Sean Weatherspoon, OLB - Missouri

Pick made by FineClub:

While Cincinnati was the AFC North's best team last season, in order to go further they are going to have to improve especially defensively. Enter Sean Weatherspoon.

 

The Tangible:

 

Weatherspoon is 6-1, 239LBS. He is a first team Big 12 player. He had 20 tackles in a game versus Buffalo. He is fast and strong. He is pro level out of the gate and should be exceptional with the right coaching.

 

The Intangible:

 

Weatherspoon is known for a great deal of enthusiasm and is viewed as a team leader. He is also known for having a great work ethic.

If Weatherspoon is taken #21 by the Bengals, it would be the 3rd LB taken in the first round by the Bengals over the past 6 years (David Pollack & Keith Rivers).  He would be the first LB taken in the 1st round ever from Missouri, and the first LB drafted at all since 1984 (Bobby Bell).

Weatherspoon's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Patriots, and skywalker, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland	Earl Thomas	S	Texas	2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland	Bruce Campbell	OT	Maryland	LovinBlue
9	Buffalo	Bryan Bulaga	OT	Iowa	Cassieper
10	Jacksonville	Rolando McClain	LB	Alabama	peytonsthebest
11	Denver	Derrick Morgan	DE	Georgia Tech	JPBarnett
12	Miami	Dez Bryant	WR	Oklahoma St.	fpacheco
13	San Francisco	Joe Haden	CB	Florida	BlueVol03
14	Seattle	Charles Brown	OT	USC	shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants	C.J. Spiller	RB	Clemson	gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee	Jason Pierre-Paul	DE	South Florida	Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco	Mike Iupati	G	Idaho	BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh	Kyle Wilson	CB	Boise St.	LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta	Brandon Graham	DE	Michigan	fiftycal2004
20	Houston	Dan Williams	DT	Tennessee	Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati	Sean Weatherspoon	OLB	Missouri	FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

What do you think of pick #21?

• Correct Pick. Fills a pressing need with best player available
• OK pick, but might be too high for Weatherspoon.
• Right Position, Wrong Player
• Wrong pick. Bengals need help elsewhere first.

  6 votes | Results

Now that we've seen who's wowed us at the combine and which teams have filled some needs in free agency, it's time to take another crack at how the first round of the draft could shake out.  Again, not going to try to guestimate trades.  Without further ado......

1. St. Louis Rams - QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma.  Although some teams might toss up a draft day smokescreen, it appears the Rams have come to their senses and realized they're not going to win until they start grooming a franchise QB.  Bradford fits that void and should be a good one.........as long as that shoulder is good to go.

2. Detroit Lions - DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska.  Will the Lions' acquisition of DEs Kyle Vanden Bosch and DE/DT Corey Williams be enough to pass on one of the two marquee DTs in the draft?  It is possible the Lions could go with Russell Okung to be a bodyguard for their oft-abused franchise investment QB, but defensive-minded Jim Schwartz should continue to bolster that defensive front.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma.  The Bucs get their guy in McCoy, who should thrive in the Tampa 2 system.  As close to a no-brainer as can be.

4. Washington Redskins - OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State.  Pressure was a significant part of the reason behind Jason Campbell's struggles, so he might get some help.  Skins undoubtedly looking for their next Chris Samuels.  Jimmy Clausen could get consideration as well.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - S Eric Berry, Bennessee.  Cemented his status of play-any-position-in-the-secondary stud with an impressive 40-yard dash time at the combine.  Arguably the most complete, NFL-ready player in the draft, which is something the Chiefs desperately need on their defense.

6. Seattle Seahawks - QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame.  The Seahawks have to take one of the remaining two stud QBs if one is still there, so Clausen would be a steal for them here.  The battered and bruised Matt Hasselbeck is on his last leg and Seneca Wallace has shown next to nothing.  Clausen could be the future in Seattle.

7. Cleveland Browns - CB Joe Haden.  Browns need to continue to fix that defense, more specifically the secondary, and Haden fits the Browns' needs a bit better than ILB Rolando McClain.   

8. Oakland Raiders - DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech.  Greg Ellis isn't getting any younger and a long-term deal with Richard Seymour isn't in place.  Morgan could be the top-rated pass rusher by draft day and, if so, would be a good value pick here.

9. Buffalo Bills - OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa.  They need offensive line help in the worst way, especially after the sudden retirement of RT Brad Butler, and a physical, run-blocking OT like Bulaga would upgrade one side of the line for the Buffalo offense and give the running game a big boost.  OTs Trent Williams and Anthony Davis are also possibilities. 

10. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Jason Pierre-Paul. Kampman signing makes DE less of a panicky need, but Jags know Kampman is on the backside of his career.  Jags can afford to take a player with huge upside and give him the time to be groomed and develop.

11. Denver Broncos - DT Dan Williams, Tennessee. May be a bit of a reach here, but Williams has the size (around 330 lbs) to clog interior running lanes and slow down opposing rushing attacks.  He should help anchor the middle of a Bronco defensive front that got trucked over the last part of the 2009 season.  With the Broncos apparently willing to consider deals for WR Brandon Marshall, Dez Bryant could be in play.

12. Miami Dolphins - WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State.  The Ted Ginn, Jr. experiment has failed and the Fins lack a playmaking, go-to WR in an otherwise decent offense.  Bryant would step right in and be that lifeline for Chad Henne.

13. San Francisco 49ers -  RB CJ Spiller, Clemson.  With plenty of options at OT on the board, the Niners should use the first of their 1st-rounders to add a playmaker to an offense/special teams that needs one. 

14. Seattle Seahawks - OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers. They need offensive line help, and a mountain of a man like OT Anthony Davis (who's dropped to around 325 pounds from 368 at one time) would do well here.

15. New York Giants - ILB Rolando McClain, Alabama. With safety and linebacker as such pressing needs, the Giants could go a number of directions here.  OLB Sergio Kindle is a distinct possibility, and DBs Earl Thomas and Taylor Mays could be in play.  However, the departure of Antonio Pierce creates a gaping void in the middle of that defense that will have to be replaced by an inspiring, physical, playmaking presence.  Rolando McClain appears to be the perfect guy to fill that position.  His Crohn's disease didn't affect him at Alabama, so it shouldn't scare teams off.

16. Tennessee Titans - DE Brandon Graham, Michigan.  Titans need to upgrade their pass rush.  Carlos Dunlap is in play, but after getting burned by Pacman Jones, they might be more inclined to take the uber-talented combo rush/run-stopping end out of Michigan who kept his nose clean in school.

17. San Francisco 49ers  - OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma.  Niners keep filling needs with quality players and snare Williams to bolster their line.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers - G Mike Iupati, Idaho.  Safety could be in play, but the re-signing of Ryan Clark and the acquisition of Will Allen give the Steelers some much-needed depth.  Pittsburgh's offensive line nearly left Big Ben flattened last season.  At 6-5, 325 pounds, Iupati would give the Steelers the flexibility of plugging him almost anywhere in the line.

19. Atlanta Falcons - DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida.  Despite his off-the-field issues, Dunlap should be a force getting to the passer, something Jamaal Anderson has not been. 

20. Houston Texans - DB Earl Thomas, Texas.  The loss of Dunta Robinson in Free Agency exacerbates the Texans' needs to bolster their secondary.  The multi-positional Earl Thomas is the perfect elixir.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma.  The top-ranked tight end would fit with the Bengal offense like franks and beans.  He'd be a great weapon for Carson Palmer in the middle of the field, especially with 85 and Antonio Bryant on the outside. 

22. New England Patriots - OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas.  An explosive player with a nose for the ballcarrier, Kindle should become the heir apparent to Adalius Thomas on the edge of that 3-4 defense.

23. Green Bay Packers - OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland.  OT keeps flying off the board, and after the Packer offensive line's porous play nearly put Aaron Rodgers in the hospital multiple times last year, getting better on the line is a must for Green Bay.  Campbell carries a few less lb's than the previously-mentioned tackles and he has less experience than other tackles (17 career starts at Maryland), but he's got the quickness to become a good pass-blocker, which is a premium in the Packer offense.

24. Philadelphia Eagles - S Taylor Mays, USC.  Mays is a physical, lightning-fast player who can blitz and fly around the field, which is a premium in the aggressive Eagle defense.

25. Baltimore Ravens - WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois.  The Ravens, despite signing Boldin, need the infusion of both a young talent and a home run hitter.  Benn is that guy.  He has the makings of a big, physical, true #1 WR.  He should develop into a reliable target for Flacco. 

26. Arizona Cardinals - OLB Ricky Sapp, Clemson.  Departure of Karlos Dansby to Miami makes LB that much more important for 'Zona. Sapp could step in and take over in at the OLB spot flanking Calais Campbell, giving the Cardinals an explosive left side of their defense.

27. Dallas Cowboys - ILB Daryl Washington, TCU.  Logical long-term solution in the middle with Keith Brooking on the backside of his career and Bobby Carpenter only being used in passing down situations.  Washington is an impressive specimen that can cover well and hold his own against the run. 

28. San Diego Chargers - RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech.  With LT gone, Dwyer is, at worst, an excellent insurance policy for Darren Sproles and could certainly win the starting job.  The departure of one FSU CB (Cromartie) could lead to the arrival of another.... as CB Patrick Robinson could be in play.

29. New York Jets - WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech.  Thomas would move Cotchery into the slot, giving the Jets a formidable receiving trio.  Moreover, Thomas is a physical, hard-nosed run-blocker who's used to spending the majority of the game blocking, which is what he would be expected to do in Rex Ryan's offense.

30. Minnesota Vikings - CB Patrick Robinson, FSU.  Could be a hair-trigger decision between him and Kyle Wilson, but Robinson's freakish athleticism and play against tougher competition gives PR the nod. 

31. Indianapolis Colts - OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri.  Could replace Philip Wheeler and give the Colts a volatile LB trio of Weatherspoon, Gary Brackett, and Clint Session.

32. New Orleans Saints - DT Brian Price, UCLA.  Gregg Williams employed 4-3 fronts last year, were vulnerable up the middle against the run, and didn't get much of a push on passing downs from their tackles.  The pocket-collapsing Price could be a force next to the double-team-commanding Sedrick Ellis.

 

So what do you all have to say?  Mock it up.....

Dan Williams, DT - Tennessee

Pick made by Aerostar193:

The Texans need some major help in their secondary, but with all of the top prospects off the board (Taylor Mays doesn't cut it for me), they can switch their focus to defensive tackle and select Dan Williams. After trading the disappointing Travis Johnson to San Diego last season, there was no player left on the roster to replace him. Veterans Shaun Cody and Jeff Zgonina did their best to fill the hole, but neither of them are answers going forward.

Williams is a massive body with outstanding power and strength who could do wonders for a Texans team that is dead-set on stopping the Colts high powered offense. He's an excellent run-stuffer and dominates the line of scrimmage with ease, opening things up for his teammates to make more plays. And with already established stars like Mario Williams, Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans on the Texans defense, the addition of "Big Dan" could potentially vault their level of play, along with the inconsistent Amobi Okoye, to the next level. One issue with the idea of Williams going to the Texans is that he's mostly viewed as 3-4 nose tackle at the next level, often being pegged in mock drafts as the Dolphins or Broncos pick. However, I think he proved he had the athleticism to play in the 4-3 after he ran the 40 in 5.17 seconds while weighing 327 pounds. The Texans are only a few pieces away from becoming an elite team in my eyes, and Williams could definitely fit in as one of those pieces.

How would he impact the 2010 Texans?

There's really no reason for Williams not to start from Day 1. The Texans coaching staff has never been hesitant to start rookies in the past. Established players on the Texans defense like Cushing, Williams, Ryans, and Okoye all started their entire rookie seasons, and Dan Williams should be no different. I expect him to have a smooth transition to the NFL and become an immediate difference maker for the team.

If Williams is taken #20 by the Texans, it would be the 3rd DT taken in the first round by the Texans over the past 6 years (Travis Johnson & Amobi Okoye).  This doesn't include taking Mario Williams #1 overall in '06 as well.  He will also be the 2nd DT taken in the first round from Tennessee over the past 4 years (Justin Harrell).

Williams's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Bengals, and FineClub, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland	Earl Thomas	S	Texas	2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland	Bruce Campbell	OT	Maryland	LovinBlue
9	Buffalo	Bryan Bulaga	OT	Iowa	Cassieper
10	Jacksonville	Rolando McClain	LB	Alabama	peytonsthebest
11	Denver	Derrick Morgan	DE	Georgia Tech	JPBarnett
12	Miami	Dez Bryant	WR	Oklahoma St.	fpacheco
13	San Francisco	Joe Haden	CB	Florida	BlueVol03
14	Seattle	Charles Brown	OT	USC	shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants	C.J. Spiller	RB	Clemson	gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee	Jason Pierre-Paul	DE	South Florida	Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco	Mike Iupati	G	Idaho	BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh	Kyle Wilson	CB	Boise St.	LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta	Brandon Graham	DE	Michigan	fiftycal2004
20	Houston	Dan Williams	DT	Tennessee	Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati				FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

How do you feel about pick #20?

• Correct Pick. They need every possible weapon to stop the Colts.
• OK pick, but a bit of a reach for Williams.
• OK pick, but might not be the right scheme fit.
• Wrong pick. Should have looked at other positional needs first.
• Right Position, Wrong Player

  61 votes | Results

I slid Dez Bryant down due to character issues, but forgot to find him a home. Let’s try this again.

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

I think the Rams are zeroed in on Bradford as their future signal caller.


2. Detroit Lions: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

I’m still leaning towards Okung for the Lions, though Suh is still a big possibility.


3. Tampa Bay Buccaneeers: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

The Bucs find themselves in a great position. They have the choice of two elite players that play the same position. Suh has more upside.

4. Washington Redskins: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

I don’t want to pick Clausen this high, but after the success of Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, and Mark Sanchez the past two years, the Skins find themselves taking Clausen. They’ve had success at that position out of Notre Dame before.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

The Chiefs could go DT with Gerald McCoy or OT with Bulaga. Their offensive line is a bigger need.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Seattle needs help at QB and on their offensive line, but McCoy is too much of a value to pass up.

7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Even though Joe Haden improved his stock with his 40 time at his pro day, Berry is still the pick to try to bolster Cleveland’s putrid secondary.

8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

Still locked in with Campbell.

9. Buffalo Bills: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

Teams are built in the trenches. Williams becomes the fourth top ten offensive lineman taken.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

The Jags go the best player available route and take McClain to play in the middle of their 4-3 defense. The Jags are a likely team to trade down.

11. Denver Broncos: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

The best two players at this point for the Broncos are McClain, who I just had go off the board, and Dez Bryant. They are still dealing with a petulant WR in Brandon Marshall so I don’t see them adding another one. They instead bolster their defensive front.

12. Miami Dolphins: Jason Paul-Pierre, DE/LB, South Florida

I’ve had Williams going to the Dolphins in most of my mocks so instead of addressing the need at NT, I opted to address a need at OLB with JPP. He’s raw, but oozes talent and athleticism.

13. San Franciso 49ers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

The Niners need to improve at RT and CB. Haden won’t be there at 17, thanks in part to an improved 40 time, so they’ll take him now and grab their RT later.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

T.J. Houshmandzadeh can’t stretch defenses. He’s worked well with diva WRs in the past. The Seahawks could use help on the line, but that can be addressed later.

15. New York Giants: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

The Giants are a team I’ve struggled trying to pinpoint what they’ll do. Adding Price to bolster their defensive line makes sense to me.

16.  Tennessee Titans:  Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan

One of Tennessee’s biggest needs is putting pressure on the quarterback, namely Peyton Manning. Graham doesn’t have the prototypical size for the position, but is one of those guys who finds a way to get it done.

17. San Francisco 49ers:  C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

The Niners add the speedy home run threat Spiller to compliment Frank Gore. He’ll also immediately upgrade their return game.

18.  Pittsburgh Steelers: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

The Steelers struggled when Troy Polamalu went down. Adding a talent like Earl Thomas gives them depth and a security blanket if Polamalu suffers from a two-year Madden Curse.

19.  Atlanta Falcons:  Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

The Falcons desperately need to improve their pass rush. Morgan is one of the best in the draft. He fits better in Atlanta’s 4-3 system than the 3-4.

20.  Houston Texans:  Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State  

The Texans messed around enough with inferior talent at the RB position. They add Matthews, who can be their every down back.

21.  Cincinnati Bengals:  Taylor Mays, S, Southern Cal

The hard-hitting Mays fits a need and the attitude of the Bengals’ defense. Great fit.

22. New England Patriots:  Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

They flirt with the idea of adding Jermaine Gresham, but in the end the Pats add to their defensive front with the versatile Odrick.

23. Green Bay Packers:  Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

With Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, Kevin Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and possibly Suh slated to get after Aaron Rodgers, the Pack need to strengthen their offensive line. Davis could be groomed into the eventual replacement for Chad Clifton.

24.  Philadelphia Eagles:  Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas

The Eagles bolster their pass rush with the raw but talented Kindle.

25.  Baltimore Ravens:  Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma

Ozzie Newsome knows what to look for in a tight end. The Ravens experimented with L.J. Smith last year, but that didn’t work. Todd Heap doesn’t have many years left in him, so upgrading the position is a necessity.

26.  Arizona Cardinals:  Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

The Cards have a gaping hole in their defense following Karlos Dansby’s departure. Fortunately Weatherspoon is available to help plug that hole.

27.  Dallas Cowboys:  Golden Tate, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are pretty well-stocked at every position. They could use some help on their offensive line, but have not gone that direction in the first round under Jerry Jones’ watch. Roy Williams isn’t the answer for the 'Boys at WR. They add the speedy Golden Tate to compliment the physical Miles Austin.

28.  San Diego Chargers:  Everson Griffen, DE, Southern Cal

Griffen gets to stay in sunny, Southern California and gives the Chargers’ pass rush a boost.

29. New York Jets:  Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU

The Jets add Hughes to help put pressure on Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, their two biggest obstacles to a long-awaited return to the Super Bowl.

30.  Minnesota Vikings:  Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

Cedric Griffin’s knee injury made cornerback their most pressing need. How he does at his pro day later this week will determine if Wilson is first round material or not.

31.  Indianapolis Colts:  Mike Iupati, G, Idaho

The Colts use their first round pick to add a versatile offensive lineman to keep Peyton Manning off his back.

32.  New Orleans Saints:  Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

The Saints could use another DE to put pressure on opposing QBs.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com .

 

Brandon Graham, DE - Michigan

Pick made by fiftycal2004:

The signing of Dunta Robinson filled the most pressing need for the Falcons. So, with John Abraham and Mike Peterson not getting any younger and Jamaal Anderson looking like a bust in the making, they will go after a DE or OLB in this slot. Ultimately, they pick Graham, who had a strong senior bowl, over Sean Weatherspoon in hopes of improving their pass rush which finished 26th in the league in sacks. Though shorter than some scouts might like, Graham's collegiate production, quickness, and good moves make this a good pick.

How would he impact the 2010 Falcons?

In 2010, Graham should push Anderson for playing time opposite Abraham. Also, look for him to slide over to DT in obvious passing situations to generate more pressure on opposing QBs.

If Graham is taken #19 by the Falcons, it would be the 3rd DL taken by the Falcons in the first round over the past 4 years (Jamaal Anderson & Peria Jerry).  He will also be the 1st DE taken in the first round from Michigan since 1985, when Kevin Brooks was taken #17 overall by the Cowboys.

Graham's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Texans, and Aerostar193, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland	Earl Thomas	S	Texas	2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland	Bruce Campbell	OT	Maryland	LovinBlue
9	Buffalo	Bryan Bulaga	OT	Iowa	Cassieper
10	Jacksonville	Rolando McClain	LB	Alabama	peytonsthebest
11	Denver	Derrick Morgan	DE	Georgia Tech	JPBarnett
12	Miami	Dez Bryant	WR	Oklahoma St.	fpacheco
13	San Francisco	Joe Haden	CB	Florida	BlueVol03
14	Seattle	Charles Brown	OT	USC	shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants	C.J. Spiller	RB	Clemson	gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee	Jason Pierre-Paul	DE	South Florida	Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco	Mike Iupati	G	Idaho	BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh	Kyle Wilson	CB	Boise St.	LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta	Brandon Graham	DE	Michigan	fiftycal2004
20	Houston				Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati				FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

What do you think of pick #19 by the Falcons?

• Correct Pick. Brings much needed help to Falcons defense
• OK pick, but might be a reach at #19 for Graham
• OK pick, but should have looked at other positional needs first
• Wrong pick. Other areas should be looked at first before DL.

  16 votes | Results

ago Sun-Times, Mar. 24, 2010" />Chicago Sun-Times, Mar. 24, 2010" />Chicago Sun-Times, Mar. 24, 2010"> Chicago Sun-Times, Mar. 24, 2010 Newseum Image

March 24, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Obama Inks $1 Trillion Health Care Overhaul

From the Associated Press

WASHINGTON --- Claiming a historic triumph that could define his presidency, a jubilant Barack Obama signed a massive, nearly $1 trillion health care overhaul on Tuesday that will for the first time cement insurance coverage as the right of every U.S. citizen and begin to reshape the way virtually all Americans receive and pay for treatment.

After more than a year of hyperpartisan struggle -- and numerous near-death moments for the measure -- Obama declared "a new season in America" as he sealed a victory denied to a line of presidents stretching back more than half a century. Democratic lawmakers cheered him on, giving the White House signing ceremony a rally-like atmosphere as they shouted and snapped photos with pocket cameras or cell phones.

Not everyone was cheering. The Democrats pushed the bill through Congress without GOP support, and the Republicans said Tuesday that those Democratic lawmakers would pay dearly in this November's elections. Opinion polls show the public remains skeptical, too, and Obama will fly to Iowa on Thursday for the first of a number of appearances that will be more like a continuing sales job than a victory lap.
___________________________________________________

and Mail, Mar. 1, 2010" />The Globe and Mail, Mar. 1, 2010" />The Globe and Mail, Mar. 1, 2010"> The Globe and Mail, Mar. 1, 2010 Newseum Image

March 1, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the Toronto newspaper, The Globe and Mail:

A record haul, a nation's triumph

By PAUL WALDIE 

These were indeed the best Games ever -- at least if the measure is Team Canada's medal haul.

Thanks to a remarkable final few days of competition, Canadian athletes won 14 gold medals in Vancouver -- twice as many as the team won in Turin, and more than any nation has ever won at a Winter Olympics. The previous record for gold medals was 13, set by Norway in 2002 and the Soviet Union in 1976.

This unprecedented success at the podium, punctuated by the men's hockey team's win Sunday, was about more than mere athletic achievement. It was also hard-won vindication for the Canadian Olympic Committee, which had endured persistent criticism about the way it funds the country's Olympic participants.
___________________________________________________

ando Sentinel, Feb. 20, 2010" />Orlando Sentinel, Feb. 20, 2010" />Orlando Sentinel, Feb. 20, 2010"> Orlando Sentinel, Feb. 20, 2010 Newseum Image

February 20, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the Orlando Sentinel:

By JEFF SHAIN

Tiger Woods apologizes for past, talks about future
Tiger Woods doesn't say when he'll return to golf but adds, "I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game"

PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- Expressing remorse for times when "I didn't think normal rules applied," Tiger Woods apologized Friday to his mother, friends, business associates -- and by extension, the world -- for the affairs that have put his marriage on the rocks and his illustrious career still on indefinite hold.

"I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you," he said in a 13 1/2-minute speech before a private gathering at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse.

"I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I'm embarrassed that I put you in this position. For all that I have done, I am so sorry."
___________________________________________________

ar, Feb. 13, 2010" />Toronto Star, Feb. 13, 2010" />Toronto Star, Feb. 13, 2010"> Toronto Star, Feb. 13, 2010 Newseum Image

February 13, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the Toronto Star:

Ecstasy and agony at the Olympics
Thrill of first day of Vancouver Games marred by tragedy

By ROSIE DIMANNO 

VANCOUVER -- Last coming in, first going out.

The final team to enter B.C. Place in Friday night's Opening Ceremonies; the top medalled nation when the Vancouver Olympics come to a close on Feb. 28. At least, that's the plan.

But, my God, how the unplanned and unimaginable can seize the day and squeeze the heart -- a pall hovering over events all yesterday with the shocking news that Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, only 21 years old, had died following a ghastly accident while training on the course in Whistler.

In the midst of all this youth and near physical perfection, the robust health of some 5,500 athletes, premature death came as a stranger, despite the risks involved in many of the Winter Games sports, some of which have veered off into "X'' Games recklessness.

The team from Georgia decided collectively, however, to stay in Vancouver, compete in their events, and even attend the opening ceremonies, wearing black arm bands and leaving a spot in their Parade of Nations formation for the lost friend. The opening ceremonies were formally dedicated to the memory of Kumaritashvili. The small and sombre-faced team received a stirring standing ovation.
___________________________________________________

ayune, Feb. 8, 2010" />The Times-Picayune, Feb. 8, 2010" />The Times-Picayune, Feb. 8, 2010"> The Times-Picayune, Feb. 8, 2010 Newseum Image

February 8, 2010: An excerpt from a story in The Times-Picayune:

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV for Who Dats everywhere

By BRUCE NOLAN 

At 8:15 p.m, when Jeremy Shockey's touchdown put the New Orleans Saints ahead late in the game, the crowds at Pat O'Brien's exploded. Fifteen minutes later, when Tracy Porter's interception sealed the deal, strangers were hopping up and down, high-fiving and hugging. And when the gun went off about 8:45 p.m., all of New Orleans -- and all lovers of New Orleans in faraway places -- leaped, or wept or punched the air for joy.

Dear Lord, Hallelujah! Who Dat Nation had reached the Promised Land.

After 43 seasons of marital loyalty, of occasional fan abuse and frequent heartbreak, the Saints and their battered, deliriously joyous city stood atop the world Sunday as the Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.

It meant so much more than football.

It meant victory for a recovering city that in some places still bears the dirty water lines of Hurricane Katrina. Victory for people who lived two years in trailers. Victory for new post-Katrina friends who fell in love with New Orleans rebuilding it. Victory for New Orleanians cheering in exile from Alaska to Miami. Victory on Facebook and on Twitter. Victory on Bourbon Street, on Caffin Avenue, in Chalmette, in Lakeview and St. Tammany.

And it meant victory for countless New Orleanians like Desana Williams, who left Holly Grove in 1998 for a new life in Stafford, Va. But this weekend, Williams and his wife, Malaika, fought their way off the snowbound Atlantic seaboard to get back home for this.

They could be nowhere else, he said.
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ader, Jan. 29, 2010" />Union Leader, Jan. 29, 2010" />Union Leader, Jan. 29, 2010"> Union Leader, Jan. 29, 2010 Newseum Image

January 28, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the Manchester, New Hampshire newspaper, the Union Leader:

'Catcher in the Rye' Author J.D. Salinger Dies

By HILLEL ITALE (AP Writer)

NEW YORK -- J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose "The Catcher in the Rye" shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, has died. He was 91.

Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son, actor Matt Salinger, said in a statement from Salinger's longtime literary representative, Harold Ober Associates, Inc. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in a small, remote house in Cornish.

"The Catcher in the Rye," with its immortal teenage protagonist, the twisted, rebellious Holden Caulfield, came out in 1951, a time of anxious, Cold War conformity and the dawn of modern adolescence. The Book-of-the-Month Club, which made "Catcher" a featured selection, advised that for "anyone who has ever brought up a son" the novel will be "a source of wonder and delight -- and concern."
___________________________________________________

ashington Post, Jan. 28, 2010" />The Washington Post, Jan. 28, 2010" />The Washington Post, Jan. 28, 2010"> The Washington Post, Jan. 28, 2010 Newseum Image

January 28, 2010: An excerpt from a story in The Washington Post:

First State of the Union speech by President Obama: 'We face a deficit of trust'

By ANNE E. KORNBLUT and MICHAEL D. SHEAR 

President Obama delivered an urgent plea for unity on Wednesday night during his first State of the Union address, seeking to recapture the energy that propelled him into office and to reverse his party's trajectory after a series of recent setbacks.

A year after entering the White House with a broad mandate, Obama reframed his agenda around a single, central mission: continuing the nation's delicate economic recovery. He focused on jobs, casting himself as the advocate of average citizens, and acknowledged that his administration had "some political setbacks this year, and some of them were deserved."

"But I wake up every day knowing that they are nothing compared to the setbacks that families all across this country have faced this year. And what keeps me going, what keeps me fighting, is that despite all these setbacks, that spirit of determination and optimism -- that fundamental decency that has always been at the core of the American people -- lives on," he said.
___________________________________________________

an Jose Mercury News, Jan. 28, 2010" />San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 28, 2010" />San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 28, 2010"> San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 28, 2010 Newseum Image

January 28, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the San Jose Mercury News:

Apple tablet: Steve Jobs unveils $499-and-up iPad

By JOHN BOUDREAU

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the biggest nonsecret in the tech world Wednesday -- a multimedia tablet computer named the iPad -- yet still managed to surprise his audience with the low price of the latest creation from the iconic Cupertino company.

The magazine-thin tablet, which starts at $499, is a full-color e-reader, game device and video player all in one that some analysts say could create a new and lucrative product line for a company with a track record for transforming consumer technology.

Users can navigate Web pages with their fingertips; a pinch of the multitouch screen zooms in on a satellite map, a tap on the right side turns a page. The iPad can be viewed vertically or horizontally -- the content instantly reconfigures to fit the position of the tablet. Although it comes with a virtual keyboard, Apple also offers a real keyboard that includes a docking station that can charge the iPad.
___________________________________________________

an. 20, 2010" />The Boston Globe, Jan. 20, 2010" />The Boston Globe, Jan. 20, 2010"> The Boston Globe, Jan. 20, 2010 Newseum Image

January 20, 2010: An excerpt from a story in The Boston Globe:

Big win for Brown
Republican trounces Coakley for Senate, imperils Obama health plan

By MATT VISER and ANDREA ESTES 

Republican Scott P. Brown pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Massachusetts political history last night, defeating Democrat Martha Coakley to become the state's next US senator and potentially derailing President Obama's hopes for a health care overhaul.

The stunning, come-from-behind victory caps a dramatic surge in recent days as Brown, a state lawmaker from Wrentham once thought to have little chance of beating a popular attorney general, roared ahead of Coakley to become the first Republican senator elected from Massachusetts since 1972.
___________________________________________________

ami Herald, January 14, 2010" />The Miami Herald, January 14, 2010" />The Miami Herald, January 14, 2010"> The Miami Herald, January 14, 2010 Newseum Image

January 14, 2010: An excerpt from a story in The Miami Herald:

Massive damage stymies Haiti relief efforts as bodies pile up

By JACQUELINE CHARLES, LESLEY CLARK, FRANCES ROBLES AND TRENTON DANIEL

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Survivors of Haiti's devastating earthquake waded through thousands of bodies strewn around the Port-au-Prince morgue, as rescue workers from across the globe raced against the clock to reach the shattered nation.

With emergency crews from the United States, Spain and Venezuela already on the ground, others were being turned away from landing at the city's airport due to over-crowding.

President Barack Obama said U.S. troops were on their way in what he called "one of the largest relief efforts in history."

As crowds camped out in city parks, bodies lay along sidewalks as common citizens did their best to tend to the wounded.

The Haitian Red Cross now esimates the number of deaths at between 45,000 and 50,000.
___________________________________________________

atch, January 12, 2010" />St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 12, 2010" />St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 12, 2010"> St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 12, 2010 Newseum Image

January 12, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

McGwire comes clean on steroid use

By JOE STRAUSS

Mark McGwire, who rejuvenated baseball with his 1998 run to the single-season home run title and then became one of the faces of the game's steroid era with his uncomfortable testimony before Congress in 2005, said Monday that he used performance enhancing drugs for much of his career.

Describing it as "one of the toughest days of my life," McGwire made his admission through a prepared statement released by the Cardinals to The Associated Press. He later elaborated in a sometimes emotional 20-minute interview with the Post-Dispatch, followed up with select interviews with other national media and ended with a televised interview with Bob Costas on the MLB Network.
___________________________________________________

an Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 2010" />San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 2010" />San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 2010"> San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 2010 Newseum Image

January 6, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

Google versus Apple

By BENNY EVANGELISTA

The rivalry between Apple and Google intensified Tuesday as the Silicon Valley giants pushed into each other's home turf.

In separate developments, Apple -- an icon of consumer electronics -- bought a mobile-advertising startup, while online ad king Google began selling its own smart phone.

Apple is "on path to collide with Google," said analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies Inc. in Campbell.

And with a Google-branded phone "aimed directly at the iPhone, Google could clearly become one of Apple's biggest rivals in the future."
___________________________________________________

an. 4, 2010" />Gulf News, Jan. 4, 2010" />Gulf News, Jan. 4, 2010"> Gulf News, Jan. 4, 2010 Newseum Image

January 4, 2010: An excerpt from a story in the Dubai, United Arab Emirates newspaper, the Gulf News:

Burj Khalifa offers amazing high-rise experience

By ARNO MAIERBRUGGER 

The Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest man-made structure ever built, it is also -- compared to other super high-rises worldwide -- a true multi-purpose building.

While other comparable skyscrapers like the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the Taipei 101 or the Willis Tower in Chicago (formerly Sears Tower) are mainly used for offices or business purposes, the Burj Dubai has it all: It comprises a hotel, residential apartments, offices as well as public facilities.

Kyle Wilson, CB - Boise State

Pick made by LV Steelers Fan:

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2010 offseason with numerous needs on the defensive side of the ball. Nose Tackle, MLB, Safety, and CB all were to be major Steelers needs, and O-Line wouldn't have hurt either. However, several offseason moves have significantly changed the Steelers' outlook. The re-signings of Ryan Clark and Casey Hampton, coupled with the acquisition of free agent Larry Foote, have reduced Pittsburgh's likely choices at pick #18 to CB and OL.

In our draft, Bryan Bulaga, Mike Iupati, and Bruce Campbell are all taken, leaving OT Trent Williams as the only remaining blue chip lineman. This would be the pick of most casual Steelers fans, but Willie Colon has developed into a decent tackle and Max Starks is locked up to a big deal for the next few years. Thus, Williams seems less likely to be the Steelers' choice than the man I am taking: CB Kyle Wilson out of Boise State.

Wilson is an aggressive corner whose great hips allow him to stay with a receiver and close in for the play. This can also be a liability, as he is vulnerable to double moves and significant coverage penalties. He is deceptively strong(25 reps at 225) considering his relatively modest stature(5'10", 190).

The William Gay experiment at CB failed miserably, and he simply cannot be used as more than a nickel corner. Deshea Townsend left in free agency, and second year men Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis have not broken through yet. Simply put, the Steelers need a corner desperately if they want to get their defense back among the league's elite.

How would he impact the 2010 Steelers?

Wilson is likely not going to develop into an all pro, but could easily be a #2 corner opposite Ike Taylor in the Steelers defense, probably as soon as early in the 2010 sesason.  Wilson is a student of the game, which should help him master Pittsburgh's complex defensive schemes and slip into the starting role quickly. His leadership skills and penchant for trash talk makes him a perfect fit for a Steelers defense that is in desperate need of a vocal presence.

If Wilson is taken #18 by the Steelers, it would be the 1st CB taken in the first round by the Steelers since 1993, when Deon Figures was taken #23 overall.  He will also be the 2nd first round draft pick ever from Boise St., with the other being OT Ryan Clady by the Broncos in 2008.

Wilson's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Falcons, and fiftycal2004, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland	Earl Thomas	S	Texas	2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland	Bruce Campbell	OT	Maryland	LovinBlue
9	Buffalo	Bryan Bulaga	OT	Iowa	Cassieper
10	Jacksonville	Rolando McClain	LB	Alabama	peytonsthebest
11	Denver	Derrick Morgan	DE	Georgia Tech	JPBarnett
12	Miami	Dez Bryant	WR	Oklahoma St.	fpacheco
13	San Francisco	Joe Haden	CB	Florida	BlueVol03
14	Seattle	Charles Brown	OT	USC	shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants	C.J. Spiller	RB	Clemson	gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee	Jason Pierre-Paul	DE	South Florida	Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco	Mike Iupati	G	Idaho	BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh	Kyle Wilson	CB	Boise St.	LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta				fiftycal2004
20	Houston				Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati				FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

What do you think of pick #18?

• Correct pick. Helps sure up the vaunted Steelers defense
• OK pick, but should have looked at other positional needs first
• OK pick, but too much of a reach for Wilson at #18
• Wrong pick. Help isn't needed to their defense this early.

  76 votes | Results

Alright B/R fans, you asked for it, so here it is, round two of our Fans' Draft. Round one was a success, and we’ll expect nothing less this time around.

Hopefully this will give fans a glimpse of what the second round could look like, and also  help pass the time until the real thing happens in April.

 

The same rules apply, and we’ll leave the list of first round selections so you can see who’s already off the board. Here we go!

 

Here’s the list of the selections so far.

1.      Rams take QB Jimmy Clausen

2.      Lions take DT Ndamukong Suh

3.      Buccaneers take DT Gerald McCoy

4.      Redskins take OT Russell Okung

5.      Chiefs take S Eric Berry

6.      Seahawks take OT Bruce Campbell

7.      Browns take CB Joe Haden

8.      Raiders take OT Anthony Davis

9.      Bills take OT Bryan Bulaga

10.    Jaguars take QB Tim Tebow

11.    Broncos take ILB Rolando McClain

12.    Dolphins take WR Dez Bryant

13.   49er’s take RB CJ Spiller

14.   Seahawks take OG Mike Iupati

15.   Giants take DT Brian Price

16.   Titans take DE Derrick Morgan

17.   49er’s take S Taylor Mays

18.   Steelers take S Earl Thomas

19.   Falcons take DE Jason Pierre-Paul

20.   Texans take WR Golden Tate

21.   Bengals take TE Jermaine Gresham

22.   Patriots take OLB Sergio Kindle

23.   Packers take OLB Jerry Hughes

24.   Eagles take OLB Sean Weatherspoon

25.   Ravens take WR Arrelious Benn

26.   Cardinals take OT Trent Williams

27.   Cowboys take ILB Brandon Spikes

28.   Chargers take DT Dan Williams

29.   Jets take DT Jared Odrick

30.   Vikings take QB Sam Bradford

31.   Colts take CB Devin McCourty

32.   Saints take DE Brandon Graham

33.   Rams take CB Kyle Wilson

34.   Lions take C Maurkice Pouncey

35.   Buccaneers take WR Demaryius Thomas

36.   Chiefs take DT Terrence Cody

37.   Redskins take OT Charles Brown

38.   Browns take QB Colt McCoy

 

Okay, Oakland, I’ll leave my thoughts on Al Davis aside this time around and get right to business.

In the first round, the fans decided to draft an offensive tackle to improve all aspects of their offense. Now, in round two, should the Raiders continue to build in the trenches, or  upgrade at a skill position?

The Raiders could even grab a huge value player by taking one of the two elite defensive ends that are still available.

Make sure to cast your votes soon!

Polls will close in 24 hours.

 

The Rules: Each day for the next 32 days, we’ll post a continuation of this article at 6 p.m. Eastern time where the fans can comment, discuss, and decide who their team will pick.

At 5 p.m. Eastern the following day, we’ll look at the best comments and opinions and announce the selection your team has made, along with the next team who will pick at 6 p.m.  A list of previous selections will be included and fans will not be allowed to vote for players who are already off the board.

Note: you do not have to use the player’s full name in voting for your vote to count. If there is a tie at the 5 p.m. cut-off, whichever player is ranked as the higher pick on CBS Sports' "overall player ranking" will be the selection.

Example: If the Bills have six votes for Ndamukong Suh and six votes for Gerald McCoy, then Suh, who is ranked No.1 overall, would be the selection over McCoy who is ranked No. 3.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE - South Florida

Pick made by Addai Another Day:

After losing Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch the last two offseasons, the Titans are in rebuilding mode along their defensive front. JPP has been shooting up the boards since the college season has ended. He has prototypical DE size at 6'5 and 270lbs, but has only played one season of DI football. Stopping the run isn't his strongsuit, and he was sometimes taken out of obvious running plays in college. Where his value is is in the pass rush. Coming off the line, he is shot out of a cannon. He could stand to learn some pass rush moves in the pros. He mainly relied on his speed in college, resulting in only 6.5 sacks. His upside, however, is tremendous.

How will he impact the '10 Titans?

In the upcoming season, he should be a starter right out of the gate. This is because, well, the Titans don't have much there. Make no mistake, JPP is raw. Don't expect a rookie season like Jevon Kearse's. JPP will take a year or so to learn some moves and adjust to the speed of the game. Expect 6-9 sacks, but not a lot of tackles.

If Pierre-Paul is taken #16 by the Titans, it would be the 1st DE taken in the first round by the Titans since 1999, when the aforementioned Jevon Kearse was taken #16 overall (ironic, huh?).  He will also be the 2nd first round draft pick ever from South Florida (Mike Jenkins).  He'll also be the first DL from USF ever drafted.

Pierre-Paul's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The 49ers, and BlueVol03, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland	Earl Thomas	S	Texas	2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland	Bruce Campbell	OT	Maryland	LovinBlue
9	Buffalo	Bryan Bulaga	OT	Iowa	Cassieper
10	Jacksonville	Rolando McClain	LB	Alabama	peytonsthebest
11	Denver	Derrick Morgan	DE	Georgia Tech	JPBarnett
12	Miami	Dez Bryant	WR	Oklahoma St.	fpacheco
13	San Francisco	Joe Haden	CB	Florida	BlueVol03
14	Seattle	Charles Brown	OT	USC	shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants	C.J. Spiller	RB	Clemson	gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee	Jason Pierre-Paul	DE	South Florida	Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco				BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh				LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta				fiftycal2004
20	Houston				Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati				FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

What do you think of the Titans pick at #16?

• Correct pick. Much needed upgrade at DE.
• Right Position, Wrong Player
• OK pick, but more value was on the board elsewhere
• Wrong pick. Titans need to address other positions first.

  3 votes | Results

C.J. Spiller, RB - Clemson

Pick made by gizzardfanny:

With safety upgraded with the signing of [Antrel] Rolle, and [MLB Rolando] McClain off the board, the Giants feel free to go BPA among other positions and select Spiller. They feel they can upgrade their OL and DL later in the draft. Injuries and age are starting to wear [RB Brandon] Jacobs down, and the other RBs don't seem able to carry the load. Spiller could be perfect complement to Jacobs, as well as a playmaker for the Giants.

How will he impact the '10 Giants?

C.J. will likely start 2010 as Jacobs' back up, but could get heavy playing time when Jacobs is on the sideline. The addition of Spiller will add another dimension to the Giants offense.

If Spiller is taken #15 by the Giants, it would be the 1st RB taken in the first round since 2000 by the Giants, when Ron Dayne was taken #11 overall.  He will also be the 1st RB taken in the first round from Clemson since 1987, when the 49ers drafted Terrence Flagler 25th overall.

Spiller's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Titans, and Addai Another Day, are on the clock...

Pos	Team	Player	Pos	School	Drafter
1	St. Louis	Jimmy Clausen	QB	Notre Dame	TouchdownColts
2	Detroit	Russell Okung	OT	Oklahoma St.	coltsfan723
3	Tampa Bay	Ndamukong Suh	DT	Nebraska	TheAngelsColts
4	Washington	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma	Colts Homer
5	Kansas City	Eric Berry	S	Tennessee	sanders_fan89
6	Seattle	Gerald McCoy	DT	Oklahoma	shake n bake
7	Cleveland	Earl Thomas	S	Texas	2ndBlueGeneration
8	Oakland	Bruce Campbell	OT	Maryland	LovinBlue
9	Buffalo	Bryan Bulaga	OT	Iowa	Cassieper
10	Jacksonville	Rolando McClain	LB	Alabama	peytonsthebest
11	Denver	Derrick Morgan	DE	Georgia Tech	JPBarnett
12	Miami	Dez Bryant	WR	Oklahoma St.	fpacheco
13	San Francisco	Joe Haden	CB	Florida	BlueVol03
14	Seattle	Charles Brown	OT	USC	shake n bake
15	N.Y. Giants	C.J. Spiller	RB	Clemson	gizzardfanny
16	Tennessee				Addai Another Day
17	San Francisco				BlueVol03
18	Pittsburgh				LV Steelers Fan
19	Atlanta				fiftycal2004
20	Houston				Aerostar193
21	Cincinnati				FineClub
22	New England				skywalker
23	Green Bay				bracketismyboy
24	Philadelphia				TehRhino
25	Baltimore				SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs
26	Arizona				NYKings
27	Dallas				jules62
28	San Diego				chad72
29	N.Y. Jets				diagenesis
30	Minnesota				DClark#44
31	Indianapolis				mgrex03
32	New Orleans				palco

Poll

What do you think of pick #15?

• Correct pick. He'll fit in very well with the Giants.
• OK pick, but should have looked at other areas first
• Too much of a stretch for Spiller at #15
• Wrong pick. Other needs should be filled first

  69 votes | Results

Apologies for the lack of a weekend edition. Unfortunately, your intrepid Wrap author got waylaid by a track meet that ran two-plus hours behind schedule, and dead batteries on both the mobile phone and the laptop. It was the perfect storm of suck, I can assure you.

Fortunately, it allows for a heaping helping of political entertainment on this, the Monday edition of the Wrap, with a shiny new feature. At the behest of many, I have elected to place the Ras-a-Palooza in their own little pen at the close of the Wrap. After all, there's only so many ways to say "The GOP looks amazingly good in this new Rasmussen poll"...

THE U.S. SENATE

NV-Sen: Tea Party Candidacy Challenged In Court
When Tea Party candidate Jon Ashjian launched into the Nevada Senate race, several Republicans (including one candidate--Dany Tarkanian) bitterly noted that they thought he was a plant, presumably part of a nefarious Democratic plot. Alas, it is Ashjian's recent status as a Republican that might wind up unraveling his Senate candidacy. Another candidate in the field, Tim Fasano of the right-wing IAP, filed the challenge in Carson City earlier today. His argument is that when Ashjian filed as a member of the Tea Party, he was still a registered Republican. Interestingly, Jon Ralston is noting that an affiliate of the National Tea Party movement, Debbie Landis, may join Fasano's complaint.

NY-Sen: Only Pataki Can Save GOP Against Gillibrand
Siena College is out with their latest poll of the Empire State (they poll here on around a monthly basis). They continue to poll a potential Senate matchup between incumbent Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former Governor George Pataki, even though Pataki has not made any serious overtures towards making the bid. For what it's worth (PDF file), they have Pataki up six (45-39). Against candidates that are actually in the field, Gillibrand is up on Bruce Blakeman by a two-to-one margin (48-24). On the actual candidate front, it now appears that one candidate recruitment rumor in New York is about to come across--former Bush advisor Dan Senor (aka Mr. Campbell Brown) is pretty much a go, according to the NY Daily News.

THE U.S. HOUSE

CA-19: Tight GOP Primary in Radanovich Seat
In the battle to replace retiring GOP Rep. George Radanovich, it is a tight battle on the GOP side, while undecided has a big lead on the Democratic side. So says a new poll from SurveyUSA, which shows Radanovich's endorsed candidate, state legislator Jeff Denham, with a lead of a single point (26-25) over former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson. Congressman Richard Pombo, who used to rep the neighboring 11th district, lags well behind at 13%. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, the majority of the voters are still undecided on their choice, with John Estrada pacing the field with 24% of the vote.

GA-09: Special Election Date Now Set For Deal Seat
After GOP Congressman Nathan Deal beat a fast exit out of town after last night's health care vote (he resigned shortly after the vote), Georgia's GOP Governor (Sonny Perdue) quickly set a date for the election to select his replacement. The special election to replace Deal will be on April 27th. Deal's resignation was not abrupt, he had announced it a few weeks back, choosing to focus on his campaign for Governor, where he is challenging state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Sec. of State Karen Handel.

MA-10: Is A Three-Way Contest Pending On the Cape?
Here is an interesting pickup from James L. at Swing State: former Democratic state legislator Maryanne Lewis has left the Democratic Party, perhaps as a prelude to running for Congress in the open 10th district as an Independent. According to James L, this one could truly cut either way. Being a former Dem could siphon off Dem votes, but Lewis had a rep as a conservative, which means she could drain conservative votes from the potential GOP nominee. Speaking of the GOP in the 10th, one longstanding rumor got confirmed, as former state treasurer Joe Malone made it official that he will be a candidate for Congress.

SD-AL: Hildebrand Elects To Pass On Herseth-Sandlin Primary
Less than a week after he made overtures towards engaging fourth-term conservative Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, former Obama top campaign official Steve Hildebrand decided to forgo a primary challenge to the Congresswoman. This comes despite Herseth-Sandlin following through on a pledge not to vote for the health care reform package last night. Hildebrand's rationale? It passed by enough votes that Democrats might have "released" her and let her vote strategically against the bill.

VT-AL: Welch Draws GOP Opposition For 2010 Election
Sophomore Democratic Congressman Peter Welch will experience something in his second bid for re-election that he did not have to deal with in the first go-round: an actual Republican opponent. His name is Keith Stern, and he has a run for Congress in his recent past history. He challenged for the seat as an Independent in 2006, and notched three-tenths of one percent of the vote.

THE GUBERNATORIAL RACES

MI-Gov: Pair of Polls Heartening to GOP In Michigan Guv Race
A new poll (PDF) from Inside Michigan Politics by MRG says that the GOP Primary is an almost unbelievable toss-up, with three candidates within a single point. The survey has state AG Mike Cox and Congressman Pete Hoekstra tied at 21%, with businessman Rick Snyder a single point behind at 20%. Undecided is the big leader on the Democratic side, as state House Speaker Andy Dillon leads with 21%. Two-thirds of voters, however, remain undecided. Perhaps not surprisingly given the relatively low name recognition of the candidates on the Democratic side, the polls give clear leads for the GOP candidates, with leads ranging from 15-22 points (which seems rather generous to the Red Team, when compared with other pollsters).

Interestingly, the same pollster (MRG) conducted a separate poll for the Detroit Free Press, measuring the impact of a potential Independent candidacy for former GOP Congressman Joe Schwarz. The impact, when compared to the other MRG poll conducted for Inside Michigan Politics, is minimal: they only tested one matchup (Hoesktra-Dillon-Schwarz). While Hoekstra led by 16 points in the two-way tab for IMP, he leads Dillon by thirteen (35-22) in the three-way tab, with Schwarz nabbing 14%.

NY-Gov: Siena Poll Has Cuomo Up Huge over Old or New GOPers
Whether the Republican nominee is longtime Republican Rick Lazio (the former Congressman and Senate aspirant) or potential nouveau Republican Steve Levy (the Suffolk County Executive), Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has a massive lead in the battle to be the state's Governor. So says the latest poll from Siena College. Levy, from the poll, clearly has work to do both in the primary and general elections: he trails Lazio by a 45-16 margin in a prospective GOP primary, and goes on to be blasted by Cuomo in a prospective general election by a 63-16 margin (with 4% for potential Indy candidate Warren Redlich). Lazio only does marginally better against Cuomo, there the margin is a mere thirty-eight points (59-21-3).

In further bad news for the potential Levy candidacy, the state's Conservative Party elected by a 13-5 margin to endorse Lazio, setting up a potential peril for Levy. Lazio has already made it clear that he will run on the Conservative line, with or without a placement on the GOP line.

THE RAS-A-PALOOZA

Time to recap the wave of Rasmussen data that has accumulated over the past several days. Most of them, as would be expected, are pretty rosy for the GOP. In other news, the sun is expected to set in the West this evening, and ice is still cold.

AZ-Sen (R): John McCain 48%, J.D. Hayworth 41%
AZ-Gov (R): Dean Martin 21%, Gov. Jan Brewer 20%, Buzz Mills 19%
FL-Sen: Marco Rubio (R) 42%, Kendrick Meek (D) 25%, Charlie Crist (I) 22%
GA-Gov: Nathan Deal (R) 43%, Roy Barnes (D) 40%
GA-Gov: Karen Handel (R) 42%, Roy Barnes (D) 39%
GA-Gov: John Oxendine (R) 41%, Roy Barnes (D) 41%
GA-Gov: Roy Barnes (D) 40%, Eric Johnson (R) 38%
GA-Sen: Johnny Isakson (R) 52%, Generic Democrat 31%
IA-Sen: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) 55%, Roxanne Conlin (D) 36%
IA-Sen: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) 57%, Bob Krause (D) 31%
IA-Sen: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) 57%, Tom Fiegen (D) 28%
VT-Sen: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) 58%, Generic Republican 33%