COMBINE REPORTS: #9

As the excitment amps up for Saturdays performances more & more cancelations & proclemations keep pouring in. We here at "COLD DRAFT 2007" will do our best to keep you updated!

Russell will sit, Peterson and Lynch will perform

The bad news, JaMarcus Russell announced he won't perform any drills this weekend at the combine.The good news, Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch will perform all combine drills including the 40-yard dash. Both players said they expect to run in the 4.3-4.4 range.

http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/2007/02/russell-will-sit-peterson-and-lynch.html

COMBINE REPORTS: #8

"COLD DRAFT 2007" continues its ongoing coverage of the 2007 Indianapolis based NFL COMBINE! Here is another report on who I believe is the top prospect, overall, for this Aprils NFL DRAFT! Thanks again to the people over at http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/2007/02/calvin-johnson-weighs-in-at-239-pounds.html

HOW MUCH??

Calvin Johnson weighed in at 239 pounds this morning. He was the heaviest receiver at the combine. It will be interesting to see if someone his size can actually run a 4.33 40, as he was reported to do during workouts last week. Last year Vernon Davis wowed everyone at the combine with a 4.38 40 after weighing in at 250 pounds.

COMBINE REPORTS: #7

Scott Wright's "NFL DRAFT COUNTDOWN' reports on some of the "goings-on's" of the NFL COMBINE. Keep it tuned here to get the latest from this event on "COLD DRAFT 2007".

"The Coin Flip"• Everyone knew that the much-anticipated coin flip between Cleveland and Tampa Bay for the #3 pick would take place during the Combine but nobody knew exactly when. Well wonder no longer because we officially have a date and time! The flip will actually take place Friday morning (Feb. 23rd) at 6:45am CT / 7:45am ET. I will post the result here as soon as I get them.

BROWNS WIN COIN TOSS! They will now pick 3rd over all.

Central Michigan OT Joe Staley, who many felt might be the star of the Combine from an offensive line standpoint, will not workout in Indy because he tweaked his hamstring and isn't 100%. Staley will instead wait for the Chippewas Pro Day on March 15.

Adrian Peterson to Run, Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson may indeed run in Indy and may really impress.

Dwayne Jarrett Won't?• Southern Cal WR Dwayne Jarrett will wait for his Pro Day.

COMBINE REPORTS: #6

DAY #1 COMBINE NOTES

The first day of the NFL Combine isn't usually characterized as exciting. I think a better description would be "clinical. The action will definitely heat up this weekend when the actual physical portion of the process kicks into gear. For now we will have to be happy with notes on interviews & measurements of some the prospects physical attributes.

Thursday marked the arrival of the linemen, tight ends, and special teams to Indianapolis's NFL Combine & here are some of the stats & notes on those players.

Joe Thomas, Wisconsin: Definitely a top 5 prospect, if not a top 2, was present & measured in at 6’6”5/8ths and weight at 311 pounds. Thomas stated during team interviews, that himself and his style of play could be described as, “I think I’m a technician.” When the prospect was asked how he would feel about being drafted by the Lions, he replied, “I’d love to play for Detroit.”

Levi Brown, Penn State, was present & measured in at 6’5”1/2 and 323 pounds. There is no doubt that Brown will be the next tackle off the board after Thomas. Scouts realized that Levi had weighed in a little lighter than his team has listed . Many speculated that Brown may be trying to show teams of his commitment to his career and show up in the shape and ready to work. Not a bad idea!

Ryan Kalil, Center, has been questioned that he may not be able to be as successful at the next level, like he was at the College Level. He measured 6’2”3/4 and weighed in at 299. Kalil put on an impressive ten pounds. Improving his weight from the Senior Bowl. All & all it was thought that Kalil was considered very impressive in his Combine debut. He just very well be the top center selected in the April draft.

Greg Olsen, Miami, Many regard him as the best player at the Tight End position in the 2007 Draft Class. Scouts also compare his style of play to that of Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey. Olsen measured in at 6’5”7/8 and 254 pounds. NICE!

Ben Patrick, Delaware, Fellow Tight End Greg Olsen may very well want to look back over his shoulder at young Mr. Patrick. Many scouts have called him the next Vernon Davis style Tight End. He measured in 6’3”1/8 and 252, the same as "Vernon Davis’ measurements! Patricks athletic ability is said to be the equivalent also.

The most stand out measurement of the Combine so far? Chase Johnson, O-lineman, Wyoming, HEIGHT:6’8”1/2!!! WHERE DO THEY FIND THESE GUYS????

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #11

Raiders cut ties with Brooks after one season

ESPN.COM is reporting that the Oakland Raiders have parted ways with enigmatic Quarter Back "Aaron Brooks". It was hoped that the grouping of Brooks, Moss & Porter would warrant another trip to the Super Bowl for the Raider Nation. But, injuries, horrible performances & a total franchise meltdown prevented this from ever occurring. Brooks virtually had no positive impact for the Raiders & showed only a continuing trend of on field miscues & unpredictable performances that baffled & frustrated the coaching staff, much the same way he did to Jim Haslette & the New Orleans Saints franchise.

Why is this important to the NFL Draft you ask? Well, if you happen to be an Oakland Raiders fan than it pretty much determines that "Old Man Al" & new head coach "Lance Kiffen" have made up their minds & decided to go with a QB for the #1 over all pick in April. Odds say that it is LSU QB, JaMarcus Russell! Of course, nothing is set in stone...but this one is almost a sure lock for #1.

Here is the article from ESPN.COM
ESPN.com news serviceshttp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2775325

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #10

Here is another hot & juicy rumor being reported by http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/2007/02/falcons-to-shop-schaub.html. Again, it may very well determine how my beloved Vikes approach this Aprils NFL Draft.

As always feel free to post your opinions here.

Falcons to shop Schaub

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Falcons will look to trade QB Matt Schaub. Schaub, a restricted free agent, is expected to receive a one-year tender of $2 million and compensation attachment of a first and third pick to prevent teams from signing him as a free agent. Since Schaub will become an unrestricted free agent in 2008, the Falcons will shop the talented back up quarterback around the league this off-season. They could net a second or third rounder. The Vikings, Raiders, and Texans are all possible trade partners for Schaub

COMBINE REPORTS: #5

WHAT'S A WONDERLIC???

Ok True Believers! I’m sure we are all excited to hear about the Combine Reports from all of the invitees. We all know they are put through a barrage of physical tests to give us a clue about their “measurables”. But, what many people don’t know is that these players mental abilities are tested, too. How you ask? They are all administered a test referred to as “The Wonderlic” test.

If you followed last years draft, NFL hopeful “Vince Young”, now the starting QB of the Tennessee Titans, scored a whopping “6” out of 50!!! Yeah that set off quite a furor for us Draft Buffs. Was he capable of running an NFL offense? Does he even have the ability to walk & talk at the same time? The bashing continued until he was “retested” due to a “mistake” in grading the first test. Mr. Young “retested” & scored an “11”!!! WOW!! This, of course, did nothing to quite the roar that soon became laughter. But, it appears that the last laugh is Vince Young’s. Who’d a thunk?

I couldn’t resist posting a sample for you guys when I read it over at http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6487846. Thanks Peter Schrager!

If you guys are interested and want to throw your hat in the ring, then set your watch for “2 minutes and forty seconds”, and have a pencil & paper ready! Answer all 12 questions (I only answered 9!) & then take the number you have correct, times “4.16” to find your score.
If you want to take the real/full test then go to “Wonderlic.com”.
Ready?
GO!!!!
1. Assume the first 2 statements are true. Is the final one:
1. True
2. False
3. Not certain
The boy plays baseball. All baseball players wear hats. The boy wears a hat.

2. Paper sells for 21 cents per pad. What will 4 pads cost?

3. How many of the five pairs of items listed below are exact duplicates?
Nieman, K.M. Neiman,
K.M.Thomas, G.K. Thomas,
C.K.Hoff, J.P. Hoff,
J.P.Pino, L.R. Pina,
L.R.Warner, T.S. Wanner, T.S.

4. PRESENT, RESENT — Do these words:
1. Have similar meanings
2. Have contradictory meanings
3. Mean neither the same nor opposite

5. A train travels 20 feet in 1/5 second. At this same speed, how many feet will it travel in three seconds?

6. When rope is selling at $.10 a foot, how many feet can you buy for sixty cents?

7. The ninth month of the year is:
1. October
2. January
3. June
4. September
5. May

8. Which number in the following group of numbers represents the smallest amount?
7
.8
31
.33
2

9. In printing an article of 48,000 words, a printer decides to use two sizes of type. Using the larger type, a printed page contains 1,800 words. Using smaller type, a page contains 2,400 words. The article is allotted 21 full pages in a magazine. How many pages must be in smaller type?

10. Three individuals form a partnership and agree to divide the profits equally. X invests $9,000, Y invests $7,000, Z invests $4,000. If the profits are $4,800, how much less does X receive than if the profits were divided in proportion to the amount invested?

11. Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final one: 1. True2. False3. Not certain
Tom greeted Beth. Beth greeted Dawn. Tom did not greet Dawn.

12. A boy is 17 years old and his sister is twice as old. When the boy is 23 years old, what will be the age of his sister?

Time's up.
How'd you do? Check the answers below, and multiply the amount you got right by 4.16.

1. True 2. 84 cents 3. 1 4. 3 5. 300 feet 6. 6 feet 7. September 8. .33 9. 17 10. $560 11. not certain 12. 40 years old

For the curious…I scored 7 out of 12. So, 7x4.16=29.12. Hey! 29 out of 50 is above average!!! If you are brave enough, post your score for us all to see.

COMBINE REPORTS: #4

COLD DRAFT 2007 brings you some Good news from the boys over at http://www.gbnreport.com/!

Sooners back to run in Indy

One of the big issues every year at the combine is whether the top stars will actually workout as many prefer to wait until their respective on-campus pro days. One player who reportedly isn’t going to pass on the opportunity to impress pro scouts this weekend is Oklahoma junior RB Adrian Peterson who says he will be running this weekend. Indeed, Peterson, who has a chance to be a top 5 pick this coming April, was quoted as saying that he wants to run under 4.3 in the 40-yard dash this week. Peterson will get his chance on Sunday morning when the RBs take to the field with the QBs and WRs for their on-field workout

COMBINE REPORTS: #3

Ever wonder how the NFL Combine is set up schedule wise? Me too. Thanks to the folks over at http://www.gbnreport.com/scoutsnotebook.htm we can now pear behind the curtain & see the actual mechanations of this event.

THE SCHEDULE

Players are divided into four groups of players with each grouping scheduled to go through four days of testing. The first day players go-through orientation and have x-rays taken; the second day involves height and weight measurements as well as full medicals; the third day includes strength testing; while the fourth day is devoted to on-field activities including athletic tests such as the 40-yard dash as well as individual positional drills. The first group to start includes the offensive linemen as well as TEs and specialists who start their four-day rotation on Wednesday; that puts this group on the field on Saturday; the second group which starts Thursday includes QBs, RBs and WRs; the third group which starts Friday includes defensive linemen and LBs, while the final group which starts on Saturday and runs through Tuesday, include the corners and safeties.
On-field tests at the combine include the 40-yard dash; vertical jump; broad jump; 3-cone drill; 20-yard shuttle; and 60-yard shuttle. Other off-field testing includes the bench press as well as Cybex and Wonderlic tests. The Cybex test measures players joint flexibility and strength and is a key test for players who have had knee, ankle or shoulder injuries in the past. Meanwhile, the Wonderlic test is a 50-question intelligence test.
Of course, not all players will choose to participate in all activities, especially the on-field speed and agility tests and positional drills, opting instead to wait until their particular team’s pro date where they can workout in more comfortable surroundings. In particular, many top prospects, opt not to run the 40, in part because of concerns that the track in Indianapolis is slow. Yahoo Sports Murphy, though, reports that the numbers do not agree with that as a total of 29 players ran sub-4.4 times in the 40-yard dash on the old combine in 2004 and 2005. And last year's newly installed FieldTurf surface produced similar results as at least 18-20 players were timed at or below 4.4 range a year ago according to official times.

COMBINE REPORTS: #2

In an effort to keep the faithful readers of "COLD DRAFT 2007" up to date & educated on the goings on inside the NFL prior to draft we bring you an article by http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/9999801" GIL BRANDT. This is a piece that brings us up to speed on the origins of the NFL COMBINE. Remember the Combine is tomorrow, 02/21/2007!!!!

Birth of the Combine

Do you remember Nolan Cromwell, the defensive back/special teams ace who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1977-87? As we prepare to cover the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine, we can all thank Cromwell for getting the process started in the first place. Let's explain…
Before 1977, there was no organized "combine" -- each NFL team would bring in college prospects for interviews and medical evaluations. There were no workouts -- the medical evaluation was really the key component.
Well, Cromwell was a hot prospect out of Kansas -- problem is, he tore up his knee midway through his senior year. So when it came time for evaluations, Cromwell made the rounds like all the other prospects. He came to the Dallas Cowboys' complex following an overnight flight from Seattle. Dallas was probably the 11th team he was meeting with, so when he ran into Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm in the elevator, he had 10 different sets of X-rays tucked under his arm.
Cromwell ended up being drafted in the second round by the Rams and making it to four Pro Bowls, but his pre-draft endeavor had another impact on NFL history.
After he saw Cromwell in that elevator with those X-rays, Schramm just shook his head and said, "There's got to be a better way."
And since Schramm was on the NFL's Competition Committee, he worked to find that better way. A year later, there were actually three plans in place to have combined evaluations. BLESTO and United (now known as National) were two groups that had a roster of teams coming together. A third group consisted of the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.
Our group had a two-day event in which players were brought in on a Friday and put through the physical evaluation process -- of course, it wasn't nearly as comprehensive as it is today. After finishing up the physicals on Saturday morning, they spent about two hours putting players through workouts. By workouts, we're talking about the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, long jump, hop-step-and-jump. It was very limited compared to what it's grown into.
Eventually, the league was able to further "combine" its efforts in the evaluation process. In 1982, the National Invitational Camp -- better known as the NFL Scouting Combine -- was held in Tampa, Fla., and attended by 163 players. After stints in New Orleans and Phoenix, the Scouting Combine moved to Indianapolis in 1987 and has been there ever since. And the number of prospects in attendance has risen to well over 300.
How has the process changed since the early days? If Nolan Cromwell were a prospect this year, all of his workouts and evaluations would be on one disk, for any of the 32 NFL clubs to study. He would have X-rays taken at the Combine -- along with MRIs and countless other physical tests -- and that information would be available to all the teams. One-stop shopping. Of course, NFL teams these days can never be too thorough, so after the Combine there will be college pro days and club visits. But the Combine remains an invaluable resource leading up to the draft.

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #9

COLD DRAFT 2007 is reporting yet another rumor that has surfaced involving some major players in the NFL. Again, I don't know how much stock I would put in this move. But, it is said there is some truth in every lie. Let's take a look to see what the folks at http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/ are saying!

Broncos' Bell, Plummer for Houston's first?

The Denver Post is floating a rumor which has the Broncos sending Jake Plummer, Tatum Bell, and draft picks to the Texans in exchange for Houston's first round pick (8th overall). This sounds like pure speculation from the writer, but we felt we'd pass it along in case it has more substance. It also suggests that Bell is on the block and Plummer has certainly played his last down as a Broncos QB. The Broncos are rumored to want Adrian Peterson and they'll need a trade like this to have any shot at him. Although, if Peterson is available at the 8th spot, the Texans would jump at the chance to grab him, which makes this trade scenario even less likely

COMBINE REBPORTS: #1

As you are all aware, 02/21/07 is the “NFL COMBINE”! Traditionally The Combine is a great way for College Prospects to strut their stuff for NFL scouts & possibly improve their rankings in the NFL Draft. However, every so often we see a player opt not to perform in certain drills at the Combine and some decide to opt out completely. This can be due to injury or a myriad of other reasons. Either way we here at “COLD DRAFT 2007” will do our best to keep you abreast of all the action! Here is the latest!

Ginn to skip drills at combine (http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/)

Ted Ginn Jr announced he will not workout at the combine since his sprained left foot is not fully healed.
"Right now, I'm just going to weigh in, get my height measured, and take care of things like that," Ginn said over the phone on Friday. "I tried to get ready for Indy, but it wasn't a good time for me. I just have to wait for the next time."
Ginn hopes his ankle will allow him to work out during Ohio State's Pro Day on March 10th.

POSITION ANALYISIS: DB

THE DB'S ARE COMING!!!! THE DB'S ARE COMING!!!

Hey everyone! It is time for another installment of POSITION ANALYSIS!!! Today we are going to take a look at some hard hitting henchmen of the secondary postions. You will see an assortment of devastating hits & incredible displays of ball coverage skills from these young men. As always feel free to post your opinions or questions.

Laron Landry, S, LSU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHRCOy8Pcfg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R211e6JdVew
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N-zuQOtEu4k
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RvKaO78Ov2I

Leon Hall, CB, Michigan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLf0ViXwps
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qMVBdAaiO9k

Michael Griffin, S, Texas

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bHzIRmVQ0Qo

Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Ei4Vmg2kY

Darrelle Revis, CB, Pitt, Jr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bw6dpRFliA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV3g2Z-0ExA

Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YmgX9hDag9U

Reggie Nelson, S, Florida, Jr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRW3JFaMN_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3o2ULj5IsQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lWImu1_hl3o
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zcMGyqZ-TBU

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #8

NO MOSS!!! NO MOSS!!!

This rumor keeps resurfacing over & over again. I don't think there is much truth to it either. But, it's a great example to show that teams have to build themselves through the NFL DRAFT & not trade away their future by swapping picks for players. Is it sometimes warrented? Sure, but I myself am not a great fan of it.

Regardless, here is the latest on the rumor that wont die, courtesy of http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/2007/02/packers-unlikely-to-trade-for-moss.html.

Packers unlikely to trade for Moss
Despite rumors and Favre's public request, the Packers now seem unlikely to trade for Randy Moss. First, there has been almost no internal discussion of Moss by the Packers. Second the Raiders are now rumored to want a second round pick for Moss. It seems very doubtful that Packers GM Ted Thompson, who typicaly looks to acquire draft picks and build through the draft, would be willing to let go of a second rounder for a 30 year-old receiver with a huge contract and a ton of baggage.

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #7

SUPER FREAK!!!

This just in! We all know that WR Calvin Johnson has a reputation as a phenom in the college ranks. But, if this report is accurate this young man is going to make quite a splash in the NFL & possibly move into the pantheon of elite WR's in the NFL almost immediatley! WOW!!!

Calvin Johnson runs a 4.33 in the 40

Calvin Johnson, preparing for the league's scouting combine in Indianapolis next week, was clocked at 4.33 in the 40. He also recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump and had a vertical leap of 43 inches.
While Johnson might not be the first player chosen, he is clearly separating himself as the top player in the 2007 NFL draft. Johnson is a rare talent. He is 6'-4", 234 pounds, and runs a 4.33 40 yard dash!
His combination of size, speed, hands, intelligence and work ethic are unheard of at the receiver position. Think Randy Moss talent with a Marvin Harrison work ethic. In fact Johnson is actually 25 pounds bigger then Moss and if the 4.33 - 40 is accurate, just as fast.

DRAFT CLASS: 101.B

In our continuing effort to spread the word & educate the masses here is a 3rd installment of "DRAFT CLASS". These editions will be reviewing various subjects related to this Aprils "NFL DRAFT". This particular installment will go over the basics of the NFL DRAFT for all of our newcomers.

If you have any questions please post them here or email me directly. Enjoy! Again, thanks to the folks at Wikepedia for this information.

Compensatory Picks
In addition to the 32 picks in each round, there are a total of up to 32 picks dispersed at the ends of Rounds 3 through 7. These picks, known as "compensatory picks", are awarded to teams that have lost more talented players than they gained the previous year in free agency. These picks cannot be traded, and are awarded based on a proprietary formula based on salary and performance. So, for example, a team that lost a backup quarterback in free agency might get a sixth-round compensatory pick, while a team that lost their best wide receiver might receive a third- or fourth-round pick.
If fewer than 32 such picks are awarded, the remaining picks are awarded in the order in which teams would pick in a hypothetical eighth round of the draft.

[edit] Eligibility
The draft is the first chance each team gets at players who have been out of high school for at least three years. Players whose high school class did not graduate three or more years before are not eligible for the draft and hence are not eligible to play in the NFL. Most drafted players come directly out of college programs as seniors or juniors, though some underclassmen are eligible,(red shirted sophmores) and other players are selected from other pro leagues like the Arena Football League. A player who is drafted, but does not sign a contract can sit out that season, which is referred to as a "holdout", and can re-enter the draft the following year.

[edit] Mr. Irrelevant
The NFL Draft has developed a phenomenon known as "Mr. Irrelevant", which is the final player taken over the two-day event. This player actually receives some celebrity status, receiving a parade and the Lowsman Trophy, which is much like the Heisman trophy, except instead of carrying the ball, the player is fumbling the ball. Past "honorees" of the Mr. Irrelevant title can be seen here.

[edit] Salaries
The NFL allows each team to spend a limited amount of money from its salary cap to sign rookies (including undrafted players). Teams with higher picks get a higher rookie salary cap allocation. The salary cap increases from the year before, so most years there is more money allotted to teams for signing rookies. This form of salary control is legal because it has been negotiated into the NFL's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the National Football League Players Association(NFLPA).
The drafted players are paid salaries commensurate with the position in which they were drafted. High first-round picks get paid the most, and low-round picks get paid the least. There is a de facto pay scale for drafted rookies. After the draft, any non-drafted rookies are allowed to sign a contract with any team in the league. These rookie free-agents usually do not get paid as well as drafted players, nearly all of them signing for the predetermined rookie minimum.

DRAFT CLASS: 101.A

I've recieved quite a few emails from people who are brand spanking new to the whole "NFL DRAFT" experience & need some instruction on the very basics of the concept itself. So, I will be posting a series of "DRAFT CLASS" articles that go over these basics to help all of our newbies get up to speed. As usual, if any of you have any questions please don't hesitate to either email me or post your question on COLD DRAFT 2007.

The following information comes from the folks at Wikipedia. They have some really great stuff that can be found at this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nfl_draft.

The NFL Draft has been in New York City since 1965 and has had to move into large venues as the event has gained in popularity, drawing fans from across the country who are looking for a reason to paint their faces in April. The 2006 draft was held at Radio City Music Hall, the first time this venue has hosted the gala. Madison Square Garden had hosted the event for a number of years, but the NFL moved it to the Javits Convention Center in 2005 following a dispute with MSG management opposing a new stadium for the New York Jets.
Tickets are free, but long waits in line can be expected for fans hoping to get a live glimpse of their team's high-profile picks, or to express their displeasure at their team picking the "wrong" guy. Fans must arrive early in order to attend the draft.
The current format consists of seven rounds. Each team is assigned a selection in each round, with the team with the worst record from the previous year being assigned the first pick in each round. The team with the second-worst record gets the second pick, and so on. Ties are broken by strength of schedule. For teams that qualified for the playoffs, ties are broken first in the order in which they were eliminated from the postseason. However, the Super Bowl participants make the final two selections, with the team that lost the game picking next to last, and the winner picking last.
The first overall pick generally gets the richest contract, but other contracts rely on a number of variables. While they generally are based on the previous year's second overall pick, third overall, etc., each player's position also is taken into account. Quarterbacks, for example, usually command more money than offensive linemen, which can skew those dollar figures slightly.
Each team has its representatives attend the draft. During the draft, one team is always "on the clock". In Round 1, teams have 15 minutes to make their choice. The decision time drops to 10 minutes in the second round and to 5 minutes in Rounds 3-7. If a team doesn't make a decision within its allotted time, the team still can submit its selection at any time after its time is up, but the next team can pick before it, thus possibly stealing a player the late team may have been eyeing.

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #6

Once again my beloved Vikings are in the news. No, no, no, not another episode of the "Love Boat"! This time it involves a possible trade for a high profile QB. If the Vikes do pull the trigger, my sources say they would have to give up a 4th round draft pick to land him.

The following rumor is courtesy of http://www.gbnreport.com/!

Texans field calls for Carr… The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Texans have confirmed receiving calls from a number of teams that are interested in acquiring QB David Carr. Houston G.M. Rick Smith though won’t disclose which teams have inquired about Carr, although both Minnesota and Oakland have been mentioned as possibilities. Carr, the first player selected at the 2002 draft, still has two years left on his contract, but the Texans apparently have tired of his inconsistency and want to go in another direction. If Carr is traded, the Texans would likely look for a veteran to compete with Sage Rosenfels with Jake Plummer of Denver expected to be the first choice. Houston coach Gary Kubiak was Plummer’s offensive coordinator at Denver and is expected to be either released or made available through a trade at some point this off-season.

DRAFT CLASS: 101

Did you ever wonder how teams decide what value to place on their draft picks & how they decide if trading it away is really worth it? Me too, until now!

I recently ran into an NFL TRADE VALUE CHART that war rooms across the NFL use to determine a draft positions numerical value & then match up the players with that position. Now if they trade away that draft position/pick then they must get a combination of draft picks or draft picks & players that equal that draft position/pick.

For instance, let’s take the Minnesota Vikings. Great team by the way! They earned the 7th pick overall in the draft for 2007. According to the chart the 7th overall pick has a value of “1,500” points. Now, if another team, like the Miami Dolphins, wanted to trade up with the Vikes they would have to offer a package equal to or greater to that assigned “1,500” point value of the 7th over all pick. The Dolphins have the #9 overall pick & that would have a value of “1,350” points. They would then have to come up with another 150 points that represents the difference between the 7th & the 9th overall picks. How they decide to do this is at the discretion of the Vikings. They could either demand one of the Dolphins picks from an upcoming round or even accept a trade of an existing player that they would agree represents or has a value equal to that 150 points.

Unfortunately, I could not show the chart directly on to this post but I do have the link so you can view it thanks to http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/features/valuechart.html. Take a look!

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #5

Draft rumors just keep rolling in the closer we get to April. Here is one more that may impact the top 10 selections.

Keep in mind that The Bucs & the Browns will have to flip a coin to see who actually recieves the #3 overall pick.

The Bucs are said to be interested in Joe Thomas and Calvin Johnson.

The Browns are interested in Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, and JaMarcus Russell.

POSITION ANALYSIS: LB

General Managers always say they prefer to build their rosters through the draft rather than through Free Agency. This couldn't be more true than for the Line Backer positions. LB is one of the most sought after & expensive positions in Free Agency. Therefore, if they play their cards right GM's can lock up a real impact player, at an impact position, for about 4 years, at minimum investment. Here is some video on some really promising Line Backer Prospects available for the April NFL DRAFT!

Keep your eyes on the Cold Draft 2007 for updates on these & other players that come in from the 02/21/2007 "NFL COMBINE" in INDIANAPOLIS!!!

1.) H.B. Blades, LB, Pittsburgh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AahwZMDriok

2.) Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn St.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTh3DlLr20I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jqKZf8AJ5yY

3.) Patrick Willis, LB, Ole MisS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bM4sEmaFLQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sVaa8NWqync
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kVQOmmydIqw

4.) Rufus Alexander, LB, Oklahoma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fg1ljT_-Cs

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #4

We have another juicy tid-bit for your draft status boards. This one could be potentially devastating for one of our top 10 rated prospects!!! This is courtesy of our friends at http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/


Quinn's draft stock falling fast

Brady Quinn was once considered the top pick in the draft and while he still could be a high first rounder, many experts and scouts are moving Quinn down their draft boards.His fall started when juniors JaMarcus Russell, Adrian Peterson, and Calvin Johnson entered the draft.

Then Mel Kiper slid him down to ninth in his latest mock. Now The Sporting News is quoting scouts who say "He's (Quinn) the biggest fraud in the draft" and "should be a third- or fourth-round pick". They add their final insult by calling him the next Joey Harrington.

POSITION ANALYSIS: RB

Listening to all of the talking head's opinions on who is the best available player at a certain position can give you a headache. I say, decide for yourself. Seeing is believing & here are some incredible clips of 3 very capable Running Backs for this years NFL DRAFT!!!

1.) Adrian Peterson, RB Oaklahoma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VX06qX4hH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmFM8MepDjE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh4albC37Rg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL2LuhEKy5Q

2.) Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4614928798308178811&q=marshawn+lynch&hl=en
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd6Sb1u_bCQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwDtrVNJ8tw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17lK3Z4_a0

3.) Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQDpmwxbIeI

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE: #3

Draft day is getting closer & closer & with the approach of that magical day comes all sorts of fantastical stories of teams jockying for position to grab the best players. This most recent rumor I picked up from http://www.footballsfuture.com/news/2007/02/vikings-to-trade-for-larry-fitzgerald.html is one of the more entertaining ones!

Vikings to trade for Larry Fitzgerald?
St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting the Vikings may try and boost season ticket sales by trying to acquire Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald.The deal would send the Vikings first pick, 7th overall, and players to the Cardinals in exchange for Fitzgerald.

WHAT'S A FREE AGENT??

The NFL's "FREE AGENCY" period does not start until 03/02/2007 and that gives us plenty of time to get those who do not know the ins & outs of this phase up to speed. Many teams use the "FREE AGENCY" period to help bring star power to their rosters to hopefully give them the boost that they need to get over the hump and make it to the Big Dance! But, hearing all of the different terminology assigned to the different types of F.A.'s(Free Agents) can be very confusing. So, thanks to the folks over at http://vikings.scout.com/2/616231.html we have a very good "Q&A" to help out your understanding of a very confusing subject. Feel free to post questions & I'll do my best to answer them & stay tuned for more "F.A. information.

NFL FREE AGENCY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: What are the categories of free agency?

A: Players are either "restricted," "unrestricted" or "exclusive rights" free agents. Within the categories are also "transition" and "franchise" players.

Q: What is the time period for free agency signings this year?

A: Please see Offseason Schedule page.

Q: What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?

A: Players become restricted free agents when they complete three accrued seasons and their contract expires. Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons with an expired contract.

Q: What constitutes an "accrued season?"

A: Six or more regular-season games on a club’s active/inactive, reserved-injured or "physically unable to perform" lists.

Q: Other than accrued seasons, what determines a restricted free agent?

A: He has received a "qualifying" offer (a salary level predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 21. Then, because of the qualifying offer, his rights revert exclusively to his old club on April 20. Prior to April 20, if the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because it has the "right of first refusal." If the old club does not match the offer, it can possibly receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer.

Q: What determines an unrestricted free agent?

A: A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no compensation owed to his old club, through June 15. On June 16, his rights revert to his old club if it made a "tender" offer (110 percent of last year’s salary) to him by June 1. His old club then has until the 10th week of the season to sign him. If he does not sign by the 10th week, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by June 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

Q: What determines a transition player?

A: His club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

Q: What determines a franchise player?

A: A club can designate one franchise player in any given year. The salary level offer by a player’s old club determines what type of franchise player he is. An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. If the player is not offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, he becomes a "non-exclusive" franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.

Q: Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designations on a player? If so, can it then use them on other players?

A: A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designations and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent either immediately or when his contract expires. The club cannot name a new transition player (two allowed in 1993, one in 1994 and one in the final year of the CBA). It can name a new franchise player the next year. A club can, though, designate a transition player in lieu of a franchise player at any time. Only one franchise and transition player can be on a club’s roster.

Q: What determines each team’s salary cap? Is it always in effect?

A: The salary cap is the absolute maximum each club may spend on player salaries in a capped year. For 2006, that amounts to $94.5 million (determined by a percentage of leaguewide "Defined Gross Revenues," divided by 32 teams, made up of preseason, regular-season and postseason gate receipts and radio and television rights). The cap is in effect 365 days a year. From March 2 to the day before the season begins, a club’s top 51 salaried players count towards the cap, plus pro-rated signing bonuses, incentives, etc., but not base salaries of other players on the roster up to 80. Thereafter, not all salaries on a club’s roster count toward the cap. The salary cap for 2007 is $109 million.

SENIOR BOWL REPORTS: FINAL

Here is a final analysis on the NFL Prospects during Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Al. as reported by Tony Pauline of sportsillustrated.cnn.com.

Remember our next opportunity to see these guys in action will be at the NFL COMBINE on 02/21/2007! Stay tuned for more updates from COLDDRAFT 2007!


Risers
1. Amobi Okoye/DL/Louisville: Okoye was the talk of the town this week. Weighing in at a chiseled 287-pounds, he displayed tremendous quickness and athleticism from the first practice. Okoye, a bright and articulate 19-year-old, also interviewed well for the teams that spent time with him.
2. Adam Carriker/DL/Nebraska: Another front four player who was tough to block, Carriker elevated his draft stock significantly. Displaying a combination of strength and intelligence, he also came across well during interviews.
3. Dwayne Bowe/WR/LSU: The big pass catcher separated himself from the rest of the group and distinguished himself as the top senior receiver in the country.
4. David Irons/CB/Auburn: Irons capitalized on a terrific senior campaign with a great showing in Mobile. He was consistently applauded by coaches for his cover skills, hard work and ability to learn new defensive systems.
5. Michael Griffin/S/Texas: Displaying an array of talent in centerfield, Griffin made an impact every day at practice. His ball skills in coverage were outstanding as was his play defending the run.
6. Brandon Mebane/DT/California: The stout defensive tackle was unblockable for most of the week. Displaying tremendous quickness, he showed pass rush moves scouts were not aware he had.
7. Ryan Kalil/C/USC: The Trojan blocker looked great on the pivot. Holding his own against bigger opponents, he showed a lot of unexpected skill blocking in motion.
8. Aundrae Allison/WR/East Carolina: Allison impressed scouts from the first day he stepped on the field. Catching everything thrown in his directions, he also got deep behind defenders with consistency.
9. Mason Crosby/PK/Colorado: Crosby regularly put his field goals through the uprights from 50-yards or longer with plenty of room to spare.
10. Antonio Johnson/DT/Mississippi State: The big tackle showed-off his athleticism all week. More impressively, he consistently made plays up the field, something that was lacking in his college career.


Sliders
1. Ryan Harris/OL/Notre Dame: Continuing what was a poor senior season, Harris was beaten regularly in Mobile. At one point he was chastised by Jon Gruden for allowing a sack on Thursday.
2. Marcus McCauley/CB/Fresno State: Another who struggled in '06, McCauley was beaten with regularity all week. His performance during Thursday's no pads practice was not good.
3. Patrick Willis/MLB/Mississippi: Willis gave good effort all week and looked strong in the box. Problem was he struggled making plays out to the sidelines or in reverse. He does not resemble the first-round talent many have pinned him to be.
4. Quentin Moses/DE/Georgia: The Bulldogs pass rusher checked in much lighter than expected at 249 pounds and was handled all week by blockers. During interviews, Moses did not come off as a confident individual.
5. Troy Smith/QB/Ohio State: While Smith was accurate with his short and intermediate passes, his long throws were off. Smith did not display the ability to drive the deep pass and was rarely on the mark downfield.

SENIOR BOWL REPORTS: DAY 3

Day 3 of the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile Alabama are considered the most important of all practices for NLF PROSPECTS as scouts from all 32 teams attend todays sessions & it is one of the last opportunities these College Seniors have to showcase their talents before the NFL COMBINE.

Here is the latest RISERS & SLIDERS reported by Tony Pauline @ sportsillustrated.cnn.com.


RISERS
• Ken Darby/RB/Alabama: After a bitterly disappointing campaign Darby took advantage of his final opportunity to play football in front of NFL scouts. Explosive carrying the ball, he broke several long runs and was tough to bring down.
• Michael Griffin/S/Texas: The Longhorn defensive back has been exceptional in both pass coverage and run defense. A rangy centerfielder who makes plays in every direction, Griffin has constantly been around the ball all week.
• Martrez Milner/TE/Georgia: Another athletic tight end from the Bulldog program, Milner has looked sharp catching the ball all week. Running good routes, he's displayed the speed to break into the secondary and his blocking has improved.
• Arron Sears/OL/Tennessee: Sears is finally putting it together after a rocky start. Controlling opponents, he's showed a lot of strength and versatility as well. Sears' play in Mobile could vault him into Round 1.
• Eric Weddle/DB/Utah: The versatile defensive back started making a lot of plays on the ball Wednesday. Truly a hard-working player, he broke up several passes and was constantly around the action.

SLIDERS
• Kevin McLee/OLB/West Virginia: The hard-working Mountaineer linebacker has given a lot of effort all week but just can't matchup with the players in Mobile. McLee is slow to the sidelines and has been consistently blocked from the action.
• Kolby Smith/RB/Louisville: A physical specimen, Smith has not stood out in any aspect this week. Looking like an ordinary ball carrier, his blocking has also been lacking the few times he lined up at fullback.
• Kareem Brown/DT/Miami-Fl: After a good start to the week Brown's play has come down to earth. Unable to disengage from blocks, he's been easily tied up at the point by opponents the past two days.
• Tim Duckworth/G/Auburn: The interior blocker has not showed much in the way of balance, movement skills or footwork. The strength of his game, the ability to knock defenders off the ball, has also been lacking.
• Chase Pittman/DE/LSU: Pittman has given effort but the undersized and slow defensive end has not made many plays this week.

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #2

"ARE THEY JUST LION??"

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Detroit Lions team officials, including Matt Millen, took Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas to dinner Monday night.

Tuesday at the Senior Bowl offensive coordinator Mike Martz said the Lions needs were "everything, except for a quarterback."This could be a smoke screen, but it looks like the Lions are satisfied with Kitna as their QB and will look to address other needs with the 2nd overall pick in the draft.

SENIOR BOWL REPORTS:Day 2

"DAY 2 PRACTICE"

Hey gang! One of the best opportunities for NFL coaches to access a prospects abilities ,prior to the NFL DRAFT in April, is during the “Senior Bowl” practices. The only other opportunity is the NFL Combine, which of course only gives them an idea of the players “Measurables”. These practices are a great way for Coaches to see these players in motion.

Reports from the Senior Bowl are usually pretty difficult to get but “Tony Pauline” of “sportsillustrated.cnn.com” reports that there are some ”Risers” & “Sliders” at the Mobile, Alabamba Senior Bowl practices.
Get your notepads out & jot these down!!!

RISERS

• Dwayne Bowe/WR/LSU: The Tigers' big possession wide out has caught everything thrown his way during the first two practices. Bowe has shown soft, natural hands yet at the same time a mean streak when he must battle for the reception.
• David Irons/CB/Auburn: Over shadowed by his brother (Kenny) throughout college, Irons has stood tall here in Mobile. He has shown the ability to shutdown opponents and has battled hard every day. His efforts have been commended by the coaches and Irons has significantly improved his draft stock.
• Antonio Johnson/DT/Mississippi State: The big athletic tackle has far and away been the best lineman on the South team. Johnson has been quick off the ball and tough to stop. He has bull-rushed defenders off the line or finessed his way past them. NFL scouts always knew Johnson had great potential and he's starting to show it at the Senior Bowl.
• Adam Carriker/DL/Nebraska: If Johnson is the best defensive lineman on the South then Carriker is the best one on the field to date. Carriker has also been impossible to stop, displaying a great combination of power, speed and smarts.
• Tony Hunt/RB/Penn State: Hunt surprised everyone by checking in a little heavier than expected at 239 pounds. Yet that seems to have positively affected his game. Hunt has been a monster carrying the ball on the inside and equally productive as a blocker.

SLIDERS
• Joe Newton/TE/Oregon State: The big tight end has looked slow and sluggish. And while he's effectively caught the ball, most of his receptions have come no more than five yards off the line of scrimmage. To make matters worse Newton's blocking has been subpar.
• Fred Bennett/CB/South Carolina: A terrific athlete, Bennett is struggling with his football skills in Mobile. Slow to react, Bennett has gotten beat a number of times and seems to be doing too much thinking and not enough playmaking.
• Marcus McCauley/CB/Fresno State: McCauley has been beaten like a drum the past two days. Consistently giving up deep receptions, McCauley has also allowed numerous catches in underneath coverage.

•Ryan Harris/OL/Notre Dame: While fundamentally sound, Harris has not shown the bulk or strength to stay with Senior Bowl players, never mind NFL stars. Used at both tackle positions, he's been pushed off the ball all week.
• Tyler Palko/QB/Pittsburgh: A try-hard passer with solid short-range accuracy, Palko has not displayed the arm strength or physical stature to play at the next level.

POSITION ANALYSIS: QB

"COLD DRAFT 2007" continues it's indepth coverage of each and every postion to help you get a stronger feel for all of the top college draft prospects! This issue is dedicated to the Quarter Back position. I've gathered a decent amount of film to help you decide who & why these guys will be the best candidates come this april.
If you are new to the site then please scroll down & check out our other Postion Analysis article on Wide Recievers & other available articles!! Stay tuned for updates to all "Position Analysis" articles.


Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_2Q_yAjYPE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnj0I0-aN8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp07w3o5jt8

Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan St.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by7KNxDXS3c

Tyler Palko, QB, Pittsburg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zssQB78uzmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwkQ_i6eetE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVxNRMkMI4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejf3l5hQ0rg

Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38_bSlDT0EU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5K8pwQ26xY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnjgP5gyHUU

DRAFT RUMOR: ISSUE #1

Ok, I just picked up this tidbit from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/scorecard/01/22/truth.rumors.nfl/index.html .

The Raiders are prepairing to make a run at Michael Vick, according to NFL Sources. The Raiders package would include “Randy Moss” And “Jerry Porter”, plus the No.1 overall pick in the 2007 draft for Vick and the Falcons First round Pick (10th overall).

-foxsports.com

This would be a titanic move for both teams! Wow!

Position Analysis: Wide Recievers

Wondering who the top WR's are for the April Draft? Well here are some video highlights that you can look through to decide for yourself!

I will update this post with more videos for even more of the WR prospects as they become available to me. For now, feast your eyes on some of these truly amazing videos!!!

Calvin Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXRqyjzyBRg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3wIpvjGC3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9vbXISRCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baeAsiaOdyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRfDvvtGo5c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhnsXkknGUU

Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUU_A9ZTmyk

Ted Gin, WR, Ohio St

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHo4988s2t4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TikygJwTs1I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIh4j1vYvCkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9GqxdkO5sw

Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee, Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnsDAuifqD8

"TEAM NEEDS"

Even if your team is one of the lucky final four, you should still have a pretty good idea of what your team actually needs to look at during "Free Agency" and the "NFL DRAFT". Both phases of the off season offer your franchise a way to improve its fortunes for next season. With the increase in "Cap Space" most teams are loaded & looking to make a splash in both areas. Good news for us fans!!!
Here is a list of positional needs for all 32 teams to help you start forming a shopping list for all of those dollars your team owners have stashed away! Feel free to post your own ideas on what your teams needs are & why. GOOD LUCK!

1. Arizona Cardinals: OT/LB/CB/S/DE
2. Atlanta Falcons: S/WR/OT
3. Baltimore Ravens: OG/WR/QB/RB
4. Buffalo Bills: OT/TE/WR/OLB
5. Carolina Panthers: TE/S/RT/QB
6. Chicago Bears: OLB/QB/OL/S
7. Cinncinnati Bengals: DT/OLB/S
8. Cleveland Browns: QB/RB/DT/OG
9. Dallas Cowboys: FS/OG/OT/WR
10. Denver Broncos: DT/WR/S/OT
11. Detroit Lions: QB/MLB/CB/OG
12. Green Bay Packers: S/CB/RB/OLB
13. Houston Texans: S/RB/OLB/CB
14. Indianapolis Colts: DT/LB/OL
15. Jacksonville Jaguars: OLB/DE/S
16. Kansas City: OT/WR/DT
17. Miami Dolphins: OT/OG/CB
18. Minnesota Vikings: WR/DE/OT/CB
19. New England Patriots: WR/S/LB/CB
20. New Orleans Saints: CB/LB/DT/TE
21. New York Giants: DT/CB/S/R/OLB
22. New York Jets: RB/DE/DT
23. Oakland Raiders: QB/OT/RB/WR
24. Philadelphia Eagles: S/DE/OLB/OT
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: OLB/S/CB
26. San Diego Chargers: S/ILB/OG
27. San Francisco 49's: CB/S/DT/DE
28. Seattle Seahawks: OG/DE/OT
29. St. Louis Rams: OLB/DE/CB/DT
30. Tampa Bay Bucs: OLB/DE/DT/QB
31. Tennessee Titans: WR/OT/OG/DT
32. Washington Redskins: CB/OL/MLB

WELCOME BACK!

Hey everybody!!! The regular season is almost over & our teams are vying for the last few playoff spots available! Is your team a shoe-in or are you hoping & praying for a wild-card spot???

Either way, it's not to early to start thinking about the "2007 NFL DRAFT"!!! That's right! April is allot of snow & many days away but the off season itself is just around the corner.

By now you already know your teams strengths & weaknesses and maybe some of your divisional opponent's too. By stopping in at "COLD DRAFT 2007" we can help you research the class of 2007's best & brightest prospects. Just use the handy links that are provided for you & then feel free to post your thoughts or arguments on the articles that we post in this column!!!