by Frank M. Henkel
There was a time in these United States, perhaps a generation ago or more,
when sports resided in A.M. radio, and in the hearts of those who listened. Back
then; when the call was as important as the moment, the Kentucky Derby was one
of the most anticipated events of the year. That time may have passed, so does
that mean that we should scrap the Derby altogether? Absolutely not!
by Frank M. Henkel
The only article funnier than a mock draft article is the one that grades a
draft the day it takes place. A quick glance of Pete Prisco’s draft grades show
that the Texans failed miserably with the first overall pick, but somehow
managed, along with six other teams, to get an “A” for the weekend. Mel Kiper,
traditionally stingier with the high marks, failed to divvy out a single high
mark to any of the 32 teams, but like Prisco, did not admonish any of them with
“D’s” or “F’s”, either.
So who is right? Which team had the best draft this weekend? Honestly, nobody
will know that for at least five years. The reason so many “experts” grade the
draft before the ink dries is because we love to read the grades.
Several things, though, are immediately evident. Certain players lost a lot of
money on Saturday. A couple of general managers sent clear messages to their
respective coaching staffs. A couple of teams were outfoxed. Although we will
not know the true busts of this year’s draft for the better part of a decade,
the real losers are already well defined. Let us look at five of the biggest
losers from the 2006 NFL Draft.
by Frank M. Henkel
Tired of LenDale White’s hammy and Mario Williams’ “40”? Combines, pro days, and
Mel Kiper dominate the days between the BCS Championship game and April 29. Most
popular of all is the mock draft: April’s version of fantasy football. If you
have ever seen one, you will agree that fantasy is the optimal word.
Instead of breaking down all 255 selections like dozens of overzealous, wannabe
GM’s, let us look at the lighter side of the draft: the (civil) war rooms,
ESPN’s dynamic, original coverage, and the nervous 21-year olds in the `Green
Room’ who are waiting for Tags to say their names.
Well, it’s that time of year again. The annual NFL Draft will be upon us soon, and fans like us waste no time speculating who the first overall pick will be, who the Browns will select, and what the team’s biggest needs are. These debates have been going on since the inception of the draft in 1936, and this year is no exception.