Preliminary 2009 NFL Mock Draft
It may be early but Jeff Risdon was highly accurate with his projections this time last year. Who will be drafted in the first round next April?
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Spygate Case Never Closed?
The Patriots could win the next three championships and it wouldn’t matter. Belichick can say Spygate is behind him, but the controversy will follow him for the rest of his career.
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More Draft Improvements
Congrats Roger on reducing the time between picks at the draft; here are some more suggestions for further improvements.
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The Final 2008 Mock Draft
It’s almost draft time, and this will be the final revision. We already know Jake Long is going to Miami, but will he be followed by Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey and Darren McFadden?
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2008 Mock Draft, Version 6.1
Tweaked to reflect a couple of recent developments, including a very lengthy conversation with a long-time NFL front office scouting type.
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2008 Mock Draft, Version 6.0
Take Jake Long out of the #2 slot and insert Vernon Gholston who has been rising up the draft boards. Also, how far will Glenn Dorsey and Matt Ryan drop?
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2008 Mock Draft, Version 5.0
Some changes spawned by free agency and also some more info gleaned from various reliable sources. As always, this does not necessarily represent what Jeff Risdon would do, but rather what he believe will happen.
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2008 NFL Mock Draft, Version 4.0
Teams are still sorting out their draft boards and developing contingency draft plans. Combined with the remaining free agents still looking to sign, that means there is still some fluidity--what you see today might change quite a bit over the next 7 weeks.
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2008 NFL Mock Draft, Version 3.0
The Senior Bowl has come and gone, with the risers and faders pretty well established. This mock extends out to two rounds; the next mock update will feature three full rounds.
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Top 103 Draft Board For 2008, Version 1.0
This is a conglomeration of Jeff Risdon's opinion, the opinions of several scouts and front office people he's talked with, and the opinions of some other “web” evaluators he trusts and respects.
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Favorites’ Ball
The Patriots and Packers, both highly disciplined teams anxious to make a statement to their high-powered rivals if not to each other, would undoubtedly be ready.
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Parcells Flouts Rooney Rule
The Rooney Rule exists for one reason -- public relations. How else can you explain Parcells circumventing the spirit of one of the NFL's most important rules with such transparency?
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Do You Have Field Hunger?
That’s a question that many playoff-bound teams, especially the favorites, should be asking themselves before they lace up for their big games.
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2008 NFL Mock Draft, Version 2.0
Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long and Darren McFadden go first, second and third in Jeff Risdon's latest Mock Draft.
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2008 NFL Mock Draft, Version 1.0
This draft is significantly thinner than the last two years, particularly for premium offensive skill position players. But names like Matt Ryan, Jake Long, Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey, amongst many others, will make successful NFL players.
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Surprises And Disappointments
The 2007 NFL season, writes Abu Mara, has been filed with some intrigue, but remained quite predictable. The New England Patriots and Indianapolis are both 5-0 as expected. But, the flummoxing situation in the wide-open NFC has teams in Dallas, Seattle and Green Bay trying to find some way to gearing up for a championship runs. Without any further ado, here are some of the surprises and disappointments of the NFL season through five weeks of the season.
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Backing Up The Back-Up QBs
If everybody’s favorite player is the back-up quarterback, what do they think of the third stringer? By the end of week five, 10 back up QBs will have started a game and one will regularly see action. At this rate, fans will run out of favorite players to root for.
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Is Houston For Real?
Houston head coach Gary Kubiak defended the selection of defensive end Mario Williams over dynamic running back Reggie Bush, saying they want to stop the Indianapolis Colts, not out-score them. In other words, don't play their game, play our game.
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Patriots To Prove A Point
The New England Patriots have always looked for a reason to believe they were being disrespected. Whether it was real or created out of their own interpretations, it's how they motivate themselves. The disrespect is real now.
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HGHarrison
When Rodney Harrison returns, it will be business as usual. There will be the initial circus when Rodney comes back with the media asking the questions he never gave them the chance to ask when he announced his suspension through a conference call. But that scrutiny will be short lived. After a week of being back, the transgression will be forgotten and all will be
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Running Down Opening Day
With opening day here, Randolph Charlotin runs down David Garrard, Jack Del Rio, Rodney Harrison, JaMarcus Russell, Eli Manning, Rex Grossman and more.
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Not A Vick-tim?
If a little kid is caught abusing the neighborhood’s cats everyone will say there’s something wrong with the kid. Randolph Charlotin doesn't know enough about Michael Vick to know what he was like growing up but hearing what he allegedly did churns his stomach.
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An Incoherent Truth
When Vince Young, only in his second season, comes out and says "We love him a whole lot, but we feel like he don't care about us right now," that’s pretty much a sign Pacman Jones needs to go.
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All Stars Fantasy Football Draft Party In Vegas Sponsored By RealGM
Ronnie Lott, Marcus Allen, Michael Irvin, and Tim Brown and others have agreed to serve as draft consultants for a charitable Fantasy Football League to promote a safe, healthy, and rigorous learning environment for disadvantaged youth.
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C&T Draft Factory Produces Hits For The Steelers
Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert and new Head Coach Mike Tomlin were successful in its debut performance. While not having any real sexy skill position picks, they added players who performed well at big time programs while also addressing need areas.
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The Short End Of The Stick
The happiest guy after the NFL draft is the one who didn’t get picked. Former Florida quarterback Chris Leak, just months after winning the national championship as a senior, had to sit and watch team after team pass him up in the draft only to be signed by Chicago.
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The Final 2007 NFL Mock Draft
We are finally here at the final mock draft ahead of Saturday's big day. There are several changes from the last mock, most of which stem from Jeff Risdon's conversations with some scouts and pro personnel people, one prominent national NFL writer, and tips shamelessly stolen from insiders he trusts.
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Second To Last Mock Draft
Some trades of picks, free agent signings, and recent pro days by draftees have forced some changes. Once again this is a conglomeration of talks with NFL scouts, beat writers, insider tidbits, and pure speculative guesswork.
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Post-Combine Mock Draft
Jeff Risdon been tinkering with a few selections based upon recent free agent signings and trades, talks with some NFL talent evaluators and beat writers, and a couple of hunch guesses.
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First Off-Season Mock Draft
With JaMarcus Russell climbing to the top slot, we have Brady Quinn falling to the Texans with the 8th pick. Here are the predicted slots for the first three rounds.
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What Goes Around Comes All The Way Back Around
And in penning those words, Justin Timberlake summarized the 2006-2007 NFL season, and perhaps life itself. From 'The Manning Bowl' to the Super Bowl, here we are again.
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Finally Peyton’s Year?
Peyton Manning chokes in the playoffs. Peyton Manning will never be as good as Tom Brady. Dan Marino will go down as the greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl, and Peyton Manning will be the greatest to never play in one.
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Classless Chargers?
How is it any more wrong that an opposing player can show up one of LaDainian Tomlinson’s teammates than Shawne Merriman showing up an opposing player with the same dance? Just because its Merriman’s dance he can’t do it?
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Divisional Playoff Haikus
Jeff Risdon and Andrew Perna already have you covered with analysis and predictions for the Divisional Playoffs, so Ted Bauer brings you his haikus for this week's games.
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2007 Mock Draft V 3.0: Final Edition Before The Off-Season
This is RealGM's final mock before the end of both the college and NFL seasons and while Brady Quinn will probably lose out on the Heisman, he has an excellent chance of being the first selection.
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Semi-Early Mock Draft, Version 2.0
We're back with our second look at the 32 college players that will be called in the first round next April in New York City. Joe Thomas, a tackle from Wisconsin is looking like the the number one pick nowadays, followed by Calvin Johnson, Brady Quinn and Brian Brohm.
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Very Early 2007 Mock Draft
The Raiders, Titans, Lions and Buccaneers are positioning themselves to have one of the first few picks in the 2007 NFL Draft. In our first mock, Jeff Risdon previews the first 32 college players he expects to be selected.
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Zen And The Art Of Running Back Maintenance
Have Sunday afternoons become frustrating nightmares for you? Do you get nervous tics and cold sweats while you’re flipping through the games? If so, I’m guessing that, like me, you’re having problems with your fantasy running backs.
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Madden Curse? It Could Be Worse…
For some very odd reason, "John Madden" has become synonymous with "curse." Now that Shaun Alexander has fallen victim to the announcer's apparent voodoo, the rumors are swirling again. No one really pays attention to the fact that the chipped bone in Alexander's foot will not sideline him for very long.
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Money Maker: Fantasy Rankings For Week 4
It's already Week 4 and this will be our 'Money Maker' week. It was Ludacris to lose Shaun Alexander if you own him, especially if you picked him first ahead of LJ and LT. Despite that loss, we have you covered if you have these guys on your roster or can trade for them by Sunday.
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Money Maker: Fantasy Rankings For Week 4 (Wide Receivers And Kickers)
It's already Week 4 and this will be our 'Money Maker' week. It was Ludacris to lose Shaun Alexander if you own him, especially if you picked him first ahead of LJ and LT. Despite that loss, we have you covered if you have these guys on your roster or can trade for them by Sunday.
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The 30: Top Performers Following Week 3
Welcome to the top 30 recap; 10 quarterbacks, 10 wideouts, and 10 running backs, hopefully none of these guys were on your bench. Here’s some salt for that wound and some witty commentary to boot, Monday night won’t be included although I do like Vick and don’t like Brees (not personally, but as players).
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SexyBack: Fantasy Rankings For Week 3
If you took my advice last week and refused to Panic, you had a nice Week 2. You have swagger now, you think you own the league, you think you're going to win the remainder of your match-ups, you've brought 'SexyBack.'
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A Letdown The Size Of The Titanic
In San Diego, he will back up Phillip Rivers. If Volek is sent to Oakland, he will most likely start over Error (excuse me…Aaron) Brooks. Randy Moss needs a gunslinger that can get him the ball, as does Eddie Kennison in Kansas City. The real question in all of this is, "Why aren't the Titans utilizing Billy Volek?"
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Prognosticating The Games: Week 2
The Eagles can take a two game lead in the NFC East with a win at home versus the Giants, while the Broncos and Chiefs fight to avoid an 0-2 start. See David Alter's predictions for these games and the rest of the action over the next two days.
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They Go In 3's: The Week That Was 1 In Fantasy Football
What happened to Alexander and Johnson? Where did that come from for Stallworth, Pennington and Gore? Plus just about right performances for Dunn, Owens and Wilkins and a final note on Reggie Bush as LeBron James.
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Prognosticating The Games: Week 1
David Alter launches his first set of weekly predictions by offering the results of Terrell Owens' debut with America's Team, Daunte Culpepper's debut with the Fish and the much-hyped Battle of the Manning's.
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Deion Branch’s Million Dollar Error
The advice Deion Branch has been receiving has been atrocious and that this was perhaps the worst way he could seek his payday. In asking for more money before his contract was up, Branch should have known that he would be accepting less than he would receive on the open market. The only threat he could impose on the team is to deny them of his playing services, and he should have had the sense not to take a stand against the team who deems all players outside out of a select pair (see Brady, Seymour) as replaceable.
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Grading The Deal: Lelie To Atlanta, Duckett To D.C.
Like the tabloid relationship of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, you have to love a deal that is good for everyone. Ashley Lelie, holder of one of the more feminine names in the entire NFL, finally was shipped out of the Mile High City on Tuesday evening and will be joining Ron Mexico in Atlanta, while T.J. Duckett becomes Joe Gibbs' new life insurance policy.
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RealGM Staff Fantasy Draft
With the football season just a few short weeks away, fantasy leagues are drafting all across the nation in anticipation of NFL’s first game. Andrew Perna organized a RealGM staff league comprised of forum moderators to writers. Take a look at our draft to help you with yours.
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‘Be An NFL GM Contest’: Round Two
The first round of our first annual ‘Be An NFL GM Contest’ is over, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. In all, we tallied nearly 5,000 votes for the sixteen match-ups we featured in our opening round. After nearly four weeks of voting, we have narrowed our field of thirty-two possible NFL franchise cornerstones down to just sixteen.
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‘Be An NFL GM’ Contest
Unfortunately, the NFL only employs thirty-two people for the highly coveted job of General Manager. We want to know which player in the NFL would make the most sense to start a franchise if you were the GM and were starting from scratch this summer. Each day you can vote on the player you prefer and if you submit your entry to us via email, you will enter a contest to win an authentic Mitchell and Ness retro jersey from DistantReplays.com.
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Too Much Football Without A Helmet?
Ben Roethlisberger wouldn't dare step onto the playing field without a helmet. But he doesn't want to lose the feeling of freedom while riding motorcycles, even though the risk of injury, possibly death, is much greater on the road. You can be as careful as possible on the road but a mistake by the rider or by another driver can turn any leisurely drive into a mini-demolition derby in split second.
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Colts Replace Edge Via Draft?
LSU's Josehph Addai skill set is, by all accounts, very similar to that of Edgerrin James (i.e. a versatile back who can catch the ball and also is capable of picking up the blitz on passing downs). The party line, of course, is that he will share time with Dominic Rhodes and, to a lesser extent, James Mungro to start the season. This is likely true, but I think it’s also safe to say that the team would love him to emerge as the featured guy as early as possible.
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Post-Draft Analysis: A First Round Blunder For Bengals
With the Bengals' first round selection, Carl Setterlund found himself wondering “Why Joseph at #24?” as the draft was unfolding. It seemed to me a poor decision when the cornerback crop was so deep, to take a guy who is seemingly inconsistent, even if he does have it all physically.
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Texans Will Regret Drafting Mario Williams Over Reggie Bush
With an eerie parallel to the Portland Trailblazers selecting Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft; the Texans made a terrible mistake in passing on once-in-a-generation superstar Reggie Bush with the first pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. On the field, Bush will improve any offense considerably, even in his rookie campaign, due to his versatility, strength and quickness.
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Can I Get A Table Dance?
Everyone in the Minnesota sports scene knows what kind of person Moe Williams is, but that didn't stop prosecutors from making Moe sound like Caligula.
In case you missed it, the former Minnesota Vikings running back was found guilty of disorderly conduct on Thursday.
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The Post-Combine Mock
After my trip to Indy to catch the Combine festivities and pry into "Insider" status, here's my latest mock draft. This one goes two rounds, so grab a glass of your favorite beverage and it'll help you digest these 64 picks. I'll do one more adjustment, if needed, the weekend before the draft.
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Run For The Money
When free agency begins in a few days there will be some big names available that could instantly help your team for the upcoming 2006 NFL season. And if your team needs a running back, you're in luck. There are four top backs available this year, and they all have one thing in common, money and money alone is their motivation.
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Stop Enabling!
The CIA calls it plausible deniability and the NFL does it better than any covert agent ever could. It starts simply enough. When a blown call has no impact on the outcome of a game, The NFL gratuitously admits their mistake (see Pittsburgh-Indianapolis) but when a call or calls directly effects the result, the league spins tales taller than the Empire State Building like it is right now by calling the Super Bowl 'properly officiated.'
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Does Donovan Want T.O.'s Pariah Title?
The politically correct would have you believe that Donvoan McNabb is a smart guy but come on? Smart people don’t make statements like that and they also don’t throw balls directly to Roy Williams either.
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The Steelers Secret Weapons
In Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme, the linebackers get all the credit for the success, but if Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Kimo von Oelhoffen don't eat up the other teams line, a 250-pound linebacker doesn't have a chance against a 300-pound offensive lineman. The country may not know the names, but the other
31 NFL teams sure do. And if you ask any of the Steelers about them, they will all praise their work every week.
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Broncos Lose Kubes
The home playoff loss to Pittsburgh was a bitter pill to swallow on Sunday. But the biggest issue facing Denver this off-season isn’t weather or not to sign a crybaby, loudmouth receiver, but how to replace offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as he will leave the team to take the head coaching position at Houston.
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The Rundown Of The Games Behind Sunday's Games
Tim Crean discusses the dominant Troy Polamalu and Joey Porter and the underrated Seahawks defense. Plus, decisions on which QB has the better beard and which pre-game show is more tolerable. And how has Chris Gardoki never had a punt blocked?
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Vikings Stuck On Same Old Cycle With Childress
With change comes hope and when Brad Childress was named to be just the seventh head coach in Minnesota Vikings’ history, the fans were rightfully excited. After all Childress comes from a winning program with the Philadelphia Eagles and developed a reputation as a disciplinarian, something the Vikings sorely needed according to the plethora of talking heads that dot the airwaves in the Twin Cities.
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The Battle Of Young Versus Leinart, Round 2
Who do you like better, Superman or Batman? This is the question that a few NFL general managers will be asking themselves at this April's draft. Do you take Vince Young, a super athlete who can single handedly take over a game? Or do you take Matt Leinart, a cool customer who just wins football games?
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NFC Divisional Picks
The NFL is great, but having to wait a whole week to see the next round is worse than Nick Lachey having to wait until marriage for Jessica Simpson’s goods’. At least in his case, he knew what he was getting. Us on the other hand, can only guess what this weekends’ games will bring. Well, at least there is Mike Camerlengo to attempt to wade through this week's NFC games.
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Divisional Playoff Picks
Football in January not only gives us a reason to drink alcohol and eat in excessive amounts, (while the only other reasons before that were made up to make ourselves feel better) it also provides us with that jolt of excitement that is lost only with age and the development of gray hairs and bellies not caused by pregnancy. Now I know there is almost a full week before the Divisional round of the playoffs, but we got the picks for the AFC and we're going to share them with you early.
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Daunte's Inferno
So ok, maybe Randy wasn't the problem after all. Stepping back, you have to wonder if maybe, for this team at least, Daunte Culpepper should have been the one to go. It's weird to read that, let alone be the one writing it. I mean c'mon, we've heard so many stories about the chaos Randy Moss brought to Minnesota. Even I said earlier this year that the Vikings would be a better team without the Daunte and Randy Show running 24-7. And here's the deal. They are a better team, having kicked out both of their problems from the lockerroom.
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Phoning It In
The Pats' inconsistent showing Sunday against the Dolphins got author Tom Gass on the phone to his good buddy The Old Wise Man of the Mountain. His stern, yet earnest common sense was the perfect remedy for what was ailing the troubled author.
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The Chopping Block
Halfway through the NFL season and it's time to face facts. I was wrong when I labeled Eli the goat. I had the younger Manning pegged to stumble in his first full season and thought all would be forgiven in Philly. Yeah ask Donovan McNabb how that's going. But by now, one thing is clear. Several teams have stepped up and delivered, others are barely holding on and some are already DOA, just plugged in to life support.
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Week 8 Fantasy Football Inside Ticket
Week 8. Both the football season and the fantasy football season continue to unfold and there is again no shortage of stories. I can’t remember a season so filled with big name injuries and soon to be big name sleepers. What I find most interesting is that I think we have identified two rookies who are on the fast track to becoming elite fantasy contributors.
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Manning, Brunell Will Air Out Differences in Pass-Happy NFC EAST
I recall it just the way you do: Giants ... Redskins... Cowboys ... Eagles. (Oh yeah, I forgot about the Cardinals). Throughout my younger years those four teams took turns absolutely punishing each other in game after game. Season after season. Through the '80s and '90s. From Parcells and Gibbs, to Jimmy Johnson to Andy Reid, and everything in between, we NFL viewers lay witness to some of the more intense division rivalries of the modern era of football.
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Week 7 Fantasy Football Inside Ticket
It’s the year of the injured and lackluster quarterback as Marc Bulger, Chad Pennington, Brian Griese, Daunte Culpepper, Kyle Boller, JP Losman, Kurt Warner, Mike Vick and others have been either injured or have produced considerably below their expectations. Things are hard to predict in the NFL these days with several teams who are hard to get a handle on, which is why I’m here to help you out.
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Week 6 Fantasy Football Inside Ticket
Week 6, week 6! Back again for more eh? I’ll admit, last week I was way off on a couple things. First of all, I told all of you to forget about Tatum Bell. What was I thinking? To be honest, Denver might be the team I know the least about, and I’ve learned my lesson, not to go out and predict something that I’m not educated enough to give good advice on. That’s in the past though, and I’m telling you that I’m going to be money on my picks this week. I’m also sticking to some of the more controversial predictions I made last week. Let’s take a closer look at what’s changed.
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Week Three Fantasy Round-Up
While these Peyton Mannings, Shaun Alexanders, and Torry Holts may help earn you bragging rights as you work your way through the regular season, it is the rest of your squad – the roster slots that tend to vary from week to week – that usually make the difference between a strong and weak fantasy performance. In short, knowing which starters to sit and which sitters to start in specific situations can absolutely make or break your fantasy season, and help is on the way.
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Mad Cowboy Disease
From the looks of the Skins’ post-game reaction, I thought they had spoiled the Boys’ chance to go to Super Bowl XL. Players were jumping into each other’s arms…Joe Gibbs was doused in a Gatorade bath…Dan Snyder almost knocked out his suite mates…Another great Monday Night finish has taught us once again…It aint over till the Redskins act like they just won the NFC Championship.
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Sleeper On The Monday Night Melee
The game started almost as sloppy as Evander Holyfield’s Waltz. After an interception each by Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb, kicker David Akers would miss a 49 yard field goal attempt. The first points of the game would come 12 minutes into the first quarter, after Vick’s elusive feet propelled him on a 7-yard touchdown run. More dancing would follow.
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The Top Fantasy Running Backs
There is no position that comes at a higher premium in fantasy sports than the running back. It is essential to have a decent running game to make a run at a fantasy title. Often people reach for a mediocre player, desperate to fill the position; even more often though, people underrate the guys who are in line to make very solid contributions this year.
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The Top Fantasy QB's
In RealGM's first Fantasy Football article, Carl Setterlund breaks down the top QB's that you'll be looking at when you go to your draft. Guess who should be the first QB chosen?
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The Steroid Cloud Misses The NFL
While Major League baseball and its Commissioner Bud Selig remain in the crosshairs of the public and Congress over their continued steroid problems, America’s real national pastime, the National Football League, is getting a free pass.
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Updated Super 60 Fantasy Rankings
All 32 training camps have kicked into high gear, the first of many preseason exhibitions get underway this weekend, and fantasy football draft season is in full swing. The two-a-days are stewing, the signings and releases are pouring in, and the sports networks, growing weary of mid-season baseball, are becoming saturated with the latest gridiron news. Sounds like it’s about time for another installment of the “Super 60” Fantasy Rankings.
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Paper Lions
The title Paper Lions is floating around Detroit once again. This time it isn’t the story of a writer from Harvard with NFL aspirations. Instead it is all about potential. Potential, which to Detroit football, has never really amounted to much.
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Fantasy Rankings: The Super 60
This is the first edition of an ongoing ranking system known as “The Super 60”. Throughout training camp, preseason, and the regular season, this list will be regularly updated (hopefully weekly, but in light of my suspect work ethic, we’d better stick with “regularly” for now) to feature the league’s top sixty players based on overall fantasy performance. Since this is the first list, rankings are based on projected performance and may serve as a valuable resource for fantasy drafts.
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Will New York Survive?
Remember Clyde Frazier, or Willis Reed, or that long haired one, Joe Nameth, Tom Seaver, Keith Hernandez, Plante, Richter, Messier, any of them, of course you do, which is something more than I can say for the current New York lineups unless they bring home a win.
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