Gryphon
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April 28, 2007
Dillon's SportingBlog
Dennis Dillon has been covering pro football since 1978 — when the Cardinals played in St. Louis, not Arizona.
A handful of observations from the longest first round -- 6 hours, 8 minutes -- in the history of the NFL draft:
A most curious pick. With the ninth selection, the Dolphins chose wide receiver/returner Ted Ginn Jr. Miami had bigger needs, like quarterback, offensive line and safety, yet it took a player who hasn't fully recovered from a foot injury he suffered in Ohio State's national championship game loss to Florida. Luckily, BYU quarterback John Beck was available for the Dolphins in Round 2.
Try, try, try … and try again. The Lions used their first-round selection on a wide receiver, Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, for the fourth time in the last five years. This time, the Lions got it right. Johnson was the surest thing in this draft.
The Levi fit. The Cardinals, desperate for offensive line help, took Penn State tackle Levi Jones fifth overall. Jones may turn out to be the second coming of Jonathan Ogden, but picking him fifth overall was a big reach.
Wheeling and dealing. When did Jimmy Johnson return to Dallas? The Cowboys came into the draft armed with plenty of picks, and they were busy traders. First, they acquired an extra second-round pick this year and a No. 1 pick in 2008 from Cleveland for their first-round pick (22nd) this year. Then, they traded second-, third- and fifth-round picks to the Eagles for the 26th pick and selected Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer. And that was just the first round.
Guess we really aren't all Hokies after all. Shame on those Radio City Music Hall fans who booed Bruce Smith and Michael Vick when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduced them before the start of the draft. Smith and Vick weren't there as NFL players. The two Virginia Tech alums were helping commemorate the 32 students and faculty members who were killed in Blacksburg, Va., recently in the worst mass slaying in U.S. history. For fans to regard them with contempt was a crass act.
Dillon's SportingBlog
Dennis Dillon has been covering pro football since 1978 — when the Cardinals played in St. Louis, not Arizona.
A handful of observations from the longest first round -- 6 hours, 8 minutes -- in the history of the NFL draft:
A most curious pick. With the ninth selection, the Dolphins chose wide receiver/returner Ted Ginn Jr. Miami had bigger needs, like quarterback, offensive line and safety, yet it took a player who hasn't fully recovered from a foot injury he suffered in Ohio State's national championship game loss to Florida. Luckily, BYU quarterback John Beck was available for the Dolphins in Round 2.
Try, try, try … and try again. The Lions used their first-round selection on a wide receiver, Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, for the fourth time in the last five years. This time, the Lions got it right. Johnson was the surest thing in this draft.
The Levi fit. The Cardinals, desperate for offensive line help, took Penn State tackle Levi Jones fifth overall. Jones may turn out to be the second coming of Jonathan Ogden, but picking him fifth overall was a big reach.
Wheeling and dealing. When did Jimmy Johnson return to Dallas? The Cowboys came into the draft armed with plenty of picks, and they were busy traders. First, they acquired an extra second-round pick this year and a No. 1 pick in 2008 from Cleveland for their first-round pick (22nd) this year. Then, they traded second-, third- and fifth-round picks to the Eagles for the 26th pick and selected Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer. And that was just the first round.
Guess we really aren't all Hokies after all. Shame on those Radio City Music Hall fans who booed Bruce Smith and Michael Vick when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduced them before the start of the draft. Smith and Vick weren't there as NFL players. The two Virginia Tech alums were helping commemorate the 32 students and faculty members who were killed in Blacksburg, Va., recently in the worst mass slaying in U.S. history. For fans to regard them with contempt was a crass act.
