SIDELINE
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale
The Morning After April 28, 2008
Well, it was quite a wild party, wasn't it?
Like any good party, the specifics are a little hazy. Highlights are connected by more general, half–remembered impressions,
plus the occasional incongruous flashback of the headier moments which somebody will probably end up regretting. It'll take a while
to sort it all out, so bear with me.
I remember the Longs arriving, and that nice Matt Ryan, of course, but then there's the more surreal moments, like that young athlete
dancing with the septuagenarian in the funny glasses. Did that really happen? Then all the wide receivers turned up late, and the Eagles
and Titans ignored them — I forget why.
And why do I seem to remember the Colts collecting centers the way Imelda Marcos collects shoes?
Draft Notes
The six player–invitees to the event didn't have to wait long in the green room (or blue room according to the decor),
being the first six players picked — the first time this had ever happened. Denied hours of the usual spectacle of an anguished
twenty one year–old in close–up, we had to find our entertainment elsewhere. If only running back Rashard Mendenhall had been
there in person. Think of the emotional pay–off that could have been enjoyed when he slipped past the Detroit Lions (yeah, too
obvious for them) and ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers were to be one of the winners for the weekend — as long as you didn't examine their actual needs too closely —
supplying haven to three skill position stars other teams were cruelly overlooking: Mendenhall, WR Limas Sweed and QB Dennis Dixon. I'm
not sure what the Steelers are going to do with Dixon, who was once a Heisman hopeful, but with the advantage of being five time zones
ahead of the East Coast, let me be one of the first to say 'Slash' (be warned, that idea's quickly going to sound like a stuck record
of "Matt Ryan represents the end of the Michael Vick era" proportions).
The main theme of the draft appeared to be trades, frequently away from the talent. It became so virulent on day one that I started to
wonder if everybody was trying to save their money for some future uncapped season (as if). Tracking the trades eventually became more
complicated than tracking the selections. At one stage, the Browns ended up acquiring their own sixth round pick from Philadelphia —
they promptly used it on a receiver, which was at least more than the Eagles seemed inclined to do.
Donovan McNabb wasn't the only QB who must have been feeling a little depressed by proceedings. John Beck, Miami's second round pick last
year, can't be sensing good job security after Michigan's Chad Henne landed with this year's second round pick. In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers
has barely caught breath since Brett Favre retired, and he already has Brian Brohm and national championship–winning Matt Flynn heading
his way. No pressure or anything.
Oh yes, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now officially have five quarterbacks. Perhaps they could send one to Kansas City. Everybody keeps
telling me the Chiefs had a really good time, but as far as I can see, they had two first round picks and they've still got Brodie Croyle
as their starter. Odd.
Of course, it's all a bit of a blur at the moment. I'll be back when my head clears.
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale