NFL Draft

Wow, the NFL Draft starts tomorrow.  When did the draft go from 2 days to 3 days worth of coverage, and in prime time to boot? Priorities people, let's get some.  Every talking head has something to say about who will or will not be a great QB and when (or what round) they will go. If there is one thing the draft proves every year, its that no one really knows who will do well.  Never.

Lets take an easy one: Tom Brady.  Everyone knows he was a 6th round pick.  Lets look at what the Sporting News had to say about him in their scouting report in 2000:
"Has adequate feet and a decent setup . . . with more experience he could develop into a competent 'caretaker' . . .could be an NFL backup."  A competent caretaker and NFL backup.  Wow, you hit that one on the head Sporting News.  I'm glad you are there to do one thing well: report on sports.

But the owners/coaches don't know anything either. Lets take a look at the QBs chosen ahead of Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL draft:
Chad Pennington: 1st Round, 18th overall. 8 up and down years with the Jets, going on his third with the Dolphins.  Still playing, not necessarily a bust, but nothing special. 

Giovanni Carmazzi: 3rd Round, 65th pick. Who? Let's see, he played QB for Hofstra. . .wait, they have a football team?  Giovanni never got off the bench in the NFL and finished his career playing for the Rhein Fire (NFL Europe), BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders (CFL)

Chris Redman: 3rd Round, 75th overall. Very up and down in his career, but at least most football fans would recognize him. Has a Superbowl ring for riding the pine with the Ravens.

Tee Martin: 5th Round, 163rd pick. Best year in the pros: He had 69 passing yards, 0 TDs and a 25.3 passer rating with the Raiders (I'm surprised Al Davis didn't put the franchise tag on him). Does anyone outside of the SEC at best and Tennessee at worst know who he is?  One feather in Tee's cap is that he did manage to win the national championship that his predecessor never got.  Who is this, you say?  A little nobody named Peyton. 

Marc Bulger: 6th Round, 168th pick.  At least this guy was a 2 time pro bowler.  But you could make the same argument as with Brady, since he was picked in the 6th round.

Spergon Wynn: 6th Round, 183rd pick.  Once again, who?  At least this is a guy that belongs in the 6th round. Spergon's career stats: 585 yards, 2 TDs, 7 INTs, 39.9 passer rating.  Hey, its better than Tee and Giovanni. Also, he's got to be a BNOW candidate.