(This is only a partial version. For the rest go to ArrowheadAddict.com)

Welcome! This is the first diary that I've really been associated with since Scarface dropped his fifteen or so years ago, so I'm exited to say the least. It feels like I'm eight years old again and this is Christmas, really. I'll be updating after every pick or two, discussing how the NFL Draft's first day is shaping up from the Chiefs' perspective.

12:15 PM EST: Commissioner Goodell kicked this party off not too long ago. Let's see if if the Raiders actually pick JaMarcus Russell or do something crazy here. If they do instead go with C.J. it could throw the entire draft off.

12:23 PM EST: No surprise there. The Oakland Raiders go with JaMarcus Russell and give Matt Millen and the Lions a birthday present. The only question here is does Millen have the balls to select his fourth WR in the last five first rounds? Or will the Lions trade this pick to, say, Atlanta or Tampa Bay? This could get nuts.

The other issue is why would Da Raidahs trade Randy Moss after he just drafted Russell? That makes absoluetly no sense at all.

12:28 PM EST: According to the draft value chart the Falcons would have to swap first-round picks and give up both their second-round picks, as well as their third- and fourth-round picks.

Tampa Bay on the other hand, would only have to swap first-round picks and give up both a second- and a third-round pick.

All of this means that it will be much, much easier for the Bucs to get this deal done.

12:32 PM EST: The Detroit Lions pick Calvin Johnson. Don't hate, Lions fans. Yes, it's another receiver -- but he's also the best player in the draft. He could be a Pro Bowler as soon as next season. Let's wait and see if he stays a Lion. So far, the draft is shaping up just as we predicted.

12:37 PM EST: All signs point towards T Joe Thomas going to the Browns here, but with Peterson and Quinn still on the board, truly anything could go down.

12:42 PM EST: Who's that platinum-haired hoochie sitting next to Brady Quinn?

12:44 PM EST: The Cleveland Browns take Joe Thomas with the third pick. Quinn looked shocked. Berman called the pick "a curveball." Whatever. I knew Thomas was the pick. 100% so far.

12:46 PM EST: I'll be very surprised if Gaines Adams doesn't go to the Bucs here. A trade could happen, but I highly doubt it. Peterson also could go to the Bucs and the Brady Quinn draft slide has officially begun.

12:51 PM EST: Why is Thomas fishing today? What an ####.

12:56 PM EST: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers go with Gaines Adams. We are still 100%.

12:59 PM EST: This is where the draft could get tricky. We have Levi Brown going to the Cards, but they could go with a number of guys -- Landry, Okoye, Peterson, etc...

1:05 PM EST: The Arizona Cardinals reach for Levi Brown. We are on fiya! Still 100% accurate.

1:07 PM EST: Either Rachel Nichols didn't sleep last night or she's extremely committed to her job. She's still hot, though.

1:10 PM EST: Let's see what the Skins do here. Okoye would keep us perfect.

1:16 PM EST: Well, damn. Everybody is saying Landry is going here. We'll see in a minute. And Keyshawn has me ready to switch over to the NFL Network. He is awful.

1:19 PM EST: The Washington Redskins do indeed take S LaRon Landry. Our first whiff. I think the Vikes have to, have to, have to take A.P. here. Personally, I feel he is the second-best player in this draft.

As far as the Chiefs are concerned, it looks like Staley could be gone by the time we pick after Brown went early. No corners or defensive tackles have gone off the board yet, though.

1:29 PM EST: The Minnesota Vikings do #### Adrian Peterson. Six of seven so far. Great pick for the Vikes. A.P. and Chester will form a sick tandem.

1:34 PM EST: I'm thinking Okoye goes to the Dirty Birds here.

1:41 PM EST: Wah waahh wee whoa! Jamal Anderson is the Atlanta Falcons' pick. I'm shocked. The good news is that no defensive tackles have gone 1/4 of the way through the first.

1:46 PM EST: I also cover the Phins here locally, so I have a pretty good read on them. I'm thinking Quinn all the way this late.

1:50 PM EST: The Miami Dolphins select... WR Tedd Ginn? Holy s@#%! More on this in a sec...

1:54 PM EST: Call me crazy, but if Quinn is still there at 14, I think the Chiefs should give the Panthers a ring and see what the cost of moving up would be. I've heard that they want to move back, so it could actually be a possibility.

As for the last pick, I cannot believe the Dolphins. Do Cam Cameron and Randy Mueller actually like their jobs? Ginn was an awful, terrible pick there.

1:56 PM EST: Also, does this indicate that the Trent Green trade is all but done?

2:07 PM EST: The Houston Texans restore order and grab DT Amobi Okoye. This is a great pick for them, as they pair this draft's best DT with last year's best DE -- "Super" (kind of, I guess) Mario Williams.

As for Brady Quinn, he keeps on slippin'. Just how far can he slide? I think the 49ers go DE here, maybe Carriker, but I could be wrong. They won't pick Quinn, but a trade is possible.

DTs have started going off the board, but no CBs have gone yet. Could a Revis or Hall fall to the Chiefs at 23? That would be nice. Even Ross would be hard to pass on.

2:15 PM EST: Man, that Michael Smith is freakin' sharp. He totally predicted this Quinn freefall and he just made an outstanding observation about how much dough the Texans have spent on its D-line.

The Bills will probably go with Willis after the Niners' pick, but they could trade or reach for Marshawn ####.

2:18 PM EST: Steve Young aptly mentioned the Chiefs as a team that should be going after Quinn right now. Why not go get him, man?

2:21 PM EST: The San Fransisco 49ers just totally stole Patrick Willis out from under the Bills. Wow. The Bills actually might trade back. If we are seriously contemplating Quinn, now might be the time to go and get him.

2:28 PM EST: The legendary Bruce Smith announces that the Buffalo Bills reach on Marshawn ####. That's just not a good pick at the 12 spot. Wasn't anyone on the phone? I mean, Quinn is still there. My jaw is wide open. WTF? Go get him, King Carl. I like Brodie Croyle as much as the next guy, but he's not Brady Quinn. We've worked well with the St. Louis brass in the past, maybe we could get something done?

2:37 PM EST: What will the Rams do here? Probably pick a CB. I'm starting to think that maybe Quinn could even fall to us. I guess someone else could leapfrog us, or Jacksonville or Jerry Jones could take this kid, but he could end up there at 23. I think we should trade our fourth, and a future third maybe, to swap first-round picks with Green Bay and take him. This is the potential deal of a lifetime for the Chiefs, and I think that even with other pressing needs we'd be stupid to pass on the chance to draft Quinn this late in round one.

2:42 PM EST: The St. Louis Rams select Adam Carriker. Excellent pick for them, but I can't concentrate on other teams right now. Branch, Hall, Quinn and Revis are all still on the board nearly halfway through the first. This is unbelievable. I am really going to be depressed if we manage to mess this situation up.

2:48 PM EST: J-E-T-S... JETS, JETS, JETS! Kiper is absolutely right, the Jets are trading up to get a CB here, likely Hall. The Mangenius and Co. picked Kellen Clemons last year, so they don't need a QB at all. I'm salivating over Quinn and Revis right now. I've completely forgotten about my boy Justin Harrell at this point.

3:00 PM EST: The New York Jets took Darrelle Revis. The Mangenius really proved his nickname with that shrewd move.

Hall and Quinn are still available. What do we do here? Jacksonville could take Quinn and Cincy would more than likely take Hall. If we want one of those guys we'll have to move up.

The Pittsburgh Steelers just selected Lawrence Timmons. They've always liked him, so that comes as no surprise.

This might be the spot to trade up to if we want either Hall or Quinn, and we'd be crazy not to want those guys this late.

3:06 PM EST: This is an amazing feeling right now. Just a exhilarating rush of adrenaline. What am I talking about? The quickly growing Brady Quinn "what if?" I can see him wearing the Red, White and Gold inside my head right now. It will probably never happen, but it's damn fun to imagine the scenario. At least for me it is...

3:19 PM EST: The Green Bay Packers swipe Justin Harrell. My main man is off the board. Oh well, while I love Harrell, I'm pumped about Branch, Hall and Quinn. Even though I've been tough on Branch in the past, at 23 he is great value.

Now Jacksonville might very well take Quinn, so if we want him this would be the time to go get him. Otherwise, looking at the teams that follow -- Cincinnati, Tennessee, the New York Giants and Denver -- we might be able to get Quinn at our spot. I would be very worried about Jerry Jones taking him, though, so we would probably have to swap with the 'Boys.

3:24 PM EST: The beepin' Broncos just traded up. I'm too mad to even type right now. Probably for Branch, though. Maybe Nelson. I hope.

King Carl is one cool customer if he's just playing roulette with this thing and waiting for the perfect player to slide to 23. I would've traded up by now. In Carl we trust?

3:37 PM EST: The Denver Broncos trade throw away a third- and sixth-round pick to move up four spots and get DE Jarvis Moss. Who was going to take him before their pick? They are crazy. I don't even like him. That was the best-case scenario for us. LMAO at Mike Shanahan!!

I 'm getting winded, man. So pumped right now. Branch, Hall... QUINN

3:40 PM EST: As suspected, the Cincinnati Bengals steal Leon Hall. Great player, great character, great pick.

Now, we need to work out a deal with the Giants. Otherwise Jacksonville or Dallas will surely take Quinn. That is if King Carl even wants him. I'm starting to wonder. However, if any GM has the authority to pick a guy like Quinn, it's Peterson. We'll know in the next hour. I guess he could still slip. If Jacksonville moved back how bad can they really want Quinn?

I'm sorry to tell all the Chiefs fans who voted for him, but I think the Titans go with WR Dwayne Bowe here.

3:46 PM EST: You know, we shouldn't blink at trading a third and a sixth to move up to 20 and get Quinn, especially since we will definitely be getting at least a sixth from the Phins for Green. The Ginn pick really gave away what Miami intends to do.

3:50 PM EST: Holy reacheration, Batman, the Tennessee Titans just picked Michael Griffin ahead of Reggie Nelson with the 19th pick. Did that really just happen!?!?

BRADY QUINN! BRADY QUINN! BRADY QUINN!!

At this point, why the hell not. This is a gift, folks.

4:00 PM EST: The New York Giants select CB Aaron Ross. Nice pick, G-Men.

ESPN just reported that the Chiefs will take Quinn at 23 if he falls, but that teams are trying to trade up and leapfrog us. King Carl must have balls of steel. I would have moved up long ago.

4:07 PM EST: I knew it. I knew it. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded back knowing they would still get a safety, and they take the best one available -- Reggie Nelson.

This is so nerve wracking, man. My phone is just blowing up. I can't talk right now, people! Jerry Jones and King Carl scare the hell out of me. What would be worse? The 'Boys taking Quinn right in front of us? Or King Carl passing him up?

4:24 PM EST: The Cleveland Browns completely screw us and trade up to get Brady Quinn. Does this define what it's like to be a Chiefs fan or what? I am speechless. Well, we're on the clock. I'm just devastated. It's not even that I love Quinn that much, I just think he's a can't-miss prospect at 23.

Once again, King Carl's stubbornness hurts us. There. I said it.

Here is what I am really mad about -- Dallas just received a 2007 second and 2008 first for doing nothing. We were so close to receiving that very same compensation. Damn. And we could've gone up to 17 for a third and a sixth. Looks like King Carl didn't even want him. Too bad.

I'm not looking forward to becoming even more disappointed here in the next seven minutes or so.

4:42 PM EST: The Kansas City Chiefs finally, finally, finally pick a first-round WR, and a good one, in Dwayne Bowe. I feel pretty good, really. I think we may have even acted like we wanted Quinn so that Bowe would slip to us. This might even be a ringing endorsement for Brodie from Carl, Herm and Co. I know that I talked up both Branch and Jarrett, but when we got to 23 they, along with Staley and Houston, really scared me. Meachem scared me the most. I'm not upset whatsoever about this pick. The offense will have no excuses next year with Bowe in the fold. I have big-time expectations for this kid, no matter who is throwing the football to him. Much, much more coming on Bowe later. We will even be doing a radio broadcast later on breaking down all the Chiefs day-one picks.

4:45 PM EST: It seems like Chiefs fans are upset. Don't be. Dwayne Bowe is a player with tremendous physical attributes. He's big, strong and fast. One of the best things about him is that he is an outstanding blocker. Seriously, he could end up being a bigger, speedier Hines Ward eventually. Give this pick a chance. It is much less risky than picking Branch, Houston, Meachem or Staley, and corners, DTs and O-lineman will be there in the next two rounds. For now, let's just chill out and let this pick sink in. Two words -- Tamba Hali. Two more words -- have faith.

For the rest go to ArrowheadAddict.com

(Click on the above image for ArrowheadAddict.com site link)

Last weekend we picked for the Chiefs in a first-round mock draft over at FoxSports.com’s blog community. The draft was crazy, a little too crazy at times considering Tedd Ginn Jr. went third overall and Amobi Okoye went 21st. Still, it was a fairly accurate reflection of how the draft could go.When it came time for us to make the 23rd pick lots of receivers — Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Jarrett, Robert Meachem, Steve Smith, and Ted Ginn Jr. — were already off the board. We looked long and hard at selecting Dwayne Bowe there, who we like, but ultimately decided that we were going with a cornerback. After all, Pat Surtain and Ty Law aren’t getting any faster or younger. With only one CB previously selected, Michigan’s Leon Hall, we were torn between Pittsburgh’s Darrelle Revis and Texas’ Aaron Ross.

After reading all kinds of scouting reports, reviewing stats and watching as much YouTube footage as we could find for each player, we decided that Revis was the pick. What impresses us the most about Revis is that he wasn’t surrounded by the talent that Hall or Ross was last season, but was respected by opposing coaches even more. Revis claims to have only been thrown at 15 times last season, with two picks and only one mistake (a touchdown-saving pass interference call). A smart player who not only has the requisite size (6'0?, 200 lbs.), smarts and speed (4.38 40 at Pittsburgh’s pro day) to be a shutdown NFL corner, but also the swagger. You know, that Deion Sanders-Champ Bailey “don’t even think about throwing at me” attitude.

Revis also returns punts — well. That’s all I need to say, the video below will say the rest. And since Dante Hall has seemingly lost his touch, it might be nice to have another potent return specialist on the roster. Just in case we decide to let Hall walk.

We have become truly infatuated with Revis here at ArrowheadAddict.com. Hopefully, the Chiefs will be lucky, and smart, enough to draft him later this month.

More over at ArrowheadAddict.com...

Zach and I suspected that this could possibly be an April Fool's joke, and with no other sites reporting Warpaint Illustrated's Jeff George-Chiefs story at this hour, it looks like that's exactly what the report was. Too bad. I actually got somewhat pumped about George donning the red, white and gold, even if half of my reasoning was based solely on the entertainment value of the situation.

Honestly, it was a pretty good little joke, considering that the site is typically reliable and that the Chiefs adding George is somewhat of a possibility. Hey, it was a much better prank than people on MySpace.com posting bulletins stating that Johnny Depp had died of a heart attack. Couldn't they muster anything better? Anyway, Warpaint halfway got us, but hopefully by us posting this we took some people along for the ride as well. Remember, Truman Sports Complex is located in Missouri, and Missouri loves company. Now I am even more determined to help get Whitlock's boy on a roster!

("George Watch" is an ongoing feature over at ArrowheadAddict.com)

What started out with me jokingly speculating that aging and unemployed QB Jeff George may wind up with the Kansas City Chiefs is no longer just a joke or even merely speculation. WarpaintIllustrated.com is reporting that George and the Chiefs agreed to a one-year deal Saturday night, making the Chiefs George's eighth NFL team. I thought that George would be back in the league, albeit most likely only briefly. I absolutely did not expect for him to really end up a Chief. I only expected his boy and KC Star columnist Jason Whitlock to suggest it to Chiefs GM "King" Carl Peterson. But King Carl actually signed George! As far as how shocked I am, on a scale of 10 I'm a 17.

If this is true, the next logical question is what incriminating pictures of King Carl does Whitlock possess? Last year, after two years of heavy campaigning from Whitlock, Herm Edwards barely convinced King Carl to make a no-brainer move and finally ink veteran star CB Ty Law. Now Carl signs George without even a peep from Whitlock? Unbelievable. Whitlock has to have something on Carl Peterson. I'm just convinced of it. Either that or George really did a helluva JaMarcus Russell impersonation and rocket-armed the ball all over the field in a workout.

If this is really true, what does it mean? Is a Trent Green move on the horizon (I've heard Miami really wants to get a deal done soon)? Is George actually going to see any burn? Or is he simply here to hold a clipboard and mentor Green's likely heir apparent -- Brodie Croyle? And what does this mean for Damon Huard, the Chiefs interim QB? Will George even still be on the roster come opening day? I guess only time will tell. Until then, we'll keep you posted with "George Watch".

What is “The Cut List?” It is a new feature that we are running over at ArrowheadAddict.com (occasionally, I will post over here as well), in which I vent my own and other Chiefs fans’ frustrations by listing the top-three current Chiefs who deserve to get their worthless #### cut the most. For good measure, I also absolutely tear them a new one. Hey, they deserve it. They are the ones who are getting paid millions of dollars to suck, not us. Without further ado….

1. DT Ryan Sims - Right now, Sims is the undisputed king of the cut list. However, in his defense he has been exactly what Carl Peterson and the gang drafted him to be with the sixth-overall pick back in the 2002 NFL Draft — a space-eating legion and disruptive force. Too bad the only space he’s eaten has been salary cap space and the only thing he’s disrupted has been his defensive teammates, who constantly have had to overcompensate for Sims’ poor play since his arrival. The worst thing about Sims is that we didn’t cut our losses and give up on him long ago… and we still haven’t! I tell you what, if I see this guy at an airport carrying more shopping bags than any man ever should (My brother and I have both seen him — in Orlando and Phoenix, respectively — with a hal####ozen shopping bags and gear fresher than the stuff Jay-Z sports. And no, there wasn’t a woman with him.) I will flat out lose it. I’m sick of Sims getting paid big-time bucks to play his embarrassing brand of defense. I’d rather see the money given to his charity or flushed down the toilet. The day he is cut will be a glorious day for all Chiefs fans.

2. DE Eric Hicks - As I pointed out the other day in a “Chiefs Fix” post, Hicks recorded only seven tackles last year and is set to make $7.9 million over the next three seasons. At that rate, our beloved Chiefs will be paying him around $250,000, a cool quarter mil, for every tackle he records. I don’t even have a metaphor for that level of futility. All I know is that with defensive ends Jared Allen (tentatively, I suppose) and Tamba Hali on the roster, Hicks and his huge salary put the “E” in expendable. To quote the Bobs from “Office Space”, “Naga… Naga… Naga… Not gonna work here anymore.” “Gone!”

3. S Greg Wesley - Here is another guy that just makes my stomach quiver. Completely blowing, like former Chiefs D-back Jason Belser did, is one thing. The ####-poor attitude that Wesley brings to the field every Sunday is another. How many times have we seen him completely quit on a play, usually ceding a touchdown to the opposition (remember Shannon Sharpe… Tiki Barber… Mark Clayton… and on and on and on)? How many times have we seen him go for the knockout hit and completely miss the ball carrier? How many times have we seen him just run by a ball carrier, matador-style, then shake his head? He has to go. I seriously hope that the organization’s faith in Page and Pollard and the signing of McGraw means a pink slip for old G-Wes. My disdain for Wesley is so great that we will soon be running another feature specifically dedicated to this defensive turnstile.

The three players on this list will be extremely tough to supplant, but I’d like to hear some opinions from our readers on which Chiefs should be cut. Fire away…

Thought I'd check in since I have a bit of news for my old buddies over here at Fox . Not too long ago I wrapped my short film Ember Like December. You can check it out over at . Feel free to spread the word about my film as word of mouth is a filmmaker's best weapon.

You can rate/review/vote for my film for the Fox reality show "On The Lot" at this link:

http://films.thelot.com/films/19865

Thanks and I hope that all you wonderful writers and people that I encountered over here are healthy, happy, and pursuing your dreams!

 - Adam

That’s right; 2,000 yards For Larry “Johnson &” Johnson (because he leaves the competition shredded and in bandages) is my big prediction for the 2006 NFL season. Yes, I ‘m a Kansas City Chiefs fan. So what? I’m not predicting that my boys will win the Superbowl, I’m predicting that their best player will go completely berserk, rush for 2,000-plus yards, and be named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. After all, I’ve watched him more than almost any “analyst” out there, I should now. The guy has this Tupac-“Me Against the World” thing going on. He feels that as a football player he’s been slighted his entire career, and now he’s out to make everyone in his way pay. Seriously, I haven’t seen someone run with the anger he harnesses every Sunday since, well, the last time I watched Earl Campbell or Jim Brown highlights. Check out this 2006 YouTube L.J. primer (Sorry about the expletives, but the NFL is finally here, I’m pumped, and you can always mute the sound.) and then check out the rest of my thoughts and predictions.

(AbsoluteBestNews.com Link to this article featuring L.J. YouTube Footage)

I’m bumping a little old school Ludacris right now. I’m pumped. The Chiefs-Cincinnati Bengals game tomorrow at Arrowhead is huge for me. NFL-wise and Fantasy Football-wise.

NFL-wise, The Chiefs have to win tomorrow. They need to make a statement that the AFC West is theirs to win. Not Denver’s or San Diego’s. I won’t even consider the Raiders with the fatal combination of Art Shell at head coach and Aaron Brooks at quarterback.

Fantasy-wise, Chad “Simon Phoenix” Johnson, along with Steven Jackson, aka L.J.-Lite (trust me on this one), is one of my best players. Is rooting for him a conflict of interest? No. Not when you take fantasy as seriously as I do. Tomorrow I have to win. I’m playing Mikey, the league comedian, who is back after a two-year hiatus. Last year was the first year that my Hollywood A-Trains have ever missed the playoffs and it’s been 3 years since I won my title. The kid’s gonna get Trained. Mark my words. I think that I'm even going to make shirts this year to send out to my many victims. They'll say, "I GOT TRAINED" on the back. I like the sound of that. Has a definite ring.

Basically, I’m rooting for Chad Johnson to post 100-plus yards and 1-2 TDs in a losing effort.

Funny thing is, while we are still somewhat talking about Johnson, Mikey is a huge, huge Priest Holmes apologist. I love Priest. Love ‘em. But he wasn’t as tough, or as good, as Larry Johnson is. He never took us to a Superbowl. Matter of fact, Priest never led the Chiefs to a playoff victory. Neither did Willie Roaf or #### Vermeil. That’s why I am predicting 2,000. I believe in Larry more than I ever believed in those guys. And Herm Edwards is no dummy. He’ll run L.J. all the way to the Playoffs.

How will the Red, White, and Gold fare in the playoffs? Part of me wants to predict an I-70 Chiefs-St. Louis Rams Superbowl, but I just can’t. Both Missouri squads will go far, likely Conference Championship far, but neither will make the big game. I’m rolling with Steve Smith’s Carolina Panthers and Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts in that one. Both Smitty and “Cut that Meat” are on L.J.-type missions of their own and have better supporting casts. The Panthers are my Superbowl Champs. Head Coach John Fox’s squad has a slightly better defense and a much better rushing attack than the Colts. It’s as simple as that.

What else will go down during the 2006 NFL season…

• Quarterbacks Favre, McNair, Warner, and Collins will not still be their team’s signal callers by season’s ends. Those teams—the Packers, Ravens, Cardinals, and Titans—will all miss the playoffs. Some call these teams “sleepers.” I say all of their playoff aspirations will be asleep by week 13-14.

• San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis, and not Saints RB Reggie “The President/Baby Matrix” Bush or Cardinals QB Matt Leinart, will be the NFC Rookie of the Year. He will have at least 7 TDs, and 10 TDs is within the realm of possibilities. And, yes, he’s on my fantasy squad.

• Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick will be canned by the end of the season. Marty-ball will also have to find a new home after the Chargers have a disappointing season with Phillip Rivers at QB.

• (Interlude: Now “The Seeker” by The Who is playing. I’m jacked and dousing my innards with ridiculously potent Starbucks. I may not sleep tonight. At least not much.)

• I like the Giants to win the ultra-competitive NFC East. I don’t believe in the A.T. (After T.O.) Eagles. I think the Redskins’ “suped-up” offense will sputter as long as Jurassic QB Mark Brunell holds the keys. As for T.O. and the Cowgirls (hate ‘em), puh-lease. T.O. makes Ron Artest look like a Bible salesman. His marriage with the ‘Boys is doomed.

• The 2006 J-E-T-S probably couldn’t even make the BCS. They will win 3 games max.

• The Houston Texans will be much better under new Head Coach Gary Kubiak. That Jake Plummer bootleg #### he’s pulling with QB David Carr should really jumpstart the offense. The defense will also be better. No one will still doubt the selection of DE “Super” Mario Williams when he is playing in the Pro Bowl.

• The Lions will continue to be a mess. Their assistant coach driving through a drive-thru naked won’t be nearly as embarrassing as their season will be. New Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz will help RB Kevin Jones and WR Roy Williams put up better numbers. He will not help the Lions win more ballgames.

• St. Louis, not Seattle or Arizona, will win the NFC West. The free agency acquisitions of WR Nate Burleson and RB Edgerrin James will bust. If you picked them on your fantasy squads, God help you.

• Chargers LB Shawne Merriman will break someone in half. Twice.

• Chad Johnson will lead the league in TD catches, celebrations, and me to my second Dirty Dozen Fantasy Championship.

• The Patriots will miss the playoffs, but rookie Laurence Maroney will make his presence felt. Eventually, that is. Corey Dillon will start the first 8 games and try to convince us that he’s still an every-down back. He’s not.

• Deion Branch will cave and be in a Patriots uni by week 6.

• Joey Porter is your Defensive Player of the Year. Peyton Manning your MVP (Steve Smith would be my pick if he was healthy. He’s currently not.)

• Tony Kornheiser will be a hit on Monday Night Football. Now if only we can get ESPN to oust Joe Theismann in favor of Tony’s partner-in-crime Michael Wilbon.

• My sleeper players are Jaguars WR Matt Jones, Vernon Davis, Falcons RB Jerious “Don’t call me Scott” Norwood, Chiefs LB Kawika Mitchell, Giants S Will Demps, and Vikings RB Chester Taylor. I’m also very high on Texans’ recent addition Ron Dayne, Packers WR Greg Jennings, and the stacked Atlanta defense. Oh, and Rams WR/brainiac Kevin Curtis. Again. Bears RB Thomas Jones will have a fantastic campaign as well.

• My busts are ‘Skins RB Clinton Portis, Edgerrin James, Burleson, the Seattle Offense, the Chargers, the Patriots defense, Eagles WR Donte’ Stallworth, Steve McNair, Pack WR Donald Driver, T.O., Raiders RB Lamont Jordan, ‘Skins S Adam Archuleta, Broncos QB Jake Plummer, and all of the Chiefs’ DTs. I think Bears RB Cedric Benson flops. As does Dolphins QB Daunte Culpepper and the Fish. I also think that this is the year that age starts catching up to Ravens LB Ray Lewis.

• I expect Eli Manning’s 2006 numbers to come close to matching those of his big brother’s. I'm being serious.

• Did I mention that Larry Johnson will rush for 2,000 yards? He won’t break the record, though. The Chiefs need him for the playoffs, too.

Enjoy yourself this season. Tailgate to your heart’s content, knock back beers aplenty, sign up for Direct TV (The only way to get NFL Sunday Ticket… my installation is the 13th.), and may all your NFL and Fantasy Football dreams come true!

AbsoluteBestNews.com Launches!!

Attention everyone, AbsoluteBestNews.com, the new website featuring yours truly and many of your favorite FoxSports.com Bloggers, has launched. We still have a lot of work to do (site design, advertising, increasing our staff size, etc...), but we are up and running. I would like to hear some feedback on the early version of the site. Please go check it out! We already have football coverage galore!

- Adam

I’ve quit watching the NFL preseason. As an NFL junkie, I recognize that might be considered blasphemous. I don’t care. I can’t take it any longer.

What have I been doing? I’ve been suckered into watching Bravo’s Project Runway and Work Out. I’ve been taking advantage of my Blockbuster Online membership. I’ve been working on my stuff that, unlike the NFL preseason, might actually matter in the long run. I’ve even been doing the dishes. I’ve been doing anything, and I mean anything, that I possibly can to avoid being bored to death by three-plus-quarters-of-scrubs football. Why? This is why:

Point blank—preseason football is worthless.

Household names like T.O., Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, and L.T. barely even lace up their cleats during the preseason these days, and when they do it’s usually for one scoring drive or one 3-and-out. Out of harms way for most of four quarters, that is. And nobody misses the few highlights star players make during the nanoseconds that they actually do strap on their chinstraps, at least halfway, and play. All of those plays and some serious filler are shown over, and over, and over on Sportscenter. And even if the magnificent moves of the NFL preseason do make you “ewwwwww” and “ahhhhhh,” should they?

During the NFL preseason, T.O. stands for “Time Off.”

Do big preseason plays, hell, even preseason wins amount to anything more substantial once the exhibition games are over? Not really.

I’m no statmonger, but I can’t recall the last time an undefeated preseason team ripped through the NFL regular season like a Hulk Hogan T-shirt on their way to winning the Superbowl. In fact, sometimes it seems like the exact opposite happens with higher frequency. Teams that are established contenders and don’t have anything to really prove during the preseason tend to take it easy during the throwaway exhibition games.

Don’t believe me? The Oakland Raiders’ first string has looked absolutely pathetic thus far. Still, the Raiders are somehow 3-0 in preseason play. Meanwhile, the defending Superbowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers are 0-2. Who actually thinks the Shell-shocked Raiders are better than the Cowher-powered Steelers? I’m definitely not raising my hand.

I’m a die-harder-than-Bruce-Willis Kansas City Chiefs fan and I’m more excited about watching Greg Kinnear play #### Vermeil and Mark Wahlberg play special teams in Invincible than I am watching Herm Edwards play #### Vermeil and a bunch of no-namers play special teams for my Chiefs this August. For now I’ll just watch Sportscenter, check the injury reports, cram for my fantasy football leagues (we do it right—no preseason), and count down the days until the real NFL action begins. Hey, at least I’ll have Heidi Klum to keep me occupied.

I woke up this morning like I usually do. Still half-asleep, I threw my cranky #### in the shower. Then I grabbed a bite to eat and started guzzling coffee like a Hummer does gasoline as I sifted through my morning sports news via the Internet. Typically, I do this without flinching. T.O. strained his tongue and will miss the preseason opener. Big surprise. Al Harrington still hasn’t gotten traded to my Pacers. Oh well. Men’s synchronized swim team banned. Big deal. 67 more athletes busted for performance enhancing drugs. What a surprise.

Then I saw something that really had me shook. Carmelo Anthony hurt his knee. A huge, gigantic, die-hard NBA fan and avid Team USA supporter, I didn’t even care that my boys barely pulled out an exhibition win over Captain Barbosa, Sideshow Bob, and Brazil. I was too caught up in what had happened to Melo.

Now? After all he’s been through? Why? Why?

After all, this is the guy who has seemed to just recently put all of his troubles behind him. This is the guy who legendary Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the coach of Team USA, has fallen in love with over the course of the last few weeks. This is the guy who has indeed been “on a mission,” outplaying even LeBron James and Dwyane Wade since joining Team USA. This is the guy that looks like he could score 30 a game next year, elevating his Denver Nuggets to contender status and himself to MVP-candidate status. This is the guy that can complete the NBA’s new Holy Trinity of King James, D-Wade, and Melo, this century’s answer to Magic, Michael, and Bird. This is the guy, with his charming smile and unstoppable offensive repertoire, that was becoming something truly special.

In today’s NBA, you can’t spell Holy Trinity without “Melo."

A lot of people have criticized Melo, and fairly so. He’s had some problems, both on and off the hardwood. However, he has handled superstardom at a young age extremely well. Maybe not as well as LeBron, but who has? Melo is a winner. Carrying the Syracuse Orangeman to a NCAA National Title as a college freshman proves that. If that’s not enough, legendary basketball icons Coach K, Michael Jordan, and Jim Boeheim all fervently vouch for the kid. That’s good enough for me. Plus, I like his style. He’s gotta be the coolest cat to slash and rain jumpers since Walt “Clyde” Frazier.

Early reports are claiming that Melo’s injury, sustained in a collision with Coach K, is merely a hyperextension. I’m hoping that those reports remain accurate. I would hate for arguably my favorite non-Pacer to be doing post-blowout rehab when the NBA kicks off right around Halloween. Especially when I’ve already gone out on a limb and predicted Melo to lead Team USA to a gold medal in this month’s World Championships, and then lead George Karl, K-Mart, Bonzi Wells (it could happen, folks), and the rest of the Denver Headcases to 55-plus wins on his way to earning MVP consideration.

I would be sad if I was wrong. I would be infinitely sad Billy Corgan-style if Carmelo Anthony, undoubtedly one of the league's brightest stars, fell from the NBA's sky because of this injury.

Who were some of the pioneers of the flamboyant NFL Touchdown Celebration?

Ernest Givens brought the world the disco-cool “Electric Slide.” Icky Woods got us grooving with his patented “Icky Shuffle.” Vai Sikahema occasionally showed us his “Punches of Power.” Randy Moss raised eyebrows with his “Man on the Moon” post-TD taunt. Warren Sapp once even did his best Beyonce impersonation. More recently, Steve Smith took a turn as both Captain Jack Sparrow and a cover girl, while Chad Johnson hit us with everything from “The Proposal” to “The Irish ####.”

To take the oft-maligned art of Touchdown Celebrating to the next level, current NFL stars would be wise to take notice of these non-ballers and their nifty moves (special thanks to YouTube.com, the site linked to show you these awe-inspiring performances)...

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Carlton

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Carlton has moves for days and then some… The Carlton Dance

Gene Gene the Dancing Machine

Chuck Barris’ boy and one of the biggest stars from The Gong Show... Gene Gone Wild

Bobby Badfingers

Regis and his crew should be ashamed. After all, who has more talent than… Bobby and His Fingers

Chunk

The Goonies biggest dweeb shakes what his mama gave him … The Truffle Shuffle

Napoleon Dynamite

Sikahema’s nephew (I’m flippin’ serious) doing what only he can do… Darrin's Dance Grooves

Elaine

Added due to popular demand, Seinfeld's own Elaine (best I could find)… The Little Kicks

Big Ern

Kingpin's Ernie McCracken (not his in-lane dancing, but "still very good")… "Hi... Not You"

Chris Farley

Chris Farley, God bless his soul, inspires Sapp's next celebration… Dancing King

AbsoluteBestNews: Fresh Views on Sports, Entertainment, & News

"If you can't get your foot in the door, make your own 'effin door" – Adam Best

Opportunity knocked, and as a result of how these 10 (5 more than I promised!) FoxSports.com regular bloggers stepped up and capitalized, they are coming through the “‘effin door” called AbsoluteBestNews.com with me. Wish them well, as these are your own (in no particular order)…

The OKWC Winners

Roy Burton aka “NappyTemple” (Philadelphia)

Burton (who made the FoxSports.com Next Great Sportswriter II Final Four) has long been a favorite of mine. In fact, I thought that his take on the possibility of an A.I. trade—quite the popular subject nowadays—was as good, if not better, than any other writer’s anywhere. Only Rocky Balboa rivals his passion for all things Philly, but Burton covers much more than just the City of Brotherly Love. His incendiary coverage of the NBA and NFL never disappoints. Considering how much we like those leagues over here at AbsoluteBestNews.com, Burton will more than fit in.

Gregory Cox aka “Norcalfella” (The Bay Area)

“Tastes great… Less-filling,” remember that old slogan? Not only does Cox’s (a Next Great Sportswriter I Finalist) commentary taste great, but he also has great taste. Whether he is highlighting the work of other talented writers or covering unusual topics in his posts, he simply knows how to pick ‘em. Fortunately, he mixes vast sports knowledge, pop culture prowess, and smooth journalistic style smoothly, so his writing is “less-filling” as well. Cox’s many talents will be utilized at AbsoluteBestNews.com.

“Siddhartha”

Point blank—Siddhartha is the best NASCAR writer of the bunch. Quite frankly, I don’t think that any other NASCAR blogger here on FoxSports.com is even in the same league. Sidd also impressed me with his ability to cover music and various other categories, and will play numerous roles over at AbsoluteBestNews.com. His slightly off-topic Oak Island post he submitted showed me that he’ll be De Niro-esque when it comes to playing those different roles.

Tracy Wholf aka “Belle of the Ball” (NYC)

Wholf (a Next Great Sportswriter II finalist) describes herself as “part Carrie Bradshaw and part Lee Corso.” Well, Corso never looked this good while doing his thing. This “Jill of all Trades” is not only a sportswriter, but also a successful stage actress and reality TV personality. Her social commentary on both sports and society is both entertaining and informative. New York may have had Bradshaw, but this L.A.-based site now has its answer—Tracy Wholf.

Rob Meadows aka “SoCalSportsFan” (San Diego)

Meadows was recently proven to be the most popular blogger on FoxSports.com. He deals with relevant material, speaks for the people, and is insanely productive. And he does it with a certain swagger that is requisite for all of the good ones. I compare Meadows’ writing to Shaq. You know he’s going to give you a big game each and every night, speak his mind, and leave you with a couple of gem quotes to chuckle over. Meadows will be the Rick Reilly of AbsoluteBestNews.com, breaking down the most prominent stories in sports early, often, and effectively.

George Krinkos aka “George1” (Illinois)

Krinkos’ stuff cracks me up every time I stop by his blog. His style is just so damn readable and enjoyable that there was no way I could have left him off of this list. Speaking of lists, Krinkos seems to have that format mastered. Apparently I am not the only one that enjoys his blog posts and lists, as he has recently been FoxSports.com’s Blog of the Day several times. Like every other writer on this list, Krinkos also has impressive range.

Dan Deeley aka “The_Dan” (Toronto)

Deeley is easily one of the most-respected writers in the FoxSports.com community, but also possibly the most-versatile. His professional style and on-point observations really caught my eye, but in the end it was his hockey writing, arguably the best on FoxSports.com’s blog community, that set him apart from the field. Additionally, the fact that he is a talented radio personality makes him a more-than-welcome addition to the AbsoluteBestNews.com team.

John Rivera aka “Rivjo” (New York)

Rivera (a Next Great Sportswriter II Finalist) is a talented writer and the consummate professional. I compare him to Scottie Pippen, as he seems to do absolutely everything well, yet other than his NGS selection, he doesn’t get the credit he is due. I came away impressed by his submissions, and even more impressed by his attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to help AbsoluteBestNews.com succeed. Rivera possesses the exact combination of talent and teamwork that we were looking for and we expect him to excel as a Featured Contributor over on our site.

Forrest Wilkinson aka “NorthSider” (Dallas, Texas)

Is Wilkinson eighteen? Nope. Did Rolling Stone magazine snub a young Cameron Crowe because he didn’t have to shave daily? No. Wilkinson may not have been old enough for FoxSports when the judges selected him for NGS II, but over at AbsoluteBestNews.com I have a little saying, “what matters isn’t your age, it’s what you can put on the page.” After all, we’re judging writing, not wine. Plain and simple—the kid can write. Already a featured writer for sites such as RealGM.com, the future is bright for Wilkinson. I’m glad he’s onboard, and look forward to letting him, “write, Forrest, write.”

Eddie Gallo aka “Burger21” (Central Ohio)

Like his beloved Steelers, this PA sports nut turned blogger extraordinaire lays it all on the line every time he steps up to the keyboard. Gallo’s passion-filled anecdotes, lists, and columns are always distinctly “Eddie.” His stories about Pap, the Hummer, and his Weekly Truth Series just stood out when considered against the rest of the field. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I wanted him to be an important ingredient in the original AbsoluteBestNews.com recipe.

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That being said, thanks to everyone that submitted and the glowing support this project has received from this community. I was flabbergasted by nearly every submittal, but when it came down to it, these 10 were perfect matches at this point and time for what I am trying to accomplish at AbsoluteBestNews.com. I really feel that these fellas, and a certain talented lady, are ready to start crafting some of the best material on the web today. Who knows, after this turnout I might even be back for OKWC II.

Anyway, it’s time for me to put on my chef’s hat and start cooking up those ingredients I talked about. Expect a site launch from us sometime in August!

Thanks Again,

Adam Best
AbsoluteBestNews.com
Editor-In-Chief/Lead Writer
absolutebestfilms@gmail.com

“Can't you hear me knocking… on your window?

Can't you hear me knocking… on your door?”

- Can't You Hear Me Knocking by The Rolling Stones

After announcing the “Opportunity Knocks Writing Contest” last week, it is obvious that many bloggers heard me knocking. However, even though my e-mailbox has been flooded, I am not just showing up to quote one of the most kick-#### songs of all time. I am making another house call. It is not too late to submit yourself to be considered for the OKWC. You still have 48 hours (Wednesday is the last day for submissions).

What is the OKWC, you ask? It is a writing contest this FoxSports.com blogger is hosting with the prize being at least five lucky winners selected to be Featured Contributors for my future site AbsoluteBestNews.com… offering “The Freshest Views in Sports, Entertainment, and News.”

For more on the contest and the site, go here… Opportunity Knocks Writing Contest, or simply submit a few samples of your best writing, sports-based or non, and a paragraph or two on why you should win the contest and be named an AbsoluteBestNews.com Featured Contributor to absolutebestfilms@gmail.com…

Thanks again, and please, cool it on the Michelle Wie posts for a bit…

Adam Best

absolutebestfilms@gmail.com

No. I’m not promoting the cheesy Dana Carvy movie of the same name. I’m inviting every member of the FoxSports.com blogging community to take advantage of a unique opportunity. You see, I love this site and think that it is possibly the best blogging community on the web. I will continue to post here and promote the site as just that and send people its way. And I thank and applaud Fox for having such a space when ESPN and other competitors refuse to allow their readers to have this kind of outlet. However, there is too much talent getting wasted over here. Sure, you have a small fan base of readers and are respected by quite a few people, but what else?

Not much.

Other than one person winning the NGS every half-year, who else profits from this site? Honestly—nobody. Sure, the community is fun, but for many of us this is about so much more than simply being fun.

That is why I, along with a business associate of mine, am launching a live sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, Soccer/MLS, NHL, NCAA, NASCAR, GOLF, UFC, potentially everything!), entertainment, and news supersite—AbsoluteBestNews.com. Columns, blogs, news, podcasts, etc… this site will have it all.

Where do you come in? I am looking for featured contributors, writers featured by the site that would contribute a weekly column and potentially be involved in podcasts. The column could have almost any format, I just want talented, creative, writers with fresh voices. Your name, picture, bio, and material would be featured on a site that we expect to receive big-time traffic. This would be fantastic exposure. I also would let all featured contributors completely control their own material. Initially this will not be a paid gig, but that could definitely change in the not-so-distant future. The main thing is the exposure. Instead of people going to Fox and stumbling across your blog (which is probably 1 out of 1,000) every once in a while you would be one of ten to fifteen featured writers on one of the hottest new sites on the web. You'd be one of the original writers whose talent and rep helped build the site from the ground up. I would also link to your website or page if you have one already.

Here’s the deal: I want to take a minimum of 5 writers from this site, and everyone gets a fair shot. If we think 20 writers are worthy, 20 will be selected.

How do you audition for the Opportunity Knocks Writing Contest?

Simply send your best sample of writing, either brand new or older, to absolutebestfilms@gmail.com along with why you think you’d be a great addition as a featured writer. I’ll be announcing at least 5 winners a week from today and will include a slice of writing that shows why each writer was selected.

Hopefully, there will be a decent turnout and a select group of us can start making things happen. Only 1 writer wins NGS, but at least 5 writers will win the OKWC. Looking forward to hearing from you guys!!

Sincerely,

Adam Best

absolutebestfilms@gmail.com

Two cannonballs were dropped on us last weekend (well, three if you count the World Cup and Zizou’s bizarre Ron Artest impersonation):

The record-breaking film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and the news that LeBron James had finally decided to re-up with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

You Don’t Know Jack

The blockbuster bombshell Dead Man’s Chest reminded that while there is still so much wrong with Hollywood, there is also so much that’s right. The mega-budget Pirate flick pillaged box offices while captivating fans coast to coast. Disney’s flagship film series cruised past Spider-Man’s 2002 opening-weekend box office record of $114.8 million by plundering moviegoers for a treasure of $135.6 Million.

J-Lo ain’t got nothin’ on that booty.

Not since Harrison Ford was cracking a whip and kicking it with Short Round have we seen a swashbuckling trilogy as prolific as the Pirates of the Caribbean series. As a result, the film industry is back with a vengeance. Last weekend American box offices took in a record $217 million. The previous record was $188 million. On the heels of Dead Man’s Chest, original material is once again fashionable and perhaps, just perhaps, big-wig studio execs will once again match the courage displayed by the series’ most beloved buccaneer…

Captain Jack Sparrow, aka America’s favorite rebel Johnny Depp.

Depp is currently the runaway winner in terms of Hollywood popularity.

Depp’s turn as Sparrow has him sitting in the Crow’s Nest of Hollywood’s A-List. Depp is suddenly bigger than Denzel, Bragelina, Julia, or either of the Toms. He has commandeered this takeover his way, blazing his own path by steering clear of the tabloid headlines and towards a series of quirky, captivating roles. Like Sparrow, we sometimes question his methods, but there is no second guessing Depp’s talent or results. He was paid $20 million-plus for Dead Man’s chest, and who knows what kind of loot he’ll command from here on out.

What other actor could sport mascara and dangly earrings and still remain dashing?

Only Depp—the shrewd performer and businessman whose bravado and foresight are navigating the film industry into uncharted waters—is cool enough pull that off.

The NBA's Captain Cool

That kind of cool reminds me of another swashbuckling star—Hardwood Cavalier LeBron James.

Turning a trilogy that draws on an ancient theme park ride and burnout rocker Keith Richards as inspirations into the biggest film franchise in America is downright crazy. Turning the perennial cellar dweller Cleveland Cavs into one of the NBA’s most popular teams and a championship contender, well, that’s almost incomprehensible. But that’s just what LeBron James has done.

Like Depp, LeBron wants to blaze his own path. He wants to win championships and navigate the NBA into uncharted waters. And he wants to do it in Cleveland.

Forget the buzz about LeBron signing a deal that allows him to opt out of his contract four years from now and become an unrestricted free agent. That doesn’t mean he’s trying to sneak his way into a Knicks or Lakers jersey and get his Nike payday. It means he’s keeping Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert, GM Danny Ferry, and the rest of the front office in check. LeBron’s ensuring that if the Cavs don’t get serious about winning a title, come the summer of 2011 he’ll sail away from the Mistake on the Lake for good.

He also knows that by 2011 the NBA’s popularity will be at an all-time high and a new collective bargaining agreement will be in place. Who knows what kind of loot LeBron will be able to command at that point. ESPN hypeman Stephen A. Smith claims he’ll be able to sign a contract “in excess of $150 million” that summer. Add those dollars to his new $50 million contract and his endorsement money, and this deal just makes sense.

LeBron a swashbuckler? Peep the sword in the Cavs' logo.

For those who don’t think LeBron is sitting in the NBA’s Crow Nest , I beg to differ. The Dwyane Wade argument is a strong one, but ultimately one that sinks.

Yes, Wade is the first player from the stellar NBA Draft Class of 2003 to win a championship. However, judging LeBron on that criteria isn’t exactly fair. Only 21 years old, LeBron is three years younger than Wade. Wade’s Miami Heat were also in better shape than LeBron’s Cavs when both players arrived on the NBA scene. Last year was Wade’s third NBA Playoff appearance. Due to no fault of his own, last season was LeBron’s first postseason voyage. LeBron also doesn’t have Riles plotting the course or the Big Whatever-He-Wants-to-Call-Himself as his First Mate.

LeBron is also more popular and more marketable than Wade or any other NBA star. He’s the biggest sword on the biggest sports-endorsement ship—Nike. Tiger Woods, Tiger Schmoods, I’m rolling with LBJ. Meanwhile, Wade is sporting Converse and sharing commercials with the likes of Jennie Finch. The only time LeBron shares the commercial spotlight is when he clones himself.

LeBron makes more money (after endorsements), is more popular, and puts up better numbers than any player in the league, and at this point in his career he has progressed more than any other 21-year-old player in NBA history. Given the circumstances, I have to tell it like it is…

King James definitely rules the seas of the NBA and will for a long time to come.

X Marks the Spot

What treasures will America’s two favorite action heroes find before their careers become folklore? I’m guessing at least two more Pirates of the Caribbean movies, at least two NBA Championships, two NBA MVP awards, two Best Actor Oscars, and enough money to buy the Cavs twice over.

If you aren’t yet onboard as a fan of these two swashbucklers, get onboard you scurvy animals. I for one would rather walk the plank than miss what Depp and LeBron have in store for us. Ahoy mates!