Big Blue Huddle

Not sure I'd assume Warmack, Fluker and Jones play in the NFL to the same degree of proficiency.  The NFL will sort that out within a  few years.  I'd love to see us land a Steve Hutchinson type player regardless of whether it's a first round or second round selection.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Dave Meggett.  Unlike Brandon Jacobs who ran hard one Sunday and got tackled by 175 lb CBs on other Sundays for loss, Dave Meggett always seemed to convert third downs for the Giants, both as a runner and pass catcher.  I know he doesn't have the yards that merit his name on your list, but damn, he was the real deal to me.

Ceri - I am getting the same feeling about Stephen Hill that you are in terms of availability and Giants interest.  With his height and speed and what looks like good character, I can see them agonizing over whether to take him if he's there.  As long as Eli is QB, I think the Giants will always look to provide him with weapons.  My only concern with him is that by playing in a triple option, he may be far behind other players in terms of NFL WR football knowledge.  Since it takes WRs a long time to develop in the NFL, I wonder if it will take him even longer.  When I think of him, I think of Thomas Lewis out of Indiana.  Why we took a WR out of Indiana is beyond me?

I agree that it seems ridiculous to reach for a DT if you took one last season and you don't have any more data to suggest Austin can't play.  Must give him a chance.  Seem solid with Canty/Joseph.

I'm making this number up, but if there are 10 things a college QB needs to transition to a successful NFL QB, it seems to me that if they already have as many as possible, their chances of success go way up.  If playing in the spread or playing with himself is something that becomes another thing for an NFL team to have to coach out of the player and correct, then it just seems like one more thing that can go wrong and thus make it harder to succeed.

To me, the guy who can just go back and sling the ball without having to think about proper footwork, where he's holding the football, his arm angle, whether he's made his progressions correctly, what the WILL is going to do, is going to be the one who succeeds.  The more clutter in their brain, the more they will not play fast and loose.  JMHO.

There's also another factor.  The folks debating Cam are at the top of the board so that gamble has probably a $50+ million risk associated with it whereas JPP was less.  Also, risk on QB is that it is much, much more about mental decisionmaking which is much harder to assess.  For a DE, it is generally about motor and physical skills, much easier to figure out and predict.

Now NYSPORTS, imagine him saying that a while back and now having say $50 million in guaranteed money sitting in his account.  After that, he may think he needs a show on the E Channel.  You've got to find the guys who don't lose themselves when they either find money or success.  Not sure how you analyze for that, but it is key.

Mike - it seems like the NFL talent evaluators have done a good job of finding out the physical talents of players, but the two areas in which they seem to fail miserably, especially for QB talent is in determining a) how smart they are with respect to understanding the complexities of the game and b) whether or not handing over $25 - $50 million in guaranteed money will change the player and make him stop working hard and constantly to improve himself.

It always seems like they fall in love with the physicals, then the QB fails in the NFL and they say, "oh, he had a terrible work ethic" or "he wasn't very smart."  When are they going to realize that this is what makes a QB, not the arm.  Chad Pennington has the arm of a 5 year old, yet he has succeeded in the NFL because he's smart and works hard.  If he had 50% of the physicals of Cam Newton, he'd likely have been a top 10 QB.

It's all about what's in between his ears.  If that works at an NFL level, the rest will follow.

Vette - we've discussed NFT here like a person wanting advice for a boss who hates him or the Frozen Four or many other things that have no bearing on football.  One of the things I love about this board is the civility with which people talk to each other.  We're not in football season and as you can see by the little activity on this board of new topics, I thought it was an interesting topic (from a variety of angles).

Sorry if I offended you or anyone.  Not trying to.

Thanks Mike for a good discussion.  We're on different sides on this.  I respect yours.

Mike - I think you are naive to think that just because there are lawyers devoted to employee discrimination that it means that if there is a problem, individuals should not be afraid.  The fact is that many companies will virtually blacklist any potential candidate who sues his/her company over sexual harassment.  While there are obviously some very good cases by some, there are others who are flakes.  A potential company may blend the two groups and not bother to even consider that person for employment.  Additionally, a person who has spent their entire career in an industry (say 20+ years) feels tremendous pressure that if they sue, they will likely never be able to get a job again in an industry in which they've devoted their lives.

By the way, just to be clear, I didn't start this post by suggesting that she had it coming to her or anything like that.  What Favre did was wrong.

I will say that I doubt a self-professed party girl from FSU was making astute business decisions in choosing to get a boob job at 18, 19 20 or whenever she did.  Additionally, she recently said that now she wants them removed because she said that folks don't take her seriously.  She's gorgeous and a 100% diehard sports fan so I give her tremendous kudos for that.  If I were her parent, I'd have told her that a long term route to success would probably have been better than making short term decisions with long term consequences.

Perception is reality.  If you want to be taken seriously, lead with the brain.  If you want to be a poster, lead with the boobs.

I disagree completely that she's an astute businesswoman.  She's the perfect example of a person who thinks for the present while ignoring any future consequences.  Jenn, you're 15 minutes are up. 

Let's see Jenn.  At around 20 years of age, you are a college student but feel the need to get a boob job.  Did you think that would help you in your Spanish class?  Then, after you luckily are seen on a camera with the Brent Mustburger famous quote, you get some attention only for your looks and then you leverage that into photo shoots in Maxim and Playboy.

You use those looks to help you land a NY Jets gig as a "hostess".  In every shot, you're dress screams cleavage.  A famous football player sends you suggestive texts and voicemessages.

Now you can't get a job and all you want is to be taken seriously with the history of provocative dress. Got news Jenn.  Being taken seriously starts with your brain and goes to your mouth.  

Are you kidding?  Nice job parenting Mr. and Mrs. Sterger.  

Todge, why are you projecting Kindle as only a LB in a 3-4?  Lots of folks think he's a great candidate to be a SLB in a 4-3.

Ceri - point as to Kindle and Graham.  The folks that keep pining about his short arms are going to watch him become a productive starter at the next level and probably nab a pro-bowl selections.  You can have short arms so long as you use them properly in fending off linemen.  I like him more than Woodley for the simple reason that he has everything Woodley has but also has a non-stop motor whereas Woodley sometimes took a play off and disappeared when there was no reason to do so at Michigan.  Plus, Woodley played with good players around him versus Graham who was the only good defensive player on that team.  I will not be disappointed at all if the Giants grab Graham.  At least we will be able to count on a linemen who can play the run equally as well as the pass.  Woodley's tackles behind the scrimmage both this past season and throughout his career has been nothing short of spectacular and really highlights his non-stop motor.

I also like Kindle and think he can be a fine SLB.  He is strong and he goes after it.  He plays fast.  He would also be a fine addition to our team.  I don't care if we have Simtin.  My guess is that taking Kindle would immediately take Simtin and relocate him to another position.