JoeF

Really cool video of Hardy on Draft Day..he is overcome with emotion when he is drafted - also great video of he and his son. http://www.wane.com/Global/category.asp?C=...;nav=menu32_6_1 HARDY ON DRAFT DAY: Thought a lot of you would be interested in seeing some of the behind the scenes footage of James Hardy's draft day as he waited to see where he would be drafted. A Forth Wayne, IN affiliate WANE-TV (his hometown) was with him on draft day and there were some interesting things to come out of it. For example, Tampa called him when they were on the clock at 20 and said it was down to him and one other player, and they wound up taking Aqib Talib. Some good stuff. ---

As much as we would like to think Football is a history lesson, its more current events. This Bills front office seems driven by what their roster looks like today rather than worrying about what their historical draft record and player retention history looks like. Everyone loses free agents--you think the Skins were happy to lose Dockery? No way--there was crying and gnashing of teeth--but they didn't want to pay $7M a year for a guard. Seattle didn't want to lose Hutchinson three years ago. The Pats didn't want to lose Samuel and Gay this off-season--but that's life in the NFL -- you adapt and adjust. We have not adapted or adjusted well because over the last 8 years we had too much focus and money tied up in players who couldn't perform to the level we were paying them. So a quick lesson on current events. The Bills have this other team in the division that outscored them 94-17 last year in two games...and threw for 700 yards and 9 touchdowns in two games...our DB's looked lost against them. If that is our benchmark--we did the right thing. The corner position needed a makeover and its getting one, just like the DT position needed one. The OL needed a makeover last year and it got one outside the draft. Our sacks were way down..our running game showed a bit of improvement but will probably show even more this year as the player's mesh. Do we need one more stud on the interior at C--maybe, but it was far from our greatest need. Jauron inherited the worst situation possible in many ways--lots of holes and age on a losing roster. They are filling those holes by spreading the cap pretty wisely in my opinion and being opportunistic with trades, FA and the draft. Waxing poetically about our inept history is not going to get us anywhere...filling our greatest talent holes particularly those our divisional opponents exploit will get us places. What was the question again? Oh yeah--Leodis Day and Knights and what I think is a standard of performance for a #11 pick. I think he should be an immediate starter. Anything less and I will be disappointed. I don't care if he gets roasted a few times--not putting him out there right away as a corner will stunt his development. A QB may be different -- its more complex but a corner--its understand 3 maybe 4 coverages and also "hey--see this mother!@#$er across from you" run down the field with him step for step. A player either has this or he doesn't..

Tidbit on Jones pre-draft.. http://corner.bigblueinteractive.com/index...p;thread=284888

How about the James Gang instead...doesn't solve the domestic violence issues -- but helps with the gender equity thingy..

They mentioned it as in the practices -- did he participate at all? Interesting....

We have so many nickel corners, they have been devalued to a penny each....(pa dum dum)...(here through Thursday, try the meat loaf)

Pro Football Weekly said he got manhandled (their words not mine) at the Senior Bowl when he tried to block LB's in a traditional scheme (ie not the spread they ran at WVU). Said he was too often the "nail not the hammer". Guess we will see. Seems like a good character guy and a leader -- but if you can't play -- you can't play. The Seahawks obviously think he was worth a pick...

Steve Jobs just ordered 365 of them.... http://static.flickr.com/142/352172316_fef2f308d2.jpg The official Apple outfit..

I think Spencer Johnson will fill the swing DT and DE spot .. rotating at the 3 and at RE in run situations to give Schobel a break. That limits the need for Spears. What we really need is just a pure pass rushing End. A guy with 4.7 or better speed -- somewhere in the range of 255-270 lbs..who can deliver a few sacks and lots of hurries.

Do what we did with Stroud--move some of the existing money in the three year deal into year 1 as a guarantee.... He's a really, really good corner. I would almost say they are not getting an upgrade in Samuel.

Could Russ be our Theo Epstein??..that would be nice....

Hole #1 - Upshaw uses Stover as his tee...damn kickers...

Look at the list of current players...this is a damn free agent recruiting event...

If Comedic value counted...Robert Royal would be better than Antonio Gates...

According to witnesses, Gianatassio and his girlfriend were walking by when Mauia asked Gianatassio what he was looking at. Gianatassio replied he wasn't looking at anyone, then was punched by the 270-pound Mauia, the sheriff's office said. ...and then I graduated from middle school... what a sh--head...He deserves a Roger Goddell NFL Career Darwin award

No, seriously, what's Chelsea's number?

You are the draft guru...He will still end up with about 2-3 Million gauranteed -- but you don't risk $10M guaranteed with the #11 pick

He has at least admitted to the crime/incident and sounds remorseful. That puts him ahead of about 3/4 of the players that have been accused of domestic abuse. If he can outline to teams (privately of course) what he has done to deal with the situation (the pretrial diversion counseling is one thing--but is he current on child support; does he continue to get anger management counseling; is he a presence in the child's life in a positive way on a regular basis)..its something that will still be a consideration but put into a slightly better context. Unfortunately, this seems to happen all too often in the NFL and for that matter in society in general..if you want to abuse your spouse or kids--go to a biker bar and sucker punch the meanest mother !@#$er you can find instead.

No 2 round mock in the publication...as of March 6 print date for the book he has us taking Sedrick Ellis in the first--this even with knowledge of our Free Agent signings.. On-line his current pick is..as of April 2nd is Devin Thomas 11. Buffalo Bills WR Devin Thomas*, Michigan State One-year wonders always pose some risk, but Thomas has playmaking ability that could open up the offense for Trent Edwards and complement Lee Evans very nicely.

Here's the entire write up on Hardy... Has a son. Redshirted in 2004 but played basketball for the Hoosiers starting 3 of 23 games in which he played. Started 10 of 11 games in '05 and registered 61 receptions for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. In May 06 was arrested and charged with domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a crime when he allegedly attacked his girlfriend and infant son. When the police arrived at the scene, the girlfriend's shirt was torn and she had marks on the side and back of her neck. the charges were dropped after he participated in a pretrial diversion program. Started 10 of 10 games in 06 bu was suspended for two early-season games for unspecified personal reasons apparently unrelated to the arrest. Finished with 51-722-10. Started all 13 games in 07 amassed 79-1125-16. Set a school record with 36 career TD's. Positives-Natural athlete with rare size. Good hands and balance. Difficult to defend in the red zone. Very agile for his size. Makes some acrobatic catches and can slide to the ground to catch the low ball. Adjusts to the ball very well above his head plucking it out of the air. Outstanding career production. Negatives-Not a blazer. Shows too many concentration lapses. Not as physical off the line as his size would suggest. Not a disciplined route runner. Knows how gifted he is and takes advantage of it. Too inconsistent. Struggled to produce against better competition. Cannot transition in and out of his breaks quickly and accelerate away from tight press coverage. Lacks concentration and makes easy drops. Is still young and immature. Summary: has shown some signs of maturing, but still has a long way to go before he grows up and becomes a pro. Rare size could create match up problems but has shown he can be slowed against physical press coverage. Needs to become a more crafty route runner to uncover vs. NFL competition. Note--this is a sample of the depth of write-up provided by PFW and Nawrocki..

Its still the best publication in my mind...some interesting insights: 1) Of all the tall WR's -- everyone has a significant flaw-- Devin Thomas-best potential but only one year of high production Limas Sweed- really hard worker but the injury question Malcolm Kelly- work ethic questioned and effort questioned Hardy- Work ethic questioned and alleged assault on his girlfriend and baby son in 2006 Jordy Nelson - Speed and blocking questioned but good work ethic He has Sweed going the earliest at #24 in his first round mock (as of March 6). In his top 150 regardless of position he has Sweed 19 Thomas 22 Kelly 24 Manningham 28 Hardy 31 DeSean Jackson 47 (although he has Jackson going at #20 in his first round mock) 2) As for the TE's Rucker, Davis, Bennett are all questionable work ethic guys Carlson has the speed issue Keller is more of an Hback who he calls situational Some other surprises--he flags McFadden as a major character risk -- says he may never be able to escape his posse..and points out that he is fumbler -- 23 fumbles in the last 3 years..Ranks Jonathan Stewart (7th in top 150) above McFadden (9th in top 150) Based on his write-ups there's more sure fire value on D in round 1 and no WR or TE distinguishes themselves enough to look at until late round 1 or early round 2. Just another pundit, but he does pretty meticulous work. Its worth the $20 cover price...

As soon as he makes bail he will skip town and head to Leinart's hot-tub.. Stuck--I think the team that resides in your hometown has now paid the price for every questionable character guy they have brought in.

...........the Baby Ruth scene from Caddyshack comes to mind......

Couldn't have wrote it any better Jay...

Party at Matt's house Photo 1: Just being the gentleman Photo 2: Exhibiting proper use of the hot tub Whisenhunt says he's disappointed....I am disappointed too--I expected 6 fine young women in the tub -- not just four...