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The NFL 2012 Thread

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jaypee:
Hey, the unofficial start of the new season was last night.

I can't believe that the Patriots traded up.. and not once but twice! Hopefully we'll have a real D line for the first time since Seymour left. This could be exciting.

I'm hoping that they pick up a developmental WR in the 2nd round because I don't think Welker is long for this team.

Johnny Slick:
For the third straight year, the Seattle Seahawks' draft philosophy appeared to be "give Mel Kiper a heart attack". It's not that they drafted *poorly*, it's that they drafted... uniquely. First there's #15 pick Bruce Irvin, who is faaaaast but who is being slammed because he was a "third round talent" who "is too small to play defensive end". The issue here is that:

a. Seattle plays a funky hybrid 4-3/3-4 defense (called the 4-3 Under Elephant if you care) which uses a guy on the weakside edge who more or less exactly requires the skillset of Irvin. Right now it's being manned by Chris Clemons, who has been excellent the past couple years and who is all of 10 pounds heavier than the new draft pick.

b. It doesn't matter where a guy is "supposed" to go in your own mock, if one other team has him ranked at, let's say, 16th, then if you want him he has to be #15 on your list. There really isn't any such thing as a "third round talent". We know for an almost-fact that San Francisco was going to draft him at the end of the round if Irvin was available (from what I gather they actually called him and told him as much) so at best Seattle grabbed him 14 picks too early. If they weren't able or willing to trade down again - and given all the edge rusher types who went from 16-21 I don't blame them for not moving again - then, really, their only choice at that point would have been to forgo the guy that they were looking to pick up all draft long or bite the bullet and get him when they got him.

This was, I guess, exacerbated by them choosing Russell Wilson in the 3rd round, a guy who I have seen some scouts compare favorably with Robert Griffin (as in, "this guy is better than Robert Griffin") but who moved back as far as he did because he is short. I know the old maxim that you have to be above 6'2" to play QB in the NFL but if there's anyone who can break that mold, it's Russell Wilson. Jon Gruden about punched Mel Kiper Jr. in the face on Friday night when Kiper insinuated that Wilson doesn't have the tools to be a pro quarterback.

jaypee:
If you want an example of how big an incompetent tool Mel Kiper is, look no further than his grading of the Patriots' 2005 draft class with a "C".

Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur, Matt Cassell, James Sanders. Five starters, at least two of whom have been pro bowl by my recollection.

jaypee:
http://norton.patch.com/articles/norton-youth-welcomes-nate-ebner-to-the-patriots


--- Quote ---Norton youth Brandon Morabito got the chance of a lifetime this weekend, as he was able to select Ohio State defensive back Nate Ebner with the 197th pick in the sixth round of the NFL draft.

Some New York faithful in attendance booed Brandon and the pick, but it did not dishearten him. 

“Brandon responded with a smile and yelled the pick even louder,” said his father, Mark. “We were so proud.”

Despite the booing, Brandon enjoyed every minute of it.  His mother, Jennifer, was a little shaken after seeing thousands boo, but Brandon quickly calmed her when she saw his huge smile.
--- End quote ---


They seriously need to stop having the draft in NYC, Jets fans are fucking horrible human beings. And I'm not being facetious when I say that if I had to choose between being in a room filled with neo-Nazis and a room full of Jets fans I'm going Nazi all the way.

Johnny Slick:
Outside of the fact that ESPN is based out of NYC (well, Stamford, CT but whatevs) I don't see why they don't host the draft in Los Angeles. If I were the NFL I'd be doing everything I could to try to drum up some small amount of interest in the league in the 2nd largest city in the country.

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