When is the right time to draft a quarterback in the first round?
The correct answer is when you have a first-year head coach. For example, the Raiders should have taken a quarterback, say Matt Leinart, last year because it was Art Shell’s first season. They didn’t and Shell had no excuse to fall back on before being fired. And it’s definitely why they will take a quarterback this year, having hired Lane Kiffin, an offensive head coach. The two men can grow together. Most believe that Kiffin will tell owner Al Davis that of the draft’s top two quarterbacks, he prefers JaMarcus Russell to Brady Quinn.
This being said, what do the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Bucs do?
I say that both teams pass on Quinn because a rookie quarterback can’t help Romeo Crennel and Jon Gruden save their jobs next season. Both coaches reportedly are on the spot; they have to win to remain employed. For the Browns, GM Phil Savage’s career is probably tied to next season’s won-lost record, too.
Nobody knows for sure, but I say that if Oakland takes LSU’s Russell and Detroit sticks with Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas with the second overall choice, then Cleveland will take Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson and Gruden will select the top player on his draft board, Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, who ran a 4.35 40-yard dash Sunday.
Saturday night, Gruden had his chance to pick Quinn’s brain and we know he did a ####-up job. And, yes, the Bucs need a quarterback. They are kidding themselves if they believe that Chris Simms or possibly acquiring someone like Jake Plummer or Jeff Garcia is going to have immediate positive results.
Internally, the Bucs don’t buy that Quinn is sliding down the draft board. But the bottom line in Tampa is that Gruden will make this draft call, and he probably will pass on taking a quarterback.
$10 million head coach
If I had to pick one, I’d say that New England’s Bill Belichick could become the NFL’s first $10 million head coach whenever he was free to leave the Patriots. Belichick is worth it as a coach, slash personnel director. With more and more marginal players earning $4-5 million a season because the salary cap is $109 million, it makes sense for an owner to pay the big number to a head coach who can properly manage that huge player-salary budget.
In fact, several general managers here said that the head coach’s salary should be factored into the salary cap.
“I know my coach can’t understand why so many second-team players, guys who don’t always contribute, are earning such bigger paychecks than any of his coaches,” one AFC general manager said. “A great coach is worth every penny to a franchise because he’s the one who develops the rookies into starters.”
Owners have been complaining about how much money the players are collecting, but what are really impacting their overall profit margin are the costs for the coaching staffs and personnel departments. Many teams have coaching/personnel staff budgets well beyond $10 million a season. The Redskins hit that magic number with only three of their coaches: Joe Gibbs, Al Saunders and Gregg Williams.
Right now, some teams may only spend $95 million of the $109 million cap. You can bet that some owners would love to place their head coach’s salary into that pie and save themselves a lot of money.
Consider the Chicago Bears. Deep down they know that head coach Lovie Smith is more valuable to the team than probably any player outside of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. They have finally reached the $4 million level on a new deal for Smith, the game’s lowest-paid head coach at $1.45 million for 2007. They probably would place Smith with the game’s top dozen earners if they could count the salary toward the salary cap.
More than Hutch
It must be comical to head coach Mike Holmgren and his coaching staff that the Seahawks are preparing to pay Chargers guard Kris Dielman, an unrestricted free agent, more than the $6.5 million that Steve Hutchinson received last year to leave Seattle for Minnesota. Holmgren was so upset that his front office failed to place the franchise tag on Hutchinson a year ago, and ultimately losing him on a poison pill contract that Minnesota prepared for him, declaring that he had to be the team’s highest-paid offensive lineman. Seattle couldn’t match because left tackle Walter Jones was their highest-paid lineman.
But last season, with three different guards trying to fill the Hutchinson void, Seattle’s running game faltered and Jones had a subpar season. This is where Dielman, who may not be as good as Hutchinson on the field and in the locker room, fits into Seattle’s future.
Speaking of free-agency, Dielman, Bengals guard Eric Steinbach and Arizona tackle Leonard Davis could hit a gold-mine of riches when free agency signings begin next Friday, March 2. Davis reportedly may have a $12 signing bonus offer from some unnamed team. The Cleveland Browns may be competing with Seattle for Dielman and Steinbach.
Cozy relationship
When Ernie Accorsi was the general manager of the New York Giants, he had a very good working relationship with agent Drew Rosenhaus. After Saturday’s revelation by new GM Jerry Reese, whose promotion was supported by Accorsi, that he would be interested in trading for Bills running back Willis McGahee, the Rosenhaus connection was raised by several competing teams. McGahee, who wants a new contract from the Bills, is represented by Rosenhaus.
Reese said that he was unwilling to trade a first-day draft choice (rounds one through three) for McGahee, but that he would be willing to part with lower picks and possibly some players. MaGahee, who doesn’t like to work out in Buffalo in the off-season, has mentioned a holdout from training camp if he doesn’t receive a new deal. The Bills have been saying it would take a first-round pick to acquire McGahee.
Ugly brother
David Irons, the Auburn cornerback, attempted to be a standup comic today in the media room. His brother, Kenny, was Auburn’s stud running back this past season and the two brothers have a great chance at become the first such family tandem to be selected in the first round of a NFL draft. Their father, two uncles and two cousins have played in the NFL.
But in high school, Kenny was David’s blocking back.
“We called it ugly sweep right and ugly sweep left,” David said of his brother, referring to Kenny’s face. “I kept telling him to take his visor off so the defenders could see his face. I mean once he did, they got out of his way and I ran down the sidelines for an easy touchdown.”
David wasn’t finished. “You should have seen him yesterday in his chocolate suit or whatever he was wearing,” he said. “My brother looked like a big, fat cup of coffee.”
Moss available
The Raiders don’t know what to do with receiver Randy Moss, whose salary this season is slightly more than $9 million. New coach Lane Kiffin says that both Moss and Jerry Porter, who spent most of last season in Art Shell’s doghouse, will be in his starting lineup. Porter, who is in the last year of his contract, needs the Raiders while Moss has different ideas. The feeling is he wants the opportunity to play for a playoff team and not be a part of Oakland’s rebuilding.
What is unknown is what does Al Davis want for Moss? Would he settle for a third or fourth-round draft choice? If he would, the New England Patriots might be interested in Moss. The Pats need a veteran receiver and Belichick knows he can handle Moss. There’s been a lot of talk about the Packers for Moss, but it doesn’t look like a move that Green Bay GM Ted Thompson would be interested in making, no matter how much Brett Favre asks.
Eagles passing on Garcia
The Eagles keep telling their fans that they want last season’s surprise, Jeff Garcia, to return and be Donovan McNabb’s backup. But the team hasn’t offered Garcia a contract and the 37-year-old quarterback has been rejected by most teams. The Chicago Bears, who wasted $6 million on Brian Griese last season, aren’t interested in Garcia to challenge Rex Grossman. The Panthers don’t want him and neither do the Dolphins. Garcia may have a shot with the Bucs, but they are in no hurry to sign him.
Frist off great article haha
2nd I cant really see Willis Mcgahee in a giants uniform if he doesnt want to come to Buffalo for off-season work outs then why would he want to come to NY? And Buffalo wont let him go for a 2nd day pick proably a 1st or 2nd round might do the the trick.
Garcia, well hasnt be been around the world. San Fran, Cleveland, Detroit, Philly i think its time for this 37 year old Qb to hang it up. Not many teams want a QB that old, teams are looking for QB's to build around, not for a one year 2 year fixer up. BUT John Gruden could really use the help, for his jobs sake.
Randy Moss- One of the games most talented wide recievers, and you wanna trade him or let him go? I dont think so why dont you just draft a QB and throw him the dang ball he will be happy points will be on the board and the stadium seats will be filled once again.
I guess the Bills are getting fed up with McGahee whinning about things and now he has another woman claiming he is her babies father. Maybe teams will not reward players so much for their arrogance on and off the field. If he were to go to NY he would clash big time with Coach C and would not be a good compliment of Eli.
if mcgahee did end up in NY there would be more problems in the locker room because when the giants lose they loook to blame the loss on any one on the team.
I think Willis McGahee going to NY would be cause big problems. His attitude would clash with Coach C, and his low morale would spread throughout the locker room; accentuating the bad vibes that come from Eli every time he gets frustrated or misses a throw, or the whining that comes from Jeremy Shockey as he flips his hair.
RANDY MOSS WILL GO TO THE STEELERS TO HELP OUT IN THE PASSING GAME AND BY THE WAY 3-4 D IS THE WAY TOMLIN YOU WERE NOT HIRED TO CHANGE THE D BUT TO COACH IT SO DONT MESS ANYTHING UP JUST ASK #55 HOW IT IS OR LOOK AT THE PAST 15 YEARS THE ONLY REASON YOU WERE HIRED WAS BECAUSE COWER RETIRED SO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO NOT TO MESS EVERTHING UP BEFORE YOU ARE REPLACE. DONT MEAN TO SOUND HARSH BUT WHEN ITS NOT BROKE JUST LEAVE IT THE HELL ALONE THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME AND I HOPE YOU SEE THIS TOMLIN
////34STEELERFAN
Being from Minnesota and watching Moss light up the packers for so many years i would love to see Moss join the packers and see the favre to moss combo in what will probably be favre's last season. I think they would make a great duo and easily make the pack a playoff contender. I also would like to see him torch the vikings cornerbacks this seasons it would be very fun to watch!
I don't think it's smart to draft a QB in the first round with a coach in his first year with the team. It doesn't make sense. Look at Tim Couch and Chris Palmer in Cleveland in 1999, Byron Leftwich and Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville in 2003 (Leftwich still hasn't proven to be a franchise QB which he should be being a first round pick and he's had 4 years), David Carr and Dom Capers in Houston in 2002, Patrick Ramsey and Steve Spurrier in Washington in 2002, and Cade McNown and #### Jauron in Chicago in 1999. I could keep going but that would be overkill. The common theme is all the coaches don't coach that team anymore (aside from Del Rio) and Leftwich and Carr are barely holding on to the starting job, Ramsey is a backup while Couch and McNown are out of football. Meanwhile, teams that drafted QB's while they had coaches there for more than one year have had greater success, not only with the QB but as a team. Just look at Big Ben and the Steelers, Rivers and the Chargers, Palmer and the Bengals, McNabb and the Eagles. And I know people are going to point to McNabb and the questions surrounding him and Marty not coaching San Diego anymore but these teams in the past couple years have been competitive. Yet Cleveland and Washington have had one playoff season (and that's not saying much for either team as the AFC North used to be considered exceptionally weak when the Browns made the playoffs and the NFC has been considered weak for years), Houston hasn't made a dent, and Jacksonville is the AFC's version of the Falcons (good one year, average the next). I say if you
Bill Cowher should hire Garcia to get his offense on track with the defense this year and help save his job, and draft Brady Quinn to learn behind Jeff and help him get Tampa Bay back on the right track. It's really common sense, but I'm amazed sometimes at the dumb arrogance of these staffs who always know so much, but a lot of times can't see the forest for the trees!
I think you meant Gruden, not Cowher. I think getting Garcia is a bad move. He's obviously a system QB. He played like #### in Cleveland and Detroit, even though Mariucci was his coach in Detroit just like when he was in San Fran. The only reason he did well in Philly was because Mortingway (sp?) was the O-coordinator and also was the O-coordinator in San Fran when he played. I think a better option for Gruden would be to bring in a veteran, like Plummer, and let him challenge Simms for the job. I think Simms was finally getting a grasp of the offense when he got hurt and he got all year to study film on what worked and didn't work while he was sidelined. And I think that getting Plummer would be a great idea. He fits the mold of a West Coast offense QB very well (mobile, good short pass accuracy and enough arm to go deep on occasion).
The league needs to STOP helping out the Pats. They're already good with average receivers, why make them outstanding with Moss? Hasn't the NFL learned from the Bengals with the Corey Dillion screw-up? How about this?...exile Moss to the 49ers or the Skins where you'll never hear from him again. If you want to keep him in the AFC then send him to the Dolphins (for draft choices), Jags (for a WR and a backup QB) or Titans (for Pacman) but definately not to the Patriots.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR THE RAIDERS TO DRAFT A 1ST ROUND QB. THEY GOT RID OF BROOKS,IT SMELLS LIKE A QB PICK. PORTER IS READY FOR A NEW SEASON,MOSS WILL COME AROUND WHEN THEY TAKE RUSSELL AS THIER PICK,GARCIA MIGHT BE A GOOD BACKUP OR MENTOR FOR RUSSELL
A special note to the other Steelers fan who posted. Stop making Steelers fans look so stupid! First of all, the article said nothing of the Steelers, and yet you found a way to make it about them. The last thing they need is Randy Moss! Second, Mike Tomlin is going to be a fantastic head coach. He is a man of integrity and has a lot of class. He knows football much better than you, I'm sure... unless you are also a head coach of an NFL team! Last, stop writing in all caps. What you have to say is not that important.
First of all, Bucs, Dolphins, Raiders, Texans, and possibly Lions need a solid QB. Whatever it is through draft or sign a solid veteran qb like Garcia or Brooks, each team has different qb in their own rights. Some has west offense offense, heavy pass offense, running offense, or balanced offense. If I was a head coach, I would consider the talents on the roster and our abilities. For an example, if we have a solid offense linemen, then we can take a pocket qb that can get some modest time to throw a pass. If my team is running offense, then I would take someone like Brooks just to manage the game. I would have Brooks hand off the ball most of time and only pass in certain situations. Of course if I have wide receiver that is a long threat, I would draft a qb like Russell because of his awesome arm. It just depends on some situations.
There are as many first round busts as successes at the QB position, regardless of the coaches status. You pick a QB if you have the need and if you feel he will play well and fit your system. If you pick wrong, your franchise can be set back 5 years, but you can't run a team fearing failure.
And just as important is surrounding the kid with a good group of players around him. Look at Big Ben, that team is tailor-made for his skills. Same with Rivers. Peyton Manning came into the league and joined a team with Marshall Faulk, Marvin Harrison and Ken Dilger, plus had Tom Moore as his coordinator. That has to help your growth. Plus those teams have good to great O-linemen.
Now contrast that with David Carr. The Texans have gone all these years and still not drafted an O lineman in the first round, nor have they signed any quality free-agent linemen. And you wonder why the guy takes more abuse than Taco Bell? For all the abuse Joey Harrington took, the Detroit Lions couldn't run the ball, nor protect him. Instead of drafting Wide recievers, they could've taken a lineman or two, and helped Joey stay upright. All good offenses have good lineman, you can't survive without it.
Aight lets put it on the line.....Garcia is viewed as damaged goods.....McGahee um stay were you areget another decent year in and retire with your integrity as a franchise player......Randy Moss what a dissappointment, phenominal talent and the heart of the grinch, he needs to dig deep and see what really matters in life, if you want to win you gotta make sacrifices, nobody is going to hand you a superbowl ring.......
Garcia did play well at the end of the season for the Eagles, ill give him that. Buuut his last couple stops at Cleveland and Detroit is clearly proof in the pudding that his playoff potential career is over. Even if you didnt want him as a backup QB, bring him on board to be a mentor for some of the new high priced beef comin up. Worst case scenario he is a third stringer and he MAY have to play. Peace im out
Bucs- draft QUINN!!! A rookie WR will not help you any more than Quinn can.
Seattle- big DEE DEE DEE by letting Hutch go last year.
Mc Gahee to NYG?- NO WAY! Tiki might have been a great back but he was a typical locker room cancer and "me first" kind of guy. I'm glad to see that whining baby retired and don't want to see another one brought in. Reese is just trying to help his buddy Rosenhaus squeeze more money from the Bills.
Moss- Who the hell wants him? Talk about another locker room cancer and me first guy. He's TO Lite.
Eagles- typical Eagles decision to let a great player and model citizen leave because of money. If they had 2 brain cells to rub together they'd man up and pay Stallworth and Garcia what they want.
With all due respect, why would you throw an otherwise solid blog into the drink with the Moss to New England speculation?
We know you don't cover New England like we do, but seriously, anyone with familiarity of the Patriots' roster over the years knows the team isn't built around a one-player (Playmaker) philosophy. Moss is a one man show, and once was a great one. His attitude, his behavior and his price tag are all anti-Patriot.
Come on. You should know better.
What you could have said was... The Patriots are seriously considering drafting the next version of Moss in the 2007 Draft. That would be more realistic... and believable.
All this hype about the Raiders taking Russell with the first pick! AlDavis will NEVER take a QB #1 overall! He'll trade down and take WR Calvin Johnson and get more draft picks. What the hell is wrong with Andrew Walter ? People forget him? He is 6'6" and can throw just as well as J. Russell. Davis LOVES speed and Johnson ran 4.35 at the combines weighing 239. Are you kidding me. HE IS A RAIDER. The Raiders are better off to trade for David Carr [ who is no bum and has an excellent arm] with 5 yrs NFL experience than draft Russell and wait until Al Davis is past 80 yrs old until he comes around.
Last edited by VEGASGREEK on February 26th at 11:39 AM.
Tallman-I STRONGLY disagree with your comment that the bucs should take quinn over a wide reciever. Calvin Johnson would make an immediete impact due to Michael Clayton looking more and more like a bust, as well as the aging of Joey Galloway. A healthy Chris Simms along with an improved recieving corp would be more beneficial then drafting Quinn. Quinn goes nine to Miami.
I dont see any takers for Moss especially after watching fellow headcase TO resort back to his old ways in Big D. JeMarcus Russell will be a benefit to Moss with his rocket arm, compared to Aaron Brooks or a shaky Andrew Walter
Look for Cleveland to take Adrian Peterson and possibly Troy Smith in a later round
And Finally E-A-G-L-E-S, dont resign the often injured Stallworth insead trade up if needed to draft Dwayne Jarrett!
Last edited by horsediggs101 on February 26th at 12:02 PM.
Jeff Garcia is a system guy who needs help to be good. He stunk in Detroit and Cleveland, but those teams haven't exactly gone to glory without him.
The best thing that happened to Garcia was Andy Reid deciding to use Brian westbrook as more than a decoy. As Westbrooks touches went up, so did the teams performance. It allowed the eagles to be in more control of the clock and flow of the game.
Garcia needs a team that runs the West coast and has a running attack for him to playaction from.
I think that oakland should get Jamarcus Russell in the NFL draft becuase oakland needs to start off fresh with a young QB and Jamarcus Russell fits the raiders he has the perfect arm and thats what oakland needs a tall 6.6 and 260 pound QB he will fit good with oakland and believe me!!. Thats what oakland needs.But lets say oakland does not get Jamarcus Russell and they want to draft defence i would go with Reggie Nelson a hard hitting safty and that would also be good for oakland but i would say go with a QB or maybe a Running back Like Marshawn #### or kenny irons
Last edited by westsieds on March 15th at 11:46 AM.
I dont think it would be a good idea to trade Mcgahee because then who's going to carry the load for the Bills? Losman will be under constant pressure because he's going to have to throw all the time due to the fact that there's nobody to run the ball every so often.
If i was oakland i would trade randy moss he has no respect for the oakland raider foundation and besides hes not a star anymore we need to trade him for another WR that is a good deep ball catcher or a running back but i also think that oakland should get a good running back off of the free agent list like Micheal Turner From San Diego.
Ted Ginn JR should go to Atlanta becuase his speed would be a good mix with Micheal Vick to run reverses witch atlanta does alot besides if you look at alot of Atlantas games it was not Micheal Vicks fault its his Wide recievers They droped alot of balls thats why he only threw to Alge Crumpler
Last edited by westsieds on February 28th at 1:01 PM.
The san diego chargers are no good after they fired Marty What was that? i would have never hired norv turner for the simple fact that he does not win football games in the regular season just because Marty did not win football games in the post season doesn't mean you have to fire him Theres always room for improvment it just takes time.
Raiders for sure need a QB and that would be the smart thing for them to draft in the first round and more than likely it should be Russell. I mean hello take a chance I dont think they can get much worse and as for Randy Moss they should keep him. As soon as that QB comes in and throws to him his old self will come back and then you have a good team.
Bucs should take Brady Quinn or at least somebody else should take him. DONT LET THE DOLPHINS HAVE ANOTHER DAN MARINO.
Garcia cant really play that good so I think its was good for the Eagles to give him up.
So Raiders take a QB and keep Moss. Bucs should take Quinn, and Garcia face it youre not that good I think you would be a better mentor for a rookie who would listen.
The Raiders need to Draft Adrian Peterson, in the 1st round, pick up Troy smith in the second round. Their is way to much hype about Russell he is overated and doesn't have the Red Zone and 3rd down % 's that Troy Smith has. I wish Al Davis would check this blog out
Sandiego was the best team last year and lost all coaches and they will still be the best its not the coaches that play the game its the players and with a fresh QB off first season as starter and the league MVP what more ya need Dennis Green could coach them and still win
Hey san diego was not the best team last year so get it strait the best team last year was the saints because of reggie bush and drew brees and oakland will also be good next year all we need is offence becuase we have a better D fence then the Chargers if you look at the stats we just need a QB and a couple of recievers that can catch and let go of moss then and also get rid of al davis so then oakland can have a better chance of winning football games becuase your not gonna win football games with Al Davis oakland needs to draft a QB like Brady Quinn not Jamarcus Russell Oakland needs a QB that will also be good in the future and thats Brady Quinn he has an all around arm he can also throw deep and will be much better than russell in the NFL. PS = I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD LOOK AT THIS BLOG
i wish that oakland would get Brady Quinn becuase he will be better than Russell in the NFL I watched all the tapes Of russell and quinn and clearly Quinn is much better and has more accuracy
and also can scramble Russell is over rated just becuase he had a good game against Quinn in the Bowl = I Wish Al Davis would check out this blog
When you should draft a QB depends entirely on who the QB is. I don't care what the scouts say about Brady Quinn's arm or whatever reason they are pushing him for, he is unquestionably the prospect most likely to be a bust. He may have all kinds of measurables, but he has proven consistently, that, even with a coach like Charlie Weis, he cannot beat college teams who possess the kind of players he's going to see in the NFL. As far as JaMarcus Russell goes he is a much better fit for the Detroit Lions than he is for the Raiders, because he will have better coaches and a good veteran QB starting in front of him for his firs two years. If I were running the Raiders I'd trade the first pick to the Patriots for all three of their first round picks and QB Matt Cassell, who played at USC and is likely familiar with whatever schemes Lane Kiffin runs. I know this is giving the Patriots Calvin Johnson, but if the Raiders get more than one long term starter from those picks it will benefit them a lot. As far as Tampa goes I hope they get OT Joe Thomas, that's the guy they need most.
I think Moss would make a great edition to NE if he could just learn how to be a team player if he doesnt then he and NE will be just right were he was in oakland when the play off race begins at home thinkin what da hell happen!!!
John Czarnecki, a former sportswriter with over 20 years experience covering the NFL, has been the editorial consultant for the Emmy Award-winning FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. Prior, he provided exclusive information to CBS Sports' The NFL Today program from 1991 to 1993, holding a similar position.
Prior to joining CBS Sports, Czarnecki was a pro football writer for The National Sports Daily (1989-91), The Dallas Morning News (1989), and The Los Angeles Herald-Examin er. An archive of work can be found here.
