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NFL Draft ’08 – Trades could Decide Early Selections

Baltimore Moving Up for QB Matt Ryan, Jeremy Shockey to Buffalo

The NFL Draft ’08 weekend is here and clubs have worked the phones more than usual this year with several big deals in the making. Three clubs in the top ten, Oakland, Kansas City and New England are all interested in moving back in the first round for the right offer. Baltimore and New Orleans are the only clubs attempting to move up from their current selection. Oakland is one of the wild card selections in the first round. They hold the 4th overall pick and have many needs and they do not have a #2 or #3 selection because of prior deals. They love DT Glenn Dorsey and runner Darren McFadden here, but still need to recover top 100 selections to address their many need areas. They will sit on the pick until QB Matt Ryan is off the board. They do not want the Chiefs to land the BC passer with the following selection. They have a few deals in the making for the #4 overall selection if Ryan is still available there. They have spoken with both Baltimore and Carolina about their #1 pick. The Ravens have also spoken to the Rams and have a placed a huge offer to move up in the first round for their #1 and #2 picks this year plus later draft selections to land QB Matt Ryan. They have no #3 pick and may have to include early selections from their NFL Draft ’09 class.
The ‘08 postseason has already seen an unusually high number of trades with most high profile defensive linemen with Shaun Rogers, Kris Jenkins, Corey Williams, Jared Allen and DT Dewayne Robertson, in addition to players ‘Pac Man Jones, Anthony Fasano and Akin Ayodele exchanging teams in recent days.
There are a large number of pro players on the trade market this year with some of the biggest names in the league probably being dealt over the NFL Draft weekend. Players like Jeremy Shockey, Chad Johnson, Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin, Jason Taylor, Lito Sheppard, John Abraham, Chris Simms and J.P. Losman among others could be changing teams over the NFL Draft weekend. The Saints have a few deals in the works. They are interested in moving up in the 1st round to land DT Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis. Dorsey would command a move into the top 5 picks while Ellis may require only moving up a few slots ahead of Cincinnati. The Saints also have two deals in the works for their #2 pick, the 40th overall selection. They have a deal on the table with the Giants for TE Jeremy Shockey for their #2 pick and either late picks or safety Roman Harper. They are even more interested in the Eagles’ cornerback Lito Sheppard for the #2 pick straight up. Both of these deals are probably contingent of available prospects on the clock and other possible deals. The Giants also have a strong offer for Shockey from the Bills who have offered their #2 pick, the 41st overall selection plus a #4 pick this weekend. Both Carolina or Seattle have shown interest in Shockey who appears to be gone in a trade that will be completed on the clock in Round 2.

Oklahoma Pro Day - Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smith struggle in late Workout

Photo - CB Reggie Smith - Oklahoma

There was a special Oklahoma on-campus workout on Wednesday for several Sooner players with highly regarded juniors WR Malcolm Kelly and DB Reggie Smith the main attraction. Each player has been rated among the top prospects at their respective positions and worked out for pro scouts for the first time prior to this year’s NFL Draft. Kelly has been unable to workout because of knee and thigh problems while Smith has been unable to workout due to a broken foot that put his draft stock in jeopardy. Those injuries could cost them a first round grade on April 26th. Both were considered sure fire first round prospects prior to the injury issues that lead to an inactive postseason.
Approximately 37 scouts representing nearly every NFL team visited the campus. The OU workout was on their indoor training facility field turf surface, though not on a fast Astroturf surface. Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smith were measured and tested in several agility and non-contact football drills under the watchful eyes of the scouts in preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Top 50 Pro Prospects for the NFL Draft ’08

* underclassmen - March Post NFL Combine ‘08

Photo - DT Trevor Laws - Notre Dame

1. Matt Ryan - QB - 6’4� 220 lbs. - Boston College
Savvy pocket QB retains his top ranking in this talented class since last fall. He looks to impress at his pro day throwing the ball to be the #1 overall prospect this April.

2. Chris Long - DE - 6’5� 285 lbs. - Virginia
Athletic senior ‘tweener defender had an impact workout at the NFL Combine and is the safest selection in this draft class.

3. Glenn Dorsey - DT - 6’2� 300 lbs. - LSU
Explosive senior tackle was a dominant force over the ’07 season but must answer leg injury questions at his pro day later this month.

4. Jake Long - OT - 6’7� 320 lbs. - Michigan
Physical senior tackle is one of the most developed prospects in this class and completed a fine NFL Combine workout to guarantee a top ten selection.

5. * Vernon Gholston - DE - 6’4� 260 lbs. - Ohio St
Fast junior ‘tweener defender had a very strong NFL Combine workout plus the big play ability to a pro difference maker as a sack artist.

NFL Free Agency and Trading Period ‘08 Opens
For Updated NFL Draft '08 Traded Picks go to main page link on left

The NFL salary cap for player’s salaries for the 2008 season will be $116 million this year an increase of $7 million over last years. With the $7 million raise in the cap, most clubs will have a cushion for the upcoming year despite many accelerated contracts. Wholesale releases occurred again this year prior to the start of the FA period with many clubs forced to make major decisions on high priced veterans. About 310 unrestricted free agent veteran players will be available this offseason. Many clubs are currently in the process of trimming their rosters or restructuring further not only to meet the deadline, but also to create cap room to be able to bid on additional players this offseason.
The NFL new trading period started with a bang with several big deals mainly involving veteran defensive tackles like Corey Williams, Kris Jenkins, Marcus Stroud, Shaun Rogers and Jason Ferguson being traded on the first two days of the offseason. Another defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson may be the next veteran lineman to change teams with an unusually high number of veteran starters being moved early in the trading period.

First Round Mock Draft for the NFL Draft ‘08

Photo - Chris Long - DE - Virginia

Selection order prior to the NFL Combine
x - Coin flip at NFL Combine in late Feb will decide exact order * Underclassmen

1st Round
1. Miami - 1-15 - Chris Long - DE - Virginia
The Dolphins need many things and Parcells may opt for two blue chip defensive linemen with Long the safest player in the entire draft process.

2. St. Louis - 3-13 - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU
The Rams will focus on defensive line early and Dorsey gives them an early impact defender for a flexible front line.

3. x - Atlanta - 4-12 - Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College
The Falcons are hoping this fine leader is on the board when they select so they can turn the page on the Michael Vick disaster.

4. x - Oakland - 4-12 - Sedrick Ellis - DT - Southern Cal
Veteran Warren Sapp has joined the retirement list and Ellis is flying up the charts.

5. x - Kansas City - 4-12 - Jake Long - OT - Michigan
The Chiefs offensive line has failed over recent seasons and Jake would be a great fit here.

6. NY Jets - 4-12 - * Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas
The Jets may find this talented feature back available and would probably jump at the chance.

Giants Super Bowl Victory Parade - Keys to City

Photo - Eli Manning, Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Michael Strahan

Giants Get Ticker Tape Parade Canyon of Heroes

The world champion New York Giants received a giant welcome home Tuesday with a Super Bowl victory ticker tape parade in lower Manhattan that capped the celebration when Mayor Mike Bloomberg presented the team with the keys to New York City. The Giants parade travelled down the Canyon of Heroes, the avenue reserved for only outstanding achievements in sports and national arenas. No city deserved the celebration more than the Big Apple and the fact that the Giants overcame so many obstacles as a huge underdog, only made the victory party that more enjoyable. It was probably the most powerful event in New York City since the horrible 9/11 disaster and a celebration that will be long remembered by NY and NJ people not just football fans.

On a day for jumping and whooping it up, Michael Strahan showed the throngs of jubilant fans just how it's done, New York Giants style. Strahan lead the Giants in a Patriots stomp at City Hall. The Giants completed their parade journey with another celebration at Giant Stadium at the Meadowlands.

How About Those Giants
Giants Claim NFL Title in Super Bowl Thriller

The New York Giants upset the undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in league history. The Giants won the title on a last minute TD pass from QB Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress, ending the New England Patriots quest for a perfect 19-0 season. It was the Road Warrior GMen's 11th straight road victory including four consecutive wins in the postseason that earned them the NFL title as the league's 5th wild card team to capture the championship.