simool--Ahem...I'd just like to begin by saying that Big Rape neither represents the number seven nor those who wear the number...those like John Elway.

EL--6:39--So the Rams take Sam Bradford. Could work out, who can tell.  However, I want to express what Lyrad told me earlier--it's quite disappointing that Bradford, probably the most prominent Native American football player since Jim Thorpe, didn't go to the Redskins. It would have been an interesting situation.  

The NFL draft is now 3 days. Lyrad and I are going to live blog it again. At least the first 2 days I guess. We'll have to see about the 3rd. Anyway, feel free to join us for this most enjoyable waste of time. Will the Steelers draft a QB to potentially replace Ol'Rapey, i.e. Ben Roethlisberger? Who will waste a pick on the loathsome Tim Tebow? How will Pete Carroll destroy my Seahawks for the next decade? How many times will Lyrad reference John Elway?

Join us in comments if you like!

Notes from the resident AD Colts fan

First of all, great game. Pretty clean, good schemes for both teams, and some dramatic lead changes. As a fan, it always sucks when the team you've been watching since you were a kid loses, but honestly, this is the best of possible losses. The storybook ending is pretty cool, and New Orleans must be a madhouse right now. Wish I could have done the live blog.

My notes:

1) I have to respect the stones of Sean Payton-- the onside kick to start the second half was very cool.

2) Brees was amazing, and the coaching staff did a fantastic job preparing and cleaning up what was a terribly sloppy performance in the NFC championship game.

3) The Colts have nothing to be ashamed of-- they played a good game and just came up a little short on a few plays. I'm damned excited to see Garcon and Collie next year with all this experience under their belt; adding Gonzo back to the fold will be fierce.

4) The shots of Brees and Fujita with their kids after the game was pretty cool, too (I'm not usually such a sucker for that kind of stuff, but it was strangely affecting tonight).

5) There's always a kind of hangover after the Superbowl; the prospect of no meaningful football until September is a drag.

6) My dislike for the politics of the guy aside, the Tebow ad was more tasteful than I thought it would be. I still question the appropriateness of an ad like that running on the Superbowl, but it could have been a lot worse.

7) The Denny's chickens were my favorite ad trope, though I kind of liked the Mark Sanchez ad, strangely enough.

8) Superbowl menu at the Dean's house: Smoked and sauced chicken wings, Indiana-style fried pork tenderloin sandwiches, guacamole with locally grown avocados, homemade potato chips smothered in Maytag blue cheese crumbles, and sliders (you know, for good measure), plus liberal amounts of our local craft brew. All awesome.

9) I'd like to point out that my Superbowl "best bets" I posted in some comment thread (Indy +3 first half and the game total under 57) both cashed.

Giving credit where credit is due

We've had several discussions about the right-leaning political tendencies of professional athletes in the last year, and the Tebow-Dobson Super Bowl ad is certainly a current topic of debate heading into the big game Sunday. In a rare reminder that not every jock buys into the right's Kool-Aid, The Advocate's Michelle Garcia's interview with New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Fujita is most welcome.

Fujita, who played his college ball in Berkeley, has an impressive resume of charitable work in New Orleans. He has worked with local organizations on issues from breast cancer awareness and research, children's charities, and adoption services. For his charitable efforts, he was named the Saints' 2009 Man of the Year. In the article, Fujita espouses his support for marriage equality. Not only is it refreshing to hear something like this from an NFL player, but Fujita's comments are well-constructed, logical, and thoughtful.

I have never claimed to have all the answers ... still haven't met someone who does. But I have some strong opinions about things, especially when it comes to issues of prejudice and inequality. I also recognize that the platform I've been given as a professional athlete will be taken from under me once I leave this game, at which point no one will care to ask my opinion. So in the meantime, why not stand for something?

It's great to add Scott Fujita to the list of pro athletes (like Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo, Steve Young, and Charles Barkley) that have made public their support for marriage equality. If my Colts have to lose to New Orleans on Sunday, I hope Scott Fujita is involved in the play that gives the Saints the go-ahead score (as long as the total stays under 57).

Is the Rooney Rule Actually Helping Anything?

Let me start this off by saying that I in no way fault Art Rooney for the current form of the Rooney Rule, which states that teams must interview a minority candidate before hiring coaches. But what good is such a rule when teams are only paying it lip service?

The most recent example is, of course, the Seattle Seahawks, who spoke with Pete Carroll and already had a contract ready to sign before they even interviewed their "minority candidate," though they're far from the only ones (see: Browns, Cleveland, and Mangini, Eric). This is so offensive and absurd, and I can't imagine how it must feel to be somebody like Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who was the Seahawks "minority interview." But again - Carroll's contract was already ready before Frazier even interviewed.

While Rooney's ideas were and are excellent, their spirit is being grossly violated in these "token interviews." It's clear that the Seahawks didn't want Frazier (or any other minority candidate), just as it was clear last year that the Browns (regretablly) wanted Mangini and Mangini alone. I understand that maybe Frazier did well in the interview, and is ready for future interviews (with word getting out on him among front offices). But what motivation could he really have for an interview for a job he knows he isn't getting? It would be nice if Frazier and other minority candidates refused to interview, leaving a team in limbo, but that won't happen. Instead, we get these terrible, fake interviews that only pay lip service to the rule and in no way follow its spirited effort to get more minority hires in the NFL. These tactics are a major thumb in the eye of the minority candidates and do nothing to achieve what the Rooney Rule was designed to do. I'd like to think there's a better way, but if there is, I just don't see it happening soon. Instead, teams will go after "their" guy, and diversity and the chance for promotion in the NFL will continue to be stunted, to the disadvantage of players, coaches, teams, and fans alike.

NFL Concussion Study

You mean that you can't trust an industry-run study on the long-term effects of their own working conditions? I am shocked by this.