NFL 2015 - Road to Radio City (No, Road to Chicago)

[Exe Gesis]

The Chargers are conducting a private workout in Eugene with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota Tuesday.

Perhaps HC Mike McCoy, OC Rich Reich, QBs coach Nick Sirianni and a bunch of front office members are just doing their due diligence. Or maybe the trade rumors flying around Philip Rivers and the Chargers have some legs. The narrative states that Rivers doesn't want to move to Los Angeles and the Titans, holding the No. 2 overall pick, want a proven veteran to stabilize their quarterback situation. "Many close to the situation believe the Chargers head to Oregon while considering the notion of a draft-day trade," says the Union-Tribune San Diego. Any potential deal hinges on Mariota falling to No. 2, as San Diego is reportedly not interested in Florida State QB Jameis Winston.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Jaworski gets chance to elaborate on Mariota-to-Bucs report, but doesn’t
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2015, 9:36 AM EDT

Getty Images
In 2013, Ron Jaworski gave ESPN roughly 72 hours of content by declaring that Colin Kaepernick could be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. And so it makes sense for ESPN to try to get some extra mileage from Jaworski’s latest proclamation that the Buccaneers will take Marcus Mariota with the first overall pick in the draft.

“The latest I’m hearing now from my sources around the league, who are pretty wired in, is that he’s going to go number one now to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Jaworski said on CSN Philly’s Philly Sports Talk.

Appearing on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Jaworski was asked to elaborate.

“All along we’ve been hearing Jameis Winston to the Bucs at No. 1 overall,” anchor Stan Verrett asked Jaworski. “Now you’re hearing Marcus Mariota, what’s going on?”

This is the point where Jaworski would have added to his prior statement, saying that the Buccaneers are privately telling people that they are taking Mariota, or that the Bucs have launched contract talks with Mariota’s agent. It was Jaworski’s chance to offer something tangible that would dovetail with his proclamation that Mariota will be the pick. But that’s not what Jaworski said.

“I am right now of the belief that Marcus Mariota is the best QB in this draft,” Jaworski explained. “I’m beginning to see a more clear vision of Marcus Mariota as the No. 1 pick in this draft. Right now, this is a process. It takes time. And it’s going to go right up to the last second I believe for the Buccaneers to decide who’s going to be their quarterback of the future, and who they take at No. 1.”

That doesn’t dovetail with Jaworski’s prior comments, which clearly came off as a report that they will take Mariota. Which clearly implies that the decision has been made. And now Jaworski clearly says a decision hasn’t been made.

Verrett threw Jaws a bit of a lifeline aimed at harmonizing two concepts that inherently conflict: “But you believe at this point, when the process is done, it’ll be Mariota?”

“Yeah, I believe it’s going to be Mariota,” Jaworski said. “This guy takes care of the football. And as I look at NFL tape every single week during the course of the season, the teams that win are the teams that are careful with the football. And when you look at Marcus Mariota, 105 touchdown passes, he takes care of the football. When I watched Jameis Winston last season, I saw far too many interceptions, in fact 18. And when I watched the tape there were 13 balls that should have been intercepted. So I like quarterbacks that take care of the football.”

That’s fine, but nothing Jaworski said Tuesday explained his position that, based on his sources, the Bucs will take Mariota. Jaworski makes a case for why they should, but that’s not the same thing as declaring that they will.

There’s something even odder than that disconnect lurking in this story. Jaworski initially said on Philly Sports Talk that Eagles coach Chip Kelly has declared Mariota will become a high-end franchise quarterback in the NFL.

“This is the time of year when everyone talks, and I talk to General Managers, I’ve talked to player personnel directors, and I’ve heard it from a couple or three people that have had conversations with Chip Kelly, and Chip Kelly said, ‘Marcus Mariota will win multiple Super Bowls in the National Football League,'” Jaworski said.

If Kelly said that, and if he believes it, then Kelly should be doing everything he can to get Mariota, even if that means “mortgaging the future.” If that loan allows Kelly and the Eagles to afford a house with a case that Mariota helps them fill with trophies, mortgaging the future isn’t a bad thing — especially when the mortgage payments consist of current and future draft picks that Kelly views as inherent crapshoots.
So none of this makes any sense. But here’s something that does. With the draft 16 days away, there’s a chance that Jaworski is getting worked by a team or two in the top of the draft that doesn’t want or need a quarterback and that hopes both Winston and Mariota go early, pushing down the board players that those teams will be more inclined to pick. Or, alternatively, someone wants to pump up Mariota’s stock in order to extract more in trade from a team like the Browns, whose owner is desperate to get a franchise quarterback.

Regardless, Jaworski’s story isn’t holding up very well under even the softest of scrutiny from folks at ESPN who would love to turn it into another 72-hour phenomenon.

 

[Sven]

No Winston, no Mariota at this year's draft.....

Prospects attending 2015 NFL Draft:
Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon
Vic Beasley, DE/LB, Clemson
La'el Collins, OL, LSU
Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Bud Dupree, LB, Kentucky
Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
Dante Fowler, DE/LB, Florida
Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
Randy Gregory, DE/LB, Nebraska
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
D.J. Humphries, OL, Florida
Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Andrus Peat, OL, Stanford
Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
Shane Ray, DL, Missouri
Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
Danny Shelton, DL, Washington
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Laken Tomlinson, OL, Duke
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Leonard Williams, DL, USC

 

[Starburns_]

Has the #1 pick ever not been present? Probably the biggest hint of all that they'll both slide.

 

[Blacky]

I can't think of anyone else who shoulf go at 1

 

[Exe Gesis]

Has the #1 pick ever not been present? Probably the biggest hint of all that they'll both slide.

Thats what I said

 

[Exe Gesis]

I can't think of anyone else who shoulf go at 1

Thats the thing, there are no clear top overall players. Just a whole bunch of top 10 or top 15 players. They COULD slide.

 

[dart]

Thats the thing, there are no clear top overall players. Just a whole bunch of top 10 or top 15 players. They COULD slide.

This has got "Draft Day" written all over it !!

 

[Starburns_]

This has got "Draft Day" written all over it !!

So the Browns are going to dominate trades, and stick with their iffy starter? Whilst the Jags are going to get reamed, and evil Seattle will get their comeuppance?

 

[dart]

So the Browns are going to dominate trades, and stick with their iffy starter? Whilst the Jags are going to get reamed, and evil Seattle will get their comeuppance?

Someone random gets chosen first, first round picks are wheeled and dealed, highly touted candidates fall down the board.

 

[Toil83]

Hey, slightly off topic but what's the best way to watch the 1st round of the draft on delay? I'll be working the Friday morning and I don't have foxtel.

Does gamepass let you watch a replay?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Blacky]

Good question.

I doubt it to be honest

 

[superfreak]

We are taking a QB if we stay at No.1. Please get that into your heads.

If we trade out, the team trading up is trading up for a QB.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Sports science comparison between Cooper and White.... (video in link)

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12692355

 

[Exe Gesis]

Recalling the fascinating 2000 NFL Draft
Posted by Mike Wilkening on April 15, 2015, 5:41 PM EDT

AP
It was the draft where collegiate teammates were selected first and second overall, the draft where the first kicker was taken before the first quarterback.

The draft where the best player was taken in Round Six.

Yes, it was the 2000 NFL Draft, which kicked off 15 years ago Wednesday in New York.

Here are some of memorable occurrences from this dial-up era draft:

• The top two picks — defensive Courtney Brown (Cleveland) and linebacker LaVar Arrington (Washington) — played together on the same defense at Penn State. However, injuries limited both players from having long careers. Arrington had the better NFL run, making three Pro Bowls, but he was gone from the game by 2007.
• Past trades left a few clubs sitting pretty in Round One. Here are three examples. One, Washington selected Arrington with a pick New Orleans dealt for Ricky Williams in 1998. Two, the Ravens took tailback Jamal Lewis at No. 5 — a pick that Atlanta dealt the previous in the previous draft for asecond-round choice. Finally, the Jets took edge rusher John Abraham at No. 13 — a selection that once belonged to San Diego. However, the Chargers traded the pick for a second-round selection in 1998.
• It’s here we pause to say that trading a future No. 1 pick for a current No. 2 pick is generally not advisable.
• Washington held the No. 2 and No. 3 overall picks. After taking Arrington, Washington selected left tackle Chris Samuels, who made six Pro Bowls and spent his entire 10-season career with the club. Washington acquired the No. 3 pick by trading picks Nos. 12 and 24 to San Francisco.
• The Jets had four No. 1 picks — and did well with all of them, selecting defensive lineman Shaun Ellis 12th, Abraham 13th, quarterback Chad Pennington 18th and tight end Anthony Becht 27th.
• Pennington was the first quarterback off the board and the only passer selected in the first two rounds. He was taken one spot after the Raiders selected placekickerSebastian Janikowski. The Raiders also took the first punter (Shane Lechler, Round Five). Both specialists are still in the league.
• The 16th pick belonged to the Patriots, but it went to the Jets as compensation to sign Bill Belichick. The Jets ultimately traded the selection to the 49ers to move up for Ellis (No. 12). At No. 16, the Niners took outside linebacker Julian Peterson, a five-time Pro Bowler.
• Fun fact: the Saints gave up a seventh-round pick to hire then-Kansas City assistant Ron Zook as their special teams coach.
• How’s this for old school? Five tailbacks were selected in Round One, including three in the first 11 picks: Lewis, Thomas Jones (Arizona, No. 7), Ron Dayne (N.Y. Giants, No. 11). The others were Shaun Alexander (No. 19, Seattle) and Trung Candiate (No. 31, St. Louis).
• How’s this for new school? At No. 9, the Bears selected linebacker Brian Urlacher, whose rare speed and athleticism made him ideally suited for the 21st-century game.
• Ultimately, though, the 2000 draft will be remembered for quarterback Tom Bradylasting until pick No. 199. He was the seventh of 10 Patriots draft picks and the second of the club’s choices in Round Six. Twelve selections before taking Brady, the Patriots took reserve defensive back Antwan Harris, who played in 52 regular season games and was a key contributor in New England’s Super Bowl XXXVI run, including when he scored on a blocked field goal in the AFC title game.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Winston will slide to 6....Jets
Mariota will slide to 12....Browns / Eagles

Winston will slide to 4.....Buccaneers
(After Raiders take Amari Cooper #1)

 

[Toadvine]

If you are interested in Podcasts, check out the PFF position/draft series they're doing at the moment in the lead up to the draft. It's obviously very analytical and because of that the opinions of some of the better known players can be different from the usual group think.

The pod on Cornerbacks I thought was really good.

episodes can be found here
http://pffpodcast.podbean.com

 

[Exe Gesis]

This draft will be one of the most unpredictable draft in years. Even the #1 pick is still up in the air. With this being a weak draft class across most of the positions, teams will be trading up to grab the player they covet. This draft will be a lot like 2013 in regards to the amount of trades.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I like the idea of Landon Collins sliding to pick 25.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Twenty-five years ago Sunday, the Colts moved up for Jeff George
Posted by Mike Wilkening on April 19, 2015, 8:05 PM EDT

Getty Images
The last two times the Colts selected No. 1 overall, they had a choice between two top quarterbacks. In 1998, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were at the head of the class, while in 2012, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III had separated themselves from the passing pack.

The Colts, of course, chose wisely. Manning led them to 11 playoff berths and a Super Bowl, and Luck is for 3-for-3 in getting Indianapolis to the postseason.

However, some No. 1 picks don’t quite pan out as hoped.

Which brings us back to 1990.

The Colts sought a quarterback in the draft, but they had no first-round pick. So they got creative. They packaged two starters — left tackle Chris Hinton and wide receiver Andre Rison — and two draft picks, most notably a first-round selection in 1991. This enticed Atlanta, and 25 years ago Sunday, the teams struck a deal, with the Colts getting the No. 1 overall pick and a fourth-round pick. (ProSportsTransactions.com, which does such a nice job logging all of the details of old trades and signings, has the trade details and helped jog our memory.)

With the No. 1 selection, the Colts drafted Illinois quarterback Jeff George, who was far-and-away the top prospect at the position in the draft, especially with Dallas having selected Steve Walsh in the ’89 supplemental draft

It was a bold move for the Colts.

But it didn’t land them their long-term franchise quarterback.

In four seasons with Indianapolis, George led the Colts to one winning record, throwing 46 picks and just 41 touchdowns.

But when it came time to move on from George in 1994, the Colts were able to land a bushel of draft picks from their old friends, the Falcons, who needed a quarterback themselves and took the plunge on the talented-but-inconsistent passer.

In addition to getting the Falcons’ No. 1 pick in ’94, the Colts got a conditional 1996 second-round pick that could turn into a first-rounder if the Falcons won at least nine games in 1995 and George played at least three-quarters of the snaps in those games for Atlanta.

The Colts didn’t put the Falcons’ ’94 first-round pick to good use; they traded it to move up for Trev Alberts, per ProSportsTransactions.com.

But what about that conditional pick?

That was a different story, and a happy one for Indianapolis.

The Falcons went 9-7 in ’95, and George had one of his better seasons, throwing 24 TDs and just 11 picks and starting all 16 games. This earned the Colts the Falcons’ No. 1 pick in ’96.

And with that selection, the Colts took wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who had a banner career for Indianapolis — and whose last standout season came when the Colts captured Super Bowl XLI in 2006.

Sometimes, trades don’t work as hoped — but they work out all the same.

So it went for the Jeff George deal for the Colts.

 

[Exe Gesis]

@Shane1Alexander: FWIW. Gun to my head, the offensive & defensive player I'd expect to have the best NFL careers in this class: Amari Cooper & Vic Beasley

 

[superfreak]

Plenty of talk about teams wanting to trade up to No.2 for Mariota. The question is, should Mariota go at No.1, how many teams would be wanting to trade up to No.2 for Winston? More? Same amount? Less?

Whatever the answer, I think that should guide Tampa on who to take at No.1 if they are torn between the two QBs. If its less, take MM. If its more, take JW.

Does that make sense?

 

[Mad Prophet]

I don't think Tampa will make their decision based on what other teams are willing to do. There's too much that comes into play ie. Different teams offensive style.

I think Tampa have made their decision and it's going to be Winston, they're just waiting until the draft to announce it.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Is Rivers and Pick 17 enough for Pick 2 or do the Chargers give up more??

 

[Starburns_]

Is Rivers and Pick 17 enough for Pick 2 or do the Chargers give up more??

That should do it easily, a few weeks ago the discussion was a straight swap of Rivers for pick 2. Rivers is a top QB with 5+ years left in his career, a team in the market for a QB (like the Titans are) would have to look at that trade.