GARY RUSSELL NOW A RAIDER

The intriguing offseason of former Steeler RB Gary Russell has taken yet another turn. Following a strangely-timed release in April by the Super Bowl Champs, Russell was promptly signed and just-as-promptly released by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Today, he was signed by the NFL's Last Chance Saloon, the Oakland Raiders.

Russell will be fifth on a talented yet crowded Raider depth chart that includes Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, Michael Bush, and Louis Rankin. The Raiders also have four fullbacks, including four-time Pro Bowler Lorenzo Neal.

I'd say this was a surprising move by the Raiders, if for no other reason than the fact that Russell ran a 4.84 40 at the combine in 2007.

Gary Russell Resurfaces With Raiders [PFT]

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SCRAWLER: THE MONDESI'S HOUSE OFFICIAL 2008 NFL MOCK DRAFT

by The Backyard Scrawler
backyardscrawl@gmail.com

I hate mock drafts … there, I said it. I love the draft; hate the mock. At least I have something else in common with Mike Florio, the hot-shot lawyer and WVU football fan with the best pro football blog out there. (I would, however, trade my nacho-cheese stained Owen Schmitt jersey for his law degree any day.)

Mock drafts have gained steam in turning sports fans into purveyors of prognostication. Not on the same level as, say, filling out your March Madness bracket, but it has become an obligatory practice for anyone who follows the NFL Draft. Perhaps that’s not also to say your girlfriend’s Mock Draft will be more accurate than yours despite her basing it on the most colorful names: 1. Flacco, 2. Booty, 3. Lichtensteiger, 4. Gholston, 5. Cherilus, 6. Zbikowski and 7. Gonzaga … oh, wait.

Knowing that any website that covers the NFL Draft is not worth its weight in salt without a Mock Draft, I bequeath to you The Official Mondesi’s House Mock Draft. Any misfires I blame solely on Raul for not supplying me with sufficient funds to hold a stopwatch at the Combine and break down film in my basement for three months.

I also added who the Steelers would if there were hypothetically switched with each team’s spot before them. I also didn’t account for trades, another reason why I hate mock drafts.

#1 Miami Dolphins – Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Still waiting on Bill Parcells to pull that $58 million away from Jake and say “Whoops, sorry, we meant Chris Long.” … Steelers at #1 – Glenn Dorsey

#2 St. Louis Rams – Chris Long, DT, Virginia
Long played in the 3-4 at Virginia but seems more than capable to play on the edge where the Rams need help. Glenn Dorsey may be better but the Rams are set inside with last year’s first-rounder Adam Carricker. … Steelers at #2 – Glenn Dorsey

#3 Atlanta Falcons – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Best defensive player in the draft. But will a new GM bite on Matt Ryan? … Steelers at #3 – Glenn Dorsey.

#4 Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Boy-wonder Lane Kiffin would rather not, but as long as Skeletor-impersonator Al Davis is in charge

I think he’ll go with Run-DMC just to spite the young Kiffin and remind everyone that he still rules over Castle Grayskull … Steelers at #4 – Darren McFadden (or trade down).

#5 Kansas City Chiefs – Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
Poor Herm Edwards needs all the help he can get to “Play …To … Win … The … Game.” If I’m Larry Johnson, I’d be begging for the second-best in deep pool of OT but, “HELLO!” Gholston you can’t pass up … Steelers at #5 – Vernon Gholston.

#6 New York Jets – Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
The Steeler fan in me can’t bear seeing Ryan going to the Ravens, so J-E-T-S please, please, please take Matt Ryan at #6. He’ll study under Pennington for a year, kick Kellen Clemens to the curb and be the franchise QB behind that revamped OL in two years.

… Steelers at #6 – Branden Albert.

#7 New England Patriots – Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
As much as I’d like to move Mr. Irrelevant up to #7 for more spygate punishment, I suppose the Cheatriots need a shot of life in that geriatric linebacking corps; heck, one already had a stroke

… Steelers at #7 – Branden Albert.

#8 Baltimore Ravens – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
Unless the Ravens trade up to get Matt Ryan, Brian Brohm and Joe Flacco won’t go this high so Leodis and your 4.38 speed, you can have all the crab cakes and punt-return TDs vs. the Steelers a guy could ever want. … Steelers at #8 Branden Albert.

#9 Cincinnati Bengals – Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Hope ya got a good attorney, kid. … Steelers at #9 Branden Albert.

#10 New Orleans Saints – Branden Albert, OT/OG, Virginia
The Saints addressed CB in the offseason by signing Randal Gay and their tackles and guards are all returning starters –– if that’s a good thing –– but the multi-purpose Albert should be ready to supplant any one of them quickly … Steelers at #10 Branden Albert.

#11 Toronto, err, I mean Buffalo Bills – Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
That’s right, the Bills are that desperate for a wide receiver. This year’s Ted Ginn pick. Although with McKelvin off the board they’ll probably trade down here … Steelers at #11 Chris Williams.

#12 Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
This guy fits the Denver’s zone-blocking technique as the Broncos begin to rebuild their offensive line. Draft day goof: someone put a Happy Meal bag on stage as he walks out to shake hands with Roger Goodell. You know, just to check … Steelers at #12 Chris Williams.

#13 Carolina Panthers – Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
The draftniks are torn on Williams or Jeff Otah but Williams seems to be more of the “true” left tackle that a team like Carolina needs since Travelle Wharton and Jordan Gross are not sufficing … Steelers at #13 Chris Williams.

#14 Chicago Bears – Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt
Now, Otah goes by default. Four-fifths of the Bears line is over 30. They need him. … Steelers at #13 Jeff Otah.

#15 Detroit Lions – Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
No, Lions, you can’t draft another wide receiver; they won’t allow it. And, yeah, you should probably take Florida DE Derrick Harvey here, but do you really want your first-round pick hanging out with position coach Joe Cullen?

Nice knowing ya, Tatum Bell. … Steelers at #15 Derrick Harvey.

#16 Arizona Cardinals – Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Ed Bouchette thinks the Steelers should take Stewart, a “banger” and a” thumper,” if he falls to 23. Not if Ken Whisenhunt and the “Steelers of the West” have anything to say about it. … Steelers at #16 Derrick Harvey.

#17 Minnesota Vikings – Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
The early steal of Mondesi’s House Mock Draft goes to the Vikings. Kenechi Udeze has leukemia and Erasmus James has “bust”-emia so Harvey is their man. … Steelers at #17 Derrick Harvey.

#18 Houston Texans – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

With two running backs off the board and Dunta Robinson’s ACL a question for the start of the season the Texans need a corner. … Steelers at #18 Phillip Merling.

#19 Philadelphia Eagles – Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami (FL)
He’s from “The U” so naturally Andy Reid’s kids are going to love him. They also need someone to replace Brian Dawkins after he retires. … Steelers at #19 Phillip Merling.

#20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
If the Bills don’t take Thomas at #11 he’ll fall here. Jackson is thought of by many as a gamble but the Bucs need a WR with Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard entering their twilight years. … Steelers at #20 Phillip Merling

#21 Washington Redskins – Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
Both of the ’Skins defensive ends are over 30. This is a can be considered a steal if he falls this far. … Steelers at #21 Phillip Merling.

#22 Dallas Cowboys – Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
The play from that Diet Pepsi Max commercial – “60-stretch far-uuuuuuugh” – is designed for Jones. Jerry, Pac-Man and Felix … these Cowboys are going to be no yawners to say the least. … Steelers at #22 Kentwan Balmer.

#23 Pittsburgh Steelers – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

Let’s cross a few off the list here: First, the best CB available Aqib Talib (watch this YouTube and you’ll agree). As pointed out by Gene Collier, the Steelers need an ultra-strong defender who can hoist an airborne receiver, whose feet would land inbounds, carry him across the field and choke-slam him into the Gatorade, thus taking advantage of the now defunct force-out rule. That likely won’t happen unless the Steelers take The Big Show with their first pick.

Then you have all the WRs available (Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly and James Hardy), none of which are the second coming of Plaxico Burress and if you are drafting Hines Ward’s replacement they don’t come in the first round. I’m not quite sold on OT Gosder Cherilus (I don’t care how mean he is). While the pool of OTs is deep this year there shouldn’t be much disparity between the sixth-best OT at pick #23 than what will be available at #53. A deep pool is all the more reason to wait. There’s more research here on why not to take an OT with this pick by clicking here.

That leaves pass-rushing OLB Quentin Groves out of Auburn and DT Kentwan Balmer out of North Carolina, and while Groves may be better coming off the edge, Balmer seems to be a better answer to address the interior defensive line needs with Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel all in their 30s next fall. Balmer has the frame to add weight (6-4, 308), can play end in the 3-4 or tackle in the 4-3, much like the inside/outside versatility and athletic upside that last year’s first-round pick Lawrence Timmons exuded.

#24 Tennessee Titans – Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
What better weapon to surround QB Vince Young with than his college pal.

#25 Seattle Seahawks – Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC
The officials from Super Bowl XL also fixed the Draft so that Seattle couldn’t get the Steelers’ pick Balmer, instead the Seahawks settle for a needed pass-rusher in Jackson.

#26 Jacksonville Jaguars – Quentin Groves, OLB/DE, Auburn
“Pass-rushing defensive ends get overdrafted,” said Jags GM Gene Smith. Yeah, but they need one bad. Have fun tinkering with Groves in that 4-3.

#27 San Diego Chargers – Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
The Chargers would be better off trading down or going with the “best player available,” but OL is their biggest need so we’ll give them Mr. Mean.

#28 Dallas Cowboys – Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Mike Jenkins playing CB just in case Pac-Man Jones doesn’t work out is like the Spears family hiring a nanny just in case Britney doesn’t pan out as a good mother.

#29 San Francisco 49ers – Sam Baker, OT, USC
I always thought RB Frank Gore was underrated because of how badly his offensive line gets beat off the ball. Baker can be a difference-maker.

#30 Green Bay Packers – Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
Brett Favre, the Wrangler-wearing, tractor-driving gunslinger from Kiln, Miss., retires from the National Football League. That following year, the Packers select Antoine Cason, the PlayStation 2-playing cornerback and cousin of Ken-yon Rambo from Long Beach, Calif. … It’s the Cirrrrrrrrrrcle of Life.

#31 New York Giants – Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee
Some have Mayo going as high as #15 to Detroit and the Giants are typically a “best available” team.

Backyard Scrawler: Scouting Combine is No Beauty Contest

by The Backyard Scrawler

backyardscrawl@gmail.com

The NFL Combine is the one week when general managers leave the film room –– after looking at NFL hopefuls’ “body of work” –– and take a long look at the players’ actual bodies. Throw in a motor-skill rally and a few Double Dare physical challenges and you have yourself the NFL Scouting Combine.

The trees of this spectacle are the evaluation of players, but the forest, well, looking at this event from afar can seem rather farcical. Ed Bouchette compared the event in last week’s Post-Gazette to a kennel club dog show only without a Best in Show award. Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, while lounging in his 40-yard line seat during the NFL Network’s wall-to-wall telecast, compared the event to the swimsuit competition of a beauty pageant.

The titillating commentary was borderline homoerotic. No, make that a standing broad jump over that line. A jaw-dropped Jamie Dukes did his best Kevin Arnold-gawking-at-Winnie Cooper line (“… and look at the body on this guy”) when Kellen Davis of Michigan State stepped up to the vertical jump platform. Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports fetched some good quotes from the Market’s finest Meat in his column about the televised weigh-ins: “I felt like I was a model for Fruit of the Loom,” said former USC offensive lineman Chilo Rachal. “I don’t care if they want to (talk about my butt), as long as they don’t touch me in that way,” said ex-UTEP tackle Oniel Cousins.

All in all, the last “sporting event” in RCA Dome history was fun to watch. Perhaps having a Hulk Hogan-type sideline reporter force the players into awkward moments of American Gladiator trash talk would help. As far as the information value, you would think with 430 media members, 1,900 team personnel and 334 players present we’d all have a unified Mock Drafts after this week (more on that later). Instead, we’ll have to wait to see where free agents land as well as where potential draftees slide on the Arabus of “stock rising” or “stock falling.”

Here are a few notes and musings from watching the NFL Combine and scouring a few draft web sites:

Darren McFadden, who ran a 4.27 in the 40, is doing his best to prove to everyone that he is the next Travis Henry.

Bill Polian prescribes to the Mo’ Draft Picks, Mo’ Problems axiom.

Perhaps Combine-snub and former WVU defensive lineman Keilen Dykes was not invited for fear that Rich Eisen, at his wife’s request, would have to use the same dirty word that got his scantily-clad e-mail buddy in trouble.

After watching the NFL Network gush over Marshall Faulk during last season’s Steelers-Rams game, the Faulk lovefest continued over the weekend when he made an appearance on set complete with footage of his first game played in the RCA Dome. (The only thing Faulk brought was a mildly funny Price is Right reference when calling a player-on-the-rise a “Yodeler.”)

Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert is not the most revealing sound bite (take his first-round mantra of “anyone except a quarterback or a tight end” the last two years). However, some interesting Colbert blurbs appeared on the web:

NFLdraftscout.com asked him about draft mistakes: “Usually when we go back and try to figure out why a certain player failed or try to find a commonality, it’s usually something we knew about and we took the player anyway.” Colbert also told Rivals.com about what he looks for in a quarterback and why he doesn’t even remember what Big Ben did in his Combine workout.

I got a kick out of how Mike Mayock, the Mel Kiper of the NFL Combine, totally pigeonholed every player at the Combine with positive/negative labels that scrolled at the bottom of the screen during the NFL Network telecast. For example, “Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: Positive: Finesse Blocker / Negative: Needs to Get Physical.” That could be the worse thing to call any lineman, but Mayock still raved about him.

Here are some of my favorite of the “Positive” variety …

Branden Albert: “Specimen”

Roy Schuening: “Good in a Phonebooth” (This guy may by Superman but he sure looked like

John Belushi from Animal House at the Combine.)

Trevor Laws: “Energizer Bunny”

Curtis Lofton: “Downhill Thumper”

Calais Campbell: “Vines for Arms” (Didn’t he play in Little Shop of Horrors?)

Phillip Merling: “Complete Player” (Then why was there a negative?)

Matt Ryan: “Off-the-Chart Intangibles” (This is either redundant or illogical since only tangibles can be charted.)

Kory Lichtensteiger: “Nasty Attitude”

Dustin Keller: “Rocked-Up WR”

Tyrell Johnson: “Tough-in-the-Box SS” (His girlfriend would call that a negative)

… And here are some amusing “Negatives”

Ryan Clady: “Hand Placement” (Needs to practice on that Twister mat)

Darren McFadden: “Legs Dead on Contact”

Sedrick Ellis: “Gets Washed Easily”

Kenny Phillips: “Not Ed Reed”

Curtis Lofton: “Short & Tight-Hipped” (Also a big no-no in the Amish community for child-rearing)

Xavier Abidi: “P.O.A. Issues” (This means Point Of Attack but for some players this could mean Power Of Attorney)

For those wondering who the Draftnik “experts” think the Steelers are going to take in the first round, it’s anybody’s guess. In sampling 25 draft web sites –– and I’m sure there are plenty more –– the resounding opinion is offensive tackle. While some haven’t been updated since the Max Starks news broke, here are the picks. Take them for what little they are worth:

Six for Branden Albert, OG/OT, Virginia:

(nfldraftcountdown.com, nflsmackdown.com, eastcoastsportsnews.com, prodraftguide.com, nfldraftdog.com, draftheadquarters.com).

Five for Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: (thefootballexpert.com, footballthoughts.com, insidetheeagles.com, qisports.com, condraft.com).

Four for Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt (fftoolbox.com, scout.com, walterfootball.com, draftinsiders.com).

Some others include Miami DE Calais Campbell (draftking.com, mynfldraft.com, phinphanatic.com), Arkansas RB Felix Jones (nfldraftblitz.com), USC OT Sam Baker (nfldraftscout.com), USC OLB Keith Rivers (draftace.com), Boise State OT Ryan Clady (draftking.com), LSU DE Tyson Jackson (warroomreport.com).

We’ll have more coverage of “Who the Steelers are Going to Draft” in future posts once the remaining stool samples from the Combine are thoroughly analyzed.

Pu Pu Platter

My time is limited at the moment, so I'm mixing in a few links and a few mailbag items for your reading and time-killing pleasure on Thursday...

--A Buffalo Bills message board thread entitled "Official Steelers Lookalike Thread". Mildly amusing. Hey, they've had a tough couple of days. They deserve a laugh.

--Chukky "Chukwun" Okobi, the world's first "raplete", has a Myspace page, which I've mentioned on here once or twice in the past. After news broke that Okobi would become an Arizona Cardinal (I know, I'm shocked too), the messages on the page have become a memorial to Okobi's Steeler days.

MAILBAG:

CAMERAGATE FALLOUT

From Mike T.:

Mondesi:

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I think the Patriots' cheating is a lot worse then people think. I mean, isn't it a little weird that he had so many banged-up teams and still won the division and/or Super Bowl in those years? The players were sure as hell not better, and its even been said by other players, "It's like they knew what we were doing". I've been looking on the internet at game pictures when the Steelers played them in 04 and 05. My guess is that he filmed in the regular season and game planned for later in the season/post season. That explains why he would film the Jets (met 3 times last year) and other playoff contenders and division foes. Keep an eye out for pictures of the 2005 game in late September. We weren't supposed to be a huge threat in 2004, but I guarantee he was gearing up for an AFC playoff rematch in 2005, hence filmed the Steelers coaching staff..

No wonder why Manning or the Steelers could never beat them in the playoffs... they played in the regular season that year...2003, at Indy, 2004 Colts and the Steelers...

Lonnie:

Just figured I'd share an email with you that I sent to Billy Simmons:

RE: Cheatin' Chowda Heads

C'mon Bill -

Don't go soft on your team. Not now. You've come down hard on cheaters, so don't give your team any slack here. I have two friends from Acton and I can't wait to hear their excuse for this one. This is just like gettin' caught cheatin' on your girl for the first time: it might be the first time you've been caught but it certainly isn't the first time you've cheated. Especially when you're as savvy and intelligent as Belichick is supposed to be. I know it's too soon, but I like the name New England Pasterisks. There's even an asterisk in the logo! Of course I'm jumpin' the gun but man, it makes for good banter. Cue up Patsy Cline's "Your Cheatin' Heart" for the Pats. Interested in your follow-up story.

MONDESI:

Congratulations, Bill Belichick (or as he's now being called, Bill Belicheat). You've officially stained your legacy. But let's not act too surprised here. Old Billy Boy isn't exactly the moral compass of the NFL. A brief rundown of the Belichick file:

-He famously had an affair with a married mother of two.

-His son was arrested on drug charges.

-He feuded with Vikings coach Brad Childress over waiver players.

-That whole "pretend like I'm coaching the Jets" fiasco. At what was thought to be his introduction as head coach, he scribbled a resignation note on a sheet of loose leaf paper that read, in its entirety, "I resign as HC of the NYJ."

-His post-game immaturity, as witnessed last year with Eric Mangini and again in the AFC Championship. And when he tried to make an effort to see Mangini after the playoff game, he shoved a camera into a photographer's face.

-Accused of making LB Ted Johnson play when he had a concussion.

-Bringing in two Jets training camp cuts, wide receiver Tim Dwight and defensive end Bobby Hamilton, the Friday before this year's Jets game.

-His general boorishness towards the media and shady reporting of injuries throughout his career.

Belichick has consistently acted like a bully and a jerk during his tenure, and people were just waiting for a reason to pounce on him. Well, live it up, America. It's no shock that his "coaching family tree" has spawned men like Nick Saban and Charlie Weis, who also happen to be gruff control freaks who are disliked by most of the country.

Simmons issued his much-awaited column on Wednesday night, but that can't touch the thoughts of Terrell Davis, who thinks the Patriots should be put on probation and banned from the postseason. What, no loss of scholarships?

BETTIS BOOK EXAGGERATED?

Jules:

Hey Raul,

Just finished reading The Bus' new book. I should have reserved judgment until I read it. TOTAL exaggeration by the media about his negativity and "throwing people under the bus." The people who took the most hits were those with the Rams organization, including Rich Brooks and the owners but even that wasn't that bad. Regarding Tomczak, he simply said that he was great at managing a game but was not a game changing QB or one that other teams would have to be concerned about making the big plays. Definitely calls out Cowher for a few decisions he made but there is no doubt they have a good relationship. The Bus definitely likes to toot his own horn but all in all not a bad book and a quick read.

MONDESI:

Are you accusing the media of exaggerating? I'm sorry, I just don't believe that's possible.

And by "throwing people under the bus", do you mean literally under a bus, figuratively under a bus, or literally under Jerome Bettis?

But seriously, how many former running backs who just wrote a "controversial" book can NBC have on the payroll? First Bettis, then Tiki...can they steal away Terrell Davis?

WHO'S A PIRATE FAN TO ROOT FOR?

David M.:

As the Pirates put the finishing touches on their 15th straight losing season, is it time that Pirates fans create ground rules and guidelines for selecting a post-season team to root for throughout the playoffs? It's something we're forced to do every season, and some years it's easier than others. For example, last October it wasn't difficult to jump all over the Tigers considering Leyland and his former Pirate staff, the addition of fan favorite Sean Casey, and the story of going from an 100 loss team to the World Series that all of us Pirates fans can only dream of. But that won't happen every year and, let's face it, playoff baseball is a lot more fun when you have someone to follow throughout the process. Some fans might be sitting there saying that would make us bandwagon fans. I disagree, it doesn't make us cheap fans at all if we start showing signs of frustration with the front office and ownership. If they don't get the message that a playoff baseball team will be more profitable to them than bobblehead nights and adjustable hat giveaways, nothing will ever change. So can we set some rules as to how to pick a likable team to back in October? Here are my suggestions:

1. It can't be the Yankees or Red Sox
2. Small market teams get preference, particularly ones that manage to be competitive every season despite low payrolls
3. No pitcher who was in the Pirates rotation in 2000 or later can be on the team you pick (Goodbye Mets)

What else can we add?

MONDESI:

Wait, is baseball still going on? Actually, I was just looking at the "best record in MLB" standings the other day, and I noticed the top five records belonged to Boston, Anaheim, Cleveland, the Yankees, and the Mets. With the exception of the Indians (23rd), that's payrolls #1, 2, 3, and 5 (here's the entire 2007 MLB payroll chart). Only the White Sox (#4) crapped the bed. So until that problem gets fixed, it's going to be hard for me to root for any team. But if anyone else has a suggestion for David, feel free to add your two cents. When I watch Yankees-Red Sox, I'm reminded of the great slogan from Brewster's Millions: "None of the above".

CHARLIE FRYE THOUGHTS?

Joe:

Mondesi,

Any thoughts on the Charlie Frye trade? At least the Steelers didn't trade Jim Miller after they benched him!

MONDESI:

After watching the game on Sunday, I didn't think Cleveland could embarrass themselves any worse. And then they go out and trade their starting quarterback from week one. If that's not a clear indicator that this team has no direction, I don't know what is. Now you have the triumvirate of Derek Anderson, Bret Michaels SuperFan, and Ken Dorsey at the helm of the most important position on the team. The Browns highlight video from 2008 will undoubtedly open with "...and with the first selection in the 2008 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select Darren McFadden, running back, from the University of Arkansas..."

Romeo Crennel is clearly on his last legs. I'm suggesting that he call up his old buddy in New England and learn the ropes of this videotaping signals thing. At this point, he's got nothing to lose. He already proved that when he signed a former inmate as his starting tailback.

Update..an email from Luke points out my error AND makes the Browns look even worse at the same time:

You said in today's mailbag that the Browns first round pick next year will be Darren McFadden, but you forgot that the Browns traded their #1 pick in the 2008 draft to the Cowboys in getting Brady Quinn. Basically, Dallas is looking a lock for a top 5 pick, with the possibility of getting the #1 pick overall. Pretty much the Browns are completely terrible.