Another year, another crazy draft. This time out, the Black Hole decided to move to a keeper format (5 keepers after this year) so different strategy would certainly have to be employed. Right? Um, sorta.If you mean drafting the 33 year old Terrell Owens at the top of the second round, ahead of youngsters like Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, and any other wide receiver. And that was hardly the most shocking pick of the night. How about QB Drew Brees seeing himself picked at number six? Before many a top running back and a full round before Carson Palmer or Tom Brady?
First, let's welcome our newest owner, Eric A, who replaces our champion from 2006, Marcus, who had too much Ohana to take care of. Eric's a true native San Diegan and he'll bring his wealth of experience (sadly, no free Fins tacos anymore) with him to the league. So let's do a quick recap of the 2007 draft.
The luckiest man alive, the man, the legend, the El Nino himself, was asleep as Yahoo auto-selected the top pick for him. Hong quickly snatched up LaDainian Tomlinson, last year's record setting MVP. Without much thought, Lum and Jon followed up with two top NFC West running backs (S Jackson and F Gore). It's tough to argue with Peyton Manning and Larry Johnson next but then we came to the Razor Ramon's, who proved that they are truly el loco -- or just an insane genius -- as they handed in the draft card with Drew Brees' name on it. After that, the draft got wild.
TO at the top of the second round. Antonio Gates at the bottom, before T Holt, S Smith, L Fitzgerald, M Harrison, C Johnson, and R Wayne. This prognosticator quibbles with Marvin Harrison (age 34) before Reggie Wayne (28) but it's hard to argue with the fine wine of wide receivers. Gene straight stealing Hong's favorite QB of all time, Donovan McNabb, in the third round. Hong apparently attempts to rebuild the same team year after year -- where's Tiki? -- and re-acquired Marques Colston and Eli Manning in Rounds 4 & 5, not to mention Robbie Gould in Round 11. Where's Carney?Galvez and Lum, the two savvy veterans, took advantage of a chaotic draft to assemble pretty strong rosters. Lum snatched up three top QBs (Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Jay Cutler) before anyone could even blink. Seems like being on the losing end of the disastrous Steve Smith for Rex Grossman trade late last year showed Chris the importance of having a steady hand in the backfield. And of not bending over around Gene. Lum's assembled a very strong team and looks like our pre-season favorite. Galvez was also very focused and took two Matt's (Hassellbeck and Leinart) along with three Larry's (Johnson, Maroney, Fitzgerald) before ruining the whole theme by drafting a few Plaxicos, Willis', Vincents, JPs, Tatums, and Muhsins. His best pick might have been drafting Chargers' kicker Nate Kaeding, thus ruining the dreams of many an owner.
How did those crazy Fobsters do? They went old in the running back department with Shaun Alexander and Brian Westbrook. Outside of second QB Philip Rivers and rookie WR Calvin Johnson, this team is a bit long in the tooth. Marc Bulger, Chad Johnson, and Hines Ward are in their primes but how long can that last? And Isaac Bruce? Stupid smart or creaky as hell? Jimmy's the defending champion so we'll say it's stupid smart, for now...
Jon did the usual, laugh with giddy delight while assembling a team that seems great on paper, but will be destined to lose to Gene in the playoffs. The Duke of Hazzard is now a babysRus machine so we're not sure what he was thinking taking TO so high. However, a mix of old (TO, McNabb, Chambers) and new (Willie Parker, Cedric Benson, Alex Smith, Rudi Johnson, Reggie Wayne) could provide a formula for success. Jon went deep with five RBs (Gore, Bush, DeAngelo Williams, Carnell Williams, Brandon Jacobs) and a plethora of quality WRs (Holt, Houshmandzadeh, Boldin, L Evans, Driver) but seem to be short at QB again with only Vince Young, Brett Favre, and Jon Kitna.How'd the new, but Old, English do? Eric-A seems to be poised for a very good first year with two Pro-Bowl QBs in Peyton Manning and Tony Romo. The running game should be pretty solid too, with Ronnie Brown and new Bronco Travis Henry. While Steve Smith is the only star receiver on this game, there are plenty of veterans ready to help him out (Tony Gonzalez, Santana Moss, Laveranues Coles, Alge Crumpler, Amani Toomer). And should Jamal Lewis or Ahman Green return to 2004 form, Eric-A will be looking good. But they better find some youth fast, otherwise it could be an ugly 2008 and on.
Returning to those shock and awe Razors (who will take Hong's usual title as craziest draft GM, temporarily), they actually don't look bad. Brees and Roethlisberger are solid QBs, Joseph Addai will star in Indy. Clinton Portis is in a time share but the Edge could be back after a horrid first season in Arizona. If Randy Moss can step up, the receiving corps will have Marvin Harrison and a soon to break-out Reggie Brown taking attention away. A few savvy veterans anchor the bench too and everyone knows that Ryan is an active participant on the waiver wire so this draft is just a warm up to his regular season dominance.
Who can't wait for the start of the regular season? We just have this little hurdle of Ryan's wedding to get over and it's free and clear until fantasy championships 2007!
Oh wait, Hong was crazy. He started a kicker run in the 11th round and then took Michael Vick with his last pick. Hong's the master of the chaos theory. There can be no doubt.
