King's Court Vol. 2

N. F. L. --Nasty Fight Looms........

by King Kaine

No matter whose side you take in the NFL's labor war, one thing is for certain, we all may be in for a very huge disappointment. If you have been under a rock, and would like to follow the latest story lines in pro football, you may have to visit a District Court in Minnesota, that or follow Ocho Cinco on twitter (he may be more popular without playing football, than when actually playing). It seems that both sides have dug in their heels, with no end in sight. June 3rd is the next major court date, with a decision coming in the days after. I won't bore you with the details, but lets just say that even that date does little to attain the supposed goal of both sides, which is to play football. I even heard today about the possibility of thousands of individual lawsuits against the NFL (as each individual player has a contract with his employer). Where is this headed????? I understand leverage as much as anyone, but at some point, the wealthy & the rich, must come to their senses & realize that the GAME that has given them the ability to fight over 9 billion dollars, is in serious jeopardy. I tend to side with the players (as I never understood the concept of accepting less of a previously agreed upon percentage based on your business partners' word that they are struggling to feed their children...Open the Books!), but even the rhetoric of the head of the organization, formerly known as the NFLPA, Demaurice Smith, is getting old, and that's being kind. So consider this my open letter to Demaurice and Roger....Look, it's really time to stop all the posturing and trying to gain support of the public, lawmakers, etc. If you really wanted the support of the public, then you wouldn't have your fans wondering when football season is going to start. Most of whom will never see a tenth of what you guys make in their lifetime, to play a GAME, that you all supposedly love so much. In the end you are banking that one side or the other will cave, and that us fans will be waiting with open arms, WHENEVER you decide to play big boy ball again. The only problem is that you should never give people a taste of what they can live without. You may find that they realize that they really don't need you at all. Oh well, there's always the NBA......Right?

 Person of The Month:

All of the volunteers & people who have donated time, money & prayers to those who were affected by the tornadoes in Alabama 3 weeks ago.

 Worst Person Of The Month:

The Donald, for whole HEAP of things, among those saying that he has always been cool with 'The Blacks'...really now? Bring me those who co-signed him & bring me their 'The Blacks' Membership Card.

Best Draft Ever?

The 2010 NFL Draft began with the Carolina Panthers selecting quarterback Cam Newton out of Auburn. Perhaps this draft will be considered one of the deepest, most talent-laden drafts in history. Some see the 2011 draft pool as one of the weakest. We shall have to press pause on that debate for three or four years. Until then, the epic draft of 2003 will stand as one of, if not, the best draft in recent or distant memory.

The Cincinnati Bengals were coming off a 2-14 season the previous year, so naturally they had the number one pick. Glance over your right shoulder at 2003.


Round 1:
 1 Cincinnati Bengals - Carson Palmer QB USC

Carson Palmer has maintained his starting position since he began his regime in 2004. He has passed for over 22,000 yards and has finished no lower than sixth in passing four of those seasons. The two-time All-Pro ('06 MVP) also currently holds ten different passing records for the Bengals franchise.

 2 Detroit Lions - Charles Rogers WR Michigan State 

 3 Houston Texans - Andre Johnson WR Miami (FL)

Nicknamed, the 'Quiet Storm', Johnson has been anointed the NFL's best receiver by the general public, has the most receiving yards per game in NFL history for a career at 79.7. The 6'3" 225 pound Miami native is a five-time All-Pro and has led the league in receiving two of the last three seasons.

 4 New York Jets - Dewayne Robertson DT Kentucky

 5 Dallas Cowboys -Terence Newman CB Kansas State

 6 New Orleans Saints - Johnathan Sullivan DT Georgia

The seventh pick was designated for the Minnesota Vikings, but they managed to allow the fifteen minute time limit to expire, losing their turn.



 7 Jacksonville Jaguars -  Byron Leftwich QB Marshall (In place of Minnesota)

 8 Carolina Panthers - Jordan Gross OT Utah  (In place of Minnesota)

The Vikings finally awoke from its slumber two picks and nearly forty-five minutes later.



 9 Minnesota Vikings - Kevin Williams DT Oklahoma State Big 12

 10 Baltimore Ravens -Terrell Suggs DE/LB Arizona State

Suggs fit into his dual threat role as if he's been there all along, winning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Minneapolis native has been selected to four Pro Bowls and ended the '10 season with 11 sacks. 'T-Sizzle' also had five sacks in this past year's playoffs, which led the NFL.

 11 Seattle Sehawks - Marcus Trufant CB Washington State

 12 St. Louis Rams - Jimmy Kennedy DT Penn State

 13 New England Patriots -Ty Warren DE Texas A&M

 14 Chicago Bears - Michael Haynes DE Penn State

 15 Philadelphia Eagles - Jerome McDougle DE Miami (FL)

 16 Pittsburgh Steelers - Troy Polamalu S USC

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year does more than whips his hair back and forth. Troy Polamalu is also a six-time All-Pro, three-time First Team All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion. The soft-spoken Polamalu is 'head and shoulders' above the competition at his position and is anything but soft between the lines as he lurks as a cheetah in total darkness about the African Sahara.


 17 Arizona Cardinals - Bryant Johnson WR Penn State

 18 Arizona Cardinals - Calvin Pace DE/LB Wake Forest

 19 Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Boller QB California

 20 Denver Broncos - George Foster OT Georgia

 21 Cleveland Browns - Jeff Faine C Notre Dame

 22 Chicago Bears - Rex Grossman QB Florida SEC

 23 Buffalo Bills - Willis McGahee RB Miami (FL)

 24 Indianapolis Colts - Dallas Clark TE Iowa

Some call him Peyton Manning's best friend or his safety net. Others might call him a 2009 All-Pro. Many would call him a wide receiver in a tight end's body, catching 100 passes in '09. One thing for certain is whenever he's called on, Dallas Clark plays the game at a high level and was definitely a steal, dropping to the Colts at #24.


 25 New York Giants - William Joseph DT Miami (FL)

 26 San Francisco 49ers - Kwame Harris OT Stanford

 27 Kansas City Chiefs - Larry Johnson RB Penn State

 28 Tennessee Titans - Andre Woolfolk CB Oklahoma

 29 Green Bay Packers - Nick Barnett LB Oregon State

 30 San Diego Chargers - Sammy Davis CB Texas A&M

 31 Oakland Raiders - Nnamdi Asomugha CB California

Whether a philantropist, youth activist, Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year for 2008, or cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha goes about his business with complete class. Mere terms and ordinary adjectives cannot begin to describe such an accomplished individual with so much depth. However, we'll try anyway. Beast. Excellent pick, Al!

 32 Oakland Raiders - Tyler Brayton DE Colorado

That was just the first round!


Round 2:

 33 Cincinnati Bengals - Eric Steinbach G Iowa

 34 Detroit Lions - Boss Bailey LB Georgia 

 35 Chicago Bears - Charles Tillman CB Louisiana-Lafayette

 36 New England Patriots - Eugene Wilson CB Illinois

 37 New Orleans Saints - Jon Stinchcomb OT Georgia

 38 Dallas Cowboys - Al Johnson C Wisconsin

 39 Jacksonville Jaguars - Rashean Mathis CB Bethune-Cookman

 40 Minnesota Vikings - E.J. Henderson LB Maryland

 41 Houston Texans - Bennie Joppru TE Michigan

 42 Seattle Seahawks - Ken Hamlin S Arkansas

 43 St. Louis Rams - Pisa Tinoisamoa LB Hawaiʻi

 44 Washington Redskins - Taylor Jacobs WR Florida

 45 New England Patriots - Bethel Johnson WR Texas A&M

 46 San Diego Chargers - Drayton Florence CB Tuskegee

 47 Kansas City Chiefs - Kawika Mitchell LB South Florida

 48 Buffalo Bills - Chris Kelsay DE Nebraska

 49 Miami Dolphins - Eddie Moore LB Tennessee

 50 Carolina Panthers - Bruce Nelson C Iowa

 51 Denver Broncos - Terry Pierce LB Kansas State

 52 Cleveland Browns - Chaun Thompson LB West Texas A&M

 53 New York Jets - Victor Hobson LB Michigan

 54 Arizona Cardinals - Anquan Boldin WR Florida State

 55 Atlanta Falcons - Bryan Scott S Penn State

 56 New York Giants - Osi Umenyiora DE Troy State

 57 San Francisco 49ers - Anthony Adams DT Penn State

 58 Indianapolis Colts - Mike Doss S Ohio State

 59 Pittsburgh Steelers - Alonzo Jackson LB Florida State

 60 Tennessee Titans - Tyrone Calico WR Middle Tennessee State

 61 Philadelphia Eagles - .L.J. Smith TE Rutgers

 62 San Diego Chargers - Terrence Kiel S Texas A&M

 63 Oakland Raiders - Teyo Johnson TE Stanford

 64 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dewayne White DE Louisville

Round 3:

 65 Cincinnati Bengals - Kelley Washington WR Tennessee

 66 Detroit Lions - Cory Redding DT Texas

 67 Houston Texans - Antwan Peek LB Cincinnati

 68 Chicago Bears - Lance Briggs LB Arizona

 69 Dallas Cowboys - Jason Witten TE Tennessee

Witten is coming off yet another Pro Bowl season, recording 94 receptions for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns, making him the NFL's most productive tight end in 2010. The Knoxville native has been selected to grace the Pro Bowl seven of his eight years in the NFL. The 6'6" 263 pound 'J-Witt' was a huge sleeper and true value pick being selected in the third round.

 70 Arizona Cardinals - Gerald Hayes LB Pittsburgh

 71 Minnesota Vikings - Nate Burleson WR Nevada

 72 Jacksonville Jaguars - Vince Manuwai G Hawaiʻi

3 73 Seattle Seahawks - Wayne Hunter OT Hawaiʻi

3 74 St. Louis Rams - Kevin Curtis WR Utah State

3 75 Houston Texans - Seth Wand OT NW Missouri State

Round 4:
4 120 New England Patriots - Asante Samuel CB USF

4 124 San Francisco 49ers Brandon Lloyd WR Illinois

No need to elaborate on non-Pro Bowl players drafted in the fourth round and beyond, so let's get to the real sleepers of the draft.


Undrafted players:

Atlanta Falcons - Brendon Ayanbadejo LB UCLA

Indianapolis Colts - Gary Brackett LB Rutgers

San Diego Chargers - Kris Dielman G Indiana

Buffalo Bills - Jon Dorenbos LS UTEP

San Diego Chargers - Antonio Gates TE Kent State

Antonio Gates averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as a power forward during his senior year in college. Who knew his physical prowess on the football field would reach such heights? Apparently no one since he didn't play football in college (thanks to Nick Saban) and didn't get drafted in the NFL. Since he was invited to practice with the San Diego Chargers in 2003, Gates has managed to make the Pro Bowl seven times and currently holds the single-season record for the most touchdown receptions (tied with Vernon Davis).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Earnest Graham RB Florida

Philadelphia Eagles - Roderick Hood CB Auburn

Buffalo Bills - Fred Jackson RB Coe

Green Bay Packers - Cullen Jenkins DE Central Michigan

Philadelphia Eagles - Greg Lewis WR Illinois

Philadelphia Eagles - Quintin Mikell S Boise State

San Diego Chargers - Kassim Osgood WR San Diego State

Dallas Cowboys - Tony Romo QB Eastern Illinois

Kansas City Chiefs - Lawrence Tynes K Troy State

Perhaps 2011 will be talked about as being one of the best in the future, but until then, 2003 is the best draft ever, going forward or backward.