What about Bob? Glauber's NFL Blog

Ok, this stuff gets a little creepy when the sons of guys I used to cover on the Giants in the '80s get drafted.

First it was Don Hasselbeck's kid Matt with the Packers (eventually traded to Seattle). Then Phil Simms' son Chris to the Bucs. Then Maurice Carthon's son Ran to the Colts. Now it's Steve DeOssie's kid Zak, who was just drafted a little while ago by the Giants, a fourth-round linebacker out of Brown University.

Steve DeOssie was a marginal linebacker on the 1990 Super Bowl champion Giants, although he was a terrific long snapper and a favorite of Bill Parcells. Tuna had a nickname for DeOssie - "Beachball." DeOssie was portly and his face reddened easily when he ran, so Parcells jumped on the visual right away.

Steve talked a few minutes ago about why his Giants teams were so unique:

"I told [Zak] what made some of those Giants teams special and why they were capable of winning a Super Bowl when there were probably two, three, maybe four teams out there that were more talented. The kind of individuals that we had on those teams, guys that would work so hard and that would do everything and anything at all to win a football game. The type of guys that just loved to play and loved to compete. I couldn't speak for the 1986 team, they were an outstanding team, but that 1990 team was a bunch of guys that just wouldn't hide and found ways to get the job done."

And then there was this priceless quote about where he fit in on a team that beat the Bills in Super Bowl XXV: "If a slow, fat, short, white linebacker like myself could contribute to that team then you know something is special about it."

Steve will make sure his son doesn't veer off the track like he did a few times.

"In terms of the off the field stuff, I can still point out a few places where he does not need to go that I pre-scouted for him 20 years ago," Steve said. "The names might change but the places don't really change all that much. He will have a leg up in terms of knowing where not to go."

As if it weren't enough that the Ravens were trying desperately to move up to No. 22 to get a fast-sliding Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Baltimore then selected Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith with the final pick of the fifth round.

The message here: Kyle Boller's days with the Ravens are clearly numbered.

Boller was a former first-round pick who simply never took the strides needed of a big-time quarterback, and the Ravens eventually gave up on him as a starter when they dealt for Steve McNair last year. With McNair approaching retirement age at some point soon, and with Quinn sliding nearly all the way to the bottom of the first round, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome tried to score a deal with Dallas at 22.

But he was beaten to the punch by his former understudy, Browns GM Phil Savage, who closed the deal by giving away next year's first round pick. It may be an expensive move up, but if Quinn pans out, it will be more than worth it.

The Ravens, meanwhile, get in Smith a guy who they can at least work with for a couple years in hopes of making him a decent backup. I don't see a starting role for him down the road, but I also don't see Boller taking over from McNair any time soon.

In fact, he'll be gone sooner rather than later.

In a far less heralded trade than the Moss deal, wide receiver Darrell Jackson was shipped from the Seahawks to the 49ers for a fourth-round pick. The move was not entirely a surprise, since Jackson was made expendable by the trade last year that brought Deion Branch to the Seahawks. But that the Seahawks were willing to make the trade with a divisional rival was somewhat interesting.

In other words, they just don't see the guy as someone who will come back to haunt them.

It's official: The Patriots are the most interesting team of the 2007 season.

Now that Bill Belichick has brought Randy Moss into the fold - on top of the frantic free agent signings of the off-season - I am close to pronouncing the Patriots as the frontrunners to win the Super Bowl next February.

Oh, what the heck: The Patriots will win it all.

They came close to getting back to the championship game last year, and had the Colts on the ropes in the AFC Championship Game. But they let it slip away with Peyton Manning's stirring second-half comeback. But now that Belichick has re-loaded, capped off by today's acquisition of Moss from the Raiders for a fourth-round pick, there is no one out there, except maybe the Colts again, who figure to challenge the Pats.

We've been critical of Moss in this corner on several occasions, mostly because the guy takes too many plays off. But with a coach like Belichick and a quarterback like Tom Brady, we just don't see that being as big a problem as before. Oh, sure, he'll be a pain in the neck at some level; he always is.

But the good will outweigh the bad, and the Patriots' locker room, filled with quality leaders, won't let Moss be a distraction like he has been in Minnesota and Oakland.

With only 14 picks to go until the night is over, it's looking more and more as if Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith will not be a first-day pick.

That's not a huge surprise, since most scouts had Smith rated no higher than the third round - at best. Smith's stock dropped considerably at the scouting combine, where he performed poorly. And scouts believe he's simply too short and not an accurate enough passer to take seriously as a starting quarterback.

We're certain that wherever he goes, he'll get there with a chip on his shoulder, since he believes he's a legitimate NFL quarterback. But as we've seen with other Heisman quarterbacks - see: Chris Weinke, Gino Torretta, Andre Ware - college dominance does not always translate to the NFL.

(P.S. - The Ravens have taken a chance on Smith, selecting him with the last pick of the fourth round.)

Heard back from former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, who spent his first post-NFL draft watching ... college baseball.

Accorsi is a baseball freak, and he took in a game in the South Atlantic League last night, went to Duke-Wake Forest this afternoon and then Maryland-Virginia this evening.

Evidently, this man had enough of draft days in his lifetime.

Time to smell the roses ... and the pine tar.

Just got word the Raiders have traded their fourth-round pick to the Lions in exchange for receiver Mike Williams and quarterback Josh McCown.

This could be a prelude to a deal for Randy Moss. There's talk the Raiders and Patriots are discussing a deal for Moss, and the Packers remain interested in acquiring Moss.

McCown's presence is important in Oakland, because he'll be the sacrificial lamb until JaMarcus Russell is ready to play. There's always a chance Russell starts right off the bat, but if he's not ready coming out of training camp, the Raiders will go with McCown as their stop-gap starter - or, as Bill Parcells likes to say - the "hold-the-fort" guy.

A bit surprised that Michigan linebacker David Harris didn't go in the first round. He'd been climbing the charts in recent days, and there were indications the Jets and Patriots had interest. He fell out of the round entirely. We're at No. 43 overall, and he's still on the board ...

The Saints have a need to get better on defense, but they went offense with the 27th overall pick. But they got a good one in Tennessee receiver Robert Meachem, who was extremely impressive to NFL scouts with his size-speed combo (6-3, 210, runs a 4.39). The Saints already have three really good receivers in Marques Colston, Terence Copper and Devery Henderson, but coach Sean Payton couldn't resist getting another. Meachem might turn out to be better than all of them ...

So, the defending champion Colts get smacked around in free agency, losing CBs Jason David and Nick Harper and outside linebacker Cato June. So they go offense, right? Nope. They took wide receiver Anthony Gonzelez out of Ohio State, even though they're well stocked with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. But GM Bill Polian likes to have that third receiver - he didn't most of last year because of the injury to Brandon Stokely - and he got a good one in Carpenter, a terrific route runner, especially in tight coverage ...

The Ravens probably hoped Central Michigan tackle Joe Staley dropped to them at 29, but it didn't happen. Like their attempted move-up to get Brady Quinn, they were beaten out by the 49ers, who swooped in with a trade to New England. The Ravens did get a good pick, though, taking Auburn guard Ben Grubbs, a bruiser ...

Hey, get a look at Adam Abramson's blog. The kid worked his butt off today. This dude knows college ball.

Just got through interviewing Brady Quinn after his selection by the Browns at No. 22 overall. The relief on the kid's face was palpable.

Quinn admitted he was ticked at the Browns for not picking him at No. 3, then ticked at the Dolphins for not going with him at No. 9 - they told him they were definitely interested. And the most interesting nugget of all: The Ravens were making a major attempt to move up to 22 overall to get Quinn.

It makes sense, with Steve McNair close to the end of his career and the Ravens clearly not sold on former first-round pick Kyle Boller as their long-term quarterback.

But in the end, it was Quinn's hometown team that stepped up and grabbed him, giving Dallas their second-round pick this year and next year's first-round pick. It's a hefty price, but it's worth it.

Quinn and Joe Thomas in the same draft the same year.

Very nice.

We talked about it just a few minutes ago, the possibility of Cleveland going from dunderheads of this draft to geniuses.

When the picked Joe Thomas at No. 3 overall instead of Brady Quinn, we're like, what are you thinking?

But after watching Quinn freefall through the first round, the Browns pulled off the stunner of the draft - moving up with Dallas at No. 22 overall and then taking Quinn, who had spent the previous four-plus hours sitting uncomfortably backstage at Radio City. After a couple hours, he was moved from the Green Room to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's private suite just to save him from the embarrassment of the constant camera shots as teams continued to pass over him.

All's well that ends well. Quinn gets to play for the team he idolized as a kid, and the Browns get a left tackle to protect his blind side.

Ok, it's bad enough that Cleveland passes on Brady Quinn at No. 3.

Then the Vikings take Adrian Peterson at No. 7.

And the Dolphins, desperately looking for a quarterback, take Ted Ginn Jr. at No. 9.

Whoa.

Brady Quinn is squirming backstage right now, because we've gone through 19 picks, and he's still not off the board. Tennessee is about to pick, but you know it won't be Quinn, because they've got Vince Young. The Giants are next at 20, and they've got Eli Manning. Maybe Jacksonville at 21, but they've got other needs.

One scenario that would certainly be interesting: What if the Lions, Browns or Browns somehow get in position to get him in the second round, or else move up to the lower part of the first round to get him. If Cleveland can somehow pull off a move up in the second round, then getting Joe Thomas AND Brady Quinn would be a coup.

Ditto for the Lions, who are sticking with Calvin Johnson, but have aging Jon Kitna as their quarterback.

The Dolphins still haven't pulled the trigger on a deal for Trent Green, but they're also said to be interested in quarterbacks John Beck of BYU and Stanford QB Trent Edwards.

Stay tuned on this one, because Quinn's still in freefall.

I know the Giants had their eye on Lawrence Timmons from the start of this draft, and he would have made a perfect linebacker for their defense. Sorry. The Steelers just got him.

We'd figured Pittsburgh was in the market for either TImmons or Revis, and with the Jets swooping up to No. 14 to get Revis, Timmons was the logical choice.

We're still sticking with Miami linebacker Jon Beason for the Giants at No. 20 overall, but if Leon Hall is on the board, maybe they cornerback. A mild surprise that Revis was the first cornerback taken, but Hall shouldn't last much longer ...

Huge buzz when announcement was made of Jets' trade up with Panthers.

Of course, once the fans heard the cost of the deal - giving up first, second- and fifth-round choices - the reaction was more muted. But that's what it costs to move up so dramatically from 25 to 14.

The reaction was decidedly mixed when the selection of cornerback Darrelle Revis was announced, but we like this pick. Revis and Leon Hall were considered 1-2 in cornerback talent in this draft, and with teams just behind Carolina very interested in Revis - especially Pittsburgh right behind at No. 15 - the Jets felt they had to make this deal.

The need was huge at corner, because the Jets just don't have enough of them. Revis will be a good one.

Just got a visit from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, a guy we've known since his early days as one of former commish Paul Tagliabue's trusted lieutenants. Abramson sitting here with eyes wide open :-)

One thing Goodell told us: There is a realistic chance that the Super Bowl will one day be played in an international venue.

The idea just doesn't sit right with us. It's America's game, so how do you have the crown jewel of the sport be exported to Mexico or England or Germany? Just doesn't sound right. In any event, Goodell tells us the league has had plenty of interest from other countries to host the Super Bowl. We'll see if NFL owners eventually go along with it.

Goodell, by the way, looks entirely comfortably in his first draft. He's a guy who's in charge, and he knows what he's doing.

... check out Abramson's blog. This kid knows what he's talking about. Read on.

The traffic is terrific today ... thanks for making this thing work. Let me know what's on your mind if you have any questions ...

We're awaiting the Bills' pick at No. 12.

49ers have just drafted Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis, who I think will be one of the most memorable players in this year's draft. Terrific tackler. Terrific leader. He will have a huge impact in 'Frisco. Interestingly, he'll hook up with a legendary former middle linebacker, Mike Singletary, the 49ers' assistant head coach. Willis has a lot of Singletary in him, and it should be a dynamic combination.

An FYI on this pick: There was talk before the draft that the Broncos were interested in trading up with Houston at No. 10 and taking Willis as a replacement for Al Wilson, who was released. The Broncos never did the deal, though, and Houston wound up taking Amobi Okoye at No. 10. Very good value there.

Cool moment now: Bruce Smith, former Bills defensive end, announces selection of .... Marshawn Lynch, the Cal running back. Fills a huge need for the Bills, who had talked about trading for Michael Turner of the Chargers ...

LaRon Landry just got drafted by the Redskins, although we're still scratching our heads over this one.

Yes, there had been talk of their infatuation with him. And yes, he's one of the top safety prospects to come along in years. Then again, so was Sean Taylor, who has been less than awesome for the Redskins, spending more times in the headlines for his off-field problems than his on-field prowess.

One team that's entirely disappointed about this: the Falcons. They adored Landry, and had targeted him if he was available at No. 8.

T Joe Thomas to the Browns at No. 3, Clemson DE Gaines Adams to the Buccaneers at No. 4 and T Levi Brown to the Cardinals at No. 5. It's another reflection of the NFL's pursuit of linemen on both sides of the ball. Offensive tackle and defensive end have become premier positions to get, and the last three picks are indicative of that.

We'd heard conflicting reports about Brown, who didn't run well at the combine and wasn't overly impressive in his drills. Some teams were leery of a potential knee problem, and we're told he failed some physicals. Yet others, including the Cardinals, did not see a red flag from his knee issues, and cleared him.

With the third pick of the NFL draft, the Browns take ... Joe Thomas?

Other than giving me a lay-up column to write later on for the paper, what the hell were the Browns thinking?

Brady Quinn wanted desperately to play for the team he grew up rooting for. He was right there for the taking. And the Browns select a left tackle to protect whom? Charlie Frye?

Please.

We went back and forth on this one a zillion times, just like the Lions. Gaines Adams or Calvin Johnson? The big fear, of course, was that the Lions were drafting ANOTHER receiver. But Johnson's talent too much to pass up.

Now, there is still a chance they trade the pick, because the Bucs covet Johnson, as do the Redskins and Falcons. So don't forget the Eli Manning to the Chargers scenario a couple years ago. Within hours, he'd been traded to the Giants for Philip Rivers, who was taken fourth overall.

The sense this time, though, is that the Lions will hang onto him. With everyone saying Johnson has Hall of Fame talent, dealing him away and then watching him star elsewhere would be just one more downer for Lions fans who have dealt with more of their share of heartbreak.

... btw, Abramson about jumping out of his seat next to me frothing over Johnson's talent.

Awaiting announcement of first draft pick from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who is presiding over his first draft ... and it is ... JaMarcus Russell of LSU. This is the guy we'd been hearing the last several days would go here, but with the Raiders, you never know. Calvin Johnson was in play a couple weeks ago, but now it's Russell, the strong-armed thrower who the Raiders hope can resurrect the franchise.

Good choice ...

Met briefly with former Virginia Tech alums Bruce Smith, Michael Vick and DeAngelo Hall, who are here to help commemorate the senseless tragedy at the school less than two weeks ago, when a psycho gunman cut down 32 people. All the former first-round picks were emotional in recounting their horror over the incident ...

Sitting next to Newsday colleague Adam Abramson, who is going to provide plenty of insight today. Adam is a college football freak, and knows as much as anyone in the business. Read this guy. He's good.

Here's an update with the mock draft in today's editions of Newsday.

For more on the draft, check out the following extras:

NFL DRAFT EXTRAS
* Video: Glauber's NFL Draft report
* Video: Arthur Staple on the Giants
* Video: Tom Rock on the Jets
* Audio: Glauber on top picks, Jets, Giants

1. Raiders. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. He's talented. He's flashy. He's the man who can help Al Davis resurrect his franchise.

2. Lions. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. Calvin Johnson might be the better player, but where has drafting receivers gotten the Lions? Nowhere. After waffling, Lions decide to go defense and pick up terrific pass rusher.

3. Browns. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. If the Browns take Quinn, he'll be the happiest man around. A native of Dubline, Ohio, it's been Quinn's lifelong dream to play with the Browns.

4. Buccaneers. Calvin Johnson, WR, George Tech. This is the man Jon Gruden wants, and if the Bucs coach doesn't have to make a deal with the Lions to move up, al the better. If the Lions do end up taking Johnson, then the Bucs will settle for Adams, who would be a fine replacement for aging Simeon Rice.

5. Cardinals. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin. The Cardinals average only 3.2 yards per rush last year with Edgerrin James, and Matt Leinart will need plenty of protection. Thomas addresses both needs.

6. Redskins. Amobi Okoye , DT, Louisville. Redskins had the fewest sacks of any team last season, and although Okoye isn't
a pass rusher, he'll push the pile and help the defensive ends.

7. Vikings. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. If he falls this far, they grab him in a heartbeat. Peterson insists he's not worried about the collarbone he re-injured in January

8. Falcons. LaRon Landry, S, LSU. One of the top safety prospects to come along in years. Falcons have a huge need at the position They're also in love with Johnson and trying to move up.

9. Dolphins. Levi Brown , T, Penn State. Dolphins haven't had stability at left tackle since the days of Richmond Webb.

10. Texans. Leon Hall , CB, Michigan. Texans need a left tackle and may trade down to get Joe Staley. But if they stay here, the value is H all, the best cover corner in the draft

11. 49ers. Adam Carriker , DE, Nebraska. Niners need a heavy infusion of defense. Cornerback is also a consideration, but team likes Carriker's motor.

12. Bills. Patrick Willis , ILB, Mississippi. Bills need a replacement for London Fletcher, who left as a free agent.

13. Rams. Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida. They need help on defense and Moss can provide it, although this might be a bit higher than they'd like to take him

14. Panthers. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh. Panthers need a tight end, but taking Greg Olsen at 14 would be too early. Revis is a good pick here for the value since Panthers aren't deep at corner.

15. Steelers. Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State. Goodbye Joey Porter, hello Lawrence Timmons.

16. Packers. Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Pack lost Ahman Green in free agency, and the versatile Lynch is a quality replacement

17. Jaguars. Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. Jags can benefit from Anderson, who was third in the nation in sacks last year.

18. Bengals. Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. Bengals' offense is fine, but pass defense still needs help, especially at corner. Ross is quality value here.

19. Titans. Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State. Titans need a home-run hitter for Vince Young. Ginn is nagged by foot problems which might send up a caution flag.

20. Giants. Jon Beason, OLB, Miami. Giants have a gaping hole at the position after releasing LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons, Timmons would have been their first choice. They're also looking
at T Joe Staley.

21. Broncos. Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. There was talk of a trade up with Texans at No. 10. Failing to do that, Broncos take Branch who has dropped because of injury concerns, to help rebuild depleted defensive line.

22. Cowboys. Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens will be 33 when the season starts. Time to get younger.

23. Chiefs. Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan. With recent retirements of Willie Roaf and Will Shields Chiefs need to rebuild offensive line.

24. Patriots. David Harris, ILB, Michigan. Harris is rising fast, and if other teams are interested - the Jets? Pats might feel pressed to take him this early. Penn State's Paul Posluszny a possibility here too.

25. Jets. Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. If Olsen falls this fare, the Jets can add a talented pass-catching tight end.
Guard Ben Grubbs a consideration here, too.

26. Eagles. Reggie Nelson, S, Florida. Michael Lewis didn't cut it and was released and Brian Dawkins can't play forever.

27. Saints. Justin Harrell, DT, Tennesse. Saints re-signed Hollis Thomas in the offseason but he doesn't have much tread left on the tires. Harrell a good value this far down.

28. Patriots. Michael Griffin, S, Texas. Patriots need to re-stock secondary no that Rodney Harrison is near the end. Pats also consider trading out of this pick.

29. Ravens. Tony Ugoh, T, Arkansas. Jonathan Ogden says he'll be back this season, but it could be his last. GM Ozzie Newsome needs an eventual replacement.

30. Chargers. Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU. Chargers don't have many needs, but getting a good young receiver is one of them. Bowe fits the bill.

31. Bears. Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC. Receiver position is uncertain as far as who goes where behind Johnson but if Jarrett slips this far, Bears might not be able to resist.

32. Colts. Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas. Colts are thin at corner after free-agent defections of Nick Harper and Jason David.

With the clock ticking down to the draft, the talk among teams is heating up big-time. Here's the latest mock with the latest buzz around the league.

1. Raiders. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. We’re convinced Al Davis was serious about taking Calvin Johnson over JaMarcus Russell in recent days, and it still might happen. But even the cantankerous owner has to realize the need at quarterback is too great, and Russell projects well enough to make him the guy.

2. Lions. Calvin Johnson , WR, Georgia Tech. Tough spot for Matt Millen, who picked receivers in the first round from 2003-05. But with no flaws in his game, Johnson is just too good to pass up. Still a chance Lions trade out of the spot, or else take Gaines Adams with the pick.

3. Browns. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. You’d better believe Charlie Weis is whispering in Romeo Crennel’s ear about taking Quinn, whose lifelong dream has been to play for the Browns.

4. Buccaneers. Gaines Adams , DE, Clemson. Bucs desperately want Johnson, but won’t make a major pitch to Lions to move up. Failing that, they settle for Adams, who would be a good replacement for aging Simeon Rice. If Lions don’t take Johnson, Bucs might get a shot at him.

5. Cardinals. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin. Need a better running game? Need better offensive linemen. Cardinals find the replacement for departed free agent Leonard Davis.

6. Redskins. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. Redskins had the fewest sacks of any team last year. They’re interested in trading up for Johnson, and they’re also enamored with LaRon Landry. But with S Sean Taylor already in the fold, it may be a smokescreen to get Atlanta to move up. Amobi Okoye another possibility here.

7. Vikings. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. Vikes snuck Peterson in through the back door for an interview a few days ago. If he falls this far, they grab him in a heartbeat.

8. Falcons. LaRon Landry, S, LSU. One of the top safety prospects to come along in years. Falcons have a need at the position. They’re also in love with Johnson and are trying to move up.

9. Dolphins. Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. Dolphins need to get younger on defense, and Okoye is just that. He’s only 19, but three years removed from high school, he’s NFL ready. And he figures to get even bigger as he reaches full physical maturity. If Redskins take Okoye, Dolphins might take Carriker.

10. Texans. Levi Brown, T, Penn State. Texans are desperate for quality offensive linemen. Just ask quarterback David Carr, who spent most of his time flat on his back before being released in the off-season. We’re hearing Brown’s stock might be dropping, so stay tuned on this one.

11. 49ers. Patrick Willis , ILB, Mississippi. Niners said to be very impressed with Willis, who can be an impact player right away. Niners also showing interest in Carriker.

12. Bills: Leon Hall , CB, Michigan. Bills prefer Willis, but if he’s gone, Hall is not a bad fall-back player. He’d replace Nate Clements, who went to Niners in free agency.

13. Rams: Jarvis Moss , DE, Florida. Trade for Chiefs return man Dante Hall indicates Rams might be backing away from Ted Ginn Jr., also a return whiz. They need help on defense, and Moss can provide it, although this might be a bit higher than they’d like to take him.

14. Panthers. Darrelle Revis , CB, Pittsburgh. Tough call, because Panthers could have used Willis as a potential replacement for Dan Morgan, who still has concussion issues. Panthers need a tight end, but taking Greg Olsen at 14 too early. Revis a good pick here for the value, since Panthers aren’t deep at corner.

15. Steelers: Lawrence Timmons , LB, Florida State. Goodbye Joey Porter, hello Lawrence Timmons.

16. Packers: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Pack lost Ahman Green in free agency, and can use this versatile back as a solid replacement.

17. Jaguars: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. A bit raw, but Jags would benefit from his pass rush talent.

18. Bengals: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. Bengals’ offense is fine, but pass defense still needs help, especially at corner.

19. Titans: Ted Ginn Jr. , WR, Ohio State. Titans need a homerun hitter for Vince Young. He’s nagged by foot problems, so it might send up a caution flag.

20. Giants: Jon Beason, OLB, Miami. Giants have gaping need at the position after releasing LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons.

21. Broncos: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. Broncos want Willis and are trying desperately to move up. Failing that, they can try and patch up the defensive line. Branch falling because of injury concerns.

22. Cowboys: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens will both be 33 when the season starts. Time to get younger.

23. Chiefs: Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan. With recent retirements of Willie Roaf and Will Shields, it’s time for Chiefs to rebuild line.

24. Patriots. David Harris , Michigan. Harris climbing the charts, and if other teams are interested, Pats might feel pressed to take him this early. Penn State’s Paul Posluszny a possibility here, too.

25. Jets: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. If he falls this far, the Jets can grab Olsen and add a talented pass-catching tight end into the mix. Guard Ben Grubbs a consideration here as well.

26. Eagles: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida. Michael Lewis didn’t cut it and was released. And Brian Dawkins can’t play forever.

27. Saints. Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee. Saints re-signed Hollis Thomas in the off-season, but he doesn’t have much tread on the tire. Harrell a good value this far down.

28. Patriots. Michael Griffin, S, Texas. Patriots need to re-stock secondary now that Rodney Harrison is near the end.

29. Ravens: Tony Ugoh, T, Arkansas. With Jonathan Ogden considering retirement, GM Ozzie Newsome needs an eventual replacement.

30. Chargers: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU. Chargers don’t have many needs, but getting a good young receiver is one of them. Bowe fits the bill.

31. Bears: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC. Receiver position is uncertain as far as who goes where behind Johnson, but if Jarrett slips this far, Bears might not be able to resist him.

32. Colts: Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas. Colts are thin at the position after free agent defection of Nick Harper and possibly Jason David.

In our latest mock draft, we shuffle the deck a bit at the top based on recent developments, as we invoke the Bill Parcells mantra of reserving the right to change our minds. After all, what are multiple mock drafts for, anyway?

Here goes:

1. Raiders. JaMarcus Russell , QB, LSU. We’re convinced Al Davis was serious about taking Calvin Johnson over JaMarcus Russell in recent days, and it still might happen. But even the cantankerous owner has to realize the need at quarterback is too great, and Russell projects well enough to make him the guy.
LISTEN: Russell or Quinn?

2. Lions. Gaines Adams , DE, Clemson. Johnson is the better value, but Matt Millen’s failure with other highly-drafted receivers scares him off and chases him toward the draft’s best pass rusher.
LISTEN: Commentary on Gaines Adams and Joe Thomas

3. Browns. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. You’d better believe Charlie Weis is whispering in Romeo Crennel’s ear about taking Quinn, whose lifelong dream has been to play for the Browns.
LISTEN: Russell or Quinn?

4. Buccaneers. Calvin Johnson , WR, Georgia Tech. There’s plenty of talk that the Bucs are considering a trade-up to get Johnson. But in this scenario, their dream comes true: They get Johnson and don’t have to give up anything in return.
LISTEN: Calvin Johnson to the Raiders?

5. Cardinals. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin. Need a better running game? Need better offensive linemen. Cardinals find the replacement for departed free agent Leonard Davis.
LISTEN: Commentary on Gaines Adams and Joe Thomas

6. Redskins. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. Redskins had the fewest sacks of any team last year. Of course, they’ll look to trade up for Johnson, because Dan Snyder can’t help himself. But failing an unexpected move to the top, they can’t go wrong with Carriker to beef up a pass rush that was last in the NFL.

7. Vikings. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. Vikes snuck Peterson in through the back door for an interview a few days ago. If he falls this far, they grab him in a heartbeat.
LISTEN: Who will draft Adrian Peterson?

8. Falcons. LaRon Landry, S, LSU. One of the top safety prospects to come along in years. Falcons have a need at the position. They’re also in love with Johnson and would consider a move up.

9. Dolphins. Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. Dolphins need to get younger on defense, and Okoye is just that. He’s only 19, but three years removed from high school, he’s NFL ready. And he figures to get even bigger as he reaches full physical maturity.

10. Texans. Levi Brown, T, Penn State. Texans are desperate for quality offensive linemen. Just ask quarterback David Carr, who spent most of his time flat on his back before being released in the off-season. We’re hearing Brown’s stock might be dropping, so stay tuned on this one.

11. 49ers. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan. Niners defense was pitiful against the pass last year.

12. Bills: Patrick Willis , ILB, Mississippi. The Bills traded away Takeo Spikes and let London Fletcher-Baker go in free agency. Time to start re-stocking the defense.

13. Rams: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State. Rams attended Ginn’s personal workout, and don’t seem troubled by nagging foot problems. He’d be a successor to Isaac Bruce.

14. Panthers. Lawrence Timmons , LB, Florida State. Tough call here, because Willis would have been a logical pick with Dan Morgan’s uncertain future. But if he’s off the board, Timmons is a fine outside linebacker who can improve an already strong defense. Greg Olsen a consideration, but 14 is a bit high.

15. Steelers: Darrelle Revis , CB, Pittsburgh. Steelers could have used Timmons as replacement for Joey Porter, but the value here is with local product at corner.

16. Packers: Marshawn Lynch , RB, California. Pack lost Ahman Green in free agency, and can use this versatile back as a solid replacement.

17. Jaguars: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. A bit raw, but Jags would benefit from his pass rush talent.

18. Bengals: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. Bengals’ offense is fine, but pass defense still needs help, especially at corner.

19. Titans: Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida. Titans can use a solid pass rusher, although they’ll consider a receiver here as well.

20. Giants: Jon Beason, OLB, Miami. Giants have gaping need at the position after releasing LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons.
LISTEN: Giants' needs and how they will fill them.

21. Broncos: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. Broncos have been trying to patch defensive line with warm bodies the last few years. It’s time they build from the ground up. Branch falling because of injury concerns.

22. Cowboys: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens will both be 33 when the season starts. Time to get younger.

23. Chiefs. Joe Staley , T, Central Michigan. With recent retirements of Willie Roaf and Will Shields, it’s time for Chiefs to rebuild line.

24. Patriots. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State. Patriots are suddenly very thin at linebacker. Posluszny has versatility to play inside or outside, which Bill Belichick likes. David Harris of Michigan another possibility.

25. Jets: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. If he falls this far, the Jets can grab Olsen and add a talented pass-catching tight end into the mix. Guard Ben Grubbs a consideration here as well.
LISTEN: What positions are the Jets looking to fill?

26. Eagles: Reggie Nelson , S, Florida. Michael Lewis didn’t cut it and was released. And Brian Dawkins can’t play forever.

27. Saints. Justin Harrell , DT, Tennessee. Saints re-signed Hollis Thomas in the off-season, but he doesn’t have much tread on the tire. Harrell a good value this far down.

28. Patriots. Michael Griffin, S, Texas. Patriots need to re-stock secondary now that Rodney Harrison is near the end.

29. Ravens: Tony Ugoh , T, Arkansas. With Jonathan Ogden considering retirement, GM Ozzie Newsome needs an eventual replacement.

30. Chargers: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU. Chargers don’t have many needs, but getting good young receiver is one of them. Bowe fits the bill.
LISTEN: Bowe could be a sleeper.

31. Bears: Dwayne Jarrett , WR, USC. Receiver position is uncertain as far as who goes where behind Johnson, but if Jarrett slips this far, Bears will have trouble resisting him.
LISTEN: Why Dwayne Jarrett's stock has fallen

32. Colts: Chris Houston , CB, Arkansas. Colts are thin at the position after free agent defection of Nick Harper and possibly Jason David.

Here goes. With only nine days to go before the real draft, we unveil our mock draft. Things can and do obviously change in the days leading up to the draft, so we'll update as we go along. And, as Bill Parcells always liked to say, we reserve the right to change our minds, especially at the top of the board, where there is so much uncertainty.

As an added bonus, I recorded some audio with Newsday.com. You can check it out here: LISTEN. You can also click on the links sprinkled throughout the mock draft.

1. Raiders. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. Every mock draft in the Western Hemisphere has JaMarcus Russell going to the Raiders, but Johnson is the No. 1 prospect. We say Al Davis goes for the playmaker, not the long-range quarterback. And remember this about Davis: His two first-round quarterbacks - Todd Marinovich and Marc Wilson - were busts. Meanwhile, he's won or gotten to Super Bowls with the likes of fossils Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon. LISTEN: Calvin Johnson to the Raiders?

2. Lions. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. Lions are petrified of their own shadow on draft day, especially after the botched tenure of QB Joey Harrington. But Russell is too much to pass up … unless you think Jon Kitna can play til he’s 50. LISTEN: Russell or Quinn?

3. Browns. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. You’d better believe Charlie Weis is whispering in Romeo Crennel’s ear about taking Quinn, whose lifelong dream has been to play for the Browns. LISTEN: Russell or Quinn?

4. Buccaneers. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. Jon Gruden is smitten with Johnson, and there's talk of him moving up in a trade. But if he can’t reach high enough to get him, he goes for a pass rusher who can one day replace aging Simeon Rice. LISTEN: Commentary on Gaines Adams and Joe Thomas.

5. Cardinals. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin. Need a better running game? Need better offensive linemen. Cardinals find the replacement for departed free agent Leonard Davis. LISTEN: Commentary on Gaines Adams and Joe Thomas.

6. Redskins. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. Redskins had the fewest sacks of any team last year. Of course, they’ll look to trade up for Johnson, because Dan Snyder can’t help himself. But failing an unexpected move to the top, they can’t go wrong with Carriker to beef up the pass rush.

7. Vikings. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. Vikes snuck Peterson in through the back door for an interview a few days ago. If he falls this far, they grab him in a heartbeat. LISTEN: Who will draft Adrian Peterson?

8. Falcons. LaRon Landry, S, LSU. One of the top safety prospects to come along in years. Falcons have a need at the position.

9. Dolphins. Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. Dolphins need to get younger on defense, and Okoye is just that. He’s only 19, but three years removed from high school, he’s NFL ready. And figures to get even bigger as he reaches full physical maturity. Okoye’s recent admission that he’s smoked marijuana won’t scare off many teams.

10. Texans. Levi Brown, T, Penn State. Texans are desperate for quality offensive linemen. Just ask quarterback David Carr, who spent most of his time flat on his back before being released in the off-season.

11. 49ers. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan. Niners defense was pitiful against the pass last year.

12. Bills: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Another Thurman Thomas? That’s what the Bills would like to believe if they get their hands on this versatile runner, who is terrific in the passing game, too. Willis?

13. Rams: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State. Rams attended Ginn’s personal workout, and don’t seem troubled by nagging foot problems. He’d be a successor to Isaac Bruce.

14. Panthers. Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi. No one know about Dan Morgan’s future because of repeated concussions, so Willis is a natural fit here.

15. Steelers: Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State. Goodbye Joey Porter, hello Timmons.

16. Packers: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, Southern Cal. Packers still want to trade for Randy Moss, but you can never have too many receivers for Brett Favre. This might be a bit high for Jarrett, considering his speed is not great. We'll see. LISTEN: Why Dwayne Jarrett's stock has fallen.

17. Jaguars: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. A bit raw, but Jags would benefit from his pass rush talent.

18. Bengals: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. Bengals’ offense is fine, but pass defense still needs help, especially at corner.

19. Titans: Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida. Titans can use a solid pass rusher, although they’ll consider

20. Giants: Jon Beason, OLB, Miami. Giants have gaping need at the position after releasing LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons. LISTEN: Giants' needs and how they will fill them.

21. Broncos: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. Broncos have been trying to patch defensive line with warm bodies the last few years. It’s time they build from the ground up.

22. Cowboys: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens will both be 33 when the season starts. Time to get younger.

23. Chiefs: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh. Ty Law and Patrick Surtain are both in their 30s.

24. Patriots. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State. Patriots are suddenly very thin at linebacker. Posluszny has versatility to play inside or outside, which Bill Belichick likes.

25. Jets: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. If he falls this far, the Jets can grab Olsen and add a talented pass-catching tight end into the mix. LISTEN: What positions are the Jets looking to fill?

26. Eagles: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami. Michael Lewis didn’t cut it and was released. And Brian Dawkins can’t play forever.

27. Saints. Daymeion Hughes, CB, California. Saints’ defense had huge problems stopping the pass, especially in playoff loss to Bears.

28. Patriots. Michael Griffin, S, Texas. The Pats have needs at corner and safety, but with Rodney Harrison's career near the end, they need a play-maker like Griffin.

29. Ravens: Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan. With Jonathan Ogden’s career up in the air, Ravens need to start thinking about the future. Might consider Arkansas T Tony Ugoh as well.

30. Chargers: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU. Chargers don’t have many needs, but getting good young receiver is one of them. Bowe fits the bill. LISTEN: Bowe could be a sleeper.

31. Bears: Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn. Perhaps a surprise pick in the round, but he’s a good one, and the Bears can use some depth behind aging Rueben Brown.

32. Colts: Rufus Alexander, LB, Oklahoma. Colts are in market for linebacker after letting Cato June leave as free agent.

Profootballweekly.com is reporting that top-10 prospects Calvin Johnson, the Georgia Tech wide receiver who could be selected first overall, Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams and Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye have admitted during interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that they have smoked marijuana.

If that's indeed the case, there could be some draft-day ramifications, although it's doubtful it would drastically affect their stock when it comes time to picking the players.

The biggest issue facing all players if the admissions were made is that they could potentially be placed in the NFL's substance abuse program. That's a multi-step system that only starts handing out fines and/or suspensions after multiple positive tests - but only when they're conducted once they're employees of the NFL.

If, for example, they do not test positive for any illegal substances once they are drafted and then signed by their respective teams, it is likely they will not be placed in the program, although the league does have some discretion when addressing these issues. But if they do test positive, then they're in the drug program.

Truth be told, team officials don't see marijuana in the same light as, say, cocaine or heroin. A positive test is a positive test, and the player does receive counseling and then is subject to random testing. But marijuana is simply not viewed with the same seriousness as hard drugs.

Bottom line: All three players will be off the board very early in next Saturday's draft.

Come to think of it, we did notice something a bit strange about Brian Urlacher at Media Day during Super Bowl week last February.

He was wearing a hat endorsing a product called Vitaminwater, which seemed a bit out of character for a league that likes to batten down the hatches when it comes to promoting outside sponsors.

Well, the NFL noticed, too, and they didn't like it one bit. Urlacher was fined a whopping $100,000 for endorsing the product. Pretty expensive ad, although we suspect Vitaminwater is only too happy about having Urlacher wear the hat. And getting fined, as well.

After all, do you think we would ever think of mentioning the product unless Urlacher got slapped with the fine?

Welcome to more draft-weekend hype in advance of the most talked-about off-season event in sports.

We'll take a look each day at a different position leading up to the draft a week from Saturday.

And what's pre-draft coverage without a mock first round? Tune in tomorrow for our take on what's going to happen.

Quarterback

Not a great class as far as depth is concerned, with JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

1. JaMarcus Russell, LSU. 6-5, 260. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s mobile. Scouts refer to him as another version of Daunte Culpepper, although Culpepper was by no means perfect before his knee problems the last two years.

2. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame. 6-4, 225. Erratic performances in big games last season cause some scouts to wonder if he’ll make the transition to the NFL, but Irish coach Charlie Weis says nonsense. Weis believe Quinn has it all to become a star at the pro level. We’ll see.

3. Kevin Kolb, Houston. An extremely productive performer last year with 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Has good arm strength, although he was sacked 33 times. Big question is whether he can make the quantum leap to the pros. The jury’s still out.

4. Troy Smith, Ohio State. 6-0, 210. Did everything you could have asked at the college level, winning the Heisman last year and getting the Buckeyes to the BCS Championship Game. But he just doesn’t have the physical tools to project as an elite NFL quarterback. Has great elusiveness, but he’ll need to be able to make more throws from the pocket in the pros. With time, can develop into a solid backup.

5. John Beck, BYU. 6-2, 210. Will be 26 when the season starts, having fulfilled a two-year Mormon mission. He does show poise and accuracy, and his physical maturity might actually help him early, even if it could diminish the overall length of his career.

6. Drew Stanton, Michigan State. 6-3, 235. A slow release is the big knock on Stanton, who is an otherwise feisty competitor. He does have very good quickness in his dropbacks.

7. Trent Edwards, Stanford. 6-3, 215. A foot injury shortened his season last year, so he gets an incomplete from scouts. But he does have a strong passing arm, and has been productive when healthy.