Mike Lombardi: If I worked for the Jets, I would ... Prepare for the unexpected. The draft for the New York Jets does not start until the Atlanta Falcons make their selection at No. 3. Before the Falcons make their pick, I would have two plans in place. Plan A would assume the Falcons did not select Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. I would then be on the phone with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and his representatives, telling them he would be our guy at No. 6. I'd do this while knowing and hoping the phone calls might force the Raiders hand in actually selecting McFadden at No. 4. At the same time I would make numerous trade offers to the Raiders -- with absolutely no intention of trading -- knowing Al Davis hates to trade down on draft day. If the Raiders suspect we are trying to trade up to get McFadden then this freezes the pick, meaning the pick is not for sale to anyone else at that moment. My main goal is to tie up the Raiders' phone lines, freeze their pick and determine what Baltimore is thinking at No. 8. The Ravens are my main competition for a quarterback and I need to do whatever is possible to determine their course of action. I don't expect the Raiders to move, but I am hoping they will offer me some vital clues with each one of my calls. On draft day, every team's strategy has to be declared; it's now time to show your hand. Every phone call I make, I closely listen to the voice on the other line to determine if they are bluffing or if they have something concrete in the works. If the Raiders pass on every deal offered and select McFadden, as I suspect, and I also determine that Baltimore is on the move to acquire Ryan, then I call the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 5 to discuss flopping picks. I know I cannot freeze Kansas City's pick because the Chiefs have so many holes that they will be trying to acquire picks all day. Carl Peterson, the Chiefs president, is not an easy trade partner. He has to win every deal. That is just Carl's nature. He will suspect I am desperate, willing to pay his price to acquire Ryan. But I will offer what I believe is a fair deal based on the value of the picks being exchanged and not back down. If Peterson thinks he can intimidate or bluff me into a deal, then he is dead wrong. I also know Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome is not likely to overpay for the pick nor get strong-armed by Peterson. Newsome is a value drafter and rarely does he throw in all his chips. But if Newsome is willing to overpay, that still will not change my thoughts or offer. So I make my offer and stand firm. If I lose Ryan to the Ravens then my choice is pretty simple: I take Jonathan Stewart, the Oregon running back. Stewart is not receiving the accolades his talent deserves, mainly because of his recent turf toe surgery, yet he may prove to be the best back in this draft. One thing I definitely don't do is sit still. I start making calls to teams in the back end of the first round. With Ryan in Baltimore, I know my competition for Michigan quarterback Chad Henne has been reduced by one team. I start calling Seattle at 25, San Diego at 27 and Dallas at 28, with trade offers using my second-round pick (No. 36 overall) to get back into the first round. I also will worry about the Chicago Bears trying to move into the bottom of the first round. But I know Bears GM Jerry Angelo very well. He is strict and disciplined when it comes to valuing draft picks. He loves multiple picks and is very reluctant to part with any. I also know the Chiefs are potential players in the quarterback market. Depending on what position they take at No. 5, that will help me understand where they may be headed with their 17th pick that they just acquired in the Jared Allen trade. Now, Plan B. If the Falcons pick Ryan at three, then I stay where I am and pick Stewart, assuming the Raiders take McFadden. I will still work my plan to get back into the first round to get Henne. But now I know Baltimore will be even more serious competition. So I may have to move further into the first round, calling the Redskins at 21 and the Steelers at 23. I have to work every single one of my options and keep applying the pressure on all the teams to finalize a deal. My goal is to come out of this draft with a running back and quarterback, two cornerstones of the future for my team. Nothing can stop me from achieving that goal.
What is dumb about this article? The writer is simulating how he would handle the draft if he were in Tannenbaum's shoes. Personally I like plan B... I believe Stewart is going to be a beast.
It's already been posted. ...and it's not a "dumb" article. This guy is just a reporter making up HIS scenario.
You agree with the following statement? You would do anything to get a QB and RB in this draft? You would trade 08 and 09 picks to accomplish this. You would not worry about CB, ILB, OLB, DE and WR? "My goal is to come out of this draft with a running back and quarterback, two cornerstones of the future for my team. Nothing can stop me from achieving that goal."
You can't tie up the Raiders phone lines unless they're morons and have only set up a few lines to work with. Al Davis will listen to one BS offer from the Jets and then they'll be talking to the copy boy on another line who Davis has instantly promoted to "Senior Trade Facilitator Uno" (STFU) while he tries to tie them up until he can figure out the market for the pick.
Here, let me help everyone out... http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=32027 MOD, u know what to do
Al Davis has already got his mind made up. Expect da chokelandfaders to draft somebody that nobody expects and mess up the entire draft.
Good article but I'm not sure I'm down with the players he's targetting for us. Unless he's assuming they'll be gone, Gholston or Long should be priority in #1, not a RB we're reaching for.
I guess I am in the minority. I do not want a QB or RB drafted by the NYJ the enitre weekend and I hope they feel the same way. I have not given up on Clemens and think you can win with Thomas and Leon. Priority #1- Front Seven Priority # 2- CB Priority # 3- Tall WR Priority # 4- TE and OL depth
sec314 your not alone brother. But I would go with a QB before McFadden. I would go with Mendenhall over him too. But I would like to see a sick CB and a WR over all, and maybe someone to take over for Barton. We do not need a RB. And McFadden worries the crap out of me. At least Mendenhall has some legs and doesnt hit the floor with first contact.
I'm almost with you, bro. Here are my priorities: Priority #1 - pass-rushing OLB/DE Priority #2 - CB Priority #3 - ILB Priority #4 - S Priority #5 - Front 7 depth Priority #6 - OL Depth Priority #7 - WR/TE Depth Priority #8 - RB/QB Depth Honestly, Ryan/McFadden are the LAST things we need.
i would not agree with taking a running back with the first pick, unless it is McFadden...if him and Gholston are off the board trade the pick down...
That's the thing though, drafting people isn't giving up on the players you have, it is providing insurance and improving your team. If we draft Flacco or even Ryan and then Clemens pans out, then wonderful for us. We now have a QB and trade bait. But if Clemens doesn't pan out, and we didn't draft a QB, then we are the team sitting there with their thumbs up their asses and a totally screwed future. Thomas and Leon are fine, but McFadden looks to be a gamebreaker, which Jones is not. Being that McFadden needs to develop his lower body strength and Jones cap hit makes him unmovable for now, I can see a scenario where Jones and Washington carry the rock this year (with Clemens throwing) while the QB and RB stay on the bench unless there is an injury or one of the incumbents just look that bad in camp.
I agree, but if good value presents itself, then sometimes you have to take BPA over a slight need. And if Gholston and Long are off the board (the two players I want the most), barring a trade-down, McFadden seems like the best choice.
It's a good article with insight you rarely see, I just strongly disagree with his choices with the picks.
