Then there was the ESPN Sportscenter Draft…
-Chris Dutra
So I was flipping through the channels after I got out of work, and I came across the ESPN Sportscenter draft. Now, its easy for me to give advice to people about who to take at what pick and whatnot, but I decided to analyze the “experts” picks and my predictions of their league. The first 5 rounds ususally can determine how your team stands among the rest, so I’ll grade the players based on them.
I hope you are seated…
First here is the draft order:
1. Merril Hoge
2. Suzy Kolber
3. Method Man
4. Chris Mortensen
5. Roy Williams
6. Nick Bakay
7. Michael Smith
8. Summer Sanders
| 1 |
Adrian Peterson, Min
|
Merril Hoge |
| 2 |
LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
|
Suzy Kolber |
| 3 |
Frank Gore, SF
|
Method Man |
| 4 |
Brian Westbrook, Phi
|
Chris Mortensen |
| 5 |
Tom Brady, NE
|
Roy Williams |
| 6 |
Joseph Addai, Ind
|
Nick Bakay |
| 7 |
Randy Moss, NE
|
Michael Smith |
| 8 |
Marshawn Lynch, Buf
|
Summer Sanders |
Two of many eyesores: Gore (3) and Lynch (8). I didn’t catch Method Man’s reason for taking Gore here, but if I were to take a gander, maybe he thought it was 2007. Summer Sanders decided since Lynch had “gold” teeth and it was the olympics, she was going to go for the “gold” with him.
…
I cannot even fathom a response to that. All I can say is, Lynch isn’t even a top 10 back (in my opinion) and the only running over of people he does is with…ahh, that’s awful. Gore in an 8 team league could be taken in round 3, not pick 3.
| 9 |
Tony Romo, Dal
|
Summer Sanders |
| 10 |
Clinton Portis, Was
|
Michael Smith |
| 11 |
Steven Jackson, StL
|
Nick Bakay |
| 12 |
Marion Barber, Dal
|
Roy Williams |
| 13 |
Darren McFadden, Oak
|
Chris Mortensen |
| 14 |
Peyton Manning, Ind
|
Method Man |
| 15 |
Drew Brees, NO
|
Suzy Kolber |
| 16 |
Brandon Jacobs, NYG
|
Merril Hoge |
Where do I begin…
(1) 3 QB’s taken round 2. Very surprised by this. Brees at 15 was not a good move by Suzy Kolber, but her round 3 choice (MJD) should have been taken round 2. I’m going to pretend she took MJD at 15 to make Merril Hoge look…
(2) less like an idiot for taking Brandon Jacobs at the end of round 2. Jacobs was the 11th RB taken. In Yahoo, he is ranked as the 14th. Players ranked above him at that point – Ryan Grant (everyone hated on him, round 3), MJD (round 3), LJ (round 3), Maroney (marginal, round 8…yes, round 8)…
(3) …very interesting see SJAX fall this far since his holdout. Props to Nick Bakay for a top tier back in the second round.
(4) Darren McFadden is a round 3 draft pick. In a 12 team league.
| 17 |
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
|
Merril Hoge |
| 18 |
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac
|
Suzy Kolber |
| 19 |
Larry Johnson, KC
|
Method Man |
| 20 |
Braylon Edwards, Cle
|
Chris Mortensen |
| 21 |
Terrell Owens, Dal
|
Roy Williams |
| 22 |
Reggie Wayne, Ind
|
Nick Bakay |
| 23 |
Andre Johnson, Hou
|
Michael Smith |
| 24 |
Ryan Grant, GB
|
Summer Sanders |
I nearly spit out my iced tea everywhere with the Matt Hasselbeck pick to start round 3. Merril Hoge got into a fury about how he is going to be amazing this year-which he potentially could. That being said, you could have grabbed him 2-3 rounds later and now had a top 5 WR. Instead, you got a top 10 QB.
The rest of round 3 went normal (believe it or not). Nice job by Sanders grabbing Grant at the end of round 3. Method Man and Kolbert got top tier RBs in the third round-unheard of. Props to them as well.
| 25 |
Larry Fitzgerald, Ari
|
Summer Sanders |
| 26 |
Jamal Lewis, Cle
|
Michael Smith |
| 27 |
Carson Palmer, Cin
|
Nick Bakay |
| 28 |
Marques Colston, NO
|
Roy Williams |
| 29 |
Calvin Johnson, Det
|
Chris Mortensen |
| 30 |
Chad Johnson, Cin
|
Method Man |
| 31 |
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin
|
Suzy Kolber |
| 32 |
Santonio Holmes, Pit
|
Merril Hoge |
Three Bengals this round…another overvalue pick by Chris Mortensen. What is with all of the young guys? Calvin Johnson could have been drafted next round. Kolber keeps landing quality picks at her spot, getting Houshyamomma…by the way, Hasselbeck would have been available at 32, Hoge.
| 33 |
Rashard Mendenhall, Pit
|
Merril Hoge |
| 34 |
Jason Witten, Dal
|
Suzy Kolber |
| 35 |
Antonio Gates, SD
|
Method Man |
| 36 |
Derek Anderson, Cle
|
Chris Mortensen |
| 37 |
Roy Williams, Det
|
Roy Williams |
| 38 |
Wes Welker, NE
|
Nick Bakay |
| 39 |
Thomas Jones, NYJ
|
Michael Smith |
| 40 |
Rudi Johnson, Cin
|
Summer Sanders |
Looks like Mortensen caught the “draft QB early” bug and takes Anderson round 5. To be fair, I have him being taken in the 5th-6th round, but of a 12 team league. Maroney, Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner among others that are available after five rounds…yet TJones and Rudi are selected. Yikes.
Round 6-10 coming later. I need a moment.
