For Football Reasons Only, The Redskins Need Michael Sam

I have made no secret of my complete support of Michael Sam in his quest to be the first openly gay man to play in the NFL.  I think he should be able to do so, and he has gotten a bit of a chance.  It is interesting that the team that drafted him, the St. Louis Rams, cut him and now have the 23rd ranked defense, and are dead last in the league in sacks from a defensive line that was supposed to be the best in football.  Call it karma, if you want, because the Cowboys signed Sam and are off to a 6-1 start.  But now Dallas, too, has let Sam go.  This is where my beloved dumpster fire, the Washington Redskins, come into play.

Would it be great publicity to sign him?  Of course.  Would letting Sam play for the team help balance out all the negativity surrounding the team's name, Dan Snyder's attitude, the oft-injured franchise QB, and an abysmal record?  Sure would.  However, that should have nothing to do with his signing.  There are 3 amazingly obvious, football-only reasons that the Washington Redskins need to sign Michael Sam immediately.

1. Brian Orakpo is hurt again.  The 3-time Pro Bowler and current franchise player of the DC Football team re-tore his pectoral muscle this past week, and is out for the rest of the year.  In fact, there is a good chance his career in DC is over unless he wants to take a massive pay cut in the offseason.  The Skins looked like they were going to be moving on anyway, and still have a pass rush anchored by Ryan Kerrigan.  However, another injury would leave them severely short on edge rushers.  Michael Sam could come into a 3-4, play behind more experienced guys, work on his coverage and rush skills, and provide another serviceable warm body for Jim Haslett to plug into his system.

2. The Redskins may have the worst special teams in the league.  While the unit played well in their win over the Tennessee Titans, they still have massive holes on coverage and blocking.  This is where they could use a guy like Michael Sam.  A quality edge rusher can require more than one blocker, thus allowing one of the faster guys to get to the opposing punter or kicker cleanly.  Furthermore, a former SEC Defensive Player of the Year probably knows how to tackle guys, which seems to be an issue for the rest of the squad.  Also, Sam has the same build and speed as former Skins Pro Bowl Special Teamer Lorenzo Alexander, who may be the most sorely missed player in recent DC Football history.  To prove you can play in the NFL, you have to start on special teams.  Sam could flourish in this much-needed role.

3. Michael Sam knows the Cowboys system.  In case you didn't know, the Redskins and their fanbase absolutely hate the Dallas Cowboys.  So, why wouldn't the team want to gain every upper hand they could going into a week when they play the 6-1 division leaders?  Sam could have insight into the intricacies of Dallas' defense.  We know Colt McCoy will need all the help he can get.  A failure to sign Sam when he has experience in Dallas and when you have the open spot on your roster is a massive oversight.  Bill Belichick does this kind of move all the time, and he has won as many Super Bowls as Joe Gibbs.  As an organization, the Skins should probably start doing more things the Patriots would do.  They seem to be doing alright.


So there you have it.  Not one, not two, but three football-based reasons the Skins should sign Michael Sam immediately.  It has nothing to do with giving this young man a chance to make history.  It has nothing to do with trying to get positive publicity, though Snyder et al need as much as they can get.  It doesn't even have anything to do with the fact that Washington, DC has been voted one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States.  It only has to do with football.  Sign the kid.  Improve the team.  Beat Dallas?  Maybe.

A New Feature- JFLAN's WWE Network Pick Of The Week!

Hello all.  Apologies for being somewhat absent recently.  All of my friends seem to be getting married, requiring me to spend a long time away from sports and concentrating on things like love.  Disgusting, I know.  But, I am back, and I will now have a new weekly feature.  For those of you lucky enough to be wrestling fans, you hopefully know how amazing the WWE Network is.  Every pay-per-view ever by WWE, WCW, and ECW.  All future WWE PPVs.  Original content like WWE Countdown, Wrestlemania Rewind, and even the 2 hour documentaries about the real life rises to fame of some of WWE's biggest stars.  All of this, of course, is available for just $9.99.  So, I have decided to pick something from the Network for you all to watch.  So, with my inaugural pick, I have chosen the 1996 Royal Rumble!

I picked this because, at one point in my life, I memorized the entire entry order from the 30-man over the top rope battle royal.  It is a good one, featuring some major stars like Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Owen Hart, Yokozuna, and the Rumble debut of "The Ringmaster" (soon to be known as Stone Cold Steve Austin) and the WWE debut of Vader.  Plus, keep a lookout for Dr. Isaac Yankem, who would later be rebranded (in amazing fashion) as Kane.  There is also an excellent main event, as Undertaker took on the WWE Champion Bret Hart.

Again, I highly recommend viewing this gem from the mid-90s, and encourage you to sign up for the WWE Network.  If you aren't a wrestling fan... well... your loss.

How to Realistically Solve The NFL's Current Issues

So, Emperor Roger Goodell is in a bit of hot water right now as everyone knows.  It is impossible to watch any football game, sports news show, or even national news program without hearing about his mishandling of the Ray Rice situation.  Now, it is conceivable that he will resign if enough pressure is put on him by the owners and the NFL sponsors.  I am still not sure that will happen, so I have come up with another solution.  It won't make anyone happy, but everyone will be at least satisfied.

Step 1- Suspend Roger Goodell without pay for the entirety of the 2014-2015 season, up to and including the NFL Draft in May.  I give to you the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, Section 2-

Standard of Conduct:
While criminal activity is clearly outside the scope of permissible conduct, and persons who
engage in criminal activity will be subject to discipline, the standard of conduct for persons
employed in the NFL is considerably higher. It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty
of a crime. Instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher
standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values
upon which the League is based, and is lawful.
Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and
subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime.
Discipline may be imposed in any of the following circumstances:
• Criminal offenses including, but not limited to, those involving: the use or threat of violence;
domestic violence and other forms of partner abuse; theft and other property crimes; sex
offenses; obstruction or resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; fraud; racketeering; and money
laundering;
• Criminal offenses relating to steroids and prohibited substances, or substances of abuse;
• Violent or threatening behavior among employees, whether in or outside the workplace;
• Possession of a gun or other weapon in any workplace setting, including but not limited to
stadiums, team facilities, training camp, locker rooms, team planes, buses, parking lots, etc., or
unlawful possession of a weapon outside of the workplace;
• Conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person; and
• Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or
NFL players.

That last bullet point. "Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players." I'd say the commish has broken that one a bit.  There are perfectly reasonably grounds for his suspension without pay.  His pay for the last fiscal year was around $40 million, which is simply bonkers.  So, losing out on a massive chunk of that cash, along with removing him from the public eye, as well as showing that even the commissioner is governed by these collectively bargained rules is a very smart decision.

While this is not as final as his dismissal from the position, suspending Goodell with that sizable of a financial loss speaks volumes.  That money could even be used to start a fund to help the victims of domestic abuse, and just like that, the NFL is getting good publicity.

Step 2- Have the interim commissioner (whoever that may be) establish an executive committee to review all domestic violence issues within the league.  I would say make it all high ranking people from inside football, and maybe one or two from outside.  Make it a seven-member committee, consisting of a majority women.  Now, that is not to say that all domestic violence occurs as with men as the aggressor.  I need only point out the transgressions of US Women's Soccer Team goalie Hope Solo, who allegedly abused her sister and nephew.  But when dealing with the NFL, I imagine that a majority of the issues will be driven by male violence.  This committee can give a fair, balanced and in depth look into each incident, and adjudicate accordingly.  With this, there would be an impartial body that to which even the officer of the commissioner would have to answer.

Step 3- The 3 E's-

- Educate the players about why domestic violence is wrong (should be obvious). These steps are pretty straight forward.  It goes without saying that domestic violence is wrong.  Pretty much all violence is wrong.  But in the NFL we are dealing with some muscled up alpha males that get their brains knocked around for a living.  Sometimes they may need a refresher course on acceptable behavior (then again, a good deal of society need those courses too).

- Enforce the stricter rules which are now in place.  One thing I can give a bit of credit to Goodell for is putting into place the new rules, stating that those guilty of domestic violence will be suspended 6 games without pay for a first offense, and face a lifetime ban for a second.  Those are appropriately tough rules.  Make sure that those are enforced, even if that means that some who have yet to be suspended committed their crime under the old rules, like Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy.  His issue is currently being played out in court, so the NFL is waiting to see what will come of that.  If he is found guilty, he should immediately be suspended for the next six games, even if it includes playoffs or spans two seasons.  Make an emphatic correct statement instead of flubbing clueless wrong ones.

- Establish a culture in which this is no longer an issue.  I read recently that, at his Elite 11 Camp, (a training camp for the top 11 high school QBs going into college), former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer holds a seminar about the proper ways to treat women, i.e. with respect and not hitting them.  This should be expanded throughout youth football.  It isn't that difficult of a message to grasp.  Furthermore, at the rookie intro meetings to the NFL, where they teach players how to manage money and conduct themselves in public, there should be a class teaching about the evils of domestic violence.  If you ingrain the message so strongly into the youngsters entering the league, then the number of domestic violence incidents will hopefully drop.


If these relatively easy steps are followed, not only will the fervor for Goodell's head subside, but the league as a whole will be stronger due to the character of its players, coaches and executives rising.  This is not a difficult issue.  It is almost always wrong to hit your spouse, girl or boyfriend, relative, child, stranger on the street.  Just don't do it.  I leave you with the wise words of CBS's James Brown (DC's own) from the pregame show of tonight's Ravens/Steelers game:

"Two years ago I challenged the NFL community and all men to seriously confront the problems of domestic violence especially coming on the heels of the suicide of Jovan Belcher, and girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, yet here we are again confronting the same issue of violence against women.  Now, lets be clear, this problem is bigger than football.  There has been, appropriately so, intense and widespread outrage following the release of the video showing what happened in the elevator at the casino.  Now wouldn't it be productive if this collective outrage could be channeled to truly hear and address the long-suffering cries for help from so many women and, as they said, do something about it?  An ongoing, comprehensive education of men about what healthy, respectful manhood is all about.  And it starts with how we view women.  Our language is important, for example: When a guy says "You throw a ball like a girl" or "You're a sissy," it reflects an attitude that devalues women, and attitudes will eventually manifest in some fashion.  Women have been at the forefront in the domestic violence awareness and prevention arena, and whether Janay Rice considers herself a victim or not, millions of women in this country are.  Consider this- According to domestic violence experts, more than three women a day lose their lives at the hands of their partners.  That means that since the night of February 15th in Atlantic City, more than 600 women have died, so this is yet another call to men to stand up and take responsibility for their thoughts, their words, their deeds, and to get help.  Because our silence is deafening and deadly."

College Football is Back!

Well, its that wonderful time of year again.  Baseball season is coming to crunch time, only one more preseason NFL game, and college football is back for real!  I love me some NCAA football.  Of course, the NCAA may not be around for that much longer in the way we know it.  But hey, we should enjoy it while we can.  Here are some of my thoughts heading into the season:

-  It makes me very sad that Notre Dame and Michigan will be playing for the last time (for a while) on September 6th.  I grew up loving this game, and never knowing who to root for.  Coming from an Irish Catholic family outside of the state of Ohio or the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I actually like Notre Dame football.  However, I was also a big X-Men fan as a kid, so when I heard there was a team called the Wolverines, I decided they would be my favorites.  Anyway, it has been a great rivalry that has provided some insanely fun games.  Hopefully the 6th won't be any different.

-  Losing Braxton Miller is a massive blow to the hopes of Ohio State to win the National Title.  Yes, they can still win the Big 10 (14...) without him, and Urban Meyer is a great coach, but he needs to work a minor miracle without his starting QB.  Miller was going to be in the hunt for the Heisman.  Losing that kind of talent is never easy.

-  This will be another one of those "Year of the Quarterbacks".  Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Brett Hundley, Bryce Petty, Kevin Hogan, Connor Cook, etc.  The list goes on.  All of these players will be in the Heisman conversation at some point, as well as being scouted for the next level.  I could list 7 teams that could draft a QB in the 1st round next year.  If these talented signal-callers can lead their team to the Final Four, they would certainly be looked at in a better light.  I, of course, will be rooting for Kevin Hogan because he is a proud graduate of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC.  Hail!

-  How will the SEC do this year?  Yes, it is the best conference in college football.  However, the teams have a tendency to beat themselves up more than they should.  A team like Florida State can cruise through a relatively easy ACC schedule (maybe Syracuse upsets them.... No, we won't...) and be fairly rested before the playoffs.  But with so much talent in the SEC, can a team make it through to the Final Four unscathed?  Can more than one team make it?  I could see a top 4 of Florida State, Oregon, Alabama and a team like Wisconsin going undefeated and making it.  The BCS-era arguments of a 1-loss SEC team vs an undefeated Big 10/12/ACC team are still around.  Just called something different now.  Personally, I feel that if you are undefeated in a power conference, you should probably be in the Top 4 of the polls.

-  My Syracuse Orange, fresh off a Texas Bowl title, start their season Friday vs Villanova.  This used to be a great Big East basketball game.  We'll see how it goes for football.  Florida State is the only true guaranteed loss on our schedule, but I still expect something like 7-5.  I hope for more.  Right now there is no true #3 team in the ACC.  Louisville lost their QB and their coach.  The presumptive #2 Clemson lost Taj Boyd and Sammy Watkins.  If everything goes well (and I mean EVERYTHING), the Orange could be looking at a New Years Day bowl game for the first time in years.  I'll be giddy if that happens.  Also, look at our fancy new uniforms!

-  So who wins it all?  Who will take the first College Football Playoff oddly-shaped, rather suggestive trophy?  Honestly, have you looked at the top of it?  I can't be the only one that thinks they made a major design flaw.  But I digress.  If history has taught us anything, it is that the SEC is great, and that Nick Saban hates losing much more than he enjoys winning.  Alabama may have to overcome the loss of AJ McCarron to the pros, but I think that they will be able to win it all given the depth of their talent.  Of course, I could be wrong.

Abilene Christian vs. Georgia State starts of the madness tomorrow on ESPNU.  I know I'll be watching.

Enjoy the season!

Wizington DC?

So, there is no doubt that the #1 team in my home Metro area, Washington DC, is the American football team which shall not be named.  After that, it used to be the Capitals, but their lack of star power other than Ovechkin and continuous lack of a Stanley Cup may have them fading a bit.  The Washington Nationals are powered by Stras, Harper, Gio, Werth, and fun racing president mascots.  I care about them more than I do the Redski... I mean, that football team with RG3.

That brings us to the Wizards.  For a half a decade, they were a distant fourth in the collective mind of those actually from the area, which is a shame because DC is a fantastic basketball town.  Not only are there high quality college teams like Georgetown, Maryland, GW and George Mason, but you also have some of the best high school teams in the country in the area.  If you took a starting 5 made up of only current guys from the greater DC/Baltimore area, it would look like this (courtesy of elitedaily.com)-

That would be one hell of a starting 5.  They'd average 110 points a game... even if they gave up that much too.  So DC is a basketball town deserving of a solid basketball team.  And it looks like the Wizards are actually becoming one.

The Wizkids made it to the second round of the playoffs last year before bowing out to a Pacers team that remembered how to play basketball just in time.  John Wall and Bradley Beal are legitimate young stars whose ceilings are just getting higher.  The team re-signed the Polish Hammer Marcin Gortat in order to keep the excellent front court of him and Nene (when healthy) together.  But it is the smaller moved that may have made the team even better.

The first, and biggest, move was not re-signing Trevor Ariza.  Now, I like Ariza a ton, and he was the best two way player on the team last year for sure.  But he was due for a pay day that we didn't want to give him.  When he signed with the Rockets, it left us a bunch of money to move around to other players.  It also gave the team a chance to see if Otto Porter Jr was worth the #3 pick in last season's draft.  He and Glen Rice Jr have been tearing it up in Summer League recently, both knowing that they now have a chance to get substantial minutes with Ariza gone.

Second, the Wizards signed Paul Pierce.  Yes, he is old, but he has a ton of experience with winning, dealing with tough losses and getting back up, and how to overcome adversity.  He can be the veteran leader that this team did not always have last year.  Nene could only do so much, and what can a center really say to a team run by its two starting guards?  Also, if he is able to tutor Otto Porter and teach him how to really play, then this could be the biggest steal of free agency.

Next, the Wizards added depth to their front court.  One of the main reasons the Wizards struggled at times recently was that Nene is injury prone.  The way to solve this was to find better backups.  Over the past two days, the Wizards have added Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair, both solid veterans who have had moments of brilliance for playoff teams.  Getting them (for practically nothing) will help fill the void that Nene will almost certainly leave when he gets hurt.

And then there is the real reason that not signing Ariza is a good thing, and why the Wizards fans are starting to talk more about this franchise.  In the summer of 2016, Kevin Durant becomes a free agent.  The Wizards will have a sizable amount of cash available, and the idea of the Slim Reaper coming back home to play for his childhood team is almost too tantalizing not to talk about.  Every DC sports writer is starting to think that Durant may pull a LeBron and come home to revive the team.  The Wizards will still be a solid team then too, since Wall and Beal are so young.  The Wiz could offer Durant a max deal and still have money left for other (cheaper) players to pair with the big 4 of Wall, Beal, Durant and Gortat.  It is a beautiful scenario, and one that those of us in DC would love to see.

So, yes, even while (my favorite team in DC) the Nationals are tied for first, while the Caps are trying to rebuild around Ovechkin without a goalie once more, and while Dan Snyder continually fights for the right to keep THAT name, the Wizards are slowly turning heads over to F and 7th Streets, NW for some compelling action on the hardwood.  Finally, a great high school and college basketball town may have a NBA team worthy of its fandom.  The city wants it.  The city needs it.  And it looks like the Wizards are ready to be it.

JFLANland NBA Draft Preview

Time for another draft!  True, I do not get into the NBA Draft as much, mainly because I am a bigger NFL fan than NBA fan, but I can still hold my own with the NBA Draft.  This Thursday will see teams not only trying to get better by bringing in new players, but also try to dump as much salary as they can to afford LeBron or Melo (or both!).  Here are just a few thoughts for the two round spectacular.

- I know there isn't a great history of all stars from Duke, but I would take Parker over Andrew Wiggins.  Wiggins has a ton of potential, yes, but Parker is ready to be a star now.  Also, if you look at recent Kansas players in the NBA (so, ones coached by Bill Self) there is even less success than Duke.  I don't really trust the Cavs to make the right move at all regardless, but give me Jabari if I had to improve that sorry team right now.

- 7 feet tall.  Back problems resulting in surgery.  Foot problems resulting in surgery.  Sorry Joel Embiid, I am not touching you with a 39 and a half foot pole.  All the best, but you have Greg Oden written all over you.

- There are apparently rumors that the 76ers are shopping Rookie of the Year winner Michael Carter-Williams, and then plan on taking Dante Exum from Australia as their pick at #3.  So, you trade away an already proven NBA point guard for a prospect from down under?  Maybe this is why the Sixers are so bad.  Whoever gets MCW would be getting a steal.  I know the Lakers have been a little interested if they are able to trade Steve Nash.  The only thing that might stop that from happening is if the Lakers are trying to shed as much salary as possible to make a run at the superstars to pair with Kobe.

- Apparently the top 2 boys from Syracuse are taking a bit of a slide down the draft board.  At one point, Tyler Ennis was in the mix to be the 1st point guard taken.  Now, he will be lucky if he is the 4th.  Exum, Marcus Smart, Elfrid Peyton, Zach Levine, and Mr. Kemba 2.0 Shabazz Napier may all go ahead of my guy Tyler.  I'd like to see him end up with a team that will let him play right away, like Toronto (he is from its suburbs).  And then there is Jerami Grant.  This one hurts me, because I knew Grant should come back for one more year.  He is so freakishly athletic, and has an amazing pedigree (Son of Harvey Grant, nephew of Horace Grant), but doesn't have a jump shot yet.  I have seen him go anywhere from the mid-20s to the mid-2nd Round.  I wish the best for the guy, but if he had come back to Cuse for one more year, taken over as the primary guy at SF for CJ Fair, and proven he can do it all, I think he had Top 10 written all over him.

- Speaking of CJ Fair, his workouts have been good enough that he is now an early 2nd round prospect.  My Wizards could take a run at the Baltimore native, because we can never have enough small forwards.

- Do you want to know the real reason why I love the NFL Draft more than the NBA Draft?  Foreign players.  They don't show up and play in the NBA for 3 years!  It isn't fair to the guys that played college and are ready to go right now.  For example, Dario Saric is a Top 10 guy, but just signed with a Euroleague team for 3 years, meaning that he won't show up for at least 2.  I don't understand what the appeal is for teams that need to win now.  The coach and GM may be gone before their new draftee even arrives in America!

- TJ Warren.  Whoever drafts him will be happy.  He was unstoppable in the ACC.

- Somehow, the Spurs will find the perfect player or two for their system.  He could be French, he could be a senior, but no matter what, he will work for Pop and his crew.

- I understand the drinking game for the Draft is drink every time Jay Bilas says wingspan, among other things.  If you want some more ideas to use with your friends, take a look here.


Enjoy the Draft my friends.

JFLANland 2014 NFL Mock Draft- Round 5

Here it is, my final round of the 2014 Mock Draft.  After this point, it will be players that barely anyone has heard of, and I don't think many of you will read it.  So, we stop at 5.  Here we go!

1 (141). Houston Texans- Davonta Freeman, RB, Florida State

2 (142). Washington Redskins- Jordan Zumwalt, ILB, UCLA

3 (143). Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
          Still no idea if Mike Glennon is starter material, so the Bucs might take Murray to learn from McCown.

4 (144). Jacksonville Jaguars- Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami

5 (145). Cleveland Browns- Nevin Lawson, CB, Utah State

6 (146). Seattle Seahawks- Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware

7 (147). Atlanta Falcons- Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State

8 (148). Minnesota Vikings- James Gayle, DE, Virginia Tech

9 (149). Buffalo Bills- Lamin Barrow, OLB, LSU

10 (150). Jacksonville Jaguars- Terrence West, RB, Towson

11 (151). Tennessee Titans- Jordie Tripp, OLB, Montana

12 (152). New York Giants- Ed Stinson, DE, Alabama

13 (153). St. Louis Rams- Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke

14 (154). New York Jets- Lache Seastunk, RB, Baylor

15 (155). Miami Dolphins- Mike Davis, WR, Texas

16 (156). Chicago Bears- Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin

17 (157). Pittsburgh Steelers- Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State

18 (158). Dallas Cowboys- Shaq Evans, WR, UCLA

19 (159). Jacksonville Jaguars- Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty

20 (160). Arizona Cardinals- Trey Burton, TE, Florida

21 (161). Green Bay Packers- Jeff Matthews, QB, Cornell

22 (162). Philadelphia Eagles- Dez Southward, S, Wisconsin

23 (163). Kansas City Chiefs- Taj Boyd, QB, Clemson
          I think there are a ton of similarities between Boyd and Alex Smith. He'd fit in well in Andy Reid's system.

24 (164). Cincinnati Bengals- TJ Jones, WR, Notre Dame

25 (165). San Diego Chargers- Michael Schofield, OT, Michigan

26 (166). Indianapolis Colts- Dontae Johnson, CB, NC State

27 (167). New Orleans Saints- Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU

28 (168). Carolina Panthers- Heff Janis, WR, Saginaw Valley State

29 (169). New Orleans Saints- Travis Swanson, OC, Arkansas

30 (170). San Francisco 49ers- David Fales, QB, San Jose State
          Jim Harbaugh went on record saying that Fales was a Top 5 QB. I bet he takes him.

31 (171). Denver Broncos- Kain Colter, WR, Northwestern

32 (172). Seattle Seahawks- Khyri Thornton, DT, Southern Miss

33 (173). Pittsburgh Steelers- Kadeem Edwards, OG, Tennessee State

34 (174). New York Giants- Bryan Stork, OC, Florida State

35 (175). Baltimore Ravens- Michael Sam, DE, Missouri

          Yes, I think Michael Sam goes in the 5th, and I think he goes to the perfect team for him.  Baltimore can never have too many pass rushers.  He can come in on passing downs and get to the QB.  Plus, no other player in the draft brings the kind of maturity and intangibles as Sam does.  He has shown immense courage and poise in his quest for acceptance for his homosexuality.  I am a huge fan of his.  Plus, Maryland has marriage equality (their governor is a proud graduate of my high school. Woot!) so if catches on with the team he can choose to get married there also.  The Ravens are the kind of team, with total stability in the front office and community, that can deal with the press surrounding Sam, and benefit from it.  Everybody wins.  And you can't tell me the SEC Defensive Player of the year doesn't deserve to get drafted.

36 (176). Green Bay Packers- Tyler Lawson, OC, Utah State


And there it is.  5 Rounds, straight from my brain to your eyeballs.  I imagine that no more than 3% of these picks will be right, but a man can dream.  I hope you enjoyed reading these 5 posts.  It is a labor of love, to be sure.  Now, sit back and enjoy the next three days of Draft Mania!  Thanks for reading!