2008 NFL DRAFT LIVE THREAD

http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round ^

[mainepatsfan]

2008 NFL DRAFT LIVE THREAD

April 26

3:00PM ET - ESPN

1ST ROUND DRAFT ORDER

1 - Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT, Michigan

2 - St. Louis Rams

3 - Atlanta Falcons

4 - Oakland Raiders

5 - Kansas City Chiefs

6 - New York Jets

7 - New England Patriots (From 49ers)

8 - Baltimore Ravens

9 - Cincinnati Bengals

10 - New Orleans Saints

11 - Buffalo Bills

12 - Denver Broncos

13 - Carolina Panthers

14 - Chicago Bears

15 - Detroit Lions

16 - Arizona Cardinals

17 - Kansas City Chiefs (From Vikings)

18 - Houston Texans

19 - Philadelphia Eagles

20 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21 - Washington Redskins

22 - Dallas Cowboys (From Browns)

23 - Pittsburgh Steelers

24 - Tennessee Titans

25 - Seattle Seahawks

26 - Jacksonville Jaguars

27 - San Diego Chargers

28 - Dallas Cowboys

29 - San Francisco 49ers (From Colts)

30 - Green Bay Packers

31 - New York Giants

[The Pack Knight]

He really came out of nowhere. The scouts loved his arm at the Combine, but I have a hard time seeing a I-AA quarterback as a first rounder. He had great numbers, but against what kind of defenses?

Then again, maybe I ought not sell I-AA short after what happened to Michigan.

[misterrob]

They lost on a hell of a play but I do think there was too much hype about them and I am a long time fan.

[The Pack Knight]

One thing that's interesting..

The NFL generates more revenue than any other sports league, but the highest paid football player in 2007, Leonard Davis, is only the 19th highest paid athlete in the world. The only other NFL player in the top 25 is Reggie Bush, at 23rd. (Source: Forbes).

Of course, that probably has less to do with the draft than it does with the salary cap, the large number of players, and the way the gear makes players less recognizable.

[The Pack Knight]

So, the Packers take Brian Brohm. Interesting. Their GM says Aaron Rogers is the starter, but does this mean they don’t consider him their long-term guy?

[justiceseeker93]

I have a hard time believing that Bret Favre wasn’t the highest paid player in the game, nor was Tom Brady, nor was Payton Manning. They would be by far the three most recognizable names to the general public, you would think.

As far as comparisons with other sports, they are unrealistic, especially those with athletes in individual sports like golf and tennis and auto racing, where earnings (excluding product endorsements) depend strictly on winning prize money offered by event sponsors.

[EDINVA]

Jake Long signed a five-year contract with the Dolphins worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed.

OK, so Jake is the exception.

The average NFL career is 4 years and the average rookie earns a minimum starting salary of @ $300K/year. At the end of the four year career, that average player is all of 25 years old. He’s made decent money for a few years, far in excess of his contemporaries. A pro player, even an average pro player, has career options at the end of his athletic careers. In the meanwhile, he’s had the opportunity of living out the experience of being an NFL player. Very, very few make it to that pinnacle of sports.
I really am missing what’s so horrible about this fate for a young man.

I understand the risks, but playing football is an endeavor they chose and — if they made it to the NFL — excelled at. They could be injured in high school or college football and never make it to the NFL. They can’t choose what team they will play for? Not everyone can choose what college they will go to or what company they will work for.

WWMFD? Dunno.

[justiceseeker93]

Too much hype about the Patriots? If I were a Patriot fan, I’d been darn proud that my team was the first ever to go unbeaten and untied in a 16 game schedule. That’s a great accomplishment in itself.

As for the “hell of a play,” I presume you meant the catch against the helmet by Tyree, which in part made possible by the defensive back’s unawareness of where the ball was. But what really cost the Patriots was the inability of their offensive line to protect Brady adequately. That’s why they were held to 14 points.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Opps...Make that RAY Guy.

[justiceseeker93]

A pro player, even an average pro player, has career options at the end of his athletic career.

In some cases yes, in others no. A lot will depend upon his management of his money during his few top-earning years.

The well-trained scientist will have more career options at age 25 and will have grater earning potential from then on than the "average" washed out professional football player, especially one who never finished college. Look around and you'll see some rather sad stories out there.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

My Bad. I meant to type RAY Guy. And I’m not even drinking...maybe I should be. LOL!

[misterrob]

I was a bit pissed at the outcome but I took it in stride. The DB went for the ball and missed it while Tyree pinned the ball against his helmet on the way down. How often does that catch get made? You have to tip your cap when that happens. True that the Giants D owned the Pats O-Line but the Giants offense didn't do much most of the game either as compared to a game they played vs one another 5 weeks earlier. Also, Manning threw at least two passes that should have been picked off on the final drive but the Pats DBs couldn't close the deal. A few plays here and there and that's your game.

[EDINVA]

But your washed up 25 year old former athlete is one of the illiterate ones who wouldn’t have gotten into college in the first place but for his God-given athletic ability. Probably would never have been hired to flip burgers otherwise.

So at least he had four good years and, yes, he’d probably be broke and not have enough $$$ to buy gas for the Mercedes, Ferraris, etc. that he blew his NFL salary on. Is he worse off for his NFL career? Other than having come to believe he walks on water and finding out ‘tain’t so?

I can’t remember now who it was, but last year a former pro athlete who dropped out of school to play had retired and went back to finish and get his degree. I’m thinking at Auburn. That was impressive.

[justiceseeker93]

A few plays here or there and that's your game.

That's almost always the case when your guys lose by three points or less, especially when you have the lead in the final minute. That's not a feeling unique to any team's fans.

[dfwgator]

Gay Guy played wide receiver for San Francisco....

I thought he was a tight end.

[Cedar]

ESPN sure took the fun out of it. Since they had the inside word for the first 5 picks (though acting like they didn’t), their TV camera was focused on each pick five minutes before the announcement of each name.

Spoiled all the excitement of it.

[Pharmboy]

I dunno...I really can't complain about Jerry Reese, but here's my $0.02: I feel my G-men were lucky to get Phillips with the last pick in in Round 1. Very fast for a safety, a big hitter and he's smart.

Now, in answer to your Brady Quinn question, I feel it is the guy I wanted the Giants to pick instead of Terrell Thomas: Dan Connor. Why is he still sitting in the green room? Do they feel he is a bit undersized at 232? I hope my Giants do not regret letting Connor go...and I sure do not want to see him in the NFC East.

How do you think your Pats did?

[Non-Sequitur]

Does that include QB?

No. Croyle was drafted year before last I believe. Third round.

[Non-Sequitur]

I’m really intrigued with this KC pick. Dorsey?

Hey, he's by far the best player available. And the Chief's D isn't all that great where it couldn't use improvement.

[mainepatsfan]

Oh I absolutely agreed with the pick. The post you responded to was just before they had chosen him.

[mainepatsfan]

Well they accomplished their goal of trading out of that #7 spot to acquire an additional third round pick. As for the players themselves of course only time will tell.