Life In The DPC!

Yes, I realize that the NFL Draft was on April 26th but I recently moved back to Phoenix and I am finally getting my affairs in order. With that said, here is The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of The 2008 NFL Draft. Also please keep in mind that I watched the NFL Draft at University of Phoenix Stadium, home of your Arizona Cardinals, at their Draft Party. I often thought that I should focus my attention on more pressing issues, like the Election, but I wasted my afternoon with my Cardinals brethren (A surprising amount, truth be told. I often thought I had no life but they were also holding an RC Plane show at the stadium too, so I feel a bit better about DPC. Not much but a little bit better)

The Good:

Atlanta Falcons: They’re doing their best to put the Michael Vick fiasco behind them and regain some of their fans back and the additions of Matt Ryan and Sam Baker are a good start. I am not overly sold on Matt Ryan but if I was a Falcons fan I’d be stoked by the simple fact that Joey Harrington isn’t my best quarterback option.

Oakland Raiders: They’re using the same template as the 2007 Minnesota Vikings (i.e. a lack of a passing game can be overshadowed by an abundance of talented running backs). I don’t think Darren McFadden will be as dominant as Adrian Peterson but he will definitely come up large. Al Davis also took a gamble on a pair of physically gifted wide receivers ( Chaz Schilens and Arman Shields) to maintain the perceived threat of the Vertical Stretch.

The Bad:

Any Quarterback that DPC thought would be good: Andre Woodson was once considered a top flight prospect and fell to the sixth round (NY Giants), John David Booty 5th round (Minnesota Vikings) and of course Colt Brennan (Washington in the sixth round). Brennan’s fall from grace wasn’t surprising due to his performance at the Cotton Bowl and showing under weight and dismally performing at the Senior Bowl. Woodson surprised me. Maybe because I thought he would be picked up by the third round after a productive career at Kentucky. Booty was hard to predict because he played in pro style offense but was considered to a second day pick, which he was, and just lacking in positive NFL qualities. I am not sure what he is lacking because he had a good career at USC, of course he wasn’t Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart, which likely explains a lot about his public perception.

The Ugly:

Chicago Bears: Mainly for avoiding that whole lack of a quarterback issue. I know it is getting redundant to harp on the Bears for their lack of a tip/top QB but one has to wonder if GM Jerry Angelo is risking his career with an abnormal infatuation with Rex Grossman? That and apparently drafting a running back, Matt Forte, has driven Cedric Benson off the deep end or at least off their roster. Which could be a blessing in disguise since the former first round draft pick has proven to be the anti-Walter Payton (or is that Bizarro Payton?)