Stage as seen from the 2nd floor balcony. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter-Football Reporters Online

The NFL Draft means something to everyone, in their own way.

For the teams, it is a chance to obtain those missing pieces of a puzzle that was the Super Bowl last season.  Others looking for fresh, young blood to rejuvenate a team to push its way back into contention.  But to everyone involved in football, it is four days that could change the course of a teams season.
To the fans, everyone takes it differently.  To the casual football fan, it is a couple of days where teams pick college players in order to fill positions on their team.  To the frenzied fan of a team, the opportunity to retool and find some fresh faces to add to the veterans who can get the job done.  But to the die hard fan of the draft, it is a lot more.

The die hard fan plays out the draft the same way Robert Byrne and Bobby Fischer play a chess match.  All the players are lined up by position.  Moves thought out carefully.  Reacting to your opponent.  Thinking ahead to gain an advantage.  Studding statistics.  Know the advantage before a move is made.  The die hard fan knows these moves.

But to everyone, it is a look into what could be the future of a franchise or someone looking to keep their dream alive.

The draft is a magical time.  A time where any fan can see a potential hall of famer be named to their team of destiny.  A moment in time where a fan stops to imagine hearing their own name announced as a draft selection.  Draft day brings us one step closer to seeing how these new gladiators of the gridiron match up to their veteran counterparts.

Maybe its fitting the draft takes place in New York. A city where people come to from all over the globe to capture their dream. They come to see where their future lies. A city that has delivered to so many can now deliver to them.

Football fans will converge at Radio City Music Hall for four days to not just see who gets drafted, but to immerse themselves in the NFL experience.  Fan events, player interaction, and bickering between other fans makes this a precursor of a season to come.  Groundwork to be laid as to whose fans will have bragging rights next year.

You can ask any fan how they feel about the draft.  Everyone will mention at least one great signing and complain about 99 others.  Those are fans, that is what they do.  Fans are the best market research to let a sports franchise know how it is doing.  You can hear them loud and clear after each and every draft selection.  The teams conscience.

Every fan has some part of the NFL calendar they look forward to.  Some wait all year for the draft.  Why?  It is the official day where collegiate athletes become professional football players.  The NCAA to the NFL.  A transition.  The new breed that pushes the progression of football just one more notch on the game’s time-line.

The start of the 2012 season begins on Thursday.  The first major event on the NFL calendar for the new season.  Every franchise waiting, patient for their turn to select that next great player to represent their franchise.  The new face of the team marketing machine that entices fans like a circus ringleader.  To get you to cheer for the greatest game on earth.

And we do.

Not just because of that.  It’s the memories.  Being able to share that experience with others to smile and laugh about later.  Giving that next generation the lesson needed to stay educated on how the NFL draft works.  The Draft has become an event onto itself.  The Draft at Radio City is like the Allman Brothers coming to the Beacon Theater.  You know it is coming every year.  Planning ahead to make the necessary arrangements.

This is a big week for those players looking to be selected by the professional team of their choice.  Some fans looking to see if they predicted the same selection as their favorite team.  The anticipation could be a little more than some can bear.  But with fans from every team in attendance this week, it will be a week those players looking for a new home will not forget.  If the teams make a bad move, the fans will never let them forget.  So, are you ready?

By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Executive Editor/Managing Partner-Football Reporters Online.

Staff for NFL teams at the 2010 NFL Draft. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Loyalty: it’s a word no one associates with professional football any longer. Today it’s all about the “Dollar signs” ($$$). Usually when I read those I expect to pay more money for a meal in a restaraunt or for tickets to a show.  But with NFL player salaries going up constantly, the teams’ rosters should have $$$’s next to each player’s names. For example, if a player was an Undrafted free agent or a late round selection, he should get 1 dollar sign next to his name, Two dollar signs would go to a mid-round Draft choice who successfully intergrated into his new team and contributed. Three dollar signs goes to a high round selection or expensive free agent. Lastly, four dollar signs should signify an “Over priced” free agent or someone who did not live up to expectations as a draft selection. I think I will call it “Dr. Bill’s NFL Player value ranking system.”  No wonder why the salary cap has increased 7+ times it’s original amount since free agency‘s inception in the NFL.

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The Jets Get Santonio Holmes For a 5th Round Pick

by TJ Rosenthal-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

(photo via wikimedia commons)

In what to most people came as a surprise on Sunday night, the Jets acquired Steeler WR Santonio Holmes for a 5th round draft selection.The move immediately bolsters the Jets passing game. Holmes was the Super Bowl MVP after the 2008 season, but is facing substance abuse charges and may receive a four game league suspension as a result. Charges that he threw a liquor filled glass at a woman await him in Florida. He’s been arrested on drug related and domestic violence charges three times. Should Holmes be able to change direction under the guidance and tutelage of Ryan and clean up his sometimes odd behavior, the Jets will have obtained a steal, given Holmes talent level and the low pick that acquiring him required.

Putting Holmes off the field issues aside for a moment,  it’s gotta be fun for Jets fans to daydream about the possibilities on offense that seem to be growing by the day. This Jets team already set to Ground and Pound it with Shonn Greene and what fans hope will be a resurgent Ladainian Tomlinson, now adds Holmes.

Santonio joins a receiving corps already comprised of the lackluster but dangerous Braylon Edwards, dependable Jerricho Cotchery, and emerging star TE Dustin Keller. All of whom are steadied by an offensive line housing two pro bowlers in Alan Faneca and Nick Mangold, plus rising star D’Brickashaw Fergueson, and is considered one of the best offensive fronts in pro football.

The NFL’ s “final 8″ rule appeared poised to slow down teams who went far in the playoffs, from acquiring a lot of free agent talent in this uncapped year. Not the Jets.. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum failed to allow the new rule to discourage him from the goal of improving the team in their problem areas. He found other ways, such as through trades. Through letting Jay Feely , a productive and well liked kicker, walk away in order to free up money.

First it was CB Antonio Cromartie and S Brodney Pool on defense. Then one time solid kicker Nick Folk who is looking to rebound from a rough 2009 was picked up as the team readied it’s farewell to Jay Feely. Future Hall of Famer LT replaced Thomas Jones weeks ago. Now it’s Holmes. A speedy deep threat with great hands. A receiver who in his last 7 games against the Ravens, Rex Ryan’s former team, has scored 8 TDs. Think Ryan knows the danger Holmes presents in game planning?

The Steelers are image cleaning with this move. With QB Ben Roethlisbegrer embroiled in his second sexual assault drama, the classy Rooney family, owners of the team, had to have been looking at this move as one where the brand trumps the athleticism of a player with off the field  problems. Is Ben next if he continues to put himself in negative situations..

One has to wonder how the Holmes signing also affects the mindset of the heavily courted DE Jason Taylor, who claims to need until midweek to decide if he will join the Jets or stay in Miami. Taylor visited the Jets at the end of last week. The 35 year old Taylor has had an icy relationship with Jet fans to put it mildly. Calling Jet fans “Class with out the CL” However, with Taylor’s heart being in Miami his head must see a Jet team doing all they can to plug issues.

With Holmes now a Jet, the club should seriously consider Marc Bulger. As an insurance plan. A safety valve. The former Ram QB who was released last week, owns 29 games for over 300 yards passing in his career. Bulger is now  available to become the back up QB insurance plan in case anything happens to second year QB Mark Sanchez . The move would do a lot to relieve the stress of being loaded yet one hit away from the complexion of the team changing.

Jet fans need to look no farther than back to  1999 for proof that loading up the offense without a  dependable and proven veteran backup is like playing Russian Roulette. That year, following a tough AFC Championship loss at Denver, the Jets were ready to take that next step to the promised land. Yet they never got off the ground. QB Vinny Testaverde tore his achilles tendon in week one at home vs the hated Pats, and was deemed out for the year.  Former Notre Dame QB Rick Mirer then stepped in but failed to keep the offense moving.  One time Rutgers product Ray Lucas followed Mirer at QB and did win some games late in the year. Sadly though, the club finished 9-7 and narrowly missed the playoffs.

Holmes adds a major weapon of speed and precise route running to the air attack for an offense that led the league in rushing in 2009. The fifth round pick that it took to trade for Holmes seems to be low for Holmes, the 2009 Super Bowl MVP. Yet  there has to be those in Steeler camp who see Holmes as the next Plaxio Burress. A player with star talent whose poor behavior will lead to a self destruction of some sort. For Jet die hards, there are only Super Bowl Dreams in Green and White. Coupled with the press that Holmes and his bad behavior at times, stay behind in the steel city.

TJ is FRO’s Jets Specialist

follow TJ on twitter@thejetreport

“FRO’s Favorite Five”

Frankie’s Favorite Fantasy Picks

Week 10

By Frankie Underwood, Senior Fantasy Writer at www.footballreportersonline.com Email questions and comments to Frankie@footballreportersonline.com

Donovan McNabb should be back to form this weekend in San Diego. San Diego can not cover tight ends and they tend to get into shoot out games. McNabb’s top Philly wide receiver DeSean Jackson was held in check last weekend and his ego will not allow it to happen again. The Chargers are ranked middle of the pack in both passing TDs allowed and interceptions.

New England RB Laurence Maroney gets to face an Indianapolis defense that has been unbelievably injury plagued this (and most) season. Indy has given up 6 rushing TDs this season and allows just less than 110 rushing yards per game. Maroney has finally started to live up to his first round draft selection, but only after all the retread backs fell by the way side. Maroney has scored in three straight games and this should be the fourth.

I have a feeling that Minnesota WR Sidney Rice gets back in his fantasy owners good graces this weekend. The Vikings are coming off of there bye week and will be hosting the lowly Detroit Lions. Those Lions have allowed 19 passing TDs and an average of 263 passing yards per game. Rice trailed off last game against the Packers and hasn’t scored a TD since week four. This weekend against either P. Buchanon or W. James Rice’s 6ft 4 frame should be a nice target for Favre.

Monday Night Football, the Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap against the Cleveland Browns ¾ defense.  Baltimore is coming off a tough loss to Cincinnati and Cleveland is coming off of their bye. Most times these factors would point me towards a Cleveland win, most times. Cleveland still doesn’t now how to run their defense and Baltimore will be looking to get back into the playoff hunt.  Heap and WR Derrick Mason should be able to steadily gain short to medium yardage all game long.

The Dallas Cowboys defense should have open season on Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers this weekend. The Packers offensive line has preformed like a sieve, allowing pass rushers through with ease. Unfortunately for the Packers the Dallas pass rushers have finally started performing up to expectations. Dallas has 20 sacks on the season and most have come in the last few games.  The Dallas defensive backs have also started to pick off some passes and the special teams have started making plays.

Last Weeks Favorite Five

Matt Hasselbeck – 329 yards 1 TD 1 INT, Not too bad.

Ryan Grant – 96 yards 1 TD, again not too bad.

Malcom Floyd – 29 yards, sorry. But stick with him.

Kevin Boss – 17 yars and 1 TD, wanted more yardage, but the TD saves it.

Green Bay Packers – 1 INT and 1 Sack, sorry again.