News and Notes from ESPN’s 2009 NFL Draft – Day 1
Boom or Bust? Raiders Select Heyward-Bey No. 7 Overall …
ESPN analysts Mel Kiper, Jr., Keyshawn Johnson and Todd McShay explain their surprise at the Raiders’ pick and why they think Darrius Heyward-Bey — selected No. 7 overall by the Oakland Raiders — was a reach.
Kiper: “I’m shocked. I’m happy for Darrius Heyward-Bey … great kid, now a couple games this year he did not catch a pass, but he was shut out in two games. Not the guy that you throw the ball and can depend on. I gave it an F grade. I don’t know how you pass up Michael Crabtree at number 1. … I’ve got to give it an F. In my opinion there’s no way you can pass up Crabtree, or if you want Heyward-Bey, trade down. Take Heyward-Bey and trade down and take him in the middle of the first round.”
Click here to watch video of this discussion.
Matthew Stafford vs. Mark Sanchez: Who’s a better NFL quarterback? …
ESPN’s Draft analysts discussed the Lions’ selection of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick and the Jets’ trading up from No. 17 to Cleveland’s No. 5 position to pick USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. (Click here to watch videos of the Stafford vs. Sanchez discussions.) Highlights:
Kirk Herbstreit: “If you watch Matthew Stafford stand on the sidelines and throw the football, you are blown away. You think this guy is going to be one of the greatest quarterbacks you’ve ever seen. For whatever reason, that has not transitioned into the college game consistently. When you watch him throw, and you watch him on seven-on-seven drills, and then you watch him in a game, it’s not there. You’re not seeing the consistency. So, to me, he needs to mature.”
Cris Carter (on Sanchez): “This guy has IT. I’m more excited about him. I think he’ll be a better pro with the Jets than (Matthew) Stafford will with the Lions.”
On Percy Harvin and his potential character issues that could challenge the Vikings organization …
Herm Edwards: “This guy is one of those guys, whether he’s driving a Ferrari, a Cadillac, a Volkswagen — if he even goes to Disneyland and drives the little cars that run on the rail — he’s going to have a wreck, So you better have a good body and fender man. … There’s going to be some things you have to deal with and you know that, but this guy is an explosive player.”
On Miami’s selection of former West Virginia quarterback Pat White as a wide receiver …
McShay: “I look at Pat White specifically and wonder, ‘Is he worth this high of a draft pick?’ … He’s never played receiver. He’s never returned a punt or kick. He didn’t do it in the Senior Bowl. He didn’t do it during workouts, only during individual workouts and he’s a 4.5-5 receiver that has no experience. To me, it’s an interesting pick. I think they took him too high. They could have taken a wide receiver like Mohamed Massaquoi who would have been of value in a position they really needed.”
Prediction about incoming USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley …
Kiper: “I said three and a half years ago, Matthew Stafford to be No. 1 pick and I’m going on record now to say …three years Matt Barkley – who will be a true freshman this year – will be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Three years from now.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Interview
In an interview with Chris Berman on ESPN’s pre-NFL Draft SportsCenter Special: On the Clock, commissioner Goodell addressed a wide range of NFL topics and issues, including:
On possibly re-instating Michael Vick …
“What I said, when he was still in the legal process, I said I would sit down and I would try to understand what he’s learned from this experience. How he’s going to conduct himself going forward and whether he’ll be a positive influence. And if he’ll do that, we’ll consider it at that point in time. But I think at this stage, he needs to focus on himself and what he’s going to do differently going forward.”
Click here to watch the entire interview.
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