A Different Draft Day Strategy

Finally, today is the day of the annual National Football League's Draft Day from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. For some football fanatics, this day is more exciting than the Super Bowl. Why? It affords hope to all 32 teams that their future fortunes will be better by what they do today. If not, it will also spell doom for those who chose the wrong players and send the fans to the turnstiles or the remotes.

There are alot of different strategies employed by the General Managers and their staff on how to stock their roster with stallions and not donkeys. If you have been following this nonstop media love fest on the draft since the Super Bowl, I'll spare you what you already know. What you don't know is what my strategy would be if I were in command of one of those draft day war rooms. Are you ready for some The Write Way football draft day strategy? Here you go.

First Round.
Bonafide Star. Draft the best athlete on the board category. Has to be at least a three year starter and superb performer in a major college conference with an excellent coach. Identify the position(s) on your roster in need and get the best athlete for that position. Intelligence, speed, size, love of the game, versatility, and leadership qualities have to be in the highest range. Avoid problem children. Avoid overfed, spoiled, inconsistent, injury-prone and dumb players regardless of their individual accomplishments on the field (ie., Cam Newton). My pick, if available: Patrick Peterson, LSU.

Second Round.
Quarterback. This is a quarterback dominated league without a brilliant starter, smart back up and an above-average third stringer you will lose. Each year draft a quarterback in the second-fourth rounds. This is a violent league and qbs are endangered species. One must stock this position with big game experienced, able-bodied and mentally prepared athletes. Plus an abundance of talent in this position may help with trades down the road. My QB Pick: Greg McElroy, Alabama.

Third Round.
Defensive Lineman. A collegiate lineman player who is from island descent in the archipelago in the South Pacific, ie, Samoa, Tonga, etc.. These players are immovable objects on the line. With a redwood tree core and I-beam legs, they clog up running lanes like grease in the kitchen drain or open them like Draino. They stop runners and defenders period. Strength? Stephen Paea, lineman from Oregon State in this year's draft, bench pressed 225LBS 49 times at the combine. My Island Pick: Sione Fua, OT, Stanford.

Fourth to Six Rounds.
Small School Star. Search Division II talent and select a player from one of the perennial small school powerhouses in the Midwest. In 2008, Indianapolis Colts selected Pierre Garcon, wide receiver, from Mount Union in the sixth round. By 2010, Garcon was the Colts starting wide receiver and scored 6TDs with 67 receptions. My pick: Cecil Shorts, III, WR, Mt. Union.

Who to Avoid.
Any player who was coached by the feckless Rich Rodriguez. Some of Rich's players of the past who flamed out royally and tragically in the NFL: Pacman Jones and Chris Henry.

Who to Pick Regardless of Immediate Need After the First Round.
Greg McElroy. See above. Greg scored a 43 correct out of 50 questions on the NFL administered Wonderlich intelligence test that measures an athlete's aptitude and problem solving. The NFL average is 20. Literate level is 10. Only two players in the history of the NFL have scored perfect Wonderlich scores: Pat McInally and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Both educated at Harvard. Conversely, Vince Young scored a 16 and this year's phenom, Cam Newton, scored 21. McElroy not only has the intelligence but reads defenses well and throws accurately with a 70% completion rate. He may not possess the arm of the 1st rounders nor the feet but this kid is a winner in every way. Played for the best coach in the USA, Nick Saban at Alabama, in the best conference, SEC, and under the most pressure every week. He led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship in 2009. He is a 10 year wise investment for any team as an able back-up or starter. And none of the experts, Mel,Todd or Mike are talking about this kid. Unbelievable.

Well , that's it from my perch. Let the picks begin.

Enjoy the show tonite. Especially the antics of those crazy Jets fans in the house.

Postscript: How weird will this draft be with the NFL lock-out and the jockeying going on in the courts as a backdrop of such an wonderful evening? As Rodney King would say, "why can't we all just get along?"