Friday, April 27, 2012

2012 NFL Draft - Rounds 2-3

The 2nd round of the draft begins in 13 minutes.  Seven minutes per pick.  ESPN showed a shot of Janoris Jenkins in his living room.  No, he was not smoking a joint and getting into a fight while surrounded by his four children and three baby's mamas.  The ESPN talking heads think Jenkins goes early in the 2nd round because he is too good a player and cornerback is not a deep position in this draft.  I have to admit, I would not be upset if he ended up in New England.

I am not going to format this the same as yesterday.  I'll probably just log the picks and comment in between.  I lost control when I got calls, emails and text messages.  The 1st round moved fast yesterday, which was great.  It should be more of the same today.  Bill Polian agrees.  I have really liked Polian on ESPN since he was fired in Indianapolis.

Two Minute Warning:

In Between Rounds

Round 2 of the NFL Draft begins in an hour and a half, so here are a few thoughts looking back, then forward.

What I liked:


1.  Cowboys moving up to get the player I like best (aside from Luck and RG3).

2.  Dolphins pick Ryan Tannehill - As a Patriots fan, I am as excited as when they took Ted Ginn Jr. with a high pick.  I see Tannehill as an extremely risky developmental QB, the type that can get GM's and coaches fired (again in the case of Tannehill's college coach, Mike Sherman).

3.  The J-E-T-S taking Quinton Coples when Melvin Ingram was available.  Coples could turn out to be an excellent player, especially with Rex Ryan and the Jets defense, but I think Ingram will be better and comes with less "bust" risk.

4.  Panthers select Luke Kuechly.  They have a MLB for years to come.

5. Steelers draft David Decastro.  Like the Panthers, the Steelers get a day one starter, who should be good for a long time.  Lucky Decastro fell to them, which leads to...

6.  Patriots draft Dont'a Hightower.  If Decastro gets drafted earlier, perhaps the Steelers take Hightower.  Love the pick, and if Chandler Jones can develop to play the Willie McGinest "Elephant" position, the Patriots will have hit the jackpot.  I am happy with my teams picks.

7.  Rams and Browns load up on draft picks.

What I'm not as thrilled by:


Avoiding the phrase "what I didn't like".

1.  Bills made a good pick in Stephon Gilmore.  When did the Bills suddenly start doing all the right things?

2.  Buccaneers find a way not to draft Morris Claiborne - Claiborne is the player I liked third.  The Bucs could have had him at #5 and found a way to screw it up.  I will grant you they got two good picks (Barron and Martin), but they passed on the best player at an area of huge need.

3.  Chiefs take Dontari Poe - Risky pick with a high chance of being a bust.  I would have taken Fletcher Cox.  Haven't the Chiefs missed on a few DL in recent years?

4.  Seahawks draft Bruce Irvin - Like Poe, very risky, with the added caviot that Seattle could have probably traded down and got Irvin much later.

5.  49ers draft AJ Jenkins - All I know is that he was rated the #20 WR by The National Football Post.  Rumor is that the Rams wanted him in the 2nd round, but the Niners will look really good or really bad for taking Jenkins higher than anyone expected.

What I am looking forward to: 


1.  There are a lot of good players available in this draft.  It may not be loaded at the top, but it is very deep.

2.  My best guess is that the Patriots (barring the very good possibility of trades) come away with a DB and OL.  Many people believe they will draft a WR or RB.  Maybe so.

3.  Rams have three picks in the first half of Round 2.

4.  Who takes a chance on character guys who fall?  The Patriots have no problem doing it.

5.  Trades - there will be plenty more of them.


Thursday, April 26, 2012

NFL Draft: Live Diary

It's been a while.  I logged off this blog at the end of the Super Bowl and haven't been back since.  Yesterday I decided I would stay home and watch the first round of the 2012 Draft.  So why not write while I do it?

I would prefer to watch the NFL Network, mostly for what they don't have - Berman, Kiper and McShay.  However I don't have that channel, so I'd have to do it on the computer.  Still might do that and have ESPN on mute.

I figure the structure will be simple.  Who's on the clock, who I think the pick should be, comments.  Trades will be fun.  Heck, my team could sit around for most of the first round, then trade one or both of their picks (#'s 27 and 31).  Or they could move ahead of Dallas to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron.  Predicting what the Patriots will do on draft day is a waste of everyone's time.

Oh, and definitely throw in some memories from draft years past.

This clip is how long it took for me to be excited about Rob Gronkowski.  It's all great, but if you're lazy, fast-forward to 2:15 and watch from there.




Pick #1
The Indianapolis Colts are on the clock
Pick should be: Andrew Luck


We know the first two picks, so this is the easy part.  Both Luck and Robert Griffin, III are worthy of the #1 pick.  Both are terrific quarterbacks and exceptional people.  There do not appear to be big holes in their game, both are smart, and there are not character concerns.  Both will be good NFL quarterbacks and starters on day one.

One hour to go.  RG3 is talking with Suzy Kolber.  He said what I was thinking:

Me:  "Damn!"
RG3:  "You look good.  I like it."
Did not say: "I just want to kiss you."

I would draft Luck ahead of Griffin, but the Redskins gave up a lot to get an excellent prospect.

Trade Report:  Vikings trade #3 pick to Cleveland.  Cleveland intends to draft Trent Richardson. Vikings get 4th, 5th, and 7th round picks to move down one spot.


Bill Polian approves.


I have no problem with Richardson being drafted at #3.  I would take Morris Claibourne, but perhaps the Vikings get the best of both worlds by moving down (passing on a player they would not have taken anyways) and getting Claibourne at #4.  Or Matt Kalil. Or the Vikings could trade out of the #4 position.

The Browns now and the Redskins a few weeks ago did something I can't argue with when it comes to draft philosophy.  If you know who you want, do what it takes to go up and get him.  Don't hope the player falls to you, or risk another team trading up to draft ahead of you.  Make sure you get your player.


ESPN is showing draftee introductions, the NFL.com feed is showing someone sitting on-camera in what appears to be the Steelers media room.

NFL.com draft coverage: Not off to a good start.
OK, now that NFL.com is back, I can mute Berman and Kiper, and still see Suzy.  Thank you football gods.

Now the NFL Network has three talking heads discussing Trent Richardson and fantasy football.  Really?  You've got to be kidding me.  MUTED.


Pick #1
The Indianapolis Colts are on the clock
Pick should be: Andrew Luck

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI - Live Diary

Pregame

It is about 45 minutes until the beginning of Super Bowl XVLI, the New England Patriots vs. NY Giants from Indianapolis.

I decided to stay home and watch the game because I can pay better attention here.  If the Patriots were not in the game, I would have gone out somewhere - a sports book or Super Bowl party.  Two weeks and non-stop talk about everything (important and not important) leave most people, including myself, ready for kick-off.  Here are some things that come to mind as game time approaches.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Super Bowl Pick

I'll just get this out of the way now.  Current MGM line.

New England -3 vs. NY Giants 
Under 55.5
Score: 27-20

Last Week: 1-1
Season: 124-129-12

Friday, January 20, 2012

Conference Championship Game Picks

NEW ENGLAND -7 vs. Baltimore
NY Giants +2.5 vs SF 49ERS

Last Week: 1-3
Season: 123-128-12

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Overheard at the Poker Table

One of the really fun elements of playing poker is the conversation with people at the table.  It's easy to talk about being in Vegas, poker, restaurants, entertainment, sports, betting, quantum theory (that was pretty painful to listen to), different places, etc. - all while playing a game.  I still follow the action pretty closely.  Most people are friendly, and a few are interesting.  I ask questions if somebody is a craps player because I am learning how to play.  I'll answer questions or offer opinions on what to do in town if somebody asks.

The first Overheard at the Poker Table is better than this one, but here are a few from the last couple nights. Less overheard and more involved than I'd prefer, but here goes...

Attractive Young Woman:  Unfortunately I have to leave now to judge a Brazilian Bikini Contest.
Me:  I'll take your place if you'd rather stay here and play poker.
Attractive Young Woman:  I'd like to, but I can't.  I have to judge the winners.
Me:  Well what time does it end, so I can console the losers?

Extremely Talkative Old Man:  Where are you from?
Me:  Me?  I live here.  
Extremely Talkative Old Man:  You look like Doyle Brunson.
(Except for the part where I'm 37 and he's around 80.  I suppose it could be a compliment if he meant the way I play low-stakes poker, as opposed to physical appearance.)  

Me (quiet joke about an old local who plays tight, but raised twice in a row):  All this raising has to stop.
Young Guy (speaking directly to the old man):  If you raise my blind, I'm going to raise you back.
Old Local (to the young man): Why do you have to have to talk like that?
Young Guy: I was joking and trying to have some fun.  What are you doing, working to pay the rent on your trailer park spot?

Young Guy:  I don't know much about betting on football.  How much would I win if I bet $100 on the Denver Broncos to win tomorrow?
Me:  Nothing.  

Player 1:  Do you know where the nearest restroom is?
Player 2:  Walk out that way, and go into the club that's around the corner.  Go around the club and you'll come out on the other side.  The bathroom is just around the corner from there.
(That same restroom is visible from the table, and just outside the poker room.)

Foreign Player:  Does a flush beat three-of-a-kind?
Me:  Yes.

Another player and I split a pot when we both had AJ.  The board was A, J, X diamonds, X diamonds .He had four diamonds, so he could have won the pot if a diamond came on the river (20% chance of beating me on the river).

Me (to the other player):  Nice hand.  You had a flush draw too.
Other Player:  Thank you.
Older Man Not in the Hand:  There's no justice in poker.
Me:  You don't consider splitting the pot justice?
Older Man:  No.
Me:  You have an odd sense of what is just.

This same old man had earlier lost a big pot when somebody beat him by catching a flush on the river with 10H, 5H . I don't think he considered that justice as he stormed off the table.  Some people say stupid things.

Patriots - Broncos: AFC Divisional Playoff Live Diary

It took me all day to decide what to do for today's Patriots - Broncos game, but I ended up making the simplest choice, which is to stay home and watch the game by myself.  I've been out the last few nights, so I'm fine with relaxing today.  And since I'm home, I can write before and during the game.

Right now the 49ers are ahead of the Saints 20-14.  The Saints have turned the ball over four times, and yet they still stand a chance.  I picked the Saints -3.5, but would like to see the 49ers win for a few reasons.  The Patriots own the Saints draft pick, so the higher the better.  Also, I may be more afraid of the Saints than the Packers in a potential Super Bowl match-up.  All the NFC teams will be tough for New England to compete against.

I went back and read my Live Diary from the first Patriots - Broncos game.  There are some telling details that led to the result, a 41-23 Patriots victory in Denver on 12/18/11 Box Score.

Friday, January 13, 2012

NFL Playoff Picks

New Orleans -3.5 vs. SAN FRANCISCO
NEW ENGLAND -13.5 vs. Denver
BALTIMORE -7.5 vs. Houston
GREEN BAY -7.5 vs. NY Giants

Last Week: 1-3
Season: 122-125-12


College Final Results:


Bowls: 17-17-1
Season: 65-56-3



Sunday, January 8, 2012

BCS National Championship

Alabama -1 vs. LSU (at New Orleans)

Bowls to date: 16-16-1
Season: 64-55-3