Kaspers Korner

 http://boomp3.com/listen/efgq0a3/kk-raiders-may-first

The Oakland Raiders are predictable in one area, and that is the draft when it comes to players with speed.  So, the question is now will the passing up of Glenn Dorsey bite the Raiders in the end.

The Oakland Raiders just saw defensive tackle Warren Sapp retire. Still they passed on Dorsey to take running back Darren McFadden.

Why did they do such a thing?  First, owner Al Davis just loves speed, and that is something that McFadden posses.  Secondly, they are taking a gamble on defensive tackle William Joesph will stay healthy.

Considering what the New York Giants did to the New England Patriots in the Superbowl the pick is down right stupid.  It is why the Raiders are in the place they are.

That being Al Davis’s judgement of people, which is poor at best.  So, until Davis learns to hire people that are compitent then the Raiders will always be losers.

 http://boomp3.com/listen/debifl7/kk-buccaneers-may-first

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free agent safety Eugene Wilson this offseason.  Now, the Buccaneers are planning to move him to cornerback.

Wilson has not played cornerback since he was in college.  Also, add in the addition of cornerback Aqib Talib through the draft, and you have one dumb move.

Why did he agree to make the move? That is simple, and it is the money that cornerbacks received.

Wilson is going into his sixth season in the NFL, and has time to make the transition.  Rhonde Barber and Phillip Buccanon are the starters, and they are not getting any younger. 

Tampa Tribune’ Roy Cummings said this, “There’s little doubt that Wilson will help the Bucs. His ability to defend receivers in man-to-man schemes and to cover zones remains exceptional. He’s also learned the art of patience.”

Yeah he learned paitence from being on the sidelines over the last two years, due to injury.  Which is another reason that the move is stupid.

The type of offenses call for multiple quality cornerbacks, and if Wilson is prone to it. 

In the end the signing of Wilson will bite the Buccaneers in the end.

Audio version:

http://boomp3.com/listen/dkm639v/kk-us-district-court-ruling

The retired players of the NFL have been waging a war that has been burning brighter more than ever.  Now, even the U.S. District Court got in on the act.

The retired players have made a good case for themselves, but have been blaintantly ignored by NFLPA president Gene Upshaw.  However, Upshaw got a rude wake up call as U.S. District Court judge William Alsup ruled that the retired players that have signed licensing agreements may proceed with a class action lawsuit.

The fact of the matter is that this must be a wake up call to all National Football League players, including recently retired Brett Farve.  Upshaw is not the man that he is, and cannot be trusted.  

The fact of the matter is that the NFLPA is a mess, and needs a complete house cleaning.  If players fail to realize that Upshaw does not care for them once they are retired, then they will learn the hard way.

However, Upshaw needs to start looking over his shoulder, because the federal government is starting to realize that retired players are getting the raw end of the stick.  It is only a matter of time before a committee calls Upshaw in to answer questions.

In the end this should be the beggining of the end for Upshaw as NFLPA president.  If they fail to recognize that Upshaw is unfit as NFLPA president, then I hope National Football League owners take them back to the woodshed, and teach them a lesson like the little punks they are. 

Audio version: 

 http://boomp3.com/listen/azr55jn/kk-panthers-april

The Carolina Panthers made a decision to move up to get a tackle they must have, and that being tackle Jeff Otah.  The reality here is that if Otah becomes a great player the price will be forgotten.

Everyone has an opinion when it comes to draft picks, and everyone was saying that the price they paid was too much.  However, once you find that franchise tackle looking back on the deal it becomes worth it.

If a team is going to succeed they must have a quality offensive line, especially a franchise tackle.  However, with the talent at the left defensive end position having two tackles is just as important.

In the end if Otah proves to be a solid pick it will the draft anaylists that will have egg on their face, and not the franchise.

Audio version:

 http://boomp3.com/listen/d21kaxf/kk-texans-april-thirty

The Houston Texans stunned everyone when they took Mario Williams over Reggie Bush in 2005.  The reason being that there are major concerns that Reggie Bush could be a everydown back.

Kyle Shanahan, son of Denver head coach Mike Shananhan, took a shot at running back Reggie Bush, and at the same time giving insight into why they passed on him. “You look at guys around the league like Kevin Faulk, a guy like Reggie Bush; guys who come in and fill a specific role on third downs,” Shanahan said. ”When you look at a guy that people are projecting as a third down type guy or a change of pace guy I believe a lot of teams have more important needs that go early in the draft.  One exception is Reggie Bush; he is the highest guy that I’ve seen go that is a third-down type player.  The third round is when these guys start popping out.”

Them believing that he is a third down back does not bode well for the New Orleans Saint.  However, many can argue that it was his work ethic that hurt him.  In any case this is the year that makes or breaks Reggie Bush.

What the article also revealed is that the Texans are getting better at identifying players.  Under the previous regime the Texans took quarterback David Carr, and inserted him right away in the lineup.  Ultimately Carr would go on to be nothing more than a huge flop.

Now, the question is how long will it take for them to get to the playoffs.

 Audio Version:

http://boomp3.com/listen/f2h4h2r/kk-jaguars-april-thirtyt

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been unable to get by the Indianapolis Colts for several years now.  They just might do that with the picks they took.

The Jaguars made the boldest move of the day trading all the way up from number 26 in the first round to number eight to take defensive end Derrick Harvey.  In the process giving up a first rounder next year.

Then in the second round they took defensive end Quentin Groves.  Groves slipped to the second round due to recent heart surgery.  The pick definately solidifies a desperate need, and that being defensive end.

Last year the Jaguars did not have a pass rusher record over 10 sacks last season.  Then with the trade of defensive tackle Marcus Stroud the Jaguars needed all the help they can get.

Unfortunately, it will not be enough this year to get them over the top.  The Colts have a couple more years at the top.  The reason being the great drafting of general manager Bill Polian to fill holes on his team right away. 

If both defensive ends grow into solid pass rusher then that will be the time they will most likely dethrone the Colts.  However, that is a couple of years down the road.

Audio version of blog, all you do is click the icon and the play button on the next page

http://boomp3.com/listen/dxrji0j/kk-steelers-april-twenty-nine

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not need much in reguards to holes on their team.  What they got will certainly make them a threat offensively next year.

The Steelers needed another back to compliment Willie Parker, and got that with running back Rashard Mendenhall with the 23rd pick in the first round.  Mendenhall was thought of to go much higher, but a huge run at offensive tackle allowed him to slip down.

Then in the second round the Steelers took wide receiver Limas Sweed.  Sweed in his senior season hurt his wrist again, and that hurt his production in the six games he played, before he had to shut it down.  Getting Sweed again gives them a tall wide receiver option, after they loss Plaxico Burres a couple of years ago to free agency.

In the second day they planned for the future in the third round taking outside linebacker Bruce Davis.  Then in the fourth round took offensive tackle Tony Hills.

In all a solid draft for the Steelers.

The AFC East is already the toughest division in the National Football League.  It just got a lot tougher to play in as all the teams got quality talent at major needs.

First, the only real head scratcher from this group is from the New York Jets.  They gave up a fourth round pick to move up and take tightend Dustin Keller.  All they had to do was sit tight, and wait, after all the rest of the tightends did not go until pick 48, which is well past their 36th pick.

Their first round pick was Vernon Gholston.  He did get the only sack against tackle Jake Long.  However, it was his Combine workout that vaulted him up the board. 

Both picks satisfy needs, but at the same time are questionable at best.

The Dolphins draft was pretty much before the draft even started.  They traded a fourth for tightend Anthony Fasano, and Akin Ayodele, which is a steal.  Also, they signed tackle Jake Long to less money than Oakland Raider quarterback Jamarcus Russel, who was drafted last year.

The picks that they did make were also quality.  Defensive end Philip Merling fell out of the first round, and snatched him up quick.  Obviously he is Jason Taylor’s replacement.  Later they used their pick, from trading wide receiver Chris Chambers, on their quarterback of the future Chad Henne.

The New England Patriots do what they do best fill needs with quality picks.  They traded down from the seventh spot in the first round to the 10th, and in the process got an extra third rounder.  With the 10th pick they got linebacker Jerod Mayo to eventually replace linebacker Teddy Bruschi.  In the second they took cornerback Terrance Wheatley.  Who can argue with the picks after what they have done in previous drafts.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the Buffalo Bills filled their major needs.  They took the best cornerback in the draft in Leodi McKelvin.  Mckelvin probably will start as the nickle back, depending how training camp goes.  However, many people thing that is all but a formality, as he will over take the starter eventually.

Then in the second round they got their wide receiver.  They needed a tall wideout bad, but for them to get to pick the best of the bunch was amazing.  For them to get 6-6′ wide receiver James Hardy will dramatically improve their redzone offense.  The Bills scored points, but lacked that one big guy they could lob jump fades to get some touchdowns.  As of now it appears that they got him.

Now, only time will tell who made out the best on the first day.

The deal has not even been completed.  However, there are signs showing already that the Dallas Cowboys are better off without Adam “Pacman” Jones.

In an article that appears in the Dallas Morning News, according to an informal survery conducted by reporter Jean-Jacques  Taylor, the players on the Dallas Cowboys will not help keep Jones from causing trouble.

According to Taylor, “They’ll tell him where to go for a good time and give him the names of various places he should avoid. They’ll invite him to their frequent off-season pool and bowling outings and their weekly dinners during the season.”

What it shows that the players on the Cowboys are a bunch egotistical me guys.  True heroes, and role models, go out and make the extra effort to try, and help turn a person’s life around.  For example, Hall of Famer Jim Brown offered to help Jones.

Caring individuals, and team players in football, go out and help in whatever way they can.  Eventually, they may turn their back, but only after exhausting all options.

The simple fact that they are already turning their back to Jones shows that the Cowboys are not going to win the Superbowl anytime soon.

The Washington Redskins made a play for wide receiver Chad Johnson, and came up empty.  Now, they have their sites on a couple of wide receivers.

According to Pro Football Talk.com the Redskins visited wide receivers Malcom Kelly yesterday, and Jordy Nelson today.  In which round they take a wide receiver remains to be seen.

Kelly was thought of to be one of the top receivers in the draft, but a slow 40 yard dash time killed that.  So, as it now stands Kelly is a possibility for the Redskins, and if he is there he will most likely be their pick.  If not then it looks like Nelson is the second round backup plan for the Redskins.

So, who would be the first round pick if Kelly is not there?  That looks like it will be Phillip Merling, because he also worked out for the Redskins yesterday.

The real question is Kelly worth selecting at number 21 in the first round.  Considering how much talent he has yes.  The flip side of the coin is will he be another Terrell Owens, or Chad Johnson.  That remains to be seen, but his griping after his Pro Day workout did not help at all. 

Will they get either wide receiver remains to be seen.