NFL Draft Order

Now that the Super Bowl is over, the next focal points are the draft and free agency. With that in mind, here is the official 2012 NFL first round draft order. As a refresher, picks 1 through 20 are ranked purely by overall season wins. There are several various tie breakers to break ties in record. Ties in wins that can't be broken this way are decided by a coin-flip. Picks 21 through 32 are decided by the playoffs and Super Bowl. In the event of a tie, an * will be used to indicate a tie.

1) Indianapolis Colts (2-14)
2) St. Louis Rams (2-14)
3) Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
4) Cleveland Browns (4-12)
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
6) Washington Redskins (5-11)
7) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
8*) Carolina Panthers (6-10)
8*) Miami Dolphins (6-10)
10) Buffalo Bills (6-10)
11*) Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)
11*) Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
13) Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
14) Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
15)Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
16) New York Jets (8-8)
17) Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland) (9-7)
18) San Diego Chargers (8-8)
19) Chicago Bears (8-8)
20) Tennessee Titans (8-8)
21) Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)
22) Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta) (4-12)
23) Detroit Lions (10-6)
24) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
25) Denver Broncos (8-8)
26) Houston Texans (10-6)
27) New England Patriots (From New Orleans) (13-3)
28) Green Bay Packers (15-1)
29) Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
30) San Francisco 49ers ( 13-3)
31) New England Patriots (13-3)
32) New York Giants (9-7)

Super Bowl Recap

New York and New England once again gave us a great Super Bowl. While not as good as the last meeting, this game provided plenty of excitement and thrill. Any time a game comes down to the last play, it is always a quality game. Once again, Eli Manning came through in the 4th quarter and earned MVP honors. There really are 3 moments that stand out as big plays in this game.

1) Manningham Makes A Grab
This play will go down as what really got the Giants moving down the field for the go-ahead score. Everything about this play looked good.

2) Wes Welker's Drop
Welker may be the most sure handed receiver in the game, but when crunch-time came, Welker did the unthinkable, he dropped a pass. While the pass wasn't the greatest for Brady, Welker should have made this catch. While not on the last drive, this could have entirely changed the outcome of the game.

3) Ballard Won't Go Down Without a Fight
While this didn't happen on the field, this is the embodiment of just how much this game means to the players. The effort just to get back in the game is commendable. Here is to wishing Ballard a swift recovery.

Halftime Review

With the first half of the Super Bowl in the books, all I can say is that I am impressed. Yes, there have been some mistakes by each team, but all in all it has been a great half. Both teams are playing their game well and minimizing their weaknesses. With that in mind, here are 4 factors that will decide this game in the second half.

1) Giants Pass Rush
The Giants have done an exceptional job getting after Brady and getting hands up in his passing lanes. Brady did drive down the field to end the half, this unit has been all over Tom Brady. If the Giants can keep the pressure up, expect a close game.

2) Patriots Secondary
This much abused unit has made some great plays today, but will the second half be its undoing? They must contain the Giants receivers on the outside. If not, expect Eli to carve up this group.

3) Steve Weatherford
He has done a great job pinning the Patriots back on each punt. The field position game may be the deciding factor in this game. Every little bit will help, and Weatherford is more than doing his share.

4) Bill Belichick
What will the master do to make adjustments. Perhaps nobody in the leauge is better at maximizing his players ability than Belichick. The changes that Belichick makes could determine the outcome of this game.


Stay tuned for a great second half.

NFL Awards Recap

The NFL just wrapped up its annual awards, and this years recipients were exceptional.

As expected, Aaron Rodgers walked away with the MVP award. Rodgers looked amazing during the season and will only continue to improve. I look for his name to be called for this award at least a few more times in his career. For the year, Rodgers finished with 45 passing touchdowns and threw for over 4600 yards.

Drew Brees won offensive player of the year, and rightfully so. Brees accomplished what so many have tried to do and failed. Brees broke Dan Marino's single-season passing mark of 5,084 yards by throwing for an astounding 5,476 yards.

On the defensive side, Terrell Suggs was named defensive player of the year. Suggs recorded 70 tackles (50 solo), 7 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, and 14 sacks.  Suggs turned in an amazing season. Ray Lewis may be the face of the Ravens, but without Suggs, this defense is nowhere near as good.

As expected, Cam Newton won the offensive rookie of the year, breaking Peyton Manning's rookie passing yards record, and Von Miller won defensive rookie of the year. Both turned in impressive performances and will be essential building blocks for their franchises for years to come.

Rounding out the awards, Matthew Stafford won comeback player of the year after returning from yet another shoulder injury to lead the Lions to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.  49'ers head coach Jim Harbaugh won the AP Coach of the Year Award by leading the 49'ers to an impressive 13-3 record and a botched punt away from the Super Bowl. Harbaugh inherited a 6-10 team and immediately turned the culture around. Expect the 49'ers to be a force for years to come.

Final Thoughts on the Super Bowl

With the Super Bowl just a day away, it is time to make a final prediction. Just like the last meeting between these two in the Super Bowl, this game should be a thriller. 7 Patriots and 15 Giants on these teams participated in the last Super Bowl. Even if they won't admit it, this is about revenge for the Patriots and cementing a legacy for the Giants. Manning has a much more talented team around him this year, but Brady has produced just as he has throughout his career. In the end, I still have to give the edge to the Giants. Look for a great 4th quarter, with a final score of New York 27, New England 24.

Draft Proflie: Janoris Jenkins

Next up is North Alabama corner Janoris Jenkins.

Position: CB
Height: 5' 10''
Weight: 182 Lbs.

Pros: Jenkins is a player with exceptional skill and severe character issues. Many look at Jenkins and see his school listed as North Alabama and question his ability. Jenkins was actually a three year player for the University of Florida, playing in the shadow of Joe Hayden (1st round pick of the Cleveland Browns) before stepping up to fill Hayden's place. Jenkins has exceptional reaction and anticipatory skills and while a bit on the undersized side, plays physically at the line. Jenkins can use his exceptional speed to turn and burn with a receiver down the field. Jenkins has exceptional closing ability and is a gambler always willing to go for the interception. Jenkins possesses great man skills and good zone skills. His speed allows him to jump routes and make big plays with ease. Jenkins also takes great angles in pursuit and is a good run support corner.

Cons: How did Jenkins, a player who started 37 of 40 games for the Gators, end up at North Alabama? Jenkins was sent packing by new coach Will Muschamp for two arrests within a four month span for marijuana possession. Ouch. Jenkins is a prospect who would be much higher had his character lapses not happened, but as it is he is still a very talented player. With his desire for interceptions, Jenkins sometimes goes for broke and misses, leaving his man wide open and going downfield. Jenkins also tends to lead with the shoulder trying to deliver the big hit and that causes missed tackles. Jenkins is a player who will make big plays for a team, but the team should also be prepared to have a few touchdowns or big plays given up due to that nature. Jenkins is a double-edged sword, plain and simple.

Jenkins erased any doubts about his ability by playing extremely well at the Senior Bowl. Jenkins may slip into the second round due to character issues, but expect him to be a serious option for a number of teams.

Moving Forward or Moving On?

A few seasons ago, the San Diego Chargers were sitting on a 14-2 regular season record. Fast forward to today, and we have a franchise that has posted a 9-7 and an 8-8 season the last two years. More telling though is the fact that they have failed to win the division or make the playoffs over that two year span. The team has failed to get off to a good start until this season, and even then they found a way to falter down the stretch. San Diego sits at a crossroad of making a decision to pursue a championship with the current roster or to call an end to this team and start building for the future. 

Perhaps no person can be given as much credit for this downturn as GM A.J. Smith. Smith, who has been in charge of the drafts for the Chargers have had over the last several seasons and has been part of the reason that several talented players have been cut or have left the Chargers as free agents. As much as people want to blame just Norv Turner, it is important to realize that Smith has not always put Turner in the best position to succeed. While I am not a huge supporter of Turner (I still dislike Smith for firing Marty), it is important to note that Turner isn't the only one at fault. Smith must bring in quality talent throughout the draft and give this team more depth if they are to succeed.  If the team struggles once agin this season, expect at least one if not both of them to be packing up their offices and looking for employment elsewhere.