Thoughts on th NFL draft

A couple of quick thoughts on the 2010 NFL Draft:






*I wasn't a fan of the move to primetime by ESPN and I am still not 100 percent sold on the new format. Look, I watched on Thursday like everyone else because I love the NFL, and the league got an absolute gift when former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy dropped out of the first round. It gave everyone a day to talk about where these two standouts would go and, in the case of Clausen, dragged his Greek tragedy out over a period of 24 hours instead of two, as it would have been under the old format.

But, waiting through the day on Friday just to get to the second and third rounds seemed somewhat protracted and the overkill on the draft just got ramped up into overdrive. Plus, Thursday night, there are other things on to watch, so you really don't get the opportunity to just focus on the draft the way you do on Saturday. In fact, maybe just out of habit, I ended up turning on the Saturday telecast and watching throughout the afternoon.





*I really don't think it was all that shocking that the Broncos moved up to get Tim Tebow in the first round, or that he went ahead of Jimmy Clausen. None of the quarterbacks in this draft, perhaps besides Sam Bradford, should project out to anything other than average players in the league. Clausen is a decent player, but everything about him screams average: he has an average arm, average accuracy, average mobility in the pocket, and average decision-making abilities. When you couple that with his supposed maturity deficiences (wasn't the greatest teammate or most beloved in the locker room at Notre Dame, had a tendency to blame others for his mistakes, has an air of superiority about him) it isn't earth shattering that teams would be willing to take a pass. When you have exceptional talent, those personality flaws can and will be overlooked. When you are simply a “good” quarterback, they weigh you down.

McCoy didn't have any of those personality flaws attributed to Clausen, but he is small for the position (certainly not a deal breaker, but does make it more difficult to project him as a big time QB), has probably the weakest arm in the draft overall, and, despite the fact that he is an aggressive player who scrambles and uses his legs to make plays, he must also be deemed a little fragile overall. I mean, what amounted to a stinger in his right arm prevented him from going back into the National Championship Game in January.

Now, is Tebow a prototypical quarterback? Absolutely not. Is he going to have to learn a lot to be the starter in Denver? Absolutely. But, look at Tebow's skill package: he has an okay arm, he has cleaned up his mechanics so that he doesn't have as long a delivery with the ball, and he has okay accuracy. That pretty much sounds like the other two QB's, doesn't it? Now, factor in this: he is by far the most athletic quarterback available who can create something out of nothing with his legs; he is a winner who played his best games against the biggest competition (save his very average game against Alabama at the end of last year) and he is a proven leader. You know he is going to put in all the time necessary to get better and has the intelligence to get better. Plus, you know he can become the face of your franchise and you can feel confident he won't be answering questions about police investigations or providing statements through attorneys about assault charges.

When you factor all of that in, and consider that none of these guys are anything but projects, why wouldn't you take a chance on Tebow?





*I liked everything the Oakland Raiders did on draft day, but I have to laugh when I hear people say, almost without hesitation, that Jason Campbell is going to be GREAT now that he is in Al Davis land. Yes, we all know that Campbell has had, what, six different offensive coordinators since he began his time in Washington. But, what no one seems to mention is that one of the reasons why so many coaches and coordinators have been moved out over the years is the inconsistent play of Campbell. Had he stepped up and shown real signs of progress at any point in his “development” it's hard to imagine the Redskins would have been moving people in and out like they were attached to a conveyor belt. At no point has Campbell shown the ability to lead his team, every Sunday, to consistent performances. He is an absolute stick in the pocket, he has a long delivery, and he doesn't throw a particularly accurate deep ball, even though he has a good arm. Is that all coaching?

Also, if stability is the elixar that is destined to cure all of his ills, Oakland probably isn't the perfect landing spot. Is anyone all that confident that Tom Cable is the coach of the Raiders for the long haul? Rumors were that Davis was hell bent on firing him after the season, spent three weeks looking under every stone for a coaching candidate he liked that might be interested in taking the job, and then finally committed to Cable for the upcoming season. Let's say the Raiders get off to a slow start this year, and there is turmoil in that locker room; does anyone believe that Cable will survive? Campbell went from one reactionary owner to another, so everyone looking for Campbell to come into his own now that he will have some “consistency” must have a very short memory.





*After a few days to digest the Giants draft, I have come to a very simple decision: this is all on Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin now. I was in favor of taking Derrick Morgan over Jason Pierre-Paul (JPP, or JP-squared, if you like) in the first because he is a more polished player who is good against both the pass and the run. Plus, he was the defensive player of the year for the ACC, while JPP only started seven games for University of South Florida in the Big East. But, if I am going to pat the Broncos on the back for taking a reach on Tebow over some players who might be deemed more NFL-ready, I can't then turn around a slam the Giants for taking a reach with a kid everyone seems to believe could turn out to be the best player in the entire draft.

What I like about him: he seems like a good kid, hard worker, and quick learner, who got better as the season went along. He also seems to have somewhat of a mean streak in him, which you like on defense.

What I don't like about him: whenever you hear words like “upside” or “raw” or “still learning to play,” it sets off alarm bells because, let's face it, most of the players who turn out to be busts have the exact same labels coming out of school. JPP fits the bill of the combine warrior, a guy who, in tanktops and shorts, looks like a game breaker. Put a 100-yard dash in front of him, a high jump, an agility test, and he beats his competition time in and time out. But, as we all know, those things end up having little to do with overall football success. Hopefully, JPP ends up becoming a football player with freakish athletic ability and not just a guy who can do back flips on YouTube,

The most interesting guy taken by the G-Men, in my mind, is middle linebacker Phillip Dillard from Nebraska, who will have to play tough and smart football in his career to avoid inevitably being labeled Phyllis Diller. Dillard, a fourth round choice, has elicited a lot of different takes. Some have said that he could come in and be a starter right now, taking over a leadership role almost immediately. Others I have heard have labeled Dillard a career backup who won't be an impact player at the NFL level. Who to believe? I have no idea. All I do know is that Reese has found some sleepers in the past and, with this draft, his talent evaluation will be put to the ultimate test.

LeBron will be a Knick, if he knows what's good for him

New York.

The name itself evokes images of the night sky lite up like a Christmas tree, taxi cabs honking on Broadway as a swath of people move along the sidewalks and across the street, and the blaring sound of a city that never sleeps moving through time, carrying the hopes and dreams of eight million people on its back at any given time like a never-ending wave.

There is no place like it in the world. Not Boston. Not Los Angeles. Not Paris. Not Rome. It is the greatest city in the last super power on earth. New York has become the epicenter, and sports has become its heart beat.

I don't know LeBron James. I have never met the man before. I don't know how he feels about Ohio, Cleveland, and his current team. Maybe staying with one franchise his entire career means something. Maybe bringing a championship, even multiple ones, to a battered and beaten midwest town is his white whale, his obsession. Maybe the thought of leaving his home state and team is utterly inconceivable.

But, too many people have ignored what New York means when talking about James' upcoming decision on his future in the NBA. Analysts have talked about money (Cleveland can offer James the most, over the length of a contract) and competitiveness (the Cavs are one of the best teams in the country while the Knicks remain one of the worst) when deciding what a man they know little about will choose to do next year. What few talk about is legacy.

LeBron James is destined to go down as one of the greatest players in the game when he decides to retire. Unless something extraordinarily tragic happens to him, he will win at least one or two championships in his career. He will be remembered as a complete player. He will be remembered as a freak of nature who combined speed and power in a 6'9” frame like no one ever has before, and may not after.

Having said that, his legacy would be different if he became all of that in New York.

Why? Because LeBron has a truly unique opportunity when it comes to the Knicks. He has the ability to come to one of the NBA's greatest franchises, with a rich tradition and a HUGE following, and cement himself as the best player to ever done the uniform. That is something only the Knicks can offer.

Think about the great franchises in the NBA. No matter how great LeBron is, if he went to the Celtics tomorrow he would never supplant Russell or Cousey or Larry Legend in the hearts, minds, or history of the franchise. They are the top. Likewise, if he went to the Lakers, would anyone ever say that LeBron was better than West or Chamberlain or Magic or Kareem? Lakers fans insist that Kobe is the best player in the NBA right now.

Chicago? Forget it, Michael owns that realm and always will. Detroit? The Bad Boys, with Isiah and Rodman and Lambeer, headed by Chuck Daly, are revered to this day. Philadelphia? No doubt, 76ers would annoint LeBron as a basketball God, but a guy by the name of Dr. J once played for that proud franchise, and LeBron would probably always be placed behind him.

The Knicks offer the chance for LeBron to become the “face” of the franchise. As beloved as Willis Reed and Walt Clyde Frazier and the greats of the 70s championship teams remain, and as much as fans might now appreciate Patrick Ewing's winning ways, LeBron would be able to trump them all. He would have the chance to return winning to New York, something of a rarity when it comes to sports.

Think of Mark Messier, The Captain of the New York Rangers who had already established himself as one of the greats before coming to Madison Square Garden in the early 90s. He won five championships in his hometown of Edmonton, Canada. He was well on his way to being a hall of famer.

When he came to the Rangers, the team hadn't won a title in five decades. They were not one of the elite teams in hockey. Yet, Messier and a new group helped transform that, and when he helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1994, he forever became connected to that team. Now, when people speak of Messier, they talk about 1994 and his game 6 guarantee, and his hat trick, and his ultimate victory. The Edmonton years, though far more successful and the reason for his hall of fame status, are relgated to second when it comes to his career. That one success in New York trumps it all.

LeBron has to realize it would be the same for him.

The Knicks haven't won a championship in 37 years. For those of you keeping score at home, that is nearly four decades of futility. The team also hasn't had an elite player to call its own since Ewing was traded, and the last five years have been the most abysmal in franchise history.

The moment he steps on the court, LeBron changes all of that. He immediately OWNS Madison Square Garden. Not a bad piece of property to call home. He immediately takes his place among the New York elite athletes. In fact, depending on how much success he has, LeBron could push Derek Jeter aside as the King of the City.

Can you put a price tag on that? Can you even factor that in when it comes to a contract?

That's why, when the Knicks open the 2010/2011 regular season next year, I believe LeBron James, and a few other notable signees, will be taking to the court wearing orange and blue. Its because he understands what it means to be the King of the City that Never Sleeps. It's because he understands that he can become the best basketball player New York has ever seen. The mantles for best baseball, football, and hockey players have been locked up for decades.

If LeBron wins in Cleveland, he will be hailed. If he wins in New York, he will be revered like no other.

Want the parade down Canyon of Heroes, LeBron? Want to hang out with CC Sabathia and Derek Jeter? Want Giants tickets at the 50-yard line? Want Jay Z and Alicia Keys to dedicate a song to you? Want to one day be called the greatest that ever played, ahead of Michael, Magic, Larry and the rest? There is only one place for that and, with all due respect, it isn't in Cleveland.