The Top 100 Players available for the 2007 Draft(part 1-#1-#50)

The top100 players available for the 2007 Draft (pt 1)
(1-50)
Every year more and more scrutiny goes into the evaluation of talent for the draft. Every year someone always asks me "why did so-an-so" drop down on people's draft boards, or why didn't he get drafted he had such a great college career. The fact is that not even the people running the teams war rooms themselves are willing to explain why an individual drops or rises on someone's board, because it's based on many factors. So when you read this now, take heed. A few of these names might not get called the first day.

1) Calvin Johnson-WR-Georgia Tech 6'4"-235-4.35
Johnson is typical of the "new wave" of heavier, almost tight end bodied wideouts. His size and physical tools make him stand head and shoulders (no pun!) above the rest of this year's class. He will be able to fight off taller DB's to get to the jump balls over the middle, but has the amazing burst of speed off the line of scrimmage as well. It would be a surprise to see him selected later then 1pm eastern on draft day.

2) Joe Thomas-OL-Wisconsin-6'8"-314-4.92
Thomas surprised everyone at the combine by doing almost all the drills, including twice running a sub 5 second 40 time. Amazing flexibility at the key joints will make him one of the best linemen in the pro game some day, his upper body strength was questioned earlier in his career at Wisconsin, but worked hard the last two off seasons to make improvements. If he falls out of the top five on draft day, it will be because of the depth of the skill player pool in the top ten.

3) JaMarcus Russell-QB-LSU-6'5"-261-4.83
Some people will be surprised that Russell moved up past both Quinn and Peterson, but the improvements he made from the combine to his pro day were noticeable. Still, he ran only one 40, and did position drills. He did throw to his receivers. He dropped almost 20 pounds in just over 2 weeks, surprising many who thought he needed time away from the steam tables. Wherever he goes, Russell will bring a Howitzer-like arm and very good skills.

4) Adrian Peterson-RB-Oaklaholma-6'2"-212-4.39(varies)
Despite his injury (broken collarbone) last year, this young man is ready for the brighter lights of the NFL. He reminds some (including me) of a slightly faster Eddie George in his running style, simply hard to bring down by one man alone. The first Runningback off the board, he will have a short adjustment period in the pros. He would benefit by going to a team that doesn't need him to carry the whole load right away.

5) Brady Quinn-QB-Notre Dame-6'4"-233-4.73(best)
It's sad that Quinn is only the second best QB in this draft, although after him the talent pool drops off tremendously. In any other draft, he might be the #1 at his position. He has matured well as both a player and a person under head coach Charlie Weis, and will be astute with his next coaching staff as well. Weis worked hard to cure Quinn of his difficulty seeing past the first option.

6) LaRon Landry-DB-LSU-6' 2"-186-4.35
Landry wowed the scouts at the combine with his great workout numbers, runing as fast as 4.29 seconds in the forty. The best DB in the draft class, Landry can play both the run and pass equally well, allowing the front seven to blitz out of multiple schemes. Another player who would surprise me if he fell out of the top 10 selections. Can also blitz quite well in situations. Could find his way up a spot or two depending on how the first hour works out on draft day.


7) Marshawn Lynch-RB-Cal-5'11"-218-4.45
Not the most explosive runner you'll ever see, Lynch compares favorably to some one like last years late 1st round surprise pick of the Colts, Joe Addai. Runs with a low to the ground style and is hard to tackle. Just the second player in school history to gain 1,000+ yards in consectuive seasons. Hits the hole without stalling and cuts well. A northern Califorina prep star who played his H.S. Ball at Oakland Tech. has three younger family members still on the Golden Bears team.

8) Gaines Adams-DE-Clemson-6'4"-262-4.71
A game changing playmaker, Adams will be a tough one to block for NFL offensive linemen. Has tremendous physical power, benching 21 reps at Clemson's pro day. Shows great moves both to the inside and outside on tape. Looks very much like a young Michael Strahan, maybe only a half step faster. Could have more of an impact then anyone at the position from last year's draft class if he can add some bulk and muscle to his frame. A bright and engaging personality, Gaines already has his eye on life after the NFL, earning his degree in sports management in December of 2006

9) Alan Branch-DT-Michigan-6'6"-329-4.79(short shuttle) 5.22(40Y.D.)
While Branch has fine numbers physically, he showed up to his pro day out of shape. Still, Branch was the main reason that Michigan went from 41st in run defense in 2005 to #1 in 2006. Can run out of gas early if he has too many consecutive plays, but if he's rotated as part of a 4 man line, or gets help in a 3-4 defense, he will make opponents sorry they lined up across from him. Played 37 games for the Blue, started 16 at the nose and 7 at DE.
Noted for engaging multiple opponents to allow teammates to pressure the offense.

10) Greg Olsen-TE-Miami (Fla.)-6'5"-252-4.51(40Y.D.)4.41(short shuttle)
Olsen was the surprise of the combine at his position, running every drill, some faster then a few wide receivers! In the mold of Previous U of Miami Tight Ends' Winslow and Shockey, Olsen is a good underneath, in-traffic pass catcher. We believe that his Football DNA (his Father was his H.S. Coach) plus his upside potential and combine and pro day workouts signal his rise up the draft board. Also a good blocker, Olsen has good balance. 26 starts out of 33 games played. Led the Hurricanes last season with 40 catches(for 489 yards & 1 TD).

11) Leon Hall-CB-Michigan-5'11"-193-4.41(40Y.D.-combine)
A 2006 Thorpe award finalist, Hall is a consummate defender. While not as tall as others, has decent speed to stay with wide receivers. Had at least 1 pass deflection in his last 26 games, with 43 in his total of 50 career games. Could be a triple threat for the team that selects him, as he also caught 24 passes for 520 yards as a part time Receiver his senior season. 12 career interceptions, 180 Tackles(141 solo). Some teams might shy away from him because of his size, but they would be mistaken to do so based on his big play ability.

12) Jamaal Anderson-DE-Arkansas-6'6" 280-4.79(campus)
Anderson played receiver as a High School player, shattering many of former Packer Keith Jackson's records at Parkview High in Little Rock. Made the transition to Defense as a freshman for the Razorbacks. Looks very flexible when he gets low against opposing tackles, able to shed their blocks most times. Could bulk up a bit with no severe loss of agility. Good Pursuit skills in the open field. Even though he only started 19 of 36 games played, has 17-1/2 career sacks. Very bright student who did well in classes. Majored in Sociology at the University's Fulbright school of arts and sciences.

13) Dwayne Jarrett-WR-USC-6'5" 212-4.55(campus)
A prime example of the trend in taller wide receivers who can stretch for the ball. Another 10 or so pounds and he really does look like a young Plaxico Burress. Can behave poorly with a Keyshawn Johnson like personality. Gets frustrated when he isn't the main target. Set the record with 41 career TD catches and 216 total in three seasons, and was #2 all time in receiving yardage (3,138) behind Johnnie Morton (3,201). Moving up because of a good Bowl Game, but could also slide back down because of his work ethic.

14) Levi Brown-OT-Penn St. 6'5" 328-5.3(campus)
A standout two-way lineman in high school in Virginia, Brown already has issues with his left knee (sprained in '04-torn meniscus in '06) which bears watching. Started 44 of 45 games over his PSU career despite injury. Punishing blocker who stops people in their tracks. Gets lazy at times in practice, but PSU's Tackles and Tight Ends Coach Bill Kenney says Brown is every bit a quality player as his predecessors.

15) Ted Ginn Jr.-WR/SP-Ohio St.-6'0"-180 4.28(campus-2006)
The issue here is Ginn's middle foot sprain, which has kept him out of both the combine and the OSU Pro day. A converted DB who only first played WR in the 11th grade. Ginn was coached by his father Ted Sr., One of the most well known H.S. coaches in the country. Played his entire H.S. and college career with OSU teammate Troy Smith. Ginn also played RB and QB in H.S. As talented as he is, teams will shy away from his lack of recent workouts.

16) Patrick Willis-ILB-Ole Miss-6'1.5" 239-4.51(combine)4.39(pro day)
Willis has had to deal with adversity his whole life, helping his father take care of two younger siblings after his mother walked out. It's only fitting that he led the Rebels through their rebuilding years of late. Has incredible skills, great pursuit of the center of the play. Sheds blockers with ease. His great Pro day numbers just about assure him of being the top LB selected in what is a weak overall class.


17) Amobi Okoye-DT-Louisville-6'2.25"-286-4.97(campus)4.88(combine)
Like Elvis Dumerville last year, Okoye is smallish for a DT at just over 6"2", but has so much of what it takes to play the position. He is explosive off the line, able to get the better of the center in front of him. Has good hands and puts them to good use, forcing opposing OL's to hold him or lose him. Very young (19) and didn't play football until the 9th grade(age 13), he will be 19 when drafted. Very Intelligent (Mensa Level I.Q.) Psychology major with a high GPA. Would be great with a defensive teaching coach. Could still grow an inch, and lost 20+ pounds from last year until now.

18) Lawrence Timmons-OLB-Florida St.-6'3"-232-4.62('06)4.66(combine)
Not as good a class of OLB's as last year, Timmons is rising up on draft boards and could be the best of the group. Although he could stand to add a few pounds, he wouldn't loose much if at all in footspeed. Good body movement. Good in passing situations as both a rusher and in coverage. Plays faster then his numbers. Very good work habits.Very coachable. Many feel he was given the short shrift by the Polls in '06. Sometimes he reminds me of another Lawrence.

19) Chris Houston-CB-Arkansas-5'11.5"-181-4.49('06)4.32(combine)
Houston is the kind of player most NFL teams want: a quality shutdown cornerback. Also plays specials as a gunner on punt plays. Had good games against Tennessee's Meachem and USC's Jarrett, but the Trojans were training a new QB and Meachem did take one of his two catches Vs. Houston for a TD. Did well at position drills on his pro day. Sometimes will lock in with a WR and get turned around, but overall a solid player.

20) Jon Beason-OLB-Miami (Fla) 6'0.5"-236-4.63(campus)
Beason is thick bodied, has great range on the field and is a very good tackler. He looks more like a Middle Linebacker everyday. Started his career at Miami as a Fullback, but only carried 1 time for 3 yards when a shoulder injury earned him a medical redshirt. Has been compared to the Panthers Dan Morgan. 22 starts in 38 career games with171 tackles(104 solo). Would do well in any scheme.

21) Dwayne Bowe-WR-LSU-6'3"-214-4.48(campus)4.40(combine)
Bowe benefited from two things last year. The offense at LSU shifted to more of a downfield passing game without Joseph Addai, and that allowed QB JaMarcus Russell to throw more deep balls. While he is fast for a big man, his actual footspeed is deceptive at times. Not that explosive off the line, he prefers to use his upper body power to jam defenders at the line. Had 65 catches for 990 yards in '06 with 12 TD's. Good downfield blocker as well. Nice hands. Hard to bring down after the catch.

22) Jarvis Moss-DE-Florida-6'6"-258-4.63(campus)4.76(pro day)
Moss is a project who is recovering from a Pelvic injury that became infected and took almost 3 years to heal. He missed just about all of his freshman and sophomore seasons due to the injury from high school. After having a decent 2005 season as a reserve in 11 games, he earned a starting spot in 2006, playing all 13 games. Still needs to gain another 10-12 pounds to keep from being contained by opposing offensive linemen. Could still be a quality DE/OLB depending on weight situation.

23) Aaron Ross-CB-Texas-6'1" 190-4.45(campus-'06) 4.54(combine)
Ross is another of those lighter weight corners who should gain a few pounds before playing an NFL game. Only started full time last year, and was academically ineligible to play in 2003. Good tackler (205 career with 145 solo) but needs work just about everywhere else. Can run with receivers without getting locked up, but easily bites on QB pump & fakes. Decent return man in similar mold of Devin Hester, he would be better suited to nickel back then as a coverage corner, but could be taught with time.

24) Paul Posluszny-OLB-Penn St. 6'1.75"-238-4.65(campus)
Another future NFL standout from "linebacker U", Paul changed his # to 31 from 39 to honor Shane Conlon from the '86 national title team. Great physical tools, but could stand to gain a few pounds via the weight room to avoid getting hammered by opponents. Played all three LB spots in 44 career games with 37 starts (20 at LOLB, 11 at ROLB, and 6 at MLB). Had one career Int for a TD. 372 career tackles(210 Solo). Having watched much tape on this young man it's safe for me to say he is a sturdy player who will forge a long history at the next level.

25) Adam Carriker-DE-Nebraska-6'6" 295-4.85(campus)
Carriker excels at everything he does, from the classroom (deans list 3.7GPA) to volunteer speaking, to sports (Played QB and DE in high school in the state of Washington, as well as baseball and track). While he lacks the explosion off the line, he has great technique, and overpowers opposing offensive tackles. Also has good pursuit skills to the ball, would convert well to the nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme, as he can get very low to the ground for a player of his size. Massive wingspan.

26) Darrelle Revis-CB-Pitt-6'0"-202-4.54(campus-06)
Revis is another standout two-way player as both a cover corner and a Punt returner. The nephew of former Pitt and NFL star Sean Gilbert, Revis played QB, RB,WR, and KR during his senior season in H.S. He also played Basketball, and could have been drafted directly to the NBA. All-Big East, All-Planet earth. 34 starts in 35 career games. 8 career Int's with a pair of TD's. 129 tackles(101 Solo). So why is he so far down the list? It's a good solid year for DB's in general, and he may actually move ahead of Aaron Ross between now and draft day.

27) Reggie Nelson-S-Florida-6'1"-178-4.35 (combine) 4.37(campus'06)
Nelson has a good skill set and several physical tools to play the game.
A strong tackler against the run for his size and weight with good explosion off the ball. If he has one fault is his trouble with tackling pass receivers downfield after the catch. Does show ability to make plays while the ball is coming down. Might also have trouble learning a difficult playbook due to academic issues. Needed two years at the Juco level to make it to Gatorland. In his defense, he had trouble dealing with the loss of his mother to breast cancer. Another late mover before draft day, Nelson could become a nickel back.


28) Charles Johnson-DE-Georgia-6'2"-270-4.68(campus) 4.75(combine)
Johnson was the other half of the defensive end tandem with Quentin Moses that destroyed opponents the last two seasons. Because Moses drew major double teams, Johnson was able to get penetration to the tune of 9.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last season. 13 starts in 35 games with 73 career tackles(54 solo). A squat, square shouldered body type, he is able to get low to the ground when he must stop a play. Not a bull rusher but good power, but can get closed out by bigger linemen. Might not be more then a pass rush specialist.

29) Robert Meachum-WR-Tennessee-6'3"-210-4.4(Pro day)4.47 (Combine)
This young man is probably the best wide out from the South Eastern Conference in quite some time. Rangy with long arms, he is gifted with several gears on his transmission. He can shift in the open field, and doesn't get jammed by defenders easily. Possesses great hands and very good field and ball awareness. Had 1,298 receiving yards, led the conference with11 TD's, 71 receptions (5.46 per game) and 99.8 yards per game over13 games, all starts. If he has only one negative is that he should improve his overall blocking skills, but shows promise even there as well. Poised to move up on the board based on great Combine and Pro Day numbers.

30) Ryan Kalil-OC-USC-6'4"-291-No 40 Time
This is an interesting young man with lots of skills. In a year with a weak Center class, Kalil will be the first one chosen. His Body type, and ability compares to a Tom Nalen or Frank Winters. Naturally strong with good lateral movement, he has been the anchor of the Trojans offensive line the past two and a half years. Team averages 500 yards of offense per game with him in the lineup. Can tie up two defenders consistently. Marches to a different beat, likes to sing Sinatra tunes.

31) Zach Miller-TE-Arizona St.-6'5"-259-4.79(campus)
Considered the best tight end in the nation by most scouts and observers, Miller was a stand out both in the classroom and on the field in high school. Great on field vision and awareness, Miller caught at least one pass in all but two games (33 out of 35) in his college career. Looks much like his predecessor, Ravens TE Todd Heap. Had some Ankle trouble in 2005, but seems to have healed up. 144 career receptions for 1,512 yards and 14 TD's. Chose to stay local and go to school with his older brother Brent.

32) Joe Staley-OL-Cent.Michigan-6'5"-302-4.7.1(campus) 4.72(combine)
Joe started out his College career as a tight end who weighed only 225 pounds in 2003. A local Michigan product who chose to stay home, Staley was also a track star who bulked up to play both right and left tackle. He has emerged as one of the best pass protectors in the nation with few rough spots if any. Had 39 starts in 46 games and gave up no sacks in 2005 or 2006.
Has the fastest 40 time of any OL in this class.

33) Eric Wright-CB/RS-UNLV-5'11"-190-4.47(campus) 4.36(combine)
Such a shame this is such a troubled young man, or else he'd be moving even higher on the board. A medical hardship in 2003, he transferred from USC amid various off the field "incidents" after the 2004 season. Sat out 2005 and only played in 9 games with 6 starts in 2006. 10 starts over 22 games played for the two schools. A Good tackler for someone without punishing power, he moves well in open space. If he can get past his baggage he has tremendous upside as both a defender and a return man.



34) LaMarr Woodley-DE-Michigan-6'2"-4.62(campus'06) 4.74 (Pro Day)
A fearsome pass rusher, Woodley is adept at either rush end or outside linebacker. Although he was at the combine, he did not partake in workouts until his pro day march 16th. He and Teammate Alan Branch helped the Wolverines lead the nation in rush defense. Works best in free space as a pass rusher, but can do well in traffic, getting low to the ground to keep offensive linemen from rolling over and pushing him out of the play.
Amazing upper body for a man of his height and weight. 33 starts in 49 games over 4 years with 177 tackles (129 solo) and 25 sacks(2nd in school history) can get dinged up at times.

35) Brandon Merriweather-S-Miami (Fla.)-5'11"-196-4.52(campus)
4.56(combine) Known as the man who broke Bennie Blades' record for career solo tackles (182) and total stops(293). A 5 year player because of injuries in 2002 and 2003, he played 52 games (3rd in school history). Played all 5 positions in the defensive backfield over his career. Has a wiry framed body structure, but gained 35 pounds in 5 years. A team leader who stood up to critics after the brawl against Fla. Int'l last season. Will have to overcome critics with regard to his durability.

36) Justin Harrell-DT-Tennessee-6'4"-305-5.08(campus)
Another firey team leader, but also injury prone or else would be ranked higher. Has a think upper body and can make plays downfield or in the pit, but does not have the best ball awareness at times. Could develop into a steady player if he can stay healthy for an extended period of time. Played 35 games with 25 starts, and had 82 tackles (46 solo) with 4 sacks.The Number of injuries bears watching.

37) Brian Leonard-FB-Rutgers-6'2"-230-4.52(campus)
Started his career as a Tailback, but switched so the team could add Ray Rice into the offensive mix. Played 47 games for the scarlet knights and caught at least one pass in each game (45 starts). Also a great pass catcher. Trying to get his weight back down to his pre-Fullback days with the help of a private trainer (was 228 at the combine). Has good quickness and cuts for a man his size. Also an excellent pass receiver, he has nearly 6,000 total career yards. Will make someone's 2007 roster.




38) Brandon Siler-LB-Florida-6'2"-239-4.52 (campus) 4.58(combine)
Quiet and unassuming, this young man reminds mea bit of Ex-Giant Harry Carson. He just goes about his business on and off the field. Was ranked 4th best overall ILB in the country in high school. A classic 4-3 middle linebacker with a well developed body, good acceleration to the heart of the play, very good agility, and good ball awareness. Very bright student, Criminology major, member of school's leadership team, would like to be a politician someday.

39) Sidney Rice-WR-South Carolina-6'4"-202-4.49(campus)
One of the best receivers to come out of the state in quite some time, Rice sat his first year after only one game due to a knee injury. Also had an injured finger in the summer of 2005 forcing him to miss the 1st game, he then played the next 24 strait! Produced back-to-back 1,000+ yard receiving seasons in 2005-2006. Tall with good body control, he is a good downfield route runner with good speed and hands. Decent crack blocker, but needs to improve strait ahead blocking skills. 23 starts in 24 career games with 142 receptions for 2,233 yards and 23 TD's.

40) Anthony Spencer-DE-Perdue-6'3"-266-4.63(campus)
If Penn St. is Linebacker U, then the same can be said for defensive ends and Perdue! Another 5 year man, Spencer's only action in 2002 was with the scout team. In 2003 he missed 3 early season games with torn ligaments in his foot. After a banner 2004 season, he fell off again in 05 due to illness and injuries, but bounced back to all planet status in 2006. His moves and foot speed remind me of Shaun Phillips of San Diego, but he doesn't have the physical size to overpower opponents. At times played as much as 10 pounds lighter (in 2005) due to the flu. Not an every down player, but a good pass rusher both out of the stance or standing up.

41) Marcus McCauley-DB-Fresno St.-6'1"-195-4.39(campus) 4.48(combine)
A solid open field hitter and tackler who also has the coverage skills against speedy receivers. His performance slipped somewhat after a concussion early in 2006. Could also play receiver, since he played both ways in high school. Might need some more weight on his frame to stay durable in the pros. Was an aggressive player before his injury, and would need to regain that spark to have success at the next level. Sadly, he had only a so-so combine and pro day. Could be sliding down unless he gets a good private workout.

42) Arron Sears-OL-Tennessee-6'4"-328-5.44(campus)
Wow is all I can say when looking at tape on this young man. A leader of the volunteers offensive unit, he is the prototypical offensive left tackle. Only missed 2 games due to injury in four years, and started as a true freshman midway through the 2003 season. Has played both Tackle and Guard, and could play on both sides of the Center. Not the best footspeed even for a lineman, but has an explosive jump out of his stance. Would be a perfect OLT if he were an inch taller and lost a bit of the babyfat , but still pretty close. Because of his work ethic and willingness to learn from coaches, he could be around a long time.

43) Quentin Moses-DE-Georgia-6'5"-255-4.72(campus)
Played with fellow end Charles Johnson, and drew the double teams that allowed his teammate to prosper. A bit undersized, Moses will have to gain some bulk (at least 15 pounds) to play in a down stance at the pro level. Has played both left and right end. Played behind and learned from both Jumpy Geathers and David Pollack before coming intro his own in 2005. Would have had better tackle and sack numbers last year if he wasn't double teamed 50 times a game. Great lateral movement much like Miami's Jason Taylor. 26 starts in 51 games, recorded 137 tackles (93 solo) and 25 sacks.

44) Drew Stanton-QB-Michigan St.-6'3"-230-4.8(various)
As much as some might rate Stanton higher then this (or lower!), we won't fold to the pressure. While Stanton does have a some quality skills, and was all world coming out of high school, there are a few pieces missing out of this puzzle. At the top of the list, his numbers from the 2006 season are a bit of a disappointment (17 TD's, 10 Int's, 1,807 Yds) even if his overall career stats look much better. Has a tendency to play sloppy at times, and can be injury prone. If he can develop some leadership skills, he could have a decent career at the next level, but I'm not sold on him just yet.

45) Tony Ugoh-OT-Arkansas-6'5"-304-5.16 (combine)
Ugoh lost 10 pounds while preparing for the combine, but did not work out at his pro day. Tony got better with each season, and was at his best the last two years. A Powerful, thick-bodied player with good movement, good position and balance, he finishes his blocks 8 out of 10 times. Might not be fast, but doesn't get out positioned by faster pass rushers. Spent too much time away from the game as a track and field man until '05. Might not have the footwork to be a Tackle, but could become a quality Guard. Honor roll student who started 25 of 35 games over his career, including 24 in a row in '05 and '06

46) Tank Tyler-DT-N.C.State-6'2"322-5.24(Pro Day-3/20)
In 2005 Tyler played with "super' Mario Williams and John McCargo, and the defense was ranked in the top ten in the nation in several categories. After they departed, Tyler had to step up and assume the leadership role, and was not able to fill the void of two men by himself. Tyler did do a solid job in '06, registering a career high 49 tackles. His issues with weight gain and maturity are well documented, and he served a 1 quarter suspension for spitting at an official. A better strait ahead rusher then coming off the edge, could improve his foot speed for his size. Could be a force at the next level if he gets his issues dealt with.

47) Anthony Gonzalez-WR-Ohio St.-6'0"-197-4.29(campus)
A 4 time academic all American, Gonzalez benefited from having Ted Ginn on the other side last year and Santonio Holmes in 2005, Truly a fast, long stride runner, Gonzalez will stretch the field to opoen up lanes for other teammates. Very soft hands and good footwork, with good upper body definition. Uses his quickness to gain seperation off the snap from defenders. 17 starts in 33 games played at OSU, he has 87 career receptions for 1,286 yards and 13 TD's, and has never fumbled. Will donate a portion of his off the field income to charity.

48) Trent Edwards-QB-Stanford-6'3"-220-4.82(campus)
Has only played one full season (2005), so why should we think he'd stay healthy now? Has some tools, but never got to show them long term. Can throw the short routes and deep down the middle, but has trouble with deep corner routes. Has "game" smarts. Had 26 career TD's vs. 20 Int's. Only reason he is even this high is a nice private workout in the rain (3/20) where he threw 60 passes with only 3 inc's. Could be someone back-up, but would have to prove he can stay healthy before becoming a long term starter.

49) Marcus Thomas-DL-Florida-6'3"-295-5.23 (private-3/29)
A bit bigger then most nose tackles, Thomas could have been one of the best ever to play the game until two failed drug tests last summer and fall wrecked that for him. After being dismissed from the team, he sat home while the gators won the national title. Still has the tools to succeed at the next level if he behaves. 41 career games with 31 starts, 157 tackles (93 solo), 14 sacks, and two blocked kicks. If his one big night last summer was just that, he's capable of redeeming himself.

50) Kenny Irons-RB-Auburn-5'11"-203-4.51(campus)
A transfer from South Carolina, Irons wanted to play with his older brother CB David Irons. Like Jerious Norwood of the Falcons, Irons isn't a power rusher, but has quickness to the point of attack, and can wiggle out of tacklers if he keeps his legs moving. Good low center of gravity makes him hard to wrap up. Enough agility to change direction on the fly, but not in the same mold as predecessors Williams or Brown. Minor injuries slowed him some this past season, but would be a quality addition to any team.

Well there is part one of our top 100(whew!)

Michael Jackson Wants 50-Foot Robot Of Him To Zap Vegas Police (Partly Kidding)

Yep. Only partly kidding. But the part about the 50-foot Michael Jackson Robot is true. The laser beam part of the story is true to. But let's face it, what's a robot going to do with laser beams?

Where are those beams going to aim?

Ah?

Don't you think Michael Jackson's taste for authority is a little poor these days? What better way to keep the cops away from him than to have his giant robot zap a squad car or two?

Think about it.

My main question is will the robot have Michael's Black skin, or his bleached White skin?

NY BROADBAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE HEARING THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 30 IN THE BRONX

This is a special notice. Please pass it on to anyone in NYC.

Hello All,

This is just a quick reminder. Hope to see you there!

*****

Sponsored by the Office of Council Member Gale A. Brewer (CD 6 – Manhattan), the Office of the Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Bronx Community College and the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO), the New York City Broadband Advisory Committee will hold its first public hearing on Friday, March 30, from 10 am to Noon, in the Gould Memorial Library Auditorium, Bronx Community College, University Avenue at W. 181st Street.

For detailed directions via subway and by car and a full list of Committee members (along with their bios), go to the unofficial website of the NYC Broadband Advisory Committee:

* http://nycbroadband.blogspot.com

Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. and Bronx Community College President Carolyn Williams will all make opening remarks. The Committee will then hear testimony from members of the general public, including concerned citizens and senior citizens from Bronx senior centers. After the official testimony period, anyone from the audience is invited -- and encouraged -- to speak.

The next public hearing is tentatively scheduled for mid-May in downtown Brooklyn.

If you cannot make it to the hearing on March 30, we still want to hear from you! You can comment about the issue of broadband in New York City by going to the Advisory Committee's blog (see above). Comments will then be posted on the Committee's blog for public consumption. Or you can mail any questions or comments to Colleen Pagter, Policy Analyst for the Committee on Technology in Government, New York City Council, 250 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

Forwarding and posting information about the March 30th event and the Broadband Advisory Committee is strongly encouraged!

*****

Our friend, Craig Newmark, was nice enough to post something about the Bronx hearing on his own blog:
http://cnewmark.com

*****

Informationweek did a quick story on Friday's hearing last week.

New Yorkers Want To Stay On Right Side Of Digital Divide

* http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198100613&subSection=All+Stories

*****

From Bob Atkinson of Columbia's CITI ...

Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI) & New York Telecommunications Reliability Advisory Council (NYTRAC) Present:
Telecommunications Reliability in the Information Capital of the World
May 17, 2007
Columbia University, New York

New York City depends on its telecommunications infrastructure. High quality, high speed and highly reliable telecommunications services are the lifeblood of the financial services, media, advertising and software industries. The City's government has become information-centric, using telecommunications to deliver critical municipal services to citizens. Thousands of New Yorkers work for web-based businesses, delivering services to clients around the world, and thousands more telecommute regularly.

Is New York's telecommunications infrastructure up to the challenge - is it reliable enough to support an information-dependent economy and society? Could it be more reliable? Are users willing to pay for an ultra-reliable infrastructure? Could network operators provide such a network, and what would it cost? What can (and should) government do to help? These questions are not just relevant to New York. As the United States becomes increasingly dependent on reliable telecommunications, the experience and lessons learned in New York will be applicable across the country.

CITI and NYTRAC are organizing a full-day conference at Columbia University to examine these and other questions. Expert representatives of major users, suppliers of telecom services and all levels of government will ask and answer the critical questions surrounding telecommunications reliability in New York.

Additional details will be posted on the CITI and NYTRAC websites, or for more information, please contact John Heywood , CITI's Assistant Director, by email or at 212-854-4222.

*****

Wi-Fi Hotspot Survey

Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to fill out the WiFi Hotspot Survey that is being conducted by Laura Forlano, a graduate student in Communications at Columbia University. With your help, Laura has received nearly 500 responses and has decided to extend the survey until the end of April. In addition, groups around the world in cities including Montreal, Budapest and Berlin have expressed interest in running the survey in their communities. If you have not yet responded to the survey, you can take it at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=735302651119. The survey takes about ten minutes to complete. Participants will be entered into a drawing for an iPod or a $300 donation to a charity of your choice. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Laura Forlano at wirelessinternetsurvey@yahoo.com.

*****

About the New York City Council's Committee on Technology in Government

The primary goals of the Committee on Technology in Government are: (1) to expand digital equality by increasing access to broadband in underserved communities in New York City (2) to increase the strategic use of technology in government, thereby increasing efficiency in government and enhancing the quality of public services and (3) to promote the openness and transparency of government by making sure that public information is accessible to every New York City resident. Through its ability to hold oversight hearings over City agencies and to introduce and hear legislation, the Committee on Technology in Government works to achieve its goals in partnership with the private, public and nonprofit sectors. More information about the Committee and the Chair of the Committee, Council Member Gale A. Brewer, can be found at the following link:

* http://nyccouncil.info/issues/committee.cfm?committee_id=106<sbdkey=5121

All Committee briefing papers from the current session (beginning in January 2004) are also available through this link. If you know of people who would be interested in the Committee on Technology in Government's activities, please feel free to forward this e-mail to them. If you know of anyone who would like to receive these e-mails, just have them e-mail me. I will put them on the list. Finally, feel free to post this information on any listserve you may belong to or on any website you are affiliated with. If you do not want to receive these e-mails anymore, please e-mail me, and I will take you off the list immediately.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you at one of our hearings!

Regards,
Bruce Lai

--
Bruce Lai
Chief of Staff
Office of Council Member Gale A. Brewer
New York City Council
250 Broadway, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10007
E-mail: bruce.lai@council.nyc.ny.us
--
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW PHONE NUMBERS
--
City Hall: 212.788.6975
Cell: 347.563.1295
Blackberry: bruce.lai@council.nyc.gov
--
District Office: 212.873.0282
Fax: 212.513.7717

Kathy Sierra Death Threats | Outlaw Anonymous Bloggers And YouTube's Fells7

Kathy Sierra's a well-known blogger who was to appear at San Diego's ETech conference, but as she reports , she's not. Instead she's...

"..at home, with the doors locked, terrified. For the last four weeks, I've been getting death threat comments on this blog. But that's not what pushed me over the edge. What finally did it was some disturbing threats of violence and sex posted on two other blogs... blogs authored and/or owned by a group that includes prominent bloggers. People you've probably heard of. People like respected Cluetrain Manifesto co-author Chris Locke (aka Rageboy)."

Whom ever has written the death threats and for what reason, are both unknown. I observe that this kind of activity, where people get online and behind the cover of the Internet express there most hostile beliefs and desires, should be outlawed. It should be a Federal offense to either use someone elses name or hide your real identity online.

When I was a newspaper columnist, we had a rule that letters to the editor that could not be identified did not get published. When I started blogging I was taken aback at the racist hate that's written and more often than not by a person who doens't give their real name, but something like "fells7" (who's on YouTube and who makes no videos of his own, but takes time to spread hate text on YouTube like at the Chris Rock Video from SNL , and has NOTHING but Nazi-sympathy videos on his channel!! The police should watch this person.)

I took up a rule that I was not going to permit anonymous responses to SBS' blogs or video responses. It was just too much to take.

Now, if someone uses a name can I trust that it's actually their real name? No. I can't. But my experience is that 90 percent of the time the person does uses the same name they present in their own blogs. Now, if we can just take care of the other 10 percent, life would be grand.

But for now, life is not grand for Kathy Sierra. She writes:

I do not want to be part of a culture--the Blogosphere--where this is considered acceptable. Where the price for being a blogger is kevlar-coated skin and daughters who are tough enough to not have their "widdy biddy sensibilities offended" when they see their own mother Photoshopped into nothing more than an objectified sexual orifice, possibly suffocated as part of some sexual fetish. (And of course all coming on the heels of more explicit threats)

I do not want to be part of a culture where this is done not by some random person, but by some of the most respected people in the tech blogging world. People linked to by A-listers like Doc Searls, a co-author of Chris Locke. I do not want to be part of a culture of such hypocrisy where Jeneane Sessum can be a prominent member of blogher, a speaker at industry conferences, an outspoken advocate for women's rights, and at the same time celebrate and encourage a site like meankids -- where objectification of women is taken to a level that makes plain old porn seem quaintly sweet.

(Of course, Frank and Jeneane are among the people who make outraged posts about the lack of female speakers at tech conferences. If THIS is what a woman has to put up with for having visibility in the tech world...)

Most of all, I now fully understand the impact of death threats. It really doesn't make much difference whether the person intends to act on the threat... it's the threat itself that inflicts the damage. It's the threat that makes you question whether that "anonymous" person is as disturbed as their comments and pictures suggest.

It's the threat that causes fear.

It's the threat that leads you to a psychiatrist and tranquilizers just so you can sleep without repeating the endless loop of your death by:

* throat slitting
* hanging
* suffocation
and don't forget the sexual part...

I have cancelled all speaking engagements.

I am afraid to leave my yard.

I will never feel the same. I will never be the same.

To all of you were meant to be at my tutorial today at ETech, or my keynote tomorrow, you have my deepest apologies. If you want to do something about it--do not tolerate the kind of abuse that includes threats or even suggestions of violence (especially sexual violence). Do not put these people on a pedestal. Do not let them get away with calling this "social commentary", "protected speech", or simply "criticism". I would never be for censoring speech--these people can say all the misogynistic, vile, tasteless things they like--but we must preserve that line where words and images become threats of violence. Freedom of speech--however distasteful and rude the speech may be, is crucial. But when those words contain threats of harm or death, they can destroy a life.

I deeply appreciate all the support y'all have given me here. It really sucks that so few can do so much damage.

I have no idea if I'll ever post again. I suspect I will. But for now, I have a lot to rethink.

I wish Kathy would not go into hiding. That's exactly what any anonymous blogger wants to have happen. Instead, they should go to jail.

Senator Barack Obama Picks Up Six Percentage Points In Iowa Poll

Even with Presidential Candidate John Edwards recent annoucement of his problems with his wife's spreading cancer, and Senator Hillary Clinton's buying of support for the Iowa governor, Senator Barack Obama picked up six points in a poll of Iowa Democrats by Zogby on March 27th, 2007. It's Edwards 27 percent, Clinton 25 perent, Obama 23 percent, and the error is +- 4.5 points, so it's anyone's race.

This makes the race too close to call, even with the "bought" advantage of Senator Clinton.

Hybrid Cars - Sexy Female Celebs - Bauer's Worldwide Transportation

We all know that hybrid cars are good for the environment, but did you know how many sexy Hollywood celebrities have them? What do Selma Hayek, Cameron Diaz, Patricia Arquette, Alicia Silverstone, Donna Mills, Ariana Huffington, Carole King, Alexandra Paul, and Susan Sarandon have in common?

We find out as The Rolling Stones sing "Anybody Seen My Baby? See the video. But we can tell you Kendra Wilkinson needs one. You can get hybrid cars Limousines for rent at Bauer's Worldwide Transportation at www.bauerslimousine.com

Chris Matthews - Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton Jealous Of Senator Barack Obama

On Chris Matthews "HardBall" show he asserts that both former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton are jealous of Senator Barack Obama, and gives reasons why. Watch the video below:

Senator Clinton Pays Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack Debt; Vilsack Endorses Her

Wow. I just saw this story behind the Story over at The Blue State. Here's what I read:

Yesterday, as it had been expected for almost a week, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack officially endorsed Hillary Clinton. There may have been two reasons behind that move.

First, Clinton will likely pick a Midwesterner as her VP -- possibly Vilsack or Evan Bayh. Secondly, the Iowa Governor has a debt issue that Clinton agreed to help pay off. "Before ending his presidential bid on Feb. 23, Mr. Vilsack had accumulated a debt of about $430,000," said the Caucus Blog. "The Clinton campaign has agreed to help erase at least some of that debt. A fund-raising appeal on his behalf could be landing in mailboxes of her donors soon."

(So by donating to Hillary Clinton, you are helping pay off another politician's debt.)

The New York Times' Caucas Blog goes a step further:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton won’t know until the night of the Iowa caucuses whether the backing of Tom and Christie Vilsack, the state’s former governor and first lady, who formally announced today that they were endorsing her, will pay off. But Mr. Vilsack could reap benefits sooner.

Before ending his presidential bid on Feb. 23, Mr. Vilsack had accumulated a debt of about $430,000. The Clinton campaign has agreed to help erase at least some of that debt. A fund-raising appeal on his behalf could be landing in mailboxes of her donors soon.

Aides to Senator Clinton and Mr. Vilsack say there was no quid pro quo. Instead, they said, there is a personal connection. As a young lawyer, Mrs. Clinton served on the Watergate Committee with Mrs. Vilsack’s brother, Tom Bell.

“Senator Clinton has been close to the Vilsacks for years and if she can be helpful, she will,” said Phil Singer, a spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign.

Uh, yeah. Right. Let's see. The Watergate Committee was a long time ago and she served on it with his brother. But if they're that chummy, why did they have to reach back 30 something years to report the last connection they had?

If the Gov was really on the up-and-up, he'd have taken the debt help, then backed Senator Obama.

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom Shows New SF 49ers Stadium Plan Monday Night

It's good to see San Francisco continues to keep the pressure on. Frankly, I'd sue for economic tampering. The idea that the 49ers don't contribute to the city's economic health is just nuts.

City unveils new 49ers stadium proposal
Grand plans would aim to reinvigorate Hunters Point, Candlestick areas
Patrick Hoge, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, March 26, 2007

(03-26) 22:01 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- The neglected areas of San Francisco's southeast shore would be remade into a destination spot with a new football stadium, hundreds of acres of open space and thousands of new homes under an ambitious city proposal that rivals plans for Treasure Island and Mission Bay.
Mayor Gavin Newsom says his plan for the 790-acre site would not require public funding for a stadium at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a toxic site that the Navy is cleaning up. The plan also calls for a new look for Candlestick Point, where the 49ers' current stadium would be bulldozed to make way for high-rise homes, retail shops and parks.
The plan, unveiled Monday night, makes other far-reaching promises, such as plentiful parking for tailgate parties, no seizures of privately owned homes, possible rebuilding of a troubled housing project and, ultimately, the chance for city voters to bless the final vision.
"We have a plan that we can finance -- no surprises,'' Newsom said in an interview. "I want to put pressure on the 49ers. I want to make it very difficult for them to leave our city,'' Newsom said.
The team is working on a plan to build a stadium in Santa Clara and is trying to raise public support for partial public financing. A detailed financing plan for that project is expected next month.
But Newsom is betting that the 49ers will not get what they are seeking in the South Bay. He said he plans to ask the Board of Supervisors to endorse his plan in May, and environmental reviews could start in June. Construction could begin in June 2009, and the stadium could be ready by the 2012 season, he said.
City officials insist that the transformation of the troubled neighborhoods will happen regardless of whether the team builds its new home in San Francisco.
The city's plan embraces financing tactics that have worked in San Francisco before. Its partner is the Lennar Corp. of Miami, a Fortune 500 company that is leading redevelopment efforts at former military bases on Treasure Island and Mare Island in Vallejo.
As it did for the San Francisco Giants' waterfront ballpark, the city would contribute the land. Lennar says it would contribute $100 million in cash and help finance the stadium's infrastructure, including parking, roads, electrical lines, sewer pipes and water service.
The 49ers apparently don't have anything like that in Santa Clara, and the team says the city will have to make some sort of "up-front public investment,'' possibly in the form of land or access to the city's utility funds. One source involved with the deal said the team wants between $150 million and $200 million.
Team spokeswoman Lisa Lang said San Francisco's latest proposal represents progress but doesn't address all the team's concerns. That includes the cleanup of the Hunters Point Superfund site, designated as one of the country's most polluted areas.
"We are still in the midst of working through the issues associated with the cleanup time frame of the Superfund site, the public transportation plan, the infrastructure issues and the traffic plans, and these are not yet resolved,'' she said. "But we are making progress and working through these issues with the city and Lennar."
In November, 49ers owners John York and Denise DeBartolo York announced that Santa Clara had become their favored stadium site, abandoning a Candlestick proposal that city officials hoped could also support the 2016 Olympic Games. San Francisco's plan, the Yorks said, would feel cramped with the high-rise housing development, and a proposed multilevel parking garage would ruin the fans' tailgate traditions.
They also questioned whether Lennar Corp. would construct needed infrastructure improvements in a timely manner.
Newsom and Lennar's new plan provides open-air parking for 19,500 cars immediately around the stadium. The parking surface would be made of "dual use turf'' -- natural grass held together with a synthetic mesh in the root system, allowing the space to be used for recreation year-round.
The plan also includes at least 8,500 housing units, 2 million square feet of office space, an 8,000- to 12,000-seat arena and 700,000 square feet of retail and entertainment uses, including a large grocery store near Highway 101 at Candlestick and a smaller one at Hunters Point.
There would more than 350 acres of parks and open space, including the stadium parking and a waterfront trail.
Newsom said the plan would need the support of Bayview-Hunters Point residents, most of whom seemed pleased with the vision at a Monday evening meeting of citizens involved with the long-discussed redevelopment of both Hunters Point and Candlestick Point. To that end, Lennar's plans call for replacement housing for artists who have been living at the former shipyard.
There would also be an International African Marketplace, replacement housing for residents of the city's 45-year-old Alice Griffith Housing Development and even a cable-guided tram that would climb the steep hill that dominates Bayview Park, one of the city's least-used parks.
Lennar representatives said their project will be financed with private money, funds borrowed against future property taxes and assessments and fees typical of new development. They expect the project to be finished by 2021.
The 49ers are skeptical that the cleanup of the 500-acre former shipyard can be done expeditiously.
But Navy and Environmental Protection Agency officials say that much of the hardest work has already been done, and top Navy brass committed this month to trying to meet the city's schedule for a phased transfer of the shipyard, with the 27-acre parcel for the stadium conveyed first, by the summer of 2009, to allow for stadium construction.
The key issue is whether Congress will maintain the same level of annual funding for the cleanup of Hunters Point -- about $70 million. The answer to that question will not come until this fall, but the city has U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on its side.
The 49ers also have questioned whether fans will get to and from a Hunters Point stadium quickly. Santa Clara boasts that it has four- to eight-lane roads serving the potential stadium site, between Great America amusement park and the city's convention center near the nexus of highways 101 and 237 and Interstate 880.
Lennar's traffic engineers believe the "dump time'' for getting cars out of a Hunters Point site would be less than what fans currently experience at Monster Park and would be comparable to what fans would experience in Santa Clara. They reason that traffic would travel on several routes. Northbound traffic, for example, would go through industrial neighborhoods. The company has not provided any traffic studies. The city's plan also calls for mass transit, including buses and possibly water taxis or ferries.
The 49ers have not made a formal proposal to Santa Clara yet. Last week, however, 49ers officials were openly coordinating with former Santa Clara city staff members and elected officials who publicly called on the city to study using some of city-owned Silicon Valley Power's money for a stadium project.
One advocate for studying that approach was former city manager and councilman Don Von Raesfeld, for whom the city recently named its new power plant. Team officials told him they need a public investment of somewhere between $150 million and $200 million, he said.
John Roukema, assistant director of Silicon Valley Power, said that drawing down the utility's reserve funds could lead to an increase in electricity rates, which are among the lowest in the state.
Roukema said that as of January, the utility's cash and investments totaled $387 million. And of that, nearly $169 million is committed to specific projects or needed to pay down bonds. The remaining $241 million, he said, is needed for capital improvements and insurance against electricity market volatility.
"The fact is that this money is still used to allow us to provide competitively priced electricity,'' Roukema said. "It's certainly not a windfall here.''
Von Raesfeld said he did not think a citywide vote would be required if the city chose to invest utility funds directly into the stadium.
Santa Clara's city attorney in 2001, however, opined that voters would have to change the city charter to tap utility funds to help fund a baseball stadium for the Oakland Athletics. That effort, led by local citizens including Von Raesfeld, withered away without a vote after years of work.
In 1990, the San Francisco Giants also went to voters in Santa Clara, San Jose, Sunnyvale and Milpitas seeking approval of a 1 percent electricity tax to pay for a stadium. The measure was soundly rejected.
E-mail Patrick Hoge at phoge@sfchronicle.com.

NFL Draft Preview Video - One | Chris Leak, Ted Ginn Jr., Michael Bush, Kenny Irons

I called this NFL Draft Video - One, because there will be more videos before all is said and done.

The author reports that it features MICHAEL BUSH,CHRIS LEAK, DWAYNE JARRETT, TED GINN JR., KENNY IRONS.

Chris Rock On Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - Video

This is the funniest Chris Rock performance I've ever seen. The video speaks for itself. Chris Rock says that Barack Obama will be the next President of The United States.

Apply Iraq War Expenses To Heath Care Here

I'm watching the "New Leadership Health Care 2008 Presidential Forum" in Las Vegas. Senator Obama just made his presentation and did very well. Now Senator Clinton is speaking and it's obvious that this is where her heart is. But the matter of how we should pay for a new health care system has not been adressed in a way that avoids taxes or at least is less likely to cause an increase in taxes.

I have a suggestion for Senator Obama, because he opposes the War In Iraq. Because Senator Clinton does support the war, this idea does not apply to her.

Currenly, the War On Iraq costs $411 billion. That's a half trillion dollars and the cost is going up each second. According to the National Priorities Project, we could have insured 246 million kids for one year. Now, get this, we don't have that many kids in America. So one could argue that we could insure kids for up to three years!

The Senator needs to make this link between what we need to pay for heath care and what we spend on the War on Iraq.

Jets Look to sign Back Up QB Tuiasosopo

Backup QB Tuiasosopo in wings for Jets
BY TOM ROCK

The Jets announced the signing of free-agent defensive end Michael Haynes yesterday and soon could do the same for quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. An NFL source said the Jets will finalize a deal with the former Raider and six-year veteran, possibly early next week. The 28-year-old unrestricted free agent reportedly has reached an agreement in principle with the team.

Tuiasosopo, who will compete with Kellen Clemens for the backup quarterback job, appeared in only 11 games, including two starts, in six seasons.

Tuiasosopo's deal is likely to be a one-year contract with a base salary of $595,000, the league minimum for a player with his tenure. That would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent again at the end of the 2007 season.
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What? did i see the word "Compete"?? what competition?? That was last Summer. There will be no competition This Jets camp!
As good a college career that Marques had(incidently-both Clemens and Tuiasosopo are products of the great northwest)
Clemens runs rings around him in Qb skills. What we see here is that no longer does Chad Pennington need a Veteran Back- up. He is the Veteran QB, and the Youngsters are waiting on his decline. Mangini and Tannenbaum are smart enough to know that Chad's shoulder will not last forever.

Veronica Stars In Wackiest Video I've Ever Seen

This is simply the wackiest video I've ever seen. "Veronica" is bored. She's home for Spring Break with nothing to do. So she creates her own fun using her camcorder. The clip is set to some pretty jumpin' 70s disco dance music that's right for the occasion. I got a kick out of it.

Here it is:

Spring Break - Still A Rite Of Passage But Now For Women

During my college years Spring Break, which deserves its caps, was considered a rite of passage for men. But today, Spring Break is still that, and now a rite of passage for women.

Take a look at this video which features "the drunken antics" of a couple of young women. They pound shots, kiss each other (something mainstream guys didn't do), and eventually get on or something with some guys. The music's pure hip hop for the most part, and well-used. This is a must see video for anyone interested in American Culture.

Texans Name Schaub Starting QB

Texans introduce Schaub as starting quarterback-See my comment

By CHRIS DUNCAN, AP Sports Writer
March 22, 2007

HOUSTON (AP) -- David Carr is done as the starting quarterback of the Houston Texans.

The Texans acquired Matt Schaub in a trade with Atlanta on Thursday and said for the first time publicly that Carr's five-year tenure as the starter is over.

"Matt is our starting quarterback," general manager Rick Smith said. "We're trying to help David find another place. We're trying to trade him today, maybe the next couple of days."

The Schaub Era begins with the same cloud that lingered over Carr's final season: Vince Young. The Texans could've drafted the hometown star who led the Texas Longhorns to a national championship, but opted to stick with Carr in hopes he'd finally live up to his status as the first pick in franchise history.

Houston showed its faith in Carr by giving him a contract extension last offseason.

"Yes, we've made mistakes," team owner Bob McNair said. "Not just there, that's not the only place. And we'll make mistakes moving forward. The key is you've got to make more good decisions than bad decisions."

Carr became the face of this expansion team from the time he was taken No. 1 overall in 2002. He won his opener, but the Texans have gone 24-56 over five years, never posting a winning record.

Houston went 6-10 last season and Young added to the sting by carrying the Tennessee Titans to wins in eight of their last 11 games, including a dramatic overtime victory in Houston.

Now, Schaub gets a chance to make Texans fans forget about Young.

Schaub's agent, Joby Branion, said Schaub signed a six-year deal worth $48 million.

Schaub hasn't started a game since 2005 and threw only 27 passes last season. McNair said Schaub brings "the leadership that we think is needed."

Schaub acknowledged that he'll have to overcome his lack of experience.

"There are going to be a lot more things as the starter that you have to do and handle on a day-to-day basis, as opposed to being the backup," Schaub said. "It's just a matter of knowing that going in and meeting it head on."

Schaub, who was a restricted free agent, could have signed with any team, but was sold on the Texans during a round of golf he played with Kubiak on Monday.

"The thing he told me was he was going to do what it takes to be successful, as an offensive team, especially," Schaub said. "It's just an incredible opportunity for me to take the next step in my career, leading a team and running the huddle."

The Texans and Falcons also swapped first-round picks in the upcoming draft -- Atlanta now has the eighth pick and Houston dropped to No. 10. Atlanta also received second-round picks in the next two drafts.

Schaub entered the league through the same draft as Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers and J.P. Losman. Kubiak said the Texans grabbed Schaub just as he's starting to blossom.

"We wanted a player who's ready to go into his prime and that's what this young man is," Kubiak said. "This guy is ready for his opportunity to run a football team. We're catching him at the perfect time. We could walk across that field today and he could take us out of the huddle."

Before landing Schaub, Houston tried to sign Jeff Garcia and Patrick Ramsey before the two joined other teams. The Texans also reportedly were pursuing Jake Plummer, who retired.

The Falcons took Schaub in the third round of the 2004 draft. The 6-foot-5 Schaub set school records at Virginia for pass completions (716), passing yards (7,502) and touchdown throws (56).

"This player is what an NFL quarterback should be," Smith said. "He's a leader. He's a strong, smart accurate passer. As we looked at the market and assessed how to get better at the position, we entertained a lot of ideas.

"At the end of the day, the acquisition we've made today is perfect for us."

Carr had similarly glowing numbers at Fresno State when the Texans chose him with the first pick in 2002. He completed 60 percent of his passes with Houston, but also threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times in five seasons.

Houston also has quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels, Bradlee Van Pelt and Quinton Porter on its roster.

Carr has two years left on his contract that will pay him about $11.5 million over the next two seasons.

"We're hopeful he will continue his NFL career and be successful," Smith said.

A message was left seeking comment from Mike Sullivan, Carr's agent.
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So this is where it ends for Carr in Texas. He wants to go west, maybe to Denver to back up Jay Cutler, or maybe to Oakland, where the QB spot is wide open no matter who gets drafted. He has to decide weather he thinks he's still "Starting" QB Quality or not.

Philip de Vellis Is Creator Of "1984-Hillary" Video - MacBook and Apple Wins Again!

Thanks to the Huffington Post , we have the identity of the person who created the 1984-Hillary video. His name is Phillip de Vellis.

According to records, Philip de Vellis was the Deputy Director of Internet Communications for Wal-Mart Watch, nationwide public education campaign to challenge the world’s largest retailer to become a better employer, neighbor, and corporate citizen. Prior to working on the Kerry-Edwards campaign in Cleveland, OH, Philip was a commercial editor in Los Angeles for 5 years.

He's also got a channel on YouTube competitor Blip.tv.

Now, he works -- or did work -- Blue State Digital , where he was a strategist. But he says he made the video on his off hours using his Mac computer and video editing software to alter an updated version of a classic Apple ad that aired during the Super Bowl in 1984. (The Black MacBook's my computer of choice -- I have that one and a White MacBook, too.)

Phil was invited to tell his story at The Huffington Post. He wrote:

Hi. I'm Phil. I did it. And I'm proud of it.

I made the "Vote Different" ad because I wanted to express my feelings about the Democratic primary, and because I wanted to show that an individual citizen can affect the process. There are thousands of other people who could have made this ad, and I guarantee that more ads like it--by people of all political persuasions--will follow.



Damn right.

So Apple emerges as the real winner in the 2008 Presidential race. Someone call Steve Jobs!

But my previous point about the very real possibility of using this technology to re-create history is still an active one. It could happen.

I don't think this is a set back for the Obama campaign. Hey, the guy was a little over zealous, but he did create a classic video and it has a message that resonates with many people.

Airbus A-380 Lands In America: NY, Chicago, LAX

The 580-seat Airbus A380 Superjumbo Jet landed in America this week, touching wheels first at JFK, then heading for Chicago and finally LAX. You can get an idea of the sheer size of the airplane in the videos below:

At JFK:



At Chicago:



At LAX (best video):



A-380 Exterior:



A-380 Interior for test flight at LAX (no passenger seats):



A-380 Interior:

Brianna Keilar Gets More CNN Air Time WIth Don Lemon

Brianna Keilar, whom I met at the 2005 NFL Draft and who became a featured lookup on my online report on the event, and got discovered by a broadcast agent as a result, has gotten more air time at CNN recently.

Today, Brianna Keilar's filling in for Kyra Phillips and next to Don Lemon. She's doing a great job and a contrast to her first debut where she was obviously nervous about hitting the really big time.

I just hope she doens't leave her mic on in the ladies room.

UPDATE: Brianna Keilar is on CNN Regularly Now!

Brianna Keilar Gets More Airtime | Brianna Keilar and Kyra Phillips | Brianna Keilar On CNN Saturday | Brianna Keilar Now CNN Anchor | Brianna Keilar At 2005 NFL Draft

Redskins Trade Archuleta to the Chicago Bears

AP: Redskins Trade Archuleta to Bears- see my comment below
By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

ASHBURN, Va. -- Adam Archuleta's tumultuous time with the Washington Redskins ended Tuesday night when he was traded to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round draft pick, The Associated Press has learned.

Archuleta, who languished on the bench most of last season despite having the richest contract ever given a safety, will be reunited in Chicago with coach Lovie Smith, his former defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams.

The trade was confirmed by an official within the league who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams do not plan to announce it until Wednesday. The deal came one day before Archuleta was due to paid a guaranteed $5 million bonus.

The Redskins lured Archuleta to Washington a year ago with a seven-year, $35 million contract that included $10 million in bonuses, a signing that quickly became one of the biggest free agents blunders in the league.

It soon became apparent that assistant coach Gregg Williams would try to use the hard-hitting converted linebacker more as a coverage safety. When Archuleta struggled, he landed firmly in Williams' doghouse.

Archuleta lost the starting job in preseason and regained it for the first seven regular-season games only because of a knee injury to Pierson Prioleau. Archuleta's liabilities were one of the reasons the Redskins were especially vulnerable against long passes as they slumped to a 5-11 record. Eventually, the Redskins took Archuleta out of the defense altogether, using him only on special teams for most of the second half of the season.

The subject was clearly embarrassing to both Williams and coach Joe Gibbs, and neither ever gave an explanation for Archuleta's demotion. Once the season ended, Gibbs indicated Archuleta was still in the team's plans, but those remarks were mostly seen as posturing before a possible trade.

Getting rid of Archuleta wasn't easy because of his mammoth contract. The Redskins didn't want to cut him outright because of the huge cost on this year's salary cap. The $5 million bonus was already postponed once as the Redskins worked to make a trade, and any deal was expected to include a renegotiation of Archuleta's salaries and bonuses.

The Bears were the only likely destination because of Archuleta's relationship with Smith. Archuleta was hoping to sign with Chicago as a free agent last year, but he decided on Washington after the Redskins offered the big contract.

___

So the Archuleta Experiment is over in D.C.
Not surprising as he never really fit into the 'Skins real long term plans anyway. The Bears get the saftey they have needed, which could have been the piece they missed last season on their "D" the Skins get another late round Pick they can waste on a player who will make the NFL minimum for 2 or three years and then be coaching at some H.S. in his hometown.

Hillary Clinton Voted Twice For The Iraq War - Technorati WTF

I just saw this great post which states:

While the media covers the news on Hillary Clinton as to why she voted to support for the war in Iraq from the beginning, they are forgetting that in June of 2006 she also voted to ''stay the course'' along with 42 other Democrats-much to my displeasure. While the 42 votes that day would not have been enough to beat the Republicans in order to change the course, Hillary Clinton had the opportunity to correct herself back then. That was 7 months ago.

After her vote in June 2006, learning that her supporters were watching closely and were astonished by her actions, she immediately bashed Rumsfeld at the very first opportunity she had calling the current administration ''incompetent''. Rumsfeld looked at her , curiously enough, as to say, ''I thought you were on our side?''

The fact of the matter is that Hillary Clinton has been on the current administration's side since the beginning and stamped her approval in June of 2006. Her votes are fact. Her actions now are that of a politician who now wants to ''start a conversation with the American people..'' and promises to end the war with no plan to present on how. Barack Obama reminds us of how he voted against the invasion of Iraq from the beginning and has a plan here http://www.barackobama.com/iss… . Barack Obama says that whether they voted for or against the war in Iraq the first time, that the issue now is to take responsibility and challenges his fellow Democrats to present a plan that will bring our troops home.

I could not have said it better myself.

"1984" - Hillary Clinton Video / Fictional Video Of Mit Romney With Paris Hilton?

I was talking with a person who's been following the story behind the now famous "1984" Hillary Clinton video and had some questions for me regarding it's impact on the 2008 Presidential Race. One of the questions was what this watershed video meant for the future of political campaigns.

My response was that the real concern is that we're in an era where someone can create a video that in effect "distorts history" by showing a political candidate doing something that in point of fact they never even did. Say a video showing Mit Romney grouping Paris Hilton in Las Vegas. The question is should such a video be removed from the video distribution system -- say, YouTube or Blip.tv -- it was uploaded to?

My answer is yes it should. But I think we should have a public discussion on this matter before it happens.

Hillary Clinton's Sounding A Lot Like President Bush

I'm reading an article in the New York Post with the title "HILL REDRAWING HER BATTLE LINE" and which reports the following...

After recently vowing to quickly end the Iraq war if she becomes president, Hillary Rodham Clinton is now stressing a plan to keep some U.S. forces there indefinitely - a shift that analysts say shows she's feeling heat from both Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani.
Sen. Clinton's new tough stance is an attempt to convince voters she has the gravitas to be the first female commander in chief, political pros say.

Someone has to explain to me why Iraq's the center of terrorism. I view the 9-11 crisis -- which started this -- as a criminal act on the part of individuals, and not by troops under the direction of heads of state. So this entire approach is illogical. I can't understand why she's buying into this.

But her stance is one more reason I support Barack Obama for President.

The Post goes on to report that...

Political strategists say Clinton's harder-line posture - and acknowledgment that Iraq is vital in winning the broader war on terror and America's security - is a two-pronged approach. She aims to prove to primary voters that she has the seriousness and intellectual depth to overshadow less experienced rivals Obama and John Edwards, as well as the toughness to match up with GOP front-runner Giuliani.
Some of her claims mirrored those of the Bush administration. She told The New York Times, for instance, that a failed Iraqi state could serve "as a petri dish for insurgents and al Qaeda" and spiral into a wider conflict.

So realistically the best we can expect from "Hill" as the NYPost calls her is more of the same of what we got from George W. Bush?

Wow.

"1984" - Hillary Clinton Running Dangerous Campaign Against Barack Obama

FLASH: Hillary Clinton sounds like George W. Bush on Iraq.

This week marked the begining of politics in the 21st Century. Yes, I know it's 2007, but it took a good seven years for us to get to the point where one powerful video quickly seen by many can turn a Presidential campaign. That's what this "1984" video -- which to date no one knows who made -- is doing. Here's the video:



The video places Hillary Clinton in the interesting role of the controlling, demonic, anti-democratic establishment using the famous 1984 commercial that introduced the Apple Machintoch to the World during the Super Bowl. While the Clinton camp certainly doens't like the depiction, it's doing everything it can to make Senator Clinton look very much like the person represented in the 1984 spoof video.

The Clinton campaign has shown a desire to control and destroy. Control not just their message, but attack anyone who would make a statement that might even indirectly harm the Senator's Presidential bid. That person is Senator Barack Obama. If the Clinton campaign hasn't said it's surprised and threatened by Senator Obama's rise to power in the 2008 Presidential race, they're certainly acting like it.

The Clinton camp has done everything from try to potray movie mogul David Geffen as Obama's finance chairperson -- he's not -- to recently attempting to claim that Senator Obama's wasn't against the war entirely. That's a rough road -- the hardest off all -- because Senator Obama never came out in full support of the war, whereas Senator Clinton did.

Now, with opposition to the war at an all time high, she stuck between a rock and a hard place and not sure of how to get out. So, like any cornered beast, she's aiming for what she sees as her greatest tormentor -- Senator Obama.

What the Clinton Camp's doing is actually great for Senator Obama's run, because they consistently place him in the role of her challenger -- right now she's on top, but barely. And one rule of marketing is that if you talk about your competitor too much, people will eventually go to them and not you.

It explains in part why Senator Obama's gaining in the poles, although another explaination may lie in the recent Zogby pole, which claims that 46 percent of those polled said they would never vote for Hillary Clinton, and Senator Obama has the fewest anti-votes among women.

Think about that one while your watching "1984."

Giants work Buy-Back Of Eli Manning's Contract

Giants exercise buy-back of Manning's contract- see my note at the Bottom
BY ARTHUR STAPLE AND BOB GLAUBER

Giants fans have complained about the team's unwillingness to spend in the free agent market, but they've invested heavily in their own players.

They not only re-signed center Shaun O'Hara to a five-year, $19 million deal just hours before the free agency signing period began on March 2, but they also spent big money to make sure that Eli Manning remains their quarterback for the next three seasons at least.

The Giants exercised a "buy-back" of Manning's contract earlier this month, Newsday has learned, to keep Manning from becoming a free agent at the end of the 2007 season. Newsday incorrectly reported that Manning's contract had been extended through the 2012 season.

Manning is still under contract through 2009, but the buy-back was a costly one.

According to league sources familiar with Manning's contract, the Giants gave him a $5 million buy-back bonus, as well as a $3 million roster bonus. His base salary for the 2007 season will be $6.45 million. It increases to $8.45 million in 2008 and $8.95 million in 2009. The six-year, $54 million deal in July, 2004, but the deal would have voided after four seasons because Manning had achieved play-time incentives in his first season.

Giants sources last night confirmed that the move was made, and that the team had planned the transaction well in advance.

A team source said the money allocated to Manning has not been a factor in the team's reluctance to spend big on free agents. The source indicated that there were simply not enough quality players available in free agency worth pursuing, and that the huge contracts earned by some players was not in line with what the Giants believed their value to be.



And My slant: This is Gigantic(no pun meant!) for the Giants front office, as Eli would have been a Free Agent after this season. For all the crying fans are doing, for better or worse Manning is the Future of this offense, and they should make sure he's happy.

Fox News "In Focus" A Love Fest For Barack Obama - Telecast Gives High Marks To Senator

I'm watching Fox News "In Focus" where they ask the question "Will Wall Street Back Barack Obama." What I expected to be a conservative bashing of the Senator was anything but.

All of the panelists, including Steve Forbes, the Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine gave Senator Obama high marks for being a fresh face on the poiltical scene. And at least two of the panelists were quick to bash the idea that Senator Obama would be too liberal for Wall Street. But all believe that it's time for the Senator to address specific economic policies. Steve Forbes thinks that he will have to be more specific here at some point.

They also focused on Hillary Clinton and how she would react to Senator Obama's popularity. The Fox panelists observed that her campaign is "ruthless" and a "machine" and would take its shots at Senator Obama, but one panelist said that Barack was tough enough to take it and keep on going.

But that aside, it was a refreshing Fox newscast. I'm really excited that the Senator can win the Presidency. The campaign should get a clip of this telecast and have it copied.

CNN Trying To Ignore Barack Obama -- Why?

I am watching Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer right now and even though Senator Barack Obama drew a crowd of over 15,000 people in Oakland and held a massive fund-raiser at the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco, there was no mention of him in the discussion of presidential candidates on the program.

CNN didn't even report where Barack Obama was going to be on the campaign trail. They inforrmed us of Hillary Clinton's fund raiser in New York this evening and the events of five other presidential candidates. But CNN didn't even take time to report that Barack Obama didn't have a scheduled event for Sunday, and they've done that for other candidates in the past.

And when Wolf asked Donald Trump about the presidential election he didn't ask Trump for his view on Barack Obama.

It must be asked why is CNN trying to ignore Senator Barack Obama? Is it that they don't want him to win because he's Black? Hillary Clinton is not vastly ahead in any poll at all. It seems CNN has no problem focusing on Obama when someone brings up bad news -- and that doesn't stick at all.



Again, what's up? I thought CNN was supposed to be fair and balanced, and not Fox News!

"Online Marketing Buzz" - A New Blog

Since SBS' now has SBS-ON, I decided a new blog on Online Marketing -- see the caps -- was a good idea. It's designed to track trends in Internet marketing both to share and for SBS to use in its own work.

It's going to be a fun ride with this one. Check it out. I'm already a Twitter.

I'll have to report that online marketing is growing faster than the total rate of understanding of those who do it.

Twitter - Born In San Francisco

OK. Just when I thought the Bay Area was starting to lose it's dominance in all things online, we have Twitter , which grew out of the South Park area of The City, near AT&T Park, where the SF Giants play ball.

As to what Twitter is, to me it's a massive fad idea that's so simple I wish I'd thought of it. It's place to tell the World what you're doing. Period. That's all. Or as one Twitter employee put it "it's just a medium, and its relative worth lies in what's communicated."

Yep.

Twitter is a product of Obvious corporation, which reports that it's charge is to to create interesting things that matter to the world—and a great place for creative, smart people to work.

Nice.

Twitter's an interesting online social network that's all too perfectly viral. It makes me wonder what's next. My current charge is to figure out how better to mate our simulations with our blogs and message boards. I'll figure it out.

Zennie Abraham At Tadich Grill

I think everyone has a photo they think really captures who they are. For me, this is it. It was taken at one of my favorite restaurants, the Tadich Grill in San Francisco. It's perhaps the oldest eatery in San Francisco, and the food's the best. Always good quantity and quality. But what I like most is the history of the place, where it's served as host to so many San Franciscans and visitors of note and not, too. Regardless, everyone has to wait their turn!

If you go, get any seafood dish. The pasta's excellent, too!

American Idol Has Another Sex-Related Scandal - This One Gay Involving Mario Vazquez

American Idol can't keep itself out of sex-related scandals. If it's not Antonella Barba's sexy and soft-porn photos spread all over the Internet, or Frenchie Davis' being taken off American Idol for having sexy photos all over the Web, it's now this. A Gay sex scandal involving American Idol contestant Mario Vasquez. Here's the details from AdultWebLife:

Ask yourself this – would you drop out of American Idol to “take care of some things in your life” or would you ride that potential roller coaster of fame and see where it took you? Yeah – me too. Mario Vazquez – the only American Idol ever to quit the show after making the finals – withdrew from the 4th season, being very “vague” about his reasons for leaving only saying, “it wasn’t right for me.”

Now new information is revealed that shows there was another reason Vazquez would be in such a hurry to leave the popular talent competition… A former assistant production accountant for American Idol alleges that Vazquez sexually harassed him - and that he was fired for telling a supervisor - filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles on Friday. Magdaleno Olmos is specifically suing for wrongful termination and violation of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Among those named in the lawsuit are American Idol Productions Inc., Fremantle Media North America Inc., Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. and Fox Broadcasting Co.

In the lawsuit, Olmos claims that Vazquez withdrew from the show after the accountant came forward about the sexual harassment. He also describes in detail an incident in which Vazquez allegedly followed Olmos into a restroom at CBS Studios, knocked on the door of the stall and “made eye contact through the space in the stall door.” When Olmos tried to leave the stall he opened the door and saw Vazquez still standing in front of him, pants down and masturbating. Olmos alleges that Vazquez then tried to pull Olmos’ pants down, touched his chest and stomach underneath his shirt and genitals as he attempted to unzip his pants. According to Olmos, Vazquez then asked him if he wanted oral sex and tried to persuade him to stay in the restroom.

Olmos said that he tried to tell his superior, Eric LaPointe, who was also named as a defendant, but that he told Olmos “he was crazy” and imagining things, warning him that, “nothing could be done” and that he would “probably be fired.” Olmos was then fired on or about May 19th, 2005.

Representatives from American Idol and Fox Broadcasting Company have not come forward with regard to this lawsuit; neither has ex-Idol contestant Mario Vazquez. We’re sure more will come out as this story begins to unravel…

2007 NFL Draft - Ohio State Pro Day Video

This is the video for the Ohio State "pro-day" where Buckeye seniors eligible for the NFL Draft show their performance capabilities for NFL scouts and executives. Ohio State's Heisman Winning QB Troy Smith posted a 4.65 in the 40. Check out this video:

Eagles Replace Stallworth with Kevin Curtis

Eagles Replace Stallworth With Curtis-see below
By ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer
Wide receiver Kevin Curtis agreed to a six-year contract with Philadelphia on Thursday, giving the Eagles a potential replacement for Donte' Stallworth.

Curtis' deal could be worth up to $32 million and includes $9.5 million in guaranteed money, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms of the contract weren't released.

"Kevin's a guy that we've liked all along," Eagles general manager Tom Heckert said. "He's got great speed and run-after-the-catch ability. Kevin's a calm, smart guy that just goes out and plays football. He definitely brings tremendous speed to our team."

A third-round pick in 2003, the 28-year-old Curtis spent his first four seasons with the St. Louis Rams serving mostly as the No. 3 wideout behind Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. He has 136 receptions for 1,714 yards and 12 touchdowns in 51 games. Curtis had his best season in 2005 when Bruce missed five games, catching 60 passes for 801 yards and six TDs.

"I've accepted my role and loved every minute of it in St. Louis and played with some great wideouts out there, but I'm definitely excited about the thought and the opportunity to be on the field more," Curtis said when he visited Philadelphia last Friday.

Minnesota, the New York Giants and Tennessee also were interested in Curtis, the second receiver to join the Eagles in free agency. Philadelphia also signed Bethel Johnson, a return specialist, last week. The defending NFC East champions lost Stallworth to the New England Patriots earlier this week.

Stallworth had 38 receptions for 725 yards and five TDs in 12 regular-season games in his only season with the Eagles. He also had six catches for 141 yards and two scores in two playoff games.

Curtis could compete with second-year pros Hank Baskett and Jason Avant to start opposite Reggie Brown.

"I'd like to be a starter, but I'm open to any opportunities that are out there," Curtis said. "Outcome: I want to be out on the field playing the whole game."

The Eagles also welcomed veteran running back Ron Dayne to Philadelphia on Thursday. Dayne, who spent last season with the Houston Texans, would give the Eagles the complementary back they're seeking to go along with Brian Westbrook.

"I know Westbrook's the man right now," Dayne said. "I'll compete with him if I come here, just play hard and do what they ask -- whatever they need me to do."

Dayne had 612 yards rushing and five TDs while averaging 4.1 yards per carry for the Texans. A former first-round pick, the 29-year-old Dayne played five seasons with the Giants and one season in Denver.

___
So Dayne and Curtis will add Power and Grace to the Eagles offense, Which is fitting. Curtis might be the missing piece of the puzzle, and Dayne will have fun playing against his old Team(the Giants) Twice a season.

SXSW - Austin, Texas Swings Digital Media South Away From SF Bay Area

Now, I've been to Austin and went to the University of Texas at Arlington just up the way between Dallas and Ft. Worth. Austin was always called "The Berkeley Of The South" but that was from the perspective of nutso Texas conservatives. Now, I think Austin should be seen as a national capital of digital media, or at least the presentation of it. Just look at SXSW.

South By Southwest has been going on since 1987, but since it added the film and interactive media festivals it's really taken off and now with the growth of digital media, it's growth is viral. Viral because it's a festival about content related for digital media, and digital media itself, and then it's reported about using, you guessed it, digital media. A unique convergence. Take a look at this video blog:



I increasingly get the idea that the excitement in digital media is as much in cities like Austin or New York as it is in the Bay Area. We've got nothing like SXSW and yet it's something perfectly Bay Area. I think the main problem here is the cost of living is driving away the creative people that feed the digital media community. What's more the problem is that the Bay Area leaders are too out of touch to see this as a crisis.

When more cities -- or maybe that one city like Austin -- starts luring Bay Area firms away, then they'll wake up. But California's lost a lot of movie production activity for the same reason, so maybe not.

CB Nick Harper Jumps From Colts to Titans

Nick Harper Leaves Champs for Titans See my comments below
By Associated Press


NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nick Harper is going from the Super Bowl champion Colts to a division rival, the Tennessee Titans.

The free-agent cornerback agreed to a three-year deal with the Titans on Tuesday, agent Ian Greengross said.

"Nick was impressed with what he saw when the Colts played the Titans," Greengross said. "They played the Colts close the first time and beat the Colts the second time. He likes where they are heading."

The 5-foot-10 Harper spent the past six seasons with Indianapolis. The 32-year-old had three interceptions and 58 tackles last season as a starter.

He visited Tennessee last week and said the Titans were his top choice.

That could be in part because the future of cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones' is in question after a series of off-field incidents. Titans coach Jeff Fisher recently expressed his displeasure with Jones for failing to inform the team of two arrests last year in Georgia. Jones also was interviewed by police after a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club on Feb. 19.

Harper has been the Colts' most consistent cover cornerback in the past few seasons.

So Harper Is taking the Money. I can understand that. The part i can't understand is how horrible a situation the Titans are in with Jones, and were they think Harper will "take over" for Jones. Even though we heard published reports last night that he was "obtained" for "Insurance' Purposes". Sure, and i have a Bridge to sell you that connects the Bronx to Long Island.

Seahawks' Tight End Jerramy Stevens Arrested.

Seahawks Jerramy Stevens Arrested "Under the Influence" Of What?? see my end comment at the VERY Bottom


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was accused of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana after police stopped his car in downtown Scottsdale early Tuesday.

A Scottsdale patrol officer noticed the car traveling erratically and made the stop about 2:15 a.m.

Stevens, an unrestricted free agent after five seasons with Seattle, told the officer he had "four of five margaritas" at Salty Seniorita, a downtown Scottsdale bar.

According to the police report, the officer smelled alcohol and noticed Stevens' eyes were "bloodshot and watery and half-closed. Spoke with slow, slurred speech."

As he got out of the vehicle, the report said, Stevens "dropped his cell phone and wallet on the ground, bent down to pick them up, then stutter-stepped to walk" toward the officer.

A second officer arrived and began a field sobriety test, but after Stevens "almost fell down" during the "walk-and-turn" test, the player declined to participate in any further testing.

Police said they found a "leafy green substance" believed to be marijuana in Stevens' pocket.

Stevens refused a breathalyzer test and declined to give a blood sample until police obtained a warrant about 5 a.m., the report said. Stevens was booked and posted bail and an initial court appearance was set for April 2. The blood test results haven't yet been released.

Stevens has had other run-ins with the law.

In June 2003, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving in a plea deal after being stopped in the Seattle suburb of Medina on investigation of drunken driving. He got a two-day jail sentence for that offense.

He received another five days in jail for violating his probation after he drove into a nursing home in 2000 in a hit-and-run case. Stevens was a student at Washington at the time of that incident.

The 6-foot-7, 265-pound player was a first-round draft pick by the Seahawks, the 28th selection overall, in 2002. He had a career-best 45 catches for 554 yards, a record for Seattle tight ends, in the Seahawks' 2005 Super Bowl season.

Last season, Stevens caught 22 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns.


Ok, so let's tell the cop that pulls us over "Yah Officer...i had about 5 Margaritas..and i'm crocked"
Then don't drive Jerramy! it's that simple....
And what about this "Leafy Green Substance" Oh come on now...It's bad enough you were drunk, so you were stoned too??
Nice,..did some american Indian give you the Pot?? because it would help your visions? Nice excuses there son.....

Viacom Reveals Its Stupidity, Sues Google / YouTube For $1 Billion

Viacom's suing Google / YouTube for copyright infringement, and for $1 billion in damages. An act that should make some on the East Coast happy. Now, before i get to that, I want to explain just why Viacom's being stupid and will end of with egg on their face in this lawsuit.

First, Viacom should be suing the people who copy their programs and upload them to YouTube, if they want to go after anyone at all. There are 77 video-distribution companies like YouTube and any one of them can be a target for uploading Viacom's programming excerpts. Viacom's claim that YouTube has uploaded their material shows how little they understand about the market -- video makers were solely responsible for those uploads. YouTube was just a vessel, albeit a popular one.

Second, Viacom has not taken steps to "mark" the copyright of its programming in such a way as to discourage those who clip parts of the program. What Viacom fails to understand is that people don't upload the entire program, but a part they think is funny.

By contrast, Viacom has the entire program on its Comedy Channel site and forces one to wade through their entire episode just to get to a funny part. People aren't going to do that in huge numbers over time because of the fact that the clip does not indentify something newsworthy, like Stephen Colbert ranting about President Bush. Viacom doesn't understand the dynamics of the problem.

Third, Viacom's actually benefiting from YouTube uploads, as the ratings for the shows "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" have increased by seven percent over YouTube's life as the evidence in article two below shows. How can Viacom claim $1 billion in damages in the past, when it never had a YouTube-like system to begin with, let alone a business model? They can't.



That's why -- including the other reasons I gave -- Viacom will be embarassed in court. They're just trying to clear a path for the control of video based on its shows. But that very act of economic restriction shows just how stupid Viacom's lawsuit really is. It's better to have video clips out there with ads at the back of them. What Viacom should do is this: when people upload material on Google / YouTube, have YouTube set up a Revver-like ad system and split the ad revenue for those videos that feature Viacom material. In this way, the video clip is economized and Viacom makes money from it without restricting its distribution.

That's the best way. But absent that, Viacom's Old School approach is about to get clobbered. It's going to be fun to watch.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________


Evidence One: Nielsen Ratings Count College Students:

The Nielsen ratings go to college

By Louise Story
Published: January 29, 2007

NEW YORK: For decades, Nielsen Media Research has affixed the same value to every student watching television while away at school: zero.

As a result, industry executives have complained for years that shows appealing to a younger audience have been underrated.

But, starting now, students on campuses count.

Shows like "America's Next Top Model" and "Family Guy" were expected to see their ratings surge this week as Nielsen Media Research, a unit of Nielsen Co., included the viewing habits of students living away from home in its surveys for the first time.

A jump in Nielsen ratings often means more advertiser spending, so the adjusted ratings are good news for networks with high student viewership like ESPN, Fox and CW.

Today in Technology & Media


AT&T expands wireless stores


Viacom sues Google over YouTube video clips


Study says computers give big lift to productivity


Adult Swim, a block of adult programming on the Cartoon Network that expects its 18-to-24-year-old audience to jump by 35 percent with the new ratings, is so excited about the change that it ran an ad telling viewers about it back in mid-October.

"It's going to validate what advertisers have always assumed, which is that college students are watching our programming," said Jeff Lucas, a senior vice president at Comedy Central. Lucas said that the network's own research showed that "South Park," "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" have a large student audience.

It's too early to know how much more advertisers will pay for shows that show larger audiences because of the decision to count student viewers. Network executives, of course, said they expected to be paid for the higher ratings. And if advertisers decide to spend more on shows that are popular with students, television networks may decide to dedicate more of their programming to the young audience.

The student surveys are the first of two major changes in the way U.S. viewing habits are rated. In May, Nielsen will start releasing figures on the number of people who actually watch commercials, separating them from viewers who walk away or switch channels when the ads come on. The potential impact of ad ratings on network revenue has not been calculated.

Nielsen's move into university campuses is its first step in an ambitious plan to track television viewing wherever and whenever it takes place. Long focused only on viewing of home television sets, Nielsen is building portable meters to track when people are watching, and what, in bars, restaurants, gyms, stores and other places outside the home. And within two to three years, Nielsen plans to merge data from its online unit with its television unit to calculate total viewing on all media.

"The holy grail here is how to measure consumers as they go from TV to iPod to cellphone and back," said Alan Wurtzel, president of research for NBC Universal.

But the first step — measuring students' viewing of television — comes with its own pitfalls. Students watch a significant amount of television, spending three and a half hours a day tuned in on average, though that's about an hour less than the average for the overall population, according to Nielsen. And students are not watching only television. They are among the most likely consumers to be browsing the Internet, watching streaming video, text messaging on their cellphones and playing video games — sometimes all at once.

"College students have the television on in the background at the same time they undoubtedly have their computers on," said Matt Britton, chief of brand development for Mr. Youth, a marketing firm based in New York. "They're online — searching Facebook, doing research, shopping."

Their media habits make them targets for marketers, but the question of just how attentive they are while watching television may give advertisers pause.

"The people meter just measures if the set is on and what they're watching. But are they doing their homework, are they talking to friends; what else are they doing while the ad is showing?" said Brad Adgate, senior vice president for research at Horizon Media, an ad- buying agency.

Still, Adgate said, advertisers may increase their payments to networks with large student audiences because of the perceived lifetime value of that market. "If you can get them using your product at age 20, they could be using it for the next 60 years," he said.

Until now, the 18-to-24-year-olds counted by Nielsen were mainly those who did not attend school or attended part time or still lived at home. During holidays and summer breaks, of course, many students are home and have been counted by Nielsen at those times on their parents' set-top boxes. There are 10,000 households with Nielsen boxes tracking their viewing, and from those households, Nielsen extrapolates national viewing estimates.

Evidence Two - Both Viacom Shows Have Increased Ratings Turing YouTube

Less Snooze, More News

Viewers Turn Away From Leno and Letterman in Favor of News, Fake and Real

TV hosts Stephen Colbert, left, and Jon Stewart, winner of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Program for "The Daily Show," attend the Comedy Central Emmy party, Aug. 27, 2006, in Hollywood, Calif. (Bryan

By MARCUS BARAM

Dec. 6, 2006 — When Stephen Colbert was a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman" in October, he tweaked the show's host.

"We're on right now, we're opposite you right now," said Colbert, whose "Colbert Report" on Comedy Central airs at the same time as Letterman's show. "I'm actually telling my audience to watch me on this show."

Letterman responded, "I appreciate it. [We'll] take all the help we can get."

Maybe the longtime late-night host, who just signed a $35 million-a-year deal to stay on the air until 2010, was reading the tea leaves when it comes to his own ratings.


Letterman's audience, along with that of rival "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," has declined, as the Nielsen ratings for both shows slipped 6 percent compared with a year ago, according to Media Life trade magazine.

And Colbert has every reason to feel generous about his audience. The number of households watching "The Colbert Report" and John Stewart's "Daily Show," the news block of Comedy Central's late-night lineup, have increased almost 7 percent compared with a year ago, according to Nielsen.

And it's not just fake news that's attracting viewers. "Nightline," which is devoted to serious reportage, also added viewers, as ratings grew 4 percent compared with last year.

Overall, the audiences for the late-night legends still dwarf the news programs. At 4.4 million, Leno attracts almost four times as many viewers as Stewart.

But expect the current trends to continue. "You have a new generation of viewers looking for alternatives," says Marc Berman, senior editor at MediaWeek.

"Leno's been on for over a decade, and people are getting to a point where they're tired. It will continue to decline. The erosion for Leno and Letterman will continue since their audience is aging."

Current events are also driving more viewers to tune in to news, both fake and real. "It's an election year, and the war in Iraq is dominating headlines, so it's natural that you have people tuning in to news," says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Droughns ready to fit in

Droughns Ready to Fit in With Giants-See my comment below
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New York Giants plan to replace the retired Tiki Barber with two running backs.

At least that's what they have told newcomer Reuben Droughns, who was acquired last week in a trade with Cleveland for receiver Tim Carter.

"They said it's definitely going to be a 1-2 punch," Droughns said in a conference call on Monday, shortly after he passed a physical and officially joined the Giants, where he will pair up with Brandon Jacobs.

"Brandon and me will be kind of a pound-it-out running style, so we'll try to wear down the defenses and work together," Droughns said.

The two Super Bowl teams both alternated halfbacks last season. Indianapolis used Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai, while Chicago used Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.

With Jacobs and Droughns, coach Tom Coughlin is going to have a pair of big bodies to run behind fullback Jim Finn. Droughns is 5-foot-11 and 220, small compared to Jacobs, 6-4 and 264.

The two met for the first time on Monday and Droughns, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards in both 2004 and 2005 and 750 last season, was impressed.

"Oh, yeah. He's a big young fella," the seven-year veteran said.

Droughns took the blame for his drop in production last season, but he noted that the Browns' offensive line was ravaged by injuries. Coming to the Giants, he said was a fresh start.

It's so new, it was obvious that he did not want to create waves with Jacobs, the third-year running back who rushed 96 times for 423 yards (4.4 yard average) and nine touchdowns.

"It's not my job," Droughns said when asked if he considered the starting halfback job open. "It's Brandon's, because he was the guy who's here. Brandon's next in line. It's his job to lose, but I'm sure he doesn't want to lose it. It's going to be a good competition in training camp."

There wasn't going to be a competition for the Browns' starting job this season. Droughns realized that last week after former Baltimore Raven Jamal Lewis to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Browns.

"I knew my role was slimming down," Droughns said. "Our union had basically fallen apart. They were either going to release me or trade me."


That's just the kind of Rushing game the Giants want to run. It's the same kind of game they had in 2000 with Tiki and Ron Dayne(thunder and lightning) except i don't know if Ruben is "Lightning" fast. But he's surely smaller then Jacobs!

Emmitt Smith Hired By ESPN

Emmitt Smith to Join ESPN As Analyst-My comment below end of story..
By Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. -- Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith has been hired by ESPN as a studio analyst for its NFL pregame coverage.

Smith, the National Football League's all-time leading rusher, will appear on the network's NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown shows. He will also appear as an analyst on ESPN Radio and ESPN.com, the network announced Monday.

"I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and insight of football with the fans of the NFL," Smith said in a statement released by the network. "I am excited to be joining the ESPN family, particularly the highly respected Countdown crews."

Smith will join Chris Berman, analysts Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Ron Jaworski, and reporter Chris Mortensen on NFL countdown. He, Berman, Jackson, Mortensen and analyst Steve Young will do the Monday Night Countdown show each week from the site of the Monday Night Football game.


This could be one of the smartest moves ESPN could make regarding their Football coverage. Emmitt's personality is so much different then his predecessor and former teammate. Irvin was at times, to argumentative with his elders, and i'm sorry, as skilled as Irvin was on the field, he was not always well spoken off it, he also clashed with the styles of Ditka and Tom Jackson. Smith Knows how to play nice......

Senator Hillary Clinton Thinks She's JFK! - Trying To Steal Barack Obama's Style Not Likely To Work

I just saw this article in the New York Post where Senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's comparing herself to John F. Kennedy, apparently hoping to both fire up her supporters and take some of the "Kennedy" tag off Senator Barack Obama.

Well, one thing I've learn is to let others call you JFK and not yourself. Remember Dan Quale? Recall the debate with the now Late Senator Lloyd Bentson, where he says to Quale, "I knew John F. Kennedy, and you're no JFK!"

Seems Hillary just set herself up for the punchline.