The Steal of 2007

[Iron Lung]

Brandon Meriweather FS miami....

Denver Decided to take Ashley Lelie, over a franchise Safety from the U Edward Reed...

Time to Draft a kid who in 3 years will be a pro-bowl starter on defense, and special teams for years to come, DUDE CAN BALL!!!

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

100 Post rule.

Fat chance they draft a low character guy like Merriweather after the DW tragedy.

[eddie mac]

I'd put money on him not being selected in the 1st round.

[Iron Lung]

Low character???? ahaha, I guess we should draft from strictly naval academy..Right??? Give me a freakin break, 90% of these college athletes have " low character ", its just Miami that gets the gat toting, female raping, dope selling rap..

Javon Walker
Gerard Warren
D.J Williams
All had the title of " Low character guy "

Too bad Regis University doesn't have athletics, We could scoop up some great character guys, in the late rounds evenHilarious!

[Breck Bronc]

Brandon Meriweather FS miami....

Denver Decided to take Ashley Lelie, over a franchise Safety from the U Edward Reed...

Time to Draft a kid who in 3 years will be a pro-bowl starter on defense, and special teams for years to come, DUDE CAN BALL!!!Believe me, Meriweather is no Ed Reed. Meriweather won't be a franchise safety even at his peak. Ed Reed is on another level from most other NFL safeties as far as on-field awarness. He was essentially the player/coach of Miami's 2001 national champion team. He spends a ton of time watching film even though he's always been a natural ball hawk. I'd absolutely love Denver to have a playmaker and leader like Ed Reed.

I think Meriweather's off the field incidents (kicking in a brawl and shooting at someone who shot his friend) are overrated. I also think his on the field talent is overrated; he had only one good year at Miami. He'll be a solid NFL starter, but probably never a top 5 or 10 safety.

[Breck Bronc]

Low character???? ahaha, I guess we should draft from strictly naval academy..Right??? Give me a freakin break, 90% of these college athletes have " low character ", its just Miami that gets the gat toting, female raping, dope selling rap..

Javon Walker
Gerard Warren
D.J Williams
All had the title of " Low character guy "

Too bad Regis University doesn't have athletics, We could scoop up some great character guys, in the late rounds evenHilarious!Javon Walker and D.J. Williams have never been considered low character guys. I've never heard anything like that said about those two.

[Bronco LB 59]

Breck

Do you think Ken Phillips could be on the same level as Reed and Taylor?

[ludo21]

umm?? steal?

Id be ok with taking him in round 2, not in round 1 tho.

He will be pretty good, but no where near a steal, or Ed Reed like ur trying to compare him to.

[Breck Bronc]

Breck

Do you think Ken Phillips could be on the same level as Reed and Taylor?That's tough. Reed's instincts are off the charts and Taylor's physical ability is off the charts. Those two made so many big plays at Miami it was incredible to watch between 1998 and 2003. Phillips is very good and maybe a little mix of Reed and Taylor. He hasn't made as many game changing plays as those two, but he's made his share. This will only be his third year in the program and he was injured a little last season.

SoCal probably has a much better scouting report on him than I do.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Low character???? ahaha, I guess we should draft from strictly naval academy..Right??? Give me a freakin break, 90% of these college athletes have " low character ", its just Miami that gets the gat toting, female raping, dope selling rap..

Javon Walker
Gerard Warren
D.J Williams
All had the title of " Low character guy "

Too bad Regis University doesn't have athletics, We could scoop up some great character guys, in the late rounds evenHilarious!

BS - Walker did poorly on his Wonderlic but has no other issues
Warren has been labeled an underachiever while in cleveland and he has mouthed off, but he has never been accused of a criminal act to my knowledge.
DJ has always been a high character guy except for a DWI last year.

You just don't know what you are talking about - maybe 5% at the most of college athletes could be labeled bad character.

[Jens1893]

That's tough. Reed's instincts are off the charts and Taylor's physical ability is off the charts. Those two made so many big plays at Miami it was incredible to watch between 1998 and 2003. Phillips is very good and maybe a little mix of Reed and Taylor. He hasn't made as many game changing plays as those two, but he's made his share. This will only be his third year in the program and he was injured a little last season.

SoCal probably has a much better scouting report on him than I do.

I would love to get Calais Campbell and Kenny Phillips in 08.

[elsid13]

BS - Walker did poorly on his Wonderlic but has no other issues
Warren has been labeled an underachiever while in cleveland and he has mouthed off, but he has never been accused of a criminal act to my knowledge.
DJ has always been a high character guy except for a DWI last year.

You just don't know what you are talking about - maybe 5% at the most of college athletes could be labeled bad character.

Warren was issued a ticket for carrying an unlicensed gun, he was on his way to Joey Porter party i think.

[-Slap-]

Believe me, Meriweather is no Ed Reed. Meriweather won't be a franchise safety even at his peak. Ed Reed is on another level from most other NFL safeties as far as on-field awarness. He was essentially the player/coach of Miami's 2001 national champion team. He spends a ton of time watching film even though he's always been a natural ball hawk. I'd absolutely love Denver to have a playmaker and leader like Ed Reed.

I think Meriweather's off the field incidents (kicking in a brawl and shooting at someone who shot his friend) are overrated. I also think his on the field talent is overrated; he had only one good year at Miami. He'll be a solid NFL starter, but probably never a top 5 or 10 safety.

Where would you slot him among Landry, Griffin and Nelson?

[yerner]

Michael Johnson from Arizona.

[Broncoman13]

Where would you slot him among Landry, Griffin and Nelson?

Slightly behind them. I think all four are going to be top 10 safeties in the NLF within the next 4 years. Odds are against that, but they are that good.

[elsid13]

Of all the safities in the draft - and there is talent there- only Landry is worth a first rounder IMO. The rest are all about the same when comes to talent level. I know folks really like Nelson, but he looks small and I highly doubt he is really 190 like some sites list him at. While Griffin is nice player but is he really much better then Johnson, Weddle, Rouse, Piscitelli or Merriweather? All of which have has much upside as any of the potential first rounders.

[watermock]

Plus we would get a guy to kick and stomp Diaper Boy...are your lurking Bobo?

[Kaylore]

I was impressed by him at the Senior Bowl. Even on special teams he seemed to be actually trying. Maybe it's just his desire to overcome what he's done, but I agree that his youthful indiscretions are pretty overrated. He's going to be a good football player.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I was impressed by him at the Senior Bowl. Even on special teams he seemed to be actually trying. Maybe it's just his desire to overcome what he's done, but I agree that his youthful indiscretions are pretty overrated. He's going to be a good football player.

So its a youthful indiscretion to charge onto the filed and stomp on players 27 times. That is 13.5 times what Albert Haynesworth did. I guess it is only a bad thing if he were a CU player.

[Mediator12]

Everyone knows this kid has first round talent in his body, but everyone is also worried about his effort to use that talent on the field too. Guys like Merriweather are more concerned with their image than winning football games. They know they are supertalented and someone will draft them no matter what they do. He worries me because I think he is a good as he is going to get and he is going to bring baggage to the field just like Taylor has.

Remember the spitting personal foul Taylor got a few years ago? That is what Merriweather is going to bring as well IMHO. These kinds of players bring their issues onto the field with them. Unfortuantely, most people just like his hits on Sportscenter and do not care if he actually helps them win games.

[socalorado]

Quote
Remember the spitting personal foul Taylor got a few years ago? That is what Merriweather is going to bring as well IMHO. These kinds of players bring their issues onto the field with them. Unfortuantely, most people just like his hits on Sportscenter and do not care if he actually helps them win games
NUFF SAID

now how about this guy in the 2nd?

Monday, November 27, 2006



Why not give Heisman to Utah's Eric Weddle?

By Doug Robinson


Dear Heisman Trophy voters: It's time to get serious and make your pick. Who do you like?
There are no real head-turners out there this season, no Reggie Bushes or Vince Youngs, no one who really dazzled.
Troy Smith, the Ohio State quarterback, will likely win the award, but here's another idea: Instead of giving the trophy to the best running back or quarterback, why not break tradition and give it to the BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER?
Scott Winterton, Deseret Morning NewsUtah's Eric Weddle runs the ball against BYU. Why not give the Heisman Trophy to Eric Weddle?
Weddle is the best all-around football player in the nation, period.
He is a gridiron sensation in the West. He gets more ink than Tom and Katie.
When is the last time you heard fans chanting a defensive back's name during a game (which is what they were doing in Rice Eccles Stadium on Saturday)? But of course Weddle is so much more than a defensive back.
Why not give the trophy to a guy who plays full-time cornerback/safety and part-time quarterback, punt returner and holder for field goals and extra points?
Why not give the Heisman to a guy who has scored three touchdowns on defense and four on offense?
"He should win the Heisman Trophy," Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said earlier this season. "I sincerely mean that."
So do I.
He has 58 tackles, 35 of them solo.
He has two fumble recoveries and returned one for a touchdown.
He has six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns.
He's rushed for 161 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries, or almost five yards per carry.
He's completed 2 of 4 passes for 43 yards, including a perfect, spiraling 18-yard touchdown pass that hit receiver Brent Casteel in stride against BYU on Saturday.
He's returned 7 punts for 40 yards.
He is Utah's third leading scorer, with 42 points.
The only people who spend more time on the field than Weddle each Saturday are referees. Against Air Force two weeks ago, Weddle played every snap on defense and collected eight tackles. On offense, he led the Utes in rushing with 73 yards and scored Utah's only two touchdowns. He also served as the holder for the game-winning field goal.
He played a total of 90 plays.
Afterward, Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry told him, "They're cheating you, son; they ought to give you two scholarships."
Ute coach Kyle Whittingham says Weddle might be the best all-around player ever to wear a Ute uniform, this at a school that has produced a long list of NFL stars. For that matter, Whittingham believes Weddle would be the best player in the Mountain West Conference at whatever position he played if he played it full time.
A couple of weeks ago, Weddle, a first-team preseason all-American, was listed as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Trophy (awarded to the nation's top defensive back), a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Trophy (to the nation's top defensive player), a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy (to the nation's top impact player) and a candidate for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (also to the nation's top defensive player).
Give him all of the above, plus the Heisman, to round out his collection.
Where is it written that the Heisman will be won only by players at a couple of positions? Of the 70 Heisman winners, 64 were quarterbacks or running backs; only one was listed as a defensive player and he was a two-way player like Weddle — wide receiver/cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997.
Weddle has thrown the age of specialization on its ear. He's a throwback to one-platoon football. He defines what a good football player is. Nothing would say that better than the Heisman Trophy.
A playmaker with excellent ball skills...Has great instincts...Tough, aggressive and a good tackler...Is always around the action...A high character player who will be an asset on and off the field...Smart and a hard worker with a great motor...Was very productive and a game changer at the college level...Will be a great special teamer and also returned punts for the Utes...Versatile with experience at both safety and cornerback with the potential to play either position at the pro level.

[Kaylore]

So its a youthful indiscretion to charge onto the filed and stomp on players 27 times. That is 13.5 times what Albert Haynesworth did. I guess it is only a bad thing if he were a CU player.

You need to take your blanky and go pout somewhere else. I can't believe you're insecure about that that you're bringing it up now.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

You need to take your blanky and go pout somewhere else. I can't believe you're insecure about that that you're bringing it up now.

You need to understand a thug is a thug and that guys like this should be in jail, not high paid football players. What he did is every bit as bad as what Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore or Richie Incognito did to Drew Stanton. If you went out in the mall and did that to someone, you would be in jail for 5-10 years. They should too.

I have been brining this up about Merriweather since the end of the season. It's nothing new from me.

[azbroncfan]

I think BIG MONEY was caught smoking dope in college or something to do with it. Not a big deal for athletes.

For the 15th million time Walker would of been selected over Ed Reed.

[rovolution]

I think BIG MONEY was caught smoking dope in college or something to do with it. Not a big deal for athletes.

For the 15th million time Walker would of been selected over Ed Reed.

im not trying to interrogate you in a mean way, but i am curious if you have a source which says who Denver would have chosen if Lilly was off the board. Can you provide a link of some sort? (i am just asking out of curiosity, not rudeness).

[Kaylore]

You need to understand a thug is a thug and that guys like this should be in jail, not high paid football players. What he did is every bit as bad as what Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore or Richie Incognito did to Drew Stanton. If you went out in the mall and did that to someone, you would be in jail for 5-10 years. They should too.

I have been brining this up about Merriweather since the end of the season. It's nothing new from me.

Oh please. I've been in brawls before and was not arrested "for five years". It was a brawl and he's a kid. It's not at all like Herrion or those other instances. It's not like this was some defenseless person on the ground and he stepped on his face. He swung his helmet into a crowd of brawling student during a team on team free for all.

Does he have a history of beating people up all the time? Both teams' entire rosters were going to blows. Are you going to tell me that every player on either team that comes out of the draft is going to be some kind of cancer because they got in that one fight and are henceforth all a bunch of malcontents?

I'm not saying it was good, acceptable or classy, but I certainly don't see it as some kind of red flag that the guy is a player to be avoided at all costs. He works hard, plays good football and he's got a strong sense of loyalty toward his teammates. Does he have some anger issues? Maybe, but he's certainly not the only one in football that way and personally I like a safety with a nasty streak.

You're not going to be able to draft a bunch of boy scouts every year, Big Guy, and as mean and not-nice as it sounds, some of these guys play this game because they like hitting people and playing nasty.

[Breck Bronc]

Oh please. I've been in brawls before and was not arrested "for five years". It was a brawl and he's a kid. It's not at all like Herrion or those other instances. It's not like this was some defenseless person on the ground and he stepped on his face. He swung his helmet into a crowd of brawling student during a team on team free for all.

Does he have a history of beating people up all the time? Both teams' entire rosters were going to blows. Are you going to tell me that every player on either team that comes out of the draft is going to be some kind of cancer because they got in that one fight and are henceforth all a bunch of malcontents?

I'm not saying it was good, acceptable or classy, but I certainly don't see it as some kind of red flag that the guy is a player to be avoided at all costs. He works hard, plays good football and he's got a strong sense of loyalty toward his teammates. Does he have some anger issues? Maybe, but he's certainly not the only one in football that way and personally I like a safety with a nasty streak.

You're not going to be able to draft a bunch of boy scouts every year, Big Guy, and as mean and not-nice as it sounds, some of these guys play this game because they like hitting people and playing nasty.Anthony Reddick was the one swinging his helmet. Meriweather was stomping on the back of some FIU player's legs.

[Kaylore]

Anthony Reddick was the one swinging his helmet. Meriweather was stomping on the back of some FIU player's legs.

Sorry about the mix up. My point is the same, though. Both are dangerous and were stupid kids acting on emotion. Doesn't mean they are locker room cancers.

[SoCalBronco]

Merriweather is a good athlete. His size is kinda a problem. I'd agree with Breck that he was not nearly as effective this year as he was last year. He did have to play alot more corner this year, whereas last year he was at safety almost exclusively. Phillips is going to be an outstanding prospect, probably a top 10-12 selection in the '08 draft, with a little more seasoning, he'll be a beast.

Reddick might be an interesting prospect as well. He was outstanding his freshman year back in 2004 before he got hurt and then ofcourse he couldnt really get back into his groove after Phillips stormed onto the scene after being the best safety in the nation in high school and Merriweather broke out in 05.

[Breck Bronc]

Sorry about the mix up. My point is the same, though. Both are dangerous and were stupid kids acting on emotion. Doesn't mean they are locker room cancers.I agree. I've been in my share of brawls throughout my time playing hockey and lacrosse. I've seen some crazy stuff go down in those situations, some of it done by my closest friends that would never normally act that way.

What Bertuzzi did isn't even in the same ballpark as Merriweather. Bertuzzi was planning some sort of attack in his little bird-like brain for a couple of weeks after Steve Moore hit Markus Naslund. That he actually went through with it and ended Moore's career makes it one of if not the biggest crime to ever take place during a professional sport.

[Inkana7]

Eric Weddle will be the best Safety to come out of this draft. Book it.

[BlitzingDog]

It wouldn't shock me.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Oh please. I've been in brawls before and was not arrested "for five years". It was a brawl and he's a kid. It's not at all like Herrion or those other instances. It's not like this was some defenseless person on the ground and he stepped on his face. He swung his helmet into a crowd of brawling student during a team on team free for all.

Does he have a history of beating people up all the time? Both teams' entire rosters were going to blows. Are you going to tell me that every player on either team that comes out of the draft is going to be some kind of cancer because they got in that one fight and are henceforth all a bunch of malcontents?

I'm not saying it was good, acceptable or classy, but I certainly don't see it as some kind of red flag that the guy is a player to be avoided at all costs. He works hard, plays good football and he's got a strong sense of loyalty toward his teammates. Does he have some anger issues? Maybe, but he's certainly not the only one in football that way and personally I like a safety with a nasty streak.

You're not going to be able to draft a bunch of boy scouts every year, Big Guy, and as mean and not-nice as it sounds, some of these guys play this game because they like hitting people and playing nasty.

Bull sh1t!!!

It is a criminal act and should be treated as such. I played the game. You need to play hard, but play under control. How many times have you seen John Lynch, Al wilson, Rod Smith or John Elway do this kind of crap. If you perpetuate the thug image, the NFL will turn into the NBA and we will lose the game we all love.

[-Slap-]

Michael Griffin's eight career blocked punts are the second most in NCAA history.

Here he is blocking a punt against Texas A&M. He also had 23 tackles in this game.

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5928/05griffintamu800x600cb7.jpg

[Kaylore]

Bull sh1t!!!

It is a criminal act and should be treated as such. .

It was kids in a fight.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

im not trying to interrogate you in a mean way, but i am curious if you have a source which says who Denver would have chosen if Lilly was off the board. Can you provide a link of some sort? (i am just asking out of curiosity, not rudeness).

The 5 1st round targets were: Levi Jones, Freeney, Buchanon, Lelie, and Walker.

Walker was the only other target left besides Lelie, so he would have been the pick if Lelie was gone.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

For the 15th million time Walker would of been selected over Ed Reed.

The next person to say they took Lelie over Reed should be banned.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

It was kids in a fight.

Ok - take the other jewelry salesmen from your store and go to the middle of the mall and fight the jewelry salesmen from another store and see what happens. You'll be spending 5 years cuddling with Bubba in a 10x12 cell and so should he.

[azbroncfan]

im not trying to interrogate you in a mean way, but i am curious if you have a source which says who Denver would have chosen if Lilly was off the board. Can you provide a link of some sort? (i am just asking out of curiosity, not rudeness).

No link but Shanny I believed was talking after the draft about how surprised they were when Lelie fell past ATL and they had planned on a WR and Walker was the next best prospect. SOCAL may be able to give a link.