Mel Kiper was Missing Bigger Point

New England is fine with this guy

Recently Mel Kiper wrote an article for ESPN about drafting a quarterback to replace incumbent starters.  It starts out talking about how the Packers made the right move as they selected Aaron Rodgers with the 24th pick of the 2005 draft as an heir apparent to Brett Favre.  He then goes on to put the issue in a current day voice and then rates the urgency level.  The point of this blog isn't to go toe to toe with his ratings but merely to point out the fact that it was a much smarter and easier move for the Packers because it was such great value and Brett Favre is a bit of a head case.  I have been a Brett Favre backer, but we need to call a spade a spade and he has not been that reliable for the past forever seasons.  For those of you who remember this draft, Aaron Rodgers was originally the quarterback who was supposed to go first overall, not Alex Smith, who eventually did to the San Fransisco 49ers.   I don't think it was a big stretch to take a quarterback who was originally valued as the number one pick and you have a 35 year old quarterback who can't make up his mind on whether he is going to play on a day to day basis.  In my eyes that was a slam dunk pick no matter how you cut it and it seemed to work out for them.
You can not put this same test to quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as they are very happy where they are and have at least 3 or 4 more good if not great years, maybe more in Brady's case.  If you want to draft a quarterback later on that is fine, especially if he is a good value at that spot.  Right now, these teams need to take advantage of what they have and find the best players available as both of these teams are Super Bowl favorites year in and year out.  So I apologize to Mr. Kiper, who did state that these teams shouldn't do it early, but I will go a step further and state that the idea shouldn't even enter their mind.
In case you wanted to read the article here is the link:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=6362093

Cam Newton to the Bengals would be Legendary

2010 Heisman Winner and future
possible punch line, Cam Newton

If you have read my blog before you would understand the title right off the bat as I am constant berating the Bengal organization and have also previously mentioned my thoughts that Cam Newton is being drafted too high.  In Mel Kiper's latest mock draft, he has the Bengals drafting him at the 4th spot.  I don't put a ton of emphasis on these guys mock draft besides Mike Mayock's but this one struck because of the joke factor.  If the Bengals were ever to draft Newton, you might as well put him in the Jamarcus Russell/Ryan Leaf category.  Cam Newton needs to be drafted lower and to a team that would not need him to play right away.  This is not the guy you would want to see fail because I think he would go in the tank fairly quickly because of his ego.  This kid has never failed as he has played 2 years of college ball where he won the Junior College national championship in 2009 and this past season brought Auburn to the national championship and won.
Don't get me wrong there would be plenty of material for me if he does go there but I truly want to see what this kid can do in the future when brought into the league properly.  Oh on a quick side note, Mel Kiper has Blaine Gabbert going number one in the draft.  Once again, I don't put a ton of stock into these mock drafts but somebody(me) mentioned that he would go number one long before any of these draft experts, so if it happens expect a little bit of boasting since I don't have any of the connections or experience these guys do.

Forget Kiper and McShay, Listen to Mike Mayock

Ever since I can remember,  there has been one name that has been tied to the NFL Draft, Mel Kiper Jr.  I don't have much of a problem with him, if I had to choose between him and young gun Todd McShay, I would choose Kiper.  At this point, I realize they are there for the entertainment factor while sprinkling in a bit of football.  If there is one guy I would want to listen to for pure football, it is Mike Mayock of the NFL Network.  This guy is a draft beast and seems to know every little tidbit about each of the draftees.  So when he says that he like Marcel Dareus over Nick Fairley and Warren Sapp, a proven entity at the same position, agrees with him I start to listen.  In my opinion so should you.