NFL -- Are You Ready For Some Football? -- Week 10

[-Jrabbit]

In Chicago, Comcast offered NFL Network as part of basic tier packaging last year. This year, you have to take a special "sports and entertainment tier" package (about $10, I think) that includes NFL Network and a bunch of crap nobody wants -- like the Tennis Channel and the Game Show Network. And that tier doesn't even include the Big Ten Network, which Comcast doesn't carry at all.

Interesting to note that the sports networks Comcast owns -- Versus and the Golf Channel, plus of course Comcast Sports Net -- are all available on basic digital cable..

At the same time, my latest bill informs me that core rates are going up $5.00 a month.

[Lord Avalon]

F**king Comcast! I hates them!

[Donegeal]

Remember me *****ing about the Big Ten Network last week?

Well the NFL network is the same thing. ****'em!

Even better:

[SlowwHand]

Time Warner took over from Comcast, who took over from yada, who took over from yada yada and it's still the same lameass bull****.

[Jonny]

I'm tired of listening to the NFL and their hypocritical whining about the network.

If they ever expect the cable companies to do business with them, maybe they should end their exclusive agreement with DirecTV for the Sunday Ticket program...

[Koyaanisqatsi]

At least you can watch their games online now. Not the same, but better than nothing...

[Jaguar]

A top ten mock draft, just for the hell of it. Records are projected in a way I deem reasonable.

1. Miami (2-14) - Glenn Dorsey (DT - LSU)
They will give Beck a shot, which might be a mistake given how good the upcoming quarterback class is. Dorsey is the right choice here. Miami's defense is abysmal. The culprits are primarily the secondary, and the defensive line outside of Jason Taylor.
2. Oakland (3-13) - Darren McFadden (RB - Arkansas)
Oakland's remaining schedule is brutal, and they're on an eight game losing streak. They're well on their way to a pick in the top three. I'm betting it will be McFadden. Right now, Justin Fargas is their starting running back, and I can't believe that's a permanent plan. They could probably do well with Chris Long, the son of former Oakland great Howie Long, but offense is a higher priority for a team that needs to put JaMarcus Russell in a position to succeed.
3. New England (from 3-13 San Francisco) - James Laurinaitis (LB - OSU)
Yes, thinking about this pick makes me sick to my stomach. Fortunately, the Patriots are in a very awkward position, because the best players available are linemen and quarterbacks, which the Patriots don't need. They'll be forced to reach for a linebacker, and pay him a top-3-pick salary. This pick could end up being a drain on the Patriots, because unless they find a total superstar linebacker, he simply won't be worth his salary.
4. New York (4-12) - Chris Long (DE - Virginia)
5. Saint Louis (4-12) - Jake Long (T - Michigan)
He'll try to succeed Orlando Pace, perhaps the best tackle who ever played.
6. Atlanta (5-11) - Brian Brohm (QB - Louisville)
I'm not putting Brohm over Ryan because Petrino coached him. I'm putting Brohm over Ryan because he's the better player.
7. Baltimore (5-11) - Matt Ryan (QB - Boston College)
8. Cincinnati (6-10) - Keith Rivers (LB - USC)
9. Chicago (6-10) - Andre Woodson (QB - Kentucky)
Free at last. And don't worry, he won't bust.
10. Carolina (6-10) - Sedrick Ellis (DT - USC)
Their defensive line, allegedly their strength, is actually a weakness.

Some notes:

- Minnesota does not get one of the three top quarterbacks. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't spend a pick on one. I hope, for their sake, that they have the courage to pick Colt Brennan. The "system quarterback" allegation is often BS. If you can come up with a system that makes a mediocre quarterback complete 70% of his passes and throw five touchdowns a game, I'm sure that there are about a hundred college coaches who would love to learn it. Kevin Kolb is another alleged system player who is likely to prove a lot of people wrong some day.

- There's a possibility that New England takes Darren McFadden, because for some bizarre reason they seem to hate Laurence Maroney, even though he's running well.

[SlowwHand]

They definitely should take Colt Brennan if they have the opportunity.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
They definitely should take Colt Brennan if they have the opportunity.

Q F T!!

[snoopy369]

Sadly, no way Chicago drafts a QB in the first round. We will figure out some way to justify drafting a 5th round QB and he'll be "the next great hope" or something like that, while drafting an OL bust in the first round as usual

[Wycoff]

Originally posted by Jaguar
3. New England (from 3-13 San Francisco) - James Laurinaitis (LB - OSU)
Yes, thinking about this pick makes me sick to my stomach. Fortunately, the Patriots are in a very awkward position, because the best players available are linemen and quarterbacks, which the Patriots don't need. They'll be forced to reach for a linebacker, and pay him a top-3-pick salary. This pick could end up being a drain on the Patriots, because unless they find a total superstar linebacker, he simply won't be worth his salary.

I think that NE will try to trade down. Is there any team with two #1 picks this year?

[SlowwHand]

Cowboys.

[Jaguar]

If someone gives New England two firsts, I will shoot them.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I'm guessing a first this year and a first next year, maybe with a little extra thrown in somewhere. Either that or they can take McFadden and ship Maroney to Denver for their 1st+...Shanny is apparently in love with him.

[SlowwHand]

I might be wrong, but I don't think another NFL team wants to help the Patriots at all. The exception might be Oakland. Al Davis might do it just to piss off everyone else.