Initial Mock Draft

Round two is already in the works....It worked like this, JG drafted for the even numbered teams, myself for the odd. We greatly like the end product. We'll be posting several more mocks as the Senior Bowl and Combine are completed.

1. Oakland Raiders - Brady Quinn - QB - Notre Dame
While I truly feel that JaMarcus Russell is the best QB available this year, I think with Kiffin at the helm, Oakland will go with the system QB of the Matt Leinart breed. I really wanted the Raiders to settle on someone ridiculous like Troy Smith, but Quinn's the pick at this point....but not until after they called USC to attempt to get John David Booty to
declare.

2. Detroit Lions - Joe Thomas - OT - Wisconsin
JaMarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson are both on the board, and will be tough to pass up, but even Matt Millen knows he can't justify making those picks. The Lions have become a finesse team and need to change that. They need to protect John Kitna and open up holes for Kevin Jones. Thomas is a physical mauler who's also athletic and versatile enough to play guard in a pinch. He'll be a Pro Bowler for years to come. The Lions have not been settled at either tackle position since Lomas Brown was anchoring the line..at the Silverdome. Matt Millen finally hits one out of the park.

3t. (Coin Flip) Cleveland Browns - JaMarcus Russell - QB - LSU
This is the coin flip and for the time being, we're going in alphabetical order...we have a 50/50 chance of being correct anyway. Should Tampa Bay acquire this pick via the flip, we'll adjust accordingly. The Browns have as many holes on their feeble roster as any but it is headlined by not having a signal caller with a future. Charlie Frye doesn't look like he's their QB of the future and Romeo Crennel is one bad season away from getting the ax. Russell falls to them at three. With Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, they are starting to build a solid offensive nucleus.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gaines Adams - DE - Clemson
Tampa has always been built around defense and always just made due on the offensive side, so why start now. While they are thin at reciever and Calvin Johnson is the best reciever out there, they also need to retool the defense. Simeon Rice is on way out, Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber are getting a bit long in the tooth, and Booger McFarland and Warren Sapp are long gone. Gaines Adams is the pick here to boost the D-line.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Alan Branch - DT-Michigan
Royally PF'd with both Joe Thomas and Gaines Adams off the board. Calvin Johnson, a legit first pick of the draft talent is still there, but they have no need for him or one of the big backs. They are in desperate need of an offensive lineman, but after Thomas, no one garners consideration in the top 10. Strapped, they look to shore up their run defense which was amongst the worst in the league. Calvin Johnson is on the phone with Georgia Tech inquiring about fall class enrollment.

6. Washington Redskins - Calvin Johnson - WR - Georgia Tech
Yes, the Redskins stockpiled receivers last offseason (Antwaan Randle El, Brandon Lloyd) but all three of their primary weapons are under six feet. Lloyd has been a major disappointment and Randle El is best used in the slot. Idealy the Skins would have loved to get Gaines Adams here, but they'll settle for possibly the best talent in the draft.

7. Minnesota Vikings - Adrian Peterson - RB - Oklahoma
The Vikes have had a revolving door of running backs the past few years: Onterrio Smith, Michael Bennett, Mewelde Moore and recently, Chester Taylor. Taylor had a good year, but he's most certainly not their long term answer. AP gives Minnesota their franchise RB for the next 10 years and will instantly legitimize their offense. Peterson is without a doubt the best talent on the board right now. The big question is if he can shake his "injury prone" tag.

8. Houston Texans - Reggie Nelson - S - Florida
Nelson is this years shooting star prospect. He has all of the tools to be a perennial Pro Bowler and can step in and help immediately. The Texans would ideally love Adrian Peterson, or Marshawn Lynch, but it's too early to draft Lynch and Nelson has too much potential to pass up, especially for a team with an awful secondary.

9. Miami Dolphins - Quenton Moses - DE - Georgia
A bit of a reach, but I'm banking on Moses having great workouts. The Fins are a QB away from being a legit playoff team, but they have to give Culpepper one more year, plus there is no QB worth drafting in this position. They go with Moses as the eventual successor to Jason Taylor, who although is as dominant as ever, is not getting any younger. He is of the same slightly undersized, but not a pure speed rusher DE as Taylor.

10. Atlanta Falcons - Dwayne Jarrett - WR - USC
The Falcons have a solid running game, and are stable at the quarterback position with Matt Schaub at the helm. The only upgrade needed on offense is at wide out. Jarrett is the best available receiver. While Ted Gin is the homerun threat that can stretch the field, he's really just a one trick pony. Jarrett is more polished, has soft hands and is an excellent route runner. The Falcons may also opt for LSU's LaRon Landry here as their defense was a big disappointment last season.

11. San Francisco 49ers - Daymeion Hughes - CB -Cal
The Niners D was horrible last season and with a defensive minded coach like Nolan, that needs to change in a hurry. They would have loved to have plucked Jarrett to give them a legit WR threat to complement Alex Smith, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but they pluck the drafts top CB out of their backyard. He's been one of the Senior Bowls top performers and will take quantum leaps in front of Leon Hall as the best CB this year. They consider Landry, but no way do two safeties get drafted before a CB. Hughes won't even have to move out of his college frat house.

12. Buffalo Bills - Leon Hall - CB - Michigan
The Bills will protect themselves for Nate Clements inevitable
departure. Ashton Youboty was a bit of a disappointment last season,
and Terrence McGee is more of a return man than safety, so even if
somehow they manage to resign Clements, they could use the insurance.

13. St. Louis Rams - Ted Ginn, Jr. - WR -The Ohio State University
This pick makes as much sense as any. Isaac Bruce is old bones, there are heavy rumors that Kevin Curtis will depart via free agency and while Torry Holt is still a premier WR, he isn't getting any younger or straighter. (couldn't resist) Ginn will cause teams fits playing on the carpet of the Edward Jones Dome. Remember how explosive he was on an outdoor surface? He's perfect for the Rams.

14. Carolina Panthers - LaMarr Woodley - DE/LB - Michigan
The Panthers real pressing need is linebacker. Dan Morgan can never
stay healthy, Thomas Davis still hasn't settled in yet, and for god
sakes they had to turn to N'ail Diggs for extended reps last season.
Woodley is a bit undersized, and isn't too good in coverage but he can
get after the quarterback.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jamaal Anderson - DE - Arkansas
Pittsburgh has no glaring holes despite a sub par season. They've always been a defense first type of team and with a former D coordinator running the show, that won't change. Joey Porter and Clark Haggans are both set to become free agents after the 2007 and Anderson is a slam dunk pick for the middle of the draft. He could go much, much higher, so the Steelers protect themselves for the loss of a defensive playmaker or two with this hustlin'DE.

16. Green Bay Packers - Marshawn Lynch - RB - Cal
Ahman Green is getting old, and is a free agent. The Packers liked what they saw in Morency, but don't fancy him as an every down back. Lynch is just too good to pass up here. While the secondary does have some concerns, I don't see Thompson giving up on Marquand Manuel after one year. Don't be surprised however if this isn't Pitt's Darrelle Revis, or Fresno State's Marcus McCauley. Harris and Woodson are both in their 30's and Harris may force Thompson's hand by taking a McKenzie/Walker stance of boycotting camp and demanding a trade.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Darrelle Revis - CB - Pitt
A no brainer pick. They could lose both Leon Hall and Donovin Darius to free agency and they signed Ahmad 'snitch-snitch' Carroll as secondary help. Real help for the secondary is on the way in the form of Revis.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - LaRon Landry - S - LSU
Landry suffers possibly the biggest slide of the day. He's a big hitter
and an extremely intelligent player who will fit in nicely with the
Bengals roughneck defense. The only knock is his lack of an arrest
record, something he'll have to address if he wants to be a member of
Marvin Lewis' team.

19. Tennessee Titans - Levi Brown - OL - Penn State
VY is in place. Now they protect his blind side with a bookend tackle.

20. New York Giants - Amobi Okoye - DT - Louisville
The Giants are thrilled he's still on the board. The entire line has undergone some cosmetic changes with the addition of Matthias Kiwanuka and Umenyiora, now it's time they address the interior of the line. Fred Robbins aint' getting any younger, and they have very little to no depth on the line as it is.

21. Denver Broncos - Dwayne Bowe - WR - LSU
They have an obvious need at CB with the tragic passing of Darrent Williams, but no one on the board warrants being drafted in the first round any longer. Instead, they start to add the tools to the offense so Jay Cutler has more than one guy to throw to. Bowe looks like a guy who will be vaulting up teams boards after his initial Senior Bowl workouts. He's a monster and will make for one, big, steady target.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Justin Blalock - OT/OG - Texas
The Cowboys offensive line was awful last season. Drew Bledsoe had no time under center, and Tony Romo only masked the problems with his mobility. Blalock can play guard or tackle, which are both needs for this team. Marco Rivera is getting close to the wrong side of 30, Flozell Adams is in his 30's, and Marc Columbo and Kyle Kosier only start because they're the best options the Cowboys have.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - Robert Meacham - WR - Tennessee
This team has been in dire need of a #1 wide out for years, getting by on offense with Tony Gonzalez and the likes of Eddie Kennison. They've never had a legit top wide receiver option. Meacham is the big, fast WR they need who made a ton of highlight reel catches at UT and has a big upside.

24. New England (from Seattle) - Paul Posloszny - LB - Penn State
The Patriots are in dire need of help at linebacker. Junior Seau will likely retire, and the rumor is that Teddy Bruschi won't be back. That just leaves them with an aging Mike Vrabel, Tully Banta-Cain, and Rosevelt Colvin. Posluszny fits the New England scheme and is a smart player. They'll go for him over the more athletic Patrick Willis.

25. New York Jets - Marcus McCauley - CB - Fresno State
The Jets had the biggest turn around from last season in the AFC, and look to shore up their secondary with Justin Miller in the doghouse. Kerry Rhodes has already emerged as one of the best safeties in the league, but their cornerbacks are all aging guys on the downside of their careers. They greatly consider Kenny Irons as they need a true 25-carry a game back, but ultimately go with a CB. As they say, you can never have enough competent CBs.

26. Philadelphia Eagles - Lawrence Timmons - LB - Florida State
He fits nicely in the Eagles defensive scheme. He's quick and aggressive. Not the greatest in coverage, but he brings the lumber and is especially good at the blitz, a Jim Johnson staple. The Eagles have no real needs to fill, other than possibly QB, but this is way too early for Troy Smith.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Jarvis Moss - DE - Florida
They desperately need offensive help, most notably a QB, but neither Troy Smith nor Drew Stanton are the answer. They took a QB late in the first round already and he's currently rotting on their bench, they won't do it again. They could grab Kenny Irons as well, but instead protect themselves should Adalius Thomas bolt in free agency. Moss is a smallish DE and would fit perfectly into their scheme as he can play both DE or OLB. Look for this guy to become a real hellraiser in the league while playing for the defensive jaugernaut of our time. His stock was solidified at the championship game, dusting past OSU lineman all game long.

28. San Diego Chargers - Michael Griffin - S/CB - Texas
The Chargers secondary is awful. Quentin Jammer is not the lock down corner San Diego thought they were getting, and they have little else behind him. At 28, Griffin could end up being the steal of the draft. He may very well be just as gifted and athletic as Florida's Reggie Nelson, but just with less fanfare.

29. New Orleans Saints - Patrick Willis - LB - Ole Miss
Michael Griffin nearly fell into their laps as the Saints need help in nearly every facet of defense, but with San Diego PFing them, they look to Willis to give them instant help. Willis could wind-up being the best LB in this draft and will give New Orleans a major upgrade within their LB corps.Look for him to be a starter from the onset of training camp.

30. New England Patriots - HB Blades - LB - Pitt
The Patriots get to really address their need at linebacker in this draft. If you watched the AFC Championship, you saw the Colts exploit the Patriot linebackers in the second half. Blades is a polished linebacker having stayed till his senior year, played under a former NFL head coach (sort of) at Pitt, and has an NFL pedigree being related to Brain and Bennie Blades. He also fits the New England defense quite well. The Patriots get two young interior linebackers which will allow them to move Mike Vrabel back to the outside.

31. Chicago Bears - Sidney Rice - WR - South Carolina
The Bears are elated one of the big, fast receivers is still on the board. Muhammad is nothing special and Berrian looks to be a great deep threat, but little else. Rice is young, but gives Chicago a playmaker on offense, which they have lacked for the past several years. Now, if only they had a QB who could make a forward pass...

32. Indianapolis Colts - Quinn Pitcock - DT - THE Ohio State University
Indy's defense was just awful this past season (although you woulnd't
know it if you only watched the Playoffs.) The root of their problem
was the run defense. Pitcock is stout against the run and is a
serviceable pass rusher. He should make an immediate impact on this
defense.

It Most Certainly Could Not Be Worse

So let me get this straight Fabos, you're trying to concoct scenarios to support your belief that this years Super Bowl is not the worst possible Super Bowl that could have happened for Packer fans?

You do realize this is like gee I don't know, Rex Grossman trying to spin a tail on why a 0.0 quarterback rating is not his fault.

The absolute worst possible case for a Super Bowl. The only matchup that would have been worse would have been if the Bears would be playing the Vikings, and that's not possible.

So with that in mind, here is your list of worst possible Super Bowl matchups. Of course, only in the eyes of Packer fans, and well...god.

5. Vikings v. Colts

We can all relax because this one will never happen. But lets just say it did. Who do you root for? Peyton Manning? The freaking Vikings? Tough call.

Why It Won't Happen

No former Porn Star has ever gone on to coach in a Super Bowl (sorry Brad Childress).

4. Seahawks v. Broncos

The only way this becomes truely awful is if the Walrus defeats Mike Shannahan in this one. Mike Holgren gets a ring with the Seahawks or Javon Walker gets his first? Oh god, I think I'm going to vomit just thinking of that.

Why It Won't Happen

As we've recently found out, both coaches are terribly overrated and have major flaws. Holmgren out-awful-coached Lovie Smith in the Divisional round this year, and has really looked bad in every playoff game he's been in since he had Brett Favre. Mike Shannahan looks like a rat, and has since lost his O-line guru in Alex Gibbs and his right hand man, Gary Kubiak.

3. Vikings v. Broncos

Ohh boy, I need a bag. I think I'm going to vomit, and I haven't even looked at the Vikings uniforms yet. Quick rundown of the despised in this one. Javon Walker? Check. Darren Sharper? Check. Mike Shannahan? Check. Bob Slowik? Check. The only thing that could make this worse is Shannon Sharpe, Terrell Davis, John Elway, Chris Carter, Robert Smith and John Randle all coming out of retirement to play in this game. Oh, and Chris Hovan rejoins the Vikings.

Why It Won't Happen

Shannon Sharpe, Terrell Davis, John Elway, Chris Carter, Robert Smith and John Randle are not coming out of retirement.

2. Bears v. Colts

So I have to pick between the Bears or Peyton Manning to win a Super Bowl? At the risk of sounding completely over the line, I'll save my original analogy and use this one instead, do I want to lose my right arm or my left?

Why It Won't Happen

Son of a Bitch

1. Bears v. Broncos

Oh god, I've officially had it. I can't even go on with this one, I'm afriad if I do it will happen next year.

Why It Won't Happen

God can't hate me that much can he? He would really do this to me two years in a row, or just twice in one lifetime?

So, maybe it turns out you were right Fabos, but barely. Let's just forget this column ever even happened, shall we?

It Could Be Worse

Albeit not much worse, considering the football Gods are frowning upon us by serving up a Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl. So either the hated Bears get rings or the whining, daddy's boy, Peyton Manning gets one. Yuck. Why even watch? Here's how it could be worse:

1. The Vikings could be playing the Colts
2. Eli Manning could be playing the Colts

Here's a short list, a reach, I know, why the big game is still worth watching:

1. If the Bears win, Peyton is denied that ring of his.
2. If the Colts win, Chicago is faced with that horrible 'we were so close,' feeling.
3. Urlacher could end Manning's consecutive starts streak with one, bone-crushing hit...oh wait, he doesn't believe in sacking the QB.
4. The Bears vaunted D could give up 40 points.
5. There will probably be at least three decent commercials.
6. Prince might play 1999 at halftime.

Ouch, let it be known that I'm convinced Super Bowl XLI will be the worst in my lifetime. When do Brewers opening day tickets go on sale?