Randall Cobb Green Bay Packers 2011 NFL Draft Pick

A man this blogger interviewed at NFL Play 60, Kentucky Wide Receiver Randall Cobb, was selected as the 64th pick overall and the 34th pick in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Cobb was the last NFL Draft Prospect in the Green Room at Radio City Music Hall. A record 25 players were invited, and most were interviewed by the media. (Except for Akeem Ayers, who was so disappointed that he wasn't picked in the 1st round on Thursday, he reportedly left New York City.)

Randall Cobb's an interesting combination of size, speed, and versatility, who played as a hybrid wide receiver-slash-running back at Kentucky in an offense some called "WildCobb." (Like the "Wildcat" offense.)

Now we're in the Third Round of the 2011 NFL Draft with a total of seven rounds, stretching into Saturday. 

2011 NFL Draft - In Colin Kaepernick San Francisco 49ers Get Best QBNFL Draft - In Colin Kaepernick San Francisco 49ers Get Best QB

Radio City Music Hall, NY - The San Francisco 49ers just drafted the best quarterback in the 2011 NFL Draft in Nevada's Colin Kaepernick. Other than Florida State and now Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Christian Ponder, Kaepernick was the best overall performer in the 2011 Senior Bowl, and showed a great ability to do what some observers said he could not do: run a pro-style offense.

And at Nevada, Kaepernick (who did not make the trip to New York City for the NFL's production), lit up the field with passes. In 2010, Colin threw 359 times, completing 233 for 64 percent and 3,022 yards, ringing up a passer rating of 150.46.

Here's Colin talking about his time at Nevada:

But with all of this, why Kaepernick fell to the second round is as much a story of how some NFL scouts dislike the offense he played in, more than any question about his talent. The "Pistol Offense," which is best described as a combination of shotgun and cock-eyed I Formation, has only caught on as the offense of choice for big name schools - it's not used at all in the NFL.

Moreover, Kaepernick's fall also says a lot about how some NFL scouts may not like the new, more "street" kind of white player (correction, he's a mix of white and black, which buttresses my point). Colin's not the visually polished, fair-haired quarterback like Blaine Gabbert, and there seems to be a tendency to downgrade quarterbacks who has that image.

But all of that masks the fact that Kaepernick can play. Thankfully, Kaepernick's talent didn't escape the watchful eye of the San Francisco 49ers personnel execs, who traded up to get him.

Will Challenge Alex Smith

Interestingly Kaepernick's a lot like current 49er Alex Smith in his collegiate playing style, so it's ironic that he's in a place where he will push Smith for the starting job. Some say Kaepernick's a project; don't be surprised to see him take some snaps this NFL season.

If we have one.

Cameron Newton Interview - 2011 NFL Draft New York City

After finding the right chair to sit in, Cameron Newton, the 1st pick in the First Round of The 2011 NFL Draft, seemed relieved, but then weighted by the new burden of being the first pick and all the expectations that go with it. But, finally, he sat down with the media, after days of ducking and escaping writers and bloggers.

But with all that out of the way, Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner and Auburn National Champion, and College Park, Georgia native, did have that giant weight he was carrying off his shoulders, saying "I feel terrific."

Newton says he's "ready to get the show on the road," and understands what the process is about. After all kinds of character assassinations by the media, and constant mentions of his past, including the famous "hot laptop" incident, and the matter of his dad allegedly taking payments for him to attend Auburn, not proven, Newton's ready for this new chapter of his life, but is ready to prove that he's the one for the Panthers.

He says all the right words, "I'm ready to go to an excellent city in Charlotte." More on Newton in another post later today.

Aldon Smith Interview - San Francisco 49ers 2011 NFL Draft Pick

Aldon Smith, LB / DE SF 49ers , a photo by zennie62 on Flickr.

Aldon Smith is the San Francisco 49ers 2011 NFL Draft Pick, and this blogger interviewed the Missouri standout defensive end and linebacker last night from Radio City Music Hall. This is the first of several posts on Mr. Smith, and 10 other NFL Draft selections, from Cam Newton, who went to the Carolina Panthers to Mark Ingram, who went to The New Orleans Saints.

(Sorry for the delay, but the wifi at Radio City Music Hall was jammed this year, whereas last year, the 2010 NFL Draft, it worked well. One problem was that more players on hand equals more demand for content, and the wifi system wasn't up to the task. But that's a digression.)

The 6-5, 260 lbs of Aldon Smith, is a smiling big kid who's easy-going demeanor belies his aggressive play on the field. Last year, he recorded 48 tackles and six sacks. Smith skipped his remaining two years of NCAA eligibility to enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

Smith is a physical freak, who compares himself to another physical freak, NFL Defensive End Jevon Kearse. The Niners are getting a sure play-maker. But when did Smith know he was a Niner?

"They called me five minutes before anyone else knew," he said. But Smith also said he "kinda ignored" the call in the Green Room at Radio City because he wasn't sure if it was for him. But then he said "that's my phone. And now I'm here."

Smith said he's excited to start "with everything" and be a part of the NFL and the 49ers, especially new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, who he had a great visit with before being drafted.

He's says the Niners will play him "all around" and even drop back into coverage at times. Aldon says his game is like Kearse, as well as Green Bay Packers Linebacker Clay Matthews.

He's never been to San Francisco, other than the one time he visited Palo Alto. Smith needs a proper introduction to the City, so he knows that it's a far cry from Palo Alto. I told him to visit The Balboa Cafe in The Marina District for a proper baptism.

Stay tuned.

2011 NFL Draft | Cam Newton Runs By...To Carolina?

2011 NFL Draft | Cam Newton Runs By...To Carolina?, a photo by zennie62 on Flickr.

Just returned from the NFL Red Carpet, and am down stairs at my self-designed "man cave" in the Media Interview Room.

The place, Radio City Music Hall, is electric, and if you're watching on ESPN or The NFL Network, the crowd jumped all over NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with "We want football" and an assortment of cheers and jeers and boos.

Of course, that's all regarding the NFL's court battle against the NFL Players Association, and the judges ruling that the NFL Lockout should be lifted.

But the real action is down here in the Media Room, and because Cam's not been accessible to much of the media except ESPN, and the NFL Network.

A lot of people have a lot of questions to ask him and the media crowd is already massing.

Thankfully, I saved my seat.

Stay tuned.

2011 NFL Draft | Cam Newton Meets Alec Baldwin?

2011 NFL Draft | Cam Newton Meets Alec Baldwin?, a photo by zennie62 on Flickr.

As this blog post is written, this blogger is in what's come his customary his position in what's called The Grand Lounge, or the "Media Interview Room" at Radio City Music Hall and for the 2011 NFL Draft.

In less than 15 minutes, the NFL Red Carpet will start, and set up a scenario where former Auburn Quarterback Cam Newton, the apparent first pick of the Carolina Panthers, who hold the selection that will kick off this amazing sports event, meets 30 Rock's "Jack Donaghy" better known as Alec Baldwin.

That's right, the 30 Rock star and last year's host of the Academy Awards will be on the NFL Red Carpet. So, it could be that Cam Newton meets Alec Baldwin.

And this blogger will be using the Twitter hashtag #2011NFLDraft for his tweets this evening.

And now for the bad news: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the judges decision to lift the lockout placed the sport of football in a terrible position. Just what he meant when he said that on NFL Network as this was being typed is not known.

Follow Zennie62 on Twitter.

Donald Trump Please Shut Up About Obama And Birth Certificate

Suburban New York - Baratunde Thurston, The Onion's Director of Digital, made a vlog which called Donald Grump, er, Donald Trump, a "heinous, low-class individual" and a "Klansman", after President Obama issued the long-form version of his birth certificate on Wednesday; something that took this blogger by surprise as well.

This is Thurston's vlog:



Baratunde Thurston is right about Donald Trump's class-less move. But I can't agree that Trump's point of view is so important and that his actions of saying that he's "proud" or more specifically:

Today I'm very proud of myself, because I've accomplished something that no one else has been able to accomplish

Trump's statement of pride over the birth certificate release moved Baratunde to tears of disgust, but for this blogger, born in 1962 and having to contend with the idea of the "Back To Africa" movement of the mid-60s, and having to deal with the idea that I wasn't an American, only to have my dear mother remind me that I was "born here in Chicago" at the time, I'm over that painful childhood fear of being sent to a place I never knew. I'm not crying about Trump.

You read that correctly.

When you're a little kid, you don't know what's really possible or impossible because you're still taking in even the basics of what it means to be alive. So for someone to want to go "back to Africa," and for those person who said that to have the same color as me, was scary. For a time, I wondered if we were going to have to move. If someone was going to come to the door and say "you all have to go."

But then Mom reminded me that I was "born here in Chicago." And that was enough for me.

That's why, as much as I respected Donald Trump, I don't anymore. He's a joke. Trump may be good at getting other people to give money to him, but I'm now convinced there's nothing different between him and a beggar on the street asking for spare change.

I just asked my friend and NFL Draft colleague Bill Chachkes what he thought about Donald Trump, and he said "I'm too busy. I've got more important things to think about." No, Bill's not black, he's Jewish, but I also know my Mom would say the same thing. For both, Donald Trump's nothing more than a clown.

That's why I said Donald Trump needs to shut up on this issue. He does. But Baratunde Thurston also must not give Trump so much power that the real estate developer moves him to tears.

If people feel as Baratunde does, then Trump wins. Don't let him win.