Running Blog Of The 2010 NFL Draft — Round One

Sam Bradford is pretty much a lock at No. 1. The picks behind him, however, could go a lot of different ways

Are you as sick as I am of all these pre-draft rumors?

Are the Redskins going to try to trade up for Sam Bradford? Or will they take Eric Berry instead of one of the two offensive tackles who would fill a more-pressing team need?

Will the Dolphins trade the No. 12 pick? Or do they care what Jennifer Lopez wants?

Is Jimmy Clausen going to the Vikings?

Are the Giants really that interested in C.J. Spiller? (I hope not)

Is Terrence Cody’s agent hinting that his client will be a Jet?

Which current pros will be traded? Darren McFadden? Albert Haynesworth? Ben Roethlisberger?

And what about Bryant? And McCoy? And Tebow?

AND WHAT THE FUCK ARE THE RAIDERS GOING TO DO?!

Seriously, it makes my ears bleed. Luckily, the NFL is ready to eliminate the questions and give us some answers. Here’s a running blog of tonight’s activity at Radio City Music Hall.

4:15 p.m. Jeez, how much initial pressure does the NFL want to on these kids? The spectacle that is the draft now contains an introduction of some of the NFL’s greatest players … and then they introduce the players who will be sitting in the green room to come stand out with the Hall of Famers? No pressure, guys. We just want you to stand next to Jim Brown, Joe Montana and Lawrence Taylor for a huge photo op. Then, when some of you flame out in five years, we’ll all ask, “What the hell is that scrub doing in there?”

4:18 p.m. And I hate the idea of expanding the crowd of draftees inside Radio City. I understand that ESPN wants to be able to show some players who are actually at the draft on day 2, but for those like Brandon Ghee and Rob Gronkowski, it’s going to be a long night of you just sitting there and hearing a bunch of other names called, players who teams think they are better than you.

4:21 p.m. Drew Brees is on the Madden cover. Stupid superstition, whatever. His fantasy stock just dropped about half a round on my cheat sheet.

4:22 p.m. The one thing I pray for in this draft but I’m sure it won’t come true: Chris Berman, Chris Mortensen and whomever is on that ESPN desk, please don’t drop these obvious hints of who the choice is going to be right before the official announcement. I know you think it’s cute and it makes it look like you can play Nostradamus with such an unpredictable event, but we all know that your sources tell you the pick before Roger Goodell gets the podium, and that ruins the surprise for the viewers. It’s like seeing a highly anticipated movie with someone who saw a screening last week and basically narrates each scene as it happens. It’s freaking annoying.

4:27 p.m. No matter if Sam Bradford still hasn’t heard from the Rams, he’ll be the No. 1 pick without hestiation.

4:28 p.m. As a fan, I am hoping against the odds that Rolando McClain falls to the Giants at 15. I know it’s unlikely, but he would be a tremendous addition to a defense that quit late last season. If not him, I would like to see Derrick Morgan or Mike Iupati go to the Giants.

4:30 p.m. They have been for the past four months, but now the Rams are OFFICIALLY on the clock!

4:33 p.m. For the love of God and time, Goodell! Stop with the speech and let’s go! It’s not like this is going to be a quick evening!!!

4:36 p.m. Oh, there’s that phone call for Bradford. I wonder who’s on the other end. Yes, I wonder.

4:37 p.m. HEY, WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT! IT WAS THE RAMS ON THE OTHER END! The Rams take Bradford at No. 1. They had to. I disagree that they would have liked to trade down. I believe he is clearly the best QB in this draft and they have to have one.

4:40 p.m. To that guy holding the “I am Iron Sam” sign in the crowd: I’m pretty sure Ironman doesn’t dislocate his shoulder every time someone hits him. Just because it rhymes doesn’t mean it makes sense. And Sam Bradford certainly isn’t made out of iron. Maybe it’s more of a wicker.

4:42 p.m. “Suh on the phone, we’ll see what that means,” says Berman. Uh, maybe he’s ordering a pizza? I think we know what it means. To those who have made the argument that McCoy will be better than Suh, you’re certifiably crazy.

4:44 p.m. The Lions take Suh and it’s the right pick. Gerald McCoy falls into the Bucs’ lap and he’s the obvious lock at No. 3.

4:45 p.m. Granted, the Bucs have about as many problems on defense as the Cubs do with roster construction and I wouldn’t blame them for going with Eric Berry here, but McCoy looks like the pick that everyone expects.

4:48 p.m. McCoy on the phone. That takes care of that. Get Goodell to that podium!

4:50 p.m. That is a mighty fine look McCoy has got going there. I’m a sucker for red and black threads.

4:51 p.m. McCoy crying, gotta love it. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to go play for Tampa Bay.

4:53 p.m. OK, NOW … this gets interesting. The Redskins don’t have a pick past this until the fourth round, so they could certainly trade down. They could take the offensive tackle with the most upside, Trent Williams. But I think they have to go with Russell Okung.

4:55 p.m. Okung may not be a spicy pick, but it’s the surest choice at this point. Okung doesn’t have Williams’ upside, but he’s tremendously solid. Obviously, the ‘Skins need someone to guard Donovan McNabb’s blind side.

4:58 p.m. Oh yes, those running backs. Clinton Portis, Willie Parker and Larry Johnson. The Redskins are going to need five All-Pro O-linemen to open up holes for those broken-down backs.

4:59 p.m. Did Goodell just drop the “Silverback” when announcing Trent Williams? He must be in with Williams’ posse. Or he wants in now.

5:01 p.m. So, Russell Okung falls to the Chiefs at No. 5. He has to be the pick here. The Chiefs need offensive line help just as much as the Redskins.

5:02 p.m. Certainly, Trent Williams has more athleticism than Okung, but there are questions about his maturity, work ethic and all of those critical factors that teams are wary of. Well, other than the Raiders and Bengals.

5:03 p.m. That’s it. If Roger Goodell can give “Silverback” to Williams, we now need nicknames for ever player. The commish can’t play favorites.

5:05 p.m. We come back from break with Eric Berry: “I’m gonna be a Chief, baby!” So, I guess he’s going to the Chiefs, right?

5:07 p.m. The Chiefs select Eric “Hawkeye” Berry from Tennessee. I think Berry is going to have the most impact of any defensive player in this draft. He is out of this world.

5:08 p.m. Taylor Mays is unimpressed with Berry’s hitting ability. But Berry outclasses him in agility and coverage ability.

5:12 p.m. The Seahawks may be able to get Spiller at pick No. 14. But if he’s not there, they can go with Ryan Matthews or any of the many backs in the second round. Russell Okung is a great value here and a solid, solid, solid tackle. He has to go here. HAS TO GO.

Solid.

5:14 p.m. Well, no matter what Jon Gruden thinks, I don’t see a phone in Spiller’s hands. And I see Okung on the phone right now. It’s a lot easier to look smart if you just look at the video.

5:15 p.m. The Seahawks take Russell “The Muscle” Okung. Great value for the Seahawks here. They have to be happy with that pick.

5:17 p.m. Now, I’m not sure what the Browns will do here. And I have a feeling I’ll be stressing that sentence with italics at the next pick.

5:19 p.m. Look at McShay work that board like a pimp.

5:20 p.m. If it’s really come down to Haden or Kyle Wilson for the Browns, they’ve got to go with Haden. Wilson is a top-20 talent, but Haden could start right away and become a great corner.

5:22 p.m. Oh, we’ve got another cryer/spoiler alert with Haden. I love how Kiper keeps talking about possible picks and Berman keeps saying “if.” LOOK AT THE TAPE!

5:23 p.m. The Browns take Joe “wide receivers be hatin” Haden.

5:25 p.m. Man, I can’t wait for all of these obvious top-15 picks to clear out of the backstage area. Leave some suspense to these picks.

5:25 p.m. And now comes the Raiders. Al Davis can’t wait to see who his favorite team picks.

5:27 p.m. The players available here that the Raiders could take: Clausen, Pierre-Paul, Bruce Campbell, Dez Bryant. You know they love the flashy names and athleticism.

5:29 p.m. Go screw yourself, Al Davis. The Raiders pick Rolando “Yippee Kay Yay, Mother Fucker” McClain.

5:30 p.m. This is unexpected, but it’s the Raiders, so it’s expected. Unfortunately, this team has so much more needs at that spot.

5:31 p.m. OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The Buffalo Bills select C.J. “Bye, Bye, Marshawn” Spiller!!

5:32 p.m. Things are happening so fast, I can’t type that quickly. McClain, I love. But the Raiders should have addressed their offensive line there. He is a great player, but the Raiders already have good linebackers.

5:33 p.m. C.J. Spiller gives the Bills a lot of options out of the backfield with two guys who are small and fast and can catch passes. There are going to be a lot of exciting plays for Buffalo this year, but will there be any holes for this team to sustain a constant running game.

5:35 p.m. I sincerely thought that the Raiders would take Anthony Davis, if they were smart. And that if they didn’t, the Bills would. Both teams have horrible offensive lines. But now, this really opens up the draft because two players who weren’t expected to go this high are off the board and there will be some great value in these mid-round picks.

5:37 p.m. The Jacksonville Jaguars select Tyson “Who?! WHAT!!!” Alualu.

5:39 p.m. The Jags definitely needed a warm body on defense, but if they wanted a defensive tackle, Dan Williams is still on the board. Hell, what about Earl Thomas? Or Derrick Morgan?

5:41 p.m. San Francisco trades a fourth-rounder to move up two spots, from No. 12 to 11.

Is this Jimmy Clausen? I wouldn’t be surprised.

5:44 p.m. Well, it’s not Clausen. It’s Anthony “Huge Value!” Davis.

5:45 p.m. And there is Davis manhandling players from UCF. Obviously, that means he’s NFL ready.

Davis is a tremendous value at this point. He should have gone in the top-10, probably at No. 8 to the Raiders.

5:46 p.m. The Chargers traded up from No. 28 to 12. I don’t know what they gave up, but obviously they were spooked by how quickly C.J. Spiller went off the board. They are not messing around. They want to get that running back, which should mean Ryan Mathews from Fresno St.

Now if only Tom Jackson knew who he was.

5:47 p.m. Mathews was a late-first round projection, but the Chargers aren’t going to risk someone else picking him up and having to reach for Mount Cody at No. 28.

5:50 p.m. The Chargers take Ryan “Tomlinson” Mathews. OK, obviously not, but they needed a big back and while this is a little too early for Mathews, the Chargers really covet him. I am fine with the selection.

5:53 p.m. The Broncos don’t want to draft. More time! We need more time! They trade the pick they got from the trade with San Fran and deal it to the Eagles. Phily moves up from 24 to 12 and it sounds like it is going to be Earl Thomas, another guy who should have been gone in the top-10.

5:56 p.m. With everything that’s been going on, with the trades and such, it’s amazing how quickly this draft is proceeding.

5:57 p.m. The Eagles select Brandon “My Name Ain’t Earl Thomas, Yo!” Graham. Wow. This is stunning. Adam Schefter is embarrassed. He had us all following his Earl Thomas party. And then the rug got pulled out.

5:59 p.m. I’m just saying this: If Earl Thomas falls to the Giants at No. 15, I don’t care that they already signed Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant, they are taking that safety!

Or at least they should.

6:01 p.m. Dan Williams and Bryan Bulaga have to be bumming somewhere.

6:02 p.m. Graham fits Phily’s attacking style defense, but they really needed someone in that back four. They would love to see someone like Kareem Jackson still available in the second round.

6:04 p.m. Did Tom Jackson just say that the Seahawks should take Jahvid Best here? Hahahaha! Yes, let’s team Justin Forsett and with another small back. That’ll work. Hey, it worked for Cal.

Pointless.

6:05 p.m. The Seahawks take Earl “Finally!” Thomas. Such a no-brainer.

6:07 p.m. With the Giants, I love Derrick Morgan. I would think he is the first choice, but I don’t think they expected Dan Williams to still be here so late.

6:10 p.m. HEY, GUYS!! WHO THE HELL IS COVERING JIMMY CLAUSEN? THANKS!!!

6:11 p.m. Why would the Steelers draft Clausen? They have Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon.

I’m serious. They can’t trade Big Ben, they aren’t taking a QB.

6:12 p.m. Back to the Giants, I am going with Derrick Morgan. I wouldn’t mind Dan Williams.

6:13 p.m. The Giants select … I don’t even want to say it … Jason Pierre-Paul. Dammit.

6:14 p.m. Yeah, he’s athletic and all, but I hate this pick. I think Pierre-Paul will be a bust. He is so raw, wasn’t that productive and didn’t play more than one year at D-1. This is an Al Davis pick. Blinded by athleticism. Blinded by a bunch of back flips. Not to mention that people also question his maturity and mental mindset and commitment toward the game. He could be great, but there were more proven studs on the boards. Do. Not. Like.

6:18 p.m. No matter how much Osi Umenyiora mouths off, the Giants would really be in a lot of trouble at defensive end if they traded him and thought that Pierre-Paul will take his spot on the field.

6:20 p.m. The Titans select Derrick “Not Dexter” Morgan. I would also expect “Derrick “One Pick Too Late” Morgan.

6:22 p.m. Morgan can play against the run and pass. He can be productive in a lot of phases on the field and he’s ready to play now. You can’t say that about JPP.

OK, I’ll stop my bitterness toward him.

6:25 p.m. The Niners select Mike “Boise = Football Factory” Iupati. Wow, the 49ers are really making a move on that line. Now they’ve got Staley, Anthony Davis at tackle and Iupati at guard! That has the makings of a great line.

6:28 p.m. Are the Steelers drafting that kid? He could play offensive tackle.

6:29 p.m. Maurkice Pouncey is an obvious pick for the Steelers. They want to run the ball more in 2010 and he can play center and guard. It would be great if Mike Pouncey showed up at the Steelers’ headquarters instead.

6:30 p.m. Joe West would love this draft. It is streaming quickly along. The Falcons’ pick is already in.

6:32 p.m. The Falcons select Sean “Silky” Weatherspoon. Why silky. No reason. Just popped into the head.

It’s a bit of a reach, but the Falcons desperately needed a defensive end or a linebacker

6:35 p.m. On its way to commercial, that girl just said the draft’s top three quarterbacks are still on the board: Clausen, Tebow and McCoy. Yeah, remember that stunning reach the Rams made with the No. 1 pick Bradford. He didn’t belong  with that group.

6:37 p.m. Kareem Jackson makes up for the loss of Dunta Robinson. Or at least he will try to.

6:38 p.m. Did no one really know that the Texans led the league in passing? Really?! Pay attention to the game! Everyone knew it, Boomer. Don’t overlook The Schaub.

6:39 p.m. Well, at least Clausen has Erin Andrews to keep him company. That’s a nice way to get your mind off of things.

6:40 p.m. Go fuck yourself, Steve Young! Seriously, get off the stage. You want to look so smart by dropping “How about someone to help out Carson Palmer? How about a tight end?” right before the damn pick, but we all know you knew about it a minute ago. Just stop flattering yourself! Anyway, the Broncos pick Jermaine “No Knees” Gresham.

6:45 p.m. Whoa! The Broncos step up to No. 22 to draft a wide receiver and I thought it would be Bryant. But what a slap in the face of Bryant to take Demaryius Thomas.

6:47 p.m. It’s not a matter of being stunned that Thomas went at No. 22, but it’s that he went before Bryant. It’s obvious that Josh McDaniels didn’t want to replace Brandon Marshall with another Brandon Marshall, off-the-field concerns and all. Although, Bryant has no idea why everyone is worried about him. That whole being late for games thing might be it.

6:49 p.m. Did Adam Schefter get that jacket out of Craig Sager’s closet?

6:50 p.m. What’s not to understand about the Marshall trade? He didn’t want to be there, for a number of reason. And McDaniels was sick of dealing with his bitching. He had to go. I don’t know what Steve Young is missing.

6:51 p.m. Central Florida reference by Gruden! Woot, woot!

6:52 p.m. The Packers select Bryan “My Name Sounds Like A Whale” Bulaga. Not like the Packers needed offensive line help or anything. I mean, Aaron Rodgers left deep imprints on nine different fields last year.

6:54 p.m. I took part in a mock last night and Bulaga went fifth to the Chiefs. That was a little high for me, but 23rd is way too late. AKA, great value.

6:56 p.m. The Patriots could use a WR. Dez Bryant might work here, but I think they would rather go with defense. Maybe Sergio Kindle, defensive end.

6:58 p.m. Dallas has traded up. It has to be Bryant here.

6:59 p.m. Update: Bryant is the pick. Nice job by Young to stop his analysis of Roy Williams and mid-sentence and move right over to Randy Moss. Great stuff.

7:01 p.m. The Cowboys select Dez “Burning DBs” Bryant. As a Giant fan, it’s going to suck watching him burn their DBs all day soon.

So much for this.

7:02 p.m. AUSTIN MILES!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME YOUNG STEVE!!! JUST GO HOME.

7:04 p.m. He said it twice to, which makes it hilarious.

7:05 p.m.

Oh, Jesus! TIM TEBOW!!!

7:06 p.m. Josh McDaniels is all about character, work ethic, leadership … and not drafting smart. This is unbelievable. What a fucking draft, kids.

7:07 p.m. Colt McCoy just hung himself. Jimmy Clausen just asked Erin Andrews for a private moment in the back room.

7:10 p.m. All of these guys, Gruden, Jackson, Young, want to talk about how great of a guy Tebow is. But, there is one problem.

TIM TEBOW IS NOT A GOOD NFL QUARTERBACK AND HE NEVER WILL BE!

7:13 p.m. No God references yet. Impressed. I thought he would answer “God” when Schaap asked who he talked to on the phone.

7:14 p.m. People who think Tim Tebow is going to prove his worth as a first-round pick are looking through rose-colored glasses. Everybody wants to think he will succeed because he’s a great guy. Because really nice guys are great at beating blitzes.

7:16 p.m. And with all of their holes on defense, this is even a more stupid pick.

7:16 p.m. I ask this seriously: Is Steve Young drunk? Who is Arrelius Thomas? He said it, not me.

7:17 p.m. Dan “My Ass Is Sore From Waiting” Williams goes to the Cardinals. That is awesome. Since the team lost so many people on defense, they had to get a defensive guy here and that is a great, great pick.

7:20 p.m. Now moving on to the Patriots at No. 27 who always like to surprise us. How about Kyle Wilson? Or Taylor Mays?? They need help all over that defense.

7:23 p.m. Hahaha! Steve Young “guesses” wrong! Love it. The Patriots take Devin McCourty. This is all about the Patriots getting someone to cover and to stop Peyton Manning. Belichick is sick of getting torched by him.

7:26 p.m. Dolphins still have the likes of Jerry Hughes or Everson Griffin around. Sergio Kindle would be a nice add as well.

7:30 p.m. The Miami Dolphins select Jered Odrick. They needed a defensive end or tackle, certainly, to help out Karlos Dansby behind him. A couple of my friends may be disappointed with the pick because it’s not a sexy name, but this is a solid pick.

7:32 p.m. It’s a shame that the Jets don’t make moves like these anymore. They want to be all smart and shit, ruining the fun for the rest of us.

7:33 p.m. Odrick is a guy who could have gone to the Jets, but with him gone, I am actually going to agree with Steve Young (pray for me) and say that Kindle is the right guy here.

7:37 p.m. Kyle Wilson, Antonio Cromartie, Darrelle Revis … Hahahahaha. That’s going to be nuts.

7:39 p.m. There was a report today that the Vikings wouldn’t draft a QB here. It makes a some sense, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

7:41 p.m. Watching Tom Jackson and Steve Young argue is a circus.

7:42 p.m. I think they don’t take Jimmy Clausen and try to help out that offensive line somewhat.

7:43 p.m. Steve Young is just naming players now. If he names enough, he’ll be right sooner or later.

7:44 p.m. VIKINGS TRADE NO. 30 PICK TO LIONS! Whoa, what is this now??

7:45 p.m. I would guess running back, maybe. Kevin Smith is all banged up and they have no one behind him. But the Lions have a lot of places to help.

7:46 p.m. Yep, looks like Jahvid Best.

7:47 p.m. The Lions select Jahvid Best. Yes, the Lions are finally the Best!

7:48 p.m. I feel bad for Kevin Smith, FROM?

… UCF …

… but he is coming off a torn ACL and is not a speedy back. With so many teams going to two-back backfield, maybe he becomes the power back and Best becomes the second-string game-breaker. Best is certainly not big enough for more than 20 touches per game.

7:49 p.m. That’s big gain for the Lions. But I do feel bad for 24K.

7:53 p.m. C’mon, guys. How long does it take? We’re almost at the end.

7:54 p.m. No one in the crowd is excited by Jerry Hughes, but he is great for the Colts. It’s another edge rusher for that team, across from Freeney. It’s a really good pick.

7:56 p.m. Erin Andrews better find a hotel near Jimmy Clausen’s house, because I don’t think the Saints need a quarterback here.

7:57 p.m. Drew Brees is going to announce the decision, so unlike every other player on every other team, he has no choice but to agree with the pick because his immediate reaction will be aired nationwide.

7:57 p.m. Drew Brees is on the cover of Madden ’11. Seriously, I will drop him a few spots on my fantasy cheat sheet. I do believe in that curse. The track record speaks for itself.

7:59 p.m. Three-and-a-half hours for the first round. Not bad. Good pace, good pace.

8:01 p.m. But maybe the Saints don’t re-sign Sharper. How about Taylor Mays? Probably not, but I so want it to be true.

8:02 p.m. This night won’t be a success for Steve Young if Sergio Kindle goes unpicked. Of course, from the way he’s been talking, he probably won’t remember this night anyway.

8:03 p.m. The Saints draft Drew Brees! I mean, Patrick Robinson! I like Brees more.

8:04 p.m. Patrick Robinson has Deion’s number. If only …

8:05 p.m. Well, there are a lot of attractive/interesting players ready for tomorrow. Clausen, Mays, Cody, McCoy, Kindle, Campbell, etc. I won’t be here as I am going to a baseball game tomorrow night, but it should be another fun night.

8:07 p.m. Thanks for following along during a compelling first round. And to Steve Young, call a cab. Please.