...water...{gasp}...water...

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 2:49 PM EDT in College Football

Update [2008-4-26 16:14:55 by hooper]: Jerod Mayo went 10th overall to the Patriots. Talk about a climb up the boards. Great news for him.

Update [2008-4-26 16:28:30 by Joel]: Pats fans, check out our profile of Jerod. Y'all got yourselves a good one.

The ultimate mirage is now upon us. We've just started the journey down the Sahara that is the football offseason. In a cruel joke of rehab, team rebuilding and calendar precision, we still have a third of a year before the next kickoff sates our thirst for watching really big men hit each other really hard with full-body blows.

Just at the point of realization of despair - seasons are over, basketball is over (except for those weird NBA types), baseball is touted as our exciting summer schedule - we run across one of the strangest displays of anticipation of the year.

Out of nowhere, the NFL syndrome of this country re-emerges in a spectacular display of hype, overstatement, stress, guesswork, and this:

Oh, yes. As if the Jets fans in attendance weren't insane enough. Well, at least there's this...

Well, the show's about to start. This post is up late, but leave your thoughts here.

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Comments

Jake Long! w00t!!1!

...what? You already knew? ;)

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Chris Long to St. Louis

It's going to be a Long day...

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

Matt Ryan to the Falcons.

Gee, that wasn't an obvious need or anything.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Raiders are grandstanding

any surprise, there?

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

R.I.P. McFadden

Good luck with the Raiders, buddy. You'll need it.

But it was worth the agony in the Jets fans. :)

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

Dorsey to Kansas City

With 5 down, I'll post in bunches. Except for the Broncos, perhaps.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

Cheering Jets fans

They like Gholston. That's a pretty rare event for a Jets 1st-round pick. Worth a comment.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Jerrod Mayo to the Patriots

WOOT!!1

(NFL side of me: dangit!)

(VOls side of me: woot!)

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

Strike up the band

Yeehaw for Mayo. Great news for him and for the Patriots. Best of luck, Jerod.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 26, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope only the best for him, and the Pats

are a terrific fit for Mayo. Aside from the cold weather, he has to be pleased. They were probably the best situation for Mayo in the entire NFL.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

2nd best part about Mayo...

They showed no highlights (because there are none) about McFadden runnning over UT, they showed Mayo taking him out three times....

I love you and miss you already Jerod...

Go Vols!

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

BRONCOS ALERT

Ryan Clady of Boise State to Denver. It's a very good fit for the Denver offensive scheme.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

Chris Williams from Vandy

to the Bears. That makes another high-pick Vandy guy in recent years. Not bad for the token academic school of the SEC.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 4:38 PM EDT reply actions

Bears...

Great pick. LT who played at Vandy against the SEC. Albert would've been a great pick as far as flexibility, but the bears needed LT now. And Williams is pretty dern good.

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

to the Cards. Good news for him. He's come a long way.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

New Format...

I like it and it's a surprisingly trade filled year...

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

I like it too.

It's a lot more entertaining.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe Flacco - QB from Delaware

He'll be a fun one to watch over the next few years. I think most people will be surprised.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Next pic from TN...

I think Cottam, I love Brown, but I think Cottam got a lot of attention at the combine.

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

I'd agree

Cottam, then Ainge, then Brown is my guess.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

1st round over

As expected, Mayo is the only Volunteer. Shame it had to be to the Patriots (Broncos fan here), but that is a terrific fit for both him and that team. It was a home run day for Mayo.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Bears fan here...

So I'm trying to convince everyone what a great pick Williams is...

...while still dreaming we'll pick up Ainge in the 3rd or 4th. That being said I think theres a real chance we'll take Henne in the 2nd if he's there. But a guy can dream can't he?

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Williams was a great fit for the Bears

no complaints from me.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

And after the last few years,

Ainge would come in smelling like roses. ;)

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, yes he would...

An intelligent quarterback in Chicago? It's almost too much to hope for.

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Ainge would be a great fit in Chicago

Like you said, he's smart. He also does a great job of keep-away with the defense; if a pass isn't there, it's in the upper deck. Assuming that defense holds, all he needs to do is play smart and safe and the Bears will be in every game. Then Hester can get his requisite TD on a return...

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Shanny is getting gray.

Wonder if he'll dye that back when the season gets here.

...yeah, I'm ready for football.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

BRONCOS ALERT

Royal at WR. He's fast and he'll help with the punt returns in particular. A solid WR pick from the Broncos for a change. Here's hoping he works out.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, a solid pick...

Giving Cutler more weapons after strengthening the OLine in the 1st.

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

The biggest problem has always been

WRs who don't play well with others. I just hope this guy puts the team first. I'll forgive a lot after that.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

So what do you think of Forte?

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

I honestly don't know.

I haven't watched a lot of CUSA ball so I know nothing of him. From the highlights he seems like a big back which is a plus. We need a back and I was wondering where and when we'd pull from. You guys know anything about him?

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't.

With RBs, I always look first at their willingness to commit. The worst case for a RB is a guy who spends an entire afternoon in the backfield looking for a home run cut. Give me a guy who'll follow the play as written, take plan B if it's better, and avoid the loss if nothing works out. It's not glamorous, but that's where the value is.

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

by David Hooper on Apr 26, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

The only others I can think of hearing about...

Are Woodson (KY) and he doesn't fit the system and the San Diego QB who I don't know much about. I didn't see Ainge going higher than fourth rd, but we'll see.

by jbragg on Apr 26, 2008 8:38 PM EDT reply actions