R. Rich

OSU may have won the Big 10, but Penn State won the Big 11 title! Seriously though, any of the 3 teams can talk smack to the other 2, since they took turns beating each other this season (OSU beat Michigan, who beat Penn State, who beat OSU).

Relax, Bill. All is well. The lines are okay. It was just one bad game.

I didn't watch that game, but I have seen him @ his not so great moments (even though they beat Syracuse, the 'Cuse got the better of him). Even so, the Texans would be stupid to pass on a guy w/ his talent. I really believe he's more than pure hype; he's the real deal.

Ware? I think he's good, but I also think Derrick Johnson is doing a pretty good job in KC. And, let's not forget guys like Odell Thurman in Cincinnati and some kid from the University of Maryland. He was pretty awesome for the Terps last year. The name escapes me. I wish I could remember. Maybe if I could see some film of him playing now, it would come to me. Hmm...

I know all too well, Lori. I told you, other than the OT loss to Iowa a few years ago, that was the most gut wrenching loss I've suffered through.

I agree. My latest pick (the 2nd I've made for the Bills) is OT Jordan Gross. The pickings were getting slim @ OT, and I wanted to be sure to get a good one before I was relegated to choosing a Jonas Jennings type. I was really PO'd that someone took the guy I was going to take, SS Troy Polamalu, just before my pick, though.

As much as I'd love to take the credit for recruiting a great group of WRs this year and bringing a very solid group of players the years prior (including LB Dan Connor and QB Anthony Morelli, who we'll see next year w/ Robinson gone), and having faith in JoePa, somehow I just can't say this is "my team". It is the team I root for passionately, as you know full well, but do I own them? Nah. Is it okay for a diehard fan to congratulate a legendary coach (how many other coaches before or since have been named SI's Sportsman of the Year?) for shutting up his critics? I'd like to think it is. But what do I know?

Yep. I've been saying that he's the best player in college football all year long. The guy reminds me of a faster version of Marshall Faulk. How do you pass that up? Then again, if Houston has to choose between D'Brickashaw Ferguson or Bush, I still feel they should take Ferguson. Their line is just awful and is helping to ruin the career of David Carr and shorten the career of Domanick Davis.

My game plan will be to hightail it to the nearest establishment that has Sunday Ticket (and, of course, beer: Mmmm.....beeeeeeeeeeer!!!) after attending the Steelers @ Ravens game w/ Psycho Ward 86.

Still though, it was nice for them to consider interviewing Dallas' Pro Bowl SS after one of his rare big plays in coverage.

Not a bad summary, though I would've put Ngata of Oregon ahead of Watson @ DT, and I probably wouldn't feature any WRs in the Top 10, as this year's class is pretty weak overall. Of their choices, I'd drop Holmes and put Winston, the OT from Miami (Fla) in their in his place. As for Stovall, I do think he could be a decent prospect @ WR for someone. I sure hope it's not the Bills though. We need to beef up our OL and DL more than we need to draft yet another WR.

Other than Reggie Bush and maybe Matt Leinart, I think D'Brickashaw Ferguson is the best player in this draft........so far. There's always a chance someone like Ted Ginn would come out early (though I doubt it).

The defense will take a major hit in terms of starters (all but the LBs are seniors), but will have plenty of decent athletes ready to step in. The one thing I'll be looking for in the early signings is a good crop of offensive linemen. They really need that.

And to think, nobody thought the Lions would get to this point going into the season. I know I didn't. Way to shut up all the doubters and naysayers, JoePa! Even Phil Steele, whose college football guide is the best BY FAR, had PSU as the #60 team in his poll and picked them to finish 6th or 8th in the Big 11. So, it looks like there won't be a showdown w/ "that school" in Tempe...too bad. I would've tried to go to that one instead of next year's regular season game in South Bend. Maybe we get Miami instead? Interesting. I think that would be a nice matchup too. One thing: I love the comment from JoePa in his postgame interview: (interviewer) "How many people do you think thought that you would be in this position @ the beginning of the season?" (JoePa) "I don't know and I don't care." Classic JoePa right there.

That list is garbage. Where's the really great football towns like Des Moines (IA), Pine Bluff (Ark), Shippensburg (PA), and Los Angeles?

A good choice. Unfortunately, he's gone as well. A lot of them are stalking up on offensive linemen early on. Go figure. Here's the rundown so far.... Round 1 Chicago- RB Shaun Alexander Washington- QB Peyton Manning Cleveland- DE Dwight Freeney Tennessee- RB Jamal Lewis Atlanta- QB Tom Brady Baltimore- FS Ed Reed Minnesota- RB LaDainian Tomlinson Green Bay- QB Donovan McNabb Round 2 Green Bay- LB Ray Lewis Minnesota- WR Randy Moss Baltimore- OT Orlando Pace Atlanta- RB Priest Holmes Tennessee- LB Keith Bullock Cleveland- DE Julius Peppers Washington- WR Terrell Owens Chicago- CB Champ Bailey Round 3 Chicago- OT Walter Jones Washington- WR Marvin Harrison Cleveland- CB Nate Clements Tennessee- SS Rodney Harrison Atlanta- WR Chad Johnson Baltimore- LB Takeo Spikes Minnesota- LB Julian Peterson Green Bay- WR Torry Holt Round 4 Green Bay- DT Kris Jenkins Minnesota- LB LaVarr Arrington Baltimore- OT Jonathan Ogden Atlanta- CB Chris McCalister Tennessee- CB Patrick Surtain Cleveland- LB Derrick Brooks Washington- LB Al Wilson Chicago- QB Ben Roethlisberger Round 5 Chicago- DT Rod Coleman Washington- LB Joey Porter Cleveland- FS Sean Taylor Tennessee- WR Joe Horn Atlanta- DE Simeon Rice Baltimore- DE John Abraham Minnesota- QB Daunte Culpepper Green Bay- CB Ty Law Round 6 Green Bay- DT La' Roi Glover Minnesota- LB Brian Urlacher Baltimore- LB Zach Thomas Atlanta- TE Tony Gonzalez Tennessee- DE Richard Seymour Cleveland- DT Marcus Stroud Washington- DE Jason Taylor Chicago- OG Steve Hutchinson Round 7 Chicago- WR Steve Smith Washington- DE Michael Strahan Cleveland- OG Alan Faneca Tennessee- DT John Henderson Atlanta- CB Samari Rolle Baltimore- DT Kevin Williams Minnesota- SS Roy Williams Green Bay- RB Willis McGahee Round 8 Green Bay- C Olin Kreutz Minnesota- S Brian Dawkins Baltimore- CB Ronde Barber Buffalo*- DT Shaun Rogers [*-formerly Atlanta] Tennessee- OT Willie Roaf Cleveland- OT Willie Anderson Washington- DT Casey Hampton Chicago-OT Flozell Adams Round 9 Chicago-OT Marco Rivera Washington-CB Antoine Winfield Cleveland-SS Troy Polamalu Tennessee-QB Steve McNair Buffalo-OT Jordan Gross

No Shows: 1. Rockpile 2. R. Rich See you guys in 4 weeks.

I took over a team in a sim league. This one will be a league where the games are simmed by videogame (ESPN 2K5, I think). One of the owners had to bail, so I said I'd join. Here's my team so far (I joined after the first 7 picks for this team were made): 1. Tom Brady (QB) 2. Priest Holmes (RB) 3. Chad Johnson (WR) 4. Chris McAllister (CB) 5. Simeon Rice (DE) 6. Tony Gonzalez (TE) 7. Samari Rolle (CB) 8. Shaun Rogers (DT) I'm hoping to start building a good offensive line now, but a lot of the top tackles have been taken as have the top 4-5 guards.

It sounds like someone who didn't expect much from this season and has been pleasantly surprised. You know, the fan that doesn't sound like an idiot talking trash before games are played.

Whatever happens, this season has far exceeded my expectations. All I hoped for PSU was that their freshman would have an active role, and they sure have.

Winston has continued his solid play, and is now considered the 2nd best tackle prospect in the draft behind Ferguson. Of the top 3 prospects going into this season (Feguson, Marcus McNeill of Auburn and Winston), he's the one I liked the least. He's still better than the rest of the tackles available though. Do I think he could play LT? Absolutely. He's a former TE who will hold his own against many of the speed rushers and is strong enough to handle many of the bull rushers. He also is playing very well after injuring his knee last year, which is surprising. Usually, big guys like linemen have lingering effects of knee injuries and don't bounce back as quickly as he has. Right now, after Ferguson, he's shown that he's the top LT prospect.

My brother graduated from Miami also. He went there from 85-89. He went to school there w/ a pretty decent RB they had named George Swarn, who got drafted by the Cardinals, I think. They also had a really good DB who got drafted by the NY Giants named Sheldon White. He was a pretty good player in the NFL too. Sheldon was also on the track team w/ my brother ( who won 3 MAC high jump titles and 2 MAC triple jump titles there). Miami has a very good KR/WR that people should watch named Ryne Robinson. That kid can flat out fly!

Good post, Bill. D'Brickashaw Ferguson may very well be one of the best LT prospects since Orlando Pace. This kid's athleticism is uncanny, and he's put on some muscle and has shown some good strength in the games I've seen him play. e-dog; top 5 @ the least. More like top 3. I know one thing; if Houston has a top 3 pick (likely), he'll probably be their choice.

Oh yeah, forgot about him. Since Ward isn't a lineman, I'm sure he knew about him before 2 years ago.

Ah, but poker is a sport, Kelly. All of the long hours, the training, the pregame preparation...