And then there were Seven.......

So much for my draft prognostications, I only picked 3 draft choices correctly out of the first 15 teams, so I doubt I'll be sitting at the analyst's table at next years event in NYC.

Post draft summary of the Bucs selections; it's too early to tell anything, but on paper (and we all know the game is played on paper) the draft picks looked to be solid to me, I was satisfied.
Talib looks like he might break the mold of the typical Cover 2 corners we've had here in Tampa. I saw the press conference introducing him, and he definitely is excited about coming to Tampa. Draft pundits thought Dexter Jackson was a reach in the second round, only time will tell on this pick. If he turns out to be a dynamic playmaker, he'll be a steal, if not a bust. The Bucs obviously were targeting a collection of similar receivers and since there was a run on them right around the time they selected in the second, they must have thought he'd be off the board shortly so pulled the trigger and selected him. The third round saw the Bucs select Zuttah from Rutgers. A talented offensive lineman who can play every position on the line including center. If he develops, he will provide alot of depth for the Buccos. Tampa selected Dre Moore, DT from Maryland in the forth round, and this might be a huge value pick if he can elevate his game to the next level and be more consistent in his game play. Then in the fifth, Tampa selected a quarterback, yes number 7 on the roster, Josh Johnson from SDSU, a NCAA Division II school. I admit I've never seen him play a game but the YouTube video highlights were pretty exciting to watch. This young man can run a 4.4 40, completed 68% of his passes last year and threw 43 touchdowns against only 1 interception. Granted, SDSU is a small school but he has run an offensive which is very similar to what Coach Gruden uses with the Bucs . He is going to be an interesting prospect. Tampa, in the sixth round, drafted another linebacker from Florida State University who also wore the #10 in college, Geno Hayes (we all know how the last #10 worked out) Hayes has had some academic issues and some run ins with the law, and decided this year to become eligible for the draft as a junior. Prior to the draft, some publications had selected Hayes among the top 5 OLB's of this years draft. Having seen the Free Agent moves by the Bucs this year adding three LB's, I have to say I was surprised by this selection, but he should contribute on special teams, and maybe one day break into the starting lineup, but that remains to be seen. The final selection in the seventh round was a running back. Cory Boyd from South Carolina. Again, YouTube videos reveal some talent. Elusiveness, not great speed, great receiver, some blocking ability. Will be interesting to watch him during training camp and some preseason games.

So what happens with all the quarterbacks? Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Chriss Simms, Bruce Gradkowski, Luke McCown, Josh Johnson and finally the rights to former quarterback now handball player, Jake Plummer. First off, Garcia is the incumbent and should be the starter at this point. Jon Gruden always liked Brian Griese and he was brought back via a trade with the Chicago Bears this off season. I believe Griese would never have left One Buc Place if the team hadn't been so handcuffed with the salary cap a few years ago. Luke McCown showed some flashes this past season, but was making 4-5 questionable plays a game. He showed some scrambling ability and led the team on a comeback against the Saints in a very important late season game. Chris Simms, great kid, great attitude. Questions surround his leadership ability, mobility, whether he can ever flourish in a West Coast Offense system. He's got a great long ball, but so did Jeff George. Simms has earned 7.1 million dollars over the past 2 seasons while only playing in 3 games. Chris has decided that he is going to skip the Bucs voluntary OTA's and reports surfaced this afternoon that teams inquired about a trade for him last weekend in the draft. Bruce Gradkowski. Please, I never want to see "The Polish Popgun" ever take another snap in red and pewter. Finally, Jake Plummer. The Bucs traded for his rights before the start of last season and he refused to report to Tampa, opting to retire instead and play handball. He's now been out of football for over 2 years and should be around 34. Plummer, who has played for Arizona and Denver, often had short bursts of brilliance followed by long periods of mediocrity.

At a post draft presser this week, Gruden responded when asked that the Bucs will take 5 quarterbacks to camp. My guess is that the Bucs will release the rights to Plummer and outright cut Gradkowski. Simms will be shopped, but it would be wise to take him to training camp because you never know when the injury bug will strike and he is familiar with the complex playbook of the Gruden offense. I expect to see him traded around the third week of preseason after he's had a chance to showcase his ability to perform as a quarterback again. Once again, the Bucs should enter the 2008 campaign with 4 quarterbacks on the roster. Garcia, Griese, McCown and Johnson. The see the biggest competition being who will be the number 2.

Dominic Rhodes was released by the Raiders this week. With Williams not due to be ready for training camp or possibly to ever play again and Graham making some noise about a possible holdout, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see him in Tampa soon. Rhodes can still play and would fit our offense nicely. I believe he was on my wish list back in January when I posted the off season needs for the Buccos.

Going into training camp this year, the Bucs should have the most depth we've seen in recent years on the roster. Hopefully, this years draft will continue the recent trend of infusing young, talented players onto this squad.

Draft day hours away

It's now less than 24 hours before this years NFL draft. Can you feel the electricity? NFL draft geeks have most likely been living on double lattes and red bull for most of this week, fine tuning who they think will go in the 127th pick versus the 128th pick. Oh yes, at this, the holiest of seasons, everyone is a general manager.

No doubt, this draft will be just like each of the last several decades of drafts. There will be quality players free fall, there will be surprise picks, there will be a late round or undrafted free agent who makes a big splash in the league next season. And, when the dust settles, the so called draft experts will rationalize each and every expected and unexpected move. Then, on Monday April 28th, the media sources will report to us fans, the draft grades of each individual teams.

How astonishing. Players which haven't been signed yet, survived training camp without injury or played a down in the NFL yet, but the media is going to hand out grades for teams on the players they chose this weekend. The NFL has really done such a marketing job with this event, it's unreal. They have a contest on their homepage and if you win, you get to go to the draft next year and announce a pick in like the 6th round. OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh, I better be all over this contest. Lets see, fly to New York, announce the name of some shlep who will most likely be cut after training camp, post a video of me announcing his name while at the podium on YouTube for 2 million people to view, hey, I'm famous, I announced John Sampson from Northern Eastern South Kentucky Community Colleges' name on tv, albeit 312 folks were watching.

So, no, I won't be entering the contest, but here are my final 15 picks, one of them is a lock. (I've got an inside source)

Miami Mullets- Jake Long OT- Michigan. Just got a feeling about this one.

St. Louis Ewes- Rumors were swirling today (imagine rumors during draft week) that New Orleans wants this pick and is willing to trade a second rounder and their starting LOT. I think the Ewes take that trade and move into the 10th spot. America's team from 06 then selects homeboy DT Glen Dorsey from LSU, an hour away from the stadium in Baton Rouge.

Atlanta Pigeons- For you Pigeon fans reading, please be nice to the parking attendants this season. The gentleman wearing the orange vest and guiding you to your spot might just be Rich McKay. Hopefully this will be his last position in "football operations" for a team.
There is no signal caller in the ATL and they make the call for the big guy, Matt Ryan from BC.

Oakland (West Coast Buccaneers) Raiders- So many choices here at this spot. I'm sure Al Davis, who is Keith Richards father, hears the refrains of Time on our side in his head. This guy wants to win NOW. Davis is not buying green bananas at this point and as much as he wants McFadden from Arkansas, they have a serviceable backfield and select the son of a former all-time Raider great, Chris Long from Virginia.

Kansas City Chefs- Remember that great Snickers commercial years back where the grounds crew screws up the name of the Chiefs in the endzone, those were the days......... pre double lattes, and an entire section at the local convience store dedicated to just energy drinks, gas was only 2.00 a gallon, you could buy a cell phone which was JUST a phone.........I digress.
Since Jared Allen is now in the land of 10,000 lakes, the Chefs take Vernon Gholston, DE from THE OSU.

New York J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS- So at this point and time in the draft, how excited are you Jets fans? So many failures over the years, so many disappointments. Not this year, you select, Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas.

New England Polaroids- Perhaps I should call them the Beta Max, but that would be lost in the translation. Just to irritate me, they select, Mike Jenkins, CB, USF. I wish him great success in the NFL but not not for this team, perhaps when he becomes a free agent.

Edgar Allan Poe's favorite team from Baltimore- McNair is retired, new coach, new regime, new quarterback. Brian Brohm, Louisville

Cincinnati "work release" Bengals- This is a team filled with demons and will be selecting in the top ten again next season. You'd think the coach could tell the players that they are supposed to hit people on the football field, not off the field. Two years ago, I thought this team was going to be knocking on the door of the Super Bowl this past season, today, I think the Lions will get to the Super Bowl before this franchise. They select, Derrick Harvey, DE, from U of F. Just a quick aside here. Do you know how you can find the University of Florida while in Tampa? Take I-75 north and then simply follow the smell.

St Louis Ewes (from a trade with NO) They execute a trade with Nawlins, pick up some picks and still get a quality D-lineman for alot less signing bonus money. Sedrick Ellis, USC.

Toronto Bills- Yes, this is the first NFL team to move to Canada, perhaps the Wilson family is now looking at the currency exchange rate and what was once the Canadian Peso, has quickly become the US Peso. A few games played over there now and then, but given unemployment, it won't take long, perhaps 3 years, and the Bills will be calling Toronto home for good. The NFL is morphing into the NHL. The Toronto Argonauts....errrrr Bills select, Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State.

Denver (why is our airport in another state) Broncos- With the price of food skyrocketing for staples such as rice and wheat, they choose to upgrade the O-Line and go local with OT Ryan Clady from Boise St. Rumor has it he has an in with some potato people which will lower the food costs during training camp and pregame meals.

Carolina Kittycats- Outside of the New England Polaroids, I despise this team. I was happy to see them lose many players from the defensive line this season, and now that Julius Peppers had a mortal season and all his buddies are gone, just how fearsome are they going to be next year?
Defensive needs are a concern, the Pussys take, Keith Rivers, LB USC

Chicago- Safe pick, they select, OT Branden Albert-Virginia who's stock is rising up the boards.

Detroit (I'll take another wide receiver in the first round Alex) Lions- What an enigma this team is. For all of those who wonder why Matt Millen still has a job, ask your self, why did Wayne Fontes keep his job as long as he did? Ah well, Wayne benefited from Barry Sanders, but come on now what's he doing these days? Running a booth in a flea market outside of Beverly Hills Michigan? The Lions will select Mario Manningham WR Michigan. JUST KIDDING, they will select Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon.

As for the beloved Buccos- again there is all sorts of speculation out there in the past few days about teams wanting to trade up into the area where the Bucs are slated to pick in the first round. Miami is one team which has multiple picks and could offer the Bucs a chance for 3 picks in the second round, or perhaps an additional second and third round pick. Since the Bucs only have 5 picks in this years draft, I'm sure that they are entertaining offers.

Then again, another rumor which surfaced is the Bucs are thinking about a trade with the Philadelphia Buzzards for CB Lito Sheppard for the Bucs second round pick and Michael Clayton.
If that happens you give up a high pick for an injury prone player who is only 26 in Sheppard, but Clayton has been just as injury prone as well. In my eyes it's a wash on the players and the loss of a 2nd round pick.

If the Bucs don't trade down in the first round, I feel they will select one of the following three players. Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson-could bookend with Adams nicely. CB Brandon Flowers, or OT Sam Baker from USC.

I do feel as I look back on the Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden regime here, there will be surprises in store this coming weekend for Bucs fans and there will be a few chances to say, WHO did they pick?

Needless to say, I wont be headed to the Big Apple next year to announce anyones draft choice, but lets just see on Monday how my picks went, then we can grade out the draft. Or not.