ESPN: No Oakland Raiders Bias - NFL Draft Notes

 

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My long-time friend Richard Lieberman is prone to hyberbole and god-love him, this is one of those moments.  The San Francisco Chronicle blogger may have made some hay by charging ESPN with a "bias" against the Oakland Raiders, but where I am in New York, and where I was at Radio City Music Hall for the NFL Draft, the notion was quickly put to rest.  I'm going to spend about as much time on this as ESPN did, but the bottom line is a lot of people didn't like the Raiders draft, almost from top-to-bottom.

I was editing videos in the Interview Room when I overherd NFL Network's Pat Kirwan, and Clark Judge of CBS Sports doing a take for NFL Network, and both were almost laughably derisive of the Raiders decision to take Darrius Heywood-Bay, who's the third ranked receiver in the draft over Michael Crabtree who was picked in an almost regional slap-in-your-face move by the cross-bay San Francisco 49ers.  The preseason game will be interesting.

This is what one scout at draftcountdown.com wrote about Heywood-Bay:

Strengths:
A smooth, fluid athlete...Long strider with rare speed...Explosive with great acceleration and a burst...Quick and agile...Terrific height and bulk with long arms...Excellent leaper...Nice body control and ball skills...Tough and not afraid to work the middle...Vertical threat who can separate...Also a dangerous weapon on reverses...Great work ethic...Could also contribute  as a return man...Still has a ton of upside.

Weaknesses:
Is inconsistent catching the ball and does not have great natural hands...Questionable instincts and awareness...Still very raw as a route runner...Not much wiggle and won't make people miss...Doesn't break a lot of tackles...Average strength...Marginal blocker...Has little or no special teams experience...Wasn't real productive..Workout Warrior?

As to the best draft? Well, that's three years before anyone can determine, but I'm going to give props to The Miami Dolphins for getting West Virginia Quarterback Pat White in the second round of the Draft.  It's the best mating of man, scheme, and need I've ever seen. In the "Wildcat" offense they run he will succeed and perhaps be in line for "rookie of the year" honors by seasons end.

Print that.

DALLAS COWBOYS TERRELL OWENS, JASON WITTEN, TONY ROMO PREPARE TO PLAY NREW YORK GIANTS - New York Post

DALLAS COWBOYS TERRELL OWENS, JASON WITTEN, TONY ROMO PREPARE TO PLAY NREW YORK GIANTS - New York Post: “It looks like the Giantsare catching the Cowboys at just the right time, with America's Team about to implode.

One day after Terrell Owens spoiled the holiday mood by saying quarterback Tony Romo was playing favorites with tight end Jason Witten, another starting player told ESPN's Ed Werder, "We are not together as a team, and that includes the coaches."

Owens claims Romo and Witten, who are friends and road roommates, conspire to draw up passing plays that exclude the wide receiver. The perception was denied throughout the organization, but it was revealed other wide receivers had spoken to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett about their roles in the offense.”

Who's Buying What in Super Bowl XLIII - Advertising Age - News

Who's Buying What in Super Bowl XLIII - Advertising Age - NewsAn excerpt: “A Rundown of Marketers and Their Spots in the Big Game

Published: December 08, 2008
Anheuser-Busch
Buy: The maker of Budweiser and Bud Light is expected to run five minutes' worth of advertising, according to Bob Lachky, chief creative officer of the A-B InBev unit.
Creative: A-B is testing as many as three different ads using its famous Clydesdale horses and is considering one spot apiece for its Bud Light Lime and Budweiser American Ale products. Bud Light is also expected to get plenty of face time, with at least three spots possible. A-B is famous for testing its Super Bowl ads among consumers again and again, so the final lineup is still in question.
Agency: Omnicom Group's DDB, Chicago; Havas' Euro RSCG, Chicago; and St. Louis independent Waylon are among the agencies with ads that could appear.
Audi
Buy: The automaker will air one :60 during the game's first quarter. Audi's 2008 Super Bowl spot featured its R8 sports car in a spoof of "The Godfather," and earned Audi the No. 2 spot in total buzz after the game, the company said. It also successfully drove traffic to Audi's web site.
Creative: Audi declined to comment on which vehicle would be featured or what the content of the spot will be.
Agency: Venables Bell & Partners, San Francisco.
Bridgestone
Buy: The tire maker will once again sponsor the Super Bowl halftime show, which this year features Bruce Springsteen. The company will also run two 30-second commercials, according to Phil Pasci, VP-consumer marketing for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire. Placement of the ads during the game is being negotiated with NBC and the NFL.
Creative: The ads will contain humor while focusing on showcasing the performance of the company's tires.
Agency: Independent Richards Group of Dallas
CareerBuilder
Buy: The jobs site intends to run two 30-second ads, one in the second quarter and one in the third, according to Cynthia Walker, the company's senior director of advertising.
Creative: Ms. Walker said the ads will not use the famous monkeys from Super Bowl ads past.
Agency: Independent Wieden & Kennedy
Cars.com
Buy: The website will air one 60-second ad in the second quarter.
Creative: A person familiar with the situation said the ads are expected to be humorous.
Agency: DDB, Chicago
Coca-Cola Co.
Buy: The beverage company intends to advertise its flagship cola in multiple spots.
Creative: In the last Super Bowl, Coke received critical acclaim for a majestic ad featuring balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade slugging it out for a bottle of the fizzy brown liquid.
Agency: Wieden & Kennedy
E-Trade Financial
Buy: A company spokeswoman said E-Trade has purchased one spot; in recent years, E-Trade has run two 30-second commercials.
Creative: A person familiar with the situation suggested E-Trade is likely to bring back the talking baby it used in the last contest. E-Trade declined to comment on the content of its Super Bowl advertising.
Agency: WPP Group PLC's Grey New York
PepsiCo's Frito-Lay
Buy: The company's cheesy-chip brand will solicit self-made ads for Doritos from consumers and air one as a 30-second spot.
Creative: Doritos will give the winning entry $1 million if the ad becomes "the first-ever consumer-created commercial to claim the No. 1 ranking in USA Today's annual Ad Meter."
Agency: n/a
General Electric
Buy: The owner of NBC, broadcaster of the 2009 Super Bowl, intends to run one spot in the game.
Creative: A company spokeswoman declined to speak about the length of the commercial.
Agency: Omnicom Group's BBDO
GoDaddy
Buy: The registrar of online domain names has purchased one 30-second ad in the Super Bowl and is mulling the purchase of another, said Bob Parsons, the company's CEO and founder.
Creative: GoDaddy is producing two ads, both of which will feature race-car driver Danica Patrick and embody the slightly inappropriate tone of the company's past Super Bowl ads.
Agency: In-house
Hyundai
Buy: Two commercials
Creative: The ads are for the launch of its 2010-model Genesis coupe.
Agency: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco
Monster
Buy: One 30-second ad
Creative: Monster is kicking off a campaign highlighting the fact that it has become the official careerservices sponsor of the NFL. As part of that pact, the company said, it will run an additional 30-second "in-game enhancement" to launch an NFL-themed promotion intended to drive traffic to the site.
Agency: BBDO”

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts - 2008 14: “INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden had a perfect read on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Peyton Manning apparently was doing his homework, too.

Manning threw for three scores Sunday and Hayden returned an interception for a touchdown, leading the Colts to their most lopsided win of the season, 35-3.”

NFL Game Center: Post Game - Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints - 2008 Week 14

NFL Game Center: Post Game - Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints - 2008 Week 14 Falcons were leading, but lost to N.O.

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - 2008 14 Eagles win game, 20 to 14, but Giants get division title anyway.

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans - 2008 14

NFL Game Center: Game Recap - Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans - 2008 14 Titans win AFC South title.

WILLIAMS SUBTANCE ABUSE CASE MOVES TO FEDERAL COURT - ProFootballTalk.com

ProFootballTalk.com - WILLIAMS CASE MOVES TO FEDERAL COURT

SPORTSNET.CA ANNOUNCES TERMINATION OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GREG LANDRY - ProFootballTalk.com

ProFootballTalk.com - SPORTSNET.CA ANNOUNCES TERMINATION OF RELATIONSHIP WITH LANDRY

Chicago Bear's Matt Forte's chances for rookie of year - NFL Nation

ESPN - Forte's chances for rookie of year - NFL Nation

Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Gary Brackett to miss at least two games

ESPN - Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Brackett to miss at least two games

Rooney family near deal to keep Pittsburgh Steelers in family control

ESPN - Rooney family near deal to keep Pittsburgh Steelers in family control

NFL Draft Order Round-By-Round - As Of Feb 29

NFL Draft Order Round-By-Round - As Of Feb 29

This is the NFL Draft selection order, which could change as we get closer to the draft itself and with trades.


Tentative 2008 Round-By-Round NFL Draft Order (As of February 29, 2008)
03/03/2008
ROUND ONE


1- 1- 1 Miami

1- 2- 2 St. Louis

1- 3- 3 Atlanta
1- 4- 4 Oakland
1- 5- 5 Kansas City
1- 6- 6 New York Jets

1- 7- 7 New England from San Francisco
1- 8- 8 Baltimore

1- 9- 9 Cincinnati
1-10-10 New Orleans
1-11-11 Buffalo
1-12-12 Denver
1-13-13 Carolina
1-14-14 Chicago
1-15-15 Detroit

1-16-16 Arizona
1-17-17 Minnesota
1-18-18 Houston
1-19-19 Philadelphia

1-20-20 Tampa Bay
1-21-21 Washington

1-22-22 Dallas from Cleveland
1-23-23 Pittsburgh
1-24-24 Tennessee
1-25-25 Seattle

1-26-26 Jacksonville
1-27-27 San Diego

1-28-28 Dallas
1-29-29 San Francisco from Indianapolis
1-30-30 Green Bay

1-31- New England Forfeited

1-32-31 New York Giants



ROUND TWO

2- 1-32 Miami

2- 2-33 St. Louis

2- 3-34 Oakland
2- 4-35 Kansas City
2- 5-36 New York Jets
2- 6-37 Atlanta

2- 7-38 Baltimore
2- 8-39 San Francisco

2- 9-40 New Orleans
2-10-41 Buffalo
2-11-42 Denver
2-12-43 Carolina
2-13-44 Chicago
2-14-45 Detroit
2-15-46 Cincinnati

2-16-47 Minnesota
2-17-48 Atlanta from Houston
2-18-49 Philadelphia
2-19-50 Arizona

2-20-51 Washington
2-21-52 Tampa Bay

2-22-53 Pittsburgh
2-23-54 Tennessee
2-24-55 Seattle
2-25-56 Cleveland

2-26-57 Miami from San Diego
2-27-58 Jacksonville

2-28-59 Indianapolis
2-29-60 Green Bay
2-30-61 Dallas


2-31-62 New England

2-32-63 New York Giants

ROUND THREE


3- 1-64 Miami

3- 2-65 St. Louis

3- 3-66 Kansas City
3- 4-67 New York Jets
3- 5-68 Atlanta
3- 6-69 New England from Oakland

3- 7-70 San Francisco
3- 8-71 Buffalo from Baltimore

3- 9-72 Buffalo
3-10-73 Minnesota from Denver
3-11-74 Carolina
3-12-75 Chicago
3-13-76 Detroit
3-14-77 Cincinnati
3-15-78 New Orleans

3-16-79 Houston
3-17-80 Philadelphia
3-18-81 Arizona
3-19-82 Minnesota

3-20-83 Tampa Bay
3-21-84 Washington

3-22-85 Tennessee
3-23-86 Seattle
3-24-87 Cleveland
3-25-88 Pittsburgh

3-26-89 Jacksonville
3-27-90 Chicago from San Diego

3-28-91 Green Bay
3-29-92 Dallas
3-30-93 Indianapolis

3-31-94 New England

3-32-95 New York Giants




ROUND FOUR


4- 1- Miami

4- 2- St. Louis

4- 3- New York Jets
4- 4- Atlanta
4- 5- Oakland
4- 6- Kansas City

4- 7- Baltimore
4- 8- San Francisco

4- 9- Denver
4-10- Carolina
4-11- Chicago
4-12- Detroit
4-13- Cincinnati
4-14- New Orleans
4-15- Buffalo

4-16- Philadelphia
4-17- Arizona
4-18- Minnesota
4-19- Houston

4-20- Denver from Washington
4-21- Tampa Bay

4-22- Seattle
4-23- Cleveland
4-24- Pittsburgh
4-25- Tennessee

4-26- San Diego Exercised in Supplemental Draft
4-27- Jacksonville

4-28- Dallas
4-29- Indianapolis
4-30- Green Bay

4-31- New England

4-32- New York Giants





ROUND FIVE

5- 1- Kansas City from Miami

5- 2- St. Louis

5- 3- Atlanta
5- 4- Denver from Oakland
5- 5- Kansas City
5- 6- New York Jets

5- 7- San Francisco
5- 8- Baltimore Exercised in Supplemental Draft

5- 9- Chicago from Carolina
5-10- Buffalo from Chicago
5-11- Detroit
5-12- Cincinnati
5-13- New Orleans
5-14- Buffalo
5-15- Denver

5-16- Arizona
5-17- Minnesota
5-18- Houston
5-19- Philadelphia

5-20- Tampa Bay
5-21- Washington

5-22- Cleveland
5-23- Pittsburgh
5-24- Tennessee
5-25- Jacksonville from Seattle

5-26- Jacksonville
5-27- San Diego

5-28- Indianapolis
5-29- Green Bay
5-30- Dallas

5-31- New England

5-32- New York Giants



ROUND SIX

6- 1- Miami

6- 2- St. Louis

6- 3- Oakland
6- 4- Kansas City
6- 5- New York Jets
6- 6- Atlanta

6- 7- Baltimore
6- 8- San Francisco

6- 9- Chicago
6-10- Detroit
6-11- Cincinnati
6-12- New Orleans
6-13- Buffalo
6-14- St. Louis from Denver
6-15- Carolina

6-16- Minnesota
6-17- Houston
6-18- Philadelphia
6-19- Arizona

6-20- Washington
6-21- Kansas City from Tampa Bay

6-22- Pittsburgh
6-23- Seattle from Tennessee
6-24- Cleveland from Seattle
6-25- Philadelphia from Cleveland

6-26- San Diego
6-27- Jacksonville

6-28- New York Giants from Green Bay
6-29- Dallas
6-30- Indianapolis

6-31- New England

6-32- New York Giants





ROUND SEVEN

7- 1- Miami

7- 2- Minnesota from St. Louis

7- 3- Kansas City
7- 4- New York Jets
7- 5- Atlanta
7- 6- Oakland

7- 7- San Francisco
7- 8- Baltimore

7- 9- Detroit
7-10- St. Louis from Cincinnati
7-11- New Orleans
7-12- Buffalo
7-13- Denver
7-14- Carolina
7-15- Chicago

7-16- Houston
7-17- Buffalo from Philadelphia
7-18- Arizona
7-19- Oakland from Minnesota through New York Jets

7-20- Denver from Tampa Bay
7-21- Washington

7-22- Tennessee
7-23- Philadelphia from Seattle
7-24- Cleveland
7-25- Atlanta from Pittsburgh

7-26- Seattle from Jacksonville
7-27- San Diego

7-28- Dallas
7-29- Indianapolis
7-30- Green Bay

7-31- New England

7-32- Kansas City from New York Giants