For those of you who are wondering, my draft day went something like this..

“What up, foo?”
“I’d knew you’d call..I mean really, it’s about damn time!!”
“Hey, man, I had to play Basketball earlier this morning..so who’d we-”
“364 F$##@$ other days you can play ball and you choose THIS day..”
“Shut the hell up! You know my fitness is more important than a few minutes of-”
“I can’t believe you just said that…364 days!!! What, you need me for more insight on your infamous stupid blog!?!?!!”
“WILL U SHUT THE HELL UP AND TELL ME WHO WE PICKED???”
“Nah, man, I’m not telling you..”
“You’ve GOT to be F##@^ing kidding me.This is so F%^&ing wrong..”
“Knowing who you are, you SHOULD be watching this sh-”
“CHRIS LONG!!! We got Chris Long!!!”
“If you read the correct reports, you’d know that foo would be gone by pick #4!”
“Shut the hell-…Mcfadden!!?!?!!”
“Hmm..should I tell ya?”
“Son of a Beeaa..”
“We got Mcfadden…”

The man on the other end of the cel was my good friend, Master Chad. We’ve known each other since High school and has better insight than most of the Oakland Raider fans on the planet.
He’s actually worked with Raiders a while back and has the gift of having Coaches eyes.
That means while you’re looking at a JaMarcus Russell TD pass..
he’s looking at the blocking from the entire line..
While you’re seeing a man open..
He’s seeing the Quarterback pressured..
While you’re watching the Defensive line not penetrating..
He’s watching the Offensive line holding.
I’d like to say I have the same talent, but the truth is, it’s harder to see what he saw with a 105 degree helmet on your head.
Ha! He’ll probably say that’s no excuse….shut up, foo.

The point of all of this jabber is this;
I’m hoping you all have a friend like this to answer all of your sports questions you need to know on a regular basis.
No, I will not miss your ass if you move to New Jersey, bitch…
only Kay and Jonah.

Soooo… is he a good pick? You can’t really say he wasn’t. I mean if you see his profile and read all of the interviews, you’d know this guy is a playmaker. If you need to know more, hey check his 2007 profile, son…

Before the 2007 season, McFadden was believed to be one of the top NFL draft picks after the 2007 season if he declared for the 2008 NFL Draft. In Sports Illustrated’s website, a photo gallery chronicling the best possible candidates in the 2008 draft was tipped as the number 1 pick. McFadden was also predicted to be a front-runner for many awards, including the Doak Walker, the Maxwell, the Walter Camp Player of the Year, and the Heisman.
McFadden began the 2007 season with five consecutive games in which he gained at least 120 yards. Highlighting these were a 195 yard effort against Alabama, a 151 yard game against Troy, and a 173 yard effort against Kentucky. After this stretch of games, McFadden looked to be a lock for the Heisman trophy, at the top of generally every watch list. But in the next three weeks, McFadden tallied only 43, 110, and 61 yards against Auburn, Ole Miss, and Florida International, respectively. After these three games, McFadden had gone from being at the top of the lists, to near the bottom, or in some cases, off.
On November 3, 2007, McFadden tied the Southeastern Conference single-game rushing record (Frank Mordica, Vanderbilt, 1978 vs. Air Force) with 321 yards rushing against the South Carolina. An 80 yard run highlighted McFadden’s day, as well as preserved the Arkansas win.
The next two weeks, McFadden rushed for 117 yards in a loss to Tennessee and 88 yards in a win against Mississippi State.
On November 23, 2007, McFadden led Arkansas to a 50-48 triple overtime victory over the #1 ranked LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, winning the Battle for the Golden Boot for Arkansas. McFadden rushed 32 times for 206 yards and 3 TD’s, and completed 3 of 6 pass attempts for 34 yards, also throwing a touchdown to Peyton Hillis. The Wildhog formation was key for McFadden and the Hogs, as the majority of McFadden’s yards came when he received the snap.
By any measure, McFadden’s 2007 season was a success: McFadden was selected as the Sporting News magazine National Player of the Year, was a consensus 1st Team All-American for the second straight season, won the Doak Walker Award for the second year in a row (only the second person to ever win it twice, Ricky Williams of Texas), was selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Year by SEC coaches, and he was also awarded the Walter Camp Award (given to the nation’s best overall player).
McFadden is second all-time in career rushing yards in the SEC behind only Herschel Walker of Georgia (5,259), and is also currently holds seventh place for the SEC career record touchdowns with 40. McFadden has 1,829 yards rushing on 325 carries and 16 TD’s, plus he has thrown for 4 TD’s, and has 1 TD reception. He leads the SEC and is third in the nation in rushing yards.
On December 6, 2007, McFadden was announced as the winner of the Walter Camp Award and as the winner of the Doak Walker Award. He became only the second person (along with Ricky Williams) in history to win the Doak Walker Award twice. McFadden finished as the runner-up for the 2007 Heisman Trophy for the second year in a row. He was runner-up to Tim Tebo of the Florida Gators, making him the first person since 1949 to finish second in Heisman voting in consecutive years. Additionally, he was, for the second consecutive season, a consensus All-America selection.

He is the most decorated player in school history, and holds virtually all of the universities rushing records, and is also in a number of the SEC’s all-time top 10 rushing spots. After Arkansas lost 38-7 to Missouri (and fellow 2007 Heisman finalist QB Chase Daniel) in the January 1, 2008 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, McFadden decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2008 NFL Draft on January 14, 2007…
and here we are.
Wow, 4,589 total yards in 3 years….not bad.

Yeah, I know a lot of you wanted Dorsey. Although, if the Coaches think Kelly will be better at this position..
then I think so…
as…uh… well???
Reassure me, Lane Train!!!

Kiffin: It wasn’t only because the position. As you look at Glenn, he’s going to be a great three-technique in this league. To take a guy fourth overall and put him at nose with Tommy Kelly already there at three-technique just doesn’t make very much sense to do. To pay a guy what you’re going to pay a guy in the fourth slot and move him to nose, which isn’t even his natural position, it’s just too hard of a switch to do. Glenn’s a great player. I actually was hoping he wasn’t going right after us so we’ve got to play him twice a year. I was hoping he’d go somewhere else. It just didn’t make sense.

Only time will tell who made the right decision…
us or KC?
May the force be with us….

DR

Darth’s Turn..
I’m not as good as selecting as the rest of the media, but here are my best guesses on the top 10 players selected in the 2008 NFL draft….
(Who really cares for the rest of ‘em? I’m actually going back to bed after the 4th pick..)

1. Miami Dolphins–OT Jake Long, Michigan.
Easy call…or is it? HE’S GETTING TRADED??? Can’t they keep anyone?!?!? snicker..

2. St. Louis Rams–DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU.
I agree and I’m sure the world agrees….. the best defensive player on the board.

3. Atlanta Falcons–QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
Vick plays with dogs, so they need a replacement.

4. Oakland Raiders–DE Chris Long, Virginia.
I also believe if Dorsey or Long are selected by this time, we’re going to go with McFadden…The reason for this is clear. Al Davis LOVES the guy and told many people the exact same thing. Trade Bait? Perhaps….but only if we can get a D-linemen out of it.
BTW.. love the nickname: RUN DMC.

5. Kansas City Chiefs–G-T Branden Albert, Virginia.
More of a wall to help the bastard which is; Larry Johnson.

6. New York Jets–RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas.
PARTY TIME IN NYC! Hope he doesn’t make the same mistakes as Donald Strickland, a reserve defensive back for the 49ers, was arrested earlier this month in downtown San Jose on suspicion of being drunk in public. HAHAHHAAHHAHAHAAA!

7. New England Patriots–CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
Asante Samuel gone..they address their need.

8. Baltimore Ravens– CB Dominique Rodgers, Tennessee State
They’ll always have a great D in my mind. This move makes them even stronger.

9. Cincinnati Bengals–DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders take Mr Ellis, if we trade down.

10. New Orleans Saints–WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
Improving their Offense. I believe this team will bounce back from hell this year.

YAWN!!!!!!
back to my slumber….WHAT?!?!?! I’m playing Basketball this afernoon? Damn you gut, for giving me the inspiration!!!
Holla at ya again soon, Nation..
DR

Whatup Nation???!?!
Pop Quiz, Hotshot! So if YOU were given the choice to offer your #4 overall pick for Mr. Ocho Cinco OR get a quality Defensive linemen in the draft, what would you do???
WHAT DO YOU DO????!?!??!??
This question keeps boggling Darth’s mind. Maybe Cincinnati will take the bait…
or not.
Apparently, the unhappy Chad Johnson story is not going away…..

Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson left no room for doubt Wednesday: He wants out of Cincinnati as fast as possible and he doesn’t plan on reporting for any future Bengal function — mandatory or voluntary.
What spurred Johnson’s immediate reaction was a statement made by quarterback Carson Palmer that indicated Johnson had told Palmer he would be at the team’s mandatory minicamp in mid-June. Johnson said that wasn’t true.
“I want to make this very clear,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I don’t know where he got that. I made no assertion to Carson that I would do that. Nothing has changed from what I’ve been saying for three months that I don’t want to play for the Bengals.”
Johnson made one of his strongest statements in saying he is not planning on reporting to any team functions because he wants to be traded.
“I want to be traded before the draft, and if that doesn’t happen, I want to be traded as soon as possible,” Johnson said. “I don’t intend on reporting to anything.”
The Bengals said they have no comment in response to Johnson’s statements. A team spokesman pointed to coach Marvin Lewis’ statement at the owners meeting that he has fully discussed the Johnson situation and didn’t feel it was productive to talk about it again.
Johnson is skipping the team’s offseason workouts as he tries to push for a trade. But the Bengals have also made it clear that they have no plans of trading him.
Lewis has said repeatedly that the team has no plans to deal Johnson, despite the wide receiver making the rounds of radio and television talk shows to voice his displeasure about his situation in Cincinnati.
In a February interview with Jim Rome, Johnson said he felt he was being blamed for the Bengals’ problems and disappointing showing last season.
“I’m not allowed to say. I get the blame; the so-called best player, I’m the problem,” he said. “Someone in-house is spreading this. Maybe they want me to quiet down [and] stop being me. That is not going to happen. I can’t function that way. I tried it. It sucked. There was no excitement.”
Last month, on ESPN’s First Take, Johnson again hinted at wanting a trade.
“I want to continue my career wherever I have the opportunity to win a playoff game and get to the Super Bowl. That’s where I want to be,” he said.
Wednesday, the Pro Bowl wide receiver said he was surprised by Palmer’s comments about his possibly reporting to mandatory camp.
“I wish he would stay out of my business,” Johnson said.
Damn, it’s getting ugly in Cinci..
Peace,
DR

There’s nothing like a peaceful Sunday.

No one is mowing the lawn outside..
no one is in the house….
God turns on the mute button…
birds actually fly to the window..
the Warrior game is on..
I’m not thinking about my team losing..
and the Raiders open with Denver on Monday night.

A cool breeze comes from the window..
I tear up bacon, eggs and tots..
I enjoy the hangover healing icy Gatorade..(my all time personal favorite remedy for anything)
i remember Chris Rock jokes from the other night..
and we open the pre-season with hosting the 49ers..

The bed is still warm..
the Sun finally shows..
I get calls from friends..
the cat jumps on the couch..
my headache is gone..
and Lane Kiffin cleared up his status with the Oakland Raiders.

Yeah, I still remember at least a dozen writers and two dozen fans shouting in their own meaningless way of words
“He will NOT coach again for your team in 2008! Trust me!”
My response was always the same..
“..If you don’t have personal chats with Lane or Al??
..just shut the hell up..”

Nation, it feels so damn good to have dreams in April.
I dream about the draft..
I dream about Javon Walker proving to his former team that he’s still worth a damn on Monday night..
I dream about JaMarcus progressing as a leader, not a Rookie..
I dream about several interceptions from Nnamdi and D-Hall..
I dream about sacks from Burgess Burger and Captain Kirk..
I dream about Justin breaking his own personal best rushing record..
and the world just makes sense.

BTW..
Can someone tell me when Vernon Gholston became relevant to the conversation regarding the draft?
I swear I turn off the tube for a wee bit and I miss something..
someone turn on NFL Network for me, damnit!!!!

VERNON GHOLSTON NOTES
Vernon Gholston is a remarkable talent, but he’s only just begun realizing his vast potential.
He never picked up a football until his sophomore year in high school and had just one season of defensive experience as a linebacker before being converted to defensive end when he arrived at Ohio State.
Blessed with incredible speed (clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash), long limbs and superb strength, Gholston is the prototype pass rusher that professional teams look for — big, fast, strong and explosive. An avid performer in the weight room, he boasted the best bench press on the team at 455 pounds. He also put on an impressive performance for teammates, squatting 405 pounds 20 times.
In 2007, Gholston earned All-American recognition and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s top defensive end. He posted 37 tackles (25 solo) and was a terror in the backfield, ranking eighth in the nation with 15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and second nationally with 14 sacks. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown.
In 34 games at Ohio State, Gholston started 25 times. He registered 87 tackles (47 solo) with 22.5 sacks for minus-184 yards and 30.5 stops for losses of 199 yards. He had two pass deflections and an eight-yard interception return, as he also recovered a fumble that he returned 25 yards for a touchdown.

On top of it all, he’s one of the few who got past the beast which is Jake Long..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yot9ClPvZDg

Perhaps I’m not seeing enough with this damn mask on..
ahhh, that’s better.
Have a great week, Nation.
I hope you’re enjoying YOUR Serenity Sunday as well…
-DR