NFL Draft Preview - QB

Now that all college players have declared their eligibility for the NFL Draft, it is time to review the skills players who can help your fantasy team this season and beyond. This installment will be focusing on Quarterbacks.

QB:

Matt Ryan: "Matty Ice," as the Boston faithful call him, put together a solid season for BC this year. Although BC fell in the rankings towards the end of the year, Ryan carried BC on his back for much of the season and made them winners. That leadership ability, coupled with his above average arm, height, and overall skills make him the protypical QB coming out of this year's draft. He kinda reminds me of a right-handed Matt Leinart, who had less talent around him.

Brian Brohm: Brohm is another classic example of a player who should forego his senior season and come out when his stock is the highest. Like Leinart and Brady Quinn before him, Brohm could have been picked in the top 5 in the draft a year earlier and now, after a solid but unspectacular season, finds himself fighting to be even the #1 QB drafted. When Bobby Petrino left, Brohm should have gone with him. Brohm has nice numbers all around, but may not be successful unless he finds the right system.

Andre Woodson: Another 'leadership' guy who put Kentucky football on the map. Huge arm and charismatic abilities remind NFL scouts of a less-mobile Vince Young or even a Donovan McNabb. His release is a bit slow and he had a tough time trying to adapt to 'Mad' Mike Martz' system in workouts, but he has great potential. A team who needs a QB, like the Ravens, Jets, and Chiefs, would be foolish to pass on him if they have the chance.

Colt Brennan: The QB for 12-1 Hawaii seeks to prove the naysayers wrong and bring respectability to Hawaii's Run and Gun offense. Few Hawaii players have been able to produce in the NFL, and Brennan appears to be the same unless he can find a team with the right system for him.

Chad Henne: Tough QB from Michigan proved he can win big games and proved that he can be resilient after Michigan was shocked by Appalachian State last year. He lacks some of the glitter from the top 3 QB's, but should become a solid backup somewhere. He may even be a potential Matt Schaub, a tough guy who learns on the sidelines for a few years and earns fans as he shows potential.

Joe Flacco: The QB from Delaware is earning praise in workouts, but does that translate into the NFL? He lacked the competition from bigger games and seems unproven. He could be the next Jay Cutler. Then again, he kinda sounds like the former #1 overall from Fresno State, a guy named David Carr.

Josh Johnson: This I-AA QB from San Diego is my ultimate sleeper. They guy completed dominated I-AA and before you say, Tavaris Jackson, Johnson is recommended highly by former NFL QB Jim Harbaugh, who recruited him before leaving for Stanford and upsetting Ohio State this year. This is all you have to remember: 43 to 1. That is Johnson's TD to INT ratio in 2007. Scary!!

Should the Twins Trade Santana??

In a word, abso-freakin-lutely!!!

Here are the Facts: Johan Santana, the undisputed best pitcher in MLB right now, is a free agent after the 2008 season. Based on contracts given out to pitchers like Barry Zito and Carlos Zambrano, who are not in the same class as Santana, Santana is expected to be offered a contract in the range of 5-6 years and $140-160 million next offseason. The Twins, who have the richest owner in baseball but who refuses to spend any money on his team, cannot afford to pay Santana the contract that he expects to receive. Santana, 32, has a no-trade clause, but has agreed to waive it if he is traded to the Yankees or Red Sox. If the Twins do not re-sign Santana, the team who signs him will be forced to give up their two top draft picks in the 2009 draft to the Twins in compensation for signing the Class A free agent pitcher.

Here's the Law: In baseball, there is no prize for finishing third.

Here's the Analysis: Publicly, there are currently three offers on the table for Santana. The Yankees have offered Philip Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and a third prospect. The Red Sox have offered a package of Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson, and either Jacoby Ellsbury or Jon Lester and Coco Crisp. The Mets have offered a larger combination of prospects: OF Carlos Gomez, RHP Kevin Mulvey, RHP Philip Humber and RHP Deolis Guerra, the team's top pitching prospect from Class-A St. Lucie. As of today, the Twins have yet the accept any offer and are holding out for the best package for their ace pitcher.

Here's the Conclusion: The Twins are in a bind, but they would be smartest to trade Santana now while his value is the highest. During the season, Santana is at risk for injury or for not pitching well (See Randy Johnson in his last season with Seattle) because of this contract distraction. Either of these factors could lower his trade value. Further, if the Yankees or Red Sox both play well this year, they could decide to yank their offer for Santana because they would not need him. Finally, the Twins are in the same division as the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, who are both poised to be better this season than the Twins (even with Santana). If the Twins cannot make the playoffs with Santana, there is no reason to hold onto him to stay competitive. They did so last year with CF Torii Hunter, and he left as a free agent. The Twins should sell hard while the market on Santana is high and restock their team, or else they risk being left with a team that loses their ace and continues to fade into obscurity.

My Favorite Yankee Stadium Memory by Mickey Mantle

This year marks the last year of Yankee Stadium, the House that Ruth built. But, some might argue that some other of the Yankee greats took ownership of this house as well. Mickey Mantle, the All-American boy from Oklahoma, had this hilarious response to his favorite Yankee stadium memory!!!

Click on the Image below.

Warning: Not suitable for children.