This place was hopping around the time of our annual Christmas (draft day), and the arguments were whether we needed an OT, or if we'd end up taking one of the top two DTs, either Suh or Gerald McCoy.

As we all know, Suh was considered by most to be the single most impactful player in the draft.  McCoy ended up going third overall to the Tampa Bay Bucs.

This is why I'm fairly happy with the stat that I saw on the Yahoo! Lions Team Report today:

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Now, don't get me wrong.  I don't like the news that anybody gets hurt, and I certainly hope these guys recover soon.

But is anyone else a little excited to hear that Denver's RB situation is up in the air right now?  Moreno got carted off after drills, and Buckhalter hurt himself also during the same drill.  On top of that, they apparently sent JJ Arrington off in a trade the day before training camp started.

Everything I read from Schwartz or training camp is how deep and stacked our RB rotation is, assuming Kevin Smith gets healthy.  Between him and Maurice Morris, we have two every-down backs.  We've got Jahvid Best as a speed back, and Jerome Felton (who I enjoyed last year) as a strong power back.  Then you consider the fact we still have Aaron Brown and DeDe Dorsey as depth.

Pure fantasy and speculation... but I'm eager to see us Mayhew the Broncs.  Maurice Morris to Denver in exchange for... anyone?  Heck... I'd take Brian Dawkins in a heartbeat to sit back there with Delmas.

I know it won't happen, obviously.  But it is something that should be on our radar... the more interesting story is probably going to be when Tim Tebow starts taking snaps as a RB.

Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press are reporting that Brian Cushing will be stripped of the DROTY honors due to testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs at the beginning of the season.

Cushing had won the award with over 75% of the vote; the second-place vote getter Jairus Byrd (a boon to my IDP fantasy team last year) received only 12%.

Instead of simply handing the award to Byrd, they've announced they will be re-voting for the award and omitting Cushing's name from the ballot.

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/04/21/vikings.sheppard.ap/index.html

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Jahvid Best on Yahoo

I've been pretty irritated with EVERY mock draft that has us taking a running back with the second pick on Friday.

With all our perceived gaping holes (especially in the secondary) is there anyone who really thinks the best way to be competitive this year is to draft another speedy young RB?  With Aaron Brown on the team who just needs to work on his fundamentals?  (yeah... he was pretty atrocious in running the wrong way and leaving Stafford out to dry, remember?)

But this article changed my mind a little bit.  I don't want the guy, still.  I don't want ANY running back except maybe Matthews or Gearhart in the first three rounds, and would prefer a big bruising RB in the 5th or 6th.  But at least this has helped me to make piece with the idea of it a bit if he's the BPA at the time.

In Mayhew I trust... if the BPA is a RB at 34 though, I think taking Best is waving a white flag saying "we don't intend to compete this year" unless they really do plan on Pacman/Sheppard after the draft.  And if Best is the BPA at 34, we absolutely should trade down.

Does anyone really think we're going to swing high on a skill position this year?  I truly believe there is no way we actually pick second on Friday... we should be trading down to pick up a 4th or 5th rounder so we can steal a RB there and spend a second rounder on a DB.

I was just re-reading Saturday's post which talked about pick #9 in the 2007 draft, Ted Ginn Jr, getting bounced over to San Francisco.

Obviously the huge news of the day today is the #9 pick in the 2006 draft, Erine Sims, moving over to Philly.

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Don Banks article on Free Agent watch, he's picking where people would and should go.  He's saying Thomas Jones will end up going to the Lions.

Thomas Jones, running back

Where he will sign: Detroit -- The Lions have the greatest need and thus should be willing to pay the most. With Kevin Smith a question mark health-wise, Detroit has to address the position either this month in free agency or next month in the draft. Jones ran for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, and his tough and reliable running style would help take some of the burden off Matthew Stafford's young shoulders. But Jones would fit in well in a lot of places, including San Diego, Houston, New England and Philadelphia.

He goes on to say Jones should end up going to the Pats, as a division rivalry face-slap.  (Plus one would rest assured he'd produce more than their RBBC)

Banks also tosses our name out into the hat for a lot of other UFAs, much like all of our prideofdetroit posters do.  I take his a little more seriously, though, since he ostensibly is paid to wonder about these things.

Several posts already about this, but do you think Schwartz/Mayhew will try to make a splash?  Will anyone really want to come here without gross overpayment?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/03/03/free.agents/1.html