Another Viewpoint
- by Tom Tran
- September 1, 2000
I've sat by all of last year during my rookie campaign reading the ramblings posted by fellow team owners. All of them were amusing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. Spurned on by Rick's request that other owners should post their own messages, I've decided to do so. Any evaluations of the draft will yield different opinions(Other than Steve's draft strategy). This is all done in fun, giving you something to read while awaiting the next kickoff.
Therefore, another viewpoint.
RAZORBACKS: Mike has a decent team, though he had the chance to make it the team to beat. With the two best players at their respective positions, Kurt WARNER and Edgerrin JAMES, Mike could have put this away early with a solid core of players built around them. Instead, he chose to fill out his roster with potential and mediocrity. His picks of Cris CARTER, Frank Wycheck, and Baltimore D/S were good. Donovan MCNABB, Kevin FAULK, J.J. JOHNSON, and Plaxico BURRESS are the epitome of potential. The rest have been mediocre at best. Why Rocket ISMAIL when Joey GALLOWAY was available? Leroy HOARD? I hope WARNER and JAMES have healthy backs. Grade:B
BIG GREEN MACHINE: Kevin might have the perfect draft strategy: Don't show up. He wasn't pressured to pick nor consume beer and chili, keeping his mind and balves clear. "Well oiled" is a good description of his team. No glaring weakness stands out. He may not have the best players at each position, but each could start on most teams in the league. TE will improve during the season once Pete MITCHELL returns from injury. Grade:A
LANCASTER RAIDERS: Troy probably couldn't believe Peyton MANNING fell to number three. His draft was uneventful other than MANNING. No other player on his team strikes fear into any opponents. Terry GLENN before Derrick MAYES or Joey GALLOWAY? He probably could have gotten GLENN along with one of the other two. Grade:C
GRANDPA'S MEAT: Why? Why? Why? by round 7? What in the world was Steve thinking? When I last looked at the rules, I believe we were still only starting one TE. Maybe he thinks he can petition the Pigskin Panel so he can start a TE at RB. After all, his TE's have a better chance of contributing at RB than his RB's he drafted. Even with all those early picks at TE, he'll always be starting the second best TE every week. QB is average. RB consists of two third stringers, a Warrick DUNN clone, and a wife beater. I'll give you the props for WR, but one was protected and the other a no brainer. I hope the free agency gods are good to you, because the draft gods weren't. Grade:D- (As long as you bring the chili you'll never receive an F).
THE BUTCHES: Growing pains. Rookies go through them. Steve MCNAIR at number 5 overall was a stretch. He's good, but too many great players were available. RB needs to pan out. WR is average. Shannon SHARPE is solid, hopefully Ben COATES doesn't eat into his stats. Washington D/S was a good grab in the 6th rd. David AKERS could have been grabbed probably in the16th rd. Butch reached too early for his players. Rookies tend to be impatient. Grade:C-
RUMBLIN' STUMBLIN' BOMBERS: How did Eric wind up with the two best players coming into last year's draft, Brett FAVRE and Terrell DAVIS? His roster is filled with mostly players who start. Potential for injuries on his team are the same as everyone else in the league. FAVRE was injured, but still has started every game since his 2nd season. DAVIS has played in every game until last year. Mushin MUHAMMAD in 10 games will put up better stats than most of the receivers in 16 games. Grade:A
CHICO'S BAIL BONDS: I guess those summer classes at Bristol University have paid dividends. The RB's are excellent. WR's are good. Grabbing Jeff BLAKE in rd. 9 was a good pick. Could this be the old "Last to First" scenario? I don't think so. Good team but not there yet, though it appears you bailed yourself out of the cellar. Grade:B
VIAGARA BIG MEN: It works. Looks like Eric rose to the occassion. QB situation is enviable. If Jake PLUMMER can recapture the magic, Eric will have a hard decision every week determining his starter. Starters at RB are good, but he forgot about his bench. WR receiver value just went up when Herman MOORE went limp. No longer will Germane CROWELL have MOORE over his shoulder. The backup WR's were steals that late. TE and K depend on rookie production, always iffy. Hopefully Eric can carry this momentum into the season and didn't shoot his load at the draft. Grade:B+
The PEZ: Like taking candy from a child. Bruce has a knack for taking the no brainer 1st and 2nd round picks. Beyond that, it's an adventure. Will this be Mark BRUNELL's year? If Emmitt SMITH isn't at season form , where are the other RB's? WR is Bruce's bread and butter. Maybe he can package some QB's for RB's since all those QB's are taking up roster spots. Let's dispense with the notion this team is any better than average. Grade:D+
FIGHTIN' GOOBERS: Above average draft. Not spectacular nor poor. RB is among the best in the league. Robert SMITH will defend the fort until Fred TAYLOR is healthy. Curtis MARTIN is a consistent battler every year, producing among the league's elite. WR's are good. Tim BROWN continues to be a warrior. Wayne CHREBET, Terance MATHIS, and Bobby ENGRAM are solid reinforcements. The kickers will hit 100 pts as usual. Tennessee and Detroit D/S will attack and take no prisoners. TE Chad LEWIS at rd. 13 is a chance, but not a big lost if he commits hari-kari. Grade:B
THE RECLINING BUDDHAS: Confuscious says one who puts all his eggs in one wok, winds up with cracked eggs. Other than Brad JOHNSON, Duce STALEY, and Tony GONZALEZ, Rick's players are all risks. QB's consist of "rookie" Daunte CULPEPPER, backup Jeff GEORGE, and fantasy dud Troy AIKMAN. RB is Antowin SMITH, the real BUS. I mean BUST. Another rookie Thomas JONES, backup by his mentor Michael PITTMAN. WR Amani TOOMER still plays for the Giants, you know, run left, right, etc. Second fiddle Torry HOLT. David BOSTON, who only plays well if his father is refereeing. Your K and D/S went where they should have rds. 15 and 16. GONZALEZ is the best TE, but not worthy of 2nd rd. when players like FAVRE, TAYLOR, E. SMITH, should I continue? are still on the board. Maybe the Buddha reclined too far and fell asleep. Grade C-
JUNIATA PIG SNOOTS: The Snoots sniffed their way throught the draft and selected a competitive team. Not bad for a piglet. Steve BEUERLEIN in rd. 3 was a coup. If Jamal ANDERSON and Jerome BETTIS can recapture their past performances and the SMITH Bros., Rod and Jimmy, play as expected, the hogs will be a team to reckon with. Grade:B-
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