NFL Draft notebook ... or, something else to read while you wait

by Ed Valentine on Apr 23, 2009 2:00 PM EDT in New York Giants News

Here are a few stories of interest as the clock ticks ... slowly ... toward this weekend's NFL Draft.

The great Mike Garafolo has come up with a scenario for how the Giants can move up into the middle of the first round. It's very plausible, and I love it. Without giving it all away, it involves the New Orleans Saints, Jeremy Shockey and .... Darrius Heyward-Bey.
FOX Sports columnist John Czarnecki has a list of the best 5 and worst 5 draft decision makers. The only justification I can see for Giants General Manager Jerry Reese being left off the list of the best is that he has not been GM long enough.
The National Football Post, which every diehard football fan should be reading religiously, ranks the Giants as the second-best run organization in football. Only Pittsburgh ranks ahead of our Giants, and I can't really argue with that. Here is what NFP said about the Giants.

Like the Steelers, the Giants have a unified approach to scouting, drafting and player replacement. And perhaps more than any other organization, especially one in the media capital of the world, the Giants are not managed by the wind generated by talk radio or newspaper columns. They are also a symmetrical organization with equal focus on football, business and league governance.

Pat Kirwan of NFL.com assesses the risk of taking an underclassman in the first round.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline has a look at a small-school player who could be a big-time sleeper in this weekend's draft.
SI.com looks at overrated and underrated prospects heading into the weekend.

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Comments

#2 Organization

It’s a great 4 part article but I have one major complaint about it: it puts the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the Colts?!

The Colts have been a perennial SB contender with one SB win in the ten years. In that same period the Cowboys have struggled to make the playoffs let alone win a playoff game.

I do not understand the love that the Cowboys get from the media.

by John W on Apr 23, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you.

When I saw the Colts at #9, I really thought it was a misprint.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Apr 23, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

it's a complete joke

that the Colts aren’t at least in the top three on that list.

they’ve had the most wins in the league over the past decade, eight-straight playoff berths (9 of last 10 years), six straight 12+ win seasons (never been done), six Division championships, and a Super Bowl ring.

you want to see a list of their first selections since 1998?
Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Rob Morris (who actually was pretty solid), Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders (2nd round), Dallas Clark, Marlin Jackson, Joseph Addai, Anthony Gonzalez, and Mike Pollak (hard to judge a rookie).

the writer lost all credibility when he mention that Lucas Oil Stadium was opening THIS year, when they had about three primetime games in their new building last year (duh). bottom line is that you cannot tell me with a straight face that the Colts aren’t one of the top three franchises in the NFL over the past decade.

somebody knows what they’re doing in Indy.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Apr 23, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea

there’s really no reason that the Colts are not at least #4 on that list. I think there could be an argument that the Colts are #2 in place of the Giants.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 24, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

i've been following the NFP series

There was no doubt in my mind it would be Steelers #1, Giants #2

by queler on Apr 23, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

A couple of weeks ago there was a post about the best and worst drafting teams according the Forbes which listed the Pats as the worst. This guy from FOX Sports, on the other hand, considers Bellichick the best draft mind. Very interesting.

by XLII on Apr 23, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

Jerry Reese

Reese is not on the list because he’s only had two drafts a verygood/maybe great 07 draft and a promising/jury still out 08 one. Believe it or not as much as Acorsi struggled with some of his early drafts in the late 90’s early 2000’s his later ones before he retired are the foundation of this team. Acorsi’s best work was in 2005 when they only had 4 picks in the draft and no first rounder because of the Eli Manning trade but came away with their best defensive player Justin Tuck 3rd and arguably their best offensive player Jacobs in the 4th, throw is Corey Webster in the second round and that is a lights out draft. If a team had 12 picks they would be luck to get 3 guys of that caliber. Acorsi also selected Osi, Kiwi, Cofield, Snee, Deihl, Manning and signed Pierce McKenzie, and O’Hara as FA’s. JR is off to a great start as GM but EA’s last few years really solitified this team.

by Landeta on Apr 23, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

I'm sorry

but there’s was a such a difference between the types of players Accorsi drafted in the first round, and the players drafted in the later rounds by Accorsi and the all of Reese’s picks, I have to believe the Reese heavily influenced the later round picks in Accorsi’s era.

by queler on Apr 23, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Jerry Reese

Wasn’t Reese running the scouting department under Arcosi?

by John W on Apr 23, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea

I remember reading that Reese was running the Giants draft room for awhile before Accorsi stepped down. I think the way Accorsi fought for Reese as his successor is evidence that Reese knows talent.

by XLII on Apr 23, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

How are the Cowboys that high?

I have no problem w/ the Steelers being ahead of the G-Men makes perfect sense and I hate to admit it but the Eagles are a well-run franchise, but the Cowboys are way too high. They put the Skins at 24 and they are run the same exact way the Cowboys are. Big time history, make tons-of-money, spend lots of money on big names, but are irrelevant come playoff time. Coaches do not want to work for these owners how can you be considered a good organization if thats true? I agree with an earlier poster whats whith the Media love of the Cowboys? I also thought the Jets were too high at 16, they don’t have their own stadium, their not the Bengals or Raiders but they should be no higher than 25, just ask a Jet fan.

by Landeta on Apr 23, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

The Giants

won’t have their own stadium after this season, either. Neither team needs to share a stadium, but it helps them both out, so I don’t think that’s a legitimate way to criticize the Jets.

by cjmulrain on Apr 23, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you

The Colts are inexplicably ranked behind the Cowboys even though they been in the playoffs every year for the last 10 years and they have a SB victory. In that same span the Cowboys have what…1 playoff victory?

by John W on Apr 23, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

zero playoff victories

last Cowboys playoff win: December 28, 1996

to put that in perspective that was two months after the first Championship of the Yankees’ 90’s dynasty. two days before LeBron James’ 12th birthday. three weeks before the start of Bill Clinton’s second term in office. two months before Mario Kart for Nintendo 64 was released. three months before Biggie was shot to death. and five and a half years before the first season that the Knicks started consistently missing the playoffs. the Giants backfield comprised of Rodney Hampton and Tyrone Wheatley. for you Cuse fans out there (see to be lots of you) Otis Hill and Todd Burgan were the team’s leading scorers. the Spice Girls had the #1 album in America. Jerry Maguire was #1 in the box office.

and i still had braces.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Apr 23, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Allen Iverson and Ray Allen

were sophomores and juniors in college, respectively

by cjmulrain on Apr 24, 2009 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

and Micah Rucker was 11

by NY17NE14 on Apr 24, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

draft deciders

I dunno about the Pats, their last few drafts have not been great and are one of the reasons their defense has declined

by queler on Apr 23, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

I was with Garafalo

up until he mentioned picking DHB, or staying put and taking Laurinitus. Good lord, I’m glad that man doesn’t have Jerry Reese’s job.

Also thought that NFP article was good. Definitely can’t argue with the Steelers at #1, and while the Giants went through some rocky years in the 90’s, I think they have a great system in place. I also love the fact that Wellington Mara was forward thinking enough to share revenue with the smaller markets even though it potentially hurt the Giants, b/c he knew the long-term success of the league was more important than the short-term success of the Giants. Glad to see it looks like the current Mara might have some of that integrity in him, too – proof that not every business owner is corrupted by runaway greed. MLB Owners should take notice

by cjmulrain on Apr 23, 2009 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

Reese

needs one more solid draft to put himself in the top 5.. especially with newsome and Polian on that list

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 23, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

The Future ...

looks reaally good … Reese is only 45 (looks even younger), and could be a solid GM for the next 15+ years. That might be the real reason the decade starting with 2007 is someday referred to as a “Giants dynasty”. Personally, I’d rather have a top notch GM than a top notch head coach ! [Even Barry Switzer won a super bowl with Jimmy’s talent !]

by Shofner85 on Apr 23, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions