Pretty short article, but worth the read nonetheless: http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1205904936248810.xml&coll=1 Jets Meet With McFadden In Preparation For No. 6 Pick Wednesday, March 19, 2008 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff The Jets, who have the sixth pick overall in next month's NFL draft, flew a contingent of team representatives to Fayetteville, Ark., yesterday to meet with former Razorbacks running back Darren McFadden, according to someone with knowledge of the visit. That person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak for the club. McFadden, who rushed for 1,830 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, is considered the top player in the draft by many draft experts and there's a chance he won't be there when the Jets pick. He was clocked at a blazing 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. Nonetheless, the Jets are doing their homework just in case. McFadden has been dogged by questions about his character and the Jets put a premium on character. He has been involved in two nightclub incidents and has two children on the way by two different women. In three seasons at Arkansas, the 6-2, 210-pound McFadden amassed 4,590 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns on 785 carries.
Still not a Mcfadden fan, but I expect the Jets to meet with pretty much any potential top-10 pick in order to throw up smoke and mirrors about exactly who we are looking into drafting...
damn...expecting two children from two different women! between football and women, he's a busy dude.
I'll be surprised if the Jets take McFadden. They have cap space tied up in Thomas Jones and they have Leon Washington and Jesse Chatman as change-of-pace backs already. Throw in the fact that the Jets have talent deficits elsewhere and McFadden becomes a luxury pick on the 6. If you look at the teams that have taken a RB in the top 10 recently you see a lot of busts and no real improvement out of the teams even if the player worked out.
Don't forget we picked up Richardson too... a nice Jerold Sowell FB replacement, so there's no question we've ramped up our intention to run. I don't know... I've been vacillating over McFadden for weeks now. The "character issues" do bother me a little, but ask me how much they'll matter when I see him trounce into the end zone to cap our first victory over NE. Still, I'm hoping some of the other top picks we're looking at will be there too. And then, we always have the possibility of trading down if somebody else is creaming for the spot, so here I am again... back on the fence....
For anyone who watches college football - how does McFadden compare to the Brown-Williams-Benson trio that came out a couple of years ago? In terms of potential, obviously, not subsequent production.
We are in a perfect position to take luxury picks this year. I will be shocked if he comes to us and we pass.
There is no mention that Mangini was part of that contigent (I realize there was none that he wasn't either) as there was in the Chris Long visit the day before. Of course it may have been the same crew and it just was reported that way.
I'll take Gholston or Long before McFadden!! Thomas Jones is probably going to give let us see what kind of prospect he can be behind this O-Line so I don't want McFadden. And I don't like the 1st rounders anyway just because they want a lot of money and they didn't prove anything yet!!
With the moves in FA, they can definitely select BPA this year, which is probably what they'll do. If McFadden is the BPA I have no problem with them picking him. I'd rather they pick BPA than reach for a position of need.
Agreed. I'm not a big DMC fan, but sitting at #6, I expect they will take the BAP, whether it is Mcfadden or not. But if it is Dorsey sitting there, because Ryan, DMC, Long, Long and Gholston are gone, what should they do?
according to rotoworld the Jets sent a contingent of scouts and execs to meet with McFadden. This kid could seriously make our offense something dangerous if we can get him.
Picking up McFadden would really blur the running back position. Jones is a premium back and Leon is a burner in his own right. Would we use other team’s desires to have this guy to barter a better draft deal? Would we pick him up for the future as a jet meaning after T Jones is gone? The only value I see is for him to be used to gain more first day picks! Think about it. You are not going to sit this guy. You’re not going to have a running back carousel with 4 guys touting the rock. Just my take on it!
McFadden is probably less well rounded coming out, but has a higher cieling. On an NFL weight training program to build up his lower body strength, McFadden could become a demon; fast as hell and strong enough to break more tackles and continue after contact. Plus, none of that trio had a car nearly as awesome as McFadden's
Right....except of course for Matt Ryan who they did not send anyone to see at his pro day yesterday...
If the Jets did take McFadden they'd probably want to give him lighter than normal duty this year and next while they burned the tread off of Thomas Jones tires. I just don't see that as a sustainable option given the pressure not to suck, and the fact that McFadden won't stop the Jets from sucking if they are having problems running the ball won't matter in the public perception. Barry Sanders was the best runningback ever to play the game and the Lions couldn't turn that into anything more than a few playoff appearances. Adrian Peterson and Darren McFadden won't be able to either. You build a great line and then any decent runningback can help you get over the top. Putting a McFadden on a team with an average to weak line is like grabbing a .357 shell and trying to load it into a .22 caliber pistol. Just not going to work well no matter how hard you try.
