The Star's projected draft...
 

The Star’s projected draft
Expect the unexpected during the first round of today’s NFL draft. Detroit will have offers to trade the second pick, Washington wants to trade down for more picks and Denver wants to trade up. And who can read the mind of Oakland’s Al Davis, who has the first overall pick? Assuming there are no trades, this is how Randy Covitz, The Star’s NFL reporter, projects the first round.

1 Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU

The Raiders, who scored 12 offensive TDs in 2006, need a franchise QB.

2 Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech

They’ll offer the pick to a bunch of teams that want Johnson.

3 Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame

Romeo Crennel gets a seal of approval from Irish coach Charlie Weis.

4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin

It’s a close call between Thomas and DE Gaines Adams.

5 Arizona Cardinals OT Levi Brown, Penn State

Cards like Adams but need an offensive tackle to protect Matt Leinart.

6 Washington S LaRon Landry, LSU

Best defensive player will help team that made 10 interceptions last year.

7 Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

Vikings have needs on defense but can’t pass up franchise back.

8 Atlanta Falcons DT Amobi Okoye, Louisville

Bobby Petrino recruited him as a 15-year-old and will take him at 20.

9 Miami Dolphins WR Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State

Speedster shoots up the board and will give new QB a big-play target.

10 Houston Texans DE Gaines Adams, Clemson

Adams slips a few spots but can help Texans mount a pass rush.

11 San Francisco 49ers DE Adam Carriker, Nebraska

Carriker can be the heir apparent to Bryant Young.

12 Buffalo Bills LB Patrick Willis, Mississippi

Best linebacker in the draft replaces departed London Fletcher-Baker.

13 St. Louis Rams DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas

Rams are in never-ending search for defensive-line help.

14 Carolina Panthers S Reggie Nelson, Florida

Nelson will understudy veteran Mike Minter in his final season.

15 Pittsburgh Steelers CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh

It’s a coin flip between Revis and Leon Hall, so Steelers go local.

16 Green Bay Packers RB Marshawn Lynch, California

Club cleared Lynch’s disc abnormality in physical last week.

17 Jacksonville Jaguars CB Leon Hall, Michigan

A team can never have enough corners in division with Colts.

18 Cincinnati Bengals DT Alan Branch, Michigan

Branch brings size to defense that ranked No. 30 in 2006.

19 Tennessee Titans DE Jarvis Moss, Florida

League’s 32nd-ranked defense badly needs a second pass rusher.

20 New York Giants WR Robert Meachem, Tennessee

He provides backup for Amani Toomer, who is coming off ACL injury.

21 Denver Broncos DE Anthony Spencer, Purdue

Spencer, with 10 1/2 sacks last year, can be ferocious pass rusher.

22 Dallas Cowboys WR Dwayne Bowe, LSU

Terry Glenn will be 33, Terrell Owens will be 34 this season.

23 Kansas City Chiefs CB Aaron Ross, Texas

He’s everything Herm Edwards likes in a corner.

24 New England Patriots LB Lawrence Timmons, Florida State

Timmons is the kind of 3-4 linebacker Bill Belichick likes.

25 New York Jets CB Chris Houston, Arkansas

Jets haven’t taken a corner in first round since Aaron Glenn in 1994.

26 Philadelphia Eagles S Brandon Meriweather, Miami

Eagles don’t think character issues will be a problem.

27 New Orleans Saints LB Jon Beason, Miami

Saints have to improve on slow linebacker corps.

28 New England Patriots S Michael Griffin, Texas

Rodney Harrison can’t play forever.

29 Baltimore Ravens OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan

A year in the weight room will prepare him for 2008.

30 San Diego Chargers WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC

Big, physical receiver fits Norv Turner’s offense.

31 Chicago Bears TE Greg Olsen, Miami

Bears need to improve on Desmond Clark.

32 Indianapolis Colts DT Justin Harrell, Tennessee

Colts have to shore up NFL’s worst run defense.

They have Okoye going at 8. Makes sense.

Mayock has us taking Ted Ginn Jr.

Nine to 23 is quite the difference in positioning.

Anyone have any update on this story?

It has to be a *major* concern until it's explained.

http://keyetv.com/longhornfootball/l...355172743.html

Aaron Ross Recovering, Released From Hospital

Allison Smith
Reporting
Dec 21, 2006 4:24 pm US/Central

(CBS 42) AUSTIN A University of Texas football player is recovering after being taken to the hospital Thursday morning.

Cornerback Aaron Ross did not make it to practice after appearing disoriented at a Pflugerville restaurant.

Around 9:20 a.m., Pflugerville police were called to the Casa Garcia Restaurant on Windemere Drive for a possible attempted robbery.

They found an extremely disoriented and confused man, who turned out to be Aaron Ross in the parking lot.

Police eventually determined Ross was having a medical issue, not doing anything illegal.

Emergency Medical Service was called and Ross was transported to St. David's Hospital where he was treated and released.

His girlfriend's car was towed to the police department, searched, and nothing was found.

No charges will be filed.

In a statement, released by UT athletics, Ross says, "I really don't remember that much. I remember getting in the car to head to practice and I must have fallen asleep and run off the road. I was pretty shook up and out of it, but they checked me out at the hospital and I’m OK. I fell lucky I didn't hurt anyone else or myself."

The Horns practiced Thursday morning and have a break until they're supposed to report to Alamo Bowl practice Christmas afternoon.

The UT Athletic Department has not said whether this incident will affect Aaron Ross playing in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.

Nightmare, if Gaines Adams is on the board by 10 Denver is gonna trade up for him and Im dead scared of this guy. The little Ive seen of him I would say he is an direct Impact player in the pros.

I'm gonna be real pissed if KC does pick the over-rated Aaron Ross.