Tim Tebow: Sports Evangelist

Tim Tebow is sports’ ultimate opportunist. If he wasn’t such a nice guy, he could be easily be labeled a con man or charlatan, but few athletes have ever managed to do more with less.

While most quarterbacks thrill with arm strength, pinpoint accuracy and an ability to read the defense, Tebow gets by with charm, charisma and the ability to read the room.

The finesse started at The University of Florida, where Tebow initially shared quarterback duties with top recruit Chris Leak before taking over the starting job and putting together one of the greatest college careers ever. Tebow won two championships and earned two Heisman finalist nods, winning once and becoming the first sophomore to win the award. His success was due in large part to a roster loaded with pro talent and a scheme tailored to his unique skill-set.

Then came the pros.

Scouts were rightfully pessimistic that Tebow would thrive in the NFL due to his limitations as a passer. Some suggested he try out at different positions and that, regardless of the route he chose, he would be hard-pressed to find a team who would spend a first-round pick on him. Tebow and his handlers stiff-armed the naysayers and were adamant his name would be called in the draft’s opening salvo.

They were right.

The Denver Broncos not only used the 25th pick on Tebow but traded up from the second round to do so. A few notable names Denver passed on to take Touchdown Timmy: Devin McCourtey, Rob Gronkowski and TJ Ward. All three would go on to win Super Bowls with Ward later signing with the Broncos and helping them win Super Bowl 50.

Tebow only lasted two seasons in Denver but both campaigns were filled with his penchant for the dramatic. What he lacked in prototypical quarterback skill he made up for with unflappable confidence and what former teammate Champ Bailey called "infectious" leadership.  Fourth quarter leads weren’t safe during Tebow’s tenure and he famously led Denver to a playoff upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011, the team’s first postseason win since 2005. John Elway’s arrival in the Broncos front office spelled the end of Tebow Time and, despite completing just 47 percent of his passes in 23 games in Denver, the former Gator showed enough promise to convince the Jets to take a chance on him. He attempted just eight passes in his lone season with Gang Green but still managed to earn fliers from Philadelphia and New England. He’d never see the field with either team.

With his football dreams momentarily dashed, Tebow moved to television where his matinee idol likability and knowledge of the game earned him a deal with ESPN as an analyst. Tebow did an adequate enough job with the worldwide leader to earn an extension but he still had designs on stepping back on the field.

With the NFL no longer interested, Tebow tried his hand at baseball. Was Tebow a Bo Jackson-esque talent who had excelled on the diamond in college while dominating on the gridiron? Of course not. He did, however, bitch all-state honors in high school....as a junior....which was the last time he picked up a bat. Despite the inexperience, scouts from all over came out to see The Friar of Finesse try his hand at a new sport. He eventually found a suitor in the New York Mets, a team with the right combination of front office ineptitude and love for big names to be enamored with sports’ saintly spectacle.

Tebow played four seasons across two different minor league levels within the Mets organization. He hit above .223 just once and struck out 347 times in 1,119 plate appearances (or 31 percent of the time). This past February, he “retired” from baseball having never earned a major league call-up.

Fast forward to this spring. Despite being out of the league since 2012 and a massive influx of talent at the quarterback position, Tebow is back in the NFL. Much like he has during his entire career in the spotlight, the soon-to-be 33-year-old’s second chance comes solely because of his innate ability to convince at least one other person he’s worth rolling the dice on. In this case, that person is the one who initially helped Tebow become a main attraction: former college coach Urban Meyer.

Meyer was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars in January after the Jags finished with a league-worst 1-15 record. He had been retired from coaching since 2018 and, much like Tebow in the 2010 draft, was selected over more qualified candidates such as Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and San Francisco 49ers defensive maven Robert Salah. Also like Tebow, Meyer is living off his collegiate accomplishments, having never had a losing season in 17 seasons as head coach as well as winning national championships with Florida and Ohio State. Even though Meyer was poised to take one of the greatest quarterback prospects ever in Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick, Urban couldn’t resist rekindling the magic with his old flame.

Except this time, Tebow will attempt to resurrect his pro career as a tight end. Yes, the same position scouts had suggested he try out at in 2010 and he turned his nose up at. How much experience did Tebow have as a receiver during his college and pro stints before taking on this new role, you ask? About as much experience as he had playing college baseball before signing with the Mets, which is to say none. Not once did Meyer, the only man willing to give his former prized prospect a second chance, send Touchdown Timmy out to catch passes. Not once was Tebow utilized as a receiver during any of his stints with four different NFL franchises.

And yet, Tebow was handed an opportunity thousands dream of. The same opportunity that still eludes Colin Kaepernick, whose politics and fight for justice have cast him as a distraction while Tebow’s career 75 Quarterback Rating makes him a reclamation project. The Jags’ newest weapon will undoubtedly take media attention away from Lawrence, the reigning No. 1 overall pick and potential franchise savior. That could be a good or bad thing for the former Clemson product depending on what kind of circus Tebow can still draw.

Ultimately, this could all be for nothing. A couple months from now, Tebow’s latest attempt to reclaim the glory days might go up in flames like his previous ventures have and we all got riled up for no reason. The fact that we are even in this position is a testament to his ability to make others believe in him.

No matter how damaged the goods Tebow is selling, he always finds a buyer.

Thoughts On The 2010 NFL Draft

When doing a post-Draft analysis, some choose to hand out grades. Some choose to do "winners" and "losers". I've been guilty of doing such in past years. The problem with that is that you're assessing grades or wins and losses on things like name recognition, how do these players fit, where they were taken. It's never based on them actually playing football and, more often than not, the writer looks like an idiot when the team they gave an "F" or called a "loser" has the best rookie class of the bunch. So, I decided to lean away from those two formats and offer up some thoughts. Gabe will be weighing in at some point with his takes as well.

*The story of Day 1 was the Broncos moving back into the 1st round(after moving down for wide reciever Demaryius Thomas) to select Florida QB Tim Tebow, and rightfully so. I'll give Broncos coach Josh McDaniels credit for having the onions to roll the dice on the Draft's biggest enigma. However, two problems I have with the pick. One, McDaniels won't reap the benefits of the Tebow for two years, at the very least. Who's to say he'll still be employed with Denver by then? The Broncos are coming off an 8-8 season after starting 6-0 and McDaniels already is in the crosshairs of Bronco loyalists due to his jettisoning the team's two best players(QB Jay Cutler and WR Brandon Marshall) in back-to-back years. If McDaniels doesn't have instant success in a division in which everyone(even the Raiders) improved, McDaniels may be on the outside looking in when Tebow takes his first snap at Invesco.

Secondly, because this team was 8-8, it clearly isn't a complete enough team to roll the dice on a QB many thought wouldn't go higher than the 3rd round two months ago. The Broncos still need a slew of help on defense. A guy like safety Taylor Mays or LB Sergio Kindle or especially nose tackle Dan Williams would have help this team out immediately. The NFL is a "win now" league. Taking a gamble on a guy like Tebow would have been nice in the later rounds, but in the first round when you have needs elsewhere? Pretty risky. Tebow's not even a guarantee to be even a serviceable QB. He was more of an option QB at Florida and his mechanics will take an almost daily supervision to get him anywhere near NFL-ready.

It also makes you wonder why the team made a trade for QB Brady Quinn if it was intending on bringing in Tebow. What happens if Quinn bounces back from a bad start in Cleveland and becomes a Pro Bowl QB? What do you do with Tebow then? These are questions McDaniels will have to answer more often if the Broncos aren't an immediate contender in the time it takes Tebow to develop.

*If I had to pick teams that I thought did an admirable job, I'd go with New England, Baltimore, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Seattle.

At the risk of being a homer, I liked New England's pick of Rutgers CB Devin McCourtey in Round 1. He's a speedy corner who can tackle. I did, however, think the Pats went to the Florida well too often. OLB Jermaine Cunningham is nice, but ILB Brandon Spikes got knocked for his lack of speed(something that might be necessary in the 3-4 scheme). Tight end Aaron Hernandez was a nice pickup for a team that's going to need someone to cover for Wes Welker on the short intermediate throws. Hernandez and 2nd rounder Rob Gronkowski improve a tight end position that has been lacking since Ben Coates left. Still, the best moves made by Belichick and company was securing picks for next year. They already had two first rounders in 2011(theirs and Oakland's, by way of the Richard Seymour trade) and now have two 2nd rounders in '11 as well. It remains to be seen whether next year's class will be as deep as this one but having four picks in the first two rounds is always nice to have.

Baltimore missed out on Dez Bryant but made up for by hauling in a pass-rushing complement to Terrell Suggs in Texas LB Sergio Kindle and got significantly more beefy up front with 380lb nose tackle Terrence Cody. Cody's had struggles with weight and that has led to a lack of stamina but if he can be Ted Washington for 15-20 plays a game, the Ravens will be even tougher to run on in the future. Baltimore also doubled up on tight ends, finding Todd Heap's replacements in Ed Dickson from Oregon and BYU's Dennis Pitta. Not going with a young wideout with Derrick Mason getting up in years and Donte Stallworth a uncertainty was kind of surprising, but a solid draft nonetheless.

Pittsburgh was the big story leading up the Draft as Ben Roethlisberger trade rumors ran rampant. Inevitably, the team kept its troubled franchise QB and went out and filled a couple holes. Maurkice Pouncey was considered the best interior lineman in this Draft and he will open holes for RB Rashard Mendenhall. Pitt also got some depth in their LB core with Va. Tech's Jason Worilds and Ohio St.'s Thaddeus Gibson. Gibson was considered a fringe 1st rounder by some scouts. Both will be sitting behind LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison for a while but it gives the Steelers some youth options. The Steelers also brought back CB Bryant McFadden, who signed with Arizona after the Super Bowl a year ago but was traded back on Day 3. McFadden fills the Steelers' biggest need, which was in the secondary. Another pick I liked? 6th rounder Jon Dwyer, RB out of Georgia Tech. At 6', 230lbs, Dwyer is the inside runner that Mendenhall isn't. He'll play the short-yardage role once handled by Jerome Bettis and has since been passed around from Najeh Davenport to Gary Russell to Carey Davis. Dwyer comes from a triple option scheme at Ga. Tech and there are issues about his lack of speed but if he makes this team, he can be the ideal goalline back.

Then, there's Seattle and San Francisco. San Francisco made the biggest statement in Round 1, passing up on QB Jimmy Clausen twice and instead deciding to help out current QB Alex Smith by getting some line help. The team traded up for Rutgers OT Anthony Davis. Davis can be an all-world tackle if he gets his head on straight and keeps his weight in check. Luckily, he'll have head coach Mike Singletary kicking his butt every week. Singletary managed to make a star out of the enigmatic Vernon Davis so we'll see what he does with his new right tackle. The Niners then used its second 1st rounder on road-grading Idaho guard Mike Iupati. Iupati was getting consideration in the top 10 because of his ability to eventually move to right tackle. Some scouts compare Iupati to former Steelers/Jets All-Pro guard Alan Faneca. Iupati is a bit raw in terms of pass blocking but he immediately makes the Niners a better running team. In the second round, the Niners stole USC safety Taylor Mays. Mays looked like a top 10 pick if he came out as a junior but got exposed for his lack of cover skills and open-tackling ability during his senior year at SC. Still, Mays is a 6'3 230lb headhunter with 4.3 speed. He instantly makes a terrible Niners secondary better AND a bit more intimidating. A couple other sleeper picks by the Niners? 3rd round LB Navarro Bowman from Penn St and 6th round RB Anthony Dixon from Mississippi State. Bowman is in an instinctive linebacker from a school that breeds instinctive linebackers. He helps out a linebacking core that didn't have much beyond ILB Patrick Willis. Dixon is a bruiser at 6' 233lb and gives the Niners yet another back to use in short yardage situations. The Niners also made a couple notable post-draft moves, signing troubled RB LaGarrette Blount and strong-armed WVU QB Jarrett Brown. Of the two, Brown has the best shot to make the team.

Seattle, meanwhile, stole the best left tackle in the draft in Okla. St.'s Russell Okung. He fills a HUGE need on the offensive line with Walter Jones finally calling it a career. With the second pick in the 1st round, they grabbed ball-hawking safety Earl Thomas, who looked like a top 10 pick but fell to the middle of the round. After flirting with Broncos WR Brandon Marshall most of the offseason, the Seahawks got a young WR that can start right away in Notre Dame's Golden Tate. Tate is a bit small and he doesn't get off the line great, but he's great after the catch. He reminds me of former FSU wideout Peter Warrick. The moves that got the most attention for the Seahawks were the trades for RBs LenDale White and Leon Washington on Day 3. White gets reunited with former college coach Pete Carroll, as does 6th round TE Anthony McCoy and undrafted free agents G Jeff Byers and S Josh Pinkard. White will probably enter camp as the lead back but will split carries with incumbent Justin Forsett and, inevitably, Washington when he returns from that gruesome broken leg he suffered last year. The Seahawks didn't address their need at defensive end, even with Jason Pierre-Paul and Derrick Morgan on the board when they took Thomas but some of the pass-rushing void left by the departures of Darryl Tapp, Patrick Kerney and Cory Redding will be picked up by last year's draft gem, Nick Reed.

*Usually, after the Draft, we kill the Raiders but, much to the surprise of many, they had a good draft. They shocked the world by opting for MLB Rolando McClain instead of an oddball pick like Iupati or OT Bruce Campbell(whom Oakland still managed to get in Round 4). They got some beef on the defensive line in Lamarr Houston. They got some OT prospects for that woeful offensive line in the massive Bruce Campbell and small-school wonder Edwin Veldheer. It will be a year or two before Campbell and Veldheer are ready to go but if the Raiders hit on both of them, they may have saved themselves quite a bit of money by not having to draft a tackle in the future. The biggest move for the silver and black? Acquiring Redskins QB Jason Campbell in a Day 3 trade. Campbell got a large share of criticism for things going south in Washington(some of it warrented, most of it not) but his numbers increased year after year even while the team was crumbling around him. Like with the two rookie OTs, Campbell's presence saves the Raiders from spending big money on a franchise QB. It also bids adieu to the failed JaMarcus Russell experiment. Campbell isn't a lock to be a hit in Oakland. He still has trouble holding the ball too long and the Raiders lack a proven go-to guy at wideout(although 4th round pick Jacoby Ford, the fastest guy at the Combine, might ail some of that). Campbell will still have to hope the offensive line improves rapidly and that the team can get a run game from disappointing 1st round RB Darren McFadden. Still, it's better than holding a clipboard in D.C. for the forseeable future.

*Trades of veteran players were aplenty in the Draft's final day. There was the aforementioned Campbell, White, Bryant McFadden and Washington. There was also the Raiders trading away LB Kirk Morrison to Jacksonville. There were also a number of guys who were believed to be available but weren't dealt. RB Marshawn Lynch seemed like a certain goner after the Bills took RB C.J. Spiller 9th overall. The same for stone-handed Cowboys wideout Roy Williams, whose days were believed to be numbered after the team drafted WR Dez Bryant. A couple other Cowboys that didn't go anywhere, surprisingly? RB Marion Barber, who was believed to be on the block, and LB Bobby Carpenter, who almost certainly looked like he'd be reunited with Bill Parcells in Miami. Ravens RB Willis McGahee also survived the weekend, as did Jags DT John Henderson and Darren McFadden. Of course, all are candidates to be cut or dealt before long, but in a final day with such rapid movement, it's amazing they are still standing.

*There is nobody who you can really slam this year. Most of the teams did well, and the teams that didn't, didn't exactly blow it completely. The biggest headscratchers were Tebow going to Denver at 25 and the Jags taking Cal DT Tyson Alualu #10, when many had Alualu as a 2nd round pick. In a deep draft, everyone pretty much came away with someone of note. The Panthers and Bears, who waited the longest to make their first picks, got some solid steals. The Panthers got the QB they've waited forever for in Jimmy Clausen. The Bears got a playmaking safety in Major Wright and another steal in hometown hero DE Corey Wootton from Northwestern. The Browns took their sweet time but still ended up with Texas QB Colt McCoy.

If there were a couple teams that didn't do as well as others, it would be the Jags(who couldn't secure the trade down they wanted and ended up reaching for Alualu, on top of a few other questionable picks), the Giants(never addressed their HUGE need at MLB), the Packers(nothing beyond short-armed OT Bryan Bulaga and failed to address needs for a return guy and depth at corner), and Houston(as predicted, didn't take a RB in the first round and opted for Ben Tate in Round 2. Texans also may have made a mistake in taking Kareem Jackson over Kyle Wilson at corner). The Eagles made some savvy moves, trading up for DE Brandon Graham(over taking a safety like Earl Thomas, which was the big rumor), drafting Nate Allen to finally replace Brian Dawkins at free safety and making some slick trades and late round steals such as Florida WR Riley Cooper and Clemson DE Ricky Sapp.

Ultimately, it was a solid night by all. If there's one underlying storyline it will be the Rams and Sam Bradford. With Jimmy Clausen slipping to Round 2, many will wonder if the smart move would have been taking the best player in this draft, Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, and then waiting for a QB like Clausen or McCoy in Round 2 instead of hitching its wagon to signal caller with as many red flags as Bradford.

That's the beauty of the Draft though: It gives us plenty to talk about, even after it's over.

Everybody Please Shut Up!

We'll get to my thoughts on the actual draft picks from this weekend's NFL Draft eventually, but I felt it was necessary to address a growing problem that I noticed while watching the Draft.

Time was, there was no better place to be during Draft weekend than ESPN. Mel Kiper Jr. would fire up NFL GMs with his biting criticism. Chris Berman would huck it up with the rest of the panel and play the role of the consummate guy's guy.

Then, something changed.

Whether it was because they were feeling pressure from the emergence of the NFL Network's coverage of the Draft or they were just plain gluttonous, ESPN decided to put everybody and their mother on the broadcast this past weekend. Instead of having the usual four guests on the panel(Berman, Kiper, Tom Jackson and a special guest like Denny Green or Jimmy Johnson), ESPN went five wide on the Draft's first night(Kiper, Berman, TJ, Jon Gruden and Steve Young).

That led to a slew of problems. The biggest one being the presence of Gruden who, besides being in love with the sound of his voice, continues on with his "I don't want to offend anyone" schtick by being the booth's Paula Abdul. Gruden's accentuating of the positives wouldn't be nearly as bad if it didn't come at the expense of the other guys on the desk. Numerous times Thursday night, Gruden would either interrupt another commentator's thoughts or he would shout over them to get his point across. Again, this wouldn't be nearly as big a problem if Gruden was being such a giant ass kiss. Scared to burn bridges while still trying to make himself enough of a focal point of the broadcast to grab attention, Gruden spent most of the first two nights of coverage being a walking cliche, spouting out things like "This guy is a football player" or "That's a heck of a pick! I want that guy on my team!". Other than the constant use of the chorus to Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind", Gruden was the most annoying factor of the coverage.

Then, there's Berman. At one time, Berman was a lovable bloot with witty catchphrases and a certain charm with fans, fellow panelists and GMs alike. He seemed like the coolest guy at the bar, telling funny jokes and interesting stories(The gimmick where Berman would predict the pick of his beloved Buffalo Bills by claiming he got word from a cabbie was pretty entertaining, but he's apparently gone away from that now). Now, whether it's his inflated ego or an overwhelming sense of bulletproof seniority with the company, Berman has turned into a surly douche bag. Every now and then, we get glimpses of the old Boomer we grew up watching. For the most part, however, we get the new Boomer: a guy who, much like Gruden, tries to make himself the star of the show and continues on with the same corny jokes until someone sells it by overlaughing(The best example being Berman introducing Kiper on Thursday and Friday night with the same "Kiper's been here since Jay Berwanger in 1936" quip that wasn't funny the first time). We also accidently got to see the Boomer that had been exposed as an off-camera nightmare to producers(as shown by the numerous rants by Berman you can find on YouTube). When the producers mistakenly cued to the desk during a celebration for the armed forces, Berman was seen angrily gesturing to the camera to either cut or film elsewhere.

The other problem with the 5-man booth is that, with time between picks in the first round now five minutes shorter, everyone rushes to say their piece before the next pick is made. That leads to guys constantly talking over each other or, as was the case numerous times Thursday night, guys just having separate conversations with each other while one guy is talking. So rather than gleaming some interesting info from the panelists, the viewer is just watching five grown men scream at each other like an old married couple. Normally, Berman would just orchestrate who gets to talk by deferring to someone at random, be it Kiper or whomever, but Berman is so wound up with being a stand-up comedian that everyone just chips in at once. What also made the crowded group annoying was how ESPN felt, with so many high-profile QBs on display in this year's draft, that they had to have a Hall of Fame QB in Steve Young AND a self-proclaimed "QB Guru" in Gruden. Young occasionally has interesting insight, but too often sounds like a guy who took too many hits to the head. When he wasn't slurping Tim Tebow for being a lefty QB(which makes you wonder what Young would have said had he been around for Mike Vick in 2001 or Cade McNown in 1999), he would mispronounce names like calling Miles Austin "Austin Miles" numerous times. Steve Young, ladies and gentlemen, our generation's Frank Gifford.

As for Gruden, I fail to understand where the "QB Guru" moniker comes from. Sure, Gruden was a good assistant coach during his days under Mike Holmgren(if you don't believe me, just ask him, he'll surely tell you), but as a head coach? He transformed journeyman Rich Gannon from a adequate bridge-gap starter to an NFL MVP(although I defy you to find me a worse MVP winner in the last 20 years). Then, he went to Tampa Bay and won a Super Bowl, with a team mostly put into place by Tony Dungy, by simply making QB Brad Johnson serviceable. I suppose Brian Billick is a "QB guru" because he managed to win a title with Trent Dilfer at quarterback. Gruden, in a moment of irony, was caught off-guard by a live mic and, for a brief second, we got to see a rare "Chucky" moment when he called NFL coaches "dumbasses" to Kiper during a flashback montage. This from the guy who drafted Michael Clayton and Chris Simms, mind you.

So what's the solution? Well, ESPN seemed to get it right on Saturday for the final day of coverage. They subbed out Berman, Jackson and Gruden with Trey Wingo, Ron Jaworski and Todd McShay and dropped the fifth wheel. Wingo proved to be better at organizing the panel and giving everyone time to talk than Berman and McShay was a better fit with Kiper than Gruden because a. McShay isn't scared to oppose Kiper and b. McShay isn't trying to openly promote himself for a job in the NFL. The Kiper-McShay feud(which has been on display in debates leading up the Draft and came to a head about two hours before Thursday's night opening round when the two went at it for the 6,000th time over Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. Jaworski is a guy who should always be in on the debate because he's a meticulous film rat who offers up detailed insight(even when at times it seems he contradicts himself). It's Jaws' presence, not Gruden's, that makes the Monday Night Football booth interesting. Still, at the end of the day, the Draft should be a couple of guys saying their piece and then shutting up so Kiper can talk. Kiper spends hours upon hours prepping for the NFL Draft. He's shown that he's the most knowledgeable of the Draft process and seems to be the guy least afraid of making a critique(especially when Gruden is on air). That's why next year's booth should be Berman(only because the network foolishly extended this blowhard and now can't get rid of him), Jackson(to sell Berman's jokes), Jaworski(to break down film) and Kiper(because he's Mel Kiper Jr and this is his night, damnit!).

In the old days, ESPN set up stations with other panelists, whether it be back in the studio in Bristol or in a isolated area at the venue. This year, that isolated area was manned by insiders Chris Mortenson and Adam Schefter(who did an admirable job of co-existing despite reports that Mort was a bit uneasy over the possibility of being replaced by Schefter). Mort and Schefter's only mistakes were, like so many others throughout the coverage, being unaware of when the mic was on and staring blankly into the camera at times during their cue(More so Mort than Schefter). That's something ESPN should re-visit next year as well. If you're going to incorporate your entire football staff, keep the four-man booth and then set up teams around the venue to go to to get another opinion. Put Mort and Schefter one place. Put McShay in another spot and put Gruden out to pasture.

The NFL Draft is about featuring the guys getting ready to make the transition from college to the pros. It's not about broadcasters putting forth their own agendas, or trying to turn the broadcast into ameteur night. ESPN, for a long time, got this right and it's why so many people still turn to them over the NFL Network's broadcast. That, however, may change. With ESPN's staff expanding so aggressively, there is, as the old cliche goes, too many cooks in the kitchen. The broadcast works when you everyone knows their role and doesn't spend the entire night like it's Around The Horn without the mute button. From a production standpoint, the network makes far too much money and has been doing this for far too long to make the brainfarts it made during the three-night extravaganza. NFL Network's broadcast isn't perfect but it manages to not be a shoutfest, and that's with the ultimate egomaniac in Deion Sanders. Right now, ESPN has the advantage of being a more known brand that is available on more providers but if this year's circus starts to become the norm, it won't be just Gruden campaigning for another job.

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Final Copy

Tomorrow, like the Black Eyed Peas would say, is going to be a good night. The 2010 NFL Draft will kick off in a little over 24 hours from now for the first time in primetime. All the rumors and speculation and smokescreens come down to this. I've finally come up with a mock draft I am somewhat content with(Look, if I nail 5 of these on the dot, I consider it a moral victory. So don't kill me if this thing goes down in flames by the first hour). Anyway, it's coming a day early because I won't have the time to squeeze it in tomorrow night and I know that leaves me susceptible to last-minute trades(especially that of a well-known, recently-suspended two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback) but, you know what? Screw it!

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - I've had debates for months with people over whether the right thing for the Rams to do is to take the token QB to be the face of the franchise over perhaps the best player in this draft in Nebraska DT Ndomakong Suh. I keep getting the same response. "This is a quarterback league." "Defensive tackles taken this high don't have much success." Blah, blah, blah. How many successful QBs have been taken with the #1 pick this millenium? Is Mike Vick a success? How about Alex Smith and David Carr? For every Eli Manning and Carson Palmer, there are a ton of Jamarcus Russells. Eschewing a top talent like Suh because "you have to have a quarterback" seems like silly reasoning to me. On top of that, I don't Sam Bradford's a great QB. He's coming out of a spread offense with two shoulder surgeries to his name and you're going to put him out there behind the same offense line that threw Marc Bulger a beating. Like I said, we can do this forever. The fact is, Bradford is headed to Nellyville, barring something unforseen and three years from now, we'll either be calling me an idiot for dissing this pick or the Rams foolish for grabbing their franchise QB three years too late.

2. Detroit Lions: Ndomakong Suh, DT, Nebraska - Unless they swing a deal for Albert Haynesworth at the 11th hour, Suh is headed to Motown. You can try to talk me into Trent Williams or Russell Okung, both fill needs at left tackle but there is no reason to not draft Ndomakong Suh. Absolutely, positively, NO REASON!

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Perhaps the biggest slam dunk in the draft(Yes, even bigger than Bradford going #1). McCoy fills a huge need inside for the Bucs and he's one of the three best players in this draft. It may be the best value pick in this entire draft.

4. Washington Redskins: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - It could still be Oklahoma State's Russell Okung, regarded by many as the top offensive tackle in this draft. However, word on the street is Shanahan sees Ryan Clady in Williams and there's no denying that either Okung or Williams would fill a need at left tackle. Don't rule out a trade back. The Browns are staring lustily at Eric Berry and there's fear that he's going with the next pick to Kansas City. The Redskins are also believed to have interest in taking a QB, so a move down for Jimmy Clausen or a move up for Bradford could happen. (Previous pick: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.)

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State - I believe all of the speculation of the Chiefs taking Eric Berry, the playmaking safety from Tennessee, is just a smoke screen. Chiefs GM Scott Pioli isn't one for taking a safety that high and the Chiefs clearly have a need at left tackle. Russell Okung went from a guy who could potentially go #2 to someone falling down draft boards. Why? I don't know. The Chiefs would be ecstatic if Okung falls here, because Matt Cassell won't be their franchise QB for long if he continues to eat dirt. (Previous pick: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa)

6. Seattle Seahawks: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson - Surprised? Don't be. Other than the Chargers, no team needs a potential game-changing running back more than the Seahawks and Spiller is the only back in this draft that fits that mold(maybe Cal's Jahvid Best, too, but that's iffy). Taking Spiller 6th is a bit early but Spiller's stock has risen to the point that he may not be there when the Seahawks go on the clock again at 14. The Jags like him at 10. The Raiders have been rumored to like him at 8. San Francisco would certianly love to keep him away from their division rival at 13. Even Miami at 12 is an option. Yes, the Seahawks need an heir apparent to Walter Jones at left tackle, but the chances of finding a quality tackle at 14(especially given the group available) is much greater than the chance of Spiller being there. Could the Seahawks take a tackle here and move up and take Spiller? Sure. Either way, I say Spiller's a Seahawk by Friday morning. (Previous pick: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma)

7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - Berry was regarded by some as the best player in this draft(and I think he's a very close 2nd to Suh). He's been compared to All-Pro safety Ed Reed and he can play corner or either safety spot. Lucky for Cleveland, they need someone with that type of resume. With Jimmy Clausen still available, there will be talk about the Browns making a move for Clausen, but they are paying Jake Delhomme a lot of money and they have Seneca Wallace behind him. They need a playmaker on defense and Berry is exactly that.

8. Oakland Raiders: Mike Iupati, G/T, Idaho - Alot of names have been thrown around for this spot, mainly because nobody knows what the hell is going on in Al Davis' hollow head. I've heard Clausen. I've heard Spiller. I've heard Derrick Morgan. Anyone who could possibly go in the latter part of the Top 10 has been rumored to be a Raider. Ultimately, I think this comes down to Maryland OT Bruce Campbell(who has been mocked here by many people for months) or Iupati. Now, I know what you're thinking, "But Dave, Iupati's a guard, that's too high for him!". You're exactly right. Iupati makes the most sense here because he makes the least sense to logical human beings(Does that make sense?). Let me ask you: Did Darius Heyward-Bey make sense to you last year? Did JaMarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson make sense? How about Robert Gallery over Larry Fitzgerald and Phillip Rivers? Or the first round selection of kicker Sebastian Janikowski? The point of mock drafts is to predict what you think WILL happen, not what SHOULD happen. If you want me to make a logical prognostication for Al Davis then, I'm sorry, it cannot be done. I just know that Iupati has been getting a lot of Raiders buzz recently and he's exactly the type of oddball pick Davis would make. If you want my honest opinion, I think the Steelers are picking here anyway(and if you think about it enough, you'll know why). (Previous pick: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland)

9. Buffalo Bills: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa - The Bills are Jimmy Clausen's last hope of avoiding a Brady Quinn-esque drop. Unfortunately, the Bills seem to be more enamored with Tim Tebow. Also, it would make very little sense to put someone like Clausen behind THIS offensive line. Hence, the selection of Bulaga here. Bulaga has been mocked anywhere from 5 to 14. Nobody seems to have a good read on him. Some say his short arms make him a better fit as a right tackle than a left tackle, but given the Bills' offensive line woes, can you really afford to bicker? Clausen can still be the pick here, but I think that's unlikely. Another guy who might go here is Tennessee's Dan Williams(whom I had here a month ago). With the Bills moving to the 3-4, they are in desperate need of a true nose tackle and Williams is one of a choice few who can man that spot. (Previous pick: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - If Spiller is off the board, as I have it here, I expect the Jaguars to move out of this spot. Hell, they might move out of this spot if Spiller IS there. The Jags don't want to pay Top 10 money again after moving up for Derrick Harvey two years ago and using a Top 10 pick on Eugene Monroe last year. Also, they've had a hard-on for Tim Tebow pretty much since October. If that means trading down a few times to take Tebow in the late first and sell some tickets, so be it. If, for some odd reason, Jacksonville stays, I like Morgan the most of the guys available. The Jags need a pass rusher with Kampman coming off ACL surgery and Harvey being, well, Derrick Harvey. However, like I said, a team that's bleeding money like the Jags will do whatever it takes to not pay Top 10 money for a third straight year.

11. Denver Broncos: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - There have been two sides when it comes to the Bryant-to-Denver concept: Those that believe the Broncos need a WR like Bryant to replace Brandon Marshall and those that think that the Broncos won't take a "headcase" like Bryant BECAUSE of Brandon Marshall. Personally, I think the stigma of Bryant's "baggage" is overblown. The kid was suspended 10 games for hanging out at Deion Sanders' house and lying about to get out of trouble. You've never lied to get out of trouble before? He's an immature kid who needs a kick in the ass, but you know what, so do alot of guys in the NFL. If the Broncos don't take Bryant here, who's catching passes for them next year? Eddie Royal? Jabar Gaffney? Bryant fills a huge need and I think Josh McDaniels will have more control over Bryant than he did over Marshall. Rolando McClain, the middle linebacker from Alabama, Dan Williams and Texas safety Earl Thomas could go here, too, because Lord knows the Broncos need some D but I like Bryant over them. (Previous pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama)

12. Miami Dolphins: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas - A number of options here for the 'Phins. Earl Thomas fills a need at safety. Dan Williams makes a ton of sense at nose tackle with Jason Ferguson suspended for part of the season. A trade down(probably with Philly) is the most likely scenario. However, the Dolphins lost Jason Taylor and Joey Porter on the outside. Who's rushing the passer for these guys now? You know Parcells loves taking linebackers and Kindle's stock has been on the rise. Some think he's a bit overrated and defensive ends who switch to linebacker are always a crap shoot but I think whether Miami stays or moves down, Kindle or someone of his ilk is the choice. (Previous pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/LB, USF)

13. San Francisco 49ers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - Here's where the Jimmy Clausen chatter picks up. Alex Smith is in the final year of his deal and he's hardly a world-beater. David Carr is nothing more than a backup and there's nobody behind those two. Ultimately, I don't think the Niners can pass on Haden here given the holes in the secondary. When you're having to bench overpaid CB Nate Clements, you need help out there. Clausen isn't really a threat to go between 13 and 17(unless someone moves up) and even if he's gone, QB is not as big a need as CB for the Niners.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - I can see Charles Brown, whom Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is familiar with from USC, being the pick here. One way or the other, the Seahawks need a left tackle. It may come at 6. It may come here, but it's going to come on Thursday night. Once the top tackles left, the second tier(Bulaga, Campbell, Iupati, Anthony Davis) all fall into the group of guys who will go around this time. That's why I had the Seahawks take Spiller early. You can gamble on one of these tackles being here. Spiller? Not so much. There's talk that the Seahawks would jump on Clausen here if available but after making the trade for Charlie Whitehurst(and costing themselves Donovan McNabb), that doesn't seem to make much sense. (Previous pick: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson)

15. New York Giants: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - If McClain makes it here, Radio City Music Hall will erupt either for McClain or if it's someone OTHER than McClain. Giants fans envision McClain as the middle linebacker they've been salivating over for years. I'm a bit skepitical of McClain with the Giants. He's a better fit in a 3-4(something McClain has admitted routinely) and Mizzou's Sean Weatherspoon may be a better fit for Perry Fewell's new scheme. So brace yourselves, Giants fans. Rolando McClain could be available when you go on the clock and could still be availble when your pick is in. (Previous pick: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri)

16. Tennessee Titans: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF - The Titans are both one of the two teams in the Albert Haynesworth Sweepstakes(Detroit being the other) as well as in a prime position to nab one of the top DEs in this draft, making them the biggest team to watch over the next 72 hours. Jason Pierre-Paul went from being a high-riser because of his upside and potential to being dropped back down because of the "Vernon Gholston one year wonder" factor. JPP lit up the Combine, which got the attention of some scouts in a good and bad way. With no real tape on Pierre-Paul, many are left to speculate on what he can do with his tremendous athletic ability. The Titans have always been a team that drafts great athletes more so than great football players(Vince Young, Kenny Britt, Jevon Kearse) and Pierre-Paul would be no exception. If JPP falls to Tennessee and Haynesworth makes a Titans return, the Titans' gamble will either make them the scariest team this season or the most disappointing. (Previous pick: Everson Griffen, DE, USC)

17. San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame - I flip-flopped over this pick for days. I'll admit I'm not very high on Clausen. For all the "pro-ready" hype that's thrown around about him, people seem to forget he came from the same system that harbored Brady Quinn(though I wouldn't call Quinn a bust just yet). He's also someone who lacks leadership skills AND he's the brother of Casey Clausen. How far does the apple fall from the tree? Still, he may be too good of a talent for the Niners to pass up and eventhough Rutgers' OT Anthony Davis would make more sense, Clausen could be a steal if he ends up proving the critics wrong. (Previous pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers)

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - Interesting subplot to watch: If Clausen is still on the board and Big Ben is either dealt or close to being dealt. Personally, I don't think the Steelers can pull a trade of that magnitude in such short time, but you never know. The way I have this shaking out now, Clausen is gone and Davis(once considered one of the 5 best players in this draft before bombing out at the Combine and Rutgers' Pro Day) is not. The Steelers have needed offensive line help for a long time and whether this Big Ben trade talk is just a scare tactic or not, they'll need someone to protect either statuesque Byron Leftwich or Roethlisberger. The knock on Davis is his fluctuating weight and his tendency to be lazy. When he's right though, he's as good as any tackle in this draft and I think Mike Tomlin will be hard-nosed enough to get the lead out of Davis' feet. (Previous pick: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho)

19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan - A toss-up between Graham and Sean Weatherspoon but defense starts on the line. The Falcons will get last year's 1st rounder Peria Jerry back after missing all of last season with a preseason knee injury and they need someone to replace Jamaal Anderson(who has been a bust). Graham was a terror for a horrible Wolverines team and some liken him to Dwight Freeney. Texas' Earl Thomas, if still available, could be the pick here, too, as could Weatherspoon.

20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Many mocks have Fresno St. power back Ryan Matthews here, as did I last month, but look at the Texans' history when it comes to running backs. They passed on Beanie Wells last year. They famously passed on Reggie Bush. Every year, we keep thinking "This is the year the Texans address the running game" and every year, we look like idiots. Could Ryan Matthews be the pick here? Sure, it would make sense. He's a nice complement to Steve Slaton, but I'm not falling for it. I'll believe the Texans are taking a RB in the first round when I see it. As for Thomas, he's been rising up draft boards thanks to a solid Pro Day. The Eagles and Cowboys are interested and could move up and take him somewhere in the Top 15. If he's here for the Texans, he'll help out a secondary that has yet to figure out a way to stop Peyton Manning and the Colts. (Previous pick: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State)

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma - The Bengals could go a number of ways here. Taylor Mays, the freakish safety from USC, would follow the Bengals trend of drafting Trojans. UCLA DT Brian Price would be right in the middle of that defensive line. Sean Weatherspoon could get some love. Ultimately, the team has needed a game-breaking tight end for awhile. Gresham missed all of last season with a knee injury and that's why he's down here instead of the top 10 pick many thought he would be last year, but he's dynamic when he's healthy. He moves like a wideout and he doesn't kill you when staying inside to block(though he isn't exactly Daniel Graham, either). The Bengals can use some more punch to their stagnant passing game and Gresham would be a nice fit. (Previous pick: Taylor Mays, S, USC)

22. New England Patriots: Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU - Same rules apply here for New England as they did for Houston. Obviously, a RB is a big need after Laurence Maroney has fell off the face of the Earth and Ryan Matthews is still available here, but it's not going to happen. Bill Belichick believes in solidifying the front seven first and they are in desperate need for a pass rusher(especially when you look at that schedule. Yikes!). Hughes gets the call here but it could be any of the 'tweeners that drop here, be it Brandon Graham or Sergio Kindle. Regardless, it won't be Ryan Matthews. (Previous pick: Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas)

23. Green Bay Packers: Charles Brown, OT, USC - Packers are rumored to be wanting to move up, but for what, I don't know. Maybe one of the better tackles like Anthony Davis or Trent Williams? Maybe a corner like Kyle Wilson or Joe Haden? Time will tell. One thing's for sure, they need to help out Aaron Rodgers by bringing in some talent on the offensive line. Rodgers took a thorough ass-whooping last season and with Ndomakong Suh and Julius Peppers coming into the division and Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton getting old, they have to pounce on a offensive tackle NOW. Kyle Wilson, regarded by some as the best corner in the draft, could be entertained here, if available as well.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Eagles have virtually no shot of staying at 24 by this time tomorrow night. They have the ammo to move up and they want one of those two safeties(either Eric Berry or Earl Thomas). At 24, though, they'd have a shot at a safety like Taylor Mays. Mays has been picked apart because of his lack of coverage skills(among many things) but you can't teach 4.3 speed at 6'3, 230lbs. Mays has shown the ability to lay guys out(another knock on him, as people would prefer he try to wrap people up more instead of headhunting). Mays has been projected to go in the 2nd round but whether its there or late in the first, I think he'd be a steal for a team needing help in the defensive backfield. (Previous pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas)

25. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St. - Some still think the Ravens will go wide receiver(be it Dez Bryant, if he's still here, Golden Tate or Demaryius Thomas) but the Ravens spent their offseason bringing in Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth so they could use this pick to address other needs. Namely, their horrid secondary. Gone are the days of Samari Rolle and Chris McAllister and with Ed Reed getting hurt more often than not, the team needs some youth back there. Wilson is on the rise and he could actually be the first corner taken. That could leave the Ravens looking at Joe Haden or Devin McCourtey of Rutgers. (Previous pick: Devin McCourtey, CB, Rutgers)

26. Arizona Cardinals: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - A hell of a drop for Williams from the previous mock(Williams was slated to go 9th to Buffalo a month ago), but the reason for the drop is simple: Williams is better suited as a 3-4 nose tackle and there are very few teams in first 20-25 picks that either a. don't already have a nose tackle or b. don't have bigger needs elsewhere. Williams' best hope of going early are Buffalo at 9(who need a QB and OT), Denver at 11(who suddenly need a WR), Miami at 12(a possibility, if they don't go LB) and SF at either 13 or 17. Other than that, he's going to drop. That would be great news for Arizona, who gave up nearly 100 points in their final two games. Any defender will benefit the Cardinals and with their division rivals loading up on offense, they can't afford to be picky. (Previous pick: Jerry Hughes, LB, TCU)

27. Dallas Cowboys: Maurkice Pouncey, G/C, Florida - Pouncey has projected as high as Denver at 11, mainly because of his ability to play guard, center and maybe even tackle. He's probably a good bet to go somewhere in the Top 15. Truth be told, the Cowboys would rather use this pick on a safety like hometown boy Earl Thomas. However, with Flozell Adams gone, the team can use some help on the offensive line. Sure, Pouncey probably can't fill in at left tackle, but he certianly would be an upgrade at guard(especially if Leonard Davis moves over to tackle). Ultimately, I think the Cowboys move up for a safety. If not, I can see them auctioning off this pick to a team interested in either Clausen(if still there), Tim Tebow or Colt McCoy. Then, I see them making a move for Ravens' OT Jared Gaither. Either way, I don't see Dallas at 27. (Previous pick: Dez Bryant, WR, Okla. St.)

28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno St. - Despite the good Combine, Matthews' stock suffers from the lack of value for running backs these days. After all, why are teams going to pay top money to a guy that they'll probably have splitting carries. Certianly, Matthews can carry the load by himself but more and more teams are shifting to a two-back system. Even San Diego, the most RB-desperate of any team in the league, would still be using Matthews to split with holdover Darren Sproles. With RBs dropping each year, Matthews is a good bet to be here when the Chargers go on the clock. If not, a nose tackle like Terrence Cody would be nice as would some help on the offensive line. (Previous pick: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama)

29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State - The Jets have addressed most of their needs through trades and free agency. They got their 2nd wideout(Santonio Holmes), they got their 2nd corner(Antonio Cromartie), they got their 2nd RB(L.T.), and they got another pass rusher(Jason Taylor). What they didn't get was younger on the defensive line. That's why this pick will either be used on a blue-chipper like Odrick to help the line out or dealt to a team in the top part of Round 2 so that they can get Tebow or whomever and the Jets can recover some of the picks they've lost.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas - I know Tim Tebow has been projected here because everyone thinks Favre is playing a few more years and that would minimize the chance of Tebow being rushed to action before he's ready, but seriously, Tebow? In Brad Childress' hands? Not a good combination. Colt McCoy is a more natural QB. He's alot like Drew Brees was back in 2001(Note: I'm not saying Colt McCoy is the next Drew Brees. Do NOT send me emails about this matter). Like Brees, he's a bit on the short side(around 6', 6'1). Like Brees, he's got some spring in his step, able to move out of the pocket and throw on the run. Like Brees, he's accurate. Like Brees, he's a leader(at least, much more so than Clausen, who will be taken ahead of McCoy). Is Colt McCoy the next Drew Brees? Again, I say no BUT he's similar to Brees and I'm pretty sure that if you ask all the GMs that passed on Brees in '01, they feel really stupid(they're also probably mostly unemployed). McCoy can learn from Favre and would be a much better backup option than Tarvaris Jackson. In fact, while I won't cop to McCoy as the next Drew Brees, I WILL say Colt McCoy is the best QB in this draft. There. I said it. Sue me. (Previous pick: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame)

31. Indianapolis Colts: Brian Price, DT, UCLA - Colts GM Bill Polian called out the offensive line after the Super Bowl and, given how much Peyton Manning means to this team, don't be surprised if they do whatever it takes to bring in some help on the front line(pointing at you, Jared Gaither). With all the top tackles gone, Brian Price would be a nice consellation. Current DT Eric Foster is facing sexual assault charges and the team needs help inside even if Foster isn't reprimanded(though, after the Big Ben fiasco, that would be a stretch now). Price is a bit small, which gives him something in common with the other guys on this line, but he can get to the quarterback. Pass rusher isn't exactly a huge need but when you're picking down here, why not? (Previous pick: Maurkice Pouncey, G/C, Florida)

32. New Orleans Saints: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri - The Saints have needed linebacker help for quite some time and they've tried fixing that with a number of low-key signings(Scott Fujita, Jon Vilma, Brian Simmons, etc). That may have been enough to win the Super Bowl, but now Fujita is gone and some youth infusion is needed. Weatherspoon has the talent to be taken anywhere between the top 15 to 20 picks. The knock on Weatherspoon? His mouth. Scouts, opponents and the like have been turned away by Weatherspoon's ceaseless running yap. That could change around the right coaching staff and veteran leadership, but with so many teams steering clear of guys with anything resembling "baggage", don't be surprised if Weatherspoon's gift for gab drops him down a few spots. (Previous pick: Brian Price, DT, UCLA)

Things That I, Too, Learned Over The Weekend....

Gabe wasn't the only one to have an epiphanous experience this weekend. Here, too, are what I gathered from this weekend, starting with the NFL's opening week.

* The 2010 NFL Draft will potentially feature four first-round quarterbacks: Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Texas' Colt McCoy, Florida's Tim Tebow and Ole Miss' Jevan Snead.(I say potentially because Bradford could opt to stay another year to prove his shoulder is right and to not get into a battle for the top pick with McCoy.) The destinations for these four men, after Week 1, seem pretty clear: St. Louis, Carolina, Washington and Jacksonville.

Now, Jacksonville's owner has already come out and admitted it would like to have Tebow because of his iconic status in the state of Florida and how that would translate in their dwindling ticket sales. There is, of course, the larger issue, which is that David Garrard just isn't cutting it. Whether it be the spotty offensive line or lack of weapons around him, Garrard hasn't proven to be the quarterback the team thought he was when it did away with former first rounder Byron Leftwich and gave a long-term deal to Garrard a couple years ago.

The same could be said for Marc Bulger and Jake Delhomme, the incumbent starters for St. Louis and Carolina respectively. Bulger, like Garrard, suffers from a bad offensive line and even shakier supporting cast. Last Sunday's 28-0 drubbing at the hands of the Seahawks, in which Bulger struggled to complete half of his passes, proved that the former Pro Bowler has lost his confidence and is a shell of what he used to be.

As for Delhomme, like I mentioned in the Week 1 Picks blog, Delhomme's collapse in the playoffs last January clearly has embedded itself into the back of his mind much like Albert Pujols' moon shot burned into the cerebellum of former Astros closer Brad Lidge. His 5 turnover performance against Philly assured Panther fans that Delhomme's last days are upon us.

Then, there's Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell. To most diehard Skins fans, Campbell's implosion against the Giants was to be expected. I, for one, thought Campbell would use nearly being replaced twice in the offseason as motivation in a contract year to realize his full potential and start putting everything together. I was wrong. Now, Campbell, much like the other four aforementioned men will sit by this offseason and watch their jobs go to the likes of guys like Bradford and McCoy and Snead and maybe even Tebow(if he can prove he can be a QB in the pros). Of course, as bad as all four quarterbacks were Sunday, their debut wasn't nearly as bad Bears' QB Jay Cutler's, but the chances of the Bears going back to the drawing board after selling the farm for the former Commodore are nil.

*Speaking of QBs, I found the Eagles' hasty signing of Jeff Garcia after starter Donovan McNabb cracked a rib to be a bit interesting. A couple years ago, the team traded its first rounder to division rival Dallas to move down into the second round and select Houston QB Kevin Kolb to be McNabb's heir apparent. That was 2007. Three years later, the team still doesn't trust Kolb enough to give him the reigns even in the short term while McNabb recovers. That has to say something about Kolb's development. Not only does he have to battle Garcia, a cagey veteran who should have been given the Raiders starting gig over former top overall pick JaMarcus Russell, but he also has to fight for snaps for the returning Michael Vick when his suspension is up. It makes you wonder: What plans do the Eagles have for Kolb after signing two more backup quarterbacks in the past 6 weeks?

* I learned this week that L.T. is every bit as done as an elite running back as the pundits made him out to be in the offseason. After finishing the last two seasons with significant injuries, it took Tomlinson all of one half of play to get banged up, this time a sprained ankle. In an all or nothing year for the Chargers, the team can't continue to wait on L.T. to put forth one last hurrah before riding off into the sunset. The team nearly cut the future Hall of Famer loose this offseason and, at 30 and with backup Darren Sproles a free agent again at the end of the year, it seems as if this will be L.T.'s final year, not just as a Charger, but as a starting RB anywhere in the NFL. Look at Edgerrin James, a running back with a similar skill set to L.T. who got old just as fast. It took James until the middle of preseason to get a job and it was splitting carries with a lesser back in Julius Jones for the Seahawks. If or when San Diego lets LT go, where exactly can this man go and be an every down back? With more teams going to a two-back system and with the college ranks constantly churning new runners, there just seems to be no place for the once-great LT and LT strikes me as a man with too much pride to simply hog up a roster spot on a contender for the hopes of winning a ring.

*Finally, everyone has gotten their take on Kanye West's predictable award show temper tantrum, so here's mine. I'm not surprised, not offended. It's something Kanye's been doing for years and he's clearly shown that even at the pinnacle of his career, he'll do or say anything that will grab headlines so long as the cameras are watching. It's happened in past award shows. It's happened at the Katrina fundraiser. It's happened in magazine interviews. He's a man with a tremendous lack of a sense of self.

My issue isn't what West did, as much as why MTV didn't bother to prevent it from happening. For one, why were MTV execs letting stars like West get hammered before the show went to air if not for the hopes that something like Kanye's outburst would take place? What do you expect to happen when you have an award ceremony amongst ignorant, inebriated celebrities? Second, when Kanye was making his way to the stage, nobody felt the need to step in the man's way so Taylor Swift can have her moment? Did he just appear from under the stage? I know MTV aims more for shock value at these award shows, but in the YouTube/Fox News era, I think it's time to be a bit more careful.

As for the aftermath, look, hip-hop, even now at its mainstream peak, is still an artform that is not fully understood by the masses no matter how hard record companies and radio stations have tried to dumb it down for the people over the last few years. At the end of the day, rappers will always be treated like hooligans when things like this go down no matter how much the mainstream media uses them for their slang, their trends and their influences on the youth. No matter how many records Kanye or any rapper sells, all it takes is one public display of ignorance like this to wipe out 100 "Jesus Walks".

--Dave