Bleacher Report - Articles by Max Iascone

Boston Celtics: Remembering the NBA Finals and the Season that Was

Max Iascone — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:22:37 -0400

Last month, the Boston Celtics clinched their 17^th NBA championship in style with a 131-92 mauling of the seemingly hapless Los Angeles Lakers, who looked as though they didn’t even deserve to be on the same floor as the Celtics throughout the series.

Things have not always been this easy in Boston. In fact, the Celtics had not won an NBA championship since Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish brought home a trophy back in 1986. Since Bird’s early retirement in 1992 due to chronic back and ankle problems, the Celtics as a franchise had struggled mightily both on the court and off. The tragic deaths of 1986 #2 overall pick Len Bias, who succumbed to a cocaine overdose, and Reggie Lewis, who fell victim to a heart problem called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 1993, set the Celtics back noticeably from a talent standpoint.

“They [Celtics fans] were very taken aback by it [Reggie Lewis’s death]” said Mary Bordonaro, who has worked as a waitress for the Garden’s private suites for 31 years. “These people [Reggie Lewis and Len Bias] were heroes. They did things that normal people hadn’t even thought of doing. To see that they had this kind of problem (referring to the drug addiction of Len Bias and the alleged drug addiction of Reggie Lewis) kind of took them off of their pedestal.”

Boston’s luck worsened in 1994, a year after Lewis’s death. In that year’s draft, they passed over Temple guard Eddie Jones, who averaged 14.8 points per game during his career, in favor of North Carolinacenter Eric Montross. Montross averaged 10 and 7.2 points per game respectively in his two seasons with the Celtics and retired in 2002, capping off an uneventful career during which the former Tar Heel averaged 4.5 points per game and played for 6 different teams.

Their luck was not much better in 1997, when the Celtics had two lottery picks and a 36.3% chance of landing Wake Forest forward Tim Duncan. Of course, Boston ended up with the third and sixth picks in that draft, and Duncan continues to play hall of fame caliber basketball in San Antonio.

The Celtics did make up for the mistake they made with Montross by drafting embattled Kansas combo forward Paul Pierce with the tenth overall pick in the 1998 draft four years later. Pierce had been labeled as “immature” and “one dimensional” by most draft experts and was drafted behind such household names as Michael Olowokandi (first overall pick), Raef Lafrentz (third overall pick), and Robert “Tractor” Traylor (sixth overall pick). Pierce has managed to dispel any complaints about his play throughout his career in Boston, as illustrated by the fact that he has averaged a respectable 1.6 steals per game, as well as 6.4 rebounds, to go along with his 23.1 points.

Perhaps most importantly, Pierce has also remained good natured and hard working throughout what has been by most accounts a very arduous tenure in Boston. Never once did he demand a trade or even voice his displeasure about the travails of the Celtics to the ravenous Boston media, despite the fact that the Celtics have accrued an underwhelming 387-401 win-loss record during Pierce’s tenure in Boston, and that number includes this year’s +50 win-loss differential.

Even before this season, Pierce had come up big for the Celtics when he was given the chance. For instance, during the 2001-2002 season, with the help of forward Antoine Walker, he led a Celtics team that had not made the playoffs for the previous six years to an improbable 49-33 regular season record and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.

Despite the fact that Boston ultimately fell to a more balanced New Jersey Nets team in six games, Pierce certainly did his part to keep his team alive. He scored 19 points in the fourth quarter of game three to cap off the greatest fourth quarter comeback in NBA playoff history, a 94-90 victory over the Nets, who led by 21 going into the final quarter.

Pierce’s Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs the following year and had two first round exits after that. During the 05-06 season, Boston would go on to struggle its way to a miserable 33-49 record and a 3^rd place finish in the Atlantic division. Unfortunately for Pierce, the worst was yet to come.

“They had lottery team written all over them,” said avid Celtics fan Sean Crowe. “Remember, going into the season there was Paul Pierce and nobody… Tony Allen was probably the second best player on the team: Tony Allen.”

Expectations for the 06-07 Celtics going into the season were tepid at best, due mostly to the fact that Pierce’s increasingly inept supporting cast consisted of the unproven Al Jefferson, an undersized and physically lacking Ryan Gomes, an average player in Tony Allen, Wally Szczerbiak (Ricky Davis before he was traded for “Wally World”), and an overweight and seemingly uninterested Kendrick Perkins.

The Celtics were clearly rebuilding and had no designs of even pretending to contend in the east, and it showed when Gang Green stumbled its way to a horrendous 24-58 record, which was the second worst mark in the NBA behind Memphis’s 22-60 disgrace of a season. Pierce had another great statistical season in 06-07, averaging 25 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.

However, he only managed to play in 47 games that season due to his constant struggle with injuries. Tony Allen and Al Jefferson played well in Pierce’s stead, but when Allen got hurt, the wheels really began to fall off for Boston.

Without Pierce and Allen, the Celtics and their fans suffered through a franchise record 18 game losing streak. During that stretch and even after Pierce returned to the team, Boston looked uninterested and out of sorts, as if they were merely going through the motions day in and day out, waiting for the season’s merciful end.

Thankfully enough for the Celtics and their fans, Boston’s sudden descent to the cellar of the NBA was not without its advantages. After all, Greg Oden, who had drawn numerous comparisons to former Celtic great Bill Russell due to his tenacity on defense, and Kevin Durant, who was one of the most athletic prospects of the decade, headlined an otherwise weak 2007 draft class.

Due to their lowly 24-58 record, which gave them the second worst mark in the NBA and therefore the second best chance of procuring the draft’s #1 selection through the lottery, Boston had a 40% chance of landing one of those blue chip prospects. But unfortunately for the Celtics, that was not to be. They ended up with the #5 pick in the draft, which was used on Georgetownswingman Jeff Green.

Embattled Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, who was in jeopardy of losing his job on the heels of two poor seasons, took advantage of his team’s seemingly hopeless situation by dealing the draft rights to Green, along with the expiring $9.4 million contract of Wally Szczerbiak and unproven point guard Delonte West for veteran shooting guard Ray Allen, who had averaged 26.4 points per game for the hapless Seattle Sonics during the previous season.

“The key to the Ray Allen trade was that Danny Ainge pulled it off without giving up Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract,” said lifelong Celtic fan Stew Winkel. “I knew Ainge had at least another move to make.”

One month after the Allen deal, Ainge would execute his coup de gras, getting superstar forward Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a seven player package headlined by power forward Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, draft bust Gerald Green, and of course Ratliff’s expiring contract. With that move and the subsequent signings of role players Eddie House, James Posey, and Scot Pollard, the Celtics went from being a laughing stock to a powerhouse in the East and a possible championship contender.

This sentiment was echoed by Boston fan Daniel Iascone, who said, “I thought they were the favorites to win the east. Clearly the talent was there. They would be even with Detroit at the very least.”

And win the east they did. Boston started the season with an eight game winning streak and never looked back en route to an amazing 66-16 record. There were questions going into the season about whether Pierce, Allen, and Garnett, all of whom were used to taking upwards of 20 shots per game and having their team’s offense flow through them, could share the ball efficiently. Throughout the year, those doubts and others were put to rest as “The Boston Three Party” combined to average 55.8 points per game on only 41.1 field goals attempted.

“I honestly didn’t have any [doubts going into the season]” said Stew Winkel. “I thought, especially after Ainge brought in House and Posey to fill out the roster, that this team was as well put together as one could realistically hope for.”

There was also a palpable change in the team’s psyche from game to game due to the infusion of veteran leadership brought on by Ainge’s dealings. Kevin Garnett’s passion and gutsy play were particularly indispensable for Boston, especially on defense, as illustrated by the fact that the Celtics allowed only 90.3 points per game despite the absence of a particularly surprising statistical improvement from any individual player. Garnett’s enthusiasm, along with the arrival of assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, transformed what was by most accounts a listless defensive team into one of the best post Jordan era defensive units in the NBA.

Boston held the best record in the NBA by the end of the season and were eight games ahead of the next best team, Detroit, which ended up with a 58-24 record. Garnett was given the defensive player of the year award and finished fourth in the voting for the league’s MVP award, behind Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, and Clevelandforward Lebron James.

Going into the playoffs, Boston was the prohibitive favorite to win the Eastern Conference and to win the NBA championship, and rightly so. The Celtics hit a speed bump early on in their hunt for a championship in the form of the eighth seeded Atlanta Hawks, who had won just 37 games during the regular season. The Hawks’ youth and athleticism proved to be difficult for the older Celtics team to contain, or at least that was the case in Atlanta. No road team won a game throughout the seven game series.

The Celtics blew out Atlanta whenever the teams played in Boston, where their smallest margin of victory was a more than healthy 19 points. Interestingly enough, Boston’s defense seemed to vanish on the road. Atlanta never scored more than 85 points in Boston, but managed to put up 102, 97, and 103 points respectively in their wins in games 3, 4, and 6. Game 7 served as a fitting indicator of the disparity in talent between the Hawks and the Celtics, as Boston obliterated the Hawks 99-65 to finish what was quite possibly the most lopsided seven game series in NBA playoff history.

Despite beating Atlanta so handily at home, most Celtics fans were concerned about Boston’s struggles on the road when the fourth seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (AKA Lebron and the Lebronettes) came to town for the second round of the playoffs. The Celtics played solid defense at home early on, smothering Lebron James and holding the Cavs to 76 and 73 points respectively in the first two games. James, who was without a doubt Cleveland’s best player, shot a combined 8-42 from the field and was unable to drive to the hoop in the face of Boston’s defensive wall.

Despite their typically impressive showing at home, Boston’s road woes continued as their defense seemed to fall apart at the seams despite the fact that Lebron James scored just 42 points during the two games and shot 12-36 from the field. The Celtics were embarrassed during game 3, 108-84. This 24 point beating proved to be the most one-sided loss that the Celtics would endure during the playoffs. Similarly to the Atlanta series, no road team won a game throughout the series, but unlike the Hawks, Cleveland put up a fight at the Garden, losing by a combined 32 in four road losses.

Games 5 and 6 were predictably won by the home teams, which set the table for a duel the likes of which Boston fans had not seen since the 1988 conference semifinals, when Larry Bird and Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins combined for 80 points in game 7, which the Celtics won by 2, 118-116. Lebron James, who had been struggling noticeably throughout the series, scored 45 points on 15-29 shooting and took over the game at times, while Paul Pierce scored 41 and carried his Celtics to a 96-89 victory.

Pierce and James seemed to answer each other throughout the game. For a time they held serve, basket for basket, blow for blow, like two heavyweight fighters, circling each other, waiting for the other to make a move. Pierce and the Celtics ended up winning of course, and Lebron’s Herculean performance, like that of Wilkins in 1988, was not enough to overcome Boston’s superior play.

“It was the Cleveland series that made me doubt them” said Sean Crowe when asked about the Celtics’ early playoff struggles. “Kevin Garnett was timid down the stretch, Ray Allen was playing like crap, and Paul Pierce didn’t seem like he was at 100%. Plus, it was hard to envision a team that couldn’t beat the Lebron pu-pu platter on the road winning a championship.”

After two consecutive seven game series, many thought that Boston would be burnt out by the time they faced a well rested Detroit Pistons team, which had easily dispatched Orlando in five games, in the Eastern Conference Finals. After splitting the first two games in Boston, many fans were worried that Boston’s playoff road struggles would cost them the series. Previously, Detroit had only lost once at home and seemed unstoppable at the Palace. Boston would dismiss the constant doubts of their ability to win away from home by taking not one but two games in Detroit against the Pistons, en route to a six game series victory.

After beating the Pistons, the Celtics headed into the NBA Finals as a clear underdog to the streaking Los Angeles Lakers, who had accumulated an amazing 12-3 playoff record against the rugged Western Conference, which sported an eighth seed (the Denver Nuggets) that won 50 games. Boston on the other hand, had struggled their way to a 12-8 playoff record, including two seven game nail biters against a clearly inferior Atlanta team and a Clevelandteam that seemed content to watch Lebron James engage the entire Celtics team in a riveting game of 1 on 5.

“The Lakers were playing extremely well as a team and everyone was contributing.” said Lakers fan Jeff Little when asked about all of the hype the Lakers received heading into the finals. “Several people felt that the competition in the Western Conference was at a higher level than the Eastern Conference. Due to the majority of teams making late season trades to beef up their teams to make a stretch run, every game in the West became important and took on playoff standing implications.”

The Lakers had an early opportunity to set the tone for the series in game one, which the Celtics ended up winning 98-88. Paul Pierce had sustained what was thought to be a serious leg injury after 280 pound Kendrick Perkins fell on his knee under the basket. After leaving the game in a wheelchair and receiving some cortisone shots, Pierce returned to the game with a brace on his ailing knee and led his team to victory. The game was close. Had Los Angeles managed to steal one in Boston, they would have had a noticeable advantage due to the 2-3-2 format of the NBA finals. The Lakers were undefeated at home in the playoffs, so a sweep of the three games in LA and a five game series win for the Lakers would not have been far out of the realm of possibility.

But alas, that was not to be for Los Angeles. After game one, games two and three were business as usual. Both went to the home team despite a second half Laker comeback in game two that brought what was at one point a double digit Boston lead to a mere two with 38 seconds left. Boston held on for a 108-102 victory, which gave them a commanding 2-0 series lead going to Los Angeles. Game four was where the series got interesting after a ho-hum 87-81 win for the Lakers in game three that went exactly as most people had thought it would.

During the first half of game four, Los Angelesdominated the Celtics to the tune of a 21 point first quarter lead and an 18 point advantage by half-time. During the third quarter, Los Angles would stretch their lead to 24 before the Celtics began to chip away at the seemingly insurmountable deficit. The Laker lead would shrink to only 2 by the end of the third quarter on the heels of an emphatic dunk from PJ Brown, who had been coaxed out of retirement during the all star break by the promise of championship glory.

The Celtics would take their first lead of the game on a jumper from the under utilized Eddie House with 4:07 left in the fourth quarter. The Lakers would threaten a few times through the remainder of the quarter, but a clutch three pointer from James Posey and a Ray Allen layup maintained the Celtics’ lead. Boston hit its free throws down the stretch to complete the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, a 97-91 victory in Los Angeles. Game five also featured a Boston comeback, this time from a 39-22 Los Angeles first quarter lead, but unlike game four, Los Angeles held on for a 103-98 victory, and forced the series back to Boston.

Since the series was going back to Boston for two home games, the Celtics were expected to win the finals, but the rout that was game six exceeded any and all reasonable expectations. Los Angeles kept the game close during the first quarter mainly due to Kobe Bryant’s 15 points, falling behind by a score of 24-20. The game didn’t stay close for long, as Boston went on an 11-0 run during the second quarter to expand their lead to 43-29. Role players James Posey and Eddie House accounted for all of the scoring during this stretch. The Lakers never threatened for the rest of the game as Boston began to pull away.

“The Celtics clamped down on Kobe Bryant by basically throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him defensively and none of the other Lakers stepped up.” said Jeff Little when referring to the ultimate cause of the Lakers’ downfall.

The Celtic lead grew to as much as 41 at one point in the fourth quarter, as Boston ended their championship run comfortably, to say the least, with a 131-92 blowout of the Lakers. Ray Allen set NBA Finals records for most threes made in an NBA Finals with 22 and most threes made in a Finals game with 7. Kevin Garnett, coming off of a performance that he had described as “garbage,” during which he missed three critical free throws to ice LA’s game five win, scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Paul Pierce was named the Finals MVP.

“The funny thing about my reaction [to the Celtics’ victory] was I don't know exactly when it was, due to the blowout.” said Stew Winkel, “but I remember being on the phone in the third quarter talking to my brother. Neither one of us wanted to say it was over. But then the lead went to 25, then to 30, and at some point it just hit us that this game was over. Our conversation changed from worrying about if the Lakers had one last run in them, to wouldn't it be great to win this game by 40 points. It was a combination of amazement at the blowout victory, and just pure joy thinking back on all the memories of the last 22 years.”

To some degree, the residual emotion from the Celtics’ magical championship run has not left the city of Boston despite the fact that the NBA season has long been over. Role players Sam Cassel, Eddie House, and PJ Brown are unrestricted free agents, so Boston could face a slight roster turnover this offseason

Danny Ainge’s intentions to keep James Posey, whose lockdown defense and clutch shooting were vital to Boston’s championship run, had been well publicized, but Boston's salary cap situation prevented Ainge from being able to offer Posey anything more than the $5.8 million dollar mid-level exception. Posey signed a four year, $25 million dollar contract with the New Orleans Hornets this week.

PJ Brown seems to be leaning toward retirement due to his advanced age and Sam Cassel doesn't seem to have drawn much interest from his former team in regards to retaining his services due to his often poor shot selection throughout his time in Boston.

Luckily for the Celtics, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett are all under contract until 2010 and one more championship run from this team is not an impossibility, especially in the increasingly mediocre Eastern Conference.

For the time being, the Celtics will likely have a quiet offseason, which is befitting of an NBA champion that is returning all 5 of its starters. This season was an amazing ride to say the least, and while it is pretty safe to say that we have seen the best from the aging Celtics, basketball is relevant in Boston again and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

P.S. I would like to take a moment to thank Mary Bordonaro, Daniel Iascone, Stew Winkel, Jeff Little, and Sean Crowe for their magnificent contributions to this article, which enabled me to procure an internship for the sports department of the Haverhill Eagle Tribune beginning this fall. Thanks for helping me chase the dream guys.

New York Mets: Willie Randolph Takes the Fall for Omar Minaya

Max Iascone — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:43:18 -0400

As a team, the New York Mets have fallen woefully short of their expectations this season. At 30-31, the Mets are currently in fourth place in the NL East.

For the most part, manager Willie Randolph has shouldered the brunt of the criticism stemming from the Mets' mediocre play through the first 60 games of this season.

Randolph is not the best manager in baseball. He handles his pitchers poorly and his rapport with his players is mediocre at best.

A few days ago, Randolph dug an even bigger hole for himself by unleashing this gem about race as a factor in the criticism he has received in an interview with a New Jersey newspaper;

"Is it racial?" Randolph asked. "Huh? It smells a little bit. I don't know how to put my finger on it, but I think there's something there. Herman Edwards did pretty well here and he won a couple of playoff [games], and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah Thomas didn't do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good. ... I don't know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There's something weird about it."

First off, the comparison to Thomas is a moot point, Isiah destroyed the Knicks with his questionable (and that is a charitable use of the word) player moves and his inability to fire up his team.

Needless to say, race was not a factor in Isiah's firing. In fact, Thomas' well publicized friendship with Knicks owner James Dolan is all that kept him as coach of the Knicks despite a sexual harassment lawsuit and a lack of production from his team. But I digress.

Randolph's shortcomings as a manager are not what have brought about the fall of the New York Mets.

Granted, Randolph is leading a team with a $140 million payroll to fourth place in a somewhat mediocre division (with the obvious exception of the streaking Phillies), but Randolph has no say in where the Wilpons' money is spent.

Mets GM Omar Minaya may have completed his coup de gras last offseason when he landed the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, without parting ways with super prospect Fernando Martinez.

But unfortunately for Minaya, one great move cannot erase a multitude of miscues. At the end of last season, the Mets "shockingly" collapsed over the last few games of the season en route to a second-place finish in the East and a vacation come October.

When it happened, the Mets' demise was as surprising as it was devastating for the fans in Queens. Some place the blame for this failure to close out the season squarely on Randolph's shoulders, which is just plain wrong.

A closer look at the Mets reveals a penchant on the part of Minaya to buy injury-prone veterans who are in the twilight of their illustrious careers.

Among the most notable Minaya signings to go awry are:

Pedro Martinez, who signed a four-year, $56 million contract and proved himself to be made of glass;
El Duque Hernandez, who has not been the pitcher the Mets have expected him to be; and of course...
Luis Castillo, whose four-year, $25 million contract is not becoming of a player who is hitting .258.

Moises Alou has also been injured for most of the season. At least the 41-year-old Alou was not given a long-term contract.

Conspicuously absent from this list is Carlos Beltran, whose seven-year, $119 million contract was so egregious that it puts him in the same breath as legendary busts like Mike Hampton and Barry Zito.

However, Beltran was only 28 at the time of his signing with the Mets, so the move was not quite as indefensible as some of Minaya's other signings. Then again, giving a guy who would turn 29 by the start of a season a seven-year contract for any amount of money is a risky proposition in itself.

Carlos Delgado is also aging and overpaid, but his contract was not of Minaya's design. Delgado came to the Mets in a trade for first baseman Mike Jacobs, who has hit 13 home runs as of this writing, and prospects Yusmeiro Petit and Grant Psomas.

Delgado has a no-trade clause in his contract, which called for him to earn $48 million over three years at the time he was dealt to the Mets.

The Mets' situation is not much better in the rotation, either. With the exceptions of their ace, Johan Santana, the Mets have the injury-riddled Pedro Martinez, John Maine, the horribly inconsistent Mike Pelfrey, and Oliver Perez, who sports a 5.70 ERA.

By the look of it, the Mets have an ace in Santana, two No. 3 starters in Maine and Martinez (if he's healthy) and two borderline No. 5 starters in Pelfrey and Perez/Hernandez.

The problem is not that Omar Minaya is uncommitted to pitching, far from it. After all, he owes Martinez, Perez, and Santana a combined $41.5 million this season. The real problem here is that Minaya has the nasty habit of picking the wrong guy to fill holes in the rotation.

The worst part of the Mets' pitching problems is the fact that the three busts that he signed were not expected to be worth the money that Minaya spent, even at the time of the signings.

Pedro Martinez was suffering a steep decline in productivity when he left Boston, Oliver Perez has been a mediocre player for his entire career, and Orlando Hernandez is nearing the age of 40 and has had widespread injury problems.

The Mets' collapse last season was not a fluke. It was a byproduct of a poorly constructed and aging team wearing out at the worst possible time. Last season's woes were a premonition of things to come, and while the Santana trade was a clear win for the Mets, one pitcher cannot fix the aging of an entire team.

Minaya did little to get younger in the offseason, despite the fact that his team was clearly aging. Willie Randolph deserves criticism for his moronic and inflammatory racial comments, but a manager can't make his team younger.

If you polish a turd, it's still a turd, and that's the bottom line. Unrealistic expectations were placed on a team that seemed to be in decline. Despite the fact that lead-off man Jose Reyes has regressed noticeably as a player, the Mets were not a contender before the Santana trade and they didn't become one after it.

Unfortunately for manager Willie Randolph, however, he seems to be in line to go to the guillotine for a crime that he did not commit, while the real culprit, Omar Minaya, emerges from the wreckage largely unscathed.

Odell Thurman Released: Cincinnati Bengals Lay Down the Law on the Wrong Guy

Max Iascone — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:07:05 -0400

After two long years out of the league for Odell Thurman, due to a violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, the Cincinnati Bengals have officially cut ties with their embattled linebacker.

So what could Odell Thurman have done to deserve such a punishment after a DUI charge was conveniently overlooked? No, it had nothing to do with strip clubs or substance abuse. In fact, he didn't even flirt with running afoul of the law.

The Bengals supported this man adamantly throughout his two year suspension (and numerous off the field incidents), yet they decided to release Mr. Thurman because he missed a team workout.

Normally, a player's being released after missing a team function is not much to be up in arms about, but if the Bengals were willing to wait for two years to see this guy on the field, I doubt that this was the straw that broke the camel's back.

At first glance, the rationale behind Thurman's release seems to be obvious, he's been testing the patience of his team for a while and the Bengals have had it. However, a closer look at the situation reveals an underlying motive for Thurman's absence from the team workout.

According to one of Thurman's representatives, Safarrah Lawson, Thurman had been in Georgia, tending to his grandmother, who passed away on May 12. He was released a week after his grandmother's death.

It's pretty safe to say that the real motive behind the Bengals' decision has little to do with the team's workout. After all, they have their image to tend to, and after numerous off the field issues involving their players, most recently the Chris Henry fiasco, the Bengals are walking on thin ice.

Mike Brown needed to set an example. He needed to usher in a new era of responsibility (to quote President Bush), and, if that meant canning the first guy who disobeyed a team rule, no matter what the circumstances of the violation, then so be it. Similarly to the situation surrounding Dubya's claim, we all know that this era won't be coming any time soon for Mike Brown and the Bengals.

If I may, allow me to go back to Odell Thurman's rookie year. He led the Bengals in tackles with 148, and racked up five picks and four forced fumbles. True, he has been out of the league for two years, but a player with that kind of potential is seldom ever shown the door for an offense as trivial as missing a workout.

Thurman has also stayed out of trouble on his way to earning another shot in the NFL, something that guys like Chris Henry (who has been given the permission to tryout for an NFL team) and Pac-Man Jones (who was not only kept on the team but was traded for) can't say with a straight face.

This point may have been made already, but it needs to be reiterated: Why keep this guy on the team if he'll be shown the door after missing one workout?

Yes, the NFL is a business, but the man lost his grandmother. Doesn't that count for something? He wasn't being reckless or lazy when he missed that workout, he was being human.

Furthermore, in December of 2003, when Brett Favre's father Irvin died of a heart attack, Favre was a hero for playing in that day's game. Would Favre have been cut had he missed that game?

Of course not, the sports world would have shown an outpouring of sympathy for his predicament anyway, as well it should have. Then again, Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and Thurman is just a rusty linebacker with off the field problems, but Thurman was treated unfairly nontheless.

Don't get me wrong. Favre's exploits following his father's death showcased the kind of effort and love for the game that makes football such a great sport. The sheer grit, and dedication to his teammates, that it took to play through such a horrible tragedy was immense. I think we all grew to admire number four a little more for what he did that day.

However, Favre was a hero for playing after losing a relative, while Thurman was unceremoniously released for missing a workout in light of a similar tragedy.

Granted, Irvin Favre's death from a heart attack was more sudden than the death of Thurman's grandmother, but the principal remains the same. It is absolutely despicable that Thurman lost his job under circumstances under which most of us would have acted similarly.

Favre was superhuman that day. He was a titan among men. Thurman was only human, and it's OK to be human, we do it every day.

Just imagine for a second: You just lost a family member and have spent the last week mourning his/her passing. Then you get a call from your boss. Apparently, you missed a company brainstorming session, so you've been laid off.

Sure, Thurman will definitely find a place in the NFL due to his superior talent and recently clean slate, but the mere thought of what the Bengals did disgusts me all the same.

Functioning as a business is one thing, but the Bengals' apparent disregard for Thurman's situation is absolutely sickening. I challenge you, nay I beseech you, to tell me that what the Bengals did was acceptable, and do it with a straight face.

Can you do it?

I thought so.

Spygate and the New England Patriots: Much Ado About Nothing

Max Iascone — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:56:00 -0400

Since the beginning of February, Patriots fans have been left to twist in the wind amidst the hurricane of rumors, speculation, and innuendo brought on by the allegations of former video assistant Matt Walsh.

Two days ago, the spygate scandal came to a head when Walsh sent NFL commissioner Roger Goodell eight videotapes of other teams' signals, dating back to 2000, when Belichick first arrived in New England. One of these tapes was made during the AFC Championship game against the Steelers.

However, the much ballyhooed tape of the St.Louis Rams' walkthrough before the '01 Super Bowl was conspicuously absent from Walsh's stash of tapes. Rumors of the existence of this tape have run rampant among many less reputable sources of media (*cough* *cough* John Tomase *cough* *cough*) since Walsh went public with his accusations in February.

It is now apparent that this tape never existed, and that any accusations of foul play on the part of the Patriots during that Super Bowl were misguided and untrue.

All Matt Walsh had to do was issue a statement saying that he didn't have any tape of the Rams. The rumor would have died a quiet and uneventful death right then and there.

Instead, he sat back and watched as a weightless and invalid rumor was allowed to make the rounds among the media. To me, this whole sordid affair reeks of a bitter nobody (Walsh was fired by the Patriots in 2003 after illegally taping conversations between himself and VP of football operations Scott Pioli. Needless to say, there was bad blood there) looking for his 15 minutes of fame, and by the looks of things, he has succeeded beyond any reasonable expectations.

Then again, Walsh did have tapes, and although they were nothing new, I cannot rush to premature judgement on this issue. Who knows? Perhaps Walsh made his accusation out of pure civic virtue. Maybe he had no ulterior motive for his actions.

And maybe the sky is purple and the world is flat. Maybe Pacman Jones is just misunderstood.

But I digress. While it is true beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Patriots cheated, the tactics of Bill Belichick are not an outlier among NFL teams by any stretch of the imagination.

In the words of Bill Parcells, "If you don't expect to have your signals stolen, you're stupid."

Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson has called stealing signals a "common practice." He went on to say that "A lot of other teams around the league do it."

In light of his confession, will Roger Goodell investigate Johnson's accomplishments of the '90s? Of course not, and for a few reasons, the first and most obvious being that it is old news, just like the Super Bowl that occurred seven years ago.

Also, any cheating done by Johnson, and more to the point, Belichick, that hasn't already been punished was done under Paul Tagliabue, who did not enforce any rule banning videotaping in the nature of what the Patriots did.

Any punishment levied by Mr. Goodell in regards to anything that occurred in 2001 (even if Walsh actually had the smoking gun walkthrough tape), is moot in that he would be acting outside of his jurisdiction anyway.

The only thing that causes Belichick's actions to run afoul of league rules is a memo sent by NFL VP of Football operations Ray Anderson prior to the 2006 season, and while it is unfortunate that Belichick chose to disregard that memo, only actions that occurred after Anderson's memo should even be looked at.

So what did we learn from this trying ordeal? Well for starters, we found out that the NFL was more corrupt as an entity then previously thought. We also found out that Belichick was just one in a litany of coaches who stole signals.

One thing that seems to be lost amidst the hoopla of spygate is the fact that Roger Goodell did indeed hand out an unprecedented punishment in light of the Patriots' cheating. Before last year, a team has never lost its first-round pick due to a rule violation. Belichick himself was also fined a quarter-of-a-million dollars.

Frankly, this whole story was blown way out of proportion in this writer's opinion. Belichick went from being a great, albeit enigmatic, coach, to a cross between Stalin, Richard Nixon, and Satan.

The degree to which Bill Belichick has been demonized among the media, both freelance and mainstream, is embarrassing.

Furthermore, it denotes not the severity of Belichick's offenses, but a lingering resentment towards the Patriots that seems to have been festering around the nation since the team went from being a lovable cinderella, to a consistent and controversial powerhouse.

Mr. Belichick did something wrong, cheated if you will, and he was quickly and succinctly punished for it. Case closed, or so I thought.

A Closer Look at the New England Patriots: The Linebacking Corps

Max Iascone — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:48:44 -0400

Ever since the 2001 season, the Patriots have boasted a deep, talented, and intelligent linebacking corps. The personnel manning the linebacker position has remained largely unchanged since '01 with the exception of replacing Willie McGinest with Adalius Thomas, and the acquisition of Junior Seau.

However, the age in New England's linebacking corps was exposed for the entire NFL to see during last season's stretch run. Starting with the Ravens game, the Patriots linebackers looked alternatingly sluggish and worn out, save for some flashes of brilliance in the Jacksonville game, and Junior Seau's great tackle of Michael Turner near the goal line against the Chargers.

Tedy Bruschi has gotten to the point where his status with the team is decided on a year to year basis and Seau is seriously contemplating retirement, so the acquisition of some fresh legs in the middle was necessary in the draft. That said, here's what the Patriots will look like next year at linebacker.

The Middle:As I mentioned before, the Patriots' age in the middle of the linebacking corps was and still is (to a degree) a major concern heading into next season.

Despite a typically productive campaign from Tedy Bruschi (92 tackles, 64 solo), he will be 35 when next season starts and his future with the team beyond next year is doubtful at best.

Needless to say, Bruschi's best years are behind him and no amount of heart can make up for a body incapable of performing in the NFL on a weekly basis. Bruschi will be a fine starter for next year but his days are obviously numbered.

Last year's other starter at middle linebacker, Junior Seau, will be 40 by the playoffs next year and he may not even be back this year, despite the fact that he has shown that he still has something left in the tank for one more run at the Lombardi Trophy.

Seau had a decent year last year, racking up 73 tackles and 3 picks, but he, like Bruschi, seemed to be playing with house money at times last year and his lack of speed and athleticism could be problematic at times next year (should he come back.)

Then again, I don't see Seau hanging up his cleats just yet (remember his speech last year? "I'm not retiring... I'm graduating!" He signed with the Pats three days later.)

Since Seau's return is questionable and Bruschi is declining (to say the least), a lot of pressure will be placed on #10 overall selection Jerod Mayo to control the middle next year.

The Outside:Last year's starters, Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas, will be 33 and 31 respectively next year and only time will tell how long they will last. However, unlike Bruschi and Seau, neither Vrabel nor Thomas have shown obvious signs of declining, so the outside of New England's linebacking corps won't be as much of a liability as the inside could be.

Last season, Mike Vrabel earned a well deserved pro bowl berth last season with an impressive 12.5 sack, 77 tackle season. Vrabel seemed to dominate at times last season, posting 8.5 of his sacks in 3 games against the Dolphins, the Redskins, and the Jets. During the game against Washington, Vrabel posted 13 tackles and forced three fumbles to go along with his three sacks.

Vrabel may not be in his physical prime, but he has shown no signs of slowing down and he may have at least 2-4 good years left in him.

Thomas posted more pedestrian numbers then his counterpart during a season in which he made 79 tackles and recorded six and a half sacks. However, stats don't tell the whole story in this case.

For the first half of last year, Thomas played out of position at middle linebacker and got only half of a sack. When he was moved back outside to play his natural position, Thomas' production increased noticeably, he had six sacks from week 11 to week 17. With more depth in the middle, thanks to the draft, Thomas should return to form next season.

The Draft Class: Counting UDFAs, the Patriots added 5 linebackers in the draft to replenish their aging unit. So here's my take on each new addition, along with a quick scouting report and where each player would fit in the Patriots' system.

Jerod Mayo:Not only was Mayo incredibly productive last year at Tennessee (140 tackles), he also had a magnificent combine during which he ran a fantastic 4.54 40 yard dash and completed 24 bench press reps at 225 pounds. He also scored a decent 26 on the wonderlic test, 10 better then Keith Rivers.

Most importantly however, Mayo is a very hard worker with top-notch intangibles.He is known to spend a lot of time in the film room watching tape of opponents. Mayo is a very smart player who excels at reading defenses, which makes him a great fit at middle linebacker in New England's complex system.

Mayo also brings elite athleticism and the ability to make plays from sideline to sideline, a trait that could greatly benefit New England's old linebacking corps.

Shawn Crable:The way i see it, the Pats took a bit of a gamble here. However, Crable's fantastic athleticism and pass-rush abilities more then justify risking a third round pick on him.

Crable is very tall and long for his position at 6-foot-five, 245lbs. He recorded a whopping 28 TFL last year and is a great playmaker behind the line.

However, he is suspect at reading defense and his work ethic is very questionable. He may be a project at this point who needs to be pushed to live up to his mammoth potential.

Crable's physical gifts make him a fantastic fit as a rush linebacker in a 3-4, but it remains to be seen whether or not he can play in New England's complex system. A good combine (4.64 40 and 29 bench press reps) showcased his unique physical tools well, and may have had a role in his selection in the third round.

This pick has a lot of boom or bust potential to it but it was a risk well worth taking in my eyes.

Bo Ruud: Ruud is a typical Belichick pick in that he is extremely hard working, tough, and gritty. He is also quite intelligent and adept in coverage. He's pretty slow and his footwork is mediocre but he makes up for it in hard work.

Ruud will probably be a special teams player early on who may see some time at middle linebacker if he brushes up on his footwork and instincts.

Ruud was a small reach considering the fact that Ali Highsmith and Erin Henderson were available, but he was not a bad pick by any stretch. He is a great fit for the Patriots in particular though due to his abilities in coverage and his football smarts.

Vince Redd: This guy has fantastic size at 6-foot-6 260 pounds, and he has the talent to be at least a decent pass rusher in a 3-4 set, or a defensive end in a 4-3. Redd saw little playing time during his college career but he is very athletic for his size and is a good fundamental tackler. He is also quite versatile, which makes him all the more appealing to the Pats as a prospect.

The only real knocks on Redd were the level of competition he played against at Liberty and his mediocre instincts in coverage (he was a defensive end for a good portion of his career).

The Patriots could have gotten a real bargain here in Redd, whose superb athleticism could help him make an impact as a situational rusher and perhaps even a special teamer.

Gary Guyton: I really, really like Gary Guyton due to his blazing speed (4.47 40 yard dash and great in-game speed) and top flight athleticism. Guyton played at for a good program at Georgia Tech and got some pretty nice numbers (78 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 13.5 TFL).

Guyton, like Redd, has a very high ceiling and could be a fantastic player in the right system. Guyton is also a big hitter who can really lay the lumber when he's given the chance.

Guyton is very consistent and well-rounded, he plays equally well against the pass and against the run. He may not be an every down playmaker, but he's got the tenacity and talent to be an every down starter in the NFL. He can play on the strong side and the weak side and is capable of making the transition to a 3-4 scheme.

Overall: Well, that's all for today. all in all, this coming year may be one of transition in New England's linebacking corps. Older veterans like Bruschi and Seau are nearing the end of their careers while promising rookies like Mayo and Crable are just coming into the league to make their mark.

NFL Draft 2008: Who Won and Who Lost

Max Iascone — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:13:26 -0400

Well, this year's NFL draft is nearly over and it's been an interesting and surprisingly entertaining two days, in spite of Mel Kiper and ESPN as a whole.

With that said, every draft has its share of reaches, blunders, and bad picks, as well as some great picks and the occasional diamond in the rough.

So here's who won and who lost in this year's NFL draft.

The Winners

1. New York Giants

They may not have done anything flashy or surprising, but the Giants filled just about every hole in their roster with quality players who have a chance to contribute right away.

With their first pick, New York took Kenny Phillips, whose athleticism, instincts, and playmaking ability could make him a more than capable replacement for the departed Gibril Wilson, if not a Pro Bowler.

However, the Giants made their best move late in the third round when they took Michigan wideout Mario Manningham.

New York's receiving corps, especially Amani Toomer, is aging quickly and Manningham's fantastic playmaking abilities make up for his character issues and combine woes that caused him to fall into the third round.

One of the more underrated picks by Jerry Reese in 2008 had to be Vandy's Jonathan Goff, With Kawika Mitchell's departure, New York had become very thin at inside linebacker. Goff is very tough, strong, and hard working.

He should be the starter from Day One next season if he can beat out former backup Gerris Wilkinson for the job.

Goff may not be an every-down starter, but he and Wilkinson will fill the void left by Mitchell on the interior of the Giants' defense.

Big Blue also found a bargain in Round Six in the form of Kentucky QB Andre Woodson, who was a first round possibility before the Senior Bowl.

Woodson is a developmental project at this point, but Eli Manning seems to have earned his place as New York's starting quarterback.

However, if Manning should fall back to his regular season form in the coming years, New York will have a viable option at quarterback in Woodson.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have had unquestionably the best draft this year in terms of the quality of who they brought in and where they picked their guys.

Most notably, the Chiefs eschewed the biggest need on their roster, the O-line, to take arguably the best player in this year's draft, Glenn Dorsey.

Dorsey may not be the run-stopping 2-gap defensive tackle the Chiefs still need, but he is a disruptive force in the middle who is capable of getting to the quarterback and disrupting plays in the backfield.

Perhaps most importantly, Dorsey is a high-character guy who will bring a culture of winning to the beleaguered Chiefs' locker room.

He is also tenacious at the point of attack and he never gives up on a play. The Chiefs were lucky to be able to draft a player of Dorsey's caliber outside of the top 3.

Ten picks later, Carl Peterson astutely traded up two spots to pick up West Virginia guard Brandon Albert, who was actually a Top Five possibility before Dorsey dropped.

In essence, Peterson had two No. 5 here in that he got two of the guys they wanted at that spot without having to give out two Top Five contracts.

KC's O-line was nothing short of pathetic last year, and Albert's presence along the O-line should take some pressure off of starting QB Brodie Croyle and RB Larry Johnson.

However, I think that KC's best pick (Dorsey was a layup, only an idiot or Al Davis would've passed on him in that situation) occurred at No. 35, when they took Virginia Tech corner Brandon Flowers.

Flowers will provide a much-needed jolt of youth to an aging Chiefs secondary, not to mention a replacement for free agent corner Ty Law.

Flowers may be only 5-foot-9, and his measurables may be somewhat lacking, but the Chiefs saw that Flowers has the instincts and the toughness to be a Pro Bowler for years to come.

In the third round, the Chiefs took a few gambles on Texas RB Jamaal Charles and Tennesee TE Brad Cottam. Charles will likely be used to compliment aging starter Larry Johnson due to his speed and pass catching ability.

Cottam, while he only caught 20 passes in college due to injury, is huge at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. He should fill the role of blocking tight end, previously vacated by Jason Dunn, in KC's running game for now.

He also has the athleticism to blossom into a fantastic starter in the NFL when Tony Gonzales retires.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Despite the fact that the Ravens reached a bit for Joe Flacco, they got what they wanted on both sides of the ball. The only reason Baltimore makes this list is how they ripped off Jacksonville by trading out of the Top 10 to stockpile picks.

Even if they did end up moving back up to get Flacco, the Ravens got a package of picks (#26, 2 3rd rounders and a 4th rounder) In exchange for the pick that ended up being Derrick Harvey.

This was similar to what the Chiefs got from Minnesota for NFL sack leader Jared Allen.

Flacco may have been a reach at No. 18, but he has everything the Ravens look for in a franchise quarterback: arm strength, character, size, and (surprisingly enough) mobility. In the wake of the Kyle Boller debacle, the Ravens needed to get their man, no matter what the price.

With the pick they got from a trade with Seattle, the Ravens took Rutgers running back Ray Rice, who was a workhorse in the college ranks and can dole out some serious punishment despite his size.

Willis McGahee may be the starter for the time being, but he will be 28 when next year rolls around and most running backs begin to decline around age 30, so finding a replacement here was vital.

One round later, Baltimore picked up playmaking Miami linebacker Tavares Gooden, who is similar from an athletic standpoint to what Ray Lewis was at this point at his career.

While Gooden may never be a Ray Lewis-type player, he definitely has the potential to start from Day One over incumbent starter Bart Scott.

Baltimore will have three free agent linebackers in 2009, including Lewis and Terrell Suggs, so finding some youth at the linebacker position at this point in the draft was necessary.

What makes Baltimore's moves during the draft so impressive is not who they selected, but how they got in position to select these players and other that I didn't mention.

The Losers

1. Oakland Raiders

Sure, Darren McFadden is a special talent, and yes he may be the best player in this draft, but the Raiders have two proven veterans at running back in Dominic Rhodes and Justin Fargas, and a stud in Michael Bush.

No matter what they did in free agency, the Raiders still went 4-12 last year and a team in the Top Five can't afford to make a luxury pick, no matter who the player is.

What makes this pick even more surprising is the fact that DT Glenn Dorsey, who was thought to be even better than McFadden by some teams, could have filled a much bigger need at defensive tackle than McFadden did at running back.

Also, Dorsey was allowed to fall to division rival Kansas City, who took him almost immediately.

Normally, I wouldn't have had such a big problem with taking McFadden, even in light of what I said, but Oakland didn't make another pick until the fourth round. William Joseph and Kalimba Edwards aren't the answer, people.

A defensive player was a must at that position in the draft even, if Chris Long wasn't available and Dorsey falling to No. 4 was an absolute gift. Leave it to Al Davis to burn a pick like this.

However, I have seen some pretty convincing arguments in favor of McFadden going to Oakland on this site and his playmaking skill is undeniable, I think they made a costly mistake here, but the jury is out on this one.

2: Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars at this point are one solid pass rusher away from being a bonafide Super Bowl contender. Unfortunately for the Jags, neither Derrick Harvey nor Quentin Groves will be that pass rusher, at least not immediately.

Trading up is one thing, but mortgaging your draft to reach for a guy who wouldn't have gone in the Top 15 is another thing entirely.

As I mentioned earlier, the Jags traded all of their picks in the third and fourth rounds, along with the 26th overall pick, to move up to No. 8 to pick up Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey.

This would have been fine had Harvey been a "can't miss" prospect. However, Harvey has been known to disappear at times, and there are a lot of questions surrounding his explosiveness and ability to shed blocks at the next level.

The Jags ended up taking yet another defensive end, Auburn's Quentin Groves, with their second-round pick, which again would have been fine if the need were truly dire and Groves had fallen from where he was expected to go.

Groves was not even a second-round pick on some teams' draft boards and he, like Harvey, has issues in the consistency department.

Groves is also a bit undersized for an NFL defensive end at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds and he probably would have been a better fit as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

Jacksonville is noticeably thin at wide receiver and unless they expect disappointing ex-Raider Jerry Porter to be a bonafide No. 1, David Garrard may not have many weapons going into next season.

Granted, defensive end was an area of need in Jacksonville, but the fact that they overpaid so grossly for Harvey and used all of their Day One picks on the position makes the Jags come out of the draft a loser.

3. Tennessee Titans

Unlike the preceding teams, I have no real issue with who the Titans drafted or where they went, with the exception of Chris Johnson at No. 24

However, the fact that they didn't get Vince Young a receiver, despite the fact that Early Doucet was available in the second round, is why the Titans are here.

As I said before, taking Chris Johnson at No. 24 was a bad pick, mainly because the Titans have drafted three running backs in the past three years, not to mention that it was a huge reach.

If Johnson was their guy, the least Tennessee could have done is trade down into the early- to mid-second round, where Johnson would have surely been available.

The Titans did get Vince Young a good tight end to throw to in Craig Stevens, but as long as Roydell Williams is their No. 1 receiver, the team is going nowhere.

Honorable mentions

New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers: Both of these teams made reaches early in the draft (Cason at No. 27, Wheatley at No. 62, Hester at No. 69, O'Connell at No. 94) but A.J. Smith and Bill Belichick usually know what they're doing, so I'll give these teams the benefit of the doubt.

New England Patriots: What Will They Do on Draft Day?

Max Iascone — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:17:30 -0400

We've heard it all a thousand times: the Pats have an old linebackingcore, the secondary is thin, I'm not exactly breaking new ground here.

While both of the preceding statements may be true, I sincerely doubt that either need will be rectified with the 7th overall pick in tomorrow's draft.

This year's cornerback class is quite deep and the jury is still out as to who the top corner really is in this year's class. Leodis McKelvin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Jenkins, and even Aqib Talib have been mentioned as possible choices at number 7.

However, none of these prospects are top 10 material despite their potential. Furthermore, if the Patriots were willing to give a corner 18 million bucks in guaranteed cash, why wouldn't they just pony up the extra 4 million for Asante Samuel, who is already a proven pro bowler.

With that said, there are a couple of linebackers who have caught the Patriots' eye, OSU's Vernon Gholston, andUSC's Keith Rivers. Gholston, a former defensive end, has shown the size and explosiveness to excell as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 set similar to the one employed in New England.

Unfortunately for the Patriots however, Gholston will likely be taken before they pick, either by the Oakland Raiders or by the rival New York Jets.

Unlike Gholston, Rivers will almost certainly be available at the Patriots' 7th pick, in large part due to the fact that Rivers, while he will probably be a solid NFL performer, lacks the combination of size and strength that makes Gholston so appealing.

Rivers projects as a middle linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4, which is a very good thing since last year's incumbent starter, Junior Seau, is contemplating retirement.

While Rivers may be an enticing prospect at number 7, he doesn't seem to be worth the $18 million in guarantees that the 7th pick demands. The Patriots have entertained the option of trading down and New Orleans, Carolina, and Chicago have all shown interest in acquiring New England's 7th overall pick.

Barring a trade down, Bill Belichick will likely draft the best player available, regardless of need. The Patriots have shown interest in USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, who, although he lacks the size to play his natural position in a 3-4 set, could slide over to DE to replace the aging and injury prone pro bowler Richard Seymour, whose contract expires in 2009.

Some analysts have also mentioned Brandon Albert as a possibility, and while he doesn't play left tackle, his coach at West Virginia, Al Groh, was a Belichick assistant in Cleveland during the 1992 season.

There is a precedent for Belichick passing on a superior O-line prospect in favor of a guy coached by a protege of his. This occurred during the '05 draft when Belichick passed on left tackle prospect Khalif Barnes to select current pro bowl guard Logan Mankins, who played under Belichick disciple Pat Hill at Fresno State.

If the Patriots do indeed decide to trade down, then the available cornerbacks and linebackers will be of better value then whoever they could get at #7. The most likely suitor in a potential trade down would be New Orleans, due to their great interest in Sedrick Ellis.

At number 10, most, if not all, of the top defensive backs will be available, meaning that Belichick will be given a choice between Mckelvin and Rodgers-Cromartie if he decides to get a corner. However, the team has show a lotof interest in Iowa's Charles Godfrey, USC's Terrel Thomas, andNebraska's Zachary Bowman, which would suggest that New England will fix their secondary later in the draft.

As for linebackers, Rivers may still be available, which would make the pick easy for Belichick and co. If Rivers isn't available, Tennessee's Jerod Mayo, who has experienced a meteoric rise to the top of some draft boards (at the linebacker position), would seem to be the logical choice.

Mayo is 6' tall and weighs in at 242 pounds, he, like Rivers, would be a good 3-4 middle linebacker. However, Mayo is not often thought of as top 10 pick so New England would probably be smart to trade further down into the first round before drafting Mayo.

The previously mentioned Brandon Albert may also be available in the middle of the first round, that is if KC doesn't take him at number five as ESPN's Mel Kiper thinks they will.

One less publicised hole in the Patriots' defense is at Strong Safety, where 38 year old Rodney Harrison and injury prone Tank Williams will compete for the starting job.

If the Patriots end up with a pick late in the first round or early in the second round, a safety is a very real possibility. The 2 most well thought of safeties in this year's draft class are Miami's Kenny Phillips, and Arkansas Sate's Tyrell Johnson.

Phillips is the more highly touted of the two, but Johnson is smarter, harder working, and faster (according to the 40 yard dash at least.) Johnson's 4.40 forty cemented his place in the early 2nd-late 1st round and he is also AK State's all-time sack leader, which means that he is very versatile. The only knock on Johnson is the level of competition that he played against at Arkansas State.

Phillips on the other hand, is a prototypical strong safety in that he is aggressive, fast, instinctive, and is a big hitter. However, a mediocre junior season and a bad combine made this former top 10 pick into a mid first rounder at best and an early second rounder at worst.

It remains to be seen whether Phillips can round himself back to sophomore form but the prognosis is good and Phillips could be a steal for whatever team drafts him.

All in all, I think that Belichick will take the top player on his draft board (assuming that Matt Ryan doesn't fall to 7) regardless of need due to the depth of this year's draft class in regards of the Patriots' biggest needs.

Mocking the NFL Draft: Who Will Be This Year's Biggest Bust?

Max Iascone — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:55:40 -0400

Well, after looking at this year's particularly weak draft class, I can draw but one conclusion for the '08 draft, this year's first round is going to have more flops than a one on one game between Bill Laimbeer and Vlade Divac.

That said, it's one thing to not live up to expectations, but , whether it's Dave Klingler, Ki-Jana Carter, or Akili Smith, (well you get the idea) every NFL draft brings with it the kind of epic bust that goes down NFL history. Which is why I've decided to give an award to the biggest bust taken by the Bengals (errr, the NFL) each year.

So, without further adieu, here are the three finalists for the first annual Ki-Jana Carter award, given to the biggest potential flop in each draft. First off, we have Jake Long, who is looking more like Robert Gallery every day. Next, Matt Ryan, whose fools'-golden arm could cost him a shot at greatness despite his intangibles. And finally, there's the broken calf waiting to happen, Darren McFadden.

And this year's Ki-Jana Carter memorial (he isn't dead but his career was DOA) trophy goes to... Darren McFadden!. And the crowd goes wild! (unless that crowd is full of Jets fans)

Where should I start with this guy? Well, his legs are skinnier than Paris Hilton, it's a wonder his leg hasn't come flying off in a game in 4 years, it'll happen just you wait, and it won't be pretty.

Also, at 6'2" 211 lbs, the man has the body of a pop-warner cheerleader, someone had to say it and it looks like that someone is me. Then again, that may have been a good thing since the holes he ran through in college were as big as Kirstie Alley.

Perhaps most importantly, the guy is a f#@!ing Reggie Bush clone, he might as well put on a Saints jersey and start dating Kim Kardashian, nobody would know the difference.

Good luck to whatever team rolls the dice on Run DMC, they'll need it.

That's all folks, be sure to tune in for next year's ceremony, where Tim "Mr.CFL" Tebow and Ryan "Britney Spears" Perrilloux will battle it out for the honor of going home with the Ki-Jana Carter award.

Darren McFadden: Can Looks Be Deceiving?

Max Iascone — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:35:45 -0400

Now before I write this, I'd like to say that Dmac is a special talent who could be a great weapon in the right system, however, he is definitely not worthy of a top 5 draft pick this April.

My evaluation of McFadden is not quite as harsh as that of NFL Network's Mike Mayock, who said that McFadden shouldn't be a top 20 pick, but that is not to say that McFadden is deserving of the hype and Adrian Peterson comparisons he has received over the past few months.

His 4.33 second 40 yard dash may have cemented his place as a top 5 pick, but not enough has been made of the paltry 13 bench press reps that McFadden turned in at his pro day.

To put this number in perspective, the second best RB prospect in this year's class, Rashard Mendenhall, had 26 reps, double McFadden's total.

According to one scout, McFadden cleared the last 20 yards of his 40 yard dash in a fantastic 1.8 seconds. Such a fantastic showing is a testament to McFadden's speed in the open field.

The fact that the first 20 yards took 2.53 seconds raises some concerns about McFadden's ability to accelerate quickly. Although McFadden was able to get off the line in college without a lot of contact, the increased speed of play at the next level could prove to be a problem for McFadden.

McFadden's struggles with the bench press made one thing abundantly clear. McFadden doesn't possess the power of an every down back. Unless he adds 10-15 pounds to his frame (and not in the same way Calais Campbell added 10-15 pounds mind you), McFadden would be little more than a change of pace back or a situational weapon in the NFL.

These problems may stem from McFadden's Reggie Bush like physique. Being 6'1" and weighing in at a tiny 211 lbs, D-Mac has drawn some comparisons to the former Trojan from a physical standpoint.

McFadden also mirrors Bush in the respect that both runners had fantastic offensive lines in front of them, meaning that they had massive holes to run through. It is safe to say that such easy running lanes will not be given to McFadden at the next level.

However, McFadden, according to Arkansas running back coach Tim Horton, craves contact, which, although would seem to be a refreshing tendency in a speed back like McFadden, makes McFadden susceptible to injury due to his slight frame.

Perhaps more importantly, concerns about McFadden's character have also surfaced. For instance, an altercation involving McFadden that took place at a night club in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas caused local law enforcement to cite McFadden for "inciting aggresive behavior".

There were actually two incidents involving McFadden and night clubs but one was in response to a man attempting to steal his younger brother's car so that particular incident was anything but detrimental to McFadden's character. McFadden also has two paternity lawsuits against him pending.

The overall consensus on McFadden's character is that he is a good guy and a hard worker who happens to put himself in compromising situations through no real fault of his own. However, potential suitors should still be wary of McFadden's off-the-field issues in today's NFL, since commissioner Roger Goodell places a high premium on character.

First time violators of the NFL's personal conduct policy are subject to a two game suspension, multiple violations may lead to suspensions that range in length from eight games to a full season.

From the Packers to the Patriots: The Makings of a Dynasty

Max Iascone — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:15:52 -0400

Every ten years or so, a special group of guys rocks the NFL and every other team that plays them. These teams, called dynasties, have a lot more in common then you might think.

Here are a few similarities I noticed among the NFL's bonafide dynasties:

The Abyss: One of the more surprising traits I have noticed in regards to the progression of a dynasty is a long stretch of mediocrity shortly before the dominance inherent in a dynastic franchise.

For instance, in 1970, the Steelers went 1-13 and won the coin toss with Chicago that allowed them to pick QB Terry Bradshaw. Shortly thereafter, Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain put the "nasty" in dynasty. The first dynasty, the Packers of the late '60s, was also a terrible team before the hiring of Vince Lombardi. The Pack went 1-10-1 in 1958 under Ray Mclean with a team similar to the 13-1 1962 team coached by Lombardi.

One reason for this may be that such a long stretch of losing seasons gives a team great opportunities to stockpile talent. However, a losing team loses for a reason, so the draft isn't the only way that dynasties are built. A dynasty is seldom ever borne from a contender looking for the last piece of the puzzle either, sure, teams like this may win Super Bowls, but their longevity is limited.

The Visionary: Every dynasty also has a mainstay on their sidelines or in the front office to serve as the architect of the dynasty in question. This man is generally maligned as a maverick in his day and age and is looked down upon by his peers for his innovative practices.

One great example of a visionary is former Cowboys head man Jimmy Johnson. His love of small, speedy players like Alvin Harper, Deion "showtime" Sanders, and Darren Woodson was looked down upon by "experts" around the NFL. The paradigm of the time dictated that size was paramount for a winner, however, Johnson's speedsters blazed past their bigger counterparts on their way to four super bowls in the 1990s.

Johnson's contemporary, Bill Belichick, was maligned for a different reason, he was known to be a salty, cut to the chase guy who didn't let the players talk back, regardless of their talent. His decisions to cut Bernie Kosar and Lawyer Milloy were thought of as foolish when they were made, but Belichick's disciplinarian coaching style has brought him respect from even troubled egomaniacs like Randy Moss.

The Quarterback: This one is pretty self explanatory. No dynasty is complete without a leader taking snaps under center. There have been many great QBs in the NFL, but only a select few are capable of coming through under pressure Consistently.

Whether it was Bart Starr's chilling (pun intended) ice bowl victory over Dallas in 1967, Bradshaw's game winning 64 yard TD bomb in SB X, or Brady's last minute drive against St.Louis, not to mention Montana's numerous clutch moments, the QB almost always has a hand in his team's fortunes.

It may seem that these drives are only possible due to the teams around the quarterbacks. If that were true, the Browns would have made the Super Bowl at least three times with Bernie Kosar, and the Bills would have won at least one Super Bowl in the '80s and '90s.

I'm not knocking Kosar or Jim Kelly, who were great QBs in their own right, I am simply saying that having a QB who comes through when the chips are down is paramount in any dynasty.

No championship run is a cakewalk, as I saw when my beloved Pats capped off their near perfect season without a super bowl ring.

The Bride's Maid: Everyone needs a rival to push them to the next level, and football teams are no exception. For every dynasty, there is a team that wins just as often and puts the best team to the test year in and year out.

Some of these teams. like the Raiders in the '70s, who won just one Super Bowl despite their consistent excellence throughout the decade, eventually became dynasties in their own right.

Another example of a bride's maid team would be the pre-2005 Indianapolis Colts, who always gave the New England dynasty a run for their money before 2005 without getting the best of the Pats.

The most prominent example of an NFL bride's maid is the Jim Kelly led Bills squad that made four losing Super Bowl appearances without a win. They were never an overt rival to the Cowboys dynasty, but they would've certainly had a dynasty of their own if not for Dallas.

The Balance Factor: This is perhaps the most important quality of a dynasty and really doesn't need much of an explanation. Defense win championships is held as an empirical truth in the NFL but no defense is complete without a great offense on the other side of the ball.

For instance, the 1991 Eagles fielded arguably the NFL's greatest defense ever, the team's anemic offense scored only 18 PPG, leading to a 10-6 record and a third place division finish.

The aforementioned Colts needed an improvement on defense to finally beat their nemesis, New England. Every team has its weaknesses, however, a true dynasty works to improve on its achilles heel.

Potential present day dynasties:

New England: Active dynasty, 'nuff said.

Oakland: Opinions may differ on whether or not Al Davis is a visionary, but the man has panache and he certainly fits into the "looked down upon by his peers" category. The Raiders have also been losing long enough to stockpile a lot of nice young talent that should sustain their chances at contention in the AFC for at least six-seven years. The jury's out on Jamarcus Russel's clutch play.

San Diego: The Bolts have one of the most balanced young rosters in the NFL and a true genius in AJ Smith. Phillip Rivers is young and somewhat unproven but the kid's a gamer. He played the Pats on two sprained MCLs and a torn ACL, what a fighter. A rivalry between SD and Oakland should vault both teams to prominence in the coming years.

If I missed anything I'm all ears, tell me what you think.

New Faces in New Places: NFL Mock Draft Part 2

Max Iascone — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:38:02 -0400

I've been putting this off for a while, so some players I had going in the first round may still be available.

A more prevalent occurrence however, was certain teams like Oakland rectifying a need that I thought they would see to through the draft, for instance, it now looks like Jake Long and Sedrick Ellis will switch places, with Ellis going to Oakland and Long going to KC.

For the sake of continuing my previous mock, I'll assume that all the guys I listed in my previous article are off the board for this one, despite the fact that guys like Lawrence Jackson will likely be available.So, here are my picks, tell me what you think.

32. Miami Dolphins: Chris Williams, Bill Parcells builds his teams through the lines and with the previous pick, Chris Long, he has addressed the defensive side of the ball, but with the releases of L.J. Shelton and Anthony Alabi recently, the Tuna needs a franchise LT. While Chris Williams' intensity has been brought into question, he is an outstanding athlete and at 6'6" 315lbs, he has the size of a prototypical LT, he also is very agile and possesses great footwork for his size, a trait that should help him with the arduous task of blocking Richard Seymour, Shaun Ellis, and Aaron Schobel 6 times a year.

33. St. Louis Rams: Carl Nicks, The Rams are riddled with holes all around their roster, except at QB and RB, so they could go a lot of ways here, Orlando Pace is aging and the rams need a successor. Carl Nicks is raw and inexperienced but he is also a beast at 6'5" 340 and is very quick for his size. He is also an extremely gifted run blocker due to his bulk and his technique can only improve, giving him the potential to be an unstoppable force for St. Louis for years to come. He has some problems with technique in the passing game but he will work at it and his upside is worth gambling on at this pick.

34. Atlanta Falcons: Early Doucet, The Falcons are rebuilding and Doucet is a nice piece to aid in the process, he is a high character guy and a viable weapon for Matt Ryan if Atlanta drafts him, besides, one can never have too many weapons. (Unless you’re Detroit) Despite his slight stature and mediocre timed speed, Doucet is a true playmaker with great burst and nice elusiveness. He is also a terrific blocker on running plays and a very hard worker. Not only will he add something to Atlanta's offense, he will provide some long term stability in the Falcons’ locker room with his level headedness and desire to win.

35. Kansas City Chiefs: Gosder Cherilus, Having already taken Jake Long in round 1, the Chiefs will look to solidify the other side of their line with Cherilus, the best RT available in this year's draft. He is a decent athlete but he won't blow anyone away, however, he works hard to sustain his blocks and will fight to keep his position in the running game, he is also nimble for a big guy and can play LT if given the chance. He is a great character guy, which will help the Chiefs, who have recently lost Will Shields and Will Roaf, both of whom lead the team in the locker room. Cherilus and Long will be the most solid young duo of tackles in the NFL for a long time.

36. New York Jets: Curtis Lofton, After trading Jonathan Vilma, the Jets need a replacement for him inside, Jerod Mayo may be the best available, but he does not translate to the Jets' defensive scheme as well as Lofton does. Although he is undersized, Lofton is a solid tackler who will deliver a powerful knockout blow if given the chance. His timed speed is average and he is not a good blitzer but he will work hard no matter what assignment you give him. His instincts in coverage leave a bit to be desired but they will improve, he will add some much needed punch to the weak interior of the Jets LB corps.

37. Atlanta Falcons: Kentwan Balmer, The Falcons have needed help inside for some time now and they get it with Balmer, who only falls because of his size and inability to read blocks. However, Balmer has great upper body strength and if he were to gain some weight he could play NT in a 3-4 as well as DT in a 4-3. While his size may make him somewhat of a liability upfront, he gains the ability to pursue running backs with far more efficiency then someone like Vince Wilfork or Shaun Rogers. Atlanta let up 4.2 ypc on the ground last year so this pick is a must.

38. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco, The Kyle Boller experiment has been a total failure and Steve Mcnair is cooked. That leaves Baltimore with only the average Troy Smith, who, although he has shown flashes in the NFL, seems destined to be a career fringe starter or backup. The Ravens need a franchise QB and Flacco fits the bill. He has a cannon for an arm and surprising mobility for his size. He has also shown the ability to get out of trouble and make plays while running. Had Flacco not played againts mediocre competition at Delaware, he may not be available here.

39. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Lee, San Fran has a mediocre secondary other then 34 year old Walt Harris and some youth in the defensive backfield is a dire need. Lee is tall and big for a corner at 6' 200lbs; he is also a fantastic athlete with considerable upside. Not only did he run a respectable 4.42, he is very physical and tough and will make any receiver rue the day he dared to cross the middle with Lee. He also shows the instincts to excel in the deep game and the ability to jump for the ball with anybody. His limited experience is his only real downside but a year spent learning from Harris will mold this kid into a solid corner at least.

40. New Orleans Saints: Kenny Phillips, Too put it bluntly, the Saints were miserable on defense last year, Josh Bullocks was especially mediocre. Having already spent a pick on a corner, the Saints will find Bullocks' replacement here. Phillips had a mediocre junior year and an average combine but New Orleans is getting an absolute steal here. Phillips is big, strong, and instinctive in coverage, his hands will net him a share of picks and his aggression will get him some more. His aggressive tendencies are sometimes a liability in the play action passing game however and he will get burnt every so often. The Saints should consider themselves lucky if Phillips falls this far.

41. Buffalo Bills: Tracy Porter, the Bills could use some speed in their secondary and Porter is just the guy to give it to them, Porter has nice hands and the speed necessary to recover from a mistake. He could also add some excitement to the Bills' special teams. He is a fantastic athlete and can run with anybody on deep routes. However, he is only 5'10" and may have trouble dealing with tall receivers, which could be a problem since he will cover Randy Moss for 2 games every year.

42. Denver Broncos: Mario Manningham, With Javon Walker now donning the silver and black, the Broncos need a replacement quickly. Luckily for them, this is a deep class for receivers and Manningham, although his timed speed is mediocre, is very agile and can make plays in the open field. He also runs well after the catch and has fantastic body control. Manningham is very elusive and will break some huge gains in the open field. His durability, his slight frame, and a mediocre combine drop this former first round pick’s stock just enough for him to land here.

43. Carolina Panthers: Chad Henne, Jake Delhomme's future in Carolina is questionable and David Carr was a flop, so the Panthers need someone to run the offense. Although Henne was somewhat streaky at Michigan, he seems to be one of the more NFL ready QBs in this year's draft, he has shown good arm strength and accuracy and decent decision making. Delhomme still has a year or 2 left and Henne can learn the ropes before he comes in to lead the offense.

44. Chicago Bears: Andre Woodson, Well, Rexie's back so what's not to love... everything. It's about time the Bears fixed their QB problem once and for all and although Woodson's stock has been falling, he is still good value here. He has a great arm and is an accurate thrower. He also shows the ability to move around in the pocket although he isn't much of a threat to tuck it in and run. Woodson easily has the most potential out of the QB class this year but concerns about his delivery and a mediocre Senior Bowl practice have cast doubt upon his ability to transition smoothly to the next level.

45. Detroit Lions: Eddie Royal, The Lions desperately need a compliment to Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Limas Sweed, and Shaun McDonald, and Royal will be a great 5th receiver in this league due his speed and the fact that Detroit only plays 3 receiver sets barring an emergency. Andre Caldwell ran a 4.37 40 so he is a possibility here as well.

46. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Harrison, So far this off-season, the Bengals have lost out on both Shaun Rogers and DeWayne Robertson, both times after each deal looked done, something tells me Harrison will hold out and demand a trade the way things are looking in Cincy. The bengals’ run D has been atrocious the last few years and while Harrison may not be a good pass rusher or a great playmaker, he is stout at the point of attack and can at the very least draw a double team when he doesn’t get to the backfield. His abilities against the run coupled with Cincy’s ineptitude in stopping it make him the pick over Red Bryant or Dre Moore.

47. Minnesota Vikings: Calais Campbell, At one point, Campbell looked like a sure first rounder with top 10 potential, but apparently he decided to get a reverse liposuction before the combine, his mediocre junior year makes him drop to Minnesota, whose awful ends will compel them to take a gamble on the mammoth Campbell. At 6’8” 290lbs, Campbell has the athleticism and size to be a force in the NFL but a disappointing junior year, and a bad combine make him fall here. Although his game speed is better then his timed speed and his pursuit is good, the 5.04 he ran at the combine was worse then some DTs.

48. Atlanta Falcons: Erin Henderson, The Falcons seem poised to lose Demorrio Williams and maybe Keith Brooking. Henderson would be a great replacement. He is quick, versatile, and has a mean streak that would help a soft falcons defense. Henderson also has ideal size to play any of the LB positions, which is a surprisingly rare trait among this year’s LB class. He doesn’t have the potential that NFL teams look for but he is a safe pick and will likely be a solid player for a long time.

49. Philadelphia Eagles: Sam Baker, The Eagles have already taken James Hardy in round 1, so the Eagles will replace Jon Runyan here. Sam Baker is a great value pick here, as he was once a 1^st rounder in some mocks. Baker is smart, athletic, has good fundamentals, but questions about his toughness and durability cause him to fall into Philly's lap. Another possibility is a corner since Lito Sheppard is disgruntled and may hold out come training camp; Antoine Cason is surprisingly still available here and would be an absolute steal if he were taken.

50. Arizona Cardinals: Antoine Cason, Having already taken a corner, a running back to eventually supplant Edge is a possibility here but Cason is too good to pass up. Only the depth of this year’s CB class stops Cason from being a sure first rounder. Cason is a playmaker at corner who can also play safety, his knack for finding the ball makes him an attractive prospect but his lack of speed is still a question despite the 4.48 he ran at the combine. He may not be a true #1 at this point but he still has the ability to start alongside Mike Jenkins. Plus, he’s a hometown guy

51. Washington Redskins: Oniel Cousins, this pick may seem to be somewhat of a reach but Cousins would be a great fit for Washington. Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels have been solid anchors for the ‘skins O-line for nearly a decade but they aren’t getting any younger. Cousins may be raw at this point in his career, but he is very mobile and will stay with speed rushers at the next level. He also possesses great athleticism and the quickness to pick up LBs on the outside when needed. Given a year to learn the game behind Samuels and Jansen, Cousins could be a great lineman in Washington.

52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cliff Avril, the Bucs are well known for their solid defense but they are getting older and could use a shot of youth at this point. Cliff ran a 4.5 40 at the combine, he is very athletic and is a hard worker who doesn’t give up on plays. If he lands in Tampa, he will also have the luxury of learning from Derrick Brooks for a couple of years. Avril’s only real weakness is the fact that he is heavily reliant on his speed and lacks other ways to get into the backfield. He is also weak against the run but if Avril is utilized as a rush LB, this problem will seem trivial at the next level. Avril has a lot of potential and could prove to be a steal late in the second round.

53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chilo Rachal, the Steelers are aging all along their offensive line and although they got Jeff Otah in round 1, some questions remain along the interior of the line due to Alan Faneca’s departure. Rachal would seem to be a perfect fit in Pittsburgh, due to the mean streak with which he plays. He is very athletic and could make the transition to tackle if the need should arise. His durability is a looming question but the Steelers are deep along the O-line and could afford to play a few games with the backup guard on the field. His fundamentals are also unsound but his physical abilities make him worth the risk here.

54. Tennessee Titans: Donny Avery, This pick may turn some heads, since Lavelle Hawkins is still available, but Tennessee needs a bonafide deep threat to take advantage of Vince Young’s arm. Avery averaged 16 ypc during his senior season and has shown the ability to stretch the field with his speed. He isn’t a great option over the middle however and his fundamentals are questionable. He may never be more then a slot wideout but he has the potential to be a star if his talents are properly utilized.

55. Seattle Seahawks: Fred Davis, The Seahawks have had a hole at TE for a long time and could use a reliable pass catcher over the middle. Davis will never be a playmaker, but he has the skill and character to be a solid starter at the next level for a long time. He was the focal point of the offense at USC so his stats may have been somewhat inflated. Then again, he was the #1 option for a reason, his soft hands and route running skill make him a sure target when nobody’s open downfield. He should provide a nice safety blanket for the Seahawks’ passing centered offense.

56. Green Bay Packers: Jerod Mayo, Ted Thompson has done a good job of creating a well balanced franchise in Green Bay so the Pack can afford to take the best player available. The Packers have solid middle linebackers but Brady Poppinga will never be more then an average player and Mayo has the quickness to move outside. Mayo is very athletic and reliable as a tackler but he has not as of yet shown the ability to shed blockers well. He is great against the run but he is a mediocre pass rusher and should not play on blitz downs.

57. Miami Dolphins: Lavelle Hawkins, If the Dolphins do indeed decide to give John Beck another shot this year, he will need some weapons to get the job done, especially after trading Wes Welker and Chris Chambers last year. Hawkins’ timed speed is average at best but he is a playmaker who will get some nice yards after the catch. Hawkins is also a fine possession receiver despite his small frame and has shown the willingness to work the middle of the field and take a hit or two. He could stand to improve his route running and gain some weight but both of these problems are easy to fix.

58. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Laws, After trading Marcus Stroud, the Jags need someone to play alongside John Henderson. Laws is very athletic and can shed blockers with his hustle upfront despite his size. Trevor is a great tackler who racked up an astonishing total of 112 tackles during his senior campaign. He is average at best as a pass rusher and will not command the double team due to his deficiencies in the size department. Laws is smart and won’t give up on any play.

59. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Flowers, Jacques Reeves was one of the worst nickelbacks in the league last year but even he was better then nothing. Terrance Newman is the only consistent player in Dallas’ secondary so any pick there would help. Brandon Flowers may be undersized, but he is very athletic and will go up for the ball with any receiver. His timed speed is below average but he has the instincts to prevent the serious mistake. He makes his share of plays but his aggression will cost him at times, he is similar to what Eagles corner Asante Samuel was at this point in his career.

60. Indianapolis Colts: Red Bryant, The Colts’ biggest need is at guard but Chilo Rachal is off the board so they will have to wait on that one. That said, the Colts are small on the interior of their D-line and could use some added bulk up front. Red Bryant is huge and strong and is able to get into the backfield quite well. He is also quite capable of occupying multiple blockers with his size and strength and will work hard at the point of attack. Red is a real leader and can really fire up his teammates in the huddle. Bryant is somewhat inconsistent. He can be a non factor at times.

61. Green Bay Packers: Dre Moore, The Packers traded starter Corey Williams to Cleveland and need a replacement at DT. Moore plays with an edge up front and will make his presence known. His strength will allow him to penetrate on running plays but his technique is still pretty lacking. He is surprisingly quick for his size and will chase down some plays from behind when he is beaten up front. He is somewhat of a workout warrior whose on the field determination has been brought into question.

62. New England Patriots: Ray Rice, Chris Johnson is still available here and he would seem to be the logical choice to compliment Laurence Maroney, but Johnson is a one year wonder and a workout warrior who hasn’t shown the toughness and durability of a starter in the NFL. Rice is small at 5’8” but he is hard working and incredibly productive. He is a hard nosed runner who will stay on his feet after initial contact and has the instincts to read plays consistently. He hits holes with authority and delivers a blow on contact, he seems to be the kind of hard working competitor that Belichick likes to have on his teams. Wear and tear on his legs may prevent Rice from being a feature back but he is a more then capable tandem back at the next level.

63. New York Giants: Phillip Wheeler, Kawika Mitchell took a mammoth contract from Buffalo so the G-men really need a replacement inside. Wheeler is a sideline to sideline defender who shows the instincts to read plays before the snap. He is also a big hitter who can lay the lumber when given the opportunity. Wheeler is a very good pass rusher, especially for an ILB, his skills in that respect make him incredibly versatile, as he has shown the speed to play rush LB on blitzing downs. However, he struggles in staying with TEs in man coverage and should consequently not be used on obvious passing downs.

NFL Draft: Matt Ryan, I Hardly Knew Ye

Max Iascone — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:22:31 -0400

When I first took a quick look at Matt Ryan's stats, two things stood out: his passing yards (4,507) and the alarming amount of interceptions he threw (more than 20 if you count the Michigan State game).

I thought, "Wow, 20 picks in 13 games against college corners?! This guy is really overrated. Those aren't the numbers of a franchise QB."

These numbers, coupled with the fact that I seemed to possess the innate ability to watch Ryan play only when he lost, led me to believe that he was a physically average QB whose decision-making was mediocre. His clutch play, which I hadn't seen in the three games I watched, was his only asset.

I also thought that it was wholly Ryan's fault that BC lost these games. Therein lies my stupidest assumption.

After taking a quick look at Ryan's supporting cast at BC, I found only three guys who stuck out as NFL prospects: possible first-round OT Gosder Cherilus, third- or fourth-round pick CB Dejuan Tribble, and second-day pick SS Jamie Silva. HB Andre Callender was on the fringe of being an NFL prospect.

Since Tribble and Silva play on defense, that leaves Cherilus as the only player on Ryan's offense good enough to play in the NFL. Other then Cherilus, BC's offense would have likely been very pedestrian if not for Ryan's great play. BC had been projected to be the bottom dwellers of the ACC that year.

Also, Ryan attempted a whopping 654 passes in 2007 in a mere 13 games. That's 76 more then Patriots QB Tom Brady threw in three extra games. As any competent observer could obviously see, Tom Brady carried his offense in New England, which would seem to mean that Ryan not only carried his offense at BC, he was the offense.

Unlike Brady, Ryan wasn't throwing to Randy Moss. His main option was 5-foot-10 Brandon Robinson, who caught 56 balls for 734 yards and five TDs. Ryan's ability to do more with less is quite reminiscent of how Brady managed to win three Super Bowls throwing to guys like Reche Caldwell, David Patten, Deion Branch, and Jabar Gaffney.

Although a 9-3 season and a bowl win over 7-5 Michigan State isn't exactly the dynasty Brady put together, Matt Ryan has never had a true No. 1 option at receiver, much less a weapon to consistently throw the ball to.

It remains to be seen what Ryan could do if he were given some players to work with in the NFL, which is why a team like the Chiefs, who have Dwayne Bowe, Tony Gonzales, a top five pick, and a lousy QB would seem to be an ideal home for Ryan.

Most importantly during my re-evaluation of Ryan, I stumbled across a friend's tape of the first game Ryan played in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech—a true testament to Ryan's poise, clutch ability, and leadership. I watched in a state of pleasant shock as Ryan, who had looked mediocre all day, led his team back from a 10 point fourth quarter deficit to a 14-10 win, under constant pressure from Chris Ellis and Barry Booker.

After leading a four-minute, 91-yard drive to cut the lead to 10-7, Ryan got the ball back on Virginia Tech's 34 after an onside kick with 2:11 left to play in the final quarter. The rest was simply icing on the cake. The winning pass was an 11-yard strike to Callender in the back of the end zone.

Ryan went 9-15 combined during both drives and looked unshakable in leading his No. 2 BC Eagles to victory in the face of almost certain defeat.

That game and other instances of Ryan's quality play taught me to look beyond the stats in evaluating talent. Stats are affected by a variety of factors, including supporting cast, the quality of opponents, luck, and of course skill, but Ryan comes through when the pressure is on and that kind of gritty, gutty leadership can't be changed by what's around you or who you're playing. It all comes down to the player himself.

Ryan possesses the rare, innate ability to simply put his team on his back that only a select few are lucky enough to have. When he's on the field, no matter what the stakes are, there's always a chance that something magical could happen. While it remains to be seen how Ryan will translate to the NFL, he has certainly done enough in college to make himself a guy to build a franchise around.

Why Nnamdi Asomugha Will Not be Back in Oakland Next Year

Max Iascone — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:05:11 -0400

The Raiders have certainly done their share of big spending this offseason, resigning key players and making big name acquisitions, all at an above market rate.

However, one man has been conspicuously left off the gravy train, and that man is superstar corner Nnamdi Asomugha, who has payed his dues in Oakland for his whole career and has yet to be reimbursed for it.

Although he was franchised, I bet that Nnamdi wants his piece of the pie, especially after seeing pro bowl corner Deangelo Hall move to Oakland and sign that monstrous contract.

Typical logic would dictate that Al Davis is simply waiting for the right time to ink Asomugha to a long term deal, but he already made a quick move to make Kelly, making him the highest paid DT in NFL history, some see Hall being paired with Namdi to form the most feared CB tandem in the NFL, I see Hall as Nnamdi's replacement.

For all the fans out there who have watched Al Davis run his team for any length of time, it is obvious that when Davis has something that he wants to keep, he doesn't drag his feet when he goes about keeping it.

I also doubt that he will simply let Asomugha walk, since the value of a good corner in the NFL has risen exponentially in today's passing centered NFL game.

Trading a tagged player is not an uncommon practice in the NFL (see Corey Williams) and the Raiders secondary is very deep, Asomugha will also command a gigantic contract and rightfully so, but I don't think said contract will be from Oakland.

There are plenty of teams in the NFL who are needy at corner and it's a safe bet that most of them would give an arm and a leg for a stud like Nnamdi.

Among the list of potential suitors would be Dallas, New England, New Orleans, Arizona, Detroit, both New York teams, the Chiefs, and possibly Minnesota.

One potential scenario that I could envision would involve Asomugha being shipped to New England for DT Vince Wilfork, who has shown the ability to consistently draw and shed the double team in the 3-4 and would give the Raiders one of the most fearsome DT duos in the NFL if he were paired with Kelly in a 4-3 set.

New England would of course have to pony up a draft pick or two and some cash as Asomugha is a franchise type player, but Wilfork should not be underestimated, while his on the field antics (he was fined thrice last year) may anger Bill Belichick to no end, Wilfork has the size that Oakland needs to stop the run up front and the rare ability to provide a middle pass rush in the face of the double team.

If this trade were to happen, the Raiders wouldn't have to worry about their D-line in the upcoming draft, which means that they would be free to draft Ohio State phenom Vernon Gholston to shore up their LB corps.

Gholston, who has been compared to Shawne Merrimen, is a prototypical 3-4 rush linebacker who could also play DE in 4-3 sets.

With that many weapons along Oakland's front seven, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who has coached Wilfork before, would finally have the personell to implement a multiple front defense, with Wilfork playing NT in a 3-4 and Gholston at LB and Kelly and Wilfork in the middle in a 4-3. Wilfork's arrival would also spell the end of the line for Terdell Sands, who has not come anywhere close to fulfilling expectations.

I'm sure every sports fan is aware of New England's miserable corner situation, if the problem isn't rectified soon, the starters going into this season would be Ellis Hobbs, who has been awful in his time in New England and Brandon Meriwether, who is still unproven, with washed up Fernando Bryant playing the nickel.

New England's secondary could use some starpower, as could Oakland's D-line, also, Wilfork just looks like a Raider to me, he has the swagger that is reminiscent of Oakland's golden age in the 70's.

However, speculation aside, the Raiders still have the number four pick in this year's draft and whoever Al Davis picks will want a massive contract and the only way that the Raiders could sign said pick and Asomugha would be if either Asomugha or more likely the number four pick would need to sign a Larry Fitzgerald-esque contract laden with incentives, and as illustrated by Fitzgerald's contract in Arizona, that is a gamble not worth taking.

The last straw: why I'm tired of the major sports networks

Max Iascone — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:39:29 -0400

Admittedly, I was never a big fan of ESPN. They've always seemed a bit slanted against certain teams, players, or colleges almost all the time, no matter what the circumstance may be. I'm sure that there are some 'Bama football fans, Raiders fans, and Yankee fans who can back me up on this.

Whether it was lambasting the Crimson Tide for simply allowing fans to attend their spring practice or taking unnecessary shots at the Raiders for spending some cash, despite the fact that the money is improving the team, ESPN shows a definitive bias against these teams and more in their coverage of them, no matter what is actually going on.

I was fine with all of this though, especially because ESPN seemed to be in love with my sports teams up here in Boston. But the last straw came when I tuned in for College Gameday, searching for a bit of help with some difficult choices in filling in my bracket, and heard new analyst Bob Knight say one of the stupidest things I will ever hear.

Now, don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for Knight as a basketball coach, but he's always been a little out there, and his suggestion of expanding the field of 65 to a whopping 128 teams made me laugh and bang my head against my desk alternatingly.

Not surprisingly, this wasn't the first instance of a former player/coach-turned-announcer making an idiot out of himself on the air. I'm sure Bills fans remember when HOF running back and NFL network commentator Marshall Faulk labeled a solid Bills O-line as a weakness and singled out Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters as a liability.

It seems to me that these networks simply hired Knight and Faulk, along with Deion Sanders, Steve Young, Emmit Smith, Dan Marino, Trent Green (it'll happen once he retires mark my words), and Chris Carter simply for name value, since formerly average players like Mike Golic, or even people who were never associated with the NFL like John Clayton, do far better work then the aforementioned Hall of Famers for a probably lower price.

I'm not saying the guys themselves should take all the blame for the mediocrity of their networks—they can't help their own ineptitude for the most part. ESPN/NFL Network should shoulder at least some of the blame for the poorness of their product recently.

In appealing to the casual fan by hiring some recognizable guys to cover sports, they have alienated hardcore fans who are tired of the malapropisms that come out of these commentators' mouths night in and night out.

I can understand that these networks want to make some extra cash, since casual fans comprise a large amount of ESPN's viewers, however any network as popular as ESPN should focus more on the quality of the product they put out on a daily basis.

Even though I am aware that if i were to make this appeal to a network executive he would most likely spit his coffee in my face and roll around on the floor laughing, something still needed to be said. It's about time I saw some competant national sports coverage.

There are some exceptions to my disdain for big name announcers. I didn't mention Darren Woodson or Joe Theismenn in my earlier list of lousy announcers because their insight actually seems objective, and in most cases, accurate, making it worthwhile to listen to.

Unfortunately for sports fans, there are more Bob Knights among ESPN's announcers than Darren Woodsons.

Beasts of the East: Celtics Start Making Noise

Max Iascone — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:49:30 -0400

Well, the Rockets' streak is finally over, and it sure has been an interesting ride.

First, I would like to congratulate the Rockets on their amazing winning streak, it took a great amount of will power for T-Mac and company to fight through 10 games, all against premium competition, without a loss or Yao.

The Rockets' accomplishments will be remembered by sports fans the world over for a very long time, and rightly so. Twenty-two game streaks don't happen that often, especially in the loaded Western Conference Houston plays in.

That said, the Celtics also deserve some accolades for, not only holding arguably the NBA's most prolific scorer to eight points, but for beating the streaking Rockets one night after crawling back from 22 points down to defeat the World Champion Spurs.

If the Celtics can complete their trip through Texas without a loss, they will have cemented their place as one of the NBA's best teams, if not the best.

It also should be mentioned this team is far deeper than most analysts give them credit for. Last night, Leon Powe scored 21 points with limited playing time, and the night before, PGs Sam Cassell and Rajon Rondo combined for 37 points in San Antonio, including Cassell's game-winner late in the fourth quarter.

Even though I do recognize the Eastern Conference is an absolute joke, and a West contender could equal the Celtics' accomplishments if they played in the East, the Celtics hold a 22-4 record against the west including wins over LA, San Antonio (twice), New Orleans, Denver, the Warriors, and the aforementioned Rockets.

Last night, the Celtics showcased the tenacious defense which has made them what they are today, holding the Rockets to a season-low 74 points."

Defense wins championships" has always been the maxim for building NFL teams, and as shown by the Celts, and Nuggets, who scored 120 and still lost by 16 last night, the same holds true for the NBA.

Raiders Offseason: Was DeAngelo Hall Worth It?

Max Iascone — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:21:42 -0400

Well, it's nearly official now. The Raiders and newly acquired CB DeAngelo Hall have agreed to a seven-year contract worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $70 million.

This deal will make Hall the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. And while Hall has 17 INTs in the last four years, Asante Samuel had 16 in the last two and will make $12 million less.

This turn of events currently begs the question, "Was it worth it?"

From a football standpoint, of course not. The Raiders have systematically overpaid for unproven players like Tommy Kelly, and divas like Hall and Javon Walker.

However, that doesn't mean I don't love every move the Raiders have made, because I do. The recent influx of talent to Oakland symbolizes the return of a commitment to winning that has been sorely missed in for some time now.

The Raiders have languished in mediocrity without making any major moves (Randy Moss deal excluded) since 2001, and Al Davis' wave of spending shows he cares again. And that's all a fan could ask for.

Now Davis' heart is in the right place, all the Raiders need to do now is hire a competent negotiator.

Although I am aware these huge contracts will not be paid in full, the Raiders have spent upwards of $215 million this offseason.

Of course, Oakland's recent mediocrity has forced them to overpay people to play for them.

But the Raiders could have saved a lot of money (especially on the egregious contract given to the Kelly) had they negotiated instead of letting the players decide their own terms.

Normally, I would be fine with the Raiders' heavy involvement in free agency. However, Oakland still holds the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft and I'm not sure where they will find enough money to shell out a top five pick contract.

Trading down would seem logical here, but with Davis at the reigns that won't be happening any time soon.

Since Hall is now the NFL's highest paid corner, Nnamdi Asomugha will want his piece of the pie soon, and Oakland may not have the financial resources to keep this team together.

So, was it worth it?

Yes it was, but there are still some questions lingering. And unless they are resolved soon, the Raider renaissance could be a short one.

St. Mary's: This Year's Cinderella

Max Iascone — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:12:56 -0400

This year's NCAA tournament is ripe with Cinderellas looking for a dance with Prince Charming.

However, the one with the most realistic shot at a deep tourney run is St. Mary's.

The Gaels were ranked in the high 20s for much of this past season and finished the year with a fantastic 25-6 record and a respectable RPI of 39.

Despite these numbers, the Gaels will enter this year's dance relatively unheralded and seem poised for a deep run this year due to their consistency and the chip on their shoulder.

St. Mary's also boasts some impressive wins against 28-4 Drake, the surging Oregon Ducks, and Seton Hall.

The Gaels' draw of opponents doesn't exactly hurt them either.

First, they face a Miami team that will be without senior center Anthony King, who injured his wrist earlier in the year. This game, presuming the Gaels win, will be followed by a showdown with second seeded Texas.

Although the Longhorns have a rock solid starting five highlighted by A.J Abrams and D.J. Augustin, the depth behind them is mediocre and Abrams and Augustin will be fatigued by the time they play St. Mary's.

Unlike its potential opponents, St. Mary's doesn't have any truly eye-popping talents on its team, but they do have a deep team with all five starters averaging at least eight points per game.

Freshman guard Patrick Mills, who averaged 14.5 points per game season, has the quickness and skill on offense to take over games.

The Gaels' front line isn't bad either as forward Diamon Simpson and center Omar Samhan combined for 24 points and 17 rebounds per game. Their presence on the low block could hurt a small Texas team late in games.

As far as players go, the X-Factor for St. Mary's is, without a doubt, senior guard Todd Golden. Although Golden averaged just seven points per game this year, his three-point field goal percentage was an astonishing 45 percent.

If Golden gets hot, he will keep the Gaels in any game regardless of the circumstances.

St. Mary's is also solid on the sidelines.

Head coach Randy Bennet has led his team to two of its five all-time NCAA tourney bids within the past four years. His experience on a national stage and the leadership he provides his team in pressure moments will be invaluable for St. Mary's.

In just a few short days, every college basketball fan will remember the Gaels, and for good reason.

Just Win Baby!

Max Iascone — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:10:03 -0400

According to ESPN, The Raiders have agreed in principle to a trade with Atlanta which would put Pro Bowl corner Deangelo Hall in silver and black in exchange for a second round pick.

The deal will be finalized when Hall restructures his contract.

What can I say... Al Davis I hardly knew ye.

Here I was questioning the Raiders' seemingly exorbitant signings and foolish moves, while the Raiders made move after move to imrpove their roster. It took me a while but I can finally see the pieces of the puzzle coming together.

With the signings of Panthers wideout Drew Carter and the embattled Javon Walker, the Raiders have given QB Jamarcus Russel some weapons to compliment RB Justin Fargas, who ended last season on a tear.

The Raiders have also bolstered their O-line by trading for former San Francisco 1st round pick Kwame Harris, although he was a bust for the Niners, the Raiders O-line coach Sean Cable is one of the best in the buisiness. Also, Lincoln Kennedy was a bust in Atlanta but he was a yearly pro bowler in Oakland.

Also, the addition of Hall and the recently signed SS Gibril Wilson, along with returning star Namdi Asomugha and 2006 first round pick Michael Huff, makes the once mediocre Raiders secondary into one of the best young pass defense units in the NFL. If the secondary lives up to its vast potential, the D-line may improve as well since they will have more time to go after the QB before he finds an open man. Hall coming to Oakland also leaves the door open for the eventual trade of weakest link Stu Schweigert for another draft pick.

More importantly however, the signings of characters like Walker and Hall seem to symbolize the much needed return of the swagger that once radiated from Raider Nation back in the 70s.

Not only are these moves typical of the Al Davis we know and love (or hate if you're a Broncos or Chiefs fan) they are far more logical then the alternative, drafting Darren McFadden.

Additionally and perhaps most importantly, the Raiders still hold the number 4 pick in the draft, and now that the Raiders don't need a wideout, a corner, or an O-lineman, they can finally find a replacement in the middle for the wildly disappointing Terdell Sands.

Dependant on whether Oakland chooses a multiple front defense (as suggested by fellow bleacher report author Jeff Little) or the Standard 4-3, a great DT will definitely be available for the taking. USC DT Sedrick Ellis would seem to be the most logical choice for a multiple front scheme as he has shown the strength and tenacity to consistently draw and maintain/shed the double team as a NT in the 3-4, he also has the mean streak that makes him a nice fit in Oakland. LSU's Glenn Dorsey could be a monster in a 4-3 set if he were to be paired with underrated returning starter Tommy Kelley. The athleticism and skill of those 2 at DT would give opposing O-linemen fits all game.

After years of mediocrity, the ship seems to be righting itself in Oakland and all I can say is, it's about damn time, good job Al.

Saving Patriots' Private Randy: A Beloved Soldier Comes Home, but at What Cost?

Max Iascone — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:57:30 -0500

According to ESPN's John Clayton, the terms of Randy Moss' new deal call for $27 million over the next three years, with about $12-15 million of it in guarantees. Although this would seem to be a moment of euphoria in Foxboro, I would like to urge some restraint.

Yes, Randy Moss was undoubtedly the best player on the historic Patriots offense last year, and surprisingly enough he was also a model citizen and a great veteran leader in the locker room.

However, we must not forget how Moss seemed to disappear in the playoffs and only had one catch in the Pats' Super Bowl loss to the Giants. He is also pushing 31, and I think that his best days are behind him.

To me, this signing is strangely reminiscent of when, in 2003, the Red Sox picked up Pedro Martinez's $17.5 million option.

In both cases, aging franchise icons were overpaid simply to prevent a collective heart attack in New England, were the player to head to another team. In Pedro's case he turned in one more good year (with the exception of his starts at Daddy stadium), and then began to fall apart.

There are some variables here. Moss is still on the tail end of his physical prime, whereas Pedro's body was slowly giving out. Also, I think Moss has more to prove and will come into the '08 season with a real drive to succeed—more so than Pedro did in '04 (not saying Pedro didn't give it his all that year, but Moss is going to be beyond driven next year.)

Now this is not to say that Moss is over the hill. But barring a miracle trade for Chad Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Roy Williams, Moss will be double-teamed in every game next year.

He didn't respond well to this strategy last year, and I can understand why. Other than Johnson, Fitzgerald, and Tory Holt, no wideout in the NFL can consistently beat the double team.

Maybe it's just me, but for $9 million a year I want the best wideout in the NFL. And although Randy is pretty damned close, I don't think he's going to be the same guy next year.

Perhaps I'm wrong. Heck, I hope I'm wrong.

I would love to see the Randy Moss we all know and love wreaking havoc on opposing secondaries and sprinting through double coverage. But I just don't see it happening.