It's settled then. We'll beat the Jets. They are terrible everywhere. We are terrible on one side of the ball and mediocre on the other.

McFadden/Long/Dorsey....almost lock top 3

#4 gives up Ellis/Long(DE)/All QBs/Laurenitis/everyone

and as important, pick of the litter in round 2 and 3

The Jets are better than the Chiefs.

Terrible forecasting and news everywhere.

I think things will change at the combine. Dorsey could slip, as could Long.

Matt Ryan would be my choice if Long and Dorsey are gone.

Cue the Brodie Croyle bandwagon...

I dunno. They don't have anyone on their offense that scares me.

man, we HAVE to lose

Yes, SOS is factored in and Baltimore is no longer a concern.

What hurt was Cleveland losing to the Bungals, since it made our SOS better and the Raiders worse.

Yes, if both ATL and St.L win we COULD end up with as high as the 2nd pick. But that would take some other magic for the SOS to work out, similar to what it took for us to make the playoffs last year.

So next week we need

1. to lose to the Jets
2. Rams beat Arizona
3. Atlanta beat Seattle
4. Baltimore beat Pittsburgh


and that should get us a top 5 pick?

Just losing to the Jets SHOULD get us a top 5 pick (see post #99) The other stuff could move us up to 3 or 4. If we lose here are other things that would help us:

Rams winning
Atlanta winning
Oakland winning
Cleveland winning
Cinnci losing

Probably some other stuff. Baltimore winning is not important if we lose.

I can see:
1. the Chiefs losing to the Jets
2. the Rams beating AZ
3. Balt. beating Pitt
I don't see Atlanta beating Seattle

I want a reporter to ask Herm what he thinks about losing on purpose in order to move up in the draft, possibly cuing the "You Play to WIN the Game" speech.

Well, hopefully Seattle will take out some starters early knowing that they're going to be playing in the opening round of the playoffs. Whether they win or lose they'll be the #3 seed. The game is in Atlanta so there is a chance albeit small that the Falcons can pull it out.

Dorsey and Jake Long aren't locks to go before KC if it picks at No. 4 overall. If it's the Rams, Falcons and Dolphins ahead of KC, you can bet your bottom dollar that at least one of Jake Long or Dorsey will be available.

Miami will NOT touch Dorsey. Don't kid yourself. No one's paying a rookie DT $35M guaranteed, especially a 1-15 team. Parcells will trade it away or take a QB. The Rams have bigger problems. You think Atlanta is taking a DT? Again, don't kid yourself.

There is so much more to making picks at the top of the draft than who's the best player. P.R. and finance play into the decision as much as ability. Teams like the Falcons desperately need a player who'll put asses in the seats; they're not anything like the Texans who, even with the top pick, were able to make a smart football decision.