Football USA Today: Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft? - Page 8

**Tribal Warfare** · 04-30-2010, 04:31 PM

Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft?

Yahoo! Buzz
By Nate Davis, USA TODAY
So which franchise really stands the best chance to reap the most from its rookies now that the 2010 NFL draft has concluded? USA TODAY ranked the 20 league personnel executives who have been on the job for at least three years with their current team (the exception being Scott Pioli) to try and get a better idea as to who scores touchdowns in April, who settles for field goals and who coughs it up.

REPORT CARD: Grading the 2010 NFL draft class

1A. Bill Belichick, head coach/el jefe supremo, New England Patriots— Little point in arguing after he transformed a franchise that seemed to be in decline into a three-time Super Bowl champion virtually overnight. Clearly Belichick learned a lot after the five putrid drafts the Cleveland Browns produced during his tenure there in the 1990s. New England has become known for its deft ability to amass quality picks and find excellent players later in the process who won't come with the price tag of a top-10 pick. Belichick has made seven second-round picks over the last two drafts and picked up an extra Round 2 pick next year after extracting it from the Carolina Panthers for a low third-round pick last Saturday. Key contributors such as receiver Deion Branch, defensive end Jarvis Green, tackle Matt Light and cornerback Asante Samuel all came at pick 48 or later. But Belichick knows how to find first-round stars, too, including 2008 defensive rookie of the year Jerod Mayo and Pro Bowlers Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork.

• Best pick: Tom Brady— The Patriots admit they got lucky finding him in the sixth round in 2000, but at least they were smarter than the 30 other teams that also passed on him multiple times. Probably the best value pick in the history of the NFL.

• Worst pick: Chad Jackson— The 36th pick of the 2006 draft only caught 13 passes for New England.

1B. Scott Pioli, GM, Kansas City Chiefs— He and Belichick are essentially inextricable when it comes to New England's ascendancy. It's too early to assess Pioli's tenure in K.C., though last weekend's haul looks to be among the best of the spring. But the Patriots' success on the personnel side is just as much a credit to Pioli's eye for talent as Belichick's. And the litany of players they plucked from college aside, Pioli and Belichick were masters of using picks as currency for established stars with depressed value (Corey Dillon, Randy Moss) and gems other teams didn't appreciate (Wes Welker). After a recent spotty draft record, the Chiefs were in desperate need of a draft craftsman like Pioli.

• Best pick: Matt Cassel— He barely played at USC, but Pioli took a flier on him in the seventh round of the 2005 draft anyway. Cassel proved in 2008 he can play at a Pro Bowl level, something Pioli is banking he will do for the Chiefs.

• Worst pick: Laurence Maroney— The 2006 first-rounder has never rushed for as many as 900 yards and probably never will for the Patriots, who have opted not to make him a featured back.

L.A. Chieffan · 05-03-2010, 12:45 PM

One question:

Did Pioli **** up with Cassel?

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

One question:

Did Pioli **** up with Cassel?

we'll see around week 8

Titty Meat · 05-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

One question:

Did Pioli **** up with Cassel?

If Sanchez plays like he did in the playoffs yes.

L.A. Chieffan · 05-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Honestly, if you give up a 2nd round pick and throw 30 mil at the dude and still don't know what you have until halfway through the second season...Id say that would qualify as a **** up

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Secondly, how many TE's have the Patriots drafted overall? Since some of them aren't on the team anymore doesn't mean they haven't used a bunch of picks on TE's. It's a ton...they used a 3rd rounder on a guy like David Thomas. They've cut and traded several but that team has traded a ton of TE's, so much so it's a running joke in some ways.

Perception and reality aren't really well aligned here.

We took a TE in the first round twice. Both picks were fine -- solid starters, but unspectacular and therefore somewhat disappointing. Those picks were made in 2002 and 2004.

Starting from the 2003 draft, here's what the Patriots have "spent" on TE in terms of picks:

2003: 7th
2004: 1st
2005: 7th
2006: 3rd and 4th
2007: None
2008: None
2009: None

The 2004 is gone now via FA. The 2006 3rd and 4th round selections didn't pan out well, but they are 3rd and 4th round picks -- they DO have a less than 90'ish percent chance of success in the NFL I do believe.

Now can you please sit here and explain to me, because I"m obviously so dense I can't comprehend it, your brilliant argument at how the Patriots have spent massive resources on TEs and why they should have a roster chock full of All Pros at the position?

L.A. Chieffan · 05-03-2010, 12:52 PM

So, having established that he ****ed up on Cassel, would it be even more of a **** up to not address the most important position on the team, and to extend that even further, mortgage the future by making selections to try and cover up the fact that you ****ed up in the first place?

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

So, having established that he ****ed up on Cassel, would it be even more of a **** up to not address the most important position on the team, and to extend that even further, mortgage the future by making selections to try and cover up the fact that you ****ed up in the first place?

Your post makes no sense on several levels.

First, it hasn't been determined that Cassell is a f'up.

Second, are you saying that a good QB doesn't need talent around him? You only need talent on offense if your QB sucks. So if you draft good offensive players you can't actually use them when you get a good QB?

Does that make any frickin' sense at all?

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

Mecca makes a good point about drafting all those tight ends though I disagree with the larger point about BB.

Check my subsequent post. The whole TE thing is waaay overblown, including by most Patriots fans, because (1) we spent two first round picks on them, BUT IT WAS A LONG (IN NFL TERMS) TIME AGO, and (2) most picks were low round picks.

Mecca · 05-03-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Yeah, 2nd round picks don't make anywhere near that much.

Pats took Patrick Chung near the top of the 2nd round in 2009. He got a $2MM signing bonus, a $75K roster bonus, and his salaries are $310,000 for 2009, $480,000 for 2010, $510,000 for 2011, and $600,000 for 2012. For an all in of around $4 million (assuming he is not cut before any of those seasons).

Lower in the round would, of course, make less.

The salary drop off from the top of the first round into the latter part of the first round, and into the second, is amazing.

He's referencing Cassel's contract so I don't really know how Patrick Chung is relevant.

L.A. Chieffan · 05-03-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Your post makes no sense on several levels.

First, it hasn't been determined that Cassell is a f'up.

Second, are you saying that a good QB doesn't need talent around him? You only need talent on offense if your QB sucks. So if you draft good offensive players you can't actually use them when you get a good QB?

Does that make any frickin' sense at all?

Once you realize that the Cassel trade was a **** up, you are free.

Unbind yourself.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-03-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

Couldn't be that Gannon improved his game with more experience and Gruden being his coach and better talent. Yeah that would simply be awful if the Chiefs gave Cassel better coaching and weapons and he went out and became an MVP QB and takes his team to the Super Bowl. Yeah, who would want that????

You have proven yourself to be a total douchebag to actually to say that Cassel equals Gannon as a BAD THING.

Well, if that were to be true...which it will never be( Cassel actually = Gannon on a menstrual cycle day ), Cassel is a tuck rule waiting to happen in the playoffs.
He's more bad NE-karma just waiting to be reaped in a high-stakes situation like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

and now the Jets have all of the hype...

and I'm going to win an assload of money when the Pats win the division yet again...

That will be the easy money futures pick of the year...

The Jets might be favored to win that division...and when that happens...I'm dropping $1,000 on WHATEVER odds they give the Patriots...

How did Hootie get to be so ****ing reeruned? He's gonna' "Manning" his money right down the pisser again?

Good job, ****tard!

Mecca · 05-03-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Once you realize that the Cassel trade was a **** up, you are free.

Unbind yourself.

That made me laugh I won't lie.

Cassel's upside is pretty limited that's the issue here.

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

He's referencing Cassel's contract so I don't really know how Patrick Chung is relevant.

Sorry, I completely whiffed on that he was discussing what was traded FOR Cassel, and the contract he was given.

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Once you realize that the Cassel trade was a **** up, you are free.

Unbind yourself.

Hey, we got Patrick Chung out of it. If he's a good safety for us, then it wan't a **** up for us.

I'm on the other side of that coin from you guys.

Mecca · 05-03-2010, 01:04 PM

It happens, maybe we'll all be wrong and Cassel will be fine, seriously I'd rather be wrong, being right really doesn't do much other than mean I get to watch more shitty football.

04-30-2010, 04:31 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3007187	USA Today: Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft? Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft? Yahoo! Buzz By Nate Davis, USA TODAY So which franchise really stands the best chance to reap the most from its rookies now that the 2010 NFL draft has concluded? USA TODAY ranked the 20 league personnel executives who have been on the job for at least three years with their current team (the exception being Scott Pioli) to try and get a better idea as to who scores touchdowns in April, who settles for field goals and who coughs it up. REPORT CARD: Grading the 2010 NFL draft class 1A. Bill Belichick, head coach/el jefe supremo, New England Patriots— Little point in arguing after he transformed a franchise that seemed to be in decline into a three-time Super Bowl champion virtually overnight. Clearly Belichick learned a lot after the five putrid drafts the Cleveland Browns produced during his tenure there in the 1990s. New England has become known for its deft ability to amass quality picks and find excellent players later in the process who won't come with the price tag of a top-10 pick. Belichick has made seven second-round picks over the last two drafts and picked up an extra Round 2 pick next year after extracting it from the Carolina Panthers for a low third-round pick last Saturday. Key contributors such as receiver Deion Branch, defensive end Jarvis Green, tackle Matt Light and cornerback Asante Samuel all came at pick 48 or later. But Belichick knows how to find first-round stars, too, including 2008 defensive rookie of the year Jerod Mayo and Pro Bowlers Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork. • Best pick: Tom Brady— The Patriots admit they got lucky finding him in the sixth round in 2000, but at least they were smarter than the 30 other teams that also passed on him multiple times. Probably the best value pick in the history of the NFL. • Worst pick: Chad Jackson— The 36th pick of the 2006 draft only caught 13 passes for New England. 1B. Scott Pioli, GM, Kansas City Chiefs— He and Belichick are essentially inextricable when it comes to New England's ascendancy. It's too early to assess Pioli's tenure in K.C., though last weekend's haul looks to be among the best of the spring. But the Patriots' success on the personnel side is just as much a credit to Pioli's eye for talent as Belichick's. And the litany of players they plucked from college aside, Pioli and Belichick were masters of using picks as currency for established stars with depressed value (Corey Dillon, Randy Moss) and gems other teams didn't appreciate (Wes Welker). After a recent spotty draft record, the Chiefs were in desperate need of a draft craftsman like Pioli. • Best pick: Matt Cassel— He barely played at USC, but Pioli took a flier on him in the seventh round of the 2005 draft anyway. Cassel proved in 2008 he can play at a Pro Bowl level, something Pioli is banking he will do for the Chiefs. • Worst pick: Laurence Maroney— The 2006 first-rounder has never rushed for as many as 900 yards and probably never will for the Patriots, who have opted not to make him a featured back.
Posts: 43,454

05-03-2010, 12:45 PM	#106
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2688654	One question: Did Pioli **** up with Cassel?
Posts: 17,400

05-03-2010, 12:50 PM	#109
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2688654	Honestly, if you give up a 2nd round pick and throw 30 mil at the dude and still don't know what you have until halfway through the second season...Id say that would qualify as a **** up
Posts: 17,400

05-03-2010, 12:52 PM	#111
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2688654	So, having established that he **ed up on Cassel, would it be even more of a up to not address the most important position on the team, and to extend that even further, mortgage the future by making selections to try and cover up the fact that you **ed up in the first place?
Posts: 17,400

05-03-2010, 01:04 PM	#120
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-722950	It happens, maybe we'll all be wrong and Cassel will be fine, seriously I'd rather be wrong, being right really doesn't do much other than mean I get to watch more shitty football.
Posts: 115,380