The weekend of July 26th marks the start of the NFL Season. Training Camps have opened or will open this weekend for all NFL teams. As of today, 28 of the 31 1st Round Picks have been signed. The only 3 that are missing are picks 7, 8, and 9. Those are Sedrick Ellis of the New Orleans Saints, Derrick Harvey of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Keith Rivers of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here is a quick breakdown of the latest signings:

5th Overall Glenn Dorsey, DT, Kansas City Chiefs - 5 years, $51 million ($23M guaranteed)

6th Overall Vernon Gholston, LB, New York Jets - 5 years, $50 million ($21M guaranteed)

10th Overall Jerod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots - 5 years, $18.9 million ($13.8M guaranteed)

13th Overall Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers - 5 years, $20 million ($10.795M guaranteed)

22nd Overall Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys - 5 years, terms undisclosed

23rd Overall Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers - 5 years, $12.555 million ($7.125M guaranteed)

25th Overall Mike Jenkins, CB, Dallas Cowboys - 5 years, terms undisclosed

28th Overall Lawrence Jackson, DE, Seattle Seahawks - 5 years, $11.25 million ($6.1M guaranteed)
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So far, in our series on best draft picks per round, we have found some of the top stars in the game. Today, we look at the 3rd Round. Unlike the previous parts of the series, this is the first round where teams and fans expect solid performance from their selections. The following 7 Third Rounders did not disappoint.

Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers, 2005
Gore was the 65th pick, the first of the 3rd round, in the 2005 NFL Draft. As a high-profile High School Recruit, Gore chose The U and immediately contributed to the Hurricanes’ success in the early 2000s. After an outstanding Freshman Year, Gore, who beat out Willis McGahee for the starting RB spot, suffered a torn ACL which kept him out of the 2002 season. He regained his momentum in his senior year and finished his collegiate career with a 7+ Yards per Carry average.

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins, 2004
Chris Cooley has been an outstanding Tight End since High School. The Utah State product was built to be a Tight End, and performed well in all aspects of the position. In 2003, his final season at Utah State, he led the nation in receptions for Tight Ends. His solid performance was enough to have the Redskins select him 81st overall in the 3rd round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He has gone on to write a successful blog and make the Pro Bowl.

Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago Bears, 2003
Briggs played his college football at Arizona, and put up solid numbers in his career as a Wildcat. Originally from Sacramento, the 6’1” Briggs was selected 68th overall by the Chicago Bears. This instantly created a scary Linebacking Core in Chicago with Briggs on the Strong Side and Brian Urlacher in the middle. Briggs is a three time Pro Bowler and a two time All Pro for the Chicago Bears.

Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys, 2003
Recently, Jason Witten has emerged as one of the league’s premier Tight Ends. Surprisingly however, Witten was recruited by the University of Tennessee as a Defensive End. Due to injury and lack of depth, the Volunteers volunteered Witten to try Tight End. He went on to set school records as a Tight End, and was chosen 69th overall by the Cowboys in 2003. Witten has quietly been selected to the last four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro Selection in 2007.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, 2002
One of Chris Berman’s favorite picks, Brian Westbrook was selected 91st overall from Villanova. Concerns about the level of competition in 1-AA didn’t stop the Eagles from taking a shot with Westbrook. As a Villanova Wildcat, Westbrook set the NCAA Record for Most All-Purpose Yards. He continued his dominance across the field in the pros as he has become one of the most versatile Running Backs in the game. Westbrook is a two time Pro Bowl Selection and one of the Eagles’ Most Loved Players.

Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers, 2001
Steve Smith’s rise to the NFL is a great story. He went to Santa Monica Junior College, and successfully completed two years as a standout in athletics and academics. He received a scholarship to the University of Utah and excelled as a Speedy WR for the Utes. His hard work and perseverance earned him an NFL Contract as the Carolina Panthers selected him in the 3rd Round (77th overall) in 2001. Smith has since emerged as a top-tier WR in the league after a breakout season in 2005 in which he led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

Joey Porter, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1999
It seems as if Joey Porter has been playing in the NFL for a lot more than ten seasons. The Colorado State Ram excelled as a rookie with the Steelers and was a dominant fixture of the Steelers defense for years. Currently playing for the Miami Dolphins, Porter has amassed three Pro Bowl Selections, three All Pro Selections, and a Super Bowl Championship. The Steelers made a great selection at 73 overall in the 3rd Round in 1999.
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We are at the midway point on our series of Best Draft Picks Per Round. Today, we are moving up the ladder and looking at 4th Round Selections. As we move closer to Day One of the draft, the picks become more valuable and the risks become greater. The fourth round has produced notable stars that have made a big impact for their NFL Teams.

Elvis Dumervil, DE, Denver Broncos, 2006
This is probably my favorite draft pick of all time. According to the every draft "expert," Elvis Dumervil was too small to succeed in the NFL. At only 5'11", 255, he was undersized to be a D-End. Dumervil was absolutely dominant at Louisville, setting records in his final two seasons. One of which, the all-time record for most sacks in a game, came in 2005 when he had 6 sacks against Kentucky. He is the Big East all time single season sack record holder. He won the Bronco Nagurski Award and This was the pick of the draft, and I wish it was more publicized. The so-called experts really screwed up on this one, and it was so obvious. Dumervil fought for playing time, and eventually got into the defensive rotation in Denver. Last year, he put up 12.5 sacks, putting him among the league leaders.

David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002
This time we have a QB who stuck with his position throughout College. David Garrard starred at East Carolina University as a four year starter. His large frame and amazing mobility allowed Garrard to lead the Pirates to three big seasons starting with his Sophomore year. Since his sophomore year, Garrard was the Starting QB for the Pirates each game until he graduated. Looking towards the future after the great (and ridiculously underrated) Mark Brunell, the Jaguars selected David Garrard in the 4th round. He didn't immediately get this chance as the Jags drafted Byron Leftwich 7th overall the following year. Garrard eventually won the love of Jacksonville Fans and the starting spot in 2007 as the Jaguars released Leftwich and gave Garrard control. After an 11-5 season and the first playoff victory for Jacksonville in almost ten years, the Jaguars rewarded Garrard with a $60 Million Contract Extension.

Marion Barber III, RB, Dallas Cowboys, 2005
Marion Barber was an accomplished RB from the University of Minnesota. During his time as a Golden Gopher, Barber shared time and carries with Laurence Maroney. The two put up great numbers together, and Barber was awared the MVP in the Music City Bowl in 2004. In 2005, the Dallas Cowboys, who the year before drafted rookie sensation Julius Jones, took another RB with Barber in the 4th round. After a poor training camp, Barber got his chance due to injuries. Jones and Barber eventually went on to split carries until this past season when the Cowboys released Jones and rewarded Barber wtih a $45 Million Contract.

Kerry Rhodes, SF, New York Jets, 2005
Originally recruited by Louisville as a Quarterback, Rhodes was moved to safety in his freshman year. He immediately blossommed at his new position and became one of the stars of the Cardinals' Defense. He consistently put up solid numbers throughout his collegiate career and was named to the first-team All Conference USA Team. The Jets selected him 123rd overall in the 4th round. Rhodes had a strong training camp and won the starting Strong Safety Spot. He went on to a great rookie season, and continued to improve in his 2nd year, barely missing the Pro Bowl.

Jared Allen, DE, Kansas City Chiefs, 2004
The Los Gatos, California native originally chose Rodeo over Football. Fortunately for Allen, he gave up chasing steer and started chasing Quarterbacks. Allen went to Idaho State University and was a four year starter. He recorded solid numbers and was named to the All Big Sky Team four times. The Chiefs chose Allen in the 4th round, 126th overall. The 6'6", 270 pounder immediately excelled in the NFL, and became on of the leagues top D-Ends. Allen, who was originally home schooled, gave his Mom a shoutout on Sunday Night Football by saying "Home School, thanks Mom" in his introduction.

Asante Samuel, CB, New England Patriots, 2003
Another QB turned Defensive Back, Samuel played his college ball at Central Florida. In High School, Samuel was an "every-position player," starting at QB, DB, Kicker, Punter, and Kick Returner. After putting up solid numbers at UCF, the Patriots selected him with their 4th round pick. His first two years were pretty successful going 2 for 2 in Super Bowls. His solid play in his 2nd year earned him the starting CB spot for the Patriots in Super Bowl 39.

Rudi Johnson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals, 2001
Rudi Johnson played college football at Auburn University. Although he shared the backfield, he still set an Auburn Tigers Single Season Record with 324 carries. The Bengals selected him as a backup for Corey Dillon. Johnson sat on the bench for most of his first two years while learning from Dillon. Once Dillon left for the Patriots, Rudi immediately took the spotlight and rushed for close to 1500 yards in his first season as a starter. He was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 2004 and is a big part to the turnaround in Cincinnati.
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Part 4 in our series of Best Draft Choices Per Round takes a look at the best 5th rounders of the last ten years. So far, Rounds 6, 7, and Undrafted Rookie Free Agents have produced some of the biggest names in the league.

Attention NFL General Managers: Trade your 5th Round Pick for 6th and 7th Round Picks! Why? See Below...

Donte Hall, WR/KR, Kansas City Chiefs, 2000
The Human Joystick had to wait over 150 picks to hear his name called in the 2000 NFL Draft. A Texas A&M Aggie, Hall starred as a WR and Return Specialist in the Big 12. After being selected by the Chiefs in the 5th round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Hall spent some time in NFL Europe until he exploded as a Kick Returner in the NFL. In 2003, Hall set an NFL Record with a Return Touchdown in four consecutive games. Hall produced a ton of highlights for the Chiefs between 2002-2006 until he was traded to the Rams in 2007 for a 5th rounder. To really top off his career, Lil Wayne mentioned him in a rap.

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, DE, Green Bay Packers, 2000
Muhammed-Kabeer Olarewaju Gbaja-Biamila, also known as KGB, attended San Diego State University. As a three year starter at SDSU, KGB racked up an impressive sack total each year and eventually set the Aztecs' record for all-time sacks. Before sacking QBs in college, Gbaja-Biamila started his own food company during High School, called Food From the Hood. Not heavily scouted, the Packers selected KBG with the 149th overall pick of the 2000 Draft. Between 2001-2004, KBG developed into one of the league's premier pass rushers, collecting double digit sacks each year. This 5th rounder has become the Green Bay Packers all time leader in sacks.

Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay Packers, 2002
Although the 5th round has been a relatively weak round over the past 10 years, it seems the Packers have a knack for finding pass rushing D-Ends in the 5th. Aaron Kampman, from the University of Iowa, follows KGB as a 5th round steal for the Packers. Kampman had a fantastic collegiate career, starting from Day 1 of his Freshmen Year. His first two years were at Linebacker, then he switched to D-End before his Junior Year. Although he put up great numbers in the Big Ten, NFL scots were not impressed. He fell to the Packers at 156 overall. Kampman really came in the playoffs of his 2nd season, leading the NFC with 3 playoff sacks. Kampman has been selected to the Pro Bowl two consecutive years, the only 5th rounder on this list to achieve that.

Dan Koppen, C, New England Patriots, 2003
Koppen played his college ball at Boston College in the Big East. He was a starter for his final three seasons at BC, and although he was a premier Big East lineman, he did not receive much attention from NFL Scouts. The Patriots saw something they liked and took Koppen with the 164th overall selection in the 5th round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Today, Koppen is still the starting Center in New England and has two Super Bowl rings. More importantly, Koppen was featured on that Visa commercial with Tom Brady.

Trent Cole, DE, Philadelphia Eagles, 2005
Trent Cole was one of those players that was too small to make it. At only 6'2, 257, Cole was undersized as a D-End. Playing Nose Tackle and DE at Cincinatti, NFL Scouts dismissed Cole's performance in college and labeled him too small. The Eagles took a chance on him in the 5th round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Cole immediately proved the other 31 NFL Teams wrong by recording 5 sacks in his first 4 games. Although he did not immediately start the next year, he was put back into the starting lineup later in the season. Cole earned his first Pro Bowl birth in 2007.
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Newsworthy Rookie Alerts

From Army to NFL
7th Round Selection Caleb Campbell has two battles in front of him if he wants to make the Detroit Lions. First, he needs to make the final 53-man roster. This means an impressive training camp, hard work in practices, and a lot of time with the defensive playbook. Unfortunately for Campbell, that is the easy part. His true test will be trying to be released from the Army's ADSO, active duty service obligations. According to the ADSO, to be eligible, you must serve at least 24 months of active duty. It seems that the Army is being very reasonable with Campbell, giving him the option to be a Detroit-Area Recruiter for 2 years if he makes the team. The ADSO Release is also contingent upon a signed, valid contract offer by the Lions. Good luck to Mr. Campbell.

Colt Brennan Ready to Prove Himself
After off-season hip surgery, Colt Brennan has proclaimed himself 95% fit. He also has announced he is ready to prove himself in the NFL. The record-setting college Quarterback knows that the NFL game is a whole lot different than playing for the Unversity of Hawaii. But this understanding will be a great motivator for Brennan, who will always have to play to prove his records. If Jason Campbell goes down and Brennan has a good training camp, the Skins may give him a try. Brennan is hoping to be 100% for the first day of Redskins Training Camp in late July. Like most, I'm skeptical of Hawaii's QBs having success in the NFL, but Brennan seems to understand the differences from NCAA to NFL and might have a shot to impress.

Ray Rice Signing Autographs Back at Rutgers, Trying to be MJD?
Ray Rice is going back to Rutgers this Sunday, July 13th, to sign autographs at the Scarlet Fever Fan Shop. Rice performed well in the Ravens' OTAs, and the organization is hoping for big things from this year's 2nd rounder. Rice was an elite college RB for the last two years, consistently putting his name with the likes of Darren McFadden, Mike Hart, and Steve Slaton. With Willis McGahee as the starter, Rice will look to make an impact as a Spell Back. Although his receiving game isn't as well developed as Maurice Jones-Drew, the Ravens would like to use him in the same way. Seeing Rice live for 3 years at Rutgers, I can say he is surprisingly explosive. I'm not sure if he can put up the same numbers as MJD, but he will definitely help expand the Ravens' rushing game.
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Continuing on in our series of Best Draft Choices per Round, Rookie Alert presents the Best 6th Round Draft Choices of the Last 10 Years. Yesterday, we looked at the best the 7th round had to offer. Today, we move up one round to examine the best 6th round draft choices of the last 10 years.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots, 2000
"Oops. My Bad. Maybe we shouldn't have passed on the chance of using a 6th round pick to grab Tom Brady." That was a recent quote from EVERY NFL TEAM (other than the Patriots). Nearing the 200th pick of the 2000 Draft, Tom Brady was still on the board. The Michigan Wolverine, fresh off an Overtime Orange Bowl win vs Alabama, finally heard his name called with the 199th selection of the 2000 NFL Draft. Yes, 198 players were chosen before Tom Brady. Today, the Patriots wouldn't trade him for any combination of them. The Patriots took a shot on him, and you know what, I think it paid off. 3 Super Bowls later and Tom Brady is one of the best QBs to ever play the game.

Adalius Thomas, LB, Baltimore Ravens, 2000
Back at the 2000 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens' Defense was preparing for a dominant season which would end with the Lombardi Trophy landing in Baltimore. Late in the draft, the Ravens were looking for another Linebacker to compete for backup spots on the depth chart. His dominating play in college earned him the 1999 Liberty Bowl MVP, but not respect from 31 other NFL teams who continously passed him for almost six full rounds. Hailing from the University of Southern Mississippi, Thomas finally heard his name called with the 186th selection of the 2000 NFL Draft. Thomas joined the already loaded Ravens defense and won a Super Bowl with them in his rookie season. He has now grown into one of the league's premier Linebackers with the Patriots.

Marc Bulger, QB, New Orleans Saints, 2000
2000 seemed to be the year of 6th rounders. Add Rams Quarterback Marc Bulger to the list. This West Virginia Mountaineer was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 168th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. A 3 year starter at West Virginia, he was an integral part of the Mountaineers success in the late 90s. He continously put up big numbers down in Morgantown, but apparently not enough for NFL Teams. Everyone passed on him, and while the New Orleans Saints drafted him with their 6th round selection, he was cut before training camp. He signed on with the Atlanta Falcons later that summer, but was again cut and did not make the final roster. St. Louis finally signed him in early 2001, and Bulger became the starter mid-way through the 2005 season. Since then, he has been putting up tons of pasing yards and touchdowns year in, year out.

Neil Rackers, PK, Cincinnati Bengals, 2000
Yet another from the Class of 2000. Neil Rackers, out of Illinois, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 169th overall pick. Since then, Rackers has been one of the best kickers in the league, setting a record in 2005 by kicking 40 Field Goals in a season.

Chester Taylor, RB, Baltimore Ravens, 2002
Chester Taylor finished off his collegiate career with a bang. In the highly scouted Hula Bowl, Taylor put on a show that earned him MVP honors. Add that to a senior season with close to 1500 yards and you have yourself a Day 1 prospect right? I guess not... Taylor had to wait until late in Day 2 to hear his name, finally being selected by the Baltimore Ravens to compete for the backup spot to Jamal Lewis. The 2002 207th pick impressed teams as Lewis' backup and was rewarded with a 4 year, $14.1 Million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006.

Derek Anderson, QB, Baltimore Ravens, 2005
Oregon State already produced star power in the late rounds, so why not Derek Anderson, a Beaver Alum, as well? Anderson is the third player on this list originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. Their scouting department is definitely doing their job, but maybe someone should tell their GM/Front Office to hold onto their draft picks. All 3 players originally drafted by the Ravens are now on different teams. Anderson was a 3-year starter at OSU, and improved steadily throughout his collegiate career, but apparently not enough for NFL Teams to take a chance with him. The Ravens used a 6th round selection on the OSU QB. Anderson now punishes the team that gave him a shot twice a year with the Browns.

Antonie Bethea, SF, Indianapolis Colts, 2006
Coming out of little known Howard University, Bethea had hope that his play was big enough to get him drafted. Late in the 6th round, the Indianapolis Colts took a shot. Bethea immediately proved the Colts right as he had a great rookie season. In 2007, he was named the starting safety for the Colts and was named to the Pro Bowl in only his second season.

2008 6th Rounder To Look Out For
Mike Hart, RB, Indianapolis Colts. For the past 3 years, Mike Hart was an elite college RB. A Michigan Wolverine, Hart was a two-time Doak Walker Award Finalist, a Maxwell Award semi-finalist, and a Heisman Trophy finalist. Hart also broke the all-time rushing record at Michigan with over 5000 career rushing yards. Hart was consistently in the top tier of running backs for the past few years rivaling Darren McFadden, Steve Slaton, and Ray Rice for best collegiate RB. Hart fell to the 6th round over concerns of his size (5'9"), but is in a great situation with one of the league's best offenses. Hart may be able to transfer his collegiate success to the next level.

Check back soon for the Best 5th Rounders of the Last 10 Years! Continue reading this article...

In the 2nd part of Rookie Alert's series on best draft choices per round, today we will be examining the Best 7th Round Draft Choices of the Last 10 Years. Yesterday, we checked out the Best Undrafted Rookie Free Agents of the Last 10 years. On today's list, NFL GMs had to risk something, albeit a 7th round pick is worth as much as Chad Johnson's demands to be traded, to select these future stars.

T. J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Cincinnati Bengals, 2001
Unlike the other WRs on the list, Housh went to a pretty big school in a good conference. As part of the Pac 10, TJ went up against some good competition before the Bengals decided to take a chance on him. Seven years later and it is 415 Receptions, 33 Receiving TDs, and a 2007 Pro Bowl Selection. After TJ's rookie season, Cincinnati went back to Oregon St to take a guy named Chad Johnson.

Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers, 1999
Before exploding on the NFL scene, Driver was an olympic hopeful at Alcorn State University. Driver was a potential track and field star for the USA in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. This is all before the Green Bay Packers saw potential in the ASU WR. Totaling just 88 receptions in college, Driver has gone on to become a 3-time NFL Pro Bowler. Rewind to '99 and the Browns may consider him instead of Tim Couch.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants, 2007
Bradshaw came on strong during the last few games of the Giants' Regular Season in 2007. He continued to earn carries into the playoffs, and played an important part in the Giants' upset over the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Coming from the MAC, Bradshaw rushed for over 1500 yards and 19 touchdowns in his junior (and final) year. After being passed up upon by 31 other teams for almost 7 full rounds, Bradshaw went on to be the leading rusher in Super Bowl XLII.

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints, 2006
251 picks came and went at the 2006 NFL Draft. Marques Colston, out of Division 1-AA Hofstra, did not get his name called until number 252. The New Orleans Saints gave Colston a shot with a 7th round pick. Colston immediately burst onto the NFL Scene and from Week 1 of his Rookie Year, he was dominating NFL secondaries on a weekly basis. At 6'4", Colston quickly developed into the prototypical big receiver, giving opposing defenses trouble in matchups.

Ronald Curry, WR, Oakland Raiders, 2002
Another College QB turned WR, Curry was a two-sport athlete at UNC. He was the starting QB for the Tar Heel Football Program and the starting PG for the prestigious UNC Basketball Team. Curry has been an elite athlete since High School, battling with former first rounder Michael Vick throughout HS and College. The Raiders took a chance on Curry and it paid off. They recently rewarded him with the starting spot and a 5 year, $20 Million contract.

Patrick Crayton, WR, Dallas Cowboys, 2004
If the Dallas cowboys are running a trick play with a pass involved, you can count on 7th round selection Patrick Crayton to be involved. Crayton played his college ball at Northwest Oklahoma State University where he lined up as Wide Receiver for his first three years. His Senior year was a bit different as Crayton moved under center to be the team's Starting QB. The 216th overall pick in 2004, Crayton got his chance on field due to injuries and never gave up the spot. He received a pretty nice extension from the Cowboys in 2007.

Brian Jennings, LS, San Francisco 49ers, 2000
Why is a Long Snapper on the list? How many Long Snappers from the 7th round have made it to the Pro Bowl? Jennings, a Sun Devil from ASU, was selected to the 2003 Pro Bowl. He is still the Long Snapper for the 49ers.

2008 7th Rounder To Look Out For
Marcus Monk, WR, Chicago Bears. Out of Arkansas, Monk was a dominating Wide Receiver. At 6'4", he is built to be a big bodied, possession receiver. Without injury, Monk would have been a possible Day 1 selection. If Chicago can straighten out it's passing game, Monk may become a nice steal for the Bears Organization.
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The NFL Draft is a deep pool of talent. Teams can find contributors anywhere between the first round and the subsequent pool of undrafted rookie free agents. Some huge names have been signed as undrafted free agents, many of whom were completely unknown before their respective teams gave them a shot. Here is a list of the best undrafted free agents over the last ten years.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys, 2003
Yes, thats right. Tony Romo was passed up by all 32 teams for each of the 7 rounds in 2003. In fact, even the distinction of Mr. Irrelevant was apparently too good for Romo. Now, $67.5 Million later, Tony Romo is the poster boy of one of the best franchises in the National Football League. From playing college ball at Eastern Illinois and being undrafted to being on the cusp of the Super Bowl, it looks like Romo did pretty well for himself. Too bad for the other 31 teams who didn't take even the tiniest chance on Romo.

Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers, 2003
In early 2003, Antonio Gates was a college athlete for Kent State. More specifically, he was a huge part of the Golden Flashes Basketball Team. Gates wanted to play football and basketball in college, but couldn't find a place that would let him do both. He eventually landed at Kent State, and led them to a MAC Basketball Championship as a Power Forward. The Chargers thought his size and demeanor suited him to be a NFL Tight End and gave him a shot as an undrafted free agent. 4 Pro Bowls later, it looks as if the Chargers made a good choice.

Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004
Fast Willie Parker holds the Super Bowl Record for longest run in Super Bowl history. But before his 75 yard run at Super Bowl XL, Parker was looking for a team after not getting drafted in 2004. Parker didn't have a great college career being limited by weak vision and was eventually benched in his senior year. Although he had great speed, it apparently wasn't good enough for a team to use a pick on him. Last year, Parker led the league in rushing until he got injured late in the 2007 season.

James Harrison, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2002
475 pounds. The all-time Combine Record for Bench Press is held by James Harrison. A monster bench press was not enough to make James Harrison a draft pick in 2002. He played his college football at Kent State. Harrison put in his hard time on the practice squad for a couple of years before finally getting his chance on the Steelers starting squad. Last year, he made his first Pro Bowl and was selected as an All-Pro.

Undrafted Rookie Free Agent To Look Out For in 2008
DJ Hall, WR, New York Giants. Hall played his collegiate ball at Alabama. His career highlights include setting an Alabama record with five straight 100-yard games. Hall finished his last season at 'Bama with over 1000 yards receiving.

Check back soon for the Best 7th Round Draft Choices of the Last 10 Years

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Jordy Nelson A Lock for 3rd WR Spot?

Green Bay Packers Rookie WR Jordy Nelson is the recipient of some high praise from coach Mike McCarthy. Picked 36th overall in the 2nd round, Nelson was a surprise pick with higher rated WRs like Desean Jackson, Malcolm Kelly, and Limas Sweed still on the board. In fact, he was the 3rd Wide Receiver chosen in the draft.

The ex Kansas State Wildcat put up great numbers in college with this big frame, standing at 6'3", 217lbs. In 2007, Nelson produced 11 Touchdowns and 1,600 Receiving Yards for K-State. Coach McCarthy sought Nelson pre-draft and jumped at the WR early in the 2nd road. For the Packers, it was all because of their gameplan. A pass oriented team playing in cold weather means you need big guys with sure hands. McCarthy and the Packers also focus on Yards After Catch, leading the league last year with over 2,000 YAC.

Although possibly not the best receiver available, this was a great pick for the Pack. Drafting to fit into the gameplan is a great option for a team who has already shown proven success in its passing game. McCarthy believes Nelson can fit into the quick slant turn and sprint type of passing game the Packers run. With continuing praise from McCarthy, you can expect to see Nelson secure the 3rd WR Spot on the Packers Depth Chart this year.

James Hardy - Troublemaker?

Buffalo Bills Rookie Wide Receiver James Hardy is having a tough start to his first NFL season. The 41st overall pick from Indiana has been in trouble twice since becoming a Buffalo Bill. It started with an alledged incident in May of this year. Hardy allegedly pulled a gun (Hardy does have a permit) on his father during an argument. His father did not press charges and removed his statement from the police report. Later in the month, reports have placed Hardy in the front passenger seat of Marshawn Lynch's SUV during the hit-and-run incident. Hardy also has a history of trouble when, back in May 2006, he was arrested for battery on his girlfriend.

The Bills better straigten Hardy out if they hope to have him contribute to the Bills lackluster passing game. 2nd Year QB Trent Edwards can use all the help he can get. The Bills only threw for 11 passing touchdowns and 2842 yards, both 2nd worst in the league, in 2007. Lee Evans and Josh Reed, the Bills top two Receivers, both stand at only 5"10. At 6'6" 220, Hardy can be a huge target that can really trouble opposing defenses. Hopefully, he can re-focus in time for Training Camp.

Another Limas Sweed Note

OK I swear I'm not a Steelers Fan, but here is another note on Limas Sweed. He, along with some other Steelers, have been working extra hard on their own this off-season. Sweed traveled down to Lake Buena Vista, Florida to take part in a renowned football boot camp. The Tom Shaw Performance Enhancement Camp is highly regarded around the NFL and has an alumni including 12-year Veteran James Farrior, Hines Ward, Kordell Stewert, Darren Sharper, Michael Boulware, Tavaris Jackson, and Greg Jones.

Sweed continues to impress me this off-season. Pre-draft, I thought he was the #1 WR Prospect, and he looks to be doing a lot in the off-season to prove me right this coming season. Continue reading this article...

Happy 4th of July everyone! Enjoy the BBQs and (hopefully) nice weather in your area.

Newsworthy Rookie Alerts

Aqib Talib vs Cory Boyd, then both vs Rob Davis
Aqib Talib, the first round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was apparently involved in a fight with fellow Bucs Rookie Cory Boyd. The fight occurred at the annual Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens in a lecture regarding Personal Finance. Boyd, a 7th round selection from South Carolina, has some history of trouble. The Gamecock was suspended for a full season due to "disciplinary actions." Talib himself has had some troubles, including three positive marijuana tests. The fight was quickly broken up, and there have been no reports of either player being injured. Rob Davis, former Packers Long Snapper, volunteer at the symposium, and not to mention, a big guy, broke up the fight before it got too serious. Bucs fans, say thank you to Mr. Davis.

Madden 09, like every other Madden for the past 20 years, has signaled the start of the football season. The yearly release of Madden is the first burst of football energy that fans have been waiting months for. If you haven’t played Madden sometime over its twenty year reign as footballs premiere video game, I have no idea how you managed to visit this website from underneath your rock.

Fans who are excited to see their teams’ rookies in action can get an early glimpse of their skill in video game form. To tease you even more, here are my selections for the Pre-Season All-Madden Rookie Teams...

1st Team Offense


QB: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons, 83 Overall – Although he is below Chris Redman on Madden’s Falcons Depth Chart, Ryan boasts a higher overall.

RB: Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders, 85 Overall – An amazing overall stat line which includes four 95+s and 8/11 ratings over 90. His speed ratings, 97 Speed, 96 Agility, 99 Acceleration, are only part of his arsenal

FB: Jacob Tamme, Indianapolis Colts, 79 Overall – Good Speed (87) and great Catch (86) means Peyton Manning may have just found another target

WR: Limas Sweed, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, 80 Overall – This might turn out to be a Pro-Limas Sweed Blog.

WR: Devin Thomas, Washington Redskins, 80 Overall – Beats out fellow rookie and teammate Malcolm Kelly with a higher Speed, Agility, and Accceleration

OL: Jake Long, Miami Dolphins, 85 Overall – No surprise here, Long has great stats in Strength (93), Impact Blocking (90), Run Block Strength (95), and Pass Block Strength (92)

OL: Branden Albert, Kansas City Chiefs, 81 Overall – Has two 90+ ratings in Run Block and Pass Block Strength

TE: Dustin Keller, New York Jets, 80 Overall – Great speed ratings of 89 Speed, 88 Agility, and 90 Acceleration

1st Team Defense

DE: Chris Long, St. Louis Rams, 84 Overall – A very impressive overall with good balance in all attributes

DE: Derrick Harvey, Jacksonville Jaguars, 81 Overall – Speed kills around the edge. Harvey ties fellow rookie and teammate Quentin Groves for highest speed rating amongst rookie D-Ends

DT: Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans Saints, 84 Overall – Solid ratings in strength (93), Acceleration (88), and Power Move (89), Ellis gets the first DT spot on the 1st Team

DT: Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs, 84 Overall – The guys over at EA appreciate the big man’s moves and gave him an amazing 85 for Finesse.

OLB: Vernon Gholston, New York Jets, 82 Overall – Originally a Speed DE, the Jets think his 92 Acceleration and 87 Strength better suit him standing as a OLB

MLB: Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots, 82 Overall – Great Acceleration (90), but he will really make his mark with an amazing Pursuit of 93.

LB: Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals, 82 Overall – More speed and agility than Gholston, but lacks the Strength (75) to take his spot

CB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals, 82 Overall – Incredible Speed (97) and Acceleration (98) puts Cromartie in position to make his mark as a reliable CB in his rookie season

CB: Mike Jenkins, Dallas Cowboys, 82 Overall – Can cover man-to-man (89) better than any rookie and has impressive speed and acceleration to man up with any receiver

SF: Tyrell Johnson, Minnesota Vikings, 80 Overall – Great Pursuit (90) along with a 94 Speed and 94 Acceleration put Johnson into the 1st Squad

2nd Team Offense

QB: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, 80 Overall – Tied with Brian Brohm for 2nd amongst QB Overalls, Flacco gets the spot since he will actually touch the ball this century

RB: Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys, 80 Overall – There are others with higher overalls (J. Stewart 83, Mendenhall 81), but Jones has a solid rating line to accompany his amazing speed ratings (96 Speed, 97 Agility, 99 Acceleration)

FB: Jerome Felton, Detroit Lions, 78 Overall – A great lead blocker with an 84 for Trucking

WR: Malcolm Kelly, Washington Redskins, 80 Overall – Very solid rating line with a 95 Jump leading the way

WR: Donnie Avery, St. Louis Rams, 76 Overall – The speedster of the class, Avery’s speed ratings are impressive at 96 Speed, 97 Agility, and 97 Acceleration

OL: Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos, 79 Overall – Has the solid footwork (83 Run Block Footwork, 82 Pass Block Footwork) to work well in Denver’s Zone Blocking Scheme

OL: Chris Williams, Chicago Bears, 79 Overall – Looks to be a solid pass blocker with his highest rating of 92 in Pass Block Strength

TE: Martellus Bennett, Dallas Cowboys, 80 Overall – Look out for some spectacular catches this season, Bennett has a great 87 for Spectacular Catches

2nd Team Defense

DE: Phillip Merling, Miami Dolphins, 81 Overall – With a solid Power Move and respectable Speed, Merling earns a spot with the 2nd Team

DE: Quentin Groves, Jacksonville Jaguars, 79 Overall – The Jaguars selected two D-Ends with their first two picks, and both earn a spot on the All-Madden Rookie Teams. Groves is another guy with great speed off the edge

DT: Trevor Laws, Philadelphia Eagles, 79 Overall – Laws puts up great ratings in Strength and Power Move

DT: Marcus Harrison, Chicago Bears, 77 Overall – What Harrison lacks in Finesse (70), he makes up for with Strength (90) and Power Move (86)

OLB: Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals, 82 Overall – More speed and agility than Gholston, but lacks the Strength (75) to take his spot

MLB: Curtis Lofton, Atlanta Falcons, 81 Overall – One of the hardest hitting rookies at 90, Lofton lacks the speed and acceleration to make it to the 1st Team

LB: Jordon Dizon, Detroit Lions, 78 Overall – Solid Agility (82), Tackling (83), and Block Shedding (82) gives Dizon the last LB spot on the 2nd team

CB: Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo Bills, 82 Overall – The first CB drafted this year, but his weak Zone Coverage rating (80) drops him to the 2nd Team

CB: Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 80 Overall – An overall solid rating line was enough to push Talib into the 2nd Team. He hit the 90+ in Speed and Acceleration.

SF: Kenny Phillips, New York Giants, 80 Overall – His power stands out at 86. Phillips also has great Speed (93) and Acceleration (95)

Honorable Mentions: Brian Brohm, QB Green Bay Packers (80 Ovr), Calais Campbell, DE Arizona Cardinals (79 Ovr), Jonathan Stewert (83 Ovr), Rashard Mendenhall (81 Ovr)

Trends:

The highest rated rookie is 85, shared by Jake Long and Darren McFadden.
The Cowboys are the only team to place three rookies on the list.
The Jaguars, Rams, Dolphins, Jets, Lions, Falcons, Bears, and Chiefs all have two.
All Top 10 Picks are on the 1st Team
Gosder Cherilus (79 Ovr), OT of the Detroit Lions, is the highest pick (17th overall) to not make the list which isn’t too surprising with such a deep pool of talent on the O-Line in this draft
Continue reading this article...

Yesterday, I posted a top 5 list of offensive rookies who have the best chance of being this year's Adrian Peterson. As far as offensive rookies went last year, Peterson was the cream of the crop. However, there could be some real arguments about the overall rookie of the year. 49ers Linebacker Patrick Willis won the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year and like Peterson, made it to the Pro Bowl. All he did was lead the league with a ridiculous 174 tackles. Any team who went defense this draft would love to find the next Patrick Willis. These five guys have the best shot at doing just that

5) Vernon Gholston, DE, New York Jets
The Jets and Dolphins have had some great battles over the years, and now fans of both teams can look forward to more great battles for a long time. Vernon Gholston was the only player to record a sack when lined up against #1 pick Jake Long. Long, now with the Dolphins, will be seeing Gholston at least twice a year as they battle in the AFC East. Gholston was the 2007 Big Ten D-Lineman of the year, and hopes to bring that success to New York this year.



4) Derrick Harvey, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
After the Giants won Super Bowl XLII with an intense pass rush which included strength and, more importantly, speed on the ends, many teams decided to adopt that blueprint. Derrick Harvey immediately filled the Jaguars’ biggest need, a pass rushing DE. Equipped with enormous speed and a great first step, the Jags are hoping Harvey can emulate other Speed DEs like Osi Umenyiora and Dwight Freeney. Already loaded with one of the elite defenses in the league, Harvey and the Jaguars might be poised to take the AFC this year.

3) Jerod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots
Mayo’s placement at #3 is based both on his amazing skill and his great situation. The Patriots got a steal from the Niners by swapping their 07 1st Rounder for the 49ers 08 1st Rounder, which turned out to be a 28 (Joe Staley) for a 10. Mayo will be able to immediately enter the rotation and contribute. Better yet, Mayo will learn from the best Linebacker Core in the NFL.

2) Chris Long, DE, St. Louis Rams
The 2nd overall selection in the draft, Chris Long hopes to make his mark early on this season. The son of legend Howie Long, Chris was the consensus top defensive prospect in this years draft. Long put up close to 80 tackles and 14 sacks in only 13 games in his senior year at Virginia. Rams coach Scott Linehan already placed the 2007 ACC Defensive Player of the Year in the starting lineup, solidifying a young D-Line anchored by last years 1st rounder, Adam Carriker.

1) Glenn Dorsey, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs traded the leader of their D-Line, Jared Allen, before this years draft. Dorsey was the perfect fit for the Chiefs and immediately became the focus of the Chiefs’ Line. Dorsey dominated against the run at LSU, and was a huge part of their 2008 National Championship. Dorsey will be a premier run stopper in the league and will make an immediate impact for the Chiefs. Continue reading this article...