Bleacher Report - Articles by Eddy DelSignore

Analyzing the New England Patriots' Offseason Moves

Eddy DelSignore — Sat, 09 May 2009 09:53:01 -0400

After narrowly missing out on a playoff spot after last years’ season—one that was marked by the injury of All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady in the first game of the regular season—the New England Patriots are looking to reestablish themselves as one of the top teams in the NFL.

Even though their offseason was marked by the trade of franchised quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs, other moves that have gotten less attention could prove to be more significant.

The signing of ex-Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is perhaps the most important of all free-agent signings thus far. Even though Taylor is coming off his least productive season as a pro (rushing for under 600 yards) and is 33 years old, he could prove to be a vital part of the Patriots’ backfield in the coming season.

With Patriots’ management growing impatient with the lack of progress shown by oft-injured Lawrence Maroney, and the only alternatives being Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk, who the Patriots prefer to use as a receive out of the backfield, Taylor could be in store for a large share of the Patriots’ carries this coming season.

While some of Taylor’s failure last year can be attributed to his age and the wear and tear of being a 12-year NFL running back, some of the blame must be put on the injuries suffered by the Jaguars’ offensive line.

With other teams already loading the box with defenders because of the inconsistent play of the Jaguars’ receivers, the injuries to starting offensive lineman provided a very difficult task for Taylor to overcome.

With the play of Tom Brady and Randy Moss assuring that every team will have to keep their safeties out of the box, and the presence of Logan Mankins and Matt Light anchoring the offensive line, Taylor could see success as a part of the Patriots’ backfield.

Also acquired to help boost an already stacked offensive are receivers Greg Lewis and Joey Galloway, and tight ends Chris Baker and Alex Smith. Lewis, an ex-Eagle who had his best season in 2005 where he caught 48 passes, looks to fill the void left by Jabar Gaffney.

Galloway, the long time Tampa Bay Buc, will provide a deep threat in the Patriots receiving core with his elite speed, even at age 37. While Baker will be used mostly as an asset to the running game, Smith serves more as a receiving tight end and will be used to backup oft-injured Benjamin Watson.

On the defensive side, the Patriots were often vulnerable to the pass last season—a sign of weak secondary play. Although the departure of Asante Samuel and injuries to Rodney Harrison and second round pick Tyrone Wheatley did not help the cause, the need still remained for help at the cornerback positions.

The Patriots signed Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden to bolster their defensive talent. Bodden, one of the few bright spots on a 0-16 Detroit Lions team, had a good season in which he defended 11 passes, intercepting one. Also, being only 27, Bodden has time to develop under Bill Belichick’s complex defensive system.

Springs, a 13-year veteran, has spent the majority of his career with the Seahawks and Redskins. He provides physical play at the corner position with his ability to jam receivers and bump them off their routes.

Even though the Patriots traded veteran Ellis Hobbs, the addition of Springs and Bodden coupled with the return of Wheatley and drafting of Darius Butler, the freakishly athletic cornerback from UConn should serve as a great defensive backs corp.

The impact of offseason acquisitions will play a major part in how much success the Patriots will achieve this coming season. Already a Super-Bowl-caliber team before the signing of Fred Taylor, Leigh Bodden, and others, the Patriots are hoping that these additions will carry them to the Lombardi Trophy in February.

The Winner of the 2009 NFL Draft Chris Johnson Award Is...

Eddy DelSignore — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:36:50 -0400

Being a self-proclaimed NFL Draft Guru, I feel that I have the confidence necessary to give my first annual NFL Draft predictions on who will be this year's Vernon Gholston and who will be this year's Chris Johnson.

Gholston, as you may remember, was selected with the seventh overall pick. What you probably do not remember was his play from this past season. He was considered, by his peers, to be the worst tackler in the NFL in a survey taken by ESPN The Magazine.

Johnson, on the other hand, was selected with the 24th overall pick by the Titans—a team criticized for selected another "workout wonder," like they had done the year before by selecting Chris Henry. Johnson, the man who ran the fastest 40 yard dash time at the 2008 Scouting Combine, had played at East Carolina, a small school who competes against minimal competition.

The most logical potential bust of the group. The small, thin, fast running back was projected to go in the middle of the second round, but was selected in the latter end of the first. Johnson became one of the the most explosive running backs in the leagues from his first touch. He rushed for 1,200+ yards and nine touchdowns.

Gholston, on the other hand, the physical freak from THE Ohio State University, finished with 13 total tackles, and zero sacks.

The Chris Johnson award, as I will call it from now on, goes to the player who is being overlooked, but should not be. This player has been picked apart by scouts for one reason or another, and supposedly possesses a fatal flaw, which will prevent him from being a star in the league. Johnson's was his lack of size and bulk, and lack of experience against qualified schools. Past winners of this award include DeAngelo Williams and Tom Brady, amongst others.

The Vernon Gholston award will go to the player who I believe will benefit from his hype coming out of college, whether it be because of his spotty play or ridiculous workout numbers. This will cause an unlucky team to select him higher than he should be chosen. He will under perform, causing some to write him off as a bust even after one year in the league. Past winners of this award include Alex Smith, Laurence Maroney, Mike Williams, and of course, Vernon Davis.

This year's Chris Johnson award goes to: Michael Oher OT Ole Miss

Michael Oher may be the most over analyzed athlete in college sports history because of his role in the famous book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. The book tells the story of the evolution of the importance of the left tackle position by using Oher's life as the example. Through the fame of this book, Oher has been scrutinized since his entrance into Ole Miss.

Scouts may be focusing on his late blitz pickups and his inability to pick up schemes fully as a reason for him to drop in the draft. However, scouts are overlooking his glaring strengths.

Oher never missed a single game in his career at Ole Miss, making him one of the more sure-bet players to compete for an entire NFL season next year. He has superior lower body strength, which makes him one of the most solid run blockers in the country. He would make a perfect fit for any team with a running-based offense, such as the Raiders, Titans, or Ravens. His potential is sky-high due to his incredible lower body strength and long arms, which are ideal for a player at his position.

Other potential candidates for the Chris Johnson award are: Michael Johnson (DE - Georgia), Chris "Beanie" Wells (RB - Ohio State), and Alphonso Smith (CB - Wake Forest).

The winner of this year's Vernon Gholston award goes to: Mark Sanchez QB USC

Sanchez comes out of college with only one year of playing experience under his belt. Pete Carroll begged him to stay in college. However, what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in hype and good interviews. That is what scouts are right now raving about his leadership qualities and intangibles.

This reminds me of another quarterback who's draft stock skyrocketed because of his hype and "intangibles." This quarterback was Vince Young. After being benched due to his poor passing and following that up with a suicide scare, Young's intangibles are now largely in question. Sanchez could well end up the same way.

Also, at only 6'2", Sanchez does not provide the ideal height for an elite quarterback. He possesses only adequate arm strength, which is what makes him a less valuable prospect than Matthew Stafford. Also, his ability to read coverages and manage a game could be questioned due to his lack of experience (only 16 starts). After one more year playing quarterback for a top-tier program and coach, I could see Sanchez being a top-10 worthy pick. However, I feel like this year is too early

Other nominees for the Vernon Gholston award: Percy Harvin, Matthew Stafford, and Hakeem Nicks.

Curt Schilling: First Ballot Hall-of-Famer...Right?

Eddy DelSignore — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:11:27 -0400

Following the retirement of any athlete comes the inevitable examination of his career to see whether it meets the standards worthy of Hall-of-Fame consideration. Curt Schilling, one of the greatest pitchers of his era, retired on Monday.

Now that he has retired, the focus on his return shifts to examining his legacy. Even though his statistics may suggest that Schilling may not be worthy of a Hall-of-Fame slot, the memory of his career should suggest otherwise.

11-2. That is the greatest postseason record by a pitcher with at least 10 decisions. Schilling holds that record in the postseason, as well as three World Series Championship rings, and one World Series MVP award.

Those numbers alone should tell the story of how clutch Curt Schilling was during his career in an era that includes postseason legendary performers such as Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson, Josh Beckett, and others. However, Schilling's postseason accomplishments can be summarized by one fateful game in 2004.

The 2004 Boston Red Sox, whom Schilling had signed with at the beginning of the season and promised a championship to, were on the ropes against the New York Yankees. After a mircle comeback in back-to-back games gave the Red Sox a fighting chance at winning the series, they still trailed 3-2 in the series.

Their travel to Yankee stadium for Game six was, by most people's opinion, the end of a valiant effort by the Sox.

Curt Schilling had gone under open ankle surgery to suture a torn tendon to his right ankle bone prior to Game Ssx. The gametime temperature was below freezing. Blood from the surgical wound soaked through his sock. Schilling grimaced with every pitch and with every push off the injured ankle.

Schilling fought through not only the pain of his wound, but also the hostile crowd and pressure of saving a cursed team to pitch seven shutout innings. People who watched that game will surely never forget what they saw. I still get goosebumps watching the TiVo recording, which will never be deleted from my TV.

All postseason accomplishments aside, Schilling had a brilliant regular season career as well. Schilling finished with a 216 wins and a 3.46 ERA. He is tied for 80th on the career wins list and his 3,116 strikeouts ranks 15th overall. However, not even these stats may ensure his status as a definite Hall-of-Famer.

Off the field, Schilling was known as a free-speaker who often rubbed many reporters and writers the wrong way with his often controversial opinions. These same writers and reporters may take this bias against him when using their Hall-of-Fame vote. Schilling's regular season numbers are borderline elite, especially his only 216 wins.

However, Hall-of-Fame status should be based on memory rather than stats. When one thinks of Curt Schilling, they do not think of the numbers, but instead of a pitcher who dominated the majority of the games he pitched in, especially when he pitched in the most important games.

Statistics cannot account for the aura of greatness which Schilling exhibited during the prime of his career. Just as stats cannot give complete justice to performances such as Pedro's 1999, Josh Beckett's performances against the Yankees, Derek Jeter's importance to his team and his postseason moments like his backhand flip and his stint as "Mr. November."

The "bloody sock" game that Schilling pitched will never be forgotten in baseball history, as the sock that he wore is enshrined in the Hall-of-Fame. Hopefully the many other games that he pitched will be given the same attention, and Schilling will have his Hall-of-Fame plaque rest next to his bloody sock, where it belongs.

NBA Playoff Predictions: A Lakers-Celtics Final!?

Eddy DelSignore — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:24:25 -0400

This years' NBA playoffs are playing out to be one of most intriguing of the last five years. Obviously, the first round is not complete yet, so I will write this prediction from the second round to the finals with who I think will make it out of the first round.

Eastern Conference

Celtics v. Cavs

Lots of matchup problems for the Cavs here, but one glaring matchup problem for the Celtics: Who guards LeBron?

As of last night, Joe Johnson seems to be unstoppable, even against the best statistical defense in the NBA. Johnson is the same type of athletic, dual threat player that LeBron is, except LeBron is much, much better. I can't see James Posey (who seems to be doing the best job on Johnson) staying with LeBron's strength and quickness. Ray Allen, the next candidate, can't defend anything right now. It seems like LeBron is going to get his points in this series.

This would be a problem for the Celtics if not for the matchup problems that the Cavs are going to have against them. Although Ben Wallace is a multi-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, he is not the man he was in those years. I wouldn't want him guarding a KG who is hungrier than ever and who was finally woken up by the Hawks' two upsets. Another matchup problem will be the Cavs' perimeter defense against the outside shooting of Ray Allen and company.

Although I expect LeBron to keep the Cavs competitive, I think there are way too many problems for the Cavs against the Celtics defense and too much for LeBron to do by himself on offense.

Prediction: Celtics 4, Cavs 1

Pistons v. Magic

I am sure that I am not the only one who smell upset in this round. Dwight Howard is reverting to his early-season form in these playoffs and is also beginning to establish himself as a beast amongst men. He's going to be an impossible matchup for an undersized Pistons team. Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson have also been playing great basketball as of late.

The same cannot be said about the Pistons. "Big Shot" Chauncy Billups hasn't been playing as clutch as his reputation expects of him. Look for him and Rip Hamilton to have a better series than they are against the 76ers, but I don't think it's going to be enough to stop a red-hot Magic team. The key is going to be how well Jason Maxiel and Rasheed Wallace can contain the inside presence of Dwight Howard.

Prediction: Magic 4, Pistons 3.

Celtics v. Magic

Horrible, horrible draw for the Magic here in their first Eastern Conference Finals. Almost every matchup bodes well for the Celtics. They have KG and Kendrick Perkins to be physical with Dwight Howard, and the defense of Rajon Rondo to keep Jameer Nelson in check.

Look for this to be an anti-climatic final. The Celtics' Big Three want a championship too much to let a young Magic team come and spoil their season.

Prediction: Celtics 4, Magic 0

Western Conference

Lakers v. Jazz

While the status of Andrew Bynum is doubtful, his presence will not play a major role in the outcome of this series. Kobe Bryant can smell a championship at this point and unfortunately for the Jazz, they don't have anyone talented enough to defend him. Pau Gasol has been playing the best basketball of his young career during these playoffs, and I see no end in sight for his production. (The entire Memphis front office, please light yourself on fire).

The Jazz will have to hope for a stellar performance by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Andrei Kirilenko will have the impossible task of trying to contain Kobe Bryant. Ever since going AWOL under the Jerry Sloan regime, Kirilenko has been a shell of his former self. The new Andrei is highly under qualified to guard a motivated Kobe.

Although the Jazz home court advantage is the best in the league look for the Lakers to steal an exciting game on the road, and end this series in six games.

Prediction: Lakers 4, Jazz 2

Hornets v. Spurs

This series has potential to be the best of any series in the playoffs. So many matchups to watch for. Can CP3 continue to play at an impossibly high level for another series against a better defensive team? Can Tony Parker repeat one of the best point guard performances of all time like he had in Game Three against the Suns when he scored 41 points while also having 14 assists?

The Spurs will be the Spurs. Look for Tim Duncan to continually defy his critics and have another stellar series. Manu Ginobli has been one of the most unstoppable forces thus far in the playoffs, and look for that to continue as well. The Spurs also have the luxury of a Bruce Bowen, a player who can keep David West from taking over any given game. Tony Parker will be the X-Factor. If he can play like he did against the Suns, the Spurs will win games.

The Hornets, who rely on their outside shooting for success, will have to shoot well to have a chance. The pick and roll that was so effective against a below average Dallas defense will not work against Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen. Don't count on Tyson Chandler taking countless lobs from Chris Paul here. However, Chris Paul is not only one of the most competitive players in the league, but he also possesses a rare set of intangibles that give off the, "There's no f****** way I'm losing this game" aura that infects not only himself, but his teammates as well. I can't see him stopping the roll he is on just yet.

This series is definitely going seven games, and thankfully for the Hornets, they are the number two seed and will have home court for that deciding game seven.

Prediction: Hornets 4, Spurs 3

Lakers v. Hornets

Every great player: MJ, Kobe, Wilt, Bird, Russell, Magic, etc always needed to take a devastating playoff loss before they learned how to win championships. I feel like this is going to be the rite of passage for Chris Paul, who is unquestionably the best rising star in the NBA. Kobe wants this championship too badly, and I think this is going to be his series to win or lose. This years' version of Kobe is mature enough to not try to do too much like he has in past years. He has too many weapons around him to fail.

Look for the Hornets to be competitive, but there's just going to be too much Kobe for the Hornets in this series. Definitely a promising season for the young Hornets team, though.

Prediction: Lakers 4, Hornets 2

NBA Finals - Lakers v. Celtics

Every NBA fan should now run to the grocery store and stock up on food and drink, because you're not going to want to leave the hour for the week that this series goes on. ABC is also putting a gift basket together for the NBA for single-handedly causing their ratings to break every record.

Kobe v. KG is the marquee matchup in this series. Both players are at a crossroads in their career. Kobe looks to prove that he can win without Shaq, and KG is looking to get out of the infamous "Best Players in NBA History...Not to Win a Championship" group.

To be honest, this series isn't about matchups, because the teams are equally the best in the NBA. They key will not be Kobe, or the Big Three. The key instead will be the play of Rajon Rondo. If he plays well, the Celtics will win. If he does not, the Celtics will not win. Sam Cassell may not see the floor during this series, and I'm happy about that. Being a Celtics fan, I want to see Rondo stake his clame next to Deron Williams and Chris Paul as one of the top young guards in the league.

This series goes to seven games, no question. The Celtics, who had a better record during the regular season, will play at home. The ghosts of the old Boston Garden will be awoken during the seventh game between the L.A. Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Game seven in Boston against the Lakers is too perfect for NBA fans. Whatever way the game goes, there will be no disappointments in this game.

PREDICTION: Celtics 4, Lakers 3.

Mark Cuban Fires Avery Johnson after Playoff Loss to New Orleans Hornets

Eddy DelSignore — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:42:59 -0400

Just one day after the Mavericks lost to the Hornets three games to one, Avery Johnson was fired by Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban.

This comes as no surprise to anyone who follows basketball because of the numerous reports of Johnson and Cuban butting heads during the playoffs.

Cuban is known for his extremely hands-on ownership of his team and antics in the seats of every game. He fires a coach who led his team to a .735 winning percentage and a trip to the 2006 NBA Finals, which they lost to the Miami Heat.

However, in the past two seasons, the Mavericks have been ousted in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, they were heavy favorites but were beaten by an athletic, energetic team in the Golden State Warriors.

This year, even though they were not heavy favorites, they lost to a younger team in the New Orleans Hornets in five games.

This Mavericks' season will be remembered for the blockbuster trade for Jason Kidd right before the trading deadline. This trade can partially be blamed for the fatal flaws that the Mavericks showed during their playoff run.

They traded away a faster, more athletic point guard in Devin Harris (one who could have stayed with Chris Paul) for a playmaker with playoff experience in Jason Kidd.

Some argue that this move was necessary. At the time, the Mavericks were sliding down the Western Conference rankings and were in limbo of making the playoffs.

With Kidd, the team made the playoffs as the seventh seed in the West but ran into an athletic team with a budding superstar in Chris Paul. The playoff loss ended up costing Johnson his job.

Johnson's hiatus from coaching may not be a long one, since there are currently job openings for the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks.

The trend of coaches being blamed for the mistakes of GM's is starting to become prevalent. Along with Johnson, who took the blunt of the blame for the controversial Jason Kidd trade, Mike D'Antoni is reportedly also on the hot seat.

D'Antoni, the coach of the Phoenix Suns, may be fired. His team, which made a very controversial midseason trade for Shaquille O'Neal, lost their series with the Spurs last night.

Whether or not these coaches were given a fair chance to change their teams according to the moves of their respective front offices is up in the air.

However, Mark Cuban and perhaps Steve Kerr apparently do not have the patience for adjustments for the sake of winning.

What Are the Best Stories from the NFL Draft, Plus Best and Worsts of Round 1

Eddy DelSignore — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:15:54 -0400

1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long - OT - Michigan

Bill Parcells puts his first stamp on the Miami Dolphins by selecting perhaps the safest pick in this year's draft class. Jake Long is an outstanding, consistent talent who only gave up one sack during his entire collegiate career. He is a better run-blocker than pass-blocker, but plays with great form and a legit mean streak. Long was brought in to solidify a shaky offensive line, and block for Ronnie Brown, who, before his ACL injury, was having a great season. Great pick at number one because of the fact he is the least likely recruit to be a bust.

2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long - DE - Virginia

I would have thought that the Rams would have selected Glenn Dorsey here, because they had him higher on their board. However, with the move of Adam Carriker, their first round pick from last year, to defensive tackle, it was common sense to pair him with the relentless motor of Chris Long. While his value is more of a pass-rusher than a run-stopper, his motor and leadership will help them improve in that category.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan - QB - BC

Although Dorsey was another option here, the Falcons needed a face for their franchise for years to come, especially with the whole Michael Vick tragedy. The consensus top choice for quarterbacks this year, Ryan provides the Falcons with much needed leadership and a flawless character. He could either start right away, or take a few weeks behind DJ Shockley or Chris Redmond. Unfortunately, for Ryan, his chances to succeed as a successful NFL QB were reduced greatly when he landed in a situation like the current one in Atlanta.

4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas

If you know anything about Al Davis, you know that he likes big, explosive athletes. McFadden is the epitome of explosiveness. He will be added to an already crowded backfield in Oakland, who recently re-signed Justin Fargas to a new deal. However, he will provide second year quarterback JaMarcus Russell with a much needed home run threat, which will open up the field for him to succeed as a passer. The other option here was Vernon Gholston from OSU, but McFadden is the safer pick and better player.

5. KC Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

This is the steal of the draft, even at the fifth pick. Dorsey was atop most analysts' draft boards. He is a force on defense and plays with great intensity and a great motor. Perhaps injury concerns made him drop this far, but he has shown that he can play hurt, and play at a very, very high level hurt. He will replace Jared Allen as the dominant force on the KC defensive line.

6. NY Jets - VernonGholston - DE/OLB - Ohio State

Gholston separated himself from every other prospect at the NFL Scouting Combine with his awesome display of speed, strength, and explosiveness. However, he disappeared for too many plays in college. Gholston will definitely be a boom or bust type of prospect at the professional level.

7. New Orleans Saints – Sedrick Ellis – DT – USC

A draft day trade that everyone predicted helped the Saints fill a gaping hole in their defense with a great talent. Ellis was graded very close to Dorsey, making him a sure bet to make an impact immediately in the NFL. Ellis dominated at the college level while playing against the best competition at USC.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Harvey – DE – Florida

We officially have our first huge reach of the draft. I do not understand why Jacksonville would trade so much for Harveywhen they could have possibly traded for a proven difference-maker like Jason Taylor from Miami. I guess you cannot blame Jacksonville for going after their guy no matter what the cost. They paired Harvey with another raw pass rusher in round two when they selected Quinton Groves

9. Cincinnati Bengals – Keith Rivers – LB – USC

Rivers will be the type of consistent linebacker that the Bengals’ defense needed desperately. His ceiling is not as high as Jerod Mayo is, for example, but he is athletic and plays with great instincts. Most of all, he is a player with absolutely no character issues, which is necessary for the Bengals at this point.

10. New England Patriots – Jerod Mayo – LB – Tennessee

Maybe a reach here for the Patriots, but with no cornerbacks worthy of this pick, they address another key weakness in their defense. Mayo is a vicious hitter with elite athletic skills who plays from sideline to sideline. The best possible scenario here for the Patriots was to add youth and athletic skills to their aging linebacker core, and they did that with this pick.

17. DetroitLions – Gosder Cherilus – OT – Boston College

Another great call by Matt Millen here…with the departure of Kevin Jones, their leading rusher last year, the Lions do NOT choose to fill that hole with one of the great running backs still on the board at this point, like Mendenhall or Stewart. Instead, they reach for an average athlete at OT. Cherilus will provide them with some stability on that line, but they could have done better at this pick by choosing a great running back.

18. BaltimoreRavens – Joe Flacco – QB – Delaware

The Ravens may have reached a little here to get Flacco, but after they saw Matt Ryan go to the Falcons at pick three, they needed to ensure they picked their guy. Flacco possesses great height, deceptive speed, and a live arm. The Ravens’ defense is aging, so they need to win now. Flacco might have to start from the very beginning if Kyle Boller or Troy Smith cannot provide a temporary solution to their sometime anemic offense.

24. Tennessee Titans – Chris Johnson – RB – East Carolina

Does anyone wonder if Tennessee blatantly tries to stack the deck against Vince Young? With every receiver still on the board, the Titans pick an undersized running back with the 24^th pick. This also shows that they have conceded that LenDale White or Chris Henry is not the answer at running back. To me, this was a pretty poor pick considering the amount of talent still on the board. The addition of Alge Crumpler was not enough to provide Vince Young with the weapons he will need to be successful as a passer in the NFL.

Other Thoughts about This Year’s Draft

1. Matt Millen, I applaud you for selecting Caleb Campbell in the seventh round of the draft. By doing this, you prevent the safety from Army from going overseas to fight in the war in Iraq. Seeing all the fans chant “U.S.A” and his name in unison in the balcony of Radio City Music Hall was a sight that I will not soon forget. Thanks, Matt Millen, for giving this young man the chance he deserves, and thank you, Caleb Campbell for having the courage to serve our country.

2. The Colts got a steal in the late 6^th round when they selected Mike Hart from Michigan. Great value pick here not only because of his toughness and competitiveness, but he provides a great change of pace to Joseph Addai, especially with the recent legal troubles Kenton Keith has been having. Hart is a true grinder and competitor, and the Colts will never have to worry about him putting the ball on the ground.

3. Did the Redskins have the best round of any team in this year’s draft in round two? They selected Devin Thomas, who was the top rated receiver on many draft boards, Fred Davis, the extremely athletic tight end from USC, and Malcolm Kelly, the receiver from Okalahoma who was the subject of a recent column I wrote. Tennessee should take notes on how Washington gave their young, developing quarterback the necessary weapons.

4. ESPN again featured their cameramen showing the journey of two tortured quarterbacks in Chad Henne and Brian Brohm. Both of them went much later than they were projected, and their faces told that story. Speaking of which, how comfortable does Aaron Rodgers feel now that he not only has the threat of Brett Favre coming back, but also the heralded Brian Brohm breathing down his back. Just when he thought it was finally his team to lead, the Packers get an excellent value in the second round. Same situation for John Beck in Miami—does he sleep well now that he has Chad Henne, a strong-armed quarterback who seems to fit the description of the ideal “Parcells Guy”

Adrian Peterson, Devin Hester, Ed Reed: Gods of the (Virtual) Field

Eddy DelSignore — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:34:06 -0400

It's fourth and 21, your quarterback was just sacked for a 17 yard loss on third down, and you are obviously not too happy about it. In a fit of anger, you make a very bold decision to go for it—in the hurry up offense nonetheless.

You are the New England Patriots after all, so the logical play in this situation is to send Randy Moss deep and throw him a jump ball 25 yards away from the line of scrimmage.

The play works perfectly. Randy, because of his superb jumping skills, jumps over the triple coverage the other team brought over to his side of the field before the play even starts.

You've just converted what others would think is an impossible first down.

Obviously this is not a real story. This is what I, and many others, would do if I were playing Madden '08. Unfortunately for the person who was on defense, this story is not fiction.

In my countless hours playing Madden, I've noticed a few things that cross over between my TV screen when I'm holding a controller, and my TV screen when I'm holding a remote: Some players are just unstoppable, no matter what precautions you take.

Just so you think I'm not going to be a homer this entire column, I'm won't use any New England Patriot again.

I'll start with Adrian Peterson, the second year running back of the Minnesota Vikings, 2007 NFL Rookie of the Year, and Pro Bowl MVP. His video game character happens to be the single most unstoppable NFL player in Madden.

It's not worth trying to tackle him with the first linebacker because it doesn't work. Maybe, if you're having a good day you'll get him with the second or third, but I doubt it. In Madden you can win a game with the Vikings and not throw the ball more than five times, if any.

If only the real Vikings were that smart. (Side note: Vikings, please draft a QB this year. I really want to see Peterson if he doesn't go against 10 man fronts.)

The "God" figures behind putting player ratings together must have looked at "All Day" and decided they were going to make him unstoppable.

Oh, I forgot to mention, these ratings come out before the season starts, so they didn't even know what he was about to do during his rookie campaign. Every expert knew he was going to be good, but did they know he was going to be unstoppable?

For those of you who are not familiar with the game, 99 is the highest rating a player can get for any particular skill. Devin Hester received a 100 in the speed category. If there was such a feature in the game, I would simply have him line up 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage and snap him the ball back there for every play.

(Bears, read over what I just said again. You know it's safer than having Benson run or Grossman throw.)

He runs away from every player like they were fans in the stands rather than professional football players. Unfortunately for other teams, virtual and real alike, this is not an exaggeration of what he does on the field. Much like in real life, when facing him in the video game, I'd much rather give the Bear's offense the ball on the 40 yard line by kicking it out of bounds than give Devin Hester a chance to even see the ball inside the lines.

Let me introduce this final player by saying that I am a much better Madden player than the CPU that plays against me. I win those games by 50 or more points, even if I'm playing against the "All-Madden" difficulty. I'll throw into the most ridiculous coverage just to see how many times they bat the ball down instead of making an easy interception.

I will not throw to Ed Reed's side of the field. He's not controlled by the CPU—he is controlled by God himself. Much like in real life, the virtual Ed Reed takes away every deep route on the field, even if it's not on his side.

He is the most ruthless predator on the field at every given instance in the game. You throw a ball near his side, it's going the other way (probably for six). You run a toss to his side, your running back is fumbling (unless, of course, it's Peterson—then he's just tackled).

He is the one defensive player that strikes fear into the hearts of every virtual quarterback.

Most of you will probably read this and wonder "Where is he going with this?" I do have a moral to this story. People who don't watch football on a constant basis or follow the sport closely, notice who the best players are.

They don't know what formations are, what routes receivers are running, or what blitz the defense used the last play, but they can always identify the standout players.

I was watching the Vikings game against the Lions later in the season with my cousin who is nine years old. During a run up the middle in the fourth quarter, Adrian Peterson broke a tackle, hit the hole, and was faced with a one-on-one in the open field at about the 10 yard line.

He implemented a juke so vicious that the strong safety fell down onto the turf, and AD high-stepped into the end zone. Look it up on YouTube if you think I'm exaggerating that description of the play.

My cousin's reaction was simply "Wowwww, he's good. Is he the best player on his team?" My only response was a simple head nod, because I had been rendered speechless.

Later on when Peterson (controlled by a nine-year-old girl who had never played the game before) broke a 96 yard touchdown run against me (a stereotypical 20-year-old football fan who plays Madden close to 20 hours a week), my cousin's reaction was again "Hey, is that the guy we just saw on TV. He is DEFINITELY the best player on his team!"

I simply nodded, again...speechless.

Terrell Owens, Tom Brady, and Kobe Bryant: Details on Why You're a Hater...

Eddy DelSignore — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:12:07 -0400

I was not brought up on sports at all. My grandfather, the only one in my family who really followed televised sports, passed on before I could make sense of what he was watching. This obviously leads to the question.

What happened to make me adopt a new obsession?

There are many reasons, but there is one reason that stands out more than the others. It is because I consider myself the most competitive person that I know. Anything less than a dominant performance can be labeled a failure.

It's ironic that all my favorite individual players share the same view as me...I am a big supporter of misunderstood athletes.

Kobe Bryant comes under scrutiny for being too hard on his teammates--for giving a long wide-eyed stare at teammates who do something to tarnish his pursuit of a victory every night. People see Kobe as selfish when he calls out his teammates for not playing up to his standards.

Kobe just can't understand why his sport moves so fast for everyone else, and so slow for him.

Did anyone catch earlier this NFL season, when the Patriots were up 52-0 against the Washington Redskins, and threatening to score again? They were in a 4th and inches situation, and going for the 1st down. However, there was a penalty called on an offensive lineman prior to the snap.

Most would just laugh this off because of the unheard of 52 point cushion with which the team was privileged. Not Tom Brady--he took said offensive lineman into the huddle and verbally ripped him apart in front of the rest of the offense.

Someone was threatening Tom Brady's pursuit of absolute perfection, and that was not tolerated.

Who is the most scrutinized athlete in today's sports world? Arguably, this honor falls on Terrell Owens. He has destroyed every team he's ever been on, and all critics are simply waiting for the other shoe to fall with the Dallas Cowboys. Announcers cannot stop ripping T.O. for every single drop, every single poor block, and every statement that he says in the post-game interviews.

Did it ever occur to anyone that T.O. rightly believes that it is in the best interest of his team to get him the ball all the time? He really thinks this is the best strategy for his team to win. Does he ever cease to dominate a game? Have you ever seen him be completely shut down by any one cornerback?

I like that all these instances are criticized by those who cannot do what those athletes do. I find that entertaining.

I'll stick up for any athlete, no matter how outlandish he may sound, if he performs come game time.

Allow me to further tell you all what I'm about. I'm obsessed with knowing every single statistic for every single game. I could recite a 2008 mock draft for every analyst. I love drafts especially because I love scouting players for their potential to be the best.

Do I see any individuals like this in this year's class...no, but that doesn't stop me from looking.

I'm the biggest homer when it comes to sports. I plan on naming my first son "Brady." Randy, Pedro, Schill', KG, the Truth, Ray Ray, Big Baby, Pap', Big Papi, and Manny being Manny all have special meaning to me. I shed tears in 2004 when the Red Sox won the World Series. I shed tears this past year when they did it again. I shed tears 3 out of the last 5 years when the Patriots won the Superbowl.

I plan on shedding tears in about 40 days, when KG (also known as the Messiah) wins the NBA Finals MVP award.

Anyone disagree with my point of view? I don't care. T.O. doesn't care, Kobe doesn't care, and Tom Brady doesn't care.

Like them, I'm going to keep doing what I do best, and not care with inferior figures say.

"We're trying to play extremely well. We're not trying to win 42-28. We're trying to win--we're trying to kill teams, to blow them out if we can. You want to build momentum for each week. You don't want it to be 42-7 or 35-7 and then all of a sudden you look up and it's 35-21" -Tom Brady

Game Film is More Important Than the Combine

Eddy DelSignore — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:04:23 -0400

"With the 26th pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select Ray Lewis, Linebacker, Miami University"

Some people may think back to that draft class, and wonder why Ray Lewis was the fourth linebacker in that class selected in the first round. Here are some names—John Mobley, Reggie Brown, Duane Clemons...any one of those ring a bell?

NFL.com stats reports Brown has exactly 0 career tackles and 2.5 sacks in two seasons. Clemons has 186 tackles and 49.5 sacks. Mobley has 213 and 10.5 respectively. Ray Lewis has 794 tackles and 30 sacks in what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career when it is over. Why was Ray Lewis selected behind the three linebackers mentioned above?

Because he was an inch or two and a few pounds below the linebacker prototype. Apparently scouts did not watch enough game tape. Not enough game tape to realize that Lewis dominated almost every college game in which he played.

This brings us to this years draft. Looking at the positions that are most dictated by numbers—wide receiver and running back.

Malcolm Kelly has the ideal body type for an NFL receiver. He's 6'4'', 219lbs, and plays a very physical style at receiver. However, that probably will not stop him from being selected after Cal's DeSean Jackson, who is 6'0'' and 178lbs. What Jackson has that Kelly does not is a 4.35 40-time. Kelly has run between 4.6 and 4.8.

What scouts should note is Jackson's one-dimensional receiving style. He is a receiver who will strictly stretch the field. However, Kelly is more of the possesion receiver, one who will go across the middle for tough yards and third-down pickups.

Who will be the better pro? It depends on what a team is looking for. Look at the difference between Joey Galloway and Plaxico Burress, for example. In retrospect, which one should have gone higher than the other if they were drafted in the same year? Which one has a recent Super Bowl ring?

In this year's running-back class, I'll compare Felix Jones from Arkansas and Ray Rice from Rutgers. Felix Jones was obviously in the shadow of superstar Darren McFadden, but still runs a respectable 4.47 40, whereas Ray Rice, a standout at Rutgers, runs a time in the 4.5s. However, for that less than .5 seconds, Rice will probably be an early-to-mid second-round pick, and Jones will be a mid-to-late first-round pick.

Rice reminds some of a poor-man's Adrian Peterson (this year's NFL Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and NFL record holder for most rushing yards in a single game with 296). He runs with a ferocity and passion that was found in Peterson when he came out of school. He will grind out those three to four tough yards up the middle of the field, as opposed to bouncing the run to the outside.

Conversely, Jones is known for his big-play ability that he showed scouts this past year at college. However, many defenses may have been taking a break knowing that Darren McFadden was off the field. Rice single-handedly carried Rutgers to national prominence two years ago, while Felix Jones has always been a backup in McFadden's shadow.

The lesson to be learned by the example of Ray Lewis is that numbers at the scouting combine cannot replace passion and intangibles. Ray Lewis dominated in college, and that translated more than the two inches and 20 pounds that he didn't have coming into the league.