What if....the Patriots did not draft Tom Brady? Part 1: 2000-2003

By Scott

In an experimental new segment for the blog, we're going to investigate the 'What ifs?' of sports and the ramifications that would ensue certain events. We'll try to break it down year by year and follow the players, coaches, and cultures affected.

For the inaugural 'What If?' I'll look into the career of Tom Brady, the Cinderella quarterback everyone forgot about until the Patriots swooped him up in with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. 10 years and 3 Super Bowl Rings later, the teams who held those first 198 picks wish they could have another chance to draft Mr. Bundchen. Now, we'll see what would have happened if another organization had decided to pick Tom Brady before the Patriots could, and the chain of events that would follow.

So, bear with me, as the reaction gets extremely complex. Here we go.....

2000 Offseason

It's the 2000 NFL Draft. New England Patriot's new head coach, Bill Belichick, sits in the Patriot's war room amongst a crowd of chatting scouts and executives. Belichick is discretely keeping his eye on the draft status of former Michigan Quarterback Tom Brady. Brady stands at an eye-catching 6'4", but is otherwise lanky and shapeless. And after running the slowest 40-yard dash at the 2000 NFL Scouting Combine, Brady isn't on the radar of many NFL teams. Belichick cracks a rare smirk as he sees countless, clueless franchises pass on the kid he believes will be the next Joe Montana. Now assured that Brady will fall to his team with the 199th pick of the draft, Belichick exchanges a nod to Scott Pioli, the Patriot's V.P. of Player Personnel, who is thinking the exact same thing. As a Patriot's executive dials Brady's phone number to inform him that he has been selected by the New England Patriots, Belichick's face turns from reserved enthusiasm to pure shock. The message rolls across the television screen: 'Pick 196: Jacksonville Jaguars: Tom Brady, QB, Michigan' .

2000 NFL Season

The 2000 NFL Season is not affected.  Jaguars' head coach Tom Coughlin drafts Brady as an extra insurance policy for Pro Bowl Quarterback Mark Brunell.  Jacksonville is coming off a loss in the AFC Championship, and Brady doesn't fit into their plans anytime soon.  While Brady fights for a backup position with the Jags, the coaching staff doesn't see his potential.  Although he makes the 53 man roster as the 3rd string quarterback, Tom doesn't take one snap in 2000 regular season as the Jags struggle to a disappointing 7-9 record.  Meanwhile, the Patriots are not stuck with any serious expectations under a new head coach.  Drew Bledsoe leads the Pats to an AFC East worst 5-11 record, and neither the Jags nor the Pats make the postseason.

2001 NFL Season

Brady remains shoved to the side of the Jaguar's roster as Brunell's job is still no danger.  Hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2000 season, the Jags center training camp around their starters.  While Brady shows mild progress, Jacksonville's coaching staff is nowhere near as competent as Belichick's, and the Jags leave Brady as a backup and label him a project.  

The Patriot's roster has seen solid overall improvement since 2000.  Although the additions of RB Antowain Smith and WR David Patten fly under the radar, they fit perfectly into the Patriot's offensive scheme.  And after giving franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe a record $103 million contract, the pieces were in place for the Patriots to make a run.  However, disaster strikes the team in their Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets.  Drew Bledsoe takes a vicious hit to the ribs in an attempt to scramble out of bounds, causing internal bleeding.  As Bledsoe is rushed to the hospital, a blindsided Belichick is forced to put 3rd year backup Michael Bishop in the game.  Bishop, re-signed by the Patriots during the offseason, earned his way into the 2nd string quarterback role, but is not prepared to take over as a starter.  The team's morale and hopes are crushed, as are their hopes of a championship.

  With the Patriots absent from the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks (then in the AFC West), take the last wildcard spot.  Posing little threat, the Seahawks are eliminated in the first round, anyway. Then, instead of the infamous "Tuck Rule Game", the Oakland Raiders cruise by the Miami Dolphins and meet up with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.  Though the Steelers boast arguably the best run-stuffing defense in the league, the Raiders' pass-happy offense convert on their limited opportunities to score on Pittsburgh.  Oakland's defense, led by Charles Woodson, contain Jerome Bettis and Plaxico Burress as Oakland upsets the home-favored Steelers.

Super Bowl 36:  Raiders vs. Rams:  The Rams enter Super Bowl XXXVI as heavy favorites over the outmatched Raiders.  The 'Greatest Show on Turf' torches the Raiders secondary, as Kurt Warner eclipses 500 yards passing and is named the game's MVP, breaking virtually every Super Bowl passing record in the process.  The Raiders aren't fast enough to play with St. Louis' young secondary or keep up with their high octane offense, and the Rams annihilate the Raiders, 48-13.  

2002 NFL Season

  After another disappointing season,  the Jaguars are on regressing rapidly.  With Brunell's numbers steadily declining, what may be Brady's only chance to capture the starting job is now.  However, with the team transitioning into a run-first offense with emerging start Fred Taylor, Coughlin drafts LSU QB David Garrard who plays a accurate, protect the ball at all costs type of game.  Garrard's natural fit for the offense puts him ahead of Brady on the depth chart.  With Brady's contract expiring in 2003, he is at his nerves' end with Coughlin and the organization.  

With Bledsoe back in control of the Patriot's offense, the team comes into '02 as a sleeper.  However, New England runs away with the AFC East and knock off a young Indianapolis Colts team to advance to the divisional round.  But, under Bledsoe, the Patriot's offense lacks a spark and rely on their defense to hold teams to low scores.  New England is blown out by Oakland and with a championship caliber team around him, Bledsoe starts to feel some heat from the fan base and media.

After beating up the Pats, the Raiders still meet up the Tennessee Titans in AFC Championship

Oakland cruises by and make their second straight Super Bowl appearance.  

In a rematch of the 1999 NFC Championship, the defending champion St. Louis Rams take on the Tampa Bay Bucs.  (Remember, the Rams actually fell apart in 2002 after losing to the Patriots in SB 36; however, with a victory in SB 36, St. Louis comes out cocky and rolls through the 2002 season to the NFC Championship)  St. Louis doesn't take Tampa seriously, believing they will easily outscore the defensive-minded Bucs.  Playing the no respect card, Tampa Bay comes out of the gate and crush the Rams with their fiery defense.  Brad Johnson plays his best game of the season, exposing a mediocre Rams secondary, and the Bucs advance to the first Super Bowl in franchise history.  

Super Bowl 37: Oakland's aging offense realizes this is their last chance at a ring, and after suffering through a national embarrassment in Super Bowl 37, the Raiders come into the game with a chip on their shoulder.  Add on the fact that coach Jon Gruden left the team for the Bucs this season, and the Raiders have some serious motivation.  However, Tampa Bay showcases one of the best defenses in NFL history and they lock down the Raider's aerial attack.  The Buc's offense struggles to put points on the board, but they sneak away with a 21-16 win and a Super Bowl ring.  The Raiders fall apart, and the career of many of their stars including Rich Gannon and Tim Brown fall into oblivion.  

2003 NFL Season

With a coaching change about to take place in Jacksonville, Brady opts not to re-sign with the Jaguars

and instead signs with the New York Giants.  But, Brady has more than football on his mind with this decision.  In Jacksonville's 2002 week 9 game in the Meadowlands, Brady is spotted by a modeling mogul from the crowd.  He approaches Brady after the game and tells him he should drop football for an entertainment career.  Of course, Tom can't give up his true love, so he finds the best of both worlds and signs a 1-year deal with the Giants, which allows him to be in New York and pursue a modeling career.

Somehow, this happened even though Brady was drafted by the Patriots..

Part 2 (and the rest of 2003) coming over the weekend. 

NHL Second Round Playoff Picks

By Stanley

The NHL Playoffs: the sports gods' way of forgiving us for making the NBA Playoffs so boring.  Every round is unbelievably intense, the teams are extremely competitive, the ice looks glorious in HD, the crowds are awesome, and it just keeps getting better each round.  Here we are, second round, and the matchups are fantastic for the most part.  Without further ado, round two picks:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes-The Canes have really been hot recently, and had a miraculous comeback in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils to move on to the second round.  This Hurricanes team is exciting, but it will be no match for the Bruins, who just dominated the Montreal Canadiens like no other.  By the way, I can't stand the Canadiens.  Besides the fact that most of their fans are annoying and bandwagon, they boo the American national anthem.  So yeah, it is their one hundredth anniversary, but I'm glad they were shellacked by the Boston Bruins.  In your face, French Canada.  

THE PICK: BRUINS IN 5

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins-The league has to love this matchup between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, obviously two of the best players in the league (Ovechkin is the best by the way....there is absolutely no argument for Crosby).  The Caps snuck through Round One with a spectacular comeback against the New York Rangers, a crappy but gritty team with an unbelievable goalie.  This matchup may actually be a bit better for the Caps.  Although the Pens are better than the Rangers, and more explosive, Marc-Andre Fleury does not pose nearly as many problems as Henrik Lundqvist.  The Caps should be able to outscore the Penguins in this one.  But it will be close.

THE PICK: CAPITALS IN 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks-The Anaheim "no longer mighty" Ducks come off a monster upset of the top seeded San Jose Sharks for this one, but now they have to play the defending champion Detroit Red Wings.  The Wings are better than ever, and cruised to a round one victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Expect the Wings to dominate this series.

THE PICK: RED WINGS IN 5

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks-This series should be unbelievable.  On one side, you have the well-balanced Canucks, with goalie Roberto Luongo.  Luongo is clearly the best remaining goalie in the playoffs.  On the flip side, the Blackhawks are an extremely talented young team on the rise, coming off a huge victory over the Calgary Flames.  The Blackhawks, led by young star Patrick Kane, probably have too much firepower for the Canukcs in this series.  The Hawks take it home, setting up a big-time rivalry matchup with the Red Wings.  

THE PICK: BLACKHAWKS IN 6

You want an argument against a college football playoff? Look at the NBA.

I don't even think the BCS could screw this one up.  Well, maybe.

By Stanley

College football is often ridiculed for its atrocious championship system, known as the Bowl Championship Series.  The BCS could be the most consistently criticized aspect of sports.  Let's get real: it never works.  But right now, in the midst of an extremely crappy NBA playoffs, I would love to see the BCS in professional basketball, just for this year.  

Wouldn't that take all the fun out of the playoffs, you may ask?  Well, it would, if the playoffs in 2009 were any fun.  The two best teams are obviously the Los Angeles Lakers from the Western Conference, and the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Eastern Conference.  There is no way around it.  The Celtics would only be a contender with Kevin Garnett, and he is out for the playoffs.  

Other teams that analysts may point to as being contenders include the Magic and Nuggets.  Sure, the Orlando and Denver racked up a bunch of wins during the season.  But do they have a chance at making it to the Finals?  No way.  Even if they do make it there, do they really deserve it?  Clearly, Denver is not a better team than Los Angeles.  Nobody wants to see a Nuggets-Magic final.  Maybe three people would tune in to that game.  

Seriously, would anyone really care if the NBA just cancelled the playoffs right now, and put the Lakers and Cavs in the Finals?  Well, outside of every other playoff team, of course.  But no team can possibly say that they are better than the Lakers or the Cavs in their respective conferences.  Nobody.  

So NBA fans will have to sit around and watch crappy basketball for a month and a half before they get to see a good matchup.  A team like Detroit should not have been in the playoffs this year.  They had no business being on the court with Cleveland.  At least the NBA should cut the playoffs to four teams or so per conference.  They won't, because that would lose a ton of money for the league and for TV contracts.  But it would mean better basketball all around. 

The NBA could use the main principle of the BCS: that is, putting the two best teams in the championship game.  This way, there are no fluke upsets on the road to the championship, so the public gets to see the best teams.  Would this work for every year?  Of course not.  Actually, a BCS system would be horrible for the league in most seasons.  But this year?  Give me the BCS.

One argument against implementing a college football playoff is that we won't get to see the best matchup.  For example, for the 2008 college football season, say there was an eight team playoff.  If Utah won their first two games (which would probably be a fluke), they would be in the championship.  Nobody wants to see Utah in the championship.  Give me Florida-Oklahoma, or Florida-Texas.  

Although the BCS may not always get the two best teams in the championship, we know for sure that it gets two of the best.  So at least fans get to see a solid matchup of two great teams.  However, if college football eventually gets a playoff, it could result in a terrible matchup, like USC vs. Utah.  Who do you think wins that game last year?  Well, if you want me to state the obvious, USC.  By like 50 points.  

Yeah, I know, the only ones who like the BCS are Ivan Maisel, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Satan.  Please, don't throw my name in with them, I am in full support of a playoff.  I'm just warning you: if college football somehow gets a playoff, you might get a crappy championship once in awhile.  That is the baggage that comes with a tournament.   

  How many BCS Computers does it take to screw on a lightbulb?

So maybe the BCS isn't that bad.  It at least lets us see great teams battle it out.  In the NBA, we get bad first round matchups, bad second round matchups, pretty good conference championships, and usually a solid finals.  But this year?  It will be atrocious first round matchups, godawful second round matchups, appalling conference championships, and an awesome NBA Finals.  So this year, I would love for the NBA to just cut out the first three rounds, just to eliminate the small chance that we don't get to see the amazing Cavs-Lakers Finals.  

Before you trash the BCS, just think about the fact that it gives us a great matchup every year.  It guarantees that we won't see a subpar team get lucky at the right time to make it to the championship.  And this year, the NBA could use the BCS.

Well, I don't want to drag this out too long.  I know you will all be tuned in to the super exciting Orlando-Philly matchup tonight.  Oh, and I am still angry at the BCS for its injustices over the last eleven years.  Don't get my wrong, I'm livid.  I despise the BCS.  But for the 2009 playoffs, I wish the NBA had a system like that.

NHL 2nd Round Preview

By Scott

The puck drops on the second round of the NHL Playoffs tonight with the Blackhawks and Canucks facing off in Game 1 of their series.  After an intense first round that featured two series decided in Game 7's, an 8 seed knocking off a 1, and a three game comeback by the Capitals to fend off the Rangers, round 2 should maintain the same excitement.  And once again, the NHL seems to have struck marketing gold with their matchups, particularly Crosby vs. Ovechkin.  Am I the only one who finds this suspicious? To the picks...

Eastern Conference:

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes capped off an incredible first round matchup against the Devils with Eric Staal's series-clinching goal in the closing seconds of Game 7.  As great as that was, the Bruins were lounging in Boston resting up for Friday's Game 1.  Though the Hurricanes may have momentum on their side, the Bruins have an advantage in just about every other category.  Tim Thomas continues to leave opposing teams in awe with his acrobatic saves, and he gets the edge over Canes' goalie Cam Ward who has flown under the radar even after out dueling future hall-of-famer Martin Brodeur in the first round.  The Hurricanes won't be able to keep up with Boston's physical high-powered offense, and the Bruins will once again be at home waiting for their next opponent.

Prediction: Bruins in 5

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Washington showed off some serious resiliency after falling behind 3-1 to the Rangers, yet fighting back to win the series in 7 games.  However, like the Bruins, the Penguins were getting plenty of much needed rest.  Simeon Varlamov rescued the Cap's poor goaltending and may have secured a spot as their future goaltender, but he'll have to face off against Marc-Andre Fleury who gets the advantage in experience and skill.  The Caps won't get away with scoring 2 or so goals a game, as the Penguins will score, and score a lot.  The league's eyes will be on its two biggest stars in Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.  The already tense rivalry could go to the next level with playoff intensity.  Regardless, the Penguins are a superior team and will display that over the next two weeks.  The league will probably do whatever they can to stretch this series out into 7 games, but I think Pittsburgh takes care of business before that.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Western Conference:

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks pulled off the biggest upset in recent memory by defeating the San Jose Sharks in 6 games.  Although it wasn't a fluke, the Sharks have consistently disappointed in the postseason, and Anaheim played up to their level.  Meanwhile, Detroit rolled over the Blue Jackets without any real competition until game 4 which the Red Wings won anyway.  Duck's net-minder Jonas Miller shut down the NHL's most potent offense, but won't have the same success against a faster, more efficient Red Wings offense.  For whatever reason, Detroit is simply unbeatable in the playoffs and the Ducks will be sent packing quickly.

Prediction: Red Wings in 5

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks

Maybe the most intriguing series of the first round, the NHL's best goaltender faces the league's youngest, most explosive offense.  The Blackhawks outscored Calgary's high-powered offense, and played some pretty solid defense in the process.  Vancouver, led by Roberto Luongo, had no issues taking down the St. Louis Blues.  Chicago comes in as a sleeper to make a run for the cup, and are now battle tested after their beating of the Flames.  Vancouver won't be able to keep up and score with the Patrick Kane & Co. as the Blackhawks advance to meet up with the Red Wings in a Winter Classic rematch.

Prediction: Blackhawks in 6

ESPN: A Dangerous Monopoly

By Stanley

ESPN Headquarters?  Or sports brainwashing center?

In the world of sports, there is only one media outlet that can truly be deemed legitimate, and that is ESPN.  ESPN, the “worldwide leader in sports” (a slogan created by the channel), has monopolized the sporting world to a point unmatched in any other genre of entertainment.  

ESPN’s monopoly in sports broadcasting would make Teddy Roosevelt the “trustbuster” roll in his grave: the network has rights to the National Basketball Association, NBA Playoffs, Monday Night Football, College Football, College Football Bowl games, College Basketball, Major League Baseball, MLB Playoffs, major golf tournaments, major tennis tournaments, and starting in 2011 the Bowl Championship Series, including the College Football National Championship.  ESPN will probably soon scoop up rights to air National Hockey League games.  And this list does not even include the daily programming that ESPN puts out, including shows like “Sportscenter”, as well as the multitude of other sports shown on the ESPN family of networks. 

Any sports fan loves ESPN, and why wouldn’t they?  ESPN gives you the all-access pass to every professional team in the country, not to mention some international teams.  Sure, they cover the Red Sox and Yankees a bit more than the Pirates and Rockies. But can you blame them?  ESPN only has a certain amount of stories to fit into shows, and they will always revert to the big-market teams.  Their programming provides the viewer with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week sports coverage, analysis, and action.  What isn’t there to love?

Well, lately I have become a bit discontented with ESPN.  Sure, you will find me watching the network every day of my life.  But maybe that is because it is the only sports channel to watch.  ESPN has become this all-encompassing, massive, well-oiled sports machine that dominates the sporting world as a whole and which also dominates the individual fan.  It has no rival in the world of television, a prospect that can be dangerous.  Can you imagine if there was only one national news network, unlike the three that we currently have (Fox News, CNN, MSNBC)?  It would be the only voice in the lives of the people, and you bet that it would affect the views of those who watched.

Am I saying that ESPN is trying to brainwash us all into loving the Dallas Cowboys?  Although it seems like some analysts are (Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin to name a couple), such a concept is obviously absurd and unfounded.  ESPN does give the Cowboys more attention than a team like the Seattle Seahawks, for example, but that is because the Cowboys have a more substantial fan base.  Naturally, a television channel plays toward its audience. 

We love you Tony Romo!  -ESPN

What is nerve-racking is that ESPN gives coverage mostly to the events and sports that it has the rights to broadcast.  While a network is naturally inclined to cover events that make up its programming, such a tactic is very unhealthy for the sports world.  For example, ESPN currently does not broadcast hockey games.  Thus, on shows like Sportscenter, network executives made the decision to show hockey highlights sparingly.  Because every sports fan must tune into ESPN, the sole provider of 24 hour-a-day sports analysis, interest in the National Hockey League goes way down. 

So, the NHL loses a bit of popularity, who cares, right?  Only Canadians like hockey anyways, correct?  Wrong on both accounts.  The NHL is the most intriguing it has been since the days of Wayne Gretzky.  Not only does the game have a superstar who could go down as one of the greatest players ever (Alex Ovechkin), but hockey also has unbelievable teams like the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, and Boston Bruins, as well as a number of other players that are extremely fun to watch, including Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, and Evgeni Malkin.  However, because ESPN decided a few years ago to discontinue broadcasting NHL games, the network heeds little attention to the extremely exciting NHL.  Such ignorance is injustice toward hockey fans and casual sports fans that are missing out on a truly exciting sport. 

You won't see too much Jarome Iginla on ESPN.

ESPN also feels the need to grab every possible retired player, retired coach, or fired coach to analyze his or her respective sport.  This strategy usually leads to atrocious commentating and lackluster programming.  At the 2009 NFL Draft, viewers were treated to the awful analysis of Herm Edwards, an NFL coach just fired from the Kansas City Chiefs.  Edwards clearly is an awful coach, as he was fired.  The viewer does not want to hear him stutter over his analysis of rookie football players when he obviously is not a good talent evaluator in the NFL.   

The network recently announced the hiring of Matt Millen, an ex-NFL linebacker and the ex-General Manager of the Detroit Lions.  Although Millen was a good linebacker and a stellar announcer before his days with the Lions, his résumé with the Lions was absolutely abysmal.  Under Millen’s watch, Detroit had a mere 31 wins and 84 losses record from 2001-2008, by far the worst stretch in the league during that time span.   Now why would anyone want to hear Millen’s analysis of a game?  Does a guy with this bad of a record have any credence at all?  Of course not, but ESPN still finds it necessary to hire him just to add to their out of control machine.                  

The insight ESPN's "experts" provide us with?  Seriously?

The “worldwide leader” has even started to infiltrate other larger networks, namely ABC.  ABC, which owns ESPN, broadcasts several major sporting events, including the Rose Bowl and the NBA Finals.  Now, sports broadcasts on ABC are dubbed “ESPN on ABC.”  ESPN continues to expand and has become synonymous with the word “sports.”

ESPN is undoubtedly the “Worldwide Leader in Sports”.  But its monopoly on the world of sports television broadcasting has me a bit worried.  The network is able to promote certain teams above others, and tell the fan which sports to like.  ESPN needs to find a way to obtain the rights for every major sport (and thus cover each proportionately) if it will not give substantial amounts of airtime to less popular sports and teams.  So, now I am done griping about ESPN—got to go catch the latest edition of Sportscenter.   

Maybe if this guy gave the Lions pre-game motivational speeches, then they would win

NOTE: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE.

Thoughts on the Draft..

By Scott

Todd McShay had a good time at the draft, did you?

Well, the 2009 NFL Draft is in its closing stages as I type, and what a weekend it has been.  ESPN gave us a slew of unforgettable moments, the Raiders continue to leave the nation in puzzlement, and so much more. 

• Plenty of criticism against the Lions for picking Matthew Stafford over Jason Smith or Aaron Curry.  But, I personally like Stafford for a few reasons.  He has a laser arm that is undoubtedly NFL ready, he played against the best competition college football has to offer in the SEC, and Stafford was a 3-year starter at Georgia where he saw his numbers steadily increase every year.  The Lions also added TE Brandon Pettigrew and speedy WR Derrick Williams to their roster.  Aided with budding superstar Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith, the Lions could actually showcase a productive offense this year.

• The Chief's decision to pass on Aaron Curry for Tyson Jackson is not as crazy as it sounds.  Kansas City's transition into the 3-4 will be much easier with Jackson who is a natural five-technique player.  Curry is going to have a great career, but the Chief's went with the player they deemed better fit for their developing defense.

• The Jets made the biggest move of the draft, moving up 11 spots from #16 to #5 in order to draft USC QB Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez is certainly a good looking prospect, but his lightning quick rise up the draft board worries me for a guy with so many question marks. Only 1 year of starting experience, surrounded by some of the best talent in the country has to cause concern.  The upside for Sanchez is the fact that the Jets are ready to win.  A solid offensive line aided with a veteran running back gives Sanchez plenty of help and will relieve some pressure.  However, people who expect Sanchez to have a "Matt Ryan-type impact" are dreaming.  Remember, Ryan was a 4-year starter at Boston College.  That allowed him to essentially experience every possible game situation and plenty of adversity, something Sanchez has not had time to endure.  I think he'll see moderate success in the NFL, but won't live up to the expectations he's already faced with.

• The biggest "Did that seriously just happen?" moment of the weekend came when the Raiders drafted WR Darrius Heyward-Bey with the 7th pick, passing on Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin.  Heyward-Bey ran a 4.3 40 at the combine making him the fastest player in the draft and an obvious target of the Raiders.  Al Davis has been in a constant search for the next Cliff Branch, but it's time for Davis to realize that the fastest player on the field isn't that much of an advantage anymore.  Straight ahead speed is no longer as valuable for NFL receivers as the difference between the fastest and second fastest player on the field is now miniscule.  The criticisms have really stemmed from the fact that the Raiders could have potentially gotten Heyward-Bey 10 or more picks later.  The Maryland WR has bust written all over him, and Oakland will regret passing on Crabtree all while Al Davis will continues to baffle the nation with his antics.

Darrius Heyward-Bey's mother is happy her son was selected.

• The Green Bay Packers quietly had the best first round in the draft.  Boston College DT B.J. Raji and USC LB Clay Matthews will both make huge impacts right away for the Packer's defense that is making the transition into the 3-4.  Raji is a massive presence who can eat up space in the middle, and Matthews has great upside and could have gone much higher than 26.  The Packers may have improved their team for now more than any other team in the draft.  Green Bay has huge sleeper potential, and I think they'll make a serious run at the NFC North title, and possibly more.

• The Dolphins had the most interesting draft of the weekend.  Vontae Davis has great upside and concerns about his work ethic are pointless.  Once he enters an NFL camp and gets burned a few times, he'll be in the weight room.  I don't understand the criticism against Miami for taking Pat White with the 124th pick overall.  White might not evolve into a starting quarterback in the NFL, but think of how much thicker the Dolphin's playbook just got.  The Wildcat formation will be completely unpredictable and opens up everything else for Miami's offense.  Opposing defenses will have some sleepless nights preparing for the arsenal the Dolphins bring.  A 6'3" frame made Sean Smith the tallest corner in the draft, and he should turn into a solid presence in the Dolphin's secondary.  Parcells loves physical corners and he drafted two this weekend.  If you're able to get around Miami's front 7, you'll have just as much of a problem getting by the most physical secondary in the league.  Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline are two more notable names Miami selected this weekend.  Turner is a project with a ton of potential.  Whether or not he'll ever come into his own after being declared a bust at USC, is impossible to predict.  Regardless, the Dolphins had holes and filled them.  And knowing Bill Parcells, this draft could turn out some big time players for Miami.

• Chris Berman looked as though he was fading in and out of consciousness throughout the first 2 rounds on Saturday.  Set aside his mysterious appearance, Berman one-upped himself this year, dropping a googolplex of awkward and horrible jokes.  Most of the words that came out of Boomer's mouth weren't even logical.  Berman also drew serious comparisons to Fred Flinstone. 

• That's not to mention the rest of the cast struggling to maintain a strong conversation without an awkward silence.  Herm Edwards made his first big-time appearance for ESPN, and after showing some flashes of Emmitt on Saturday, Herm got settled in and was a great contributor on Sunday.  Speaking of Sunday, the main table on day 2 was much more enjoyable to watch.  I'm not sure where Keyshawn gained credibility as a draft analyst, and Jaws should have replaced him on Saturday.
  


• Perhaps the biggest moves over the weekend were the ones that didn't happen.  The rumors that Braylon Edwards was heading to New York never came to fruition, but the Giants won't be missing out for too long with the additions of Hakeem Nicks and Cal Poly prospect Ramses Barden.  Even more surprising was the Cardinals decision to hold onto Anquan Boldin.  It's unknown if Arizona received any decent offers, but for the number of teams interested, the Cardinals should have pulled the trigger and avoided the long-term holdout that is probably coming their way.  The Eagles were rumored to have inquired about Boldin and Bronco's TE Tony Scheffler.  Philly didn't get either, but did the draft WR Jeremy Maclin in the first round.  Maclin has a lot of bust potential, and the Eagles have once again lost out on acquiring an offensive weapon that could take them to the next level.
  

Rookie Fantasy Impact

By Mike

Who will have the most fantasy impact this upcoming year.... Here are the top picks from the NFL Draft:

1.) Matthew Stafford QB, Detroit Lions

Stafford will probably only begin to start for the Lions halfway through the season. He will begin by learning the playbook from veteran Daunte Culpepper. But once he does begin to start, his fantasy impact will be felt immediately because of his cannon arm and WR Calvin Johnson as his go-to man. I could see Stafford getting at least one touchdown per game just by chucking the ball downfield to Calvin Johnson and his rediculous seemingly 50 inch vertical. Also, the Lions got him a great TE to throw to in Brandon Pettigrew and another big-play threat in Derrick Williams.

Forecast: 10 games - 2200 yards - 16 TD - 11 INT

2.) Mark Sanchez QB, New York Jets

Unlike Stafford, Mark Sanchez should start for the Jets right from the start. Surprisingly, I think that Sanchez will have more success than Stafford in his NFL career. He has a great offensive line protecting him and a great defense, similar to his team at USC. Think of Stafford as a Matt Hasselback sort of impact on a fantasy football team - about 250 - 300 yards per game and one - two touchdowns. Sanchez is very careful with the football, so his few interceptions should not hurt your fantasy team.

Forecast: 16 games - 3010 yards - 21 TD - 14 INT

3.) Darrius Heyward-Bey WR, Oakland Raiders

I just don't know what to say about this pick. How could Al Davis possibly choose Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree? Anyway, Heyward-Bey should do pretty well in his rookie season for the Oakland Raiders. He will run many deep routes and catch a couple of passes over 60 yards with JaMarcus Russell at QB.

Forecast: 16 games - 47 receptions - 690 yards - 6 TD

4.) Michael Crabtree WR, San Francisco 49ers

What a steal!! The 49ers really got some amazing talent with pick No. 10 in this year's rookie draft. The only problem is, who will throw the ball to him downfield? The 49ers have former number one overall selection in Alex Smith and also the starter last year in Shaun Hill. To me, that just isn't good enough, especially with a mediocre offensive line at best. Crabtree will have no time to run downfield, and when he does get open, there will be no one to throw him the ball. I expect him to give OK statistics, just because he is that good, but he certaintly won't be the number one receiver on your fantasy team this upcoming year.

Forecast: 16 games - 67 receptions - 775 yards - 7 TD

5.) Knowshon Moreno RB, Denver Broncos

This was a very interesting pick because everyone expected the Broncos to fix their defense. Instead, they chose Knowshon Moreno from Georgia, which signified the new regime. They used to be known as the team that just threw any runningback into their system. Now under Josh McDaniels, they are going for a franchise star, someone comparable to Terrell Davis. Moreno could possibly be one of the most athletic prospects in this year's draft, and I expect him to excel in this Bronco system.

Forecast: 16 games - 225 carries - 1125 yards - 10 TD

6.) Josh Freeman QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Freeman, from Kansas State, has a very strong arm, but he is very unpolished. He came out of college as a true junior, meaning that he probably still needs two years to learn how to play the game a lot better. Therefore, I can not see Freeman making any sort of impact fantasy-wise. Freeman will sit under Brian Griese and Byron Leftwich and watch them play, and possibly get a few snaps. Freeman just isn't the man yet. He still needs to learn a lot before getting the starting role.

Forecast: 6 games - 800 yards - 5 TD - 3 INT

7.) Jeremy Maclin WR, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles really wanted to obtain Anquan Boldin from the Super Bowl runnerup Arizona Cardinals, but things just didn't fall into place. Instead, though, they were able to draft a very respectable player in Maclin. Many people supposed he would be drafted 7th by the Raiders, but that obviously did not happen the way everyone had anticipated. Maclin will be a very good player, but I don't expect him to play that much because the Eagles have other good WR as well. They have Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, and DeSean Jackson as well.

Forecast: 16 games - 45 receptions - 610 yards - 5 TD

8.) Brandon Pettigrew TE, Detroit Lions

Pettigrew is a very good player, but he is not known as the type of pass-catching TE like Kellen Winslow Jr. He will certainly start because the Lions do not have any other respectable TE's on their roster. He should get a few red zone opportunities and some open catches with the defense focusing all of their attention on Calvin Johnson. But overall, he shouldn't impact your fantasy team that much.

Forecast: 16 games - 35 receptions - 400 yards - 6 TD

9.) Percy Harvin WR, Minnesota Vikings

Harvin is a very interesting pick for the Vikings - he could turn out as an excellent playmaking WR or a bust, virtually the same as their former 7th overall pick WR Troy Williamson. Williamson and Harvin both have rediculous speed, but luckily for the Vikings, I believe that Harvin will be a much better player overall. Some people claim that he lives in Percyland, but then again, Terrell Owens lives in TO Land, so I don't think that being egoistical really matters that much.

Forecast: 16 games - 48 receptions - 680 yards - 5 TD

10.) Donald Brown RB, Indianapolis Colts

After listening to Donald Brown talk to the ESPN Draft Crew on Sunday, I completely understand why the Colts used their pick to select him. He was a better speaker than Chris Berman, and seemed to know more about the draft than expert analyst Todd McShay himself. Brown, just simply, rushes for yards. He had over 2000 yards last year for the Conneticut Huskies. Brown is also a great pass catcher and all-around football player. He will complement Joseph Addai perfectly, but because of Addai, he won't get too many carries his rookie year.

Forecast: 16 games - 120 carries - 680 total yards - 5 TD

11.) Hakeem Nicks WR, New York Giants

Nicks is the possession-type of WR that will replace Plaxico Burress perfectly, and best of all, he probably won't shoot himself in the leg. With the trade for Braylon Edwards falling through, Eli Manning will probably look Nicks' way the entire year, and therefore I can see Nicks getting some big stats. The Giants really don't have any other respectable WR still on their roster. In fact, Nicks might just step right in and be their number one WR on the depth chart.

Forecast: 16 games - 68 receptions - 800 yards - 7 TD

12.) Kenny Britt WR, Tennesee Titans

The Titans have always needed a WR, and this year they finally went out in the first round and picked one. Britt is described as a much better Justin Gage, who is argueably their best WR right now. He is quick and possesses great hands and a good size at 6 foot 4 inches tall. Kerry Collins will love to throw the ball to him and eventually Vince Young as well. The only achilles heal with Britt, fantasy-wise, is that the Titans run the ball so much every game, so he might got get too many opportunities to see the ball coming his way.

Forecast: 16 games - 49 receptions - 595 yards - 4 TD

13.) Chris "Beanie" Wells RB, Arizona Cardinals

Beanie greatly improves their running back position (Tim Hightower is just atrocious - he averaged only 2.7 yards per carry last year). Beanie is not the fastest RB in this year's draft, nor is he the most powerful, but he is the second best RB overall. I think of Beanie as a quicker, yet less powerful, Jamal Lewis. The achilles heal of Beanie is opposite of that of Kenny Britt's. The Cardinals do not run the ball very often, so Beanie might not see that many opportunities coming his way. He also still does have to split goal line carries with Hightower. Therefore, his stats this upcoming year are not going to be horrible, but they won't be worthy enough of a high fantasy draft position.

Forecast: 16 games - 170 carries - 880 total yards - 7 TD

14.) Pat White QB/WR, Miami Dolphins

This selection in the second round by the Dolphins was byfar the most interesting. Pat White worked out solely as a QB, even though there were reports that he would need to play WR in order to be successful in the NFL. After seeing Pat White throw in the NFL Combine and at his Pro Day, though, I believe that he truely is a great QB. The Dolphins will use White in their "Wild Dolphin" offensive packages as the QB and move Ronnie Brown over to RB. The Dolphins will also probably play him at WR a little bit and see how that goes. But surprisingly, I think that the Dolphins will end up playing him at QB in regular packages as well. The Dolphins have the hardest schedule in the NFL, so there record probably won't be too good this year. With that said, Pennington will probably get the boot when they fall to around 2 - 3. This will leave the door open for rocket-arm Chad Henne or the elusive Pat White.

Forecast: 16 games - 15 receptions - 200 receiving yards - 45 rushes - 150 rushing yards - 510 passing yards - 7 total TD

Raiders: What are you doing?

New Raiders Wide Receiver Darius Heyward-Bey.  No, I don't know why either.

By Stanley

Darius Heyward-Bey?  Are you serious, Oakland?  You need a receiver, okay.  But take Michael Crabtree!  Crabtree is going to be an awesome player in the NFL, and the Raiders need a big play receiver.  Heyward-Bey is no lock to be a good player at all.  It doesn't make any sense.  The Raiders clearly should have taken Michael Crabtree; this is the first huge surprise of the day.  Mel Kiper Jr. is going insane right now.  He is absolutely baffled.  

Some other quick draft notes:

-Steve Young is in an awful mood.  Everything someone says, he disagrees.  Steve really doesn't look like he is having fun at all.

-Todd McShay is at a breakdown table with Trey Wingo and Herman Edwards.  I don't think he could be in a worse situation right now.  Mel Kiper really makes his life horrible.  

-The Packers just chose B.J. Raji, a great pick for them.  Raji really makes the Packers rush defense more than stellar, which is key in stopping Chicago's Matt Forte and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson.  

-It looks like Jeremy Maclin might drop to Washington.  Will the Redskins select Maclin, even though they chose three pass catchers last year in the draft?  Or will they go with an Everette Brown like player, or Brian Orakpo?  Should be interesting.  Aaron Maybin and Robert Ayers are other possibilites at defensive end.  

-Mel Kiper just said "Brian Orakpo" like 300 times in the last thirty seconds.  

-The 49ers are walking into an ideal situation right now.  They can draft Michael Crabtree right here, replacing the void left by Terrell Owens a few years ago.  They haven't had a good receiver since.  Here we go.  Crabtree is on the phone right now, and the 49ers pick is in.  Yep, they just picked Michael Crabtree.

-Will the Browns trade Braylon Edwards?  That seems to be the big question remaining.  Anquan Boldin could also still be traded to the Ravens or Eagles.  

Chiefs and Jets Shock the World

Okay, so there was actually plenty of speculation that the Chiefs would pick LSU's Tyson Jackson in fear of Aaron Curry's bust potential.  While Curry's upside is the most promising in the draft, Chief's GM Scott Pioli has certainly gained merit as a trustworthy evaluator after building the Patriot's Dynasty, and it's hard to remain skeptical of his decisions.

With Jackson headed to Arrowhead, the Seahawks might have biggest steal of the draft with Aaron Curry at #4.  Curry is widely regarded as the safest pick in the draft, and will immediately step in to a team poised to return to the playoffs.  Expect Curry to have a solid, and possibly a hall-of-fame career in a city in dire need of a sport's hero.

The first shake-up of the draft came with the Jets moving up to #5  to draft USC's Mark Sanchez.  The Jets shipped off a 1st and 2nd rounder along with Brett Ratliff and a few defenders to Cleveland.  Sanchez will likely step in right away as New York's starter, and with a solid offensive line and running game, Sanchez could see some early success.  However, no pick is safe and Sanchez has as much bust potential as he does boom potential.

The Bengals picked Andre Smith.  I'm appalled.   No analysis here, just the continued demise of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Lions screwed it up (again)

By Stanley

Well, big surprise.  The Lions chose the wrong player, again.  Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, and Michael Crabtree all would have been better picks than Stafford.  This isn't to say that Stafford won't be a solid NFL quarterback.  The problem is that he is a much riskier pick for the Lions than Curry or Smith.  The Lions will set themselves back a huge amount if Stafford fails, because of the money factor and because of the commitment to a quarterback.  Smith will at least be a solid player, we know that he will produce.  Stafford could be a total bust, especially if he loses his confidence early.  Hopefully the Lions can prove us wrong, but I'm not so sure.  Stafford doesn't seem quite deserving of the number one overall pick.  

The Falcons Have a Legit Offense

By Mike

Here's a quick glimpse of why the Falcons could be contenders next year.....

New Acquisition Tony Gonzalez

Today, the Falcons acquired 10-time probowl tight end Tony Gonzalez (the only TE to ever be elected to 10). This gives Sophomore Phenom Matt Ryan another deadly target to add to his arsenal. Although he is surrounded by a mediocre offensive line, Ryan has the ability to avoid pressure and get the ball downfield. He also has the "bowling ball" in powerback Michael Turner to hand the ball to, as well as the fastest player in the 2006 Rookie Draft, Jerious Norwood. These two definitely help take away some of his pressure, and cause serious problems for opposing defenses. His wide receiving core is extremely talented as well. Roddy White is coming off a probowl season, Michael Jenkins is finally morphing into a possession WR, and speedster Harry Douglas is coming off an excellent rookie season.

On the other hand, the Falcons defense is in trouble after losing five of their starters this offseason. If Atlanta can use their draft picks wisely, this defense could be just good enough to give the Falcons the edge over their opponents.

Overall, the Falcons could surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, become the NFC South Champions by season's end.

What if the Redskins draft Sanchez?

By Stanley

One of the more intriguing scenarios in this weekend's NFL Draft involves the Washington Redskins. Washington has professed its commitment to Jason Campbell at the quarterback situation, but their front office has been anything but loyal. The Redskins reportedly tried to acquire Jay Cutler and are now showing strong interest in Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez, a USC product, decided to come out as a junior although he had a great chance of being the number one overall pick in next year's draft. Most analysts rate Matthew Stafford above Sanchez, but many are convinced that Sanchez will actually be a steal in this year's draft.

The Redskins became dissatisfied with Jason Campbell's play about three fourths down the stretch of the 2008 season. Campbell isn't much of a playmaker, and Sanchez would probably be an upgrade at quarterback.

However, the Seahawks are reportedly interested at the #4 spot, as well as the Browns and Jets. But what if the Redskins traded up to #4 to draft Sanchez, dealing the #13 pick overall and a sixth round 2010 pick to Seattle and Jason Campbell to either the Bucs or the Jets. Meanwhile, the Bucs or the Jets give their second round pick to Seattle, and the Seahawks in return give the Redskins a fifth round pick. It seems to make sense.

Likely, the Redskins will have to involve a third party in order for such a trade to go through. The New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers both make sense because of their dire need of a quarterback. Jason Campbell would actually fit quite well in with the Bucs, and might be a successful quarterback in Tampa.

So what would Seattle do at #13? The Seahawks would have to wait until next year to draft a quarterback, which wouldn't be terrible because they already have Matt Hasslebeck, so Sanchez hypothetically would not even play the first year anyways. The 'Hawks could hope for Jeremy Maclin to fall to #13, although this is unlikely. Their other options include drafting a tackle like Michael Oher or Andre Smith to shore up the offensive line.

A Mark Sanchez to the Redskins scenario would really shake things up in the league. The prime beneficiary might even be the Bucs or the Jets, at least for 2009, as they would greatly upgrade the quarterback situation. A similar scenario could definitely happen with the Cleveland Browns as well, who could deal Brady Quinn. However, such a trade doesn't seem to be logical for Cleveland, who could instead upgrade their receiving corps or defense.

Sport's Worst Unis

By Scott

Hey Atlanta Thrashers.  You suck, and so do your uniforms.  And your crowd for that matter, too.

"When you look good, you play good." Some famous athlete once said that.  I think it was Deion Sanders, but for some reason I also think it was Jerry Rice.  Regardless, there are far too many teams with simply awful uniforms.  And in the wake of the Lions, 49ers, and Jags all looking to reverse their recently poor fortunes by getting some new threads, Mel Kiper's Hair takes a look at some other franchises who could swap their curreant attire for some new swag.

First, let's go over the methods teams with bad jerseys can take to rebuild.

1.  Go old school.  Every team has a great throwback somewhere, incorporate it into your new jersey.  

2. The fierce logo.  What's more intimidating than a fiercer logo?  I don't know, you tell me.

3. Subtle change approach.  Includes rounding out your logo, essentially making it more sleek.  Or, tweaking numbers and pants stripes.  Any kind of a modernization.  

4. Simple.  Some teams go way overboard when it comes to remodeling.  Sometimes it's best to just stick with what you have.  At least until you can recoup and come up with something nice.

Jersey theory.

Great jerseys=Great teams.  Especially recently, bad uniforms do not win.  Look at last year's champs: Red Wings, Celtics, Steelers, Phillies.

NFL:  

Cincinnati Bengals:  Everything in Bengal-land seems to be headed in the wrong direction. The team parted ways with their last bright spot in T.J. Houshmanzadeh, signed another convict in Tank Johnson, and Marvin Lewis is still their head coach.  With a measly 19 wins over the past 3 seasons, the Bengals could use some kind of rejuvenation, and getting away from these would be a step in the right direction.  

How can they improve? At this point, the Bengals have about 10 different combinations of uniforms.  My advice: Go back to your roots.  Nothing positive has come out of the most recent jersey change, so why not build off your storied history?  Get rid of the bengal stripe down the side and stick to an all-white jersey and maybe a black and white.  Either way, the key for the Bengals is get simple and get original; build off the throwbacks and get the franchise back to NFL prominence.  Oh yeah, and fire Marvin Lewis.  

Cleveland Browns:  I realize the Browns have the historical issue on their side, and have essentially kept their jerseys intact for their entire history.  However, for a team in a complete rebuilding mode, fresh uniforms could really restore some swagger for the Browns.

How can they improve?  While Cleveland's jerseys aren't notably bad, they're simply boring.  I know the Browns have never sported a logo, but why not try.  And since I'm sure most Browns fans may object to that, the organization should at least attempt some kind of modernization or new color scheme.

MLB: 

Washington Nationals:  How can I describe the Nationals?  In the words of Sir Charles: Turrible, Turrible, Turrible.  Bad uniforms, bad players, bad management.  Washington has proven incapable of building any kind of foundation for a successful team, and can't even spell their own name right.  

How can they improve?  The 'American Flag' alternates show that the Nats have taken some initiative, just over-the-top/unsuccessful initiative.  First off, the Nationals are based in the nation's capital.  Their logo is red, white, and blue.  So, why are their jerseys white, red, and gold?  So many great possibilities with America's emblems at their disposal, yet the Nats continually fail to get it right.  The American Flag jersey is a little bit too much, but if they can build on that, Washington will take the first step in becoming a winning franchise.

Pittsburgh Pirates:  Essentially, everything about the Pirates is bad.  They haven't had a winning season in...a long time, and even worse their uniforms are just not cutting it.  Fortunately, the Pirates did take some progressive steps in improve their jerseys this year, and already things are looking up for them.  They adopted a black alternate jersey that has a nice throwback touch to it.  Pittsburgh is starting to catch on the jersey theory here.  New uniforms and they're off to a hot start.  The Pirates even completed a sweep of the jump-start Marlins today and are half-a-game out of first. Oh, the power of the jersey.

How can they improve?  Get rid of the vest all together.  The Pirates replaced their home and away vests with traditional sleeves, but kept an alternate vest.  Personally, I think the vest is really horrible, especially with the awkwardly long undershirts.  Anyway, the last step for Pittsburgh is to reform the 'P' on the caps.  Now that Pirates are actual global security threats, maybe it's time for the Pirates to shift away from the 'pirate-ness' of the hats with a rounder 'P'.  It would make a subtle, but huge difference.

NHL:

Atlanta Thrashers:  I'll try to condense my hostile feelings towards this "franchise" into a few sentences.  Perhaps my biggest gripe against any organization in sports is the 'things' the Atlanta Thrashers call jerseys.  Before I start, I understand that the Trasher is Georgia's state bird, but I don't think the Thrasher looks anything like this.  Besides, why would a team playing the world's most violent sport name themselves after a small bird?  This is why the Thrashers suck.  

How can they improve?  It was somebody's job to design these jerseys.  More importantly, someone also created this (no longer in use, but still, you'd think they'd learn from prior mistakes. Guess not.)and this. First step, fire these people.  Second step, burn every remnant of these things they call jerseys and start from scratch.  Considering nobody knows what a Thrasher is, why not just change your logo to a bear.  This gives Atlanta some nice flexibility in possibly designing a new logo and some new threads.  Since that probably won't happen, Atlanta should try going Rangers-style and spelling out 'Thrashers' down the jersey.  I know it's a copy-cat move, but it's desperation.  Also, establish team colors.  You can't just randomly throw new colors into an alternate jersey, Atlanta.  Things don't work like that.  Get with the system.  Scrap the baby blue, stick with blue, white, and red.  Boom.  

Nashville Predators:  I can't honestly say that I've ever watched a Predators game, but I do know that Paul Kariya laced up the skates for some time with them.  Nashville has some young talent and missed the playoffs by 3 points.  With nicer jerseys, they get in.  

How can they improve?  The Predators seem to have adopted a saber-tooth tiger mascot.  I can't say I'm a big fan.  Oh yeah, and someone in the organization once designed vomit alternates.  And people wonder why they struggle.  A predator could essentially be anything, and the current logo is just awkward and boring.  Nashville should start from scratch with a new logo, perhaps a sleeker tiger.  A new logo is really all they need, the jerseys are clean and original.  So, Nashville, new logo=playoffs.

Anaheim Ducks:  I take back what I said about the Thrashers holding my biggest gripe against a pro sports franchise, because the Ducks take the cake.  Maybe the single biggest travesty in sport's history, Anaheim ditched the Disney look (Possibly the greatest jerseys ever, is there anyone who did not like them? Honestly?)  for the ugly look.  They also dumped the 'Mighty' from their nickname.  Is 'Ducks' supposed to be more threatening than 'Mighty Ducks'? What would you rather mess with? Anaheim does, however, disprove the jersey theory because they did win a Stanley Cup right after changing uniforms.  

How can they improve?  Go back to the old uniforms, sign Gordon Bombay as your head coach, pick up Charlie Conway's option, and win Stanley Cups.  Yes, it's that easy.

NBA:

Oklahoma City Thunder:  The Thunder is a young franchise, but that's no excuse to wear knock-off Knicks jerseys.  I realize Thunder is a tough nickname to create a jersey for, and honestly I don't know why they chose Thunder over anything else.  Hopefully, these are temporary and the team drops some nice uniforms before the team really gets good.  Which will be very soon assuming they pick up a solid presence down-low in the draft.

How can they improve?  This is the toughest assignment to improve, because I'm not really sure what you do with Thunder.  Regardless, this logo needs to go, it's awkward and unappealing.  Oklahoma City should scrap the logo and go with some more basic.  Maybe just a basketball with Thunder written over it, or try to relate a theme to Oklahoma somehow.  I don't know, but something needs to be fixed here.

Milwaukee Bucks:  It's no surprise that one of the worst franchises in sports also has some of the worst uniforms.  It feels like the Bucks haven't changed their logo in decades, and it hasn't gotten cooler.  Granted, the Bucks, like the Thunder is not an easy nickname to work with, there has to be a better idea out there than this.  

How can they improve?  It may not be the logo that is dragging this team down as much as it is their colors.  Forest green and purple-red don't mesh well, and to avoid looking like any kind of a Christmas Tree, the Bucks should just go in a different direction.  Ditch the color scheme all together and go with a simple red and green.  I know I just made a Christmas tree joke, but it's really the only way for Milwaukee to recover and look normal.      

Trust me when I tell you this article could potentially turn into a book, as there are plenty of teams remaining on the bad jersey list.  Maybe we'll get a part 2 soon.