11 days before the draft - some musings

[Skkorpion]

1. It may already be too late for San Diego to trade down unless someone is secretly negotiating with Eli Manning's people in violation of the rules. Only San Diego is allowed to negotiate a deal right now. If the Chargers trade the pick, the new owner of the #1 draft slot can then start negotiating with players.

11 days is a very short period in which to come to an agreement. My guess is San Diego must start negotiating soon with Eli and Ben, if it hasn't already.

2. The Cardinals may have been playing 'possum and really do want to trade down but I don't buy it. I think they stay put and take Larry FitzGerald.

3. There will likely be some trades but I see them occurring after Pitt's selection of Phillip Rivers at #13. After that, extra 2nd and 3rd round picks will start looking better and better to many teams, including the Cardinals.

4. For Cards fans, sitting at the #3 slot, this has been the most fascinating pre-draft period in years. None of us really knows for sure what Denny and Rod will do. Denny has been a masterful manure spreader. I just hope he's got some budding stars germinating under that blanket of crap.

5. Watch carefully who we bring in over the next few days for private evaluation. It may mean absolutely nothing. Oh lordy, I love this stuff.

6. More and more, I see LB becoming a higher priority for us than CB. It all depends on Denny's opinion of Starks' health. Fisher's career is in doubt, Thompson is hurt again, and I don't know if the free agents we brought in can play.

7. These last 11 days will just drag.

 

[so far away]

4. For Cards fans, sitting at the #3 slot, this has been the most fascinating pre-draft period in years. None of us really knows for sure what Denny and Rod will do. Denny has been a masterful manure spreader. I just hope he's got some budding stars germinating under that blanket of crap.

HILARIOUS STATEMENT!!!!!!!!

 

[dmoney]

What calendar are you using Skorp??? 11 days I wish. I hope its not the 14th today.

 

[joeshmo]

1. It may already be too late for San Diego to trade down unless someone is secretly negotiating with Eli Manning's people in violation of the rules. Only San Diego is allowed to negotiate a deal right now. If the Chargers trade the pick, the new owner of the #1 draft slot can then start negotiating with players.

11 days is a very short period in which to come to an agreement. My guess is San Diego must start negotiating soon with Eli and Ben, if it hasn't already.

Some news on this from www.gbnreport.com posted on April 7th

"Top Pitt WR in San Diego today...San Diego wraps up its series of visits with prospects for the #1 pick overall later today when the Chargers host Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald. The Chargers had Miami FS Sean Taylor, the only defensive player in the mix, in for a private session earlier this week after visiting QBs Eli Manning of Ole Miss, Miami of Ohio junior Ben Roethlisberger and North Carolina State's Phil Rivers, as well as Iowa OT Robert Gallery last month. According to their schedule, after meering with Fitzgerald the Chargers will spend the next week or so narrowing their list of potential #1 picks down to three players with whom they will open negotiations late next week."

So they will start negotiations the 16th or the 17th.

7. These last 11 days will just drag.

You must be using an astrology calender or something. You are off by a week.

 

[Skkorpion]

What calendar are you using Skorp??? 11 days I wish. I hope its not the 14th today.

Great googly moogly, I was looking at the wrong week on the calendar, trying to plan out my visits to the Cards facility.

19 days left.

 

[CardNots]

Skkorpion,
Thanks for the signature stuffer!

 

[Russ Smith]

6. More and more, I see LB becoming a higher priority for us than CB. It all depends on Denny's opinion of Starks' health. Fisher's career is in doubt, Thompson is hurt again, and I don't know if the free agents we brought in can play.

Can you elaborate on Fisher? I know he had both knees scoped but is it really serious?

Huge loss, he showed signs of being really good last year, when you consider we pulled him on pass downs, his numbers were quite good for his first year playing. I like Hayes, but Thompson has always concerned me at his size and penchant for getting hurt, and McKinnon isn't getting any younger. So if Fisher really is a question mark, we really do have to start looking at taking LB's as early as round 2.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Can you elaborate on Fisher? I know he had both knees scoped but is it really serious?

Huge loss, he showed signs of being really good last year, when you consider we pulled him on pass downs, his numbers were quite good for his first year playing. I like Hayes, but Thompson has always concerned me at his size and penchant for getting hurt, and McKinnon isn't getting any younger. So if Fisher really is a question mark, we really do have to start looking at taking LB's as early as round 2.

Do you really think it is a "huge" loss? I mean the kid certainly has an upside and did show a thinkg or two, but overall IMO he didnt make that jump I hoped for. Furthermore, he had a couple of down right terrible games.

I see the concern b/c it makes for another need that has to be addressed, but I am reasonably sure the Cards can find someone to step into that role.

 

[jw7]

4. For Cards fans, sitting at the #3 slot, this has been the most fascinating pre-draft period in years. None of us really knows for sure what Denny and Rod will do. Denny has been a masterful manure spreader. I just hope he's got some budding stars germinating under that blanket of crap.

I agree 100%. This beats out the dozen Suggs vs. Leftwich polls last year.

Ya gotta love the NFL. Even when they don't play IMO still generates the most interest of any of the major sports.

 

[spanky1]

1. It may already be too late for San Diego to trade down unless someone is secretly negotiating with Eli Manning's people in violation of the rules. Only San Diego is allowed to negotiate a deal right now. If the Chargers trade the pick, the new owner of the #1 draft slot can then start negotiating with players.

11 days is a very short period in which to come to an agreement. My guess is San Diego must start negotiating soon with Eli and Ben, if it hasn't already.

2. The Cardinals may have been playing 'possum and really do want to trade down but I don't buy it. I think they stay put and take Larry FitzGerald.

3. There will likely be some trades but I see them occurring after Pitt's selection of Phillip Rivers at #13. After that, extra 2nd and 3rd round picks will start looking better and better to many teams, including the Cardinals.

4. For Cards fans, sitting at the #3 slot, this has been the most fascinating pre-draft period in years. None of us really knows for sure what Denny and Rod will do. Denny has been a masterful manure spreader. I just hope he's got some budding stars germinating under that blanket of crap.

5. Watch carefully who we bring in over the next few days for private evaluation. It may mean absolutely nothing. Oh lordy, I love this stuff.

6. More and more, I see LB becoming a higher priority for us than CB. It all depends on Denny's opinion of Starks' health. Fisher's career is in doubt, Thompson is hurt again, and I don't know if the free agents we brought in can play.

7. These last 11 days will just drag.

skkorp,

I've been sitting on some "information" that I have not been interested in posting because it is all conjecture at this point. It plays into your #1 musing regarding Manning and the Chargers. As you bring up a good point regarding the time frame needed to cut a deal with your #1 pick, let me share this "information" with you and others......but with the caveat of FWIW.

There is a Canadian broadcaster by the name of Pat Marsden who is a highly respected football journalist. He is the equivalent of our top broadcasters (insert your favorite/ most credible here). He has been the voice of the CFL for years and years. On a radio talk show in Toronto last week he opin'd the following.........

Manning and the Chargers have been negotiating a deal for over a week now and that it might be signed and announced very shortly. Apparently, Marty is prepared to enter the season with Flutie at the controls and move to Manning ASAP. It appears that Marty has discussed this with Flutie and that this "information" may have come from Flutie to Marsden directly.They are very close from his days in Canada. There is speculation that this is why S.D. have not moved in the FA period towards any of the bandied about/available QB's. Please take this as speculation and don't hang me if it doesn't happen.

Now on to one of your other musings that I'm starting to seriously consider as very viable.......and that is if Karlos Dansby is for some crazy reason available at #33, we will take him.........or maybe even Daryl Smith. I'm betting that Green is confident that Wendall Bryant responds to the "tough love" that is being thrown his way and that he'll become the leader of the D.I agree that with Fisher's knees being "wobbly", Green might focus on a LB instead of a DT at #33.

 

[Skkorpion]

Thanks for that link joeshmo.

Waiting until the 16th or 17th to start negotiating just doesn't make any sense to me. That's cutting it close.

Subject change:

Al Davis screws up a lot of draft picks and is undeserving of a good reputation as a drafter. His last good team was built on the back of good free agent acquisitions - Rich Gannon, Charlie Garner, and Jerry Rice, to name some prominent ones.

And another thing, if you guys are into fantasy football with individual defensive players (IDPs), try picking up Gerald Hayes. The guy is right now becomming our best LB. We'll soon think of him as another steal in last year's excellent draft class.

Gerald is perfect for OLB. I don't want to see him move inside at 238 lbs and Denny wants more size inside.

 

[JeffGollin]

Can you elaborate on Fisher? I know he had both knees scoped but is it really serious?
Denny was quoted in effect as saying (specific to Fisher) - "There's only so much cartilege in a player's knees, and when it runs out, you can't replace it."

 

[Skkorpion]

Thanks for sharing that stuff with us Spanky. Those kinds of rumors are fit material for this message board if they are clearly presented as rumors, as yours was.

It even makes sense. I still think there is a very good chance Eli and Ben go 1 and 2 or 2 and 1.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Thanks for sharing that stuff with us Spanky. Those kinds of rumors are fit material for this message board if they are clearly presented as rumors, as yours was.

It even makes sense. I still think there is a very good chance Eli and Ben go 1 and 2 or 2 and 1.

yep, and then a bunch of people owe me money . . . again!

 

[jolt]

I agree with Jim, I've been saying all along that eli and ben will go one and two.

that should make everyone around here happy.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

I agree with Jim, I've been saying all along that eli and ben will go one and two.

that should make everyone around here happy.

Not everyone.

 

[Tangodnzr]

Not everyone.

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Wow. Good one Tango!

 

[john h]

1. It may already be too late for San Diego to trade down unless someone is secretly negotiating with Eli Manning's people in violation of the rules. Only San Diego is allowed to negotiate a deal right now. If the Chargers trade the pick, the new owner of the #1 draft slot can then start negotiating with players.

11 days is a very short period in which to come to an agreement. My guess is San Diego must start negotiating soon with Eli and Ben, if it hasn't already.

2. The Cardinals may have been playing 'possum and really do want to trade down but I don't buy it. I think they stay put and take Larry FitzGerald.

3. There will likely be some trades but I see them occurring after Pitt's selection of Phillip Rivers at #13. After that, extra 2nd and 3rd round picks will start looking better and better to many teams, including the Cardinals.

4. For Cards fans, sitting at the #3 slot, this has been the most fascinating pre-draft period in years. None of us really knows for sure what Denny and Rod will do. Denny has been a masterful manure spreader. I just hope he's got some budding stars germinating under that blanket of crap.

5. Watch carefully who we bring in over the next few days for private evaluation. It may mean absolutely nothing. Oh lordy, I love this stuff.

6. More and more, I see LB becoming a higher priority for us than CB. It all depends on Denny's opinion of Starks' health. Fisher's career is in doubt, Thompson is hurt again, and I don't know if the free agents we brought in can play.

7. These last 11 days will just drag.

In today issue of USA Today the Giants and Chargers admitted the Giants had contacted the Chargers about moving up. Clearly to take Manning. I think it is clear the Cards will take Fitz if he is there and probably Williams if he is not there. Green has said it enough to convince me he will go with McCown (I do not agree). This is the strongest draft in many years for receivers and I continue to think we have more pressing needs and could get a decent receiver later on. If Fitz is gone or even if he is there I would look hard at someone on the DL if he is rated a top 7 selection. We have a QB with unknown abilities and if he cannot get the ball to the receiver it makes no difference how good the receiver is. On the other hand a top DL can make an immediate difference and is not dependant on some other guy.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

yep, and then a bunch of people owe me money . . . again!

I'll take any bet you want that QB's don't go 1-2.

 

[john h]

I'll take any bet you want that QB's don't go 1-2.

If the Giants trade up it could happen. #2 could still trade down and get there man as there are a number of teams who would really like Manning and Ben. I will bet receivers do not go 1-2

 

[40yearfan]

Tango and Buckeye, thanks for making my day.

 

[Skkorpion]

I'll take any bet you want that QB's don't go 1-2.

Cbus, every now and then you are waaaay out. I'm tempted to take your bet but what positions do you say will go 1 & 2?

Do wou have any guts behind your bravado?

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Tango and Buckeye, thanks for making my day.

You're welcome.

We aim to please.