4 Quarters Radio: April 29 1st Quarter

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The first-quarter curriculum for April 29:
--Early recording problems lead to a slightly abrupt start, but the fellas jump right into NFL Draft Round 1 discussion. Blaize talks up Jake Locker, the Titans' new quarterback, and everyone digs into the top picks by their respective teams.
--Other picks get checked out for genius, idiocy, or simple oddity. Nick Fairley, Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and others get examined.

Featured music: "I Should Have Known" by the Foo Fighters. Stick around at the end for a brief snippet of the track, and help the show out by purchasing the full download if you like it.

2011 NFL Draft: Should the First-Round Running Back Be Extinct?

The last time the NFL Draft's first round passed with only one running back being chosen was 1984. Greg Bell was chosen to begin a career that ended after seven seasons with 6,266 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns.

Since then, the likes of Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Jerome Bettis, Barry Sanders, and Marshall Faulk have all been chosen in the first round.

Of course, those drafts have also blessed the league with immortal names like Reggie Dupard, Tim Worley, Tony Smith, Lawrence Phillips, and Curtis Enis. Those five guys combined for 5,775 rushing yards, or about 800 yards more than Greg Bell.

Tonight's draft leans much more toward the 1984 model than 1987, which saw seven backs taken in the first (which only had 28 picks, mind you), only one of whom was still getting paid to play football in 1993.

Mark Ingram is expected to be the only back picked tonight, and depending on who you talk to, even that's not a cinch. He and his Heisman and the balky knee that kept him from repeating the award have been projected almost everywhere in the second half of the round.

This is a good thing. Here's why.

From the 2000 draft through last year's, 35 running backs were selected in the first round. Of those 35, 13 averaged fewer than 600 yards per season over the course of their careers. 21 of the 35 never recorded a season of 1,200 rushing yards or more (an average of 75 yards per game).

In the same time period, 24 running backs chosen in Rounds 2 through 7 (or not drafted at all) managed to either average 700 yards per season or record at least one 1,200-yard year.

The first-rounders averaged 780 yards per season per player, the later picks 787.

First-round picks produced 39 seasons of 1,200 yards, but the non-firsts accumulated 35.

Six first-rounders have averaged over 1,000 yards per season for their careers, but the same number of non-first-rounders have equaled the feat.

Translation? At a position that boasts an average career length of 2.6 years, first-round draft picks pack a tremendous amount of risk, especially considering similar production can be found later. Of course, that's true for every draft pick, right?

The changes in the game today are beginning to make the rewards much less commensurate with that risk. As teams veer farther from the conventional "workhorse running back" system, more players will see their rookie seasons look more like Knowshon Moreno's 947 yards and 7 touchdowns than Adrian Peterson's 1,341 yards and 12 scores.

The pounding inherent in the position means that running backs face a double-edged sword. Every player wants to be the featured guy, racking up the large numbers so he can eventually rack the large bank. The tradeoff is the short shelf life that reduces the number of contracts a player has time to sign.

A running back is almost better off in today's game if he's not the featured guy, but a general manager is forced to think long and hard about using one of those valuable first-round chips on a player who will only play a part-time role.

It's hard to write this as a guy who grew up idolizing Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, and Marshall Faulk. Barring the occasional Chris Johnsonesque explosion, however, it's hard to see today's game making a lot of running backs worth the first-round price.

It's hard to bank on finding a Willie Parker, Fred Jackson, or Ahmad Bradshaw in the late rounds or off the street. Not hitting the lottery in the seventh round, though, is a much cheaper ticket than spending a first-round pick on a Chris Perry or Trung Canidate.

4 Quarters Radio: April 22 1st Quarter

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The first-quarter curriculum for April 22:
--Scott and Mack are joined in the studio by TitansTouchdown.com co-editor Blaize Pennington, comparing his mock draft with Scott's.
--A few picks agree, but the discussion highlights several disagreements, as well. Topics include why the Vikings need a PR pick, where Da'Quan Bowers' stock will finally bottom out, and why the Dolphins are better off avoiding Mark Ingram.

Featured music: "Destroy Everything You Touch" by Ladytron. Stick around at the end for a brief snippet of the track, and help the show out by purchasing the full download if you like it.

The 2011 4 Quarters Mock Draft

We did this last year, remember? Out of the 32 picks in 2010, I cruised to a dominant, prescient...7 picks within one spot of their actual selection. Only four were correct, and they were four of the top five.

The good news is that this year's draft should be unpredictable. The bad news is...well, yeah, since we're trying to predict here, it should be obvious.

But let's try it again anyway, shall we?

1. Carolina Panthers--QB Cam Newton, Auburn

Is he going to be Big Pussy Russell? Most likely not. But he's already a guy who gives every indication that he's not prepared to do the grinding that has made guys like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady great, or even the dirty work that Mike Vick has been allegedly doing since taking over in Philly.

Of course, this isn't about who the Panthers should take, it's about who we think they will take. And this team wants a big name with a sizeable highlight reel to shake off their vanilla, lunchpail, John Fox-induced reputation. Having someone who can keep Steve Smith excited will also help.

Is Cam going to be a star? Most likely not. But he may put butts in seats.

2. Denver Broncos--DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama

Congratulations, Denver fans, now you've inherited Mr. Vanilla Lunchpail himself. John Fox got sold to this team on the promise that he could do something about a defense whose one solid season in 2009 gave way to a unit that rolled over like basset hounds looking for a belly rub. (Either that or he's got photos involving John Elway, a group of hookers, and three tons of Jell-O. Not sure which.)

John Elway's talk about trying to snag a quarterback may come to fruition, but it'd be a real head-scratcher if he's willing to pay two QB's first-round money simultaneously. Dareus offers the promise of defensive impact, and the fan base isn't as quick to renounce Timmy Christ as Elway seems to be.

3. Buffalo Bills--QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

Defense is undoubtedly a bigger need, but the Bills want to put that third Triplet in place with Steve Johnson and C.J. Spiller. It's a good situation for Gabbert, since Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the worst stopgap measure for Gabbert to wait behind.

After reading this article making Gabbert sound like Rain Man in shoulder pads, the Bills should be interested enough to let him commit their offense to memory. Should take him all of 45 minutes.

4. Cincinnati Bengals--WR A.J. Green, Alabama

Green's not likely to ever even meet Carson Palmer, but whoever ends up calling the signals in Cincy (Kolb, McNabb, some rookie, maybe Ken Anderson ponders comeback), Green's the kind of guy who can make any passer look good.

...

Well, okay, within reason. I mean, even Larry Fitz (to whom Green gets compared every now and then) looked mortal when he had John Skelton and Max Hall throwing at him.

5. Arizona Cardinals--LB Von Miller, Texas A&M

The Cards will have a hard choice here between Miller and Nick Fairley. It all depends on whether they think the interior line or the aging linebacker group is a bigger area of need. With Miller providing pass rush from the edge, it could lead to more hurried ducks floating toward the dangerous Kerry Rhodes and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

6. Cleveland Browns--WR Julio Jones, Alabama

Colt McCoy wasn't a complete embarrassment last season, but it's hard for a QB to contribute positively when half his passing game runs through the Mack truck with legs that we call Peyton Hillis. Chansi Stuckey and Mohamed Massaquoi aren't going to cut it as primary receiving options. Jones should be the first receiver to bring serious noise in Cleveland since Braylon Edwards (who was the first since...who, Webster Slaughter?).

7. San Francisco 49ers--CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

The Niners should do a dance of joy that would make Balki and Larry blush if Peterson slides. Personally, I'd be pushing hard for him if I were in Cleveland, because a Joe Haden/Peterson duo would be killer.

As it is, San Francisco is dying to get secondary help. The good news for them is that if Peterson's already gone, Prince Amukamara will likely still be available. Either would work just fine. Still, Peterson's probably the best overall player in this draft, and getting him at seven is a great deal.

8. Tennessee Titans--DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

This is the team that employed Albert Haynesworth and watched him play well enough to hold up some poor sucker for $100 mil. Fairley's considered to have similar upside, and also a similar flaky streak.

The difference is that Fairley's more of a goofball than a goon, and with his college line coach and a surly trench veteran like Mike Munchak guiding his development, he should avoid the worst developments that derailed Haynesworth...well, at least until some poor sucker comes offering $100 mil. Guy gets paid like that and all bets are off.

9. Dallas Cowboys--OT Tyron Smith, USC

If Jerry hangs around and actually makes this pick, I'll be shocked. The Cowboys were built off the back of hoarding picks and Jerry likes his selections to be sexy. An offensive tackle at number nine isn't setting anyone's shorts ablaze in Big D.

That said, the line is what they seriously need if they want to keep Tony Romo pretty and walking, not to mention salvage what's left of Marion Barber and maximize Felix Jones. We all know Jerry likes his offense explosive, but the skill positions aren't a problem anymore.

10. Washington Redskins--DE/OLB Robert Quinn, North Carolina

Rolling the dice on a guy who didn't play a college down last season is risky, but this is the team that decided Rex Grossman was a worthwhile quarterback. Risky is what they do. Put Quinn opposite Brian Orakpo and it might help put some beer goggles on the Skins' dog-ugly secondary.

11. Houston Texans--CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

Oh, and speaking of dog-ugly secondaries...

The Texans simply can't keep any kind of nucleus around Mario Williams, and it's holding back both him and a highly entertaining offense. Prince could be an improved do-over after letting Dunta Robinson walk.

12. Minnesota Vikings--DE Cameron Jordan, California

Da'Quan Bowers is still on the board, but the last time the Vikings used a first-rounder on a defensive end with injury concerns, it turned into 30 tackles and five sacks in three years of Erasmus James. Jordan's a legacy pick, since his dad Steve was a longtime Vikings TE. A team that had to endure two years of Childress-Favre soap operas (and unseemly stories about Favre's special purpose) could use a little PR.

And he can play a bit, as well. That always helps.

13. Detroit Lions--OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

Speaking of quarterbacks who need to be kept upright (see Dallas), Matt Stafford is cultivating a rep as this generation's Chris Chandler, a guy who's solid when healthy but is not often healthy. The Lions currently have the ancient Jeff Backus and the brittle Gosder Cherilus at the tackle positions, and some help would allow Stafford to sleep better at night. (Those hospital beds aren't very comfortable, you know.) Castonzo has the added bonus of being able to play guard until Backus hangs it up or if Cherilus gets an adamantium skeleton implanted.

14. St. Louis Rams--DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson

Steve Spagnuolo made his name with a Giants defense that seemed to rotate 20 defensive linemen in and out. The Rams have Chris Long beginning to establish himself and got a solid season from 33-year-old James Hall in 2010. Bowers' knee is a prevailing concern, otherwise this guy would have been gone 10 picks ago. In St. Louis, Bowers has a place where he can rotate in and out and prove that the knee is sound before replacing Hall in a year or two.

15. Miami Dolphins--C/G Mike Pouncey, Florida

Most experts have Mark Ingram here, but using a first on a running back who's struggled with recent knee injuries sounds like a recipe for heartache, especially when the second round may yield other, lower-profile runners with less baggage (or even Ingram himself for less money, if the Fins decide to make an aggressive deal).

To aid a running back's shelf life, the Dolphins could stand to help their line keep bodies off the backs in the first place. Mike could step right in and be the kind of rock that his brother Maurkice has been in Pittsburgh. In the process, he could make some second-or-third-round back look like a first-rounder.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars--DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

The Jags will probably be hoping Cameron Jordan shows up here so he can be slotted right in next to college teammate Tyson Alualu. No dice here, but Kerrigan's a nice fall-back plan. He'll put some heat on opposing quarterbacks while serving an apprenticeship under Aaron Kampman. (Of course, that was probably also the plan with Derrick Harvey, and we saw how well that worked out.)

17. New England Patriots--DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

The Pats have been so intent on getting the back seven back in shape that they've neglected the line, trying to plug in guys like Gerard Warren to fill holes. With recent picks like Mayo, Meriweather, Chung, and McCourty panning out well, it's time to replenish the unit that used to boast names like Richard Seymour and Ty Warren alongside the last man standing, Vince Wilfork.

Watt's one of the few guys on the board being given credit for being able to play 3-4 end from day one. On this team, he'll have to be, since the Patriots aren't given to keeping guys around for sentimental reasons.

18. San Diego Chargers--OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

The Chargers could use help all over the front seven, but it seems like all the defensive linemen available (Aldon Smith, Muhammad Wilkerson) would have a little transitioning to do. Wilkerson's an interesting pick, but the Chargers are still shaking their heads over the low production from their last Mid-American Conference first-round pick, Larry English.

Ayers is known to California fans, he's played solid college comp, and he was productive in doing so. Add the fact that A.J. Smith isn't keen on drafting projects with early picks and it puts Ayers in a very strong position here.

19. New York Giants--OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

With Castonzo gone, there are some solid O-linemen who seem like they could use a year or two of seasoning. Then, there's Carimi. He could start immediately and let the Giants slide David Diehl back to guard. He's got contract escalators for each season he plays tackle, so Carimi could pay for himself pretty quickly.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--DE Aldon Smith, Missouri

Last year, the Bucs went D-line early twice. Gerald McCoy was decent, but Brian Price's injury issues leave him on the bubble. Either way, a team led in sacks by the immortal Stylez G. White needs help on the rush. Smith has been getting looked at by teams who would convert him to a 3-4 OLB, but in Tampa, he could keep a hand down and devote himself to hunting quarterbacks.

21. Kansas City Chiefs--G Danny Watkins, Baylor

He can play guard and take over for aging Brian Waters or kick out to tackle. As long as the Chiefs' line holds up, their offense could be very strong for years to come.

22. Indianapolis Colts--OT Nate Solder, Colorado

Hopefully, the Colts can finally get an offensive line pick right. Mike Pollak's been inconsistent, Tony Ugoh's already washed out. The ones that they get right (Jake Scott, Ryan Diem) are usually mid-round picks, but there's usually limited ceilings for those guys.

Solder's a giant who'll require a $20 cab ride for pass rushers to get to Peyton Manning. Plus, he's got the sheer bulk (6'8", 320, with a frame to add more) to finally allow Joseph Addai and Donald Brown to see what daylight looks like. Last year, I told the Colts they needed Rodger Saffold. They took Jerry Hughes. Saffold was a good LT for the Rams, protecting Sam Bradford's blind side. Hughes racked six tackles and left Bill Polian muttering that he should have taken Saffold. Just saying.

 

23. Philadelphia Eagles--CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado

Back-to-back Buffaloes here. Off-field concerns appear to be scaring a lot of teams off of Smith, but the Eagles are the franchise that took a shot at a convicted felon at quarterback. At 6'2" and 211, he's monstrous for a corner and can run with most receivers. Put him opposite Asante Samuel, and he'll get tested early and often. At least if a number-two corner is going to wash out, you get shown his flaws quickly, eh?

24. New Orleans Saints--RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

The Saints could go with Corey Liuget to pump up the run defense, but last season, the run D was middle of the pack. The run O was fifth-worst. Pierre Thomas is having issues making it through a season, Reggie Bush might be let go, and Chris Ivory could use some heavy competition to stay motivated. There may be interesting DT's like Stephen Paea, Marvin Austin, or Drake Nevis available on Friday.

25. Seattle Seahawks--QB Jake Locker, Washington

He's local, Pete Carroll's seen him first-hand, and Matt Hasselbeck's just a week or two younger than dirt. Their playoff run may actually do them more harm than good, as picking this low isn't all that good for a team coming off a 7-9 season, one that has this many needs.

26. Baltimore Ravens--DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple

Liuget or Wilkerson? It depends on: 1) whether the Ravens want a straight-up tackle to succeed Kelly Gregg and hedge their bet on Terrence "The Black Bob Paulson" Cody; or b) a player with the potential to line up at the end opposite Haloti Ngata. Wilkerson has that extra versatility that could give him the edge here.

27. Atlanta Falcons--DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

There are some medical concerns about Clayborn, just like there are about Bowers. This is another situation where the rookie gets some time to prove that he's in good health and capable of playing in the league before having to step in and start. Clayborn could eventually be a good successor to John Abraham.

28. New England Patriots--OLB Justin Houston, Georgia

He could be a dangerous pass rusher in Bill Belichick's defense. Between him and Watt, the Pats have opportunities to make their defense a lot fiercer... or they could peddle this pick to someone chasing a quarterback.

29. Chicago Bears--DT Corey Liuget, Illinois

If Liuget gets this far, the Bears will be dancing a jig all over their war room. He'll make a natural replacement for the released Tommie Harris. He could go anywhere from 14th to here, but there's no way he makes it past the Bears.

30. New York Jets--DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

The Jets need a pass rusher on their front three, someone who can actually pressure a quarterback without having to blitz extensively. Heyward shouldn't embarrass himself against the run, either.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers--CB Aaron Williams, Texas

Scouts are split as to whether Williams can be a corner or a free safety in the League. Ike Taylor's about to be a free agent and Ryan Clark could tear himself up at anytime smashing a receiver over the middle. If Williams can fill either spot, he's a fine pick here.

32. Green Bay Packers--OLB Brooks Reed, Arizona

The Pack had to get yeoman contributions from guys like Erik Walden, Frank Zombo, and Brad Jones once Nick Barnett got hurt last season. Reed could offer one more pass-rushing threat on a defense that already knows how to generate a little pressure.

This draft is going to draw a lot of "wow"s and probably a few "huh?"s. Let's see if El Profesor can make a power move on his draft prognostications. Eight picks within one spot is probably not all that far off from what Kiper and McShay manage, anyway.

4 Quarters Radio: March 11 2nd Quarter

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The second-quarter curriculum for March 11:
--The fellas promote the 4Q Bracket Challenge on Facebook, and we'll promote it here, too. Prizes are on offer (IF we get enough entrants), so get in.
--Everybody gets a moment to share who they're hoping their teams get in the draft. Drew calls for a surprising move by his favorite team. Mack expresses a surprising hope for the No. 10 pick. Bobby's doing some wishful thinking, hoping the Raiders will get a first-rounder back...plus he's struggling on pronouncing names, too. And Scott prays that both of his teams will hit on good linemen to keep their QB's from getting destroyed.
--After the 10-minute warning, the guys spend a moment discussing what they hope for from the NFL labor dispute. One speaker is actually against a rookie wage scale, figuring the owners should simply know better.
--In Whodaman, a couple of the boys talk about the Miami Heat, in different contexts. Drew goes collegiate with a total violation, and Scott sportingly gives love to one of his Boilermakers' prime conference rivals.

Excised music: "Bleed Out" by The Influence.

The Official 4 Quarters Radio NFL Mock Draft

With the NFL Draft only three days away, you know that 4 Quarters will be all over the on-air discussion. Los Guys will be covering the draft in depth on tomorrow's edition of 4 Quarters, Noon to 2 PM Central time on WMTS.org. The host's take on the first round is as follows.

1. St. Louis Rams--QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
We'd like to think Mike Holmgren's smarter than trying to mortgage half the draft to lunge the Browns up from seventh to first...but is he? Personally, I just don't see the Browns having enough firepower to convince St. Louis to part with the pick, and thereby Bradford. The Browns may be better off targeting Colt McCoy in the second and adding a defensive player at No. 7, anyway.

2. Detroit Lions--DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
It's either him or Gerald McCoy, but DT is the way for the Lions to go. Add Suh to newcomers Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch and the returning Cliff Avril (10.5 sacks in 2 years), and suddenly Detroit may have a dangerous defensive front.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma State
If I'm Tampa GM Mark Dominik, I'd be working the phones looking to trade down and collect a few bonus picks, maybe calling Seattle to see if they'd want to part with those two firsts and have their pick of top OT's before Washington dips into that pool. Then, they could target a guy like Brian Price in Round 2. Failing that, their best fit here is McCoy, because Dez Bryant would be a Raiders-like reach here, and no one seems to want to pay Eric Berry top money as a safety.

4. Washington Redskins--OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Lots of the speculation has Trent Williams here, because he's supposed to be a better fit for Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme. Okung's not exactly chopped liver, either, and Williams seemed to struggle a bit as a left tackle his senior season. It's hard to justify drafting a right tackle at 4, so let's slot Okung in here and see what Shanny can teach his new Hog.

5. Kansas City Chiefs--S Eric Berry, Tennessee
As much as the Chiefs would love to grab an OT here, they should probably hold out for Okung. If Washington takes Williams, Okung's a Chief in about 12 seconds. If Okung's gone, it's time for people to get over their discrimination against safeties and pay Berry some cash. Every scouting report talks about how great a playmaker the guy is, but then says teams don't like to take safeties in the top 5. Plays need to be made in football, no matter what position they're made from. The Chiefs should take Berry, do a couple of cartwheels, and send him to a dozen Pro Bowls or so.

6. Seattle Seahawks--OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
The Hawks are likely anxious to see if Berry falls in their laps, and when he doesn't, the Walter Jones Replacement Search continues. Alex Gibbs is the new Seachicken O-line coach, and he's the guy who started the zone-blocking scheme in Denver. If Williams is a good fit for Washington, it's pretty likely he's a good fit for Seattle, if they think he can handle the LT position.

7. Cleveland Browns--DE/OLB Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
Mike Holmgren claims to have some bug up his ass about Jimmy Clausen, so one of the league's worst QB situations may not be remedied until Round 2 at the earliest. With Eric Berry gone, the Browns could try for CB Joe Haden here, but the pass rush already lacked a dominant force before Kamerion Wimbley got dealt. Morgan's not likely to fit on the end in a 3-4 setup, but could probably play OLB quite well.

8. Oakland Raiders--DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
Lots of wags want to cry Bruce Campbell here, but is Al Davis really crazy enough to reach 20 spots too high for a Maryland player twice in a row? Why not get the speed rusher who can fit Al's "The quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard" mantra? If JPP busts, oh well, it's just Al reaching 20 spots too high for a guy with a sexy 40 time again. If he becomes a Pro Bowler, Al gets to act like the smartest guy in the room again. Seriously, does Al watch the 40 runs at the Combine like others watch porn? I mean, with a bottle of lotion and some tissues handy?

9. Buffalo Bills--QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
The Bills were linked to nearly every QB trade rumor, free-agent possibility, and guy-walking-in-off-the-street story all offseason, so take that as a subtle hint that they're looking under a lot of rocks to find a quarterback. One of the better ones drops into their lap, and they should pounce. If not, we can officially ignore any and all commentary about how terrible the Bills' offense is this year.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars--S Earl Thomas, Texas
The Jags are supposed to be anxious for either Pierre-Paul or Morgan to fall to 10, but if they don't, then it's time for Plan B. If they can't remedy the defensive front, it may be time to help the back, unless they're concerned about Thomas being another Reggie Nelson. C.J. Spiller starts getting rumored here quite a bit, and with the Jags having no second-round pick, it's tremendously possible. But, second RB is a luxury. Safety may be a little more important of a need.

11. Denver Broncos (from Bears)--WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
I had no doubt that Brandon Marshall would be getting traded, but I expected that it would happen somewhere ON draft day, only when the Ponies were sure they'd be getting Bryant. Marshall going to Miami clears the way. If someone snags Bryant first, Joe Haden may fit here.

12. Miami Dolphins--DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
Personally, I could flip a coin here between Williams, Rolando McClain and Sergio Kindle. So, as soon as I find a three-sided coin, I'll get right on that. Jason Ferguson has a half-season suspension looming, Joey Porter's gone, and they need the depth at inside linebacker. Problem is, there aren't a ton of true 3-4 DT's in this draft, so grab Williams and hope for the best later.

13. San Francisco 49ers--RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
Frank Gore and Glen Coffee are both battering-ram runners, and the Niners could use a little lightning to go with all the thunder. It's a great spot for him, since there are concerns about him being sturdy enough to be a featured back. Caddying for Gore can keep some extra tread on both guys' tires.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos)--DE/OLB Brandon Graham, Michigan
The Hawks may be painted into a corner here, with their hopes of getting Spiller dashed one pick before. They can get a solid pass rusher if they can't get that big-play RB they wanted, and they might have to wheel and deal if they want to get high enough to grab Jahvid Best or Jonathan Dwyer in the second round.

15. New York Giants--ILB Rolando McClain, Alabama
With Antonio Pierce put out to pasture, the Giants have a donut hole at MLB, and McClain might be able to step in and start Week 1. Some scouts think he has range issues, but with veterans Danny Clark and Mike Boley on either side, he should have some good support.

16. Tennessee Titans--CB Joe Haden, Florida
The Titans' two biggest needs appear to be defensive end and a corner to play opposite Cortland Finnegan. With Graham, Pierre-Paul, and Morgan all gone here, it's either reach or trade down for an Everson Griffen or Jerry Hughes...or fill the corner spot with the consensus #1 guy at that position. They'd have to get a tremendous offer to take the former.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers)--OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
Whether the Niners end up able to get Jimmy Clausen, as some have pondered, or they can get Spiller (see above), tackle is still a trouble spot. The Bust Brothers, Alex Smith and David Carr, need protection, too. Besides, if anyone can keep a lineman in the weight room and out of the drive-thru, it's Mike Singletary.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers--CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
The Steelers were firmly in the middle of the pack in pass defense last season, and with the Ravens and Bengals trying to upgrade their receivers, another CB (they drafted two last year, neither of whom accomplished much) might make more sense than we might think. Most everyone has either Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey going here, and honestly, Pouncey might make them seriously think.

19. Atlanta Falcons--C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
The Dirty Birds get happy when the Steelers let Pouncey slide. The main need early on was a corner, but signing Dunta Robinson may have helped there. They have some front seven issues on defense, but their decidedly mediocre offense should have been better after adding Tony Gonzalez. Pouncey should help clear lanes for Michael Turner and buy time for Matt Ryan.

20. Houston Texans--CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
Lots of mocks have Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews here, but the Texans' decision-makers come from the Denver organization, where RB's where interchangeable parts. Mike Iupati will make them think long and hard, but after losing Dunta Robinson to Atlanta, the secondary must be kept a priority, lest Peyton Manning tear the defense up for 300 yards two more times this season.

21. Cincinnati Bengals--S Taylor Mays, USC
The original Roy Williams is turning 30 and running out of whatever gas he ever had, so why not draft the next Roy Williams to replace him? Park him behind former Trojan teammate Rey Maualuga, and there's a pair of guys who can make receivers hear some footsteps.

22. New England Patriots--TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
Maybe it's just me, but it seems that the Patriots open every season with a different TE. This time, perhaps they find a good receiving option...without even having to forfeit any of their three second-rounders to deal up.

23. Green Bay Packers--G Mike Iupati, Idaho
Iupati may get his first snaps at tackle, which makes him a tremendous value pick sliding down this far. One more mauler to open holes for Ryan Grant may help the Pack get another year out of him. Doesn't mean they won't go fishing for Dwyer or Toby Gerhart in the second, though.

24. Philadelphia Eagles--CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State
Trading Sheldon Brown to Cleveland created a bit of an opening at corner, and unless they want to roll with Ellis Hobbs starting (yes, Eagles fans, time to shudder), an infusion of talent is necessary. Whether Robinson will actually do anything with all that talent depends on who you ask. Eagles fans will either love him or demand he be shot on the courthouse square immediately.

25. Baltimore Ravens--WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
Sure, the Ravens have done some retooling at WR, adding Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth to Derrick Mason...but Mason's 36 and seems to always be threatening retirement these days, Boldin's always nursing some kind of injury, and Stallworth is a total wild card. A long-term answer would greatly help Joe Flacco's peace of mind.

26. Arizona Cardinals--CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
Just because they defeated the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, doesn't mean that the Cards didn't get righteously torched. No division champion has so many glaring needs on draft day (OT and pass rushing DE/LB are the most commonly discussed), but McCourty may be the last of the first-round CB's.

27. Dallas Cowboys--OT Charles Brown, USC
Brown's getting the "need bump," where a second-round prospect gets dragged into the first because a team has a glaring need. With Flozell Adams gone, the Cowboys need a young lineman to groom as a replacement.

28. San Diego Chargers--DT Terrence Cody, Alabama
Mount Cody will get a chance to plug the holes that the Jets kept ripping in the Chargers' defensive front in the playoffs. Trading up with Seattle to #40 in Round 2 will definitely give them a good chance to find the RB they're supposed to be looking for.

29. New York Jets--DE/OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas
Hopefully, Kindle's not attending the draft, because he's got the Aaron Rodgers/Brady Quinn Green-Room Wait of Doom on this board. Him falling this far is excellent for the Jets, who play the 3-4 scheme that can allow Kindle room to rush off the edge. If he's half as good as his ex-Horns teammate Brian Orakpo, who needs Jason Taylor?

30. Minnesota Vikings--S Nate Allen, South Florida
As tempting as it is to speculate that the Vikings are the team that can afford to wait on Tim Tebow, the truth is that if Brett Favre decides to leave the Purple and Gold (why, Prince, why?) in the lurch, Tebow will struggle mightily (biblically?) to guide the offense. Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels aren't terribly appealing, either, but give them the chance and fill in one of the few holes on the D. Allen's a good fit for a Cover 2 system, and could probably start on day one.

31. Indianapolis Colts--G/T Rodger Saffold, Indiana
Bill Polian bitched out the offensive line following the Super Bowl loss, and a versatile guy like Saffold could help right away. The fact that he's a local product is an added bonus. An extra pass-rusher like Everson Griffen or Jerry Hughes will get serious talk here, as well.

32. New Orleans Saints--OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
A greater athlete at OLB than the departed Scott Fujita, Spoon could slide anywhere the Saints need him to play. If he's able to read the play quickly enough, he could be a force in coverage and shouldn't embarrass himself on the rush, either.

And there you go. In case I hit on a ton of these picks and the cynics among you think these are edited after the fact, remember that I'll be covering all of them on 4Q. The podcast will be linked from here as my proof. So there.

THE ONE EDIT I'LL ALLOW MYSELF: Yep, I completely spaced Bryan Bulaga. No, I don't think he'll dive to the second round. Yep, I'm senile. Yep, I owned it on the air. Fail: me.

4 Quarters Radio Episode 10: 2nd Half

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On March 23's second half of 4QR, the guys have scheduling issues with their planned guest, so they freestyle a bit. Scott opens a discussion of how fanbases "sell out" to support their teams in the face of some ethical concerns about players or coaches. Moving on to the NFL, the burning question is "WTF is Charlie Whitehurst?" Joseph interjects with a random celebrity ('s relative) sighting, the fellas talk some NFL Draft trivia, and Andy Reid gets compared to Shaft. (Seriously.) Referees' testicles get abused, and that's before the Epic Fails. Excised music: "I'll Be Your Friend" by Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova and "Heart of Steel" by Galactic featuring Irma Thomas.

Regarding Tebow: Do You Hate the Player, or Hate the Game?

The Internet is a beautiful place, one where opinions of every stripe can find a voice. You can always find someone willing to claim that the Pope is a child molester. You can always find someone to insist that Barack Obama is a computer-controlled puppet of Osama Bin Laden (and they'll insist that that explains the similar names). And, you can always find someone who's decided that Tim Tebow is an evil, evil man who will receive his comeuppance from the shining, virtuous NFL.

In an era where so many of our athletes are either idiots, morons, assholes, or just lovable poonhounds, we finally have a guy who loves his parents, has a charitable streak wide enough for the entire NBA to drive their Bentleys across, and doesn't appear out to screw anyone figuratively or literally...especially not Hooters waitresses and porn stars.

And he's probably the most despised man in all of football this side of Oakland, California or Washington, DC.

If it was merely a case of "eh, I don't think he'll be all that great in the NFL," that'd be one thing. In this case, it's actually summed up by the title of this Bleacher Report article: "The World Loves Watching Tim Tebow Crying."

Human nature is a major bitch. When we hate our situations in life, we lash out at those who we perceive as "having it better." We wonder, "Why aren't I glorified for being a good parent/spouse/employee when this kid gets cameras in his face all day for throwing a fucking football?"

We ask ourselves, "What do I have to do for someone to say that spending 5 minutes in my company will make you a better person?"

Do I think Tebow's going to be a good NFL player? No, not unless he ends up on some team where he can get the full Aaron Rodgers treatment: park it on the bench for three years, work on your game, soak up wisdom from a future Hall of Fame QB (provided said QB is willing to offer it), and not actually play until truly ready. Problem is, when you're packing a Heisman, a national championship, a slew of SEC passing AND rushing records, and a media presence that dwarfs every other college football player in the past two decades, time to learn is not something that's in large supply.

This isn't the obscure, undrafted-free-agent-out-of-a-small-college Tony Romo getting to toil on the third string for four seasons until he stumbles into the starting lineup. This is Mr. "Thick Polygons and Smooth Flat Planes and Inescapable Corn-Fed Handsomeness" himself.

Invariably, some team (if it's the Jaguars, Tim should just head for the Philippines now, because he'll have more pressure to deal with than Marino, Obama, and Christ put together) will decide that selling tickets for this season is more important than the player's development and try to thrust Tim into the starting lineup long before he's ready. At that point, Tebow will proceed to absorb a mighty ass-kicking. He won't complain a bit, but he may get emotional after a loss. And the envious will eat it up with chopsticks.

And the media will alternately cry about it or simply shrug and say, "We told you so."

The photo to the right, let's be honest, it's funny as shit. I like Tebow probably more than most, simply because I'm refreshed by a guy who isn't slinging guns in clubs or locker rooms, snorting coke or who-knows-what-else, making it rain all over strip clubs, or generally being a complete walking stereotype of the shallow, selfish, greedy, hedonistic jackass athlete.

But the picture's implication that announcers from CBS/FOX/ESPN/any other network that's carried a Florida game the past four years have been greedily slurping up figurative manjuice from Tebow these past four years? Yeah, that's pretty damn accurate. If I didn't carry so much respect for what he's accomplished in college football, I'd probably be pretty annoyed too.

Does he deserve the Thom Brennaman "10 minutes makes you a better person" tongue-bath? Eh, I dunno, I never met the guy. I sincerely doubt it, though. Still, the fact that he's an excellent athlete (and trust me, for ESPN to gush about a white guy's athleticism, he's got to be pretty damn impressive) who doesn't act like a complete douchebag will always score points with me.

I'm far from a religious person, so the verses on the eye black and the constant references to Jesus in the interviews are all lost on me. I've simply enjoyed him as a COLLEGE football player, without fishing for something to bitch about and settling on "Well, he'll suck in the NFL."

Whether I agree on the feasibility of airing a pro-life commercial during the Super Bowl or not (and for the record, I don't; not because of any philosophical favor or disfavor of abortion, I just think it's a bit too heavy for a football game, where all the other ads will be for cars, beer, erectile dysfunction pills, and GoDaddy), if you've read Tebow's story, you can appreciate the unique perspective he carries on the subject.

If your mother drank heavily while pregnant with your younger sibling and said sibling came out with serious mental and physical deficiencies, wouldn't you carry a little perspective on fetal alcohol syndrome? And do you understand why Tim and Pam Tebow might want to appear in this kind of commercial? If you said no to both of those, you have very little to offer this planet. Seriously.

Hating the media's slobberbath of Tim Tebow is perfectly acceptable. I have to roll my eyes at it myself. I place Tebow in my Top 10 list of all-time great college football players, but I don't need it made to sound like he's God's great-nephew. Fair enough. None of this fawning is his fault, though. Dude didn't ask for it, he just lives his life how he wants to, not how "fans" think athletes should, with strippers and strapped posses.

We're all sick of hearing how great he is, but why delight in his current Senior Bowl struggles, or cackle with glee at hearing that he might fall to the third or fourth round of the draft? He'll be the most hyped third-round pick in history, sure, but why be annoyed by it at this point? Simply move on and ponder your team's picks or players from your school or whatever angle usually draws you into the NFL Draft. We all know that it takes a great player, not great hype, to succeed in the NFL.

Difference is, I'm smart enough to separate the hype from the person.

Are you?