One conference blazed brightly, a series of its teams succeeding wildly beyond expectation to keep the league relevant on the national scene. Its teams have won national championships both shared and outright, played in major bowl games, and challenged the established hierarchy of the sport year after year to force its way into the discussion. The other mainly remained a regional sensation, passionate local rivalries punctuated with the occasional upset of a powerhouse program but rarely extending beyond the geographic footprint of its membership. Its teams

Five decades later, one of these two conferences is on its deathbed, staring at a future with but two remaining members. The other conference thrives as the second-largest conference currently operating in college football. It could ultimately prove a lesson in the dangers of growth and contraction in the name of chasing greatness, and an endorsement for stability and the sensibility of staying within a group’s collective means…

Over the past few years, the Western Athletic Conference has been a league under siege. Back in the early sixties, it was born from the merger of the strongest six teams from two dying conferences, with Arizona’s growing pair of universities leaving behind the Hardin-Simmonses and West Texas A&Ms of the Border Conference and half the Skyline Eight leaving behind jilted partners in the wake of their retreat. Since the momentous day in July 1962 when the WAC was officially chartered by Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, the league has existed in a vacuous state where it has alternately lived as the hunted mid-major and the hunter of weakened competition.

After a half-century of yielding national-title contenders and BCS Busters and Heisman hopefuls, the WAC is being strip-mined and auctioned off to any conference that will take its leftovers...

After Frank Kush vaulted the Sun Devils to prominence in the 1970s, Arizona’s two exponentially-expanding universities left behind a 15-year-old conference that they had both already outgrown. LaVell Edwards brought BYU up from mediocrity to fill that void, utilizing an aerial attack in Provo that catapulted the school to a level of national prominence and respect that culminated in the 1984 national title and Ty Detmer’s Heisman Trophy.

Heading into the last decade of the 20th century, the WAC regularly placed two or three teams in the Top 25 polls every season. Edwards by that point was the dean of the conference’s coaches, with strong minds challenging him annually. At various times Fisher DeBerry at Air Force, Paul Roach and Joe Tiller at Wyoming, Sonny Lubick at Colorado State, Dennis Franchione at New Mexico and Bob Wagner at Hawaii drew national attention for their exploits at schools usually far away from the mainstream radar. Later, it would be guys like Pat Hill at Fresno State, June Jones at Hawaii, Dan Hawkins and Chris Petersen at Boise State and Chris Ault at Nevada who have captivated national audiences with the teams they have directed.

But those latter-day coaches would lead in a landscape where the WAC was undervalued. Stretching beyond its traditional footprint in the 1990s, the conference went beyond using the Big West as its feeder league for the promotion of talent to higher levels of competition to grow to poaching the ugly ducklings left behind by the collapse of the Southwest Conference and the formation of the Big XII Conference. In 1996, the WAC became the first conference to balloon to superconference size, sixteen teams lining up for three seasons that would ultimately lead to the collapse of the league.

At one point the WAC served as a feeder system, promoting teams from I-AA and from lower-profile I-A conferences and then allowing them to blossom into programs too attractive to be passed up by the big-time conferences. Seven of its 26 former members currently or will soon play in one of the soon-to-be-former-BCS leagues. But, with none of the original 1962 charter founders remaining in the WAC — and, for that matter, just one of the teams that even comprised the alliance in its 16-team incarnation from 1996-98 — the spirit has been irretrievably lost from the once-proud mid-major that roared.

Instead it now exists in the very league that has become the new hunter of the mid-major ranks. Following the 1998 season, the WAC was halved from 16 to eight when all of the original teams pre-expansion deserted the teams they drew into their ranks and reconstituted into the Mountain West Conference. By 2013 that conference — which has used the WAC to continue bolstering its ranks despite the loss of Utah, BYU, TCU, Boise State and San Diego State to power conferences — will be the only remaining conference representing the conglomerated collegiate programs of the Rocky Mountains.

The Mountain West, since snagging the original eight defectors from the WAC, has poached its older yet weaker conference of any and all substantive assets over the ensuing decade. The move to grab TCU — technically a Conference USA school at the time, but just a quadrennial removed from its short-lived period as a WAC member — started the chain. Then, when Utah left to join the Pac-12 and BYU left for holy-roller independence, they reached out to poach the WAC’s preeminent member, Boise State, just a decade after the Broncos’ move to the WAC had fueled its rise from backwater I-A neophyte to nationally-known sensation. A year later, WAC rivals Nevada, Fresno State and Hawaii made the decision to move to the MWC for the 2012 season.

Then this offseason’s cards tumbled to the table, and we found out the WAC had been trumped once again. The Mountain West revealed that San Jose State and Utah State would leave the WAC for a fresh lease on life in the new Rocky Mountain powerhouse. Defending WAC champion joined I-A newcomer UT-San Antonio in announcing a move to C-USA. And the Sun Belt — whose commissioner, Karl Benson, was the same man who guided the WAC through its zenith and to its nadir from 1994 to 2012 — is snatching the WAC’s other I-A neophyte, Texas State, to help replace the loss of FIU and North Texas to C-USA.

How did we get here? Conferences come and go… since the WAC’s formation, college football has seen the de-emphasis of football at the traditional Ivy League powerhouses; the disbandment of the SWC, whose Texas-sized programs had payrolls to match;  the creation, rise, fall and subsequent bloat of the Big East; the fade into obsolescence of the Southern and Missouri Valley Conferences and folding of their relevant teams into the fabric of the other conferences. No conference is guaranteed survival, nor can any program rest comfortably in the knowledge that its home is forever secure…

Yet the other conference who entered the football landscape in that 1962 season seems as strong and secure in its position as ever. The Mid-American Conference had been formed after World War II between the city schools of the Midwest. By the time the league made the decision, 16 years after its formation, to emphasize football among its sponsored sports, it consisted of seven like-minded and geographically linked public universities across the stretch of land from Michigan through Ohio into West Virginia. After Marshall was expelled for NCAA violations in 1969, the league became even more tightly compacted within reasonable territorial range.

Over the decades the league would expand several times. In 1971, the league went from six to eight schools, adding Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan to give Western Michigan a couple of counterparts to balance the five Ohio schools. Ball State (1973) and Northern Illinois (1975) expanded the conference in a southwesterly direction into Indiana and Illinois, diversifying its draw without stretching travel budgets to a breaking point.

The MAC started working to acquire the requisite twelve members for a championship game in the 1990s — a move that incidentally was started in 1992 when then-commissioner Karl Benson (yes, that very same Benson who led the WAC and now guides the Sun Belt) welcomed Akron into the fold in the conference’s first expansion in 17 years. Five years later, the return of Northern Illinois (who had left the conference in 1986) and Marshall gave the league enough teams to host its first championship game.

Marshall’s Thundering Herd would dominate the championship game’s early incarnation, winning the first six consecutive championships. Five victories in the campus-site championship format came at home, with four victories over Toledo (including their only road game in 2001) and the other two against Western Michigan.

The addition of Buffalo and UCF (as a football-only member) grew the league’s numbers to twelve. Rather than grabbing quickly for any commodity on the market, the league sought out growth organically. At 14 members, the conference could weather the loss of UCF and Marshall to Conference USA in 2005 without the loss of their championship game. And after accepting Temple into the fold in 2007 following the Owls’ exile from the Big East, the league survived healthy as ever despite the unbalanced schedule of 13 schools.

While other conferences have had to deal with defections and have scrambled to recover numbers by perpetuating the game of musical chairs, the MAC has largely managed to survive every storm that has come its way. Losing Marshall — who in 1999 missed the league’s best chance to play in a BCS bowl when the Herd finished 13-0 with a Motor City Bowl win over #25 BYU — was painful, but it was not overly detrimental to the league’s long-term survival. Miami’s 12-1 season in 2003, the first team to break Marshall’s streak of conference titles prior to the Herd’s departure, was also not enough to gain admittance to a big-time bowl matchup. The RedHawks, led by senior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, would have to settle for the GMAC Bowl and a 49-28 win over C-USA’s Louisville.

Buffalo’s shock defeat of Ball State in the 2008 MAC Championship Game would cost the league its last best chance at a lucrative BCS slot. While the WAC and Mountain West bolstered their credentials on the exploits of Utah and TCU and Boise State and Hawaii, the teams of the Mid-American Conference were overlooked and undervalued all the while…

So why is it the WAC and not the MAC which is dying? Why does a conference that boasts BCS appearances and national championships and Heisman winners get cannibalized while a conference that couldn’t parlay perfection into a shot at greatness survives stronger than ever?

Three problems come immediately to mind. The first is the sheer matter of geography. Across the broad expanses of the western United States, in some of the least populous states in the country, there are no ways to get around the increased costs of traveling to and from games every weekend. It is one thing for a blueblood school like a Notre Dame to make a barnstorming cross-country tour every season; teams like New Mexico and Colorado State and UNLV understandably have a harder time traversing thousands of miles round trip every time they need to play another road game on the schedule. As those trips accumulate, money spews out of the program’s coffers faster than it can be accumulated…

Which leads to the second major problem that separates these two conferences — the ability to attract revenue. The downfall of the WAC in its mid-90s superconference incarnation was the inability to earn enough money to fill everyone’s accounts enough to pay for the enterprise. That was with all of its most marketable commodities intact, all of the schools that would eventually defect to start the Mountain West like BYU and Utah along with programs like TCU and Fresno State. As universities depart for greener pastures, the self-fulfilling death knell keeps snowballing into an avalanche that sweeps away fifty years of history-building.

Finally, the biggest problem is a concept that a conference has a Manifest Destiny of some sort. When the WAC spanned four time zones in its 16-team format, it stretched the idea of regionally-based conference affiliations beyond their logical extreme. Conversely, with every move the MAC has made to expand, it has fallen for the most part within sensible geographic boundaries. Falling within the Eastern and Central time zones, there is less disruption both to fans and for the actual student-athletes who… you know, have to actually play these games we discuss so much.

The MAC knows it will never be the Big Ten. It never dreamed of outpacing the Ohio States and Michigans within its regional footprint; it knew from the outset that it was a war it was destined to lose every single time, no matter how many individual upsets its member teams might pull off on the field of competition. The problem for the WAC was that, having developed in an era when the Pac-12 was still a vacuous five-team AAWU after scandal had disbanded the Pacific Coast Conference, it always had visions of becoming the preeminent western conference in college football.

But as its teams grew, they outgrew the competition around them and sought out tougher teams with which to affiliate. The Arizona schools set a precedent fifteen years after the WAC’s formation that would play out time and time again throughout the league’s half-century of relevance and the diminishing returns of a Sisyphean strive for greatness.

The departure of Utah State — a team that, in 1962, felt jilted enough by its exclusion from the WAC’s charter membership that Utah legislators tried to pass a law forcing the Aggies’ inclusion — sets things fully in perspective. When a school that was once too small to justify inclusion in a conference finds itself now too relevant to justify remaining in the conference, the wistful peals of the funeral bell have sounded a final ring across the land. Contrasted with the conference that grew on the opposite country along the same timeline, it presents a cautionary tale that bears mentioning as other leagues large and small look to grow their way to prominence themselves.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: A

I’ve made my thoughts known on what I think about Luck and Griffin in the past. I think Griffin has the potential to be better, but Luck is better right now and is the safer pick. This was an easy selection for Indianapolis as they look to replace future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning.

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: A

The second no-brainer of the evening. Despite the crap-shoot that is selecting quarterbacks in the draft these days, I feel really good about the two above. I think both Luck and Griffin will become franchise quarterbacks. The Redskins aggressive move to trade up to this pick is going to pay off.

The Browns gave up three picks to move up one spot to take Trent Richardson.

3. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: B+

This would easily be an A to me if the Browns didn’t trade up a spot to draft Richardson. Cleveland gave up three draft picks to move up one spot with Minnesota to take last season’s Doak Walker Award winner. To be fair, Cleveland entered the day with 13 picks and after selecting two in the first round, they still have eight more in the final six rounds. I’m in the minority when it comes to running backs these days, but I truly believe they are still important in the NFL despite it being a QB-driven league. Richardson has the potential to be a great NFL RB, and he instantly upgrades Cleveland’s offense.

4. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC: A

Breaking News: The Vikings did something smart on draft day. They traded back a spot, acquired three picks in the process, and were still able to draft the guy they wanted, a franchise left tackle in Matt Kalil. There was some smoke before that draft that Minnesota wouldn’t take Kalil, instead selecting cornerback Morris Claiborne. Instead, the Vikings stuck by the guy they had been linked to all along. Great selection.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: A-

Quick, name a Jaguars wide receiver from last season. I’ll wait…. (crickets)… That’s what I thought. Jacksonville was very aggressive in moving up to #5 to leapfrog the Rams and select Blackmon. Jacksonville’s wide receiver core last season was terrible, and it has been for a few years now. I’m not quite as high on Blackmon as others, and I don’t think he is as good as either wide receiver picked in the Top-10 last season, but I think he has the potential to be really good in this league. He instantly becomes the best wide receiver on the Jacksonville roster. It remains to be seen, however, if Blaine Gabbert can get him the ball.

6. Dallas Cowboys: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: A-

Even though Dallas had to give up a second round pick to move up up and get Claiborne, I still absolutely love this pick. I think Claiborne is going to be a shutdown cornerback in the NFL sooner rather than later, and Dallas needed help in the secondary. With the Cowboys signing Brandon Carr to a five-year deal earlier this offseason, they now have a very formidable 1-2 CB tandem in Carr and Claiborne.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama: B

I think Tampa Bay would have been better off staying at #5 and drafting Morris Claiborne, but it’s hard not to like this pick by Tampa Bay. Their safeties were atrocious last season so Barron fills a huge need. Barron is a very good athlete, excellent in run support, and has the potential to be a ball-hawk on the next level. He also has the endorsement of former Buccaneers safety John Lynch, and that is good enough for me.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: C

I’m not a fan of Ryan Tannehill, and I don’t see him being a franchise quarterback in the NFL. I could be wrong, but I never saw him at Texas A&M and thought he was a Top-10 pick. I understand that the Dolphins needed a quarterback after missing out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn in free agency, and then falling short in the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes, but I think they would have better served passing on Tannehill and going after a QB next season. I don’t see him as an upgrade over Matt Moore at this point.

9. Carolina Panthers: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College: B

I think this is a good pick, but the Panthers had more pressing needs on the defensive line and in the secondary. Even so, Luke Kuechly was a tackling machine at Boston College, and most NFL Draft analysts saw him as one of the safest picks in the draft this year. I’m not sure I would have taken Kuechly in the Top 10, but I understand the logic behind this pick. He should make an immediate impact on Carolina’s defense next season.

10. Buffalo Bills: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: C+

Stephon Gilmore shot up draft boards over the last few weeks for some reason or another. I think he’s a solid player, but I didn’t see him as a Top 10 talent. He was good at South Carolina, but he got beat a good bit deep by opposing wide receivers. I think Buffalo would have been better off taking Riley Reiff or Michael Floyd.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis: D-

Dontari Poe was a freak in workouts and at the NFL combine. He is an unbelievable athlete for his size, and he earned a lot of money with his incredible combine. But this is an awful pick by the Chiefs. Poe is a great talent, but his work ethic has been called into question and for good reason. With Poe showing out like he did in workouts, it raises the question of why he didn’t dominate the C-USA competition he faced at Memphis.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State: B

I think Fletcher Cox is the best defensive tackle in this draft, but I don’t like that the Eagles had to trade up to get him. The Rams probably snag him if the Eagles don’t make the move, but even then Philadelphia can stay put and take a guy like Michael Brockers. This is a pretty deep defensive tackle class, so the Eagles could have even traded back and still got a really good player at that position. Even still, Cox is a great fit for Philly’s defensive scheme, so it’s a good selection.

To appease Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals selected Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: B

I think this was a solid pick, although I think Arizona should have gone elsewhere. Larry Fitzgerald asked for some help, and the Cardinals are bringing him some with Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd. I think Floyd is on the same level as Justin Blackmon, so getting him 13th when Blackmon went eight spots higher is good value, in my opinion.

14. St. Louis Rams: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: B

Poor Rams. They trade back from 2 to 6 with Washington feeling they can still get Justin Blackmon with that pick. Instead, the Jaguars jumped up to the 5th pick to steal Blackmon. After that happened though, I really like what the Rams did by moving back. They had their eyes set on Blackmon, he was off the board, so they accumulated more picks, moved back, and still got one of the best defensive tackle prospects in this class. Brockers is raw, but he oozes potential.

15. Seattle Seahawks: Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, West Virginia: F

Easily the worst pick of the first round in my opinion, and one of the worst I have seen in the last few years. A lot of analysts had Irvin as a 2nd or 3rd round prospect, but instead the Seahawks took him in the top half of the first round. I think Irvin is solid, and could develop into a good player in the NFL, but you do not take him 15th when better defensive end/outside linebackers are on the board. If this is the guy you wanted, then trade back and get him later. I guess Pete Carroll is trying to make sure his second tour in the NFL is just as short as the first.

16. New York Jets: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: C+

I like Quinton Coples, but I don’t like him in the Jets defensive scheme. Coples is a 4-3 defensive end, in my opinion. The Jets would have been better off picking Melvin Ingram out of South Carolina, who was still on the board. This was a perplexing pick to me just because of the schematic fit. I believe Coples has a ton of potential though, so this could turn out to be a good pick.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: B+

I think Kirkpatrick is the second best cornerback in this draft behind LSU’s Morris Claiborne, so I really like this pick for the Bengals. Kirkpatrick was once considered a Top-10 talent before his arrest in Florida, so this is pretty good value. He has some question marks regarding his cover skills, but he’s another guy with loads of potential and ideal size for an NFL corner.

18. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina: A

This was a great pick by the Chargers as Melvin Ingram, considered by many as the best defensive end in this draft class, fell into their laps. Ingram is a perfect fit for San Diego’s defensive scheme as well. Ingram was highly productive in his last season with South Carolina. Ingram was expected by some to be selecting in the Top 10, so the Chargers got a steal getting him here.

19. Chicago Bears: Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State: C+

Most scouts and analysts saw McClellin as a 3-4 outside linebacker rather than a 4-3 defensive end, but he’ll be playing on the defensive line in Chicago’s defense. McClellin is another prospect who had been overlooked, but really shot up draft boards in recent weeks. A few teams in the 20s coveted the former Boise State player, but Chicago beat them to the punch. I like McClellin, but he’s a curious fit for the Bears.

20. Tennessee Titans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: C+

I’m not completely sold on Kendall Wright. He had a spectacular season for Baylor last year, but I think that was more because of Robert Griffin III. Wright’s workouts weren’t that impressive. This is a decent pick nonetheless, but I think Tennessee would have been better served taking one of the best available pass rushers in Chandler Jones or Whitney Mercilus.

21. New England Patriots: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse: B+

Finally Bill Belichick uses the picks he has been stockpiling for years. It seems like every year Belichick would trade back in the first round. Not this year. This time he was aggressive and moved up in the first round, not once, but twice. More on the second pick later. As for the first one, admittedly I don’t know a whole lot about Jones, but I’ll defer to experts such as Mike Mayock who really like him.

22. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State: F

If it wasn’t for the Seahawks taking Bruce Irvin about two rounds too high, Cleveland’s selection of Brandon Weeden with the 22nd pick would have been the worst pick of the first round. Even still, it was pretty awful. Brandon Weeden will be 29-years-old in October. You do not use a first round draft pick on a quarterback who is already older than the quarterback on your roster that you are giving up on. I would have been fine with the Browns using their second round pick on Weeden, but they should have looked elsewhere with this pick.

23. Detroit Lions: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa: A

This was one of the better picks in the first round. I thought the Lions would take Jonathan Martin with this pick, but I had no idea Riley Reiff was going to fall this far. It wasn’t long ago that Reiff was projected as a Top-10 pick. He’s a Top-10 talent, so this is an absolute steal for Detroit. The Lions keep making competent first round selections. It’s crazy what happens when you fire Matt Millen.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford: A

Another excellent pick for great value. I couldn’t believe DeCastro fell all the way to 24 into Pittsburgh’s hands. This pick was pretty much a no-brainer for the Steelers with DeCastro on the board, despite Dont’a Hightower also still being on the board. DeCastro is another very safe pick. At worst, I think DeCastro is a serviceable starting guard for the next 10 years. At best, DeCastro develops into one of the best guards in the NFL.

The Patriots were aggressive on draft day, and ended up with two good selections.

25. New England Patriots: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama: A-

Another aggressive move by New England, and another very good pick by Belichick and company. Hightower is a smart football player, and answered all the questions about lingering issues with his knee after having surgery with a big year in 2011. His versatility obviously peaked the Patriots interest in him. Hightower can play inside or outside linebacker, and is no stranger to putting his hand in the dirt as a defensive end in passing downs. The Patriots needed to upgrade their front seven, and they did just that with their two first round picks.

26. Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois: B-

This is a good value pick by the Texans, but I’m not completely sold on Mercilus despite his huge year for Illinois in 2011. He forced nine fumbles and led the nation in sacks last season, but I am always wary of one-year wonder players, and Mercilus wasn’t talked about much at all until last year. Mercilus should help fill the massive hole left by Mario Williams’ departure to Buffalo.

27. Cincinnati Bengals: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin: B-

I like Kevin Zeitler, I really do, but I thought the Bengals were going to select either Courtney Upshaw to help their needs in the defensive front seven, or they would select Cordy Glenn out of Georgia if they were going to pick an offensive guard. It’s hard to question a team selecting an offensive lineman out of Wisconsin though.

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC: C+

Another spot I think Courtney Upshaw would have been a better fit for. Upshaw was rated higher than Perry by most, but it is hard to question Ted Thompson when it comes to drafting players. The Packers needed another guy to go alongside Clay Matthews in getting after opposing quarterbacks, and that’s what they got with their first round selection even if I think another player would have been a better pick here.

29. Minnesota Vikings: Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame: B

Another good pick by the Vikings. Minnesota’s secondary was bad last year, and they play in a division with a lot of good quarterbacks and a lot of good wide receivers. They needed to help their secondary as they go against Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Jay Cutler a combined six times a season. This is not a very deep safety class with a substantial drop after Mark Barron and Harrison Smith.

30. San Francisco 49ers: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois: D-

I’m tempted to give this an F, but I think it isn’t as bad as Seattle’s or Cleveland’s 2nd pick, but man this is still a very bad pick by the 49ers. Most draft boards had A.J. Jenkins ranked in the 60s, and he is drafted in the first round. If they wanted a wide receiver, they would have been better off selecting Stephen Hill, Rueben Randle, or Alshon Jeffery. They could have also selected Jim Harbaugh’s former player, tight end Coby Fleener.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State: B

I thought David Wilson was the second best running back prospect in this class behind Trent Richardson, but Doug Martin is a better fit with Tampa Bay. Some people questioned this pick, but Martin has drawn Ray Rice comparisons, and he is a great complimentary piece in the backfield with LeGarrette Blount.

32. New York Giants: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech: B

The Giants were obviously concerned with Ahmad Bradshaw’s ability to stay healthy after releasing their backup running back Brandon Jacobs. Wilson has a good combination of speed and power, and should immediately have an impact for the offense of the defending Super Bowl Champs.

And chances are most NFL fans do follow Schefter. He is widely considered the foremost authority when it comes to NFL news, and is at the top of his profession. If you are a fan of the NFL and have a twitter, you probably follow him.

And to be fair, Adam Schefter is usually a great follow. He is always on top of NFL news, and keeps everyone who follows him up to date on all NFL news, and that is a testament to why he has over 1.5 million twitter followers.

But on Thursday night Schefter deprived all of his twitter followers of the joy of the NFL Draft that comes with the suspense of each pick. With almost every single pick on Thursday night, Schefter gave away the pick before Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped up to the podium to announce it. Usually by the time Goodell stepped to the podium, Schefter’s twitter followers knew the pick for at least a couple of minutes. Occasionally it was announced just seconds before the pick.

Bah... Humbug..

It started innocent and actually kind of cool with Schefter reporting all the trades and who those teams were probably going to take with that pick. But then it got flat out frustrating as pick-by-pick went by with Schefter tweeting out the results for everyone to see. I thought it would stop once the flurry of early trades did, but it did not.

What is the cost of being the first to report the draft picks? 1.5 million followers being robbed of the draft experience. You want Roger Goodell to be the first to announce the draft pick. Not an ESPN reporter who happens to find out the information before anyone else.

It got to the point when most of you probably unfollowed him for a short period of time, closed twitter altogether, or just tried to ignore him as much as possible. I went the route of trying to ignore his tweets, but I always seemed to end up glancing at his tweet and seeing the impending selection.

I’m not sure if Schefter has kids, but if he does Christmas morning must really suck around the Schefter household. “Hey kids, I got you a Tonka Truck.”

(Addendum: I was informed that Schefter is Jewish. And as a friend of mine points out, I guess he can take to ruining eight nights worth of gifts instead.)

Many fans took to twitter to voice their frustration with Schefter’s spoiler-alert twitter feed. The irony of it all is that with Schefter’s tweets, he actually hurt the network he works for who was televising the draft. What’s the point of watching ESPN, when you can watch something else and just look at Schefter’s twitter feed?

There were multiple big NHL playoff games on tonight that could divert the attention of some, and it was the final night for the NBA’s regular season.

I’m genuinely surprised that ESPN didn’t put a stop to Schefter’s tweets, although I should never be surprised when it comes to the “World Wide Leader.”

On the bright side, when December rolls around Schefter will be a great follow. If the Mayans turn out to be right and the world does end, I’m sure Schefter will take to twitter to announce our impending doom before anyone else knows.

So thank you, Adam Schefter, for ruining the draft watching experience for your 1.5 million twitter followers. Because being the first to report something is all that matters in the end, right?

BREAKING NEWS: Andrew Luck likely #1 pick

Round 1

1. Indianapolis – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

7. Jacksonville – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

8. Miami – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

9. Carolina – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

10. Buffalo – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

11. Kansas City – Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

12. Seattle – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

13. Arizona — David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

14. Dallas – Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State

15. Philadelphia – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

16. New York Jets – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

17. Cincinnati – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

18. San Diego – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

19. Chicago – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

20. Tennessee – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

21. Cincinnati – Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

22. Cleveland – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

23. Detroit – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

24. Pittsburgh – Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

25. Denver – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

26. Houston – Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

27. New England – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

28. Green Bay – Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

29. Baltimore – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco – Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

31. New England – Devon Still, DT, Penn State

32. New York Giants – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Wait, is he a ginger?

Round 2

1. St. Louis – Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
2. Indianapolis – Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
3. Minnesota – Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame
4. Tampa Bay – Doug Martin, RB, Boise State
5. Cleveland – Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
6. Jacksonville – Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
7. St. Louis – Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss
8. Carolina – Nick Perry, DE, USC
9. Buffalo – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
10. Miami – Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson
11. Seattle – Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California
12. Kansas City – Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State
13. Dallas – Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
14. Philadelphia – Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska
15. New York Jets – David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
16. New England – Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State
17. San Diego – Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State
18. Chicago – Josh Robinson, CB, UCF
19. Philadelphia — Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
20. Tennessee – Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
21. Cincinnati – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami, FL
22. Detroit – Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
23. Atlanta – Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
24. Pittsburgh – Kendall Reyes, DL, UConn
25. Denver – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
26. Houston – Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
27. Green Bay – LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
28. Baltimore – Billy Winn, DL, Boise State
29. San Francisco – Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
30. New England – Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State
31. New York Giants – Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Round 3

1. Indianapolis – Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami (OH)
2. St. Louis – Brandon Washington, OG, Miami (FL)
3. Minnesota – Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
4. Cleveland – Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest
5. Tampa Bay – Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah State
6. Washington – Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
7. Jacksonville – Ben Jones, C, Georgia
8. Buffalo – Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia
9. Miami – A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois
10. Miami – Markelle Martin, FS, Oklahoma State
11. Kansas City – Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
12. Seattle – Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
13. Houston – Mitchell Schwartz, OT, California
14. New York Jets – Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
15. San Diego – Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington
16. Chicago – Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska
17. Arizona – Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois
18. Dallas – Josh Kaddu, OLB, Oregon
19. Tennessee – George Iloka, FS, Boise State
20. Cincinnati – Marvin Jones, WR, California
21. Atlanta – Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
22. Detroit – Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn
23. Pittsburgh – James Brown, OG, Troy
24. Denver – Nigel Bradham, ILB, Florida State
25. Philadelphia – Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
26. New Orleans – Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia
27. Green Bay – Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State
28. Baltimore – T.Y. Hilton, WR, Florida International
29. San Francisco – Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
30. New England – Dwight Bentley, CB, UL Lafayette
31. New York Giants – Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
32. Oakland — Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama

Philly in the house

Round 4

1. St. Louis – Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
2. Indianapolis – Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma
3. Minnesota – Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
4. Houston – Audie Cole, ILB, NC State
5. Cleveland – Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas
6. Jacksonville – Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
7. Washington – Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
8. Miami – Ladarius Green, TE, UL Lafayette
9. Carolina – Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona
10. Buffalo – Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
11. Seattle – Josh LeRibeus, OG, SMU
12. Kansas City – Marcus Fortson, DT, Miami (FL)
13. Denver – Ron Brooks, CB, LSU
14. Washington – Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple
15. San Diego – Rishard Matthews, WR, Nevada
16. Chicago – Tony Bergstrom, OT, Utah
17. Arizona – Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
18. Dallas – Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
19. Philadelphia – Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
20. Tennessee – Senio Kelemete, OG, Washington
21. Cincinnati – Brandon Taylor, SS, LSU
22. Detroit – Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State
23. Cleveland – Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
24. Pittsburgh – DeQuan Menzie, CB, Alabama
25. Denver – Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State
26. Houston – Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas
27. New Orleans – Donald Stephenson, OT, Oklahoma
28. Green Bay – Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina
29. Buffalo – Demario Davis, OLB, Arkansas State
30. San Francisco – Jake Bequette (DE/Arkansas)
31. New England – Trenton Robinson, FS, Michigan State
32. New York Giants – Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri
33. Minnesota – Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State
34. Oakland – Matt McCants, OT, UAB
35. Baltimore – James-Michael Johnson, ILB, Nevada
36. New York Giants – Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas
37. Green Bay – Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
38. Green Bay – Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State
39. Minnesota – Tank Carder, ILB, TCU
40. Dallas – Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee

Round 5

1. Indianapolis – Keshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
2. Denver – Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
3. Minnesota – Devon Wylie, WR, Fresno State
4. Cleveland – Kheeston Randall, DT, Texas
5. Tampa Bay – Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina
6. Washington – Aaron Henry, FS, Wisconsin
7. Jacksonville – Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
8. Carolina – Jaye Howard, DT, Florida
9. Buffalo – Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego State
10. Miami – Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State
11. Kansas City – Vick Ballard, RB, Mississippi State
12. Buffalo – Oliver Vernon, DE, Miami, FL
13. Oakland – Taylor Thompson, TE/DE, SMU
14. San Diego – Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M
15. Chicago – Brandon Hardin, FS, Oregon State
16. Arizona – Ryan Steed, CB, Furman
17. Dallas – Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota
18. Philadelphia – B.J. Coleman, QB, Chattanooga
19. New York Jets – Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU
20. Tennessee – David Molk, C, Michigan
21. Cincinnati – Kyle Wilber, OLB, Wake Forest
22. Atlanta – Lucas Nix, OG, Pittsburgh
23. Detroit – Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State
24. Pittsburgh – Nate Potter, OT, Boise State
25. Cleveland – Bryan Anger, P, California
26. Houston – Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
27. New Orleans – Christian Thompson, FS, South Carolina State
28. Green Bay – Rishaw Johnson, OG, California (PA)
29. Baltimore – Jonathan Massaquoi, OLB, Troy
30. San Francisco – Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami (FL)
31. Cincinnati – Jacquies Smith, DE, Missouri
32. Cincinnati – DaJohn Harris, DT, USC
33. Oakland – Emmanuel Acho, OLB, Texas
34. Baltimore – Donnie Fletcher, CB, Boston College
35. Indianapolis – Chris Rainey, RB, Florida

Woah, that is rude.

Round 6

1. St. Louis – Drew Butler, P, Georgia
2. Philadelphia – Evan Rodriguez, FB/TE, Temple
3. Washington – Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
4. Tampa Bay – Duke Ihenacho, SS, San Jose State
5. Minnesota – Ryan Miller, OG, Colorado
6. Jacksonville – Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
7. Arizona – Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo – Deangelo Peterson, TE, LSU
9. New Orleans – Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
10. Carolina – Terrell Manning, OLB, NC State
11. Seattle – Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly
12. Kansas City – Hebron Fangupo, DT, BYU
13. San Diego – Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State
14. Chicago – Rhett Ellison, TE, USC
15. Arizona – Trevor Guyton, DE, California
16. Dallas – Eric Page, WR, Toledo
17. New York Jets – Mike Harris, CB, Florida State
18. Denver – Philip Blake, C, Baylor
19. Oakland – Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor
20. Tennessee – Tauren Poole, RB, Tennessee
21. Cincinnati – Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon
22. Atlanta – Chris Greenwood, CB, Albion
23. Pittsburgh – Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M
24. Philadelphia – Jeff Adams, OT, Columbia
25. Houston – Bradie Ewing, FB, Wisconsin
26. Miami – Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia
27. Green Bay – Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State
28. Baltimore – Justin Bethel, FS, Presbyterian
29. San Francisco – Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
30. Philadelphia – Janzen Jackson, FS, McNeese State
31. New York Giants – Coty Sensabaugh, CB, Clemson
32. New York Jets – Najee Goode, ILB, West Virginia
33. New York Jets – Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, DT, Baylor
34. Cleveland – Brett Roy, DE, Nevada
35. Cleveland – Joe Looney, OG, Wake Forest
36. Indianapolis – DeAngelo Tyson, DL, Georgia
37. Carolina – Brian Linthicum, TE, Michigan State

Round 7

1. Indianapolis – Devier Posey, WR, Ohio State
2. St. Louis – Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
3. Minnesota – Alex Hoffman-Ellis, OLB, Washington State
4. Cleveland – Jerry Franklin, ILB, Arkansas
5. Tampa Bay – Chase Ford, TE, Miami (FL)
6. Washington – Jordan White, WR, Western Michigan
7. Indianapolis – Ronald Leary, OG, Memphis
8. Miami – B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
9. Carolina – Danny Coale, WR, Virginia Tech
10. Buffalo – Chris Marve, ILB, Vanderbilt
11. Kansas City – Tim Fugger, DE/OLB, Vanderbilt
12. Detroit – Danny Trevathan, OLB, Kentucky
13. Chicago – Austin Davis, QB, Southern Mississippi
14. Arizona – Akiem Hicks, DT, Regina
15. Dallas – D.J. Campbell, FS, California
16. Minnesota – D’Anton Lynn, CB, Penn State
17. Green Bay – Davin Meggett, RB, Maryland
18. Seattle – Brandon Lindsey, OLB, Pittsburgh
19. San Diego – Quentin Saulsberry, C, Mississippi State
20. Tennessee – William Vlachos, C, Alabama
21. Jacksonville – Lamar Holmes, OT, Southern Mississippi
22. Atlanta – Scott Solomon, DE, Rice
23. Detroit – Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers
24. Pittsburgh – Julian Miller, DE, West Virginia
25. New York Jets – Brad Smelley, TE/FB, Alabama
26. Houston – Blair Walsh, K, Georgia
27. New Orleans – Markus Kuhn, DT, NC State
28. Green Bay – Ernest Owusu, DE, California
29. Baltimore – Michael Smith, RB, Utah State
30. San Francisco – Chris Galippo, ILB, USC
31. Kansas City – Eddie Pleasant, SS, Oregon
32. New York Giants – Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
33. Pittsburgh – Tavon Wilson, FS, Illinois
34. Green Bay – Garth Gerhart, C, Arizona State
35. New York Jets – Braylon Broughton, OLB, TCU
36. Green Bay – Trevor Coston, FS, Maine
37. New York Jets – Marquis Maze, WR, Alabama
38. Cleveland – Marcel Jones, OT, Nebraska
39. Pittsburgh – Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois
40. Cleveland – Matt Daniels, SS, Duke
41. Pittsburgh – Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas State
42. Atlanta – Eddie Whitley, FS, Virginia Tech
43. San Diego – Dustin Waldron, OT, Portland State
44. Buffalo – Antoine McClain, OG, Clemson
45. St. Louis – Buddy Jackson, CB/KR, Pittsburgh
46. Indianapolis – Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma

Don't listen to em Frank, I still think you're relevant!

Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long announced in a press conference late this evening that Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino has been placed on Administrative Leave after more details came out about Petrino’s motorcycle wreck. Petrino wrecked his motorcycle earlier this week, and it was reported today that he was not alone on the bike when the accident took place.

On the back of the bike was former Arkansas volleyball player, 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell. It just so happens that Dorell was hired by Petrino as a Student Development Coordinator last week. Petrino admitted to a “previous inappropriate relationship” in a written statement. Here is the full statement courtesy of CBS:

The state police report provides an accurate description of my accident, which includes details that had not publicly come to light prior to the report being issued. I regret that I have not publicly acknowledged a passenger on the vehicle. I have been in constant pain, medicated and the circumstances involving the wreck have come out in bits and pieces. That said I certainly had a concern about Jessica Dorrell’s name being revealed. In my press conference, I referred to her simply as “a lady.” My concern was to protect my family and a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public. In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details. Today, I’ve acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration.

I apologize to my wife, Becky, and our four children, Chancellor (David) Gearhart, Jeff Long, the Board of Trustees, University administration, my coaching staff, student-athletes and the entire state of Arkansas. I have been humbled by the outpouring of concern and get well wishes. I apologize to the Razorback Nation for the attention my actions have brought to the University of Arkansas and our program. I will fully cooperate with the University throughout this process and my hope is to repair my relationships with my family, my Athletic Direction, the Razorback Nation and remain the head coach of the Razorbacks.

AD Jeff Long said he will take some time to review the situation before coming to a decision on Petrino’s future with the program. It’s important to note that Petrino isn’t finding himself in this hot water because he was having an affair, no matter how wrong that is in its own right. He is in trouble because he lied to his boss about what happened, and then hired a woman that he was carrying on an affair with.

Jeff Long also said that Petrino will “no longer be conducting the duties of head coach at this time.” In his absence from the team, assistant coach Taver Johnson will serve as the interim head coach for the time being.

Personally, I think this is the end of the Bobby Petrino era in Fayetteville. I just don’t really see a way he can get out of this situation with his job.

Andrew Luck is the safer pick, but Robert Griffin III might have the higher ceiling.

This time of the year, there are more Mock Drafts on the internet than you probably care to read. Everybody with a blog even remotely to do with football enjoys putting together some kind of mock draft for the NFL. Instead of your run of the mill mock, I got together with Breaking Tackles contributor Brady Ford to present to you a different kind of mock draft. Brady and I put together this mock to let you know what each team SHOULD do with their respective first round picks. This isn’t how we think the NFL Draft will go, but rather how we think it should go.

Brady made every odd pick, and I took the evens.

1. Indianapolis Colts — Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

When you’re forced to choose between two great quarterback prospects, you’re forced to nitpick. Luck is coming from a pro-style offense where he had far less talented wide receivers than RG3’s Kendall Wright. Griffin III also missed most of his sophomore season to a torn ACL. While these factors don’t keep RG3 from being a sensational prospect, in my eyes, they do place him slightly behind Andrew Luck in this draft.

2. Washington Redskins — Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Brady’s assessment above about Luck and RG3 is spot-on. Personally, I believe Griffin III has a higher ceiling than Andrew Luck, but Luck is undoubtedly the safer selection for the Colts. Still, the Redskins didn’t pay the big bounty to St. Louis to move up and take Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon. Griffin III, last season’s Heisman Trophy winner, has all the tools to be an elite QB in the NFL.

3. Minnesota Vikings — Matt Kalil, OT, USC

After cutting Bryant McKnnie due to his weight gain, the Vikings were left without the elite left tackle that every team craves. As a result, they gave up 49 sacks in 2011, tied for 5th worst in the league. Matt Kalil is a perfect fit here. Kalil is strong enough to be a punishing run blocker, while quick enough to shut down the league’s most explosive pass rushers. He’s the franchise tackle everyone wants, and Minnesota will be lucky to get him.

Too early for a RB? Not if that RB is Trent Richardson.

4. Cleveland Browns — Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

I know some people will disagree with this pick because they don’t believe a running back should be taken this high. I would agree to a point, but I think that Richardson is an elite level running back prospect, and the best to come through the draft since Adrian Peterson. Richardson is built like a mack truck with the ability to run a 4.4 forty. He rarely goes down on first contact, and has unreal lower body strength which gives him the ability to move piles when he is wrapped up. With both elite QB’s off the board, I think Cleveland has to take Richardson.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

This is a difficult pick for Tampa Bay, as they already have Eric Wright, Aqib Talib, and Ronde Barber under contract at corner. The reason they still take Claiborne over Justin Blackmon is problems with those latter two players. This June, Talib will be on trial for a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Even in the best case scenario where he is found innocent, Talib will still likely face a lengthy suspension from Roger Goodell. Barber will turn 37 before the draft, making this season his last hurrah in all likelihood. As teams rely more and more on the pass, having a great corner (or two) becomes increasingly more important. Claiborne should be the pick.

6. St. Louis Rams — Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

I don’t think Blackmon is as good of a prospect as A.J. Green or Julio Jones last season, but he is the top wide receiver prospect in this draft. The Rams desperately need to bring in receiving help for Sam Bradford. They traded for Brandon Lloyd during last season, but he signed with the Patriots recently. With Lloyd gone, their top two returning receivers are Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander. Blackmon would give Bradford a good young receiver to grow up with.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars — Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

In 2011, Jeremy Mincey led the Jaguars in sacks with 8. No other player had even 4. It’s fair to say Jacksonville has a pass-rushing problem. Quinton Coples might just be the solution. Standing 6’6” and weighing in at 284 lbs, Coples is everything you’re looking for physically in a defensive end. He’s quick enough and skilled enough as a pass rusher to rack up sacks, while strong enough to hold up against the run. He might be a top 5 pick if not for his relative lack of production compared to these attributes, leading to questions about his effort level. Coples has enough potential to overcome this and be a great value with the 7th pick.

8. Miami Dolphins — Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

A lot of mocks have Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill being selected here by the Dolphins after Miami missed out on getting Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn this offseason. But, this is who each team SHOULD select and in my opinion Tannehill is not talented enough to be worthy of being a Top-10 pick. I think Miami should move forward with Matt Moore for the time being and solidify their offensive line. They have a need at right tackle, and Riley Reiff would be a good pick here.

9. Carolina Panthers — Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

The Panthers could use some help on the interior of their defensive line. Dontari Poe is an enormous defensive tackle (6’3.5”, 346 lbs.) who, considering his size, is a freakish athlete. Poe ran a remarkable sub-5.0 40 at the combine, a time which would be impressive even if he were 40 pounds lighter. Even if Poe doesn’t post huge sack numbers, he should be valuable with his ability to draw double teams, allowing Charles Johnson an easier path to the quarterback.

10. Buffalo Bills — Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bills looked primed to use this pick on a pass rusher, but they signed both Mario Williams and Mark Anderson through free-agency to solidify their pass rushing issues. Instead, the Bills should look for a receiver to compliment Stevie Johnson and give Ryan Fitzpatrick another weapon. If Riley Reiff was still on the board, then he should be the pick, but if not it should be Floyd. Floyd is possibly the most NFL ready wide receiver in this draft class.

11. Kansas City Chiefs — Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Last year, the San Francisco 49ers had the most dominant rushing defense in the league thanks to two elite inside linebackers, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. While Kuechly and Derrick Johnson are unlikely to match Willis and Bowman, they’d have the potential to be one of the most fearsome pairings in the league, and could greatly improve Kansas City’s defense, especially against the run.

12. Seattle Seahawks — Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

The Seahawks were tied for 19th in the league a year ago with 33.0 sacks, and only Chris Clemons had more than 4. Seattle could use this pick to upgrade their pass rush, and Melvin Ingram is the best available here. A monster senior season for the Gamecocks shot Ingram up draft boards, and he could conceivably go off the board ahead of North Carolina’s Quinton Coples depending on the situation.

13. Arizona Cardinals — David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

It is rare to see a guard picked in the first half of the first half round, but it is also rare to see a guard prospect of David DeCastro’s caliber. DeCastro not only has the potential to be a perennial All-Pro down the road, but he has the talent and experience, 40 starts in a pro-style offense, to be one of the better guards in the league immediately. Arizona’s offensive line needs help. They gave up the second most sacks in the league in 2011. DeCastro is sorely needed.

14. Dallas Cowboys — Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Cowboys have to address their problems in the secondary early in the NFL Draft this year. They used their first round pick last season on Tyron Smith an offensive tackle out of USC. That worked out fine, but they have to take a defensive back this year. They finished 23rd in the league a year ago in pass defense. I think with this pick they should choose between two Alabama defensive backs, Dre Kirkpatrick or Mark Barron.

Is Ryan Tannehill worthy of being selected in the Top 15?

15. Philadelphia Eagles — Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The only glaring weaknesses for the Eagles at this point seem to be at left tackle, due to the injury to Jason Peters, and at outside linebacker. This is a bit too early for any of the outside linebackers, and I think the Eagles would be best off just relying on King Dunlap and/or a free agent for 2012 until Jason Peters comes back in 2013. Michael Vick is surely very talented. But he is also injury-prone and about to turn 32. Due to these factors, it is important that they have a back-up who’s capable of winning games as well as being the potential franchise QB of the future. While Tannehill does not have the polish of Luck or Griffin, he’s not far off in terms of talent. The Eagles coaching staff could help him reach his full potential.

16. New York Jets — Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The Jets need pass rushing help, and Courtney Upshaw would be a great fit in the Jets 3-4 defense. Upshaw is used to playing outside linebacker in Alabama’s 3-4 defense. He spent three years playing the Jack Linebacker spot in Nick Saban’s defense. Upshaw also has experience putting his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end. Upshaw’s versatility makes him valuable.

17. Cincinnati Bengals — Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia

Bobbie Williams, the longtime Bengals starter at right guard, is 35 and at or near the end of his career. A replacement needs to be found, and Cordy Glenn would be a good one. Despite weighing in at just under 350 lbs, Glenn posted the 6th best 40 yard dash time amongst all offensive lineman, making him one of the more intriguing athletes of the draft. Glenn has the size to play guard, but may have the athleticism to play right tackle if needed.

18. San Diego Chargers — Jonathan Martin (OT/Stanford)

This would be a steal for the Chargers at #18. Martin could easily go 5-6 picks ahead of here, and if he is still on the board I think San Diego has to take him. The Chargers need a right tackle, and while Martin played left tackle at Stanford, I think he could easily make the transition over to the right side.

19. Chicago Bears — Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

While strong safety is not Chicago’s most glaring need, it is a need, and Mark Barron is the best player available at a needed position. After struggling mightily against the pass in 2011 and losing Brandon Meriweather in free agency, the secondary needs to be addressed. Barron should be an upgrade over Craig Steltz. Over his final 3 seasons, Barron made over 200 tackles and intercepted 12 passes.

20. Tennessee Titans — Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

If it wasn’t for character concerns that led to his dismissal at Florida, Jenkins would be selected a lot higher than this. He has a ton of potential, and we could easily look back at him being the top cornerback out of this draft class five years from now. The Titans lost Cortland Finnegan in free agency to the Rams, so they need to grab a corner early in the draft.

21. Cincinnati Bengals — Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Bengals never fully replaced Jonathan Joseph after losing him to the Texans in 2011. That need persists to this draft, where they should be happy to get Stephon Gilmore with their second pick. Physically, Gilmore is exactly what you want in a corner. He’s over 6’0” tall and he ran a blazing 4.40 40 at the Combine, second fastest among cornerbacks. He’s also experienced, starting all 40 games at South Carolina.

Trent Richardson and Kendall Wright would make for a successful first round for Cleveland.

22. Cleveland Browns — Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

If the Browns are planning on moving forward with Colt McCoy at QB for the time being, they need to surround him with as much help as they possibly can. After drafting Trent Richardson with the 4th overall pick, I think the Browns should look at a wide receiver at #22, and they should be thrilled if Kendall Wright is still on the board at this point. How much success can you expect your QB to have when your leading receivers are Greg Little and Josh Cribbs?

23. Detroit Lions — Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Lions’ current left tackle, Jeff Backus, is 34 years old and there’s a good chance he only has a year or two left. With no glaring needs that can be solved here, Detroit would be best off addressing this need so they don’t have to desperately try to fill it in the future with rookies and free agent stopgaps. Adams hasn’t always played up to his potential, but with his size and athleticism, he could be one of the league’s premier offensive tackles in a few years time.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers — Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

The Steelers cut longtime linebacker James Farrior this offseason, so they would be smart to look at drafting a long-term solution at inside linebacker in the first round of this draft. Hightower was the leader of the top-ranked Alabama defense a year ago, and really put to rest any questions about his knee injury in 2009 being a long-term issue.

25. Denver Broncos — Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

The Broncos would be getting a potential steal here. The Broncos desperately need defensive tackle help after losing Broderick Bunkley in free agency and Ryan McBean for the first 6 games of the season due to a suspension. Brockers has great size for the position at 6’5”, 322lbs. If he’s able to command double teams as he did in college, he’ll improve an already dangerous Broncos pass-rush, while improving their run defense.

26. Houston Texans — Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Stephen Hill was extremely impressive at the combine and that vaulted him into the first round. Measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Hill ran a blazing 4.36 in the 40-yard-dash. He didn’t get to show his immense talent that often playing in Paul Johnson’s option offense at Georgia Tech, but it was on full display in Indianapolis. It’s time the Texans get a legitimate #2 receiver to go alongside Andre Johnson.

27. New England Patriots — Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

The Patriots ran both the 4-3 and 3-4 last year, which makes Fletcher Cox valuable because he can fit in either scheme. He’s strong enough to play inside in the 4-3 alongside Vince Wilfork, while quick and explosive enough to play the 5 technique in the 3-4. To get a player of Cox’s talent and versatility would be a dream come true for that Patriots at 27.

28. Green Bay Packers — Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

I seriously doubt Mercilus lasts this long, but if he does I think the Packers would have to grab him here. The Packers don’t need much, but they could stand to bolster their pass rush, and Mercilus seems like a good fit for their defensive system. Mercilus was a relative unknown entering last season, but he busted onto the scene with a monster season for the Illini, where he led the nation in sacks.

29. Baltimore Ravens — Kendall Reyes, DL, UConn

There are a lot of ways Baltimore could go with this pick, but I think they ought to play it somewhat safe with Kendall Reyes. Though unspectacular, Reyes is a very good player who should be able to replace Cory Redding on the Ravens defensive line. The Ravens shouldn’t miss a beat with the exchange as Reyes and Redding are almost exactly the same size. They are separated by one pound and 1/8 of an inch. Fascinating, I know.

30. San Francisco 49ers — Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

A strong pro day vaulted Coby Fleener to the top tight end in this draft class. Jim Harbaugh likes to utilize multiple tight ends in his offense and adding Fleener to go along with Vernon Davis would give the 49ers a dynamic duo similar to the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. San Fran needs to surround Alex Smith with as many weapons as it possibly can.

31. New England Patriots — Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

Nick Perry is another talented and versatile front 7 player who really fits with the Patriots. Perry is an excellent pass-rusher who is capable of playing as a defensive end in the 4-3, as well as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4. With the Patriots, Perry should have ample opportunity to do both, as they try to improve their pass rush.

32. New York Giants — David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

With no offensive tackle left on the board worthy of this pick, I think the defending Super Bowl Champions should look at replacing Brandon Jacobs in the backfield. They released him this offseason, and nobody is sure if Ahmad Bradshaw can hold up carrying the entire load himself. Wilson rushed for 1700 yards last season in Blacksburg with a 5.9 yards per carry average. He’s the 2nd best running back prospect in this draft outside of Trent Richardson.

This is my first crack at a mock draft this season as I decided to hold off until after the combine to write one because so much changes after the week in Indianapolis. This mock draft is just the first round for now, but hopefully sometime before the draft I will do a multiple round mock.

1. Indianapolis Colts — Andrew Luck (QB/Stanford)

Robert Griffin III’s combine workout may have turned the most heads, but Luck had an impressive workout in his own right. He didn’t throw at the combine, but his 40 yard dash, broad jump, and vertical were eerily similar to last season’s #1 pick Cam Newton. Even though Griffin has been jumping up draft boards, Andrew Luck will still be the first pick by the Colts. Luck is the safer pick after running a pro style offense at Stanford while Griffin ran the spread at Baylor. Drafting Luck will usher in a new era for the Colts with Peyton Manning moving on.

2. Cleveland Browns — Robert Griffin III (QB/Baylor)

The Rams are going to trade this pick, and they are going to get a bounty for it as some team tries to move up to take the Heisman Trophy winner. In my opinion, Cleveland seems the most likely to make the move up to #2. They have two first round picks, #4 and #22, which should seriously appeal to the Rams. Also don’t count out the Redskins or Dolphins from moving into this position. While I do believe Andrew Luck will be the better player right away, I think Griffin has the higher ceiling. No player in college football last season threw the deep ball better than he did, and he is a world class athlete. I think he has the potential to be the right handed Michael Vick.

3. Minnesota Vikings — Matt Kalil (OT/USC)

One of the teams that will most benefit most from the Rams trading out of the #2 pick will be the Vikings who will be able to draft Matt Kalil to fill a big hole at left tackle. If the Rams stand pat at #2, which is unlikely, they will probably draft Kalil. If they move out however, the Vikings are going to able to draft a franchise left tackle to build their offensive line around for many years to come. The only two options for Minnesota here would be taking Kalil or drafting Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Kalil is a no brainer if he is available.

4. St. Louis Rams — Justin Blackmon (WR/Oklahoma State)

The Rams would be pretty excited to move down two spots in the draft with the option of taking either Matt Kailil or Justin Blackmon while also picking up another first round pick, and probably another pick or two later in the draft. LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is also an option, but the Rams desperately need a wide receiver for young quarterback Sam Bradford. I’m not sure if Blackmon is going to be as good of a pro as last season’s top 10 wide receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones, but he’s undoubtedly the best receiver in this class.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Morris Claiborne (CB/LSU)

This pick is going to go one of two ways. The Buccaneers are either going to take Morris Claiborne like I’m predicting, or they are going to take Alabama running back Trent Richardson. With how running backs have been devalued the last few years, Morris Claiborne makes the most sense and fills a big need for Tampa Bay. Claiborne was a bit overshadowed last season by his teammate Tyrann Mathieu who got the bulk of the media attention and was a Heisman finalist. But, Claiborne was the Thorpe Award winner for the nation’s top defensive back, and I believe he has the ability to develop into a shutdown cornerback in the NFL.

6. Washington Redskins — Riley Reiff (OT/Iowa)

The Redskins are going to try and make a trade with the Rams to move up and take Robert Griffin. Unfortunately, I believe the Browns have better trade chips to offer with their two first round picks. The ‘Skins will also be targeting Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn in free agency if that doesn’t work out. I’ve seen some mocks that project Washington to take Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill right here, but that would be a major reach. There are two franchise QB’s in this draft class, and Tannehill is not one of them. If they can’t get a quarterback, look for the Redskins to draft an offensive tackle and Reiff is the best available.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars — Quinton Coples (DE/North Carolina)

The Jaguars desperately need to bring in some skill position players to help Blaine Gabbert, but with Justin Blackmon off the board, any receiver would be a reach at this point. Jacksonville struggled getting to the passer last season, and they should target a pass rusher with this pick unless somehow Justin Blackmon falls in their laps at #7, which would make this pick much, much easier. Coples is the top rated defensive end in this draft class, and he could immediately help shore up the Jaguars’ pass rushing woes.

8. Miami Dolphins — Jonathan Martin (OT/Stanford)

Personally, I think Jonathan Martin is the #2 offensive tackle in this draft class ahead of Iowa’s Riley Reiff, but I’m in the minority there. The Dolphins are another team who are going to try and move up to get Robert Griffin, but I can’t see them having enough to entice St. Louis. Instead, look for the Dolphins to make a serious run at Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn in free agency. I think the Dolphins make the most sense for Manning outside of Indianapolis because he already owns a house in South Beach. If they bring in Manning, they are going to need to make sure he is projected, and bringing in Martin would do just that.

9. Carolina Panthers — Dontari Poe (DT/Memphis)

A week ago, Dontari Poe was a fringe first round prospect. After the combine, he may very well be the first defensive tackle off the board on draft night. Poe put together an insane combine performance. At 346 pounds, Poe ran a ridiculous 4.8 in the 40-yard dash. That’s just not fair. The biggest thing working against Poe is many people are worried about his work ethic. While his work ethic can be questioned, his raw physical ability can’t be. His raw talent will cause him to go quickly in the draft.

10. Buffalo Bills — Courtney Upshaw (DE/LB/Alabama)

The Bills desperately need help getting to the passer as the team leader in sacks a year ago only notched 5.5. Courtney Upshaw anchored the Alabama pass rush the last two seasons, and was a key cog on the Tide defense that led the team to a National Championship in 2011. Upshaw is a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he is no stranger to putting his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end at Alabama. The Bills used their first round pick a year ago on Upshaw’s former teammate Marcell Dareus, and selecting Upshaw here would further solidify the Buffalo defensive line.

11. Kansas City Chiefs — Trent Richardson (RB/Alabama)

Trent Richardson wasn’t able to do on-field drills at the combine due to a minor procedure on his knee, but that should not hurt his draft stock. The Chiefs do already have Jamaal Charles, but he suffered a major knee injury last season, and he may not be the same guy when he comes back. Even if Charles is able to get back to 100%, Richardson would join him as one of the top 1-2 punches in the NFL immediately. Richardson is the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson with his combination of size, strength, and speed. The Heisman Trophy finalist should be an immediate contributor wherever he ends up.

12. Seattle Seahawks — Melvin Ingram (DE/OLB/South Carolina)

Chris Clemson was good last year, but he was the only player for the Seahawks who could consistently get to the passer. They need to bring in somebody in the first round who can help the pass rush. Ingram shot up draft boards with a great final season in Columbia as helped the Gamecocks to an 11-win season. All eyes were on freshman Jadevon Clowney coming into this year for South Carolina, but Melvin Ingram really stole the show. He’s another defensive end/linebacker hybrid, and he should help Seattle immediately.

13. Arizona Cardinals — David DeCastro (OG/Stanford)

The Cardinals will be looking to shore up their offensive line this offseason to protect the large investment they made in Kevin Kolb, and don’t be surprised if they are a player in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. A tackle is more of a pressing need, but with the top three off the board already, they will look elsewhere. DeCastro is far and away the best guard prospect in this draft class, and would immediately upgrade the Cardinals offensive line next season.

14. Dallas Cowboys — Dre Kirkpatrick (CB/Alabama)

A solid combine solidified Dre Kirkpatrick’s standing as the 2nd best corner in this draft class behind Claiborne. Some thought his draft stock would slip due to his arrest in January, but the marijuana possession charges were dropped. The Cowboys really need to upgrade their secondary this offseason, and getting Dre Kirkpatrick with the 14th pick would be great value. Kirkpatrick has the ideal size you want in an NFL cornerback, and ran a 4.5 40 at the combine. Kirkpatrick has all the tools to be a shutdown NFL corner.

15. Philadelphia Eagles — Luke Kuechly (ILB/Boston College)

The Eagles were supposed to cruise to the NFC East crown last season, and be one of the main contenders for the Super Bowl. Instead, they missed the playoffs altogether, and it was partially due to paltry linebacker play, and they struggled against the run. Kuechly had a strong performance at the combine to reinforce his standing as the top inside linebacker prospect in this draft class. He was a tackling machine at Boston College, and should be able to come right in and immediately be a force on the Philadelphia defense.

16. New York Jets — Nick Perry (DE/OLB/USC)

The Jets are another team with pass rushing concerns, and it would be smart if they addressed that early in the NFL Draft. Nick Perry had an impressive combine, and he should be a great fit in Rex Ryan’s defense. I could also see the Jets addressing their need at safety by selecting Alabama’s Mark Barron, but this might be a bit high for him.

17. Cincinnati Bengals — Janoris Jenkins (CB/North Alabama)

Jenkins started out his career at Florida before being kicked off the team after multiple arrests with a year of eligibility left. He spent his final season in college at North Alabama, and managed to stay out of trouble. He has character concerns, but that should matter little to the Bengals with the physical ability he has.

18. San Diego Chargers — Whitney Mercilus (DE/Illinois)

Mercilus had a huge junior season for the Illini, leading the nation in sacks with 16. He only helped his draft stock at the combine with a 4.68 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical leap. The Chargers need help rushing the passer, and nobody was better in college last season than Mercilus.

19. Chicago Bears — Michael Floyd (WR/Notre Dame)

Michael Floyd’s strong combine solidified his position as the #2 wide receiver in this draft class behind Justin Blackmon. Floyd looked very good in all the receiver drills, and ran his 40 in the 4.4 range. Floyd could very well go higher than this, but the Bears would be ecstatic if he fell into their laps at #19. He’s had some off-field issues, but Floyd has immense talent and would give Jay Cutler another weapon on offense.

20. Tennessee Titans — Andre Branch (DE/Clemson)

This could be a bit high for Branch, but the Titans were 2nd worst in the league last year in sacks, and they are going to look to upgrade their pass rush early in the NFL Draft. Branch had a strong final season with Clemson, and he put together an impressive combine to boost his draft stock. Branch ran a 4.7 in the 40 yard dash, and was among the top performers in many other drills.

21. Cincinnati Bengals — Cordy Glenn (OG/Georgia)

Cordy Glenn showed off his versatility at the Senior Bowl and at the combine to boost his draft stock into the first round. He measured at just under 6-foot-6 and 345 pounds along with having the longest arms among any offensive lineman measured. Glenn is a more natural fit at guard, and could immediately start at left guard for the Bengals as an upgrade over Nate Livings.

22. St. Louis Rams — Devon Still (DT/Penn State)

Devon Still’s draft stock took a bit of a dive due to some other defensive tackles having more impressive workouts at the combine. Still’s game tape will keep him in the first round though. He was a finalist for many of the major defensive awards at Penn State last season, and was the top interior defensive lineman in college football. This pick is a part of the projected Rams/Browns trade.

23. Detroit Lions — Stephon Gilmore (CB/South Carolina)

This is a bit of a reach, but the Lions desperately need cornerback help, and Stephon Gilmore had a good showing at the combine to push him toward the first round. The Lions will probably be hoping Janoris Jenkins’ character concerns drop him to their selection, but if not they will probably reach for a corner like Gilmore.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers — Dont’a Hightower (ILB/Alabama)

James Farrior is getting older, and the Steelers will probably be looking for his successor in this draft class, and taking Dont’a Hightower would do just that. Hightower had a solid combine to keep himself as the #2 inside linebacker in this class behind Boston College’s Luke Kuechly. It also helped Hightower that Vontaze Burfict struggled so much in Indianapolis. Hightower anchored Alabama’s 2011 National Championship defense.

25. Denver Broncos — Kendall Wright (WR/Baylor)

Kendall Wright’s draft stock took a bit of a dive because of his poor 40 at the combine, but this still feels a little low to me. He will probably be taken a little bit higher than this, and will probably help himself with a good performance at Baylor’s Senior Day. Wright was the top target of Heisman Trophy Winner Robert Griffin’s last season.

26. Houston Texans — Stephen Hill (WR/Georgia Tech)

Stephen Hill’s draft stock skyrocked after an amazing performance at the combine. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Hill ran a 4.36 40-yard dash. Hill didn’t get a lot of opportunities at Georgia Tech to showcase his receiving ability with the triple-option attack ran by Paul Johnson. The Texans would love to bring in a wide receiver to go alongside Andre Johnson.

27. New England Patriots — Mark Barron (SS/Alabama)

It’s too bad Mark Barron didn’t get to work out at the combine after double hernia surgery because he is an athletic freak. Barron started at Alabama for three years and was an important contributor on two National Title teams. The Patriots secondary wasn’t good last season to put it lightly, and they will definitely look to upgrade it early in the NFL Draft.

28. Green Bay Packers — Michael Brockers (DT/LSU)

There are four first round defensive tackle prospects in this draft class, and honestly they could go in any order. I’ve seen Brockers slated to go as high as 9th to the Panthers, and some mocks don’t even have him in the first round. Brockers didn’t have as strong as a combine as some other defensive tackles, but he is the best player available right here.

29. Baltimore Ravens — Peter Konz (C/Wisconsin)

Peter Konz didn’t manage many reps on the bench press at the combine, and that has caused his stock to drop a bit. Matt Birk is still around, but the Ravens need to look for his successor at center sooner rather than later. Konz should also be able to start his NFL career at guard before moving to center when Birk is done.

30. San Francisco 49ers — Alshon Jeffery (WR/South Carolina)

There were rumors swirling that Jeffery was weighing in the 230s about a week before the combine, but he weighed in at the combine at 216 pounds. Jeffery admitted to being around 230 pounds in his final season at South Carolina. He has slipped some on most boards, but he still has too much talent to slip out of the first round in my opinion. The 49ers finished with the second best record in the NFC due to their defense, but they really need to bring in more weapons on offense.

31. New England Patriots — Fletcher Cox (DT/Mississippi State)

I’ve seen some mocks that have Fletcher Cox in the top half of the first round, so if the Patriots could get him at #31 it would be considered a steal. The Pats need a lot of help on defense, and they will be looking for multiple upgrades in their front seven. Cox performed well at the combine, and like I said before there are an array of defensive tackles that are pretty much interchangeable in this class.

32. New York Giants — Dwayne Allen (TE/Clemson)

Dwayne Allen didn’t have a good combine, but I still think he’s the best tight end in this draft class. Jake Ballard tore his ACL in the Super Bowl so the tight end position has become an area of need for this team. Even if Ballard comes back 100%, surrounding him with an athletic tight end like Allen would only help the Super Bowl Champion’s offense.

When Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky and Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson announced last fall that their two conferences were in discussions to merge football operations by 2013 in hopes of attaining a lucrative BCS automatic qualifying bid for their member institutions, it was ostensibly a move to stave the bleeding of its best and brightest. By the time the two conferences announced the day before Valentine’s Day that their union was to go even further, the best and brightest had already bled away and the move took on the stench of survival at all costs.

All the talk about superconferences in the past few years has come to fruition. What is ancient history is reborn anew, and once again it is the mid-major element of college football that has reached that magic number of sixteen before the superpowers. We all saw what happened last time a conference extended itself far beyond the realm of sane geographical confines. But while ten of the teams involved in the current merger were involved as well in the futile extension by the WAC in the mid-1990s, the stakes are even greater this time around.

Is history doomed to repeat itself once more? All the problems that sank the bloated WAC are even more prominent in this attempt at rendering a superconference.

• GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT: Where Rice and Tulsa served as the eastern terminus for the WAC from 1996-98, now they are the central buttress that links east to west in a conference that will push all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Where travel across nine states and four time zones proved to be too much, now this new conference takes root across five time zones and thirteen states. Even with an east/west divisional format, travel budgets are going to balloon.
• MONEY: All these extra expenditures are going to require additional funding. The ten-year contract signed by the Mountain West in 2006 pays out $12 million per year over its life. The deal signed by Conference USA in 2011 earns the league $14 million per year. While BCS appearances have helped improve the overall payout in the former, there is no guarantee that this conference as constructed would be granted a regular seat at the table. Which means that new TV negotiations for the reconstituted league will require exponential increase in revenue.

The problem for this conference, though, comes down to a dearth of marketable assets. The two leagues, negotiating at the time with the benefit of programs like Utah and BYU and Houston and TCU, still were able to only negotiate for one-tenth the money doled out annually to the Pac-12 and SEC and the Big Ten — combined. Now they link up just as Utah gears up for its second season in the Pac-12, as TCU readies for its first Big XII season, and Boise State and Houston lead the exodus to a Big East that is equally bloated geographically but at least guarantees a BCS spot… for now.

Of course, the school presidents and conference commissioners are saying all their soothing somethings:

• “We will have 16 to who knows, maybe 24 teams in all five time zones including Hawaii so we span coast to coast with a real solid presence. On top of that, we will have a very large number of sets in America. We think having our teams on nationally from coast to coast is very strong. We frankly think that improves our market value.”  – UNLV president Dr. Neal Smatresk to Yahoo! Sports
• “We’ve had some very preliminary and high-level conversations with the TV network, not at the detail-level. We think this new conference will draw considerable interest from the networks.” – Tulane president Scott Cowen to SI.com

But while it’s one thing to say that the networks are showing considerable interest in such a wide-reaching conference, it is entirely another to fork over even half the money that one of the four biggest BCS conferences pulls in annually. And without at least that much — without a minimum of $128 million annually, which spread around would net each of the schools $8 million (still comparatively low to the $20+ million AQ schools are pulling in) — the pie will be sliced too thinly to help any of the sixteen schools survive in an even more expensive operating environment.

Maybe this will all turn out well in the end, and we’ll be watching schools from whatever this conference is eventually named winning national championships for decades to come. The more likely ending is one we’ve already seen, though… remember, the Mountain West only exists to announce this merger with Conference USA because sixteen teams proved to be too many for the charter institutions that broke away.

Manning has been optimistic throughout this whole process, and now with the clearance according to sources he plans to play again in 2012. The main problem now is from a performance standpoint. While his neck seems to have heeled fine, the nerve regeneration in his triceps will determine when Manning will  be able to take the field again.

According to ESPN, sources told them that Manning had a throwing session on Tuesday with Colts receivers Anthony Gonzalez and Blair White. So while Manning is healthy enough to play now, he is not where he wants to be from a performance standpoint, and it might take some time before he is where he wants to be.

While Manning seems to be on track to play in 2012, where he will play now becomes the real question. Colts owner Jim Irsay and Manning plan to have a sit down after the Super Bowl to discuss Manning’s future with the team. Irsay has until March 8th to decide whether Manning will be with the Colts moving forward. Manning is due a $28 million dollar bonus on that date as a part of his 5-year 90-million dollar contract extension he signed with the Colts before the 2011 season.

Most people expect Irsay not to exercise the $28 million dollar bonus, which would make Manning an unrestricted free agent immediately. The Colts are expected to use their #1 overall pick in the draft on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

If Manning does become a free agent look for teams like the Redskins, Dolphins, Cardinals, and the Jets to be among the teams interested in bringing in the four time MVP.

This is a great day for NFL fans as one of the all time greats, who many expected to never play again, is on track to play again in 2012.