ESPN Horton Chat Wrap: Draft and 1 'boys blurb

[WoodysGirl]

Tim F (Dodger Nation): Is Marshall Faulks career over?

Gary Horton: I don't think his career is over. But I think his career as a feature back is over. He is now perceived as a third down back that can give you some production in the passing game as a spot player. But you can't underestimate his great mental approach to the game and how smart and prepared he is. That gives him a chance to stay competitive even as his physical skills deteriorate.

Matt (NY, NY): The Dolphins are becoming an early favorite in the AFC East; but is this deserved? And what what holes do they have that still have to fill?

Gary Horton: They have had a very aggressive offseason as you would expect under Belichick disciple Nick Saban. If Culpepper is healthy in September this can be a very good football team. I still think they would like to improve their OL and the defense is still going through a bit of a makeover under Saban to get more playmakers. But they will be vastly improved on offese.

BIG Mike (Livonia, MI): I believe Young will drop to the Lions at #9. Will the Lions select him?

Gary Horton: I do not think the Lions would take a QB. They are very happy with the competition they will get with Kitna and McNown. In those two they have a veteran guy and a young guy to bring along. I just don't see them going with a QB. Two better fits for Young if he falls would be Oakland at 7 and maybe Arizona at 10.

dan long island, ny: what are your thoughts on what the Jets will do with the 4 pick. Do they want leinart? Do they think he might fall to them at 4?

Gary Horton: I don't think Leinart would fall to them at No. 4. The Jets have done a nice job playing things close to the vest. I think they are trying to give the perception that they will stay at No. 4 and get a really good player such as Ferguson, Williams, etc. However, I have a hunch that they would really like to select Leinart, and to do that they may need to trade up to No. 2. That is a scenario to watch in the next two weeks.

tommy (boise): is there any chance the packers take somebody besides hawk or williams at 5?

Gary Horton: I think they want a defensive player and both those guys would fill huge needs. At least one of them will be there. But don't totally rule out them taking a QB. I don't think they will, because it would really be an embarassment to the organization after having picked Aaron Rodgers. To be honest, I think they have huge doubts as to whether he can play or not. It wouldn't be the worst move in the world but I think they will go defense.

Jake (VA Beach): Is there a possibility that Arrington will end up sitting this season out?

Gary Horton: No. He can't afford to do that. He will have to come to the realization that his financial expectations may not be in line with what teams are willing to pay. I could see him finally doing a deal that was heavily incentive-laden. That would protect the team but also give him the money he wants if he produces.

Eric (Indy): Gary, Should the Colts take a chance on Lendale White, or could they possibly get a top 4/5 RB with their late 2nd round pick?

Gary Horton: White may be there and I would think he would certainly have to be a discussion for the Colts. But it is hard to figure out where he is going to fall now. They are a high character organization and White may scare them a bit because of his shaky draft preparation. But they are usually very true to their draft board and once they rank their players, which they are doing this week, they take them off in good order. But they also do a great job of drafting by need.

luke (oakland): Gary, what makes the Raiders so dysfunctional? Every year they seem to have some good atheletes but never the "hunger" to get them over the top.

Gary Horton: I think the biggest problem with the Raiders has probably been their lack of stability in terms of coaching. It's a bit of a cycle ... when you don't win, you turn over coaches and when you turn over coaches, you don't have any consistency. I think the Raiders also are starting to realize that they no longer have that bully image that intimidates other teams. That must be replaced by more consistent play. I also think they have gotten into the habit in recent years of maybe thinking they are closer to being contenders each year than they really are. It's not in Al Davis' nature to start over and rebuild so they keep trying to plug holes rather than rebuild.

Steve (Dallas): Gary, is T.O. missing voluntary workouts a sign that he is not happy in Dallas already?

Gary Horton: No. I just think that is T.O. thinking he can do anything he wants. I will say this, there has never been any question about his fitness or work ethic and even the people in Philly would admit that when he got on the practice field, he was all business. I just think he is like a lot of modern day players who like to work out on their own and have a great comfort level in their regimine and don't like the offseason program. But if I was T.O., I'd be there everyday.

j.p. (little rock): do you see the packers falling back to the dark ages similar to the 80's?

Gary Horton: Well, I would hate to say that, but in my opinion, they are now fourth in the NFC North in terms of talent. I"m confident Minnesota and Chicago has better personnel and even Detroit may pass them up. They have done a nice job resigning some of their key players but I"m at a loss why they have not been more aggressive with other players in free agency to improve this defense. I look at this team and it doesnt' seem to be they will be any better this year than last year.

Mike (Kingston): You mentioned that Vince Young would be a good fit with the Raiders. If the Silver and Black do pick Young, do you think he will be the starter right away, or will Brooks start?

Gary Horton: I don't think he would start right away. I think the Raiders, as we said, would never be willing to admit they are not a competitive playoff type team. So I think they would start the season with Aaron Brooks and bring Young along. Young will not be ready as a rookie and one of the biggest drawbacks of drafting him is how long you may have to wait before he can master an NFL offense.

Jason (Music City): What do you think will happen in the McNair situation?

Gary Horton: I don't think there is any question McNair will not play for Tennessee again. I know the Ravens are waiting for him to get cut so they can make him their starting QB. He can still play this game but it will be in another uniform. It's a shame how this has all happened. I undestand the organization's standpoint but the communication and PR reaction has been awful. They should have sat down with McNair and his agent a long time ago and explained how this was going to go.

Shamron (Clifton, NJ): Ty Law and Charles Woodson have been very quiet during this FA period. Won't someone bite on them sooner or later, or are both of them asking for way too much money?

Gary Horton: I think both of them are typical examples of veteran players that know they may only have one more big contract available to them and they also probably have inflated ideas of what they; are worth. I think both can still play, esp. Law, but neither are shut down guys and they have to be in the right system. Woodson may even have to move to safety. I expect them to find a team after the draft where they can fill a specific need with unique contracts that are probaby incentive-laden.

Travis (Canada): Gary, with the Brooks/Young situation in Oakland, are they basically not the same quarterback? Coming out of college the same lable was put on Brooks about how long it might take him to grasp a N.F.L offense or mature into a player.

Gary Horton: They are different in that we haven't seen Vince Young fail yet. We've had a lot of time to see that from Brooks. They are similar in that they are both athletic with a strong arms and probably the concerns that we have with Young we also had with Brooks and are thinks Brooks has struggled with .. reading defenses, making progressions, making good decisions, etc. There is no question about Brooks talent, he just can't seem to put it all together.

Jonathan (New Orleans): GARY, the Saints have me so confused. I don't even know who I want anymore. Who is it going to be, Ferguson, Williams, Hawk??

Gary Horton: I think all the action in the first part of the draft is sitting with the Saints. In my opinion, they could be very happen with Ferguson, Williams or Hawk. But I don't think they want them at No. 2 if they can avoid it. New Orleans realizes that they can go to No. 4 or 5, pick up an extra second round pick or better, and still get one of those guys. I'm just not sure that they want to stay at No. 2 and pull the trigger. So look for a lot of speculation coming out of New Orleans in the next two weeks as they try to tease teams to come up to that spot.

Gary (Minny): Is Chester Taylor capable of being a starting RB? The Vikes, it seems, have committed to the run game, and he was good as a backup in Baltimore. What should Vikings fans expect out of this guy?

Gary Horton: I really like Taylor as the go-to back in that offense. He can give them 20 solid carries a game but he can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He really stabilizes a position that has had a lot of talent over the years. But also a lot of problems with injuries, etc. Brad Childress needs a guy he can count on. I think you will see Taylor really emerge.

Ken (Boston): Hey Gary, its patriots day and you don't have a post from Boston up, wats up with that? Anyway, what do you think the Pats will do in the draft?

Gary Horton: We may not have any Pats questions because everyone is out looking for a kicker! It's impossible to tell what they will do by the time they get to pick. I do know Belichick loves to move around and it would not surprise me if they move down in the first round. But this has been an unusually quiet offseason for the Pats. I'm a little confused why they haven't done more to solidify the team, even if it is just getting role players. I think they will look at WR as well as the secondary. Even though they desperately need a kicker, I don't think they will try to find him in the draft. I'll be honest, I don't have a great feel for what they are thinking.

niko (memphis): who be the frist QB draft in the NFL 06?

Gary Horton: Matt Leinart. What's happening right now is the closer we get to the draft, the more conservative teams become. That's why there is a chance Young and Cutler could fall a bit. Leinart has played in the big arena, under tremendous pressure and he has good enough physical skills to be successful. I just really think he is a mature guy that is going to step in and be the face of an organization.

Travis (Canada): Gary, what players this year deserve the Jerry Rice/Emmitt Smith award for holding onto their career too long past their prime, so much so it might tarnish it? My picks are Junior Seau and Deion Sanders!

Gary Horton: I think both those guys are finished and will not be back in '06. If you are talking about hanging it up after '05, I suppose I could agree with you. Neither were real factors. But as I watch these veteran players try to hang on, I've developed the attitude that it is not up to us to judge .. if a team is still willing to pay them, more power to them if they can extend their career. It may be uncomfortable for us to watch, but it is their life and they have every right to stay in the game as long as they can.

Mat (Scottsdale, AZ): Is David Terrell done in the NFL?

Gary Horton: I don't know if he is done. But he sure has fallen from grace. I really thought when he signed with the Pats last year that he would turn around his career. I thought it was the right place with the right people but obviously I was wrong. He is young and talented enough that somebody will probably give him another shot.

Mike (Kingston): Will Leinart be stepping into a better situation this year than if he had declared for the draft last year and been the 49ers first pick? Did he make the right deicision?

Gary Horton: Leinart went back to USC for all the right reasons .. he had a tender shoulder and wasn't really healthy enough to go through the draft process, he loved the college experience and had a great team coming back, and now he is more mature and ready to step in immediately .. the only difference is he will probably go No. 2 this year instead of No. 1 last year. His perfect scnario would be for the Jets to move up and bring him to the Big Apple. But he would also be in a great situation if he went No. 3 to Tennessee. I love that Leinart didnt' chace the money and stayed to enjoy his college experience.

Gary Horton: As I mentioned earlier, we won't hear a lot of specifics this week with teams in meetings, but this is when the rumor mill starts about teams moving up and down. Much of it is just posturing. But keep your eyes on the Saints this week and other teams eyeing that pick. Look forward to talking to you again on Wednesday!

 

[Alexander]

Eric (Indy): Gary, Should the Colts take a chance on Lendale White, or could they possibly get a top 4/5 RB with their late 2nd round pick?

Gary Horton: White may be there and I would think he would certainly have to be a discussion for the Colts. But it is hard to figure out where he is going to fall now. They are a high character organization and White may scare them a bit because of his shaky draft preparation. But they are usually very true to their draft board and once they rank their players, which they are doing this week, they take them off in good order. But they also do a great job of drafting by need.

This goes to show you exactly how much thought the average journalist puts into these things that fans unfortunately take to heart believing they are experts.

Lendale White is a very inexperienced receiver. So that would have about as much to do with the Colts not wanting him as these supposed beliefs about how they view character.

 

[TheHustler]

Thanks for the recap. Finally someone with some sense, the TO thing is overblown.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Sure hope T.O. does not get in the dog house early....

 

[NOVA 22]

I have no idea what's been going on with David Terrell, but wouldn't mind Dallas taking a low cost flyer on him - was a beast in college at a big time program. hard to think he couldn't be a decent player in the nfl.

 

[Alexander]

I have no idea what's been going on with David Terrell, but wouldn't mind Dallas taking a low cost flyer on him - was a beast in college at a big time program. hard to think he couldn't be a decent player in the nfl.

Terrell is STILL living off his Michigan hype I see.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

ahhhh bledsoe and glenn didn't attend workout neither.