Steve and the Tank! - The Tank is on the Clock (NFL Draft)

Monday, April 30, 2007

Day 2 of the NFL Draft is where Super Bowl champions are made. According to ESPN's Suzy Kolber, 60 percent of the players in the NFL are chosen on Day 2. Speaking of Suzy, it's always great to be in her presence here at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. Suzy is on the right background with colleagues Ron "Jaws" Jaworski, Chris Mortensen, and Mel Kiper Jr. (From Suzy's right.)

Speaking of the Patriots, their future Hall of Famer QB Tom Brady was selected on Day 2. Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck were other sixth round draft picks who made it big. Who will be this year's Day 2 Diamond in the Rough? Only time will tell.

Breaking News on ESPN: Condolences to Saint Louis Cardinals fans like Medford Bob and Shawn for the loss of Josh Hancock in a car accident.

Though not a full house like yesterday, Radio City is buzzing with excitement. Great songs like BNL's "It's All Been Done" play overhead. It was great seeing them last November after the NYC Marathon.

This is my third consecutive NFL Draft. The Draft is like a Christmas Armstice for rival teams. It's a chance to catch up with old friends and acquaintances. I saw some Eagles acquaintances and their cast off Redskins in-law that they "tolerate" for obvious reasons. Speaking of in-laws, my brother-in-law Jim is a Dolphins fan. I am surprised that they passed on Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn. Questions remain as far as the health of their quarterback Dante Culpepper. There are reports Sunday morning that the Dolphins are trying to get Kansas City's QB Trent Green.

You know that I am multi-tasking trying to bring the story to you. I am listening to the NFL Network closed circuit TV in my left ear, ESPN closed circuit TV in my right ear, and mobile phone earpiece around my neck to take calls from Buffalo Steve and other friends. I am also talking to my fellow fans and met players like Cleveland's Braylon Edwards below.

Buffalo Steve calls back after going to my Goddaughter's friends birthday party. He reports that the Sabres are losing 1-0 against the Rangers in the second period. One goal is disallowed which would have made it 2-0.

Local team overview:

The Bills addressed a RB need in Marshawn Lynch who is a good pass catcher, passer, and runner. It was an excellent pickup of LB Paul Posluszny from Penn State. Lynch and Posluszny will try to replace and London Fletcher-Baker, respectively. I don't know much about seventh rounder DE C.J. Ah You but he comes from a top rated Oklahoma program.

The Jets had a solid draft by trading up to draft Pittsburgh CB Darrelle Revis. They only had four picks overall because they traded up and the trade with the Bears for Thomas Jones which was a great deal.
Michigan's David Harris was a steal in the second round. He could have gone in the first round. WR Chansi Stuckey could be a seventh round sleeper and a possible go to guy for Chad Pennington.

The Giants had a good draft selecting CB Aaron Ross and WR Steve Smith from Texas and USC, respectively.

Biggest Draft Surpise: Brady Quinn dropping from a potential #1 pick to #22 to the Browns from the Cowboys. I didn't think that the national championship game quarterbacks like Ohio State's Troy Smith and Florida's Chris Leak dropped and weren't picked, respectively.

Biggest Winner: The Browns addressed offensive line and quarterback needs.

Biggest Trade Surprise Winner: Patriots acquire Randy Moss for a fourth round pick. Wow! Moss was recently confirmed running 4.29-4.30 second 40 yard dash in Boca Raton, Florida. He also agreed to redo his contract and trying to "find happiness". The Patriots have to be a favorite, if not the favorite, to win the Super Bowl. More on that later as we get off to start of the season.

Biggest Loser: It's hard to pick it here but ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Tennessee as the loser for not getting more top receivers for QB Vince Young. Chris Leak of Florida wasn't drafted at all.

Best Value: The Ravens picking Heisman Trophy QB Troy Smith from Ohio State in the fifth round. Kyle Boller going to be a unrestricted free agent at the end of next season and Steve McNair is getting up there in football years. He had so many injuries that his wife is reportedly became a
registered nurse.

One thing is for sure is that the mother-son Buckeye-Bengals fans, Vicky and Doug, in front of me were relieved that Smith was finally selected. The other half of the family, the father and other son, went to the Final Four earlier this month.

At pick # 251, Jacksonville let all of its five minutes expire and was booed by myself and my fellow die hard fans exhausted by a long day and wanting to go home.

Until next year, this is the Tank on the clock reporting live from Radio City Music Hall in NY.