Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

Howdy. I'm in Radio City sitting right behind the Jets table. We've got 37 minutes until the draft begins. Frank Beamer, DeAngelo Hall, Bruce Smith and Michael Vick are here as part of the ceremonies for Virginia Tech. Have about 30 minutes til that starts. I'll provide updates shortly.

I'm sitting with Newsday's football guru, Bob Glauber. He knows everyone here. I'm 23, but I feel like I'm 5 at this joint. I suggest checking out Bob's blog. The dude knows the NFL. Ask ESPN, they use him on Cold Pizza pretty much non stop.

JaMarcus Russell first -- as it should have been. Not sure if I've put this on here before, but I heard a story a few years ago that when he was coming out of high school (Mobile, Ala., I think), he showed up at a combine, kneeled down on the goal line (both knees) and fired a football 65 yards.

I do like the all black suit. Great choice.

The Lions took the best player in the draft. I know everyone's freaking out because of their draft history, but I think they had to take him. If you look below, I've already penned him in as one of the all-time greats. With respect to talent, he's as can't-miss as any draft pick. As I finished that last sentence, the "Fire Millen" chant began.

I'll end with this: All week I've had to relive Johnson's personally dismantle Virginia Tech last September. It was a fun afternoon...if your name was Calvin Johnson.

The No.3 pick of the NFL draft is fishing with his dad. Someone call him and tell him he just made a few million dollars. There's a "Cleveland sucks" chant going on in here. I like the pick, but the fans are right, Cleveland has a ton of work to do. Also, everytime there is a selection, a melee of light erupts, there's a strong chance I'll wake up without retinas tomorrow.

Gaines Adams is a good story considering he ended up the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft. He went to prep school (Fork Union, prep power house) and wasn't one of these studs coming out of high school (like the first three picks). What Adams lacks in mass (about 260 pounds), he has in speed and intensity. He worked extremely hard under Tommy Bowden to make himself the best defensive lineman in his class and I think that bodes well for the Bucs.

Levi Brown makes two Virginia high school products drafted in the top 5. I love it. Fellow Virginian high school product Tim just sent me a message which got me thinking. It wouldn't be that shocking if Daniel Snyder drafted Brady Quinn. I know he has Jason Campbell, but he's proving that he's insane...they should trade this pick. But they'll probably take Jamaal Anderson.

Quick funny story. So, I have a great seat, but the problem is that everyone keeps milling in front of me. However, about 15 minutes ago, Michael Strahan does an interview on the side stage and is getting ready to leave Radio City with his people. Some producer-type stops him to do another spot or something and he says he HAS to leave because he a has a flight. In the same breath, one of his people looks over at the guy and goes “I’ll bring him right back.” Should I expect a plane to roll through Radio City?

LaRon Landry is awesome, but not for Washington. I really don't understand this pick. A few days ago I bet a friend on Landry's bench press. I took the under at 400 and lost. The dude benches 425, get out of town. I owe him a drink in New Orleans this June (my buddy, not Landry).

My awesome seat:

Adrian Peterson to the Vikings. I like this pick. The Vikings have vested interest in Jackson at QB and as Bob Glauber said earlier this week in the Newsday.com video we've dubbed as "Free Pizza," the Vikings had Chester Taylor who is "servicable."

This leaves Brady Quinn all alone in the green room. Has to be a lonely feeling. Not sure where he'll go. Honestly, weeks ago the talk was Quinn to the Dolphins. As a life-long Dolphins fan, I wouldn't like this, but then again, I haven't liked much of what the Dolphins have done lately. Who knnows what's going to happen with Quinn. He's a smart QB, I always just go back to his performances in big games, which is probably unfair of me.

If I thought Brady Quinn would have been a bad decision, I'm not quite sure what to say about Ted Ginn, Jr. Great college player, but a Top 10 pick? No, sir. This place erupted, I got three phone calls within 10 seconds. Friend, Nick, texted me "hahaha." I replied "I don't want to be a Dolphins fan anymore." Here's the day's first true bombshell.

Where does Quinn fall to now? Houston just traded for Matt Schaub. San Fran has Alex Smith. Buffalo at 12 could take him, same with St. Louis at 13, but it's not like they NEED Quinn. Might be worth the money at 12-13 to take a chance, ayedunno. After that it's Carolina, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Giants, Denver and Dallas -- all have guys. If any of that group drafts a QB, I'd say Carolina, maybe Dallas, but it's unlikely. Kansas City at 23 could take him. Then again, it's draft day, we'll see. I'd expect Houston to take the tackle from Central Michigan, Joe Staley. Pick will be announced in a minute.

Nevermind, Houston just said "Thank you, Miami. We'll take the 19-year-old defensive tackle with all the potential in the world."

"Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Marley is on while the Bills are on the clock. I have to say, draft day is one of my favorite times of the year, being here makes it that much cooler. Anywho, Patrick Willis was good for San Fran. He and Clements are going to boost that D. However, he's a little undersized, which is something to keep an eye on. However, the scouts like him, so that says a lot.

Bruce Smith came out, said "God bless the Hokies" said the Bills drafted Marshawn Lynch (who I think is a great RB and will be great if he gets 15-20 carries a game). All the while, Roger Goodell came over to where I'm sitting to field questions from Bob (told you he knows everyone) and Judy Battista of the New York Times. Pretty surreal stuff. Also, the VT pin looks sharp on Goodell.

Adam Carriker to the Rams. That leaves Quinn to possibly Carolina at 14, Dallas at 22, Kansas at 23 and, who knows, New England at 24 (little Tom Brady protege action). This is getting interesting.

So, we had a little James Taylor going while we were waiting for the Panthers, but then we hear the Jets traded up. They want a cornerback. Leon Hall or Derrelle Revis....I'd go with Revis.

Good pick by the Jets and not a bad trade. Not a great trade, but considering what might be left on the board at 25, not bad at all. If Chris Baker wasn't a Jet, they would have taken Olsen I'm sure. Revis is lockdown and they need lockdown.

Lawrence Timmons. What else to say except he was a beast at FSU. That defense has had so much star power over the last who knows how long. If I am a blue chip defensive prospect, I'm looking to play for Mickey Andrews. He flat out puts guys in the NFL.

I have to admit that I don't know much about Justin Harrell. He's large, was hurt earlier in his career, played on a defense that was very "just okay" against the run (UT ranked No. 72 in that dept. last year) and he's going to Green Bay, who was actually decent against the run last year. I'm not afraid to admit this is one pick I'm not too versed on...

So, Denver traded up to get Jarvis Moss. Now, Moss is a great player and was vital in Florida's run at the crown (see the South Carolina game), but did they have to trade up to get him? They were at 21 and jumped four places for two later picks...they found out something that made it necessary to make the deal I suppose.

While I'm thinking about it, I want to be linked to a mock draft that's predicted 50-75% of the picks so far. I certainly did not see it going down like this. And, to be frank, it's not because of crazy trades, it's more just complete bizzare behaivor by all the clubs.

Roger Goodell just introduced 10 members of the armed services and a great U-S-A chant. I don't know about you, but I love a good U-S-A chant.

On a more related-to-the-NFL note: EVERYONE here is talking about Brady Quinn. Not much else matters at this point amongst people wearing suits today. Random big wigs in the NFL are stopping by our table and getting Glauber's take on it. He's writing about it as I speak. Check it out on his blog.

Leon Hall...I'm a little concerned with how productive he'll be in the NFL. He was one part of a mutli-faceted defense that was superb at stopping the run. Michigan's front seven made it tough for any opposing offense and I can't shake the images of Hall getting smoked by Dwayne Jarrett in the Rose Bowl (the same Jarrett being knocked for his supposed lack of speed).

Just wanted to write that Jaws just got an extra layer of cake batter on his face for the cameras. Tons of male makeup in this place.

Michael Griffin over Reggie Nelson? Someone explain this to me. Seriously. Explain it.

Leading up to the Giants pick they played Five for Fighting's "100 Years" to a highlight reel of Tiki Barber. At least 30 grown men wearing Barber jerseys cried in here.

Taking Ross at 20 wasn't the right move. Ross might be the 5th best defensive back in this draft. Beason is the second or third best linebacker in a class of linebackers that's just okay. Ross can be lumped into a group of DBs that will be available in the second round.

Reggie Nelson has to be happy he's staying close to home and playing for a pretty good defense...I guess the knock on him is that he misses tackles. Now, this can be attributed to bad angles, being out of place, etc. Guess what? That's all very coachable.

Here we gooooooooooo. Cleveland trades up. They get Brady Quinn. So what began as disaster for the Browns turned into genius (pending the details of the trade). The quarterback, the tackle to protect him, Braylon Edwards, Jamaal Lewis (I still think he can be good again)...not a bad base. And...I know the tackle is expensive, but how many millions did the Browns save on getting their quarterback? Pretty smart.

Okay, the second round pick and next year's first round pick. Pretty pricey if you ask me. But you gotta pay to play. I absolutely love the move by Dallas.

Dwayne Bowe is good. Branden Merriweather is good (but falls under that whole "character" umbrella). But Bill Belichick will not tolerate nonsense. He could be very productive for them. I still think Chris Houston on the board is a steal at this point.

Sorry for the interlude. I ran into two guys I graduated with last year and with what happened two weeks ago, we had a lot of catching up to do. But while we were talking, Dallas trades the pick it gets from Cleveland and drafts Anthony Spencer. Guess he's a future OLB in that 3-4. Once again, did they need to move up for him? I don't think so. But I'm just a guy with a blog.

Joe Staley at 28. Not bad. Baltimore has an important pick here. Also, why haven't any of the three big-named guards been selected yet (Sears, Blalock, Grubbs)? You have to think at least one of them was pretty high on someone's board. All played in big conferences against top defenses blocking for premiere running backs and quarterbacks, not to mention their measurables are all up to par.

Called it. Grubbs to Baltimore at 29.

Craig Davis is good, but not first round good. As long as LT and Antonio Gates are a part of that offense, Davis will be fine with the single coverage he'll see. At LSU, he was a third receiver behind Doucet and Bowe, I guess that's why I am surprised he's a first rounder...seven career TDs.

Alright, the first round was the longest in history. Six hours, eight minutes. I'm wrapping it up unless something else big happens before I leave Radio City. Been fun. Many thanks to Bob Glauber for getting me in. Quite a day...