In 1990 I was 30 and I was wary of the pick because of his injury history and size. What difference does that make? My point is that younger fans get caught up in wanting to draft skill players that that they perceive as "exciting" when it it the trenches that win games. And skill players are busts far more often than linemen or linebackers. In retrospect, however, the Blair Thomas draft is a good example of why I would much rather have Gholston over McFadden. Seau would have been a far superior pick
I asked you that question because you wrote the following- "I think it is very telling that over 2/3 of those over 35, who have seen multiple early RB draft pick busts, think McFadden will not be a star." It is possible that I overlooked any earlier posts you made specifically about McFadden's abilities or lack thereof. Perhaps you did share your thoughts on all that. But from what I saw here, it seemed to me that you have decided many RBs turn out to be busts and chances are McFadden would be one of them just because. If Gholston turns out to be a great linebacker and McFadden turns out to be a great RB, I'd rather have the linebacker. I fully understand your points about linemen and linebackers. That said, I watched McFadden quite a bit in college and I think he's going to be an excellent pro. He also has an intangible of being a good team player. He is a personable guy. He'll probably be very good in the locker room in addition to playing well on the field. Vernon Gholston does nothing for me. Granted, I did not watch Ohio State too often in recent years. But when I did see Gholston in action, I was not impressed.
I betcha that over 2/3 of those over 35 have seen multiple early LB draft pick busts. Does that mean Gholston will be a bust, too?
If you look at 1st round draft picks RB has been taken much more often than OL and there have been tons more high impact running backs. Personally I think we need to take Ryan if he is available but McFadden is probably the guy we take if he is available. If you had a choice today between DeMarcus Ware and Adrian Peterson who would you take. For our team I take Petterson. Now if the choice is Lawrence Taylor or Jim Brown you throw a dart and thank your lucky stars.
If McFadden has the potential of being another OJ we should be trading our entire draft to make sure we get him.
The funny thing about all the McFadden/Gholston talk is there is a good chance both of them will be gone by 6 and almost 100% chance that at least one will be gone.
Don, that is stupid, Ricky Williams had the potential to be the next Walter Payton, and so the Saints did just that, and what does Williams do? flop huge in New Orleans, and set that franchise back for half a decade...
Your point is good, but I don't like what you're saying about the Saints. That trade messed 'em up for one season and got Mike Ditka fired. Jim Haslett took over the following year and the Saints won the NFC Western Division. The Saints then won their first ever playoff game when they knocked out the defending Super Bowl champions. The Saints then went 7-9, 9-7, 8-8, and 8-8. They finally fell apart in 2005 when they went 3-13. They were good enough to make the playoffs every year from 2001 to 2004. The problem was they were coached poorly. That Williams trade did not hurt the Saints too badly.
Haha..yeah. What I was thinking when I said that was if McFadden IS the next OJ we should be giving up our entire draft to get him. Really, to me all that is is our 1st and 2nd. Our 4ths-7th mean nothing to me. You won't even know those names 3 years from now.
OJ?????....wow....Don....I'm glad you're not making our evaluations or draft....what planet are you from??
I hope this erases any doubt about the guy's character. This sounds like a Curtis Martin situation. The guy sounds like a great fit here character-wise.
Curtis Martin had a difficult childhood. He had his life straightened out by the time he got to Pitt. McFadden was in trouble throughout college. There is a big difference. Did Martin ever get in a fight in a nightclub? Did he father children with multiple women? McFadden may talk a good game with regard to "learning his lesson," but it does not appear he has. Can you imagine the temptation in NYC with millions if he couldn't keep out of trouble in Fayettville Arkansas with no money???? The skinny legs don't give me confidence that he can be anything clost to an every down back in the NFL. I'll pass.
I never said he was Curtis, I'm just stating that it was similar with the tough upbringing and the fact that they still seem like good character guys regardless up upbringing. According to the reports it seems as if he was incited into both incidents via people messing with his siblings. That doesn't make anything right, but at least he wasn't "making it rain" like Pacman. The guy's still a team player who his teammates rally around. I'll let Mangini judge whether or not the guy has the character to hold up off the field. I personally think that he will. If you're really scared, make some incentive clases in his contract that can only be achieved if he stays out of trouble. He's not a guy I'd personally trade up for but with an NFL training regiment to bulk up his legs, I'd thank the lord and either trade down for a king's ransom or take him.
i was just about to say that. In this draft especially, there are guys picked up in the later rounds that become solid starters often. Now obviuosly sucsess rate is lower than in high rounds but still, you need all of your picks. Marques Colston?? does that ring a bell
I get the feeling that you'll come up w/ every imagineable excuse you can to pass on an RB or any skill player for that matter?
