Random Draft Day Thoughts

[TNFL]

All I can think of is "there's a tear in my beer, cause i'm crying for you dear"

Otto man you seem bitter, and its obvious. HA HA your pack is going to suck for a long time.

[Rick]

Here is what the real experts say

Minnesota Vikings

Best pick: First-round pick Chad Greenway will be a rookie starter at outside linebacker. Getting him with the 17th pick is a good move.

Worst pick: Using a second-round pick on quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the second round is a risky move. He has a big arm, but he's raw.

Vikings Overall grade: B+. I love the Greenway pick and second-round corner Cedric Griffin will be a nickel starter next year.

Green Bay Packers

Best pick: Grabbing A.J. Hawk in the first round was a great move. He is the safest pick in this draft, a guy who will start for years in Green Bay.

Worst pick: They took Boise State tackle Daryn Colledge in the second round when Marcus McNeil was still on the board. McNeil is a better player.

Packers Overall grade: B. Getting Hawk is a great move, and third-round pick Abdul Hodge is another linebacker who will find his way onto the field.

[buzzsaw]

Otto, my main man.... I'z you a bit cwankee dis fine day? Your team graded out decent on draft day, you should be happy. We'll see how that young coach of yours is able to keep the boys together this year after they start losing and disention breaks out amongst the ranks. It sure would be nice to see John Randle have another shot at hammering Favre this year!! Oh well, I'll settle for Erasmus James ~ the Wisconsin guy to hammer another Wisconsin guy. I may just have to settle with watching Darren (I'm washed up according to all packer fans) Sharper have another pro bowl season and Longwell can kick game winners as well. Yee haw!!

[james_walleye]

Hey packman, Gado was running wild and picking up plenty of yards, and it still didnt help Favre. You couldnt have had more help from a running game than what Gado was giving the pack and it didnt do any good. So the "all of our running backs were hurt" bit doesnt hold any water. The pack did nothing in free agency and for the most part did have a good draft, but most of those players if they pan out wont have much of an impact this year.

[nofishfisherman]

This is what another expert said on Fox Sports.

31 out of 32 teams

31. Minnesota: They took Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway in the first round and many teams thought he didn't have the sudden burst necessary to be a big-time NFL linebacker. Then they took a sixth-round center Ryan Cook with the 51st overall choice and traded up to select Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson with the 64th pick. Most teams had Jackson in the 7th round. Georgia safety Greg Blue will be a special teams' demon, but doesn't have good coverage skills and may be moved to weakside linebacker. Finally, if they wanted to select Oregon's Kellen Clemens in the second round, they were out-foxed by the inexperienced Jets. New personnel chieftan Fran Foley has more headaches than quite a few biographical mistakes in his resume. Grade: D

I'm a vikes fan but I need to wait to see how this all plays out. Right now I give them an "W" for "who the heck knows" or maybe a "N" for "never heard of that guy before"

The pack ranked 5th overall according to them.

[Ballbuster]

All I know is both FudgePackers and Viqueens need to bow down to the new rulers of the NFC North. DA BEARS!! Can't wait to bust up Favre again and play our starters against the Queens so we sweep you this year. The year of the Bears is on you. You've been warned

[slim1]

G.B did do good on the def. side but who will protect Favre? he will have a high number of int's again this year if they don't get a decent o-line

[nofishfisherman]

The pack also haven't really address WR. Driver is a #2 guy not a #1.

Without a good o-line and better WR's Favre should have another 25 int's this year. I can't wait.

[Down to Earth]

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The pack did nothing in free agency and for the most part did have a good draft, but most of those players if they pan out wont have much of an impact this year.

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Thompson never was one to build a team through free agency. He never really did in Seattle, so I don't expect him to do much in GB as well. I think he's pretty much started planning for the post Favre era last year with the drafting of Rodgers. Favre is pretty much a lame duck QB. Hopefully he will see the light, play out the year and receive all the accolades coming in his final year and retire.

Granted we did have a bunch of loses by less than 3 points or so, so maybe they can swing a better record next year. In this day and age anything can happen, but I'm not expecting anything much better than 6-10 or 7-9.

[james_walleye]

The bears had their token 1 in every 10 year playoff appearance last year, we wont be seeing them in the playoffs again until about 2015, everyone knows that.

As far as a grade, i've heard as many people say the vikes faired just fine as opposed too had a bad draft. It all depends on the source you read. And if the vikings were #31 then the bears were obviously #32. What a joke, trade out of the first round when they could have taken Jackson and then they take 1 offensive player? Way too fill the offensive holes boys. Thats why we see the bears in the playoffs once every 10 years.

[cybermuskie]

Here's Mel Kipers draft grades: (a C was the lowest he gave)

Minnesota Vikings: GRADE: C+

Linebacker Chad Greenway was a very good pick at No. 17, while Cedric Griffin is a solid defensive back who needs to play the ball better. Ryan Cook is a versatile center who could be moved elsewhere on the offensive line. QB Tarvaris Jackson went a bit high, but he has a chance to be the Vikings' future quarterback. DE Ray Edwards struggled as a junior, and I thought he needed another season at Purdue.

Green Bay Packers: GRADE: B

I gave Green Bay an A after the first day. The Packers had a lot of picks (12), and some were definitely reaches. Linebacker A.J. Hawk, their first-round pick at No. 5, will give the Packers a much-needed face on defense. Offensive tackle Daryn Colledge needs to get stronger and become a better run-blocker. I really like WR Greg Jennings, LB Abdul Hodge and C Jason Spitz. Will Blackmon was both a wide receiver and cornerback at Boston College, but reportedly he will get a chance to play corner initially.

Chicago Bears: GRADE: B

The Bears traded out of the first round and were still able to get secondary help in Danieal Manning. Devin Hester is a great athlete, but is he a cornerback or wide receiver? Hester will help the Bears in the return game. Dusty Dvoracek will get worked into the rotation at defensive tackle, and I really like the pick of defensive end Mark Anderson in the fifth round. J.D. Runnels could start as a rookie at fullback and was a great find in the sixth round. I was surprised the Bears didn't address needs at tight end and wide receiver.

[Ballbuster]

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The bears had their token 1 in every 10 year playoff appearance last year, we wont be seeing them in the playoffs again until about 2015, everyone knows that.

As far as a grade, i've heard as many people say the vikes faired just fine as opposed too had a bad draft. It all depends on the source you read. And if the vikings were #31 then the bears were obviously #32. What a joke, trade out of the first round when they could have taken Jackson and then they take 1 offensive player? Way too fill the offensive holes boys. Thats why we see the bears in the playoffs once every 10 years.

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Don't be upset James because your team din't make the playoffs last year. I'm not sure who your team is since you didn't say. The Bears were not looking for a WR this year, I would have taken Jackson but I'm not the GM of the Bears and obviously you're not very good at grading drafts either. Mel Kiper gave the Bears a B for their draft. We have some good WR's that you'll see this year and if rex goes down again at least we have a veteran Back up instead of a rookie. Just face the facts that we'll win the North again. Maybe your team will get a wild card.

[nofishfisherman]

If Kiper is giving grades then so will I. I give Kiper a "D". For a supposed draft expert you would think he would get more the 6 out of the first 32 picks right. Thats a solid 18% correct. But I guess its better then last year where I would give him an "F". Last year he only got 2 first round picks out of 32 correct. Thats a whopping 3% correct. Anyone else think they could pick between 3% and 18% of the first round picks correctly?

Thats a sweet deal Kiper has. He gets paid big money to predict what will happen in the draft. And he doesn't even have to be right to still be considered the NFL Draft Guru.

[james_walleye]

Well im a viking fan ballbuster but 2 of my best friends are bears fans and they were absolutely disgusted with how the draft went for the bears. Both said the same, you had one of the best defenses in the league last year and yet this whole draft was defense? Doesnt make sense.

Of course im upset because the vikes missed the playoffs, but all in all the vikes year in and year out are more competitive and there is no disputing that. Like i said the bears have their token run every 10 years and then make the playoffs and get hammered. Whens the last time they actually won a playoff game?

[packman]

ball buster what are daaa bears going to do with no offence and they are trading all there defence away and no one to throw the ball, i suppose urlacker could play QB but im sure he will have enough problems playing all 11 positions on defence. and the the queeneies if your draft was so good why then are u firing your draft expert. remember it was andy rieds system not your head coaches GO pack!!!

[buzzsaw]

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and the the queeneies if your draft was so good why then are u firing your draft expert

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I'm guessing if you read the paper you'd see that it had to do with his "exaggerated resume'" and to some extent his "risky" second round draft picks.

[packman]

YA AND FAVRE WAS TAKING PAIN KILLERS FOR HIS INJURIES, COME ON HE WAS SHORT TEMPERED DURING THE DRAFT AND THE TEAMS DRAFT PICS SHOW FOR IT. AFTER WHAT HAPPEND LAST YEAR WITH A CERTAIN RESUME U DONT THINK THEY TOOK EXTRA TIME TO LOOK AT EVERYONE ELSES, EVEN WITH THE GUY WHO WAS GOING TO BUY THE TEAM LAST YEAR HAD A BIO THAT WAS WRONG, SO ITS HARD FOR ME TO HEAR THAT AS AN EXCUSE.

[Ballbuster]

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Well im a viking fan ballbuster but 2 of my best friends are bears fans and they were absolutely disgusted with how the draft went for the bears. Both said the same, you had one of the best defenses in the league last year and yet this whole draft was defense? Doesnt make sense.

Of course im upset because the vikes missed the playoffs, but all in all the vikes year in and year out are more competitive and there is no disputing that. Like i said the bears have their token run every 10 years and then make the playoffs and get hammered. Whens the last time they actually won a playoff game?

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We made the playoffs in 01 when we went 13-3 reg season and yes we lost to the Eagles by 14. Last year we lost to Carolina by 8. Your team got "hammered" by the Giants 41-0 in 2000 so I'd be careful using that word again. Your team is know as choke artists. When have you won it all? The only thing I can say about the draft is Da Bears must have extreme confidence in the players that were hurt last year playing a full year this year and really contributing. I guarantee our offense will be much better than last year.

[Ballbuster]

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ball buster what are daaa bears going to do with no offence and they are trading all there defence away and no one to throw the ball, i suppose urlacker could play QB but im sure he will have enough problems playing all 11 positions on defence. and the the queeneies if your draft was so good why then are u firing your draft expert. remember it was andy rieds system not your head coaches GO pack!!!

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What are you talking about? Trading our "D" away? We will move up at least to the middle of the league in offense this year. We were 28th last year but that didn't stop us from whipping you twice did it? Poor Brett was beat into submission by our "D" He better get back on them pain pills again because this year it will be worse. The Pack was the worst team in the Division last year so I'd be real humble if I were you. That's Mr. Urlacher to you

[buzzsaw]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Fran Foley, the Minnesota Vikings' vice president of player personnel, was fired by the team on Wednesday more than a week after acknowledging there were inaccuracies on the resume he presented to the team when he was hired in January.

The Vikings made the announcement in a one sentence statement. Owner Zygi Wilf declined to comment on the decision after a Wednesday afternoon news conference at Capitol, where the team is trying to secure public funding for a new stadium.

Foley signed a three-year contract with Minnesota on Jan. 26, coming over from the San Diego Chargers. But he admitted to several inaccuracies on the resume he provided the team, including his early work history and exaggerating his playing career at Framingham State College.

Foley was part of a three-way executive structure that included coach Brad Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski. He had just finished helping direct the team's draft.

On a resume given to the Vikings, Foley said that he held coaching positions with the Citadel, Rutgers and Colgate when he was actually a graduate assistant at all three schools.

He also said that he played four seasons at Framingham State, when he only played two.

The team issued a revised biography for Foley last month.

[packman]

I guarantee our offense will be much better than last year.

THATS EASY TO SAY WHEN YOUR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE IN ALMOST ALL OFFENSIVE CATIGORIES, AND WERE DID THAT DEFENCE GET U LAST YEAR. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY FAVRE HAS ONE BAD YEAR IN THE LAST 13 OR SO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SUCKS, WHAT IS THE RECORD BETWEEN THE PACK AND BEARS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, I KNOW YOUR STILL LIVING IN 1985 BUT COME ON UNTILL YOU GET A PROVEN QB OR ONE THAT LAST ACTUALLY MORE THEN TWO GAMES AND THEN MAYBE YOU WILL DO SOMETHING IN THE PLAYOFFS.

[packman]

OH YA I DO AGREE FAVRE HAD A HORENDUS SEASON AND SO DID THE TEAM, BUT THEY HAVE GIVEN US THE BEST RECORD IN THE LAST 10 YEARS BEFORE THAT SO HOW CAN I COMPLAIN.

[Walleyeguy31]

Hindsight is always 20/20

kinda like woulda coulda shoulda

[james_walleye]

Yeah the loss too the giants was a joke buster, i'll be the first person too slam the vikings for that game. But the fact remains the vikings at least win a few playoff games when they make the playoffs. Lets face it, for many years now its been the vikings or packers taking the division and the bears laying on the floor as the doormat of the division. And you saying the bears offense will move up from 28th too 15th is just as risky as myself saying the vikings defense will move up from 26th too 13th. Both could happen, but its not real likely, lets be reasonable.

[james_walleye]

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ball buster what are daaa bears going to do with no offence and they are trading all there defence away and no one to throw the ball, i suppose urlacker could play QB but im sure he will have enough problems playing all 11 positions on defence. and the the queeneies if your draft was so good why then are u firing your draft expert. remember it was andy rieds system not your head coaches GO pack!!!

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Dude, the pack = #3 pick in the 2007 draft. Nice draft, but they havent done a whole lot too help this next seasons campaign. Hey when was the last time Favre won a real meaningful game? Like, 1996? I mean for the most part, anytime fairly recently, he hasnt won anything. I mean really, he has won 1 really meaningful game. I mean he was the QB in a superbowl where his team was double digit favorites and it was other QB who carried his team too victory. 4th and 26. 2 years ago against the vikes in the playoffs he was horrible. I know the regular season comeback wins are nice and the games played streak is nice but other than that when has he won a big game? He did, once. And i know i'll get too hear now "well when have the vikings won a superbowl". I know i know, they havent. But im not claiming my QB is the mesiah either. The whole point is this, why is he such a hero? I mean its not a stretch too say that if the packers are in a big game its maybe more likely that Favre will be rotten and lose the game for the packers than likely he'll shine and rise too the occasion. We really havent seen that much. When a guy really stops and thinks about what hes done, i mean, what has he done but not miss a game for many years. Impressive, but impressive enough too be considered as highly as packer fans want him too be? Lets face it, in the last 5 years (minus last season) the packers have had some serious talent, enough talent too make some serious runs. Until the vikes beat them 2 years ago many people thought they could run all the way that year, but Favre threw it up for grabs. I really darn near think the guy is seriously over rated when it comes too winning big games.