PICKING SECOND IS SOMETIMES A GOOD THING at the NFL Draft

Photos: Barber & Strahan were probably two of the "Greatest Ever"second round selections...Tiki Barber Photo by David Shankbone via Wikipedia-Strahan(shown "schooling" a Youngster) By Victor Pagan for Football Reporters)
(Eds. Note: this is the first installment of Football Reporters Online's "Pro Draft Report" for 2011, reposted here with permission. It will run every Day until the Draft on April 28th
PICKING SECOND IS SOMETIMES A GOOD THING
By Don Stokes Senior Writer Mid-West Football Reporters Online

I can truly relate to being second. I was born the second of two boys. I got the hand-me downs clothes and shoes from my one year older brother. So I can really understand to being number two. No with the upcoming 2011 NFL draft just weeks away every team is crossing their collective fingers that they make the best 1st round choice. As every football executive knows making the wrong 1st rounder can put your franchise in a serious tailspin which can take many years to recover.

Ask the San Diego Chargers who chose QB Ryan Leaf with their 1st round pick in 1998. Or the more recent 1st round flop JaMarcus Russell by the Oakland Raiders in 2007. While no team has been totally picture perfect with their 1st picks this piece is not about that. But what of the second round pick? For this is about the 2nd round choices that some NFL executives have made and for some have ultimately lost their good reputations (or jobs) over. I have taken the time and looked for 30 years of data to choose the best and the worst of each NFL teams 2nd round picks.

First let’s go over my criteria:
A) These 2nd round picks are a 30 year (1980 thru 2010) period. For some teams like Carolina, Jacksonville, Baltimore and Houston their NFL existence is a shorter time span.

B) The player MUST have contributed for that team in some manner which he was the choice (ex. In 1991 with their 2nd pick Atlanta chose QB Brett Favre, a future hall of famer but didn’t contribute much for the Falcons during his brief stay with them)

C) A Pro Football Hall of famer tops any all-pro choice (see my example later)

D) A pro bowler tops a player who had a solid career (ex. seasoned veteran).

E) Playing in the NFL is extremely difficult so if you managed to have played at least 20 NFL games during your career you are not considered the worst pick for that or any team.

F) Regardless of injury and you played NO games in your career but you were a 2nd round pick of that club you WILL be considered the best of the worst.

E) Finally, if you made the ultimate sacrifice you will be considered the best 2nd round choice of that team.
With that in mind some of these choices were very challenging. For some teams (Cowboys, Dolphins and Patriots) they had many players to pick from while others (Redskins, Chiefs and Jets) the pickings were slim at best. Some of my choices you may disagree with but here they are:

NFC EAST
DALLAS COWBOYS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Larry Allen G 1994 Somona State
IN CONSIDERATION: Steve Wisniewski G 1989 Penn State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Shane Hannah 1995 G Michigan State

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Brian Dawkins DB 1996 Clemson
IN CONSIDERATION: Randall Cunningham QB 1985 UNLV
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mike Bellamy WR 1990 Illinois

NEW YORK GIANTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Michael Strahan DE 1993 Texas Southern
IN CONSIDERATION: Tiki Barber RB 1997 Virginia
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Joe Montgomery RB 1999 Ohio State

WASHINGTON REDSKINS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chip Lohmiller PK 1988 Minnesota
IN CONSIDERATION: Tre’ Johnson G 1994 Temple
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Bob Slater DT 1984 Oklahoma

It’s interesting that the Redskins best 2nd round choice during the past 30 has been a place kicker. Lohmiller was the only 2nd rounder for Washington who developed into a Pro Bowl player. Although both had great careers choosing Michael Strahan (A SB win) over Tiki Barber wasn’t as difficult is it appears. Philadelphia with the 2nd round Brian Dawkins was a tough choice over Randall Cunningham.

NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Mike Singletary LB 1981 Baylor
IN CONSIDERATION: Devin Hester DB 2006 Miami
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Dan Bazuin DE 2007 Central Michigan

DETROIT LIONS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Chris Spielmann 1987 LB Ohio State
IN CONSIDERATION: Jason Hanson K 1992 Washington State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: John Ford WR 1989 Virginia

GREEN BAY PACKERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Le Roy Butler DB 1990 Florida State
IN CONSIDERATION: Darren Sharper DB 1997 William and Mary
WORSE 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Mark D’ Onofrio 1992 LB Penn State

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1980-2010
BEST 2nd ROUND PICK: Sidney Rice WR 2007 South Carolina
IN CONSIDERATION: EJ Henderson LB 2003 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: James Manley DT 1996 Vanderbilt

Singletary was a no brainer over Devin Hester since one is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one is not (yet). The choice of Le Roy Butler over Darren Sharper was a bit more difficult. It’s interesting that the Vikings two best 2nd rounders were drafted within the last 10 years.

NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Alge Crumpler TE 2001 North Carolina
IN CONSIDERATION: Scott Case DB 1984 Oklahoma
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Nathan Davis DE 1997 Indiana

CAROLINA PANTHERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Muhsin Mohammed WR 1996 Michigan State
IN CONSIDERATION: Kris Jenkins DT 2001 Maryland
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Eric Shelton RB 2005 Alabama

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Rickey Jackson LB 1981 Pittsburgh
IN CONSIDERATION: Roman Harper SS 2006 Alabama
WORST 2ND ROUND PICK: Reggie Freeman LB 1993 Florida State

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Mike Alstott RB 1996 Purdue
IN CONSIDERATION: James Wilder RB 1981 Missouri
WORST 2ND ROUND PICK Dexter Jackson WR 2006 Appalachian State

The Buccaneers running backs Mike Alstott and James Wilder both had outstanding careers for Tampa. Mohammed, who recently retired had a solid NFL. The Saints Ricky Jackson, of course is a Pro Football HOF so that was an easy choice.

NFC WEST
ARIZONA CARDINALS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Aeneas Williams DB 1991 Saginaw Valley State
IN CONSIDERATION: Tim McDonald DB 1987 USC
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Tony Jeffery RB 1988 TCU

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 1980-1994
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Roger Craig RB 1983 Nebraska
IN CONSIDERATION: Ricky Watters RB 1991 Notre Dame
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Israel Ifeanyi DE 1996 USC

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Kevin Mawae C 1994 LSU
IN CONSIDERATION: Lofa Tatupu LB 2005 USC
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Andre Hinds T 1980 Stanford

ST.LOUIS RAMS 1980-2010
BEST 2ND ROUND PICK: Isaac Bruce WR 1994 Memphis
IN CONSIDERATION: Henry Elliard WR 1983 Fresno State
WORST 2ND ROUND CHOICE: Jesse James C 1995 Mississippi State

With St. Louis this was my toughest decision, Isaac Bruce vs. Henry Elliard. Both had great careers with the Rams as wide outs. But the nod went to Bruce (a Super Bowl title) who could be voted in the Hall before Henry Elliard. The 49ers RB’s Roger Craig against Ricky Watters wasn’t that tough. Both had solid careers but three Super Bowl rings (Craig) to one (Watters) was the deciding factor.

More on the Prison/Homeless Churn

How many people are homeless before they enter prison? How many leave prison with no fixed destination? Of the 70 percent of released prisoners who return to prison, what proportion are homeless?

If only for public safety reasons, you might assume the correctional system would want to know those numbers. But surprisingly, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) does not explicitly track that information.

A well-funded assessment tool (COMPAS) was launched in 2008 to predict which inmates were likely to become higher-risk parolees. A preliminary assessment of its data estimated that 39 percent of inmates were at high risk of “residential instability.”

Upon request, the research branch of the CDCR provided a one-time summary of the total number of parolees -- and their housing status -- at fixed point in time. (Note that parolees do not represent all released prisoners; those who are released after serving out their sentences do not have to go on parole.) CDCR reported that 1,193 parolees were homeless in Los Angeles County with no identifiable address -- one in 25 parolees in Los Angeles County. Viewed in the context of Los Angeles' 2009 point-in-time Annual Homeless Count, CDCR's data suggest that one in 50 homeless people in L.A. is an active parolee.

The situation in San Francisco was similar. CDCR reported that homeless parolees numbered 199 -- one in seven, or 13 percent of active parolees. Based on San Francisco's 2009 point-in-time Homeless Count, that means that one in 33 homeless persons is an active parolee.

For this report, researchers defined as homeless only those parolees who listed themselves as either "transient" or "homeless." This is a very narrow definition of homelessness, excluding anyone who lists a shelter's street address or his mother's address (even if she wouldn’t let him stay there).

Read more...

Ad Tech - Guy Kawasaki On the Art Of Enchantment

Ad Tech Guy Kawasaki On Enchantment, a photo by zennie62 on Flickr.

If you've not heard Guy Kawasaki talk you're missing a treat. A combination of jokes, quips, Silicon Valley stories, and teeth, Guy, a member original team that developed the Apple Macintoch and now a well-regarded venture capitalist and marketer, does a great job of keeping his audience engaged.

He's at AdTech 2011 talking about the Art Of Enchantment. That something that's a combination of smiling, caring, and likeability. "Ever follow someone you didn't like? The general answer is no."

Also he says if you want to be trustworthy, you have to want to help people. He says you have to "default to yes."

More from this. Follow me on Zennie62 Twitter

Ad Tech 2011 Panel On SEO (Seach Engine Optimization)

Ad Tech Panel On SEO (Seach Engine Optimization), a photo by zennie62 on Flickr.

Now, it's 12:11 PM, and this Ad Tech 2011 Convention Panel is about that ever-changing field of SEO or Seach Engine Optimization. (A panel just before Guy Kawasaki's talk about "The Art Of Engagement.)

The panel speakers are Melanie Mitchell, Senior VP, Search Strategy
Digitas, and presenters Lee Odden, CEO, TopRank, Rob Snell, Managing Partner
Snell Brothers Consulting (who talks about "Redneck SEO" ....Geez, but it's actually a pretty good and funny presentation), and Simon Heseltine, Director, AOL.

Yeah, that AOL that purchased The Huffington Post. Cool that AOL is in the house.

What's interesting about the panel is that marketers, and digital marketers are in this room, but the people who really need to be here, but are not, are journalists and Old Media publishers.

Everything that's being talked about here: basically how to use search and make a website to make sure people find your product - is relevant to an industry that's suffering in this area and is under the weird idea that paywalls will save them.

Some interesting notes:

1) the SERP - search results - have changed, and because there's so much more kinds of data that's presented.
2) SEO is now combined with Social Media Optimization (SEO).
3) A lot of people invest in SEO, and marketers get the benefit.
4) Panel preaches what I've said again and again: you have to be multi-platform: on blogs, video, micro-blogging platforms, photo-sharing platforms, and so on. I call it "dropping the nuke." Just make sure the nuke, your content and the platforms, is large enough to really be a nuke.
5) Make sure your training your people in this stuff.

The basic message is "optimize content." What's content? Well, if you're a writer, you should know: you make it.

Click to follow me on Twitter at Zennie62.

Google Hater: Ad Tech VISA CMO Antonio Lucio Slams Giant

Ad Tech VISA CMO Talks Digital Transformation, a photo by zennie62 on Flickr.

Ad Tech Day Two San Francisco's Moscone Center West (really Day One, as it's the first full day), started with a keynote presentation by VISA CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) Antonio Lucio, who's talk was one part about digital and e-commerce from VISA's experience, another part how he hates Google.

Well, hate is a strong word, but it's appropriate, because in the middle of his talk, he presented Google as, er, arrogant "We're smart (er than you), we have 73 percent of the market." And showing the kind of distain for the search giants expressed by everyone from newspaper publishers, to online marketers, and bloggers.

But aside from his issues with Google, Lucio shared some interesting findings from VISA's foray into social media:

1) Facebook has changed the way we interact and even shop.
2) Zynga, the Facebook gaming platform, has a higher level of "engagement" than the norm for the Internet. "Engagement" is the act of sharing information about a something online.
3) There's a process VISA observers in the online path to the purchase of a "something" that has been influenced by social media. It starts with 1) Advocate, 2) Consider, 3) Evaluate, then 4) Buy.
4) Today, a brand needs what Lucio calls "An Army of Advocates." Those are people talking favorably about your brand or about you.

Lucio didn't talk about the negatives, like people not talking favorably about you online. Moreover, he didn't talk about the fact that, even online, bad buzz, if based on an opinion, and not a fact, can cause a backlash and create good buzz over time.

Press Briefing Intros New Apps.

At the press briefing after the keynote, we were introduced to new product apps Made In Social (which looks at who's saying what about your brand), Loyalize (a real time audience engagement product where you can block cussing trolls), and AYTM (for Ask Your Target Market). (And an apology to other firm's I missed because I had to walk away and do The Tonya Hall Radio Show at 1300 AM in Colorado Springs - plug for her show.)

Stay tuned with me at AdTech via Twitter! Click here to follow me at Zennie62.

Cheaters TV Show: Joey Greco On Cheating At Reality Rocks LA

If you've ever stayed up late, then chances you watched "Cheaters," a show featuring Joey Greco where people have him and his crew spy on the partner they think is cheating on them. Of course, Cheaters always catches the cheater.

When they do, it always ends up going bad, where the person being cheated on wants to beat up the person who's loving the cheater. It almost never fails to happen, that story line.

This blogger met Joey Greco at Reality Rocks Expo LA, and talked briefly about his show's popularity. "If you ask me, I just would simply have to say, it touches on a topic that everyone can relate to. You either have done it, had it done to you, or know someone that their life has been touched by (cheating). And, in any of those scenarios, you see and recognize the fallout from those decisions. And I think that's what makes our show compelling as it is to watch.

Mr. Greco says his show has changed how he views and looks at relationships. He says that he now believes that one should immediately act to fix a situation where cheating has occurred. "It doesn't mean you have to break up," he said, "but move to a place where you figure out if it's something worth continuing and everyone gets to go their own direction.

In his answers, it felt like Greco had a story to tell himself. Has Joey Greco ever been cheated on? The answer he gave was cryptic: "I think, at one point in our lives, we've all been on one side or the other."

Interesting. Which side for Greco, we may never know.

2011 NFL Draft - Arizona Cardinals Don't Need A Quarterback

For some reason that smells of helping a certain agent, some at the NFL Network are jack-bull-determined to push Missouri Quarterback Blaine Gabbert as a top pick, even trying to push teams like The Arizona Cardinals to pick him.

Blaine Gabbert really isn't that good. He didn't win a national championship or his last bowl game. And on long passes he's not accurate at all. Plus, the moment he sniffs a pass rush, he runs for the hills, or in football, the sidelines.

Even with all of that, and more, people like ESPN's Todd McShay, NFL Network's Mike Mayock and Charles Davis, still talk about Gabbert as if they are reciting political talking points. Think about that, the next time you hear these guys talk about the Mizzou thrower.

Now, they're trying to push Gabbert on the Arizona Cardinals, just because the Cards have the fifth pick, and had a terrible passing game in 2010, and they have something going where they feel compelled to constantly pump Gabbert's name.  It's weird.

Here's why the Arizona Cardinals don't need to waste their 2011 NFL Draft First Round Pick on a quarterback:

First, they have a ton of young quarterbacks. Derek Anderson and Richard Bartel are 27 and 28 years old, and BYU Rookie Max Hall is just 25, and John Skelton of Fordham is just 23.  Their average age is  25.75 years old, and all of the signal callers have great potential.

Second, the Cardinals elevated Mike Miller to Offensive Coordinator and the word is that now Second-Year QB John Skelton is looked at as the heir apparent.

It would be just plain stupid for the Cardinals to go up and pick a quarterback and get hooked up with paying a large signing bonus of around $27 million at that level, then actually lose teaching time because they can't have contact with him beyond the Draft, and all to solve what really is a passing scheme problem?

That is simply not logical.  It would be great if the NFL Network and ESPN draft talkers admitted that.