MRW

There are a couple of things I think. Vick will not be a championship-caliber QB unless he can get better at passing. Also, Atlanta's offense is so one-dimensional that a playoff defense can contain him and completely shut things down. They need to bring in at least one #1 receiver to give him a target besides Alge Crumpler.

The big thing for the Pats is that they will still have Pioli. As long as Belichick and Pioli are there, I think they will be able to find good assistants to support them. The OC is probably a bit of a question mark for them, but I don't think Belichick is going to have new assistants come in with completely new programs.

Actually I think Sammy Morris was a pretty good pick as a fifth-rounder and we got some decent mileage out of Polk IMO. The rest though - I still remember those days of waiting for Leif Larsen to develop into a football player.

Yeah, I don't want to see that either. I don't think the downside to keeping him is that great even if he never gets it together.

Soundgarden's probably my favorite band, so I'm always stoked to see them discussed. My favorite song of theirs, which of course never gets airplay, is Mind Riot. And speaking of Sabbath, how about Supernaut? Just discovered this one recently...

I do give him credit for playing injured a lot of the season. The problem is, every time he puts out that kind of effort, he turns around and acts like a jackass (the display in Green Bay, leaving the field against the Redskins with a playoff spot on the line - this is the unforgivable one I think).

Ah. Thanks for clearing that up, I never would've figured that one out and it would have bugged me for hours. It was a very impressive performance by the original poster, I have to admit.

Greatest receiver of all time definitely has to take all those things into account, and that is why you're absolutely right that Moss is not and likely never will be near Rice's level. In big games, when the game is on the line, Rice in his prime would be out there, making the plays, whereas Moss will be there if he feels like it.

FNGs? Could you explain what this stands for? I'm drawing a blank....

Moss had the potential to be as good as Jerry Rice (from a talent standpoint) and has put up some good seasons. But you're right, they're nowhere near the same level. If Moss could somehow radically change his personality and attitude, then maybe.

I'd mock King, but I still remember my optimism about the players in that draft. Still is funny to read.

In fairness, I think that was another particularly weak year in general. Still, to do THAT poorly is remarkable.

I don't think that can be argued (depending on how Losman turns out I guess). Still not as bad as the 2000 draft though.

That's a pretty elaborate conspiracy theory! I like it. If Milloy isn't thinking that way, he should start.

I think trading up for him was a mistake, but not all of your decisions are going to be winners. As long as TD doesn't make a habit of it, the occasional misjudgment is just part of the job. And as long as Denney remains a steady if unspectacular performer, I don't think the pick was terrible. A late second-round pick is getting into the area, I think, where you should be reasonably happy if you get solid play out of your pick. It's legitimate to expect star play from a first-rounder or early second-rounder. After that point a lot of players are doing well if they put together a four or five year career.

By the way, here's what Darin said in the message you were responding to: "Denney isn't a great 2nd round pick by any stretch but he's hardly the bust or terrible player that so many make him out to be." Yeah, don't know why I would question your reading at all.

Got it. So the DEs responsibility is to rush the passer. Don't worry about that RB running by you.

Classic.

Are you reading the messages you're replying to? Just curious.

I wouldn't call myself a Denney "fan". I'm not going to run out and get a jersey. But considering some of the players we've seen roll through town and back out again taken at the same point in the draft or earlier, he's not that bad a player. Knowing what we do now about his play, would I trade up to get him and spend a second round pick? No I wouldn't. But I would also say that a team can get a fair amount of use out of a guy like Ryan Denney. He's not a star, but he does his job competently. My only point is I don't understand the bashing he takes around here.

Excellent counter to the factual information Darin provided. You're doing a great job arguing your case.

I hated that line when I first saw the video, because I was living in Minnesota at the time. Then I ended up moving to California. (Still looking Minnesota though.)

Yeah, I don't understand the fixation people have on ripping on Denney. I think it's pretty clear what kind of player he is: not a star, but a solid player against the run who can occasionally apply some pressure. Not every second-round pick is going to be a star, and compared to some I've seen in the past, this one looks pretty good.

I also don't think you can give Tucker an A. I do think he played well, to the limit of his abilities, but he is not a guy I want starting the entire season. He would be an awesome backup for center/guard.

If the staff thinks he has a shot at actually getting his head in the game and producing, I'd lean toward keeping him for one more year. I doubt we're paying him all that much, and I don't think there are a ton of great receivers out there waiting to be brought in as our #3 (or 4 if Aiken steps up). It doesn't look good for him developing into a good player, but stranger things have happened.