Pre-draft News Roundup

[Mr. Scot]

(Various sources: ESPN, PFT, KFFL, Rotoworld, Local, etc)

Reports from a couple of sources saying the Lions have settled on Matthew Stafford as the #1 pick and agreed to terms. Near 80 million for a guy that's never played a down in the NFL. And if he busts, the Lions are even worse off than they already were. This is a big reason why I see the logic in the Panthers policy of not drafting QBs high.

As an additional note, nearly 42 million of that contract is guaranteed. That's a guaranteed number equal to the whole of Jake Delhomme's new deal. The difference, of course, is that Delhomme has proven he can win games in the NFL. I'm kind of hoping Goodell gets that rookie cap that he wants. It's been needed for a while now.

Stafford's main job this year will likely be to prove he can sell tickets. That is, unless something happens to Daunte Culpepper. Then his job will be to provide a dramatic re-enactment of the early career of David Carr (the Lions offensive line will serve as a supporting cast in this performance).

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The Rams have reportedly bought a plane ticket to St. Louis for USC QB Mark Sanchez. Given how much Dan Snyder is said to covet Sanchez, I wonder how that story went over in the Redskin offices (another story was reporting the Rams might get in some trouble over it).

Oddly enough, both this year's top prospects have the initials "M.S.", a two letter combo that can also denote Microsoft or Multiple Sclerosis. As to the difference between those two, one is a bane to mankind, something for which hopefully - with sufficient research and effort - a way can be found to stop the damage done to the human race and prevent it from ever hurting anyone else. The other is a disease that affects the nervous system.

In other QB news, the Bucs are said to be locked in on Josh Freeman with their first round pick. From what I've seen and read, Freeman is a nice kid who could be everything a coach wants. He may have a bit of an uphill battle, but if he succeeds it'll make for one of those great "feel good" stories that everyone loves to read about.

With all that said, if he goes to Tampa, I hope he fails miserably there and sets the franchise back for a decade. If he accomplishes that task, then I'll happily cheer for him to go somewhere else and succeed.

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There's loads of pre-draft posturing from teams such as the Patriots, Redskins and Jags about who wants to trade up and who wants to trade down. The Panthers are choosing the more direct route of saying nothing at all. Hard to say who's more inscrutable.

As to the ongoing saga of the Anquan Boldin sweepstakes, per Sal Paolantonio of ESPN the Eagles, Giants, Jets, Ravens and Titans are all said to have joined in the fun. The number of participants makes me wonder if the price which reportedly had just gone down might not go right back up.

Word also now that the Steelers have signed an outside free agent (Keiwan Ratliff) leaving only one team having not signed any outside free agents this offseason. Three guess who (hint: they traded for a long-snapper).

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Speaking of new LS J Jonah Jameson (or whatever his name is) checking his picture, he looks very much like what you'd get if Jay Leno and Jay Cutler conceived a kid together and/or went genetic halfsies on a clone. Granted that sounds impossible, but consider that if this were to happen, the natural name for the kid would be J.J., right?

(hmmmmmm) :sosp:

In other news related to the Panthers organization...

... I got nothin'

[Fox007]

The money is the only reason it's a risk to take those QB's like that.

When/if the pay scale gets implemented, the potential reward would then greatly outweigh the risk.

It's still worth it if you actually land the first round gem.

[carpanfan96]

Lol on the J.J part and good stuff as usual Mr. Scot

[Mr. Scot]

Lol on the J.J part and good stuff as usual Mr. Scot

Thanks. the "MS" bit is a variation on an old joke :eek: