NFL Draft Afterthoughts

The 2007 NFL Draft was a exciting and long.

Long as in the slowest first round in NFL Draft history. The 72nd NFL draft set records for the longest Round 1, longest Day 1, and longest two days (over 18 hours).

Now comes the second wave of free agency and the rookie mini-camps. Agents will be very busy on the phones trying to get their unsigned guys to stick with teams and make a roster next year.

Also, today is the day when every newspaper, website and the mother has their own grades for the draft. You won't find those here - why? Because unless you're a super psychic no one knows in April what teams draft was good or bad.

It's too early to tell. Injuries, playing ability and other factors figure into it. Look if all the writers and so-called experts knew it all (including myself) then how did we all miss out on Marques Colston last year?

Last year, Chicago was give a D and Buffalo was an F in many publications, but both teams had excellent drafts. Fans, if you're down on your team's draft, don't be worried. A teams draft tends to turn out better than the so-called experts think it will.

The good thing is soon, very soon, training camps will start up, preseason games will begin and before you know it, the regular season is just around the corner.

Let the games begin.

NFL Draft Preview: Mock Draft/Top 20 Overall

(This is the eighth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position)

We're less than 24 hours away from the 2007 NFL Draft and here at the Football Fanatics blog, it's time for our annual mock draft.

Trades, smokescreens, rumours and all kinds of information and misinformation circle around in the final hours before draft day and this year is no different. And since it's impossible to figure the teams wheeling and dealing, so without worrying about accuracy we just wanted to have fun.

Without further delay, let's get to the picks.

2007 Football Fanatics Mock Draft:

1. Oakland - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
(Not taking Leinart or Cutler last season forced the Raiders to take a QB even though Al Davis wants Calvin Johnson)
2. Detroit - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
(The Lions want to trade down, possibly with Tampa Bay. If they can't, Matt Millen takes the best player in the draft and his fourth receiver in five years.
3. Cleveland - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
(The debate is between AP, Joe Thomas and Quinn, but owner Randy Lerner wants Quinn)
4. Tampa Bay - Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
(The Bucs want Calvin Johnson, but if a trade with the Lions falls apart, Gruden won't pass up a left tackle the caliber of Thomas)
5. Arizona Cardinals - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
(The Card want Thomas but will be happy with the top pass rusher in the draft
6. Washington - LeRon Landry, S, LSU
(The Redskins want to trade out of this pick. If they can't Landry is the guy
7. Minnesota - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
(The Vikings would love to have Quinn or Landry fall to them. If AP is here though, Minnesota would be crazy not to take him)
8. Atlanta - Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
(Bobby Petrino gets one of his own. Will look at Landry if available)
9. Miami - Levi Brown, T, Penn State
(Cam Cameron wants big lineman for his power running game. Brown fit the bill
10. Houston - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
(The Texans traded with Atlanta to get Schaub and now it will keep them from AP, Landry and Brown)
11. San Francisco - Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi
12. Buffalo - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
13. St. Louis - Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
14. Carolina - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
15. Pittsburgh - Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
16. Green Bay - Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
17. Jacksonville - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
18. Cincinnati - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
19. Tennessee - Ted Ginn Jr, WR, Ohio State
20. New York Giants - Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State
21. Denver - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
22. Dallas - Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
23. Kansas City - Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee
24. New England - Michael Griffin, S, Texas
25. New York Jets - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami, Fla.
26. Philadelphia - Brandon Merriweather, S, Miami, Fla.
27. New Orleans - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
28. New England - David Harris, ILB, Michigan
29. Baltimore - Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan
30. San Diego - Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
31. Chicago - Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn
32. Indianapolis - Jon Beason, OLB, Miami, Fla.

Top 20 Overall:
1. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
3. Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi
4. LaRon Landry, S, LSU
5. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
6. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
7. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
8. Levi Brown, T, Penn State
9. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
10. Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
11. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
12. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
13. Amobi Akoye, DT, Louisville
14. Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State
15. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
16. Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
17. Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn
18. Ryan Kalil, C, USC
19. David Harris, ILB, Michigan
20. Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan

NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Backs

(This is the seventh of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Cornerbacks are one of the darlings of the NFL Draft. Coaches, General Managers and Personnel Directors love to select corners, especially in the first round.

Because of the one-back and multiple-receiver sets, teams feel it's important to have three cornerbacks on the field a high percentage of the time in order to match up against all the fast receivers. Some teams played three cornerbacks as much as 62 percent of the time, with the least amount about 33.8 percent.

Over the past 10 NFL drafts, 43 cornerbacks have been selected in Round 1 -- the most of any position. During that time, 89 more were selected in Rounds 2 and 3 -- also the most of any position.

The feeling around the league is that you can never have too many good cornerbacks, especially considering how the game is played these days.

If you want more evidence of how important a good corner is to a team look no further than the big contracts given to Nate Clements and Dre Bly in the offseason.

As far as the top corner in this years class, there's a difference of opinion as to who's number one. The debate is between Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis and Michigan's Leon Hall.

Revis has the size (6-0, 204) and speed (4.40) that you love to see in a corner. He is smart with great character. He's strong and will support the run, an intangible many cornerbacks don't like to do. He plays with a lot of confidence, is an excellent return man and could even play safety.

Hall is smart, mature and well-liked; he's an outstanding person. He can play press coverage and plays against the run well. He does not play as fast as his timed speed; you expect more from him as far as making plays. He has sure hands; he can return punts. He started 37 games at Michigan so he has a ton of big game experience.

Because of his size and ability to play the run so well, the Fanatics Blog puts Revis in the top spot - just a smidgen ahead of Hall.

The safety position seems to become more important every year, but it still ranks behind cornerback when the draft comes around. For the safety position, teams are looking for someone who can tackle, blitz and be able to run with receivers, tight ends and running backs.

In order to be a top player at this position, one needs to be a good tackler, as many teams now play eight defenders in the box against the run. You have to be a good blitzer and be able to cover big, fast tight ends, and speedy receivers. It also doesn't hurt to be a good special teams performer.

The 2007 NFL Draft has one of the deepest safety classes in a long time. As many as five could go in the first round.

The best of the best is LSU's LeRon Landry, perhaps the most complete NFL-ready performer in the draft. Landry has all the measurables: size (6-1, 213 pounds) and speed (4.35). He had a vertical jump of 37 1/2 inches and a long jump of 10-3.

He started 10 games as a true freshman at LSU in 2003 and earned second-team All-SEC honors. He started 38 games over the next three years at both strong and free safety. Landry is a hard-working player who plays smart and is very instinctive. He is a big hitter, a very good tackler, and he has very good anticipation. He doesn't have great hands and will drop some interceptions. He should start as a rookie and play in a lot of Pro Bowls during his career.

Top 10 Cornerbacks:
1. Darrelle Revis - Pittsburgh
2. Leon Hall - Michigan
3. Aaron Ross - Texas
4. Marcus McCauley - Fresno State
5. Chris Houston - Arkansas
6. Eric Wright - UNLV
7. Josh Wilson - Maryland
8. Daymeion Hughes - California
9. Jonathan Wade - Tennessee
10. A.J. Davis - NC State

Best Pro Prospect: Revis
Sleeper: McCauley
Falling: Hughes

Top 10 Safeties:
1. LeRon Landry - LSU
2. Michael Griffin - Texas
3. Reggie Nelson - Florida
4. Brandon Merriweather - Miami, Fla.
5. Tanard Jackson - Syracuse
6. Eric Weddle - Utah
7. Josh Gattis - Wake Forest
8. Aaron Rouse - Virginia Tech
9. Gerald Alexander - Boise State
10. Sabby Piscitelli - Oregon State

Best Pro Prospect: Landry
Sleeper: Weddle
Falling: Merriweather

NFL Draft Preview: Linebackers

(This is the sixth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

With more teams switching over to the 3-4 defense, linebacker has become a glamour position once again. Athletic, quick playmakers can find considerable playing time right away in the NFL.

One need only look at the last two seasons to see the impact athletic linebackers have in the league. Shawne Merriman and Demeco Ryans have won Rookie of the Year honors the past two seasons.

So who has the best chance to make an immediate impact and keep the linebacker as Rookie of the Year going?

Look no further than middle linebacker Patrick Willis from Ole Miss. Willis had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran two 40s in 4.51 and 4.53, the short shuttle in 4.46 and the cone drill in 7.23. He also had a 35-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-11 long jump and did 21 bench presses. Willis worked out again on March 20 at Mississippi's Pro Day and ran 4.57 and 4.58 at a weight of 237 pounds.

He is versatile enough to play inside or outside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment and he's one of the most complete, NFL ready players in this draft - next to Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and LSU safety LeRon Landry.

He has very good athletic ability, is an outstanding competitor and a very aggressive run stopper. He has great stamina and does a good job playing off blocks. He showed skills dropping into coverage at his pro day and will play with injuries. Willis will be a good player and will make a lot of big plays for his team. He has Pro Bowl ability.

The best on the outside is Paul Posluszny, the latest in a long line of studs from Linebacker U - Penn State.

Posluszny had a complete workout at the Combine where he ran his 40s in 4.70 and 4.71. He also had a 37-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-8 long jump, ran 4.20 in the short shuttle, 6.94 in the cone drill and did 22 lifts. Posluszny's an outstanding person and a very instinctive player, which is very important for this position. He's smart and has great football IQ.

He's still trying to come back from a knee injury suffered in the Orange Bowl two seasons ago and his mobility is still somewhat of a mystery. Regardless, he's a tough, hard-nosed instinctive player who should do well at the next level.

Top 10 Inside Linebackers:
1. Patrick Willis - Mississippi
2. David Harris - Michigan
3. Brandon Siler - Florida
4. Anthony Waters - Clemson
5. Justin Durant - Hampton
6. Buster Davis - Florida State
7. Michael Okwo - Stanford
8. H.B. Blades - Pittsburgh
9. Desmond Bishop - California
10. Marvin Mitchell - Tennessee

Best Pro Prospect: Willis
Sleeper: Durant
Falling: Okwo

Top 10 Outside Linebackers:
1. Paul Posluszny - Penn State
2. Jon Beason - Miami, Fla.
3. Lawrence Timmons - Florida State
4. Stewart Bradley - Nebraska
5. Rufus Alexander - Oklahoma
6. Zak DeOssie - Brown
7. Stephen Nicholas - South Florida
8. Quincy Black - New Mexico
9. Tim Shaw - Penn State
10. Earl Everett - Florida

Best Pro Prospect: Posluszny & Beason
Sleeper: DeOssie
Falling: Alexander

NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Line

(This is the fifth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Defensive end may be the deepest position in the draft and there are plenty of different shapes, sizes and styles for every NFL team to grab hold of.

Defensive tackle is a different story. Two, maybe three will be first round selections and the depth at the position in recent years is nowhere in evidence in this class.

If an NFL team is looking for a pass rushing DE look no further than Clemson's Gaines Adams, Arkansas' Jamaal Anderson and Florida's Jarvis Moss, if it's an all-around end that's needed then Nebraska's Adam Carriker is your man.

How you rate them is based on need - different strokes for different folks as Sly & the Family Stone once sang.

Here at the Fanatics Blog, I believe the best is the on who's the most versatile and that means Carriker. The kid is big and tall(6-6, 296), has excellent quickness and explosion and can play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 alignment. He's a hard worker with a non-stop motor and he plays with pain. The kind of athlete a coach wants on his team.

The best pass rusher by far is Adams. He has the potential to be a quarterback's nightmare for years to come. He has decent strength and good sideline-to-sideline movement. His only knock is a lack of size to play the run, but as a pass-rushing specialist he could be a game-changing player.

Anderson has the potential to develop into that kind of player, as does Moss, but both need to work on their games. Improving their strength and building bulk would go a long ay for both guys. Neither emerged until their senior seasons and both have to prove they can be consistent at the next level.

The defensive tackles all have some risk.

Michigan's Alan Branch is falling on the eve of the draft because of health issues (he may have fractures in his legs) and the fact that some scouts and coaches feel Branch doesn't play hard all the time. He has a tendency to play high and get shoved back at times.

Louisville's Amobi Okoye is the most interesting prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft. He's only 19 and has tremendous potential, but right now that's all it is. He needs to get bigger and stronger and grow into his body. He's not ready to play over center and clog the middle, but his character, intelligence and quickness are top notch. Okoye has a tremendous upside, but the team that drafts him will have to be patient.

Justin Harrell of Tennessee has first-round talent, but a torn bicep caused him to miss most of last season and he may fall out of the first round. Harrell is a strong and explosive tackle who proved at the Combine that his injury is well healed. A very solid player.

Top 10 Defensive Ends:
1. Adam Carriker - Nebraska
2. Gaines Adams - Clemson
3. Jamaal Anderson - Arkansas
4. Jarvis Moss - Florida
5. Anthony Spencer - Purdue
6. Victor Abiamiri - Notre Dame
7. LaMarr Woodley - Michigan
8. Ray McDonald - Florida
9. Tim Crowder - Texas
10. Ikaika Alama-Francis - Hawaii

Best Pro Prospect: Carriker & Adams
Sleeper: Francis
Falling: Moss

Top 10 Defensive Tackles:
1. Amobi Okoye - Louisville
2. Alan Branch - Michigan
3. Justin Harrell - Tennessee
4. Tank Tyler - NC State
5. Marcus Thomas - Florida
6. Turk McBride - Tennessee
7. Brandon Mebane - California
8. Quinn Pitcock - Ohio State
9. Paul Soliai - Utah
10. Kareem Brown - Miami, Fla.

Best Pro Prospect: Okoye
Sleeper: Soliai
Falling: Branch

NFL Draft Preview: Offensive Line

(This is the fourth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

The safest position to pick in the first round is on the offensive line. Case in point, in the last four years, 13 offensive linemen were drafted in the first round. Last season, those 13 players started 192 of a possible 208 games. That is a 93 percent success rate and the only reason it wasn't closer to 100 percent is injury, not performance.

This years class of tackles, guards and centers have some nice players in the mix, but not a lot of depth.

At tackle, three names pop out as sure first round picks. Wisconsin's Joe Thomas leads the way with Penn State's Levi Brown and Central Michigan's Joe Staley not far behind.

Thomas is a prototypical left tackle with all the measurables, even though he could stand to pack on more weight to his 311-pound frame. He's athletic, quick and has great field awareness. He bends well at the knees and drives off his blocks. Thomas impressed everyone at the Combine with a 4.92 in the 40.

Brown is well-rounded and intelligent. He received not one but two degrees at Penn State. Has size, agility, quickness and works very hard. The only real weakness in his game is a tendency to play high in his stance.

Staley is a former tight end who is rising fast on teams draft boards because of his quickness and athleticism. Has the frame to get bigger and with his huge wingspan, he can smother opponents. Once he learns the position better, Staley could be a big-time player.

Guards are usually not selected much in the first round, but this season three may number ones. They are Justin Blalock of Texas, Ben Grubbs of Auburn and Tennessee's Aaron Sears.

At Center, USC's Ryan Kalil is a solid all-around player who needs to get bigger and add weight, but has the chance to be a solid 10-year starter. Boston College's Josh Beekman and Hawaii's Samson Satele could sneak into the bottom of the first round as well.

Top 10 Tackles:
1. Joe Thomas - Wisconsin
2. Levi Brown - Penn State
3. Joe Staley - Central Michigan
4. Tony Ugoh - Arkansas
5. Doug Free - Northern Illinois
6. James Marten - Boston College
7. Ryan Harris - Notre Dame
8. Marshall Yanda - Iowa
9. Brandon Frye - Virginia Tech
10. Allen Barbre - Missouri Southern

Best Pro Prospect: Thomas
Sleeper: Free
Falling: Harris

Top 10 Guards:
1. Justin Blalock - Texas
2. Ben Grubbs - Auburn
3. Aaron Sears - Tennessee
4. Andy Alleman - Akron
5. Mike Jones - Iowa
6. Manuel Ramirez - Texas Tech
7. Tim Duckworth -Auburn
8. Nathan Bennett - Clemson
9. Cameron Stephenson - Rutgers
10. Mansfield Wrotto - Georgia Tech

Best Pro Prospect: Blalock
Sleeper: Alleman
Falling: Jones

Top 5 Centers:
1. Ryan Kalil - USC
2. Samson Satele - Hawaii
3. Josh Beekman - Boston College
4. Dustin Fry - Clemson
5. Doug Datish - Ohio State

Best Pro Prospect: Kalil
Sleeper: None
Falling: Datish

NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

(This is the third of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

What can you say about Calvin Johnson that hasn't already been said in newspapers, magazines and all over the Internet? In a word - awesome.

The former Georgia Tech standout has all the tools - size (6-5), speed (4.35), phenomenal hands and no ego or attitude problems. He has the potential to be a field-stretching, game-changing superstar. He's clearly the best receiver by far in the 2007 class.

He doesn't appear to have any weaknesses and is, as far as athleticism and potential goes, the best player in the draft. Even so, I don't think you ever take a wide receiver number one overall, no matter how talented he is. Only two receivers in NFL history - Irving Fryar and Keyshawn Johnson - were selected first overall and while both had decent careers, they aren't the kind you expect from a number one overall selection.

Wideouts can be game breakers, but in the end, receivers don't win Super Bowls, quarterbacks do. Do you hear me Al Davis?

The wide receiver class is solid and deep, but unlike Johnson, every other selection has question marks. Some are rated too high (Ted Ginn Jr, Robert Meachem) and some are rated too low (Anthony Gonzalez).

The tight end spot is down this year with really only two potential first round picks - Miami's Greg Olsen and Arizona State's Zach Miller.

Olsen will definitely be a first-round selection after his showing at the combine where he ran a nice 4.51 in the 40 to go along with his 6-6, 254-pound frame. Miller is equal in size to Olsen, but his 4.87 time in the 40, dropped his stock a little.

Top 10 Wide Receivers:
1. Calvin Johnson - Georgia Tech
2. Dwayne Bowe - LSU
3. Robert Meachem - Tennessee
4. Anthony Gonzalez - Ohio State
5. Ted Ginn Jr. - Ohio State
6. Dwayne Jarrett - USC
7. Sidney Rice - South Carolina
8. Jason Hill - Washington State
9. Steve Smith - USC
10. Aundrae Allison - East Carolina

Best Pro Prospect: Johnson
Sleeper: Allison
Falling: Ginn Jr.

Top 10 Tight Ends:
1. Greg Olsen - Miami, Fla.
2. Zach Miller - Arizona State
3. Ben Patrick - Delaware
4. Scott Chandler - Iowa
5. Martrez Milner - Georgia
6. Matt Spaeth - Minnesota
7. Joe Newton - Oregon State
8. Michael Allan - Whitworth
9. Clark Harris - Rutgers
10. Jonny Harline - BYU

Best Pro Prospect: Olsen
Sleeper: Allan
Falling: Chandler

NFL Draft Preview: Running Backs

(This is the second of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Adrian Peterson leads a fairly weak running back group in this years draft and is the clear-cut best runner in the class.

The former Oklahoma Sooner has it all - size, speed, strength and explosiveness. His stock rose even higher after he ran a 4.40 at the Combine and proved he has hands and could be a decent receiver at the next level.

The red flag on Peterson is his health. He's a straight up runner in the mold of Eric Dickerson and was injured in each of his three seasons at Oklahoma. He also had some fumble problems in college. Even so, Peterson should be a top 10 pick and has the potential to be a superstar in the league.

Cal RB Marshawn Lynch is the other back mentioned as a first round talent. Lynch has decent size and slippery quickness and is a real threat as a receiver.

His stock has dropped a little of late because of some character issues and bad interviews at the Combine. He also has a history of injuries and was never a full-time starter with Bears - sharing time with J.J. Arrington and Justin Forsett in his collegiate career. Durability is a concern with NFL scouts.

Louisville's Michael Bush would have been a first-round pick for sure, but a broken leg in the opening game of the season against Kentucky that required two surgeries will have Bush falling to the third or fourth round.

He's a huge back with deceptive speed and may be a steal for the team that pulls the trigger on him. For this reason, Bush remains as the third back on the Fanatics list, despite the injuries.

Top 10 Running Backs:
1. Adrian Peterson - Oklahoma
2. Marshawn Lynch - California
3. Michael Bush - Louisville
4. Tony Hunt - Penn State
5. Antonio Pittman - Ohio State
6. Lorenzo Booker - Florida State
7. Kenny Irons - Auburn
8. Brian Leonard (FB) - Rutgers
9. Chris Henry - Arizona
10. Garrett Wolfe - Northern Illinois

Best Pro Prospect: Peterson
Sleeper: Bush
Falling: Lynch

NFL Draft Preview: Quarterbacks

(This is the first of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

The debate rages on as to who will be the first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft - LSU QB JaMarcus Russell or Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson?

While that issue is up in the air, the best quarterback in the draft, according to NFL scouts and other experts in the media, isn't. All point to Russell and his amazing physical gifts.

He has the size (6-6, 265 pounds), decent speed (4.8) and arm strength to make all the throws in the NFL. He is a specimen - of that there is no arguement, but there are some question marks in his game that can't be ignored.

Russell is prone to make dumb decisions and throw off his back foot. He came out early and has less than 30 starts in his college career. In addition, he didn't play in a pro-style offense at LSU and spent most of his time in the shotgun. So there's definitely a learning curve involved.

He will be drafted first or second overall because of his physical abilities, but Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn has the best upside of any of the quarterbacks in this draft.

Quinn was a four-year starter, in a pro-style offense that was run by Charlies Weis, a two-time Super Bowl winning coach who groomed Tom Brady while he was offensive coordinator of the Patriots.

Quinn put up decent numbers at the combine, including a surprising 24 reps in the bench press and has all the throws. The knock against him was his 2-8 record in big games with the likes of USC and Michigan. That is minor to say the least. He has been over-analysed to the point of nausea.

While Quinn doesn't have the physical makeup of Russell, he is the more NFL-ready quarterback and the one with the better future in the league. So based on what we've already discussed - the Football Fanatics Blog goes against the grain and rates Brady Quinn the number one signal caller in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Top 10 Quarterbacks:
1. Brady Quinn - Notre Dame
2. JaMarcus Russell - LSU
3. Drew Stanton - Michigan State
4. John Beck - BYU
5. Trent Edwards - Stanford
6. Troy Smith - Ohio State
7. Tyler Palko - Pittsburgh
8. Kevin Kolb - Houston
9. Jared Zabransky - Boise State
10. Jordan Palmer - UTEP

Best Pro Prospect: Quinn
Sleeper: Toby Korrodi, Central Missouri State
Falling: Smith

Russell Locks Up Top Spot After Workout

LSU QB JaMarcus Russell all but locked up the number one slot in the 2007 NFL Draft after an impressive performance at LSU's Pro Day workouts.

Russell had the contingent of Oakland Raiders officials drooling over his size, athleticism, arm strength and speed.

Russell, listed at 6-6 and 260 pounds, has a cannon for an arm and ran the 40 in 4.83. He is considered remarkably strong for a quarterback, with great balance, quickness, agility - all the skills that make him the overwhelming favorite and near cinch to the first overall pick on in the draft.

The Raiders are enamored not just with Russell's ability to throw the long ball, but to make every type of throw -- short ones, midrange ones and especially the deep ones.

If he wasn't a bona fide lock at No.1 pick before his Pro Day - he is now. Does that make him the best QB in the draft? Maybe.

Does it guarantee Russell future superstar status? No. He has all the physical tools, there's no questioning that. But he does have weaknesses.

He still needs to improve his decision-making process. He has a tendency to lock onto his primary target at times and will throw into double-coverage too frequently. He has a tendency to just flick his wrist instead of stepping into his throws, and that's when his accuracy suffers.

Russell played in a pretty simple offensive scheme at LSU and some question whether he'll be able to pick up a complicated NFL offense right away.

He has all the tools, but in the NFL Draft nothing is a 100 percent assured. He could become a great player or he could be a huge bust. Only time will tell. But one thing is certain - Russell will be the first name called by NFL commish Roger Goodall on April 28.

Reid Takes Leave of Absence

Eagles coach Andy Reid will leave the team for a month to deal with family issues, a decision that comes less than two weeks after two sons got into separate legal trouble on the same day.

The team said the leave of absence will last until mid-March.

"He's not going to come into the office, but he will be available for calls and to collaborate and he will be here if we have free agents in for a visit," Eagles president Joe Banner said Monday. "He will retain final say over whatever we do."

Reid, who is also the team's head of football operations, will miss the NFL scouting combine and the start of free agency. Teams may begin voluntary offseason workouts March 19. Reid plans to attend the NFL owners' meetings in Arizona in late March, and will be back for the NFL draft April 28-29.

The Eagles have 11 unrestricted free agents, notably wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and backup quarterback Jeff Garcia.

"Before any of this happened, we had finalized our own plans on our free agents and we had put together our preliminary plans on players we would be interested in," Banner said.

General manager Tom Heckert and the team's assistant coaches will handle the interviewing of players at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, though Reid might be able to meet with some players at another time.

Garrett Reid, 23, tested positive for heroin after he caused a traffic accident Jan. 30, police said. No charges have been filed, but prosecutors are looking at the case. Police have said he could be charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

Britt Reid, 21, was arraigned on drug and weapons charges. He is accused of pointing a handgun at another driver following a dispute and faces a felony charge of carrying a firearm without a license as well as misdemeanor charges of lying to authorities, simple assault, making terroristic threats and possession of a controlled substance.

Andy Reid has led the Eagles to the playoffs six times, including four trips to the NFC Championship Game and one Super Bowl, in eight seasons as head coach. He's dealt with several challenges the past two seasons from the Terrell Owens' soap opera and a series of key injuries in 2005 to losing five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb in Week 11 this past season.

Despite McNabb's injury, the Eagles won their final five games behind Garcia, finished 10-6 to capture their fifth NFC East title in six years and reached the second round of the playoffs. Many considered it Reid's best coaching job in Philadelphia. Players credited his steady approach for helping them overcome a difficult midseason stretch and the injuries to McNabb and star defensive end Jevon Kearse.


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Early Look at 2007 NFL Draft

To say that Gil Brandt knows football is an understatement. Brandt, the Senior Analyst at NFL.com was vice president of pro player development for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1989.

He was guiding the personnel department during the heyday of coach Tom Landry when the Cowboys became known as 'America's Team.'

During Brandt's tenure, Dallas won 13 division titles, appeared in five Super Bowls and captured two victories in Super Bowls VI and XII. In 1966, the Cowboys began an NFL-record streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons. That streak included 18 years in the playoffs. Not bad at all.

Brandt is still scouting players for NFL.com and he recently wrote a terrific article that looks ahead to the 2007 NFL Draft and the top four-year players available. Talent evaluation is in his blood and he provides a pretty thorough list of names to look for next year.

If you haven't looked at it yet, I urge you to read it for yourself right here.


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Undrafted Free Agents Ready to Stake Claim

Every year players who thought they'd be drafted aren't. It's the nature of the business. Some are able to put the disappointment aside and make a career in the NFL. With 150 players undrafted on NFL rosters last season, it's not a pipe dream for these athletes.

Some of these guys will go on to be starters and some may develop and have a hall-of-fame type career. Just ask Rod Smith if you don't believe me.

The NFL knows this too and every year after the draft, a feeding frenzy begins with franchises signing undrafted players left and right.

Some guys have caught the eye of the Corner and I'd like to share with you the players that may be able to stick with an NFL roster come September.

AFC

Baltimore - Drew Olson, QB, UCLA.

Buffalo - Martin Nance, WR, Miami (OH).

Cleveland - Darrell Hackney, QB, UAB.

Houston - Quadtrine Hill, FB, Miami.

Jacksonville - Paul Pinegar, QB, Fresno State.

Miami - Gerald Riggs, Jr., Tennessee.

Olson was a four-year starter with the Bruins and may make the cut with the Ravens. He could learn behind soon-to-be-signed Steve McNair. Nance had a productive MAC career and with Eric Moulds gone, he may be able to latch on. Hackney has tons of athleticism and with Trent Dilfer gone, Crennel needs a backup for Charlie Frye.

Hill is a solid blocker and runner, while Pinegar learned the pro-style offense under Pat Hill and could be the backup to Leftwich. Riggs was inconsistent and had injury problems with the Vols, but with a solid NFL bloodline and Ricky Williams gone for a year, he could end up the number two man behind Ronnie Brown.

NFC

Arizona - Greg Lee, WR, Pitt.

Carolina - Brett Basanez, QB, Northwestern.

Chicago - Tim Day, TE, Oregon; Josh Huston, K, Ohio State; Dwayne Slay, S, Texas Tech.

Dallas - Kai Parham, LB, Virginia.

Detroit - Matt Bernstein, FB, Wisconsin.

New Orleans - Anwar Philips, CB, Penn State.

St. Louis - Mike Degory, C, Florida State.

Tampa Bay - Andre Hill, RB, South Florida.

Washington - Spencer Havner, LB, UCLA.

Lee will have touble making the roster, but he was a teammate of Larry Fitzgerald and will be taken under his wing. Basanez was a three-year starter for the Wildcats and could emerge as Jake Delhomme's backup. The Bears may have signed three roster players. Day was a fourth or fifth round pick by some experts, Huston was solid for the Buckeyes and Slay is a big-hitting safety. Parham was rated by some as a third or fourth rounder, but his injury history and lack of size left him undrafted. He is a player.

Bernstein is a leader who works hard and is tough as nails. He could be starting for the Lions very quickly. Philips was an underrated corner who should have been drafted. Many had him rated ahead of teammate Alan Zemaitis, who was slected in the fourth round by Tampa. Degory was a three-year starter for the Seminoles and the Rams have definite needs along the interior line. Hill is a good, all-purpose back who could be Cadillac Williams' backup. Havner was a tackling machine for the Bruins.

NFL Draft Grades

These were supposed to be posted on Monday, but yours truly was suffering from a little bit of draft hangover and took a couple days off.

This weeks podcast put the finishing touches to the NFL Draft with the Corners official, Grade A, draft grades. Who had the best draft? What team had the worst? Listen in and find out.

Download MP3 here.

NFL Draft Starts With Early Bang

The Houston Texans sent shockwaves throughout the sports world yesterday by signing and making DE Mario Williams the No.1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

While every draftnik was tearing up their mock drafts - the obvious question floating through the ether is why? How can you take Mario Williams ahead of Reggie Bush?

I feel that Williams has the biggest upside of anyone in the draft, but that's upside. Not right now. Williams is still inconsistent, lacks some technique and takes plays off. Bush is the most explosive back to enter the draft since Barry Sanders.

He's a combination of Sanders, Marshall Faulk and somebody named Sayers all rolled into one. Mario Williams will be a great player, but Bush is a game changer. With one run, one catch, one punt return - he can reshape the outcome of any contest. Very few people can do that. Lawrence Taylor was one of a tiny minority of defensive players able to it.

I really have trouble understanding the thinking of the Texans. If they decided that Williams was better for them than Bush, why not trade out of the top spot for more picks? They could have struck a deal with the Saints or Jets and still picked up Williams. In addition to grabbing the extra picks by trading out.

This could end up being one of the biggest blunders in the history of the NFL Draft, but you never know, stranger things have happened. Bush could get hurt or just not make the transition to the NFL, but that's highly unlikely.

Mario Williams will eventually be a great player. Houston's major mistake is that Reggie Bush already is.

***
I still stand by my mock draft. The only change will be Williams at No.1; Bush will go second to the Saints; and the Jets will take D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Everything else stays pat. I hope.

This is just the beginning. It should be an awesome day. This is the most unpredictable draft in years. Just ask Reggie Bush. I for one have my food tray ready and the TV warmed up. I hope your team gets the player you want as long as it doesn't interfere with my team and its needs.

Take care, enjoy the day, and watch for the Corners draft analysis for day one on Sunday and for overall grades on Monday.

NFL Mock Draft

It's time for the NFL Draft. Don't you love it? All over the net, thousands and thousands of mock drafts are laid out for everyone to see. Not to be out-done, the Corner decided to run it's own mock for all the world to see.

This draft is not taking into consideration potential trades or late free agent signings that may effect draft need. Some teams like the Saints, Rams and Bears, are looking to trade down, while others like the Vikings and Patriots want to move up.

It's a crap shoot. Teams lie and spread misinformation. No one knows what will happen, but it's a helluva lot of fun to guess. So, without further delay, here is the Corners very own 2006 NFL mock draft:

1. Houston - Reggie Bush, RB, USC.
Despite all the buzz about the Texans considering Mario Williams this will not happen. Bush is the most electrifying player in the draft. Houston would be crazy not to take him.

2. New Orleans - D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia.
The Saints will wrestle with the pick. Do they take Williams or Ferguson. What they want to do is trade down and get A.J. Hawk. In the end, protecting new QB Drew Brees is most important. Jammal Brown and Ferguson will be awesome bookends for many, many years.

3. Tennessee - Vince Young, QB, Texas.
The coaching staff (Jeff Fisher, Norm Chow) want Matt Leinart. Management (GM Floyd Reese, Owner Bud Adams) want Young. Who do you think will win the argument?

4. New York Jets - Mario Williams, DE, NC State.
Leinart is right there waiting for the Jets to pounce on, but with the loss of John Abraham and the incredible talent of Williams, new defensive-minded head coach Eric Mangini will go for defense. It'll be fun listening to the reaction of the New York fans.

5. Green Bay - A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio State.
The Pack gets who many believe is the best all-around defensive player in the draft. He will come in and start immediately for Green Bay.

6. San Francisco - Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland.
Tight ends usually don't go this high, but then again no tight end has ever been as freakishly athletic as Davis. Could redefine the position.

7. Oakland - Matt Leinart, QB, USC.
Al Davis wanted Young, but Leinart is more polished and ready to start right away. Remember the last talented left-hander to start in Oakland? Yes, Ken Stabler. He wasn't too bad now was he?

8. Buffalo - Broderick Bunkley, DT, Florida State.
Marv Levy and company will think about Jay Cutler and Winston Justice with this pick, but Bunkly makes the most sense. He's the most gifted DT in the draft and fits in perfectly with the Bills' scheme.

9. Detroit - Michael Huff, DB, Texas.
Has the talent and athletic gifts to play corner or safety. The best DB in the draft. After three straight years selecting a wide receiver and the mishap of Joey Harrington. Matt Millen better draft defense or it could get ugly in the Motor City.

10. Arizona - Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt.
Dennis Green will consider Ernie Sims with this pick, but with Josh McCown going to Detroit and John Navarre serving as the backup to the 34-year-old, injury prone Kurt Warner, taking your QB of the future makes sense here.

11. St. Louis - Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa.
Would like to trade down a couple spots, gain some picks and select Tye Hill of Clemson. I don't think that's going to happen, so the safe pick is Greenway. The guy is intense, plays faster than he's been timed and is a tackling machine (401 career stops at Iowa). The Rams were 30th against the run in 2005. Nuff said.

12. Cleveland - Kamerion Wimbley, DE/LB, Florida State.
Fits the mold that Romeo Crennell is looking for in his 3-4 scheme. Can learn the position under Willie McGinest, one of the best.

13. Baltimore - Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon.
Ray Lewis is unhappy. He wants a big DT again in the Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa mold. With the Ravens returning to the 4-3, Lewis gets his wish - a big, run-stuffing tackle.

14. Philadelphia - Winston Justice, OT, USC.
Andy Reid loves to draft offensive lineman and with Tra Thomas not getting any younger, Reid finds his left tackle of the future. Could also consider Ernie Sims with this pick.

15. Denver - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State.
With Rod Smith now 35 and Ashley Lelie wanting out of Mile High, the Broncos look to wide receiver with Holmes being the most ready to play right now. This could change if Denver can deal for Javon Walker.

16. Miami - Manny Lawson, DE/LB, NC State.
Nick Saban will seriously look at Chad Jackson, but with perennial pro bowler Jason Taylor turning 32 and starting to wear down, the Dolphins need to find that linebacker/end tweener who can get after the passer. Lawson is the man to do it.

17. Minnesota - Ernie Sims, OLB, Florida State.
The Vikings were praying that Cutler would fall here and they may look at Jackson as well. But with linebacker being a crucial need and a hard-hitter like Sims falling to 17, Minnesota has to select him.

18. Dallas - Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State.
Bill Parcells loves players who's dads played the game. Carpenter especially considering his father Rob played for Parcells when Tuna coached the Giants. Dallas needs another linebacker to complete their 3-4 transition and Carpenter is smart and works hard.

19. San Diego - Chad Jackson, WR, Florida.
The Chargers really need a corner, but they must add more weapons to help new QB Philip Rivers. The receiving corps is led by aging Keenan McCardell and guys named Reche Caldwell and Eric Parker. Another weapon to join Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson will take the pressure off Rivers.

20. Kansas City - Tye Hill, CB, Clemson.
The Chiefs address a real need by drafting the best cover corner in the draft. Despite his small size (5-9, 185), Hill has blazing speed, superb leaping ability and excellent hands.

21. New England - Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State.
The Patriots would love to trade up and get either Hill, Carpenter or Jackson, but I don't see that happening. New England wants to upgrade their secondary and while Antonio Cromartie has tons of talent, his lack of experience and injuries will scare the Pats away.

22. San Francisco - Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State.
The Niners secondary is horrible and despite his injury problems, San Fran will not let Cromartie slip any farther.

23. Tampa Bay - Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State.
The Bucs would really love to draft a tackle with their first pick, but Marcus McNeil and his bad back is scaring Tampa away and Eric Winston is too inconsistent to be a first round pick. Mangold is smart, athletic for his size and can play center or guard. He will help the line problems in Buc Land very quickly.

24. Cincinnati - Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech.
The majority of draft gurus believe that the Bengals are taking a tight end with this pick. Don't forget, the draft is deep this year for tight ends and Marvin Lewis is a defensive guy. Williams has top 10 talent, but fell down the draft because of attitude problems. The Bengals will have a hard time not picking him.

25. New York Giants - Jason Allen, S/CB, Tennessee.
Many feel the Giants will go running back, but once again you have a very talented defensive player falling. This time because of injuries. Allen will be the best defensive player still available and the Giants will be hard-pressed to pass him up.

26. Chicago - Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA.
The Bears have a great defense (No. 1 in the NFL in 2005) and a decent one-two punch in the backfield (Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson). What they don't have is another weapon to throw to besides Muhsin Muhammad. Lewis has the best hands of any tight end in the draft, even Vernon Davis.

27. Carolina - LenDale White, RB, USC.
The Panthers need help at linebacker after losing Will Witherspoon and Brandon Short, but John Fox and company will find it hard to believe that White fell this far, despite the injury, and will pull the trigger for Stephen Davis' replacement. This could be the steal of the draft since many scouts have him rated as a top ten talent.

28. Jacksonville - DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis.
The Jags snag Williams in hopes of finding the replacement for the aging Fred Taylor. Williams fell because of his size, but he has worlds of talent and is capable of being a dominant back in the NFL.

29. New York Jets - Lawrence Maroney, RB, Minnesota.
The run on running backs continues as the Jets draft the person they hope will be the replacement for Curtis Martin. New York needs OL help as well and may select G Davin Joseph with the pick. Jets fans would really be happy then.

30. Indianapolis - DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Colts won't take a back in the first round even if White, Maroney or Williams are available. Tony Dungy and company feel they can draft a good back in the second round (Joseph Addai or Jerious Norwood). Indy will be looking to linebacker, where they have lost three starters the last three years in free agency, including David Thornton this season.

31. Seattle - Johnathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina.
The defending NFC champs are thinking about improving their pass rush and could select Mathias Kiwanuka or Tamba Hali with this pick. But Holmgren has been adamant about improving the secondary so corner looks like the choice. Kelly Jennings and Ashton Youboty are possible selections as well, but Joseph has more upside.

32. Pittsburgh - Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami.
The Super Bowl champs are looking at safety (Ko Simpson and Darnell Bing) and corner (Jennings and Youboty), but if there's any weakness on the Steelers it's at wide receiver. After losing Antwaan Randle-El to the Redskins, Bill Cowher has Cedrick Wilson and Quincey Morgan fighting to play alongside Hines Ward. That won't cut it for the Steelers. Randle-El was their speed guy and punt returner. Even though Moss is only in the 5-7, 5-8 range, he has 4.3 speed and would be a significant upgrade to the Steelers at the receiver position and in special teams.

NFL Draft-Defensive Backs and Kickers

This weeks final podcast on the NFL Draft Preview looks at the defensive backs and kickers that may go on the first day.

The safety position is a deep group that's paced by all-everything Michael Huff of Texas, while Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams, Florida State's Antonio Cromartie and Clemson's Tye Hill lead the corners.

Download the MP3 here

NFL Draft Tidbits

It seems LenDale White and his torn hamstring may not fall out of the first round after all. Five teams (Denver, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Carolina and Indianapolis) are very interested in White, regardless of his injury.

Despite not participating at the combine or at the USC pro day, White's size and production in college (55 TDs, back-to-back thousand yard seasons), appear too good for some teams to let him slip out of the first round.

While I doubt the Broncos and Cowboys will grab White with the 15th and 18th picks respectively, the Panthers, Colts and Steelers are definitely interested in the big 244-pound behemoth in the bottom of the round.

Denver coach Mike Shanahan is looking for someone to replace Mike Anderson, who packed his bags and signed with Baltimore. The Broncos were trying to work a deal with Miami for Ricky Williams, but his impending drug suspension ruined that. Even though White is tempting, the Broncos need a wideout. Rod Smith is 35-years old and Ashley Lelie has been a bust and wants out of the Mile High City. Denver will grab a receiver.

Carolina released Stephen Davis and starter DeShaun Foster gets hurt just walking out on the field, so White is a possibility. The problem is the Panthers lost up and coming linebacker Will Witherspoon to St. Louis and Brandon Short went back to the Giants. Linebacker will be a priority for coach John Fox and the Panthers.

I see White going to Pittsburgh or Indianapolis. The Colts have their sites set on Minnesota's Lawrence Maroney, but he may go to the Jets with their second pick in the first round. Indy needs linebackers and secondary help, but losing Edgerrin James could tip the edge to White. New starter Dominic Rhodes is smaller in stature and the Colts are used to a big power back in the James mold.

The Steelers have some need at receiver (Antwan Randle-El left for Washington) and secondary (Chris Hope to Tennessee), but Bill Cowher loves big backs and with 'The Bus' retired, White may be the guy for them.

***

Barring any last minute draft day trades, the first seven picks look set. Houston will select RB Reggie Bush; New Orleans will go with DE Mario Williams; Tennessee will pick QB Matt Leinart; the Jets will grab OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson; Green Bay will take OLB A.J. Hawk; San Francisco will select TE Vernon Davis and Oakland will go with QB Vince Young.

Buffalo selects in the eighth spot and are interested in defensive tackles Broderick Bunkley and Haloti Ngata; tackle Winston Justice and DB Michael Huff. The rest of the first round depends on what the Bills, Marv Levy in particular, decide.

Look for the Corners entire first round mock draft next week.

NFL Draft-Defensive Line and Linebackers

This weeks podcast on the Corner takes a look at the defensive lineman and linebackers that should be selected on the first day of the draft.

The OLB class is solid with A.J. Hawk, Ernie Sims and Chad Greenway highlighting the group, while Mario Williams, Broderick Bunkley, Haloti Ngata and Manny Lawson are at the forefront of the defensive line.

Download the MP3 here.

White Injury, Williams Decision Will Alter Draft

The LenDale White injury and the Ricky Williams hearing graced the internet and the sports pages this week with little fanfare, but these two supposedly unrelated events have something very much in common.

Both outcomes have a lot of meaning as far as the NFL Draft is concerned. How you may be thinking? I'm glad you asked.

Throughout every draft, a high-ranking player on every scribes draft board falters. That's the nature of the business of football. This is a numbers game. The NFL has numbers for 40 times, vertical leaps, bench press reps and even a value is given for the round your picked in and what salary you can earn for each round.

White has become this years avalanche. Aaron Rodgers was the guy last season. Most experts had him going one or two - he ended up at 24. Before the combine, White was projected as a top ten pick by some, a top 15 by most.

That is, until the combine. At Indy, White didn't participate in any event but the 225-pound bench press. He maxed out at 15 reps. His teammate, Reggie Bush, who is 45 pounds lighter, did 24 reps. Uh-oh!

Then some two months later at the USC pro day, White weighed in at 244 pounds, nine pounds heavier than at the combine and didn't participate in any workouts. Red flags were waved. His stock was dropping faster then Enron's and Martha Stewart Living put together.

This week came the news that White has a torn hamstring up near the pelvic area. What are the ramifications from his injury? For starters, White's chances of being drafted in the first round are over. No one is going to take a player in the first round who is injured and hasn't a 40 time or any significant numbers to compare to other backs.

He will fall into the second round and may become the steal of the draft. Only time will tell. The implications of his injury are immediate. White was projected to be a top 20 pick. With that gone, all other backs move up. UCLA tailback Maurice Drew could move into the first round. The Indianapolis Colts are sick, because they were pretty confident that Laurence Maroney was theirs. Now he may be gone by the time they pick at 30. The draft boards of some teams will be completely re-organized.

Williams made a huge splash in 1999 when Mike Ditka, then head coach of the New Orleans Saints, did the unprecedented and traded away his entire draft for the rights to take Ricky. We all remember Ditka wearing dreadlocks and saying how great of a deal he made. Right.

Now eight years and much bong resin later, Williams is causing a draft stir again. Only this time it's because of his off-field incidents.

The Miami Dolphin back, who rushed for over 700 yards after coming back from retirement, failed a fourth drug test, according to the NFL and will be suspended for the season. Williams immediately filed an appeal. In it, the former Texas Longhorn star stated that he wasn't taking any drugs, but a natural herb supplement.

The NFL heard his appeal this week. Williams even had Dolphin head coach Nick Sabin on hand to lend support.

Make no mistake, Sabin was doing it for selfish reasons. He was close to trading Williams to the Broncos this off-season and now that Denver has two first round picks, he really wants to talk. But, even if a deal wouldn't go down, Sabin would love to keep Ricky just in case something should happen to Ronnie Brown.

Make no mistake, whatever the NFL decides about Williams will have major draft implications, at least for the Dolphins and maybe the Broncos. The mysterious power of synchronicity is at work here. The LenDale White and Ricky Williams stories may seem unconnected to the undiscerning eye, but come draft day, many teams will feel the effects of both.