Feel free to hit the snooze button

.... tomorrow morning. The NFL has decided to push back the start of their draft to 3 PM EST on Saturday instead of the traditional Noon start time. A lot of you have e-mailed the blog asking if I knew why. Here's what I have come up with: The new start time gives jackass Giants and Eagles fans an extra 3 hours to get drunk enough to embarass themselves booing their newest player for no apparent reason. See: McNabb, Donovan.

I got a lot of calls this week from people wanting to talk shop about the Draft. My plan was to do team-by-team Draft Day previews of all 32 teams. Then it hit me: I am in no way qualified to do that. I really don't know anything about the NFL, let alone the NFL Draft. I certainly don't have any inside contacts that could at least clue me in to what teams are thinking. Therefore, I have decided to only do previews of the teams I know best. These four teams comprise the only relevant division in the NFL. Together they have represented the NFC on Super Sunday 19 times and won 11 Super Bowl Championships. ( This division is so strong that you could take away the Philadelphia Eagles many accomplishments and you'd still have 11 Super Bowl crowns! ) Without further ado, the blog offers its advice to the four NFC East teams for this weekend's NFL Draft:

Dallas Cowboys

This team appears to be headed in the right direction. Dallas already has a bright, young coach in Wade Phillips and arguably the greatest QB in the history of the NFL in Tony Romo. With 0 career playoff wins and an almost unfathomable career average of more than 1 INT per game despite his team almost always playing with the lead, Romo has established himself as one of the game's true greats. Romo only threw 20 picks last season so it might not be possible for him and the offense to be any more efficient in 2008 than it was a year ago. However, I feel that the inevitable trade for Chris Henry and first round draft choices spent on Arkansas RB Felix Jones and California WR Desean Jackson will somehow make things even easier for Romo than they already are, and give the Dallas offense the boost it needs to choke in a later round than they did last season.

What The Blog Would Do: Draft Jones and Jackson

What the Cowboys Will Do: I'm hearing that Dallas Owner Jerry Jones has spotted some young talent in the prison system and may not use his draft picks, instead opting to use rookie salary cap money to bring in some more "misunderstood" players.

2008 Prediction: Dallas will choke in the playoffs again but I know if I saw this team walking down the street, I'd quickly cross to the other side.


Philadelphia Eagles

Speaking of incarcerated youths, Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid has to be feeling the heat in Philly after his club was the only NFC East franchise to miss out on last year's postseason. Reid has acted accordingly this offseason with agressive moves, such as signing CB Asante "Hands" Samuel who brings his clutch skills to Philly and will provide a huge upgrade over the garbage Lito Sheppard. The Eagles have to be considered a darkhorse contender in the NFC East this season with Reid and durable QB Donovan McNabb leading the way.

What The Blog Would Do: Finally draft a WR.

What the Eagles Will Do: Draft another bland defensive lineman who will battle lingering injuries and be out of the NFL in 4 years.

2008 Prediction: Philly rebounds and makes the playoffs. All of their fans will still bitch about everything that happens this season.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins returned to the postseason in 2007 but were vanquished by the Seattle Sehawks in the first round, prompting Joe Gibbs to retire for a second time. Enter Jim Zorn, former Seahawks coach and QB to take over Dan Snyder's fantasy team. After making trade offers for WRs Chad Johnson of the Bengals and Anquan Boldin of the Cardinals, it is pretty clear what direction the Redskins are looking to go in with their first round pick. The team needs a reliable possession WR, something they have not had since Rod Garnder....I mean Michael Westbrook.... ok.... Art Monk. They want Michigan State WR Devin Thomas but it is unlikely that he will fall to the 21st pick.

What The Blog Would Do: Hope that Derrick Harvey falls to the 21st pick and take him. The Redskins haven't had a good pass rusher since Dexter Manley was allowed out in public.

What the Redskins Will Do: Reach for some garbage WR who never pans out. I wonder what Taylor Jacobs is doing these days.

2008 Prediction: Winning at the Giants on opening night will most likely be the highlight of the season. Without Gibbs there to work his December magic, this team probably misses the postseason.

New York Giants

I should just leave this space blank. With Head Coach Tom Coughlin leading talented players like Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs onto the field every Sunday, it's hard to believe this team actually lost a game last season. I don't see any way to improve this team. There's no holes on this roster.

What The Blog Would Do: Keep the design for the "Throw a Hail Mary into a Sea of Players in Opposing Jerseys and Hope that a Garbage WR Who Will Probably Be Cut This Season Miracously Catches the Ball Off His Helmet" play under wraps to ensure that none of the other teams copy it. Plays like that are exactly why Bill Belichick owns so much surveillance equipment.

What the Giants Will Do: Draft a safety to replace Gibril Wilson. Kenny Phillips is good.

2008 Prediction: 19-0, Super Bowl champs. What a team.


I know this was a particularly long blog but I felt I owed it to my readers after taking the last two days off. A lot of you have e-mailed me stating that I need to feature Jorgen Johnson in this space even more than I already do. Without you guys, the blog would be nothing, so I am taking your advice and starting a new contest called "Name Jorgen's First Born Son." Simply comment at the end of the blog with your prediction on what Jorgen and Amanda will be naming their first son. Possible names include Anders, Sven, Jorgen Junior, Yorgen Yunior, Ulf, Bjorn, and Leif. When you post your suggested name, please leave your contact information. The person who comes up with the best name will win an as yet undetermined prize.

I spent too much time blogging today to place any bets. I need the Suns to win tonight to keep my future ticket alive.

Trivia Question for Friday - Which former NBA head coach made one of the most famous shots in NBA history from the top of the key to force triple overtime in Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns?

** Tuesday's answer - Joe Barry Carroll was traded from the Warriors to the Celtics in exchange for Robert Parrish and a draft pick used on Kevin McHale. Bonus point to ES for knowing that Carroll went to Purdue. Cheers.


Enjoy the game.