2009 NFL Draft Thread (aka Excel & Norman's personal b**ch and moan thread)

[Excel]

I apologize in advance for any trauma this cause, but...this is why, when your Andre Smith, you dont run the 40 shirtless.

Spoiler

 

[NewYorkSpider]

 

[El_Citrus]

I actually saw the video of that by accident and nearly lost my lunch.

 

[Dark Donnie]

I apologize in advance for any trauma this cause, but...this is why, when your Andre Smith, you dont run the 40 shirtless.

Spoiler

Why?

 

[Immortalfire]

My eyes

 

[The Game]

I apologize in advance for any trauma this cause, but...this is why, when your Andre Smith, you dont run the 40 shirtless.

Spoiler

Now why did you do that for

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

whoa! a fat NFL lineman. We dont see too many of those....

 

[StorminNorman]

Stafford Telling Teammates He’ll Be A Lion

Posted by Mike Florio on April 13, 2009, 6:47 p.m. EDT
Last week, we’ve heard that the Lions have locked onto Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
The information came from a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.
This week, we’re hearing the same thing, but from the player’s perspective.
As we hear it, Stafford is telling his former Bulldog teammates that he’ll be the pick, and that he’ll receive more than $40 million, guaranteed, under the contract that the team will pay him.
Stafford is characterizing the move as a “done deal.”
If true, there’s no further reason for the Lions to continue to push the “signability” nonsense, and for the Lions to announce that Stafford is the guy sooner rather than later.


http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/04/13/stafford-telling-teammates-hell-be-a-lion/


This story comes the same day the Lions announce they are having a "reintroduction" event next monday...coincidence? I honestly don't think so. I think Matthew Stafford has a contract in place with the Lions.


40 Mil guaranteed is actually a very good deal for the Lions. It is 6 million more guaranteed than Matt Ryan, or 1 million more a year when averaged out. Considering Stafford will be a number one pick, and is coming in a year after - this is a very good increase for the Lions.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

I believe per NFL rules, the Lions cant introduce Stafford as a member of the team until they actually draft him b/c his contract doesnt become effective until he's actually selected. Miami wasnt allowed to do it with Jake Long even though they signed him two days before the draft, and Houston couldnt introduce Mario Williams until he was actually drafted even though he signed the night before.

 

[StorminNorman]

I believe per NFL rules, the Lions cant introduce Stafford as a member of the team until they actually draft him b/c his contract doesnt become effective until he's actually selected. Miami wasnt allowed to do it with Jake Long even though they signed him two days before the draft, and Houston couldnt introduce Mario Williams until he was actually drafted even though he signed the night before.

He can still be present at a public relations function. There is no rule preventing Stafford from being present at the Lions facility during a Press Conference. There is no rule preventing him being in a Jersey, even if he is not 'officially' on the team until Draft day.

 

[Immortalfire]

Stafford is going to be on Jimmy Fallon, Thursday night.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

He can still be present at a public relations function. There is no rule preventing Stafford from being present at the Lions facility during a Press Conference. There is no rule preventing him being in a Jersey, even if he is not 'officially' on the team until Draft day.

the logo reveal will be at a local retail store. And I seriously doubt whether you'll see Stafford there even if the Lions are intent on drafting him which I still dont believe is the case. If anything they'll have some of the current players showing off the new jerseys. I'd think that the NFl and the Lions would want the first time he holds up a Lions jersey to be on the stage at Radio City.

 

[Dark Donnie]

Agreed...Stafford won't be at these events

 

[StorminNorman]

Stafford is going to be on Jimmy Fallon, Thursday night.

Sounds like a job...for Tivo.

the logo reveal will be at a local retail store. And I seriously doubt whether you'll see Stafford there even if the Lions are intent on drafting him which I still dont believe is the case. If anything they'll have some of the current players showing off the new jerseys. I'd think that the NFl and the Lions would want the first time he holds up a Lions jersey to be on the stage at Radio City.

Regardless of the location, it is a Press Conference - a significant event. Now I believe Stafford has been signed, I think his contract is done and he is the pick. I do not think it is simply coincidence that the same day the Lions announce this Press Conference there is reports saying Stafford is telling his friends it's done.

There is absolutely no benefit of having Stafford's first picture in Blue and Silver be in New York.

Agreed...Stafford won't be at these events

It would be a missed opportunity for Detroit if there is not. They are going to have a Press Conference when they announce Stafford as their pick, one huge event (like revealing Stafford's Lion Jersey at this merchandise press conference) is more effective than two press conferences taking place the same week leading up to the Draft.

 

[Excel]

It would prob. be in the Lions best financial interests to not let the guy know until next week at the very earlist.

Stafford is going to be on Jimmy Fallon, Thursday night.

Cant miss that

 

[Cmill216]

Stafford's uninterestingness plus Fallon's stiffness = Must See TV

 

[Dr. Evil]

What the hell?

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/04/13/packers-looking-at-duke-basketball-player/

 

[Excel]

Not so fast.

We’re hearing that this group includes the Lions, Chiefs, and Browns.
It also includes the Jaguars, whom we’re told are desperately trying to get out of the eighth overall spot in the draft.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/re...23054/jags_trying_hard_to_trade_out_of_top_10

Detroit will more than likely be unable to trade out, but depending on whose available, Jacksonville and possibly Cleveland should have no trouble come draft day.

 

[Cmill216]

If Crabtree falls, Jacksonville won't budge. Or, at least, they shouldn't.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Regardless of the location, it is a Press Conference - a significant event. Now I believe Stafford has been signed, I think his contract is done and he is the pick. I do not think it is simply coincidence that the same day the Lions announce this Press Conference there is reports saying Stafford is telling his friends it's done.

You do realize that technically the Lions could sign Stafford, Smith, Curry, and Monroe to contracts (or any combo of the 4) and then still pick the one they like best with the most favorable contract come draft day, right? None of those deals become effective unless the player is actually drafted. The Lions may also very well have signed a deal with Stafford, and have no intention of actually drafting him. They may just want to drive Smith or Curry's price down. No one knows. One minute PFT tells you Stafford to the Lions is a done deal. Three hours later they'll tell you that the team is desperately trying to trade out of the 1st overall spot. No one knows anything outside of Tom Lewand, Martin mayhew, and Jim Schwartz at this point.

There is absolutely no benefit of having Stafford's first picture in Blue and Silver be in New York.

Sure there is. From a PR standpoint for both the Lions and the NFL. Why have him first be seen in a Lions jersey at a sporting goods store in front of maybe a few hundred people when you can have it happen on a nationally televised event thats wwatched by a few million people?

 

[Mastodon123]

I honestly think the Lions want Curry, but they're not willing to pick him 1st overall.

 

[El_Citrus]

I honestly think the Lions want Curry, but they're not willing to pick him 1st overall.

Ernie Sims is playing well as their leading linebacker, although as of right now I have The Lions taking Clay Matthews with their #20 pick to play strong side opposite Sims, although they could very well try and go cornerback.

 

[Immortalfire]

Stafford's uninterestingness plus Fallon's stiffness = Must See TV

They'll probably only have him for like, 2 minutes. His name is last on the guest list on the website.

 

[StorminNorman]

It would prob. be in the Lions best financial interests to not let the guy know until next week at the very earlist.

How so? It's obvious Stafford is the pick, waiting till next week to work on a contract would be asinine.

You do realize that technically the Lions could sign Stafford, Smith, Curry, and Monroe to contracts (or any combo of the 4) and then still pick the one they like best with the most favorable contract come draft day, right? None of those deals become effective unless the player is actually drafted. The Lions may also very well have signed a deal with Stafford, and have no intention of actually drafting him. They may just want to drive Smith or Curry's price down. No one knows. One minute PFT tells you Stafford to the Lions is a done deal. Three hours later they'll tell you that the team is desperately trying to trade out of the 1st overall spot. No one knows anything outside of Tom Lewand, Martin mayhew, and Jim Schwartz at this point.

There would be no reason to sign all four players to contracts. At this point they have to have the players ranked as to who they want the most. Now if you look at the Lions offseason moves, it's obvious Stafford is their pick. They have added an OLB and two Tackles since the start of the Free Agency...and no QB's. In fact they have let two QB's leave the team. Stafford is their guy and they only way he won't be the selection is if they couldn't reach a contract.

Sure there is. From a PR standpoint for both the Lions and the NFL. Why have him first be seen in a Lions jersey at a sporting goods store in front of maybe a few hundred people when you can have it happen on a nationally televised event thats wwatched by a few million people?

To generate buzz. They are not going to wait till the draft to announce their pick - they want to sign him before the draft. It would make more sense to announce Stafford as apart of a "new image" press conference at a sporting goods store than to announce Stafford as the pick the night before the draft.

I honestly think the Lions want Curry, but they're not willing to pick him 1st overall.

Why would they get Peterson then? If the Lions actually WANTED Curry more, they would sign him.

Ernie Sims is playing well as their leading linebacker, although as of right now I have The Lions taking Clay Matthews with their #20 pick to play strong side opposite Sims, although they could very well try and go cornerback.

Clay Matthews wouldn't make any sense for the Lions. For one, he is probably a DE in a 4-3 and not a first round DE (he is a first round OLB). The Lions need an MLB, which Matthews is not. They shouldn't target a corner in the first round because they have already added 3 and this draft is deep in the position.

 

[Excel]

How so? It's obvious Stafford is the pick, waiting till next week to work on a contract would be asinine.

If Stafford knows hes their guy, he and his agent will play hard to get ala Jamarcus with the Raiders.