Jay Cutler is officially on the move

After all the discussion. After all the meetings. After all the phone calls. The Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement on Tuesday saying that they will begin discussions with other NFL teams in regards of trading unhappy quarterback Jay Cutler. Bowlen and HC Josh McDaniels said that they have made many unsuccessful phone calls to Cutler and he has failed to contact them back. They have finally figured out that Cutler has absolutely no desire to play for the Broncos. Well now that it is finally official, the major question is where will he end up and what is the cost going to be. Are the Broncos going to require a starting quarterback in return? If so, there options will be very limited. Before Cutler was officially on the block there were a few teams interested such as Cleveland, NY Jets, and Detroit. I can't think of any reason why these teams would have changed there interest. The Bears, 49ers, and Buccaneers are also showing interest. So who is it going to be? I am sure that Bowlen will be very busy over the next few weeks and we may not see anything until Draft day, but it is almost definite that it will finally happen. So lets try to narrow it down a bit.

If the Broncos are smart they will not trade a Pro Bowl young quarterback to a team in the AFC. Remember that was a big factor in the Brett Favre trade a year ago. So that would eliminate the Jets and Browns form the list. That would leave the Bears, 49ers, Lions, and Bucs. Which of these teams has the most to offer? It reall depends on what the Broncos are expecting in return. The Bucs have a slew of average quarterbacks and the 19th overall pick so they probably do not have what it takes. The Bears have some solid defensive players and Denver has a poor defense, so maybe something could get done here and the 49ers have Alex Smith and a 10th overall pick to work with. Smith is no good and the 10th pick may not be enough. This leaves the Lions and they are so desperate for a franchise quarterback that they may be willing to give everything up for him short of Calvin Johnson. They do have the #1 overall pick and if the Broncos covet anyone at this pick they could jump all over this. Not to mention what better way to get back at your quarterback that is not willing to work out the differences and has said nothing nice about the organization since they shopped him for Matt Cassel, then to send him to the first team ever to go 0-16. Only time will tell, but it is apparent that Jay Cutler will wear a new jersey next season.

This Week in the NFL

This has been a slow and uneventful week in the NFL so there is not a lot to discuss, but I was able to gather some topics to speak about.

• Jay Cutler is still a Bronco and HC Josh McDaniels went on record as saying "Jay is our quarterback". It looks like this relationship could be patched up and Cutler could stay put, but let's wait and see if McDaniels is still saying this after the Draft.
• Tony Gonzales still wants to be traded but new GM Scott Pioli is stating otherwise. Pioli said that Gonzalez "has not requested a trade and that he has not fielded any calls requesting Tony in a trade". Tony has been requesting a trade since last season and he is aware that time is running out on him and he probably wants a crack at a title before he hangs em' up.
• Terrel Owens will not show up for voluntary workouts in Buffalo. T.O. said "I never show up for voluntary workouts, I have my own trainer." Well good for you T.O. This guy is a complete tool.
• As the Draft gets closer there is more and more speculation on that top pick for the Lions. I finally decided on Jason Smith with the #1 overall to Detroit in my mock. Mel Kiper states that the "have no choice but to draft Stafford, due to his rare arm strength". Last I looked the Lions were picking #1 so don't they have like 900 choices on who to take. And by the way Mel, you also said that Mike Williams was the best player coming out of the draft a couple years ago and we see how he turned out. With all due respect, I am going to go ahead and find a different source to tell me who should be taken and who shouldn't.
• There are still quite a few veteran free agents on the market that are looking for work. The NFL has decided to go younger and players like Orlando Pace are still available.
• The 2009 Annual Owners Meeting are going on as we speak and they have decided to change the format of the draft order based on how far a playoff team goes in the playoffs. Currently the 2 Super Bowl teams pick 31&32 and then the rest of the teams are based on record. Also NFL Commissioner is becoming very adamant about extending the regular season to 17 or 18 games. Hey Roger, you've got my vote.

This was the NFL Opinions Now week in review.

2009 Mock Draft

My 2009 NFL Mock Draft is finally here which means absolutely nothing. If I am able to get 10% of these pick correct I will be excited. So here it goes.

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford/QB/Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith/T/Baylor
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry/LB/Wake Forest
4. Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe/T/Virginia
5. Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo/DE/Texas
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Crabtree/WR/Texas Tech
7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin/WR/Missouri
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris "Beanie" Wells/RB/Ohio State
9. Green Bay Packers: Everette Brown/DE/Florida State
10. San Fransisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez/QB/Southern Cal
11. Buffalo Bills: Brian Cushing/LB/Southern Cal
12. Denver Broncos: BJ Raji/DT/Boston College
13. Washington Redskins: Aaron Maybin/LB/Penn State
14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins/CB/Ohio State
15. Houston Texans: Vontae Davis/CB/Illinois
16. San Diego Chargers: Andre Smith/T/Alabama
17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman/QB/Kansas State
18. Chicago Bears: Darrius Heyward-Bey/WR/Maryland
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tyson Jackson/DE/Louisiana State
20. Detroit Lions: Rey Maualuga/LB/Southern Cal
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenny Britt/WR/Rutgers
22. Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin/WR/Florida
23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthew/LB/Southern Cal
24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry/DT/Mississippi
25. Miami Dolphins: Louis Delmas/S/Western Michigan
26. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Pettigrew/TE/Oklahoma State
27. Indianapolis Colts: James Lauranitus/LB/Ohio State
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Oher/T/Mississippi
29. New York Giants: Knowshon Moreno/RB/Georgia
30. Tennessee Titans: Alphonso Smith/CB/Wake Forest
31. Arizona Cardinals: LeSean McCoy/RB/Pittsburgh
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eben Britton/T/Arizona

Georgia Pro Day solidifies Stafford as possible #1

On Thursday, Georgia held there pro day workout in Athens Georgia where scouts and members of all 32 NFL teams were present to watch Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Moreno was said to have a solid workout but many still rank him behind Chris Wells in running backs. Most eyes were on the #1 ranked quarterback and potential #1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft Matthew Stafford. Stafford threw a 50 pass, scripted workout and completed 45 passes. The elements were challenging with high winds and Stafford made a bold move to throw outside, but threw very well. There are many GM's very high on this kid and would love for Detroit to pass on him so they could take a crack at him. The Lions are staying pretty quiet on there plans here and I would assume that whoever they take will be signed, sealed, and delivered before the draft even begins. The fact that Martin Mayhew (Lions GM) has stated the importance of having there pick signed before the daft; this will play a huge role in there selection. Many people still believe that Stafford will be the pick and the choice is well divided amongst fans and columnists in the Detroit areas. Many are convinced that the pick will be Jason Smith out of Baylor or Eugene Monroe out of Virginia, both left tackles. Some still believe that Aaron Curry is a possibility even after the trade for Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson. We will not know anything I am sure until at least the middle of April but I expect there being many more discussions and blogs from me regarding this pick. Oh and by the way, there is still that possibility of a trade involving Jay Cutler. If that happens for the Lions then many questions will be answered on the potential #1 overall. With that said Stafford still solidified himself as a top 10 pick without any doubt on Thursday in Athens.

Number 1 Pick

As the Draft creeps closer and closer, the Detroit Lions are already getting an up and personal look at the possible candidates for the top pick. Jason Smith out of Baylor and Matthew Stafford have both visited this past week with private workouts for the Lions. While Stafford is the expected #1 overall for the Lions; Head Coach Jim Swartz is not giving up the big secret just yet. Swartz commented a bit on Stafford, "First thing, we need to see him throw-- and throw drills. We've looked at every throw he has made for the last two years". This definitely shows there interest, yet they are not letting out any real hints as to what there plan is. Well, best of luck guys. Hopefully this time you can get it right for the sake of the fans, the organization, and the NFL.

Oh T.O.! What a waste

Well here we go again, another team who quit on Terrel Owens because he is to much of a distraction. Terrel Owens is on of the greatest talents to ever play the game of football; and the biggest TOOL! If this guy would kept his mouth shut and just played the game the way he was capable he probably could have beat every record set by Jerry Rice but he spent to much time complaining and making an ass out of himself. When Owens was in San Fransisco he had issues with Jeff Garcia and he wanted out. He ended up in Philadelphia and went to a Super Bowl and then turned on his QB, Donovan McNabb and insisted that Brett Farve would be a better fit for the team. He was suspended and eventually kicked off that team. He wound up in Dallas which seemed like the perfect fit for him because he would have to overshadow multiple ego's down there. We all remember that after the playoffs in 2007, Owens stood at the podium with his (Ponch glasses from C.H.I.P.S.) on and cried "that's my quarterback, man; that's my quarterback". That quarterback was Tony Romo that he showed so much emotion for. Last season he had a closed door meeting with Jason Garrett (Dallas Offensive Coordinator) and accused Romo of developing secret plays to throw the ball to Jason Whitten and exclude Owens from the offense. This guy is a complete TOOL!

Do us all a favor T.O. and call it quits. Please retire and let us all just enjoy the game again. He is so talented and yet 29 NFL teams have already stated they are not interested. Owens will end up some where because there are teams like the Oakland Raider's who will spend the money to bring him in because Al Davis has officially lost his mind. I am putting my money on him being a Raider. T.O. could have been the best but he truly is a waste of space.

Steals or Bust?

Many NFL players have been labeled as bust and some have been labeled as steals. The questions is why are these players labeled and is it actually the player that should be labeled or the team that drafted them. When you think of a player that was a bust, who comes to mind? Players like Tony Mandarich, Ryan Leaf, Lawrence Phillips, Andre Ware, and Heath Shuler. When you think of players that have been labeled as steals you probably think of Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, and Jame Harrison. Now lets dive into this a little more. Tom Brady is considered a steal because he was a 6th round pick. Jerry Rice was a later pick that played for a small school. James Harrison was never even drafted out of Kent State and he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and made the biggest play in the Super Bowl. These guys are not steals because of how they played, but because of where they were drafted. If these players were 1st round selected players would they be viewed differently? Absolutely. Ryan Leaf was arguably the biggest bust of all times. He played in the league for a few years but because he was drafted so high by a team that thought he was going to be great he will not be considered as a player that did not make it in the NFL, but as a true bust. Trent Dilfer is considered a bust because he was also a high pick but he never really lived up to that high pick status. Dilfer played for a long time and won a Super Bowl so it is hard to consider him as a player that did not make it. If he would have been drafted in the 4th or 6th round he would be considered a player that was more successful than he should have been. He may not be considered a steal but he was still a valuable player. Players like Peyton Manning are not considered either because he was drafted #1 overall and he is a future Hall of Fame player. If Tom Brady would have been selected in the 1st round he would not be considered a steal but a great player that amounted to the expectations. Many players have entered the NFL and have not made it and it was the NFL teams that graded them as high as they did. To me a bust is a talented player that entered the NFL and wasted there talent because they forgot what playing the game meant like Terrel Owens. T.O. is one of the most talented players to ever play the game but he has tarnished his reputation because he doesn't care about the game as much as he cares about face time in the media. So I ask the question to everyone reading, who are the real busts and who are the real steals; the players or the teams that selected them when they did?

The Importance of the Number 1 Pick

As the 2009 NFL Draft vastly approaches, there is always the question of who will be taken number 1 overall. This year that decision belongs to the Detroit Lions. Every year a team is faced with a decision that could change the face of there franchise or could set the organization back many years. The question I ask today is "has there ever been a more important pick than the one that faces the Lions?" I ask this question because this is a team that is coming off the worst season in the history of the NFL; a perfect 0-16 record. This franchise has a history of bad pick after bad pick going back to guys like Andre Ware and more current picks like Charles Rogers and Mike Williams. If you know football then you know how Matt Millen has single handily destroyed this franchise. Now, I am not saying that this franchise was great before Millen arrived in 2000, but they were at least somewhat respectable (oh, the days of 9-7). Matt Millen is out and not a moment to soon. Martin Mayhew is in and coincidentally he was Millen's assistant. Since Mayhew has taken over he has made a few moves that seem to be a bright spot for this organization. He was able to get 3 picks including a 1st rounder from the Cowboys for Roy Williams, who was probably on his way out anyways. After the season he fired Rob Marinelli which had to be done and he has put together what seems to be a solid coaching staff with Jim Swartz, Gunther Cunningham, and Scott Linehan. He also brought in "Shack" Harris who has some experience as being a personnel guy in this league. There were also rumors that he tried to bring Jay Cutler over from the Broncos and even though that plan fell through (for the time being anyways) you have to give him some credit for trying. He seems to be committed to turning this thing around. Now the Lions will struggle to bring in respectable free agents due to the fact that nobody really wants to play for a team that could not even win 1 game last season. So Mayhew and his staff are faced with the biggest decision they may ever face. Who to take at number 1!

Lets look at there options.

1. Matthew Stafford/Quarterback/Georgia: Everywhere you look has Stafford going number on and becoming the face of the franchise. This is a difficult decision because if you are a Lions fan you have to think about guys like Andre Ware, and who could forget "piano boy" Joey Harrington. Now Stafford has all the tools to be a great Quarterback in this league and he has one of the best wide outs to throw to in who he called a "freak" Calvin Johnson. The fact that Mayhew made a strong push for Cutler makes me wonder if he has his doubts about Stafford; but with their history who could blame him.

2. Jason Smith/Tackle/Baylor: Jason Smith has risen to the top of the tackle board for this years draft. Andre Smith has all but played his way out of the first round with his antics over the past 2 months. There is some question about Eugen Monroe's knees and Micheal Oher's intelligence. If the Lions want to address this spot early, Jason Smith is the way to go. He has all the potential without any real baggage to go along with it. This brings me to my final option at number 1 and in my opinion the safest pick in the Draft.

3. Aaron Curry/Linebacker/Wake Forest: This kid is a complete animal and without doubt the best player in this Draft on either side of the ball. This kid will come in and start from day one and probably be a great player for many years to come. The only real question is the value of the position at number one. He did nothing at the Scouting Combines to hurt his stock and we all know Detroit needs defensive help.

With that all said you probably want to know who I think the Lions are going to take. I cannot answer that because I honestly have no idea. What I can tell you is that this pick is more important for the Lions than any Draft pick has ever been for any team. If they get it right (and history shows they probably won't) they could start there way to being a respectable team again. If they get it wrong it could set them back another 10 years and I don't think that Lions fans can take another 10 years of this mess. The only advise I can give to Mayhew, Harris, and Swartz is "choose, but choose wisely!"

The optimistic side is that the Lions were 0-16 last year so unless they add another game to the season they can't do any worse!

Free Agency in full affect.

The 2009 NFL Free Agency has opened with a bang and the Washington Redskins are up to there usual way. They started of by signing DeAngelo Hall to $54 million and Albert Haynesworth to $100 million (this is not a typo). The Redskins than turned around and signed Derrick Dockery for another $25 million. These 3 contracts also included over $70 million in guaranteed money. I am beginning to think that Daniel Snyder is a relative of the Steinbrenners. There were other big signings like Jason Brown becoming the highest paid center in the league when he inked a contract for $37 million with the Rams. That cornerback with the name that is really difficult to say (Nnamdi Asomugha) was signed by the Raiders for $45 million over 3 years prior to the free agency period starting.

I do not have a problem with these guys getting paid but I do not think there is an athlete in any profession that should make this kind of money. In the tough economic time that we are in it is a tough pill to swallow when Haynesworth in guaranteed $41 million dollars. I guess the positive of this is these guys at least have experience in the NFL. Just wait until they start shelling this kind of money out to the 2009 Draft Class.