SpearSrai

And here's Walker's comment on Troy Smith: James Walker What will Bills offer for Smith? "The trade value question is always difficult, because it's really dependent on the teams and its need for Smith. A team with a major need at quarterback, such as the Buffalo Bills for instance, might be willing to give up a third-rounder. Another team may only be willing to trade a fourth- or fifth-round pick. So there is no firm way to answer that question."

There's been a lot of speculation over the past month as to where Brandon Marshall will wind up for 2010. Mike Klis of the Denver Post noted on Friday that despite Marshall being contrite about this past season, he's likely to be shopped anyway. On Sunday, the Post had word from Denver owner Pat Bowlen that he'd like it if Brandon stayed a Bronco, but wouldn't block a trade if coach Josh McDaniels wanted it. Any team could use a player as talented on the field as Marshall, but not every team wants to deal with the possibility of his off-the-field issues. We've speculated that the Pats and Cowboys would be two teams on the cusp of Super Bowl runs who might take a shot, and a week ago, Klis added the Cleveland Browns to the mix. Former Broncos and Ravens TE Shannon Sharpe said this week that "I know personally there are three teams out there who are going to make a move for Brandon Marshall." Are the Ravens -- one of his former teams, along with the Broncos -- in the mix? AFC North blogger James Walker doesn't think so, unless the Broncos lower the asking price: James Walker Return package too rich for Ozzie's blood "It would be an upset if Baltimore lands Marshall this offseason, especially if the Ravens give up a first- and third-round pick for him. General manager Ozzie Newsome doesn't believe in giving away high draft picks, so I don't see him pulling off that deal. If, for whatever reason, the Broncos were willing to lower their asking price, the Ravens would be more interested." http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors

I thought the Brett Favre one was pretty funny. I'm at the point where I like Brett Favre the commercial-star and hate Brett-Favre the quarterback.

The Saints receiving corp consists of three 1st round picks (Meachem, Shockey, Bush), a 2nd round pick (Henderson), a 7th round gem (Colston), and two undrafted players (Lance Moore, Pierre Thomas). We'd better get started...

So our season was a D, even though we destroyed one of the AFC favorites, on the road, in the playoffs? Even though we played the AFC Champs (and possible Super Bowl champs) tough, twice, holding the Colts offense to 17 and 20 points? No, that can't be right. Has to be in the 80's.

"Phil Savage, who oversaw the first nine drafts in Ravens history, has been hired as a draft consultant by the Philadelphia Eagles, he confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Savage was the Ravens' director of college scouting and the team's director of player personnel from 1996 to 2004 before becoming the Cleveland Browns' general manager. He was fired by the Browns at the end of the 2008 season." http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-sp.digest050feb05,0,7947248.column The last few years they've struck gold with DeSean Jackson (2nd), Jeremy Maclin (1st), and LeSean McCoy (2nd). Maybe Savage can help them connect on some later round picks as well. I wish Phil was still here.

Sounds good so far. Zorn has the right mindset, and if he accomplishes half of what he's talking about, we'll be in great shape next year (provided Joe has weapons to throw to.) Now let's hope Zorn can rub off on Cam a little. All this talk about "quick crossing-routes" is getting me excited.

You think St. Louis would take $400 million? That's the best I can do.

I wouldn't give up anything 3rd or higher for him, but I could be talked into giving up a 4th. I don't think he'll become a superstar, but it's possible that he could put up a 60 catch, 1000 yard, 7 TD season, which would be huge for us. Very least, it would give Joe a big target to look for. 6'6-to-6'5.

A first round pick? I'm talking about bringing in the guy via free agency. I wouldn't give up anything higher than a 5th for him.

There are plenty of guys who are fiery-but-not-Gilbert-Arenas-fiery. Media and on-the-field personas are not an exact indicator of off-the-field wrongdoings. (See: Marvin Harrison, aka 'The Godfather'.) Bart Scott is pretty cocky/talkative in the media, but I don't know that he's leading "the thug life" (See: Delonte West) Some guys may be both, like Arenas, but that has more to do with the individual. They're only loosely connected. Some guys are thugs, some guys have fiery personalities. Rex Ryan talks a lot of smack and flips the bird at MMA events; Tom Cable punches his assistants in the face. Then again, both guys led their teams to big upsets this year, so maybe there is something to it after all.

I remember on draft day when Mel Kiper said, "When you say Lardarius Webb, think Bob Sanders." Mel is even better than I thought he was. :-/

Are you kidding? Williams could definitely catch 15 balls in a game. It's just that you'd have to target him 30-40 times...

Clayton hasn't put up good numbers in the past 3 seasons. Floyd is coming off a more-productive season than Clayton has had since 2006, and he has much better size than Clayton. His familiarity with Cameron couldn't hurt, either.

Production in the NFL, maybe?

5 year olds think it's wrong to flip the bird. I myself don't do such things, but I have no problem with anyone who chooses to at an MMA event. Acting politically-correct 24/7 means they win, too. I'm all for showing restraint when you're on the job, but coaches and players can't be expected to act like politicians. Tiger Woods curses all the time on the golf course, for much lesser reasons, and he's probably the #1 athlete in the world over the last decade. It's not like he went Edward Norton or Christian Bale on the people. He showed his appreciation for their heckling, it got caught by the digital age, and that's life. I like my coaches fiery. Rex did not fly off the handle. I'm sure he was perfectly cool and collected in the moment. And then it was over, and people overreacted.

Catches with his body? Our guys catch with the ground.

The sad thing is that none of us would be surprised if D-Will went somewhere else, with a good QB and an opportunity, and started putting up Marshall-type numbers.

So since we're all content using our first rounder on a TE or pass-rusher, and our 2nd, 3rd, or 4th rounders are going to receivers, when exactly are we going to pick up the future starting corner that we so desperately need? (We can't rely on Webb playing for the first half of the season. We have to assume that he'll be out, and let's consider it a bonus if he plays.)

Gresham and Graham are very real possibilities. We could also possible trade up (Bryant) or down.

Of course he wants to be a Raven! There are very few defensive 'brand names' in the NFL... Ravens, Steelers... and that's about it. A few teams, like the Bucs and Giants, have had runs at great defenses, but when you are drafted by Baltimore, it means something different.

We don't have to take a WR in the first round. In fact, we probably shouldn't. We do need to snag one or two in the first 3-4 rounds, though. From the looks of things, there are going to be some star WR's sitting there in the second, and possibly even in the third.

Isn't it?

I love how we're supposed to pretend that celebrities, from athletes and coaches to actors and musicians, are not human beings. How many of us would do the exact same thing if someone was heckling us? It's ridiculous how the media overblows things like this in the interest of 'public relations', as if we're all stupid.

:-( Quite possible, unfortunately. On the positive side, there are several junior defensive ends who were rated higher than Graham going into the week, so if Graham moves up, one of them are likely to slide. Also from the Senior Bowl: Mardy Gilyard. Did he solidify a spot in the 1st round?