Kiper

Again, sorry for lack of posts. Will be in full swing starting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I just saw Mel Kiper's list of prospects for 2006 NFL Draft, and I really don't think he is serious. He must be intentionally pissing particular players off whose teams he plans on betting on, namely, TROY SMITH, QB, Ohio State. Not only is he not on the board, but he has 6-7 QBs ranked ahead of him! Kyle Wright is one of them! KYLE WRIGHT!!!

Apparently, Kiper didn't watch the Notre Dame/Ohio State game, but that didn't stop him from putting Brady Quinn on top. Brady Quinn will be a decent NFL QB. He looked more confused than our President the one time he faced a tough team.

Kenny Irons of Auburn is one of his top backs. KENNY IRONS! Have you seen this guy play football? He is so average that every RB in college football has just been immensely insulted.

Here's Kiper's list from a few year's back, before the April of the upcoming draft:

1. Mike Williams (jr.), WR, USC (6-foot-5, 230 pounds)

Mike Williams won't be playing for USC this season but he's still the top prospect for 2005.
Williams is only a junior but dominated the collegiate game for two full years before his bid to join the NFL draft as a sophomore was ended by the courts and he was declared ineligible by the NCAA. Williams has made it clear he will enter the 2005 draft, and if he can stay in shape and keep his weight at or below 230 he is easily the best receiver in a group that has little in the way of imposing physical stature.

Williams likely would have been a top-10 pick last season and should be the same this year if he keeps himself in good condition. His size, strength and toughness make Williams a tremendous package who can use his body control and hands to go after the ball over smaller defenders. His two-year totals at USC - Okay, fair pick, but he did go ten.

2. Corey Webster, CB, LSU 6-0, 205)
Recorded seven interceptions and five pass breakups last season. Webster is a super blue-chip cover man who has also seen time at wide receiver during fall camp.

-Second round to the Giants, who don't have much faith. Sorry, but a non-structural knee injury in college doesn't make this guy drop from second pick, to second round.

Kiper, like everyone else, buys into the hype, and apparently he bought into the hype of the national title game. If Justin Vincent hadn't been a freshman the year LSU had won, he'd be the NUMBER ONE PLAYER ON THIS BOARD. Instead, Vincent was often third string last year.

3. Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn (5-10½, 207)
A very creative and deceptively strong runner who has few peers in terms of pure running skills. Williams does not have imposing size but can still get tough inside yards, a skill which contributed to his 1,307 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns last season. He needs to work on catching the ball out of the backfield, but that's about it.

-He's no KENNY IRONS!

4. Charlie Frye, QB, Akron (6-3½, 229)
If things play out right for Frye he could become this year's version of Ben Roethlisberger, the former Miami (OHIO) quarterback who was the 11th overall pick last season. Frye will have to get better protection this season, but his physical skills should allow him to thrive in the offense of new head coach J.D. Brookhart, the former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator. Despite being nicked up at times last year Frye still threw for 3,549 yards and 22 touchdowns while gaining another 510 yards and seven scores on the ground.

-In the NFL, and fair at best.

5. Derrick Johnson, OLB, Texas (6-3, 233)
Led the Longhorns with 125 tackles last season, including 20 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson will finish his career with over 400 total tackles and has also intercepted eight passes over the last two seasons.

-Best rookie last year.

6. Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma (5-10, 188)
Clayton set new standards for OU wide receivers last year with his 83 receptions for a 17.2-yard average and 15 touchdowns. He has a TD reception in 13 of the team's last 17 games thanks in large part to his excellent open-field running ability.

-Decent WR, who will get better.

7. Cedric Benson, RB, Texas (5-10½, 222)
Not a flashy back but one who will have more than enough yards at the end of the day. Benson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three collegiate seasons and has scored 45 rushing touchdowns over that same span.

-Good RB.

8. David Pollack, DE, Georgia (6-2½, 265)
Not physically imposing, Pollack plays with incredible intensity and passion. He is quick off the ball, has great closing speed and wreaks havoc as a pass rusher, as evidenced by his 28 quarterback pressures last season..

-Good player.

9. Alex Barron, OT, Florida State (6-7, 325)
Athletically gifted with great footwork as a pass blocker, Barron has a chance to be a top-10 overall pick.

-Underachiever.

10. Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn (6-0, 230)
Brown rushed for over 1,000 yards as a replacement for the injured Cadillac Williams in 2002, and despite getting just 446 yards last season as the backup he has the size, instincts, power and quickness to put up unbelievable numbers. Brown would be a Heisman candidate if he were the clear No. 1 on the depth chart.

-Good player.

11. Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin (6-2½, 315)
Has been as impressive in the Big Ten as former Badger Wendell Bryant, who as the 12th overall pick in 2002. Unlike Bryant, though, Hawthorne is going into the season underrated despite being an All-Big Ten selection last season after recording 20 tackles for loss.

-Not in the NFL. Drafted by Raiders in 7th round.

12. Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami (6-0½, 200)
Rolle has consistently proven his mettle against the top wideouts in the country. A perfect example of that came last year when he shut down former Pittsburgh wideout and eventual No. 3 overall draft pick Larry Fitzgerald.

-In Zona, so know one really knows...

13. Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan (6-0½, 202)
A versatile performer who played safety last season but has switched back to corner. Jackson has great size and top-notch athletic ability to go with that experience.

-Decent CB, late first round pick by Colts. GOt beat a lot in college.

14. Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma (6-4, 265)
Cody increased his tackle total from 16 in 2002 to 43 last year, his TFL from five to 17 and his sacks from three to 10.

-Oversized, slowish LB drafted in 2nd round by Ravens.

15. Marcus Spears, DE, LSU (6-4¼, 293)
A former high school star at both tight end and defensive end, Spears responded big-time last season to the challenge of playing in Nick Saban's defensive system. Spears had 49 tackles, including 13 for lost yardage and six sacks.

-Actually nailed this one.

16. Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan (6-2½, 210)
Came on late last year and could be one of the most feared offensive weapons in the Big Ten this year thanks to his combination of size and athleticism. Edwards will drop a catchable ball every now and then, but overall he just about has it all.

-Top WR taken.

17. Ben Wilkerson, C, LSU (6-3½, 296)
A smart, hard-working player who is strong in both the upper and lower body. Wilkerson has great technique and is also LSU's deep snapper.

-I believe drafted this year, and late.

18. DeMarcus Ware, DE, Troy (6-4, 235)
Last year Ware had 16 TFL and 32 quarterback hurries even a schedule that included Kansas State, Minnesota, Marshall, Nebraska and Virginia. He will have a chance to prove himself against top competition again this year as Marshall, Missouri, South Carolina and LSU are all on the schedule.

-Good player.

19. Charles Frederick, WR, Washington (5-10½, 189)
A tremendous double threat, Frederick is a blue-chip punt returner who averaged 11.7 per return last season to lead the nation. He also caught 59 passes last year as the No. 2 receiver behind Reggie Williams but will be the go-to guy this year.

-Average player. Don't know where he is.

20. Walter Reyes, RB, Syracuse (5-9½, 207)
Reyes has great balance in traffic and can pick up significant yards after initial contact. He rushed for 1,347 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

-Known solely as Maurice Clarett's cousin. Non-factor.

21. Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut (6-4½, 230)
Orlovsky is blessed with ideal size and has a strong arm that can light opponents up despite a delivery that lacks ideal quickness. Still, Orlovsky passed for 3,485 yards and 33 TDs last season and should get plenty more attention this year.

-Backup QB.

22. Shaun Cody, DL, USC (6-4, 288)
Could see time at both end and tackle this season after a 2003 season that included six sacks, 10½ TFL and three blocked field goals.

-Second round, Lions.

23. Lance Mitchell, ILB, Oklahoma (6-2¼, 244)
Mitchell left a big hole in the OU lineup after injuring his knee in the third game of the year and sitting out the remainder of the schedule. He back and healthy, hoping to revert to his 2002 form when he had 124 tackles and 19 tackles for loss.

-Got hurt, never recovered.

24. Terrence Murphy, WR, Texas A&M (6-0½, 193)
A former high school quarterback who is extremely versatile. Murphy hauled in 44 balls last year for an average of 17.3 yards per catch, and also averaged 27.2 yards on 23 kickoff returns.

-Yo!!! Nowhere near first round talent.

25. James Butler, S, Georgia Tech (6-2, 210)
One of the most improved players in the nation last season, Butler had 119 total tackles and five interceptions from his free safety spot.

-On the Giants, decent player.

Okay, so that's fine, he's allowed to be wrong. I'm wrong all the time. But the thing of it is, it's not my ONLY JOB TO GET IT RIGHT! He has so many scrubs on this list it's scary.

Here are a list of players who went in this draft who he doesn't have on his "Big Board":

Lets start with, oh, I don't know, the NUMBER ONE OVERALL PICK, ALEX SMITH, UTAH! The number one pick, not on his board. Fair enough, I didn't know much about Smith, but then again, it's not MY JOB TOO KNOW!

Adam "Pacman" Jones, top CB taken, not on list.
Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn, not on list.
Shawn Merriman, Maryland, not on list.
Jamal Brown, OT, Oklahoma, not on list.
Thomas Davis, LB/SS, Georgia, not on list.
Travis Johnson, DE, FSU, not on list.
Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska, not on list.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal, not on list.
Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn, not on list.
Chris Spencer, C, NC State, not on list.
Roddy White, WR, Ala-Birm, not on list.
Luis Castillo, DT, Northwestern, not on list.
Heath Miller, TE, Virginia, not on list.
Mike Patterson, DT, USC, not on list.

Okay, it'd be one thing to not get Roddy White, but he did get Terrance Murphy! Point being, he pretends to know about the obscure, when he doesn't really get that part correct. The rest of these players are from MAJOR schools. Nebraska, Oklahoma, Auburn, Georgia, Virginia, USC, not exactly the minor schools, and yet, he gets it wrong.

In the end, this guy doesn't know dick about shit. He repeats what he hears, and probably does minimal work watching games. Even if he does maximum work, how much time can he really have? What does he know? Did he ever play football? Does he have journalism skills like John Clayton? I just don't get it, why ESPN has made this guy the "guru." Get me a former player, or former scouts, or someone with a clue.

In the end, this guy made his name by telling Colts owner Jim Irsay that he's an idiot for not taking Trent Dilfer. Trent Dilfer. Oh, my bad, he's a Superbowl Champion...riiiiight.

ESPN should stop paying this guy because no one buys his garbage.

Come this time next year his current list will be as clueless as the rest of his lists. And I assure you, Troy Smith will be in the Top 10 in the NFL Draft, and Drew Stanton will not be. Tyrone Moss and Michael Hart will be ahead of Kenny Irons, as will Adrian Peterson. These are facts.

Then Who?

If Larry Brown can't coach the Knicks, who can? Rumors swirl that the one time college and professional title holder is getting axed. It makes complete sense for if there's a bad decision to made James Dolan and Isiah Thomas will join forces and make it.

There are a lot of people who can coach the Knicks, I assure you. All one needs to do is show up at the EA Sports Basketball Challenge and find the kid who can run the perfect offense. Seriously, this team is unchallenged when it comes to the digital world. Talent top to bottom. You can hold down the energy button with Marbury for an entire quarter, then bring in Francis to keep it going. You've got Q, and Crawford, and Curry raining monster dunks. James blocking shots left and right. Mo Taylor crashing the boards. This team is LOADED! If you can master the "steal" move you may go undefeated over an entire 82 game season.

They're THAT TALENTED!!!

And scarily enough, that's how Dolan and Isiah view this team. They see talent. They see big names. They see one on one ball players who can break down any defender. Isiah sees players with more physical ability than himself, Dumars and Vinnie Johnson, and believes it can work. What these morons fail to realize is NONE of these guys understand the concept of team basketball, or defense.

Just think about who these players are for a minute.

First we have Marbury, a guy who was the most heralded high school baller since Kenny Anderson, and who left college after one season. He never learned how to play team ball, even with his great court sense, and talent. He believes only he can win the game because no one on his team ever had more game than he has. Except in Minnesota, where Garnett did. It sorta worked. In New York, the place he was told time and time again that he's a God, it never worked. Never will.

Then we have Steve Francis, a guy who I believe is better than Marbury, and could actually learn to play team ball (even with a name like 'Franchise'). However, when he's fighting for minutes, and the ball, he's going to shoot, shoot, shoot. He actually could be good on the Knicks, but certainly not with Marbury. And certainly not with Larry Brown leaving after one season, to be replaced with a new coach. Francis NEEDS Brown, the same way Rasheed Wallace and Chauncy Billups did.

Next we have another guy who never saw a basket he couldn't make: Jamal Crawford. The same Crawford axed by the Bulls so they could get two great, well rounded guards, who were not thrown of their college squad, and actually played more than one season of college ball. Crawford, another guy who had always been told he's the best, and has never played team ball on a competitive level over an extended period of time. In his defense, he did seem to be getting better, working harder, and playing defense. He should stay, and Larry Brown should be his coach. He and Francis could be a great back court. Both have quick feet, and hands, and good enough size. Both can shoot, and pass as well.

Can't forget Quentin Richardson. Like Marbury, he was a God in Chicago, playing ball while in high school with Michael Jordan. He too didn't last long at Depaul; gone after two.

While at Depaul Q realized he wasn't that great. And that he better get out while his name still carried some weight because his stock was slipping. Also, while at Depaul, he played no defense, and thought he was the best player on his team. Funny thing is, there were at least two players on his team better than him, who suffered because Q couldn't give up the rock. Why should he, he was God. He sucks. But as a role player, under Larry Brown for a year or two, he could actually be very effective. Too bad it won't happen. In the end, he was just a shitty signing, but now that he's here, get the right coac...oh, wait, they did...

Don't think I'm going to leave out Eddy Curry. Wow, Eddy Curry. A man who...wait, a child whose name is one "d" greater than the Ice Cream company whose product he must devour. That guy does not hustle one bit. He's never had to. Like some of the players mentioned previously, he has never, ever, ever been challenged growing up, and didn't even see a college gym. He never had to learn team basketball. There are players in the league who didn't attend college, and have excelled, like Kobe, Lebron, and Jermaine O'Neal, but they're freaks. Wait, but isn't Curry a freak physically? Actually, yeah, he is, but he's so unmotivated because there are no guards on the team that no how to feed him the ball. There's no player on the perimeter who also serves as a defacto coach, who shows him what to do. The way Mark Jackson did for years in the Garden, and around the league.

Often times Curry starts the game out strong. The moment they start losing, the ball stops showing up inside, and he just gives up. He averages, I'm guessing, 5.5. rebounds a game. That's ATROCIOUS. If Ron Artest was a Knick, instead of Fred Weiss, whose claim to fame was eating Vince Carter's Olympic Sized Balls, Curry would be better. He'd have one player on the floor, at least, that's relentless. Curry ia a child, and needs mature veteran players to help him. Unfortunately, the two they have are rookies who eat up his minutes.

In the end, Curry has never understood team ball, and Coach Brown is one of the few coaches that can get his players to play it. It was not going to happen overnight, that's for sure. Now it looks as if it won't happen at all. Ridiculous.

Beyond these players, the Knicks did find some steals in the draft. Nate Robinson is talented and relentless, and both David Lee and Channing Frye (Frye to my surprise) look like really good players. All these players were in college for 4 years, and all look good. Coincidence? I think not. But why in the world did the Knicks go after fundamentally sound college guys when they've been dumping money in the pit the last few years? Did someone have a lobotomy before the draft, and decide to go after completely different players then they'd been buying? Makes no sense. But then again, it's the Knicks, and that's the point.

Firing Larry Brown makes sense only if the Knicks want to continue to suck. If they want to improve, and take some lumps along the way, this guy should be around for at least 2 more seasons. The GM, especially one like Thomas, should have no say in how the team is run while a guy like this is coach. Brown has a better track record in managing a team than Isiah will ever have. But this is all a dream that will not happen. The Knicks will unload Larry, keep Isiah, get some weak coach who doesn't understand team ball, and who will continue to lose with the talent that's there. One day, if they're lucky, they'll sign some superstar who's just so good he'll propel the team to victory. Right now that's a long way off.

There's not a coach in the league who could mold these morons into a championship team. But if I had to pick one guy who might be able to do it, I'd take the guy who turned some of the leagues biggest headcases, and underachievers, into champions.

Help This Guy

PLEASE