THANK YOU ROCKY! CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP
49 long, long, long years. But it’s worth it for this picture.
Champions.
And one more, from @NHLBlackhawks
This is a SWEET picture, courtesy of Sarah Spain
wow
Update 2: Patrick Kane Cup Winning Goal.
(H/T to WrapAroundCurl)
The Flyers wanted to make a statement in round 2. They put Dan Carcillo into the lineup to make some hits. Unfortunately, Carcillo forgot that Jeff Carter is on his team.
I want to talk about the Chicago Blackhawks. But really, before you do any Blackhawks article, you need a proper start. Take it away, Wayne.
The Hammer Fisted Podcast should be up at this point, or at worst, some time later today. Logic and I had to play a man down, but I thought we did really well, and we’re really coming out of our shells. I think the booze helps.
Seriously, we do get a little-language-not-safe-for-work-ish, so if you’re listening without headphones, keep that in mind. The important thing, I think, is that we’re funny and relatively informative whether you follow MMA or Boxing or not.
One thing I did want to elaborate on, we talk about was the potential for a Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao match in October-November-December. Whomever is in charge of boxing NEEDS to make this happen, as it’s the only fight the boxing community has that will keep them in the mainstream public eye. None of the heavyweights are of any relevance right now, and none of the organizing bodies of boxing have a money-maker lined up. Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto will fight at Yankee Stadium in June, but that’s a fight that is being sold more as the first fight in the new stadium rather than a must see fight. Cotto and Foreman can’t touch the star power that Mayweather and Pacquiao bring.
I really believe the fight will happen this time, and might be the first of at least two fights between the fighters, if only because the boxing organizations as a group will realize the same things I do.
Unless I’m the smartest man who has any relation to boxing. Which, I guess, is plausible.
I enjoyed the FJM style post I did over there, and here’s the link to the original page.
In the interest of fairness, as well as full disclosure, some things that I left out of the original posting that, in hindsight, should have been included:
“Sports Informer” alleges to receive $10/blog posting.
“Sports Informer” shares DNA with me, and is, in fact, my brother.
“Sports Informer” is still a terrible, terrible writer/blogger/whatever-he-claims-to-be.
I hesitated to put out this information for a number or reasons, but mostly, it’s a bad blog and I would hate to think people visited the site on my “recommendation” in any way, shape or form.
That said, you should certainly read what I wrote over at The Phoenix Pub. Twice.
(Edit: All information has been found here and I should have linked them yesterday as well. The most in-depth listing of undrafted free agents and players going for team tryouts anywhere.)
Later update, so new post.
Defensive Tackle Jeff Stehle signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos. I’m sure the opportunity to be close to Tim Tebow was just too good to pass up.
Jeff Stehle, #79 in the picture, #1 in our hearts.
Jaevery McFadden, ILB, will also receive a tryout with the New York Giants. I almost missed this, because they’re inviting in the neighborhood of 300 players for a tryout. (Slight exaggeration).
So long J Mac. You were a very poor tipper.
Your 2010 Wisconsin Badger Draft Picks!
Tight End, Garrett Graham, Houston Texans. 4th round, 118th overall pick.
Tight End Garrett Graham, off to a new home
There were 3,487 tight ends drafted in the 2010 NFL draft (note: estimate, may not be accurate). Of those, I would wager Graham to have one of the better careers of all of them. Graham is a gifted pass catcher with soft hands, and an average-to-above-average pass/run blocker. Graham is going to a great system, and will play behind former badger Owen Daniels to start. Daniels is having contract issues, and Graham could be groomed to take his place in the next few years. Great situation, great chance to play. This is one of my favorite picks of the day, really.
Outside Linebacker, O’Brien Scholfield, Arizona Cardinals. 4th round pick, 130th overall.
OB when healthy
Scholfield was second round pick who was injured during Senior Bowl practices while transitioning from defensive end to linebacker. Arizona grabbed him in the fourth round, knowing he can sit on injured reserve for a year, then replace Joey Porter, hopefully, in 2011. A good reach for the Cardinals, especially given the talent vs round comparison, and if Scholfield recovers, and with his work ethic, should transition well for them. Scholfield is a high motor guy, and will have to improve his pass coverage skills to make it as an outside linebacker, though he did play some pass defense in the Badgers zone blitz schemes.
Safeties Chris Maragos and Shane Carter, as well as linebacker Jaevery McFadden are expected to get free agent contracts and training camp invites as well.
UPDATE
Maragos signs FA contract with San Francisco, and will be invited to training camp. Maragos projects as a special teams player and backup safety, possibly a safety punt return man.
I’ve covered Bryan Bulaga here, and an even better detailed report is here. Bulaga is absolutely a win for the Ted Thomspon, and should be a starter on the OL for the next 10-12 years.
The rest of the Packers draft was seemingly a mixed bag. Going out-of-order…
Bad Ass Safety
Morgan Burnett, Safety, Georgia Tech. 3rd round, #71 overall pick. Thomspon traded up to get the GaTech safety, and it was probably a smart move. Safeties Major Wright (Florida) and Chad Jones (LSU, and one of my favorite players in the draft) went shortly after, and Burnett likely wouldn’t have lasted to the Packers orignal 3rd round pick. Burnett’s quick, good in coverage and a good hitter/tackler and played in a good system at Georgia Tech. Burnett will probably play in nickel and dime situations right away, and will be groomed to take over for Atari Bigby in the next two years. This was my favorite non-Bulaga draft pick.
Reach for the pylon!
Andrew Quarless, Tight End, Penn State. 5th round, 154th overall pick. Quarless is a ridiculously talented tight end, who had some trouble under Joe Paterno at Penn State. A DUI arrest in 2007 almost got him kicked off the team, and he had to plead his way back into practices. He’s seemingly been a model student athlete since, but his production has been questionable. Not considered the hardest worker, but he was drafted with the thought that the NFL coaches could light a fire under him. Won’t challenge Jermichael Finley (because, who could?) but would be a nice number two tight end in the Packers offense. I really liked this pick in hindsight more than I did at the time, as the reward is fabulous, but so is the risk.
Another RB? Why not.
James Starks, RB, Buffalo. 6th round, 193rd overall pick. Starks is a slim, shifty, quick back and a very good pass catcher. Would have a chance to make it as a 3rd down, change of pace back. Has had problems staying healthy, mostly with nagging injuries to knee and hip. A puzzling pick by the Packers, because Thompson has always had luck picking up running backs as undrafted free agents. Likely, this was a guy they REALLY liked, and didn’t want to risk another team scooping him up.
A Bad mofo
Marshall Newhouse, Tackle/Guard, TCU. Drafted in 5th round, 169th overall pick. Newhouse played tackle on the TCU BCS team, and projects as a guard in the NFL. One of the quicker linemen in the draft, Newhouse led the combine group of guards in the 40 (5.0) and 3 cone drill (7.4s), but was middle of the pack in most of the strength drills. Could be coached up, as most of his “faults” are of the “not finishing his blocks” variety. Other than Starks (whom I didn’t see at all) this was a pick I knew the least about, having only seen half of one TCU game in the last two years (the god awful BCS game from earlier this year). I like the potential, and if he can play either guard spot, he’d provide good depth behind Jason Spitz and Darren Colledge. May potentially challenge Colledge in the next few years.
Mike Neal, Defensive Tackle/End, Purdue. 2nd round pick, 56th overall pick.
Who 2
CJ Wilson, Defensive End, East Carolina. 7th round pick, 230th overall pick.
I disliked the Neal pick initially. In fact, it’s still not my favorite pick. I would have preferred NT Fatman Cody there, knowing the same result would have been met. That said…
The Packers don’t know what the situation with DE Johnny Jolly is going to be, and if the situation results in missed time (either from being charged with a crime in Texas for marijuana possession or a suspension from Roger Goodell) it’s good to have depth on the defensive line. Neal was a very good player for Purdue, who showed flashes of being potentially dominant. Another player who needs a fire lit under him, he should fit perfectly as a 3-4 end, spelling Jolly, Raji and/or Jenkins. A better pass rusher than other linemen on the roster, he should also see time in a traditional nickle package with Jenkins, Raji and Brad Jones or another LB in the end position. I’m warming more and more to this pick. One of the keys to the Steelers success in the 3-4 has been the very good play by their line against the run (think Aaron Smith or even Kyle Vanden Bosch with Tennessee) and putting a solid rotation out there is important.
CJ Wilson was a traditional end at East Carolina, and at 6’3, 290 lbs has the perfect size to be the 3-4 end in the NFL. Playing for a smaller school against lesser competition, Wilson had a disappointing 2009 compared to a very good 2008 when he was the Conference USA defensive player of the year. Had a very good combine, and it was a surprise that he fell into the 7th round. Should be on the team and a part of the DL rotation towards the middle/end of the season.
Bulaga was clearly my favorite pick, and I like what Burnett and Quarless could bring to the table. Bulaga will be expected to start for the next 10+ years, and if one of Burnett, Quarless, Newhouse, Neal or Wilson hit, this will be considered one of Thompson’s best drafts in his tenure. Overall, I’m happy, and it’s not just a Bulaga hangover.
Admittedly, this gives me a happy.
Bad Mother F*(*&er right there.
At Iowa, Bulaga was a monster, a run blocking LT that played well against Brandon Graham and O’brien Scholfield, and was the leader of a very good Iowa offensive line. He was well coached by Kirk Ferentz (and as much as I dislike all things Iowa, of course, I respect the work Ferentz does with his Hawkeyes). Bulaga will probably play on the right side in the NFL, and could replace Mark Tauscher as early as this season.
I absolutely believe in Packer GM Ted Thompson’s strategy of drafting the best player available. You can almost never go wrong with that theory (Justin Harrell excepted, but that wasn’t a very good draft) and the Packers were in the unique situation of not actually NEEDING anything desperately. Yes they needed offensive linemen to replace Tauscher and Clifton, and some CBs to replace Harris and Woodson, and maybe a WR to help ease Donald Driver out of being a feature player… but if they went into next year with the team that ended the season at Arizona, they’d have been a Wild Card pick, and would have given the Vikings a run for the NFC North.
The Packers will have a 2nd and 3rd round pick on Friday Night, and the draft has really broken well for them. Teams will move up in the 2nd round for Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, and should allow some of those good second round players fall. Keep an eye on how far Arrelious Benn and Jon Asamoah from Illinois fall. Benn is a very good possession receiver, and Asamoah will be a very good guard at the NFL level. USC OT Charles Brown, IU OT Roger Saffold will be second round picks as well. On the defensive side, OLB Sergio Kindle and USC S Taylor Mays are the headlining players still left, as well as Bama NT Fatman Cody. Regardless, the Pack should see a good player (with potential for playing time) fall to them in the 2nd round.
This couldn't have gone better if I rigged the draft David Stern-style.
