The Crystal Ball Draft Special

Welcome one and all to the one football column that fights constantly with itself between being informative and providing a bit of insight and making stupid jokes and general smart assedness. And yes, I did make that word up. The Crystal Ball welcomes one and all to our take on the 2008 NFL Draft spectacular. And who cares if it’s almost three weeks past the draft! Did you really get enough over those two days, and the three months preceding? I didn’t think so.

You could tell the draft was upon us when Mel Kiper Jr. stuck his head out of his home and did not see his shadow. That, in our modern society, is the true sign of spring. And the draft’s arrival was none too soon. All the speculation that has taken place has been nothing more than an exercise in futility and stupidity. Fun exercises, mind you, but pointless just the same.

While as fans we find it fun and exciting to speculate who our team will choose, looking at the smorgasbord of players offered and thinking of what our team needs to make that jump, it means nothing. Who knows if these players will ever amount to anything? You want a good example? Take a look at the 9000 articles written in the past few weeks comparing highly touted recruits that flamed out spectacularly versus barely noticed players that became superstars. Or look at the other 9000 articles that chronicle in detail the short, unproductive careers of can’t miss prospects.

Some players do not have the drive, the speed, the heart, the talent or some other intangible to make it in the NFL, no matter how well they played in college. Others do not have the body, as many a draft bust ended up in the dustbin of draft footnotes because their bodies could not overcome injuries caused by the rigors of professional football. Or they just were overrated to begin with, with too many teams relying on what they see in the antiseptic environment of the combine instead of the obvious qualities of a player by looking at how they actually performed in a live game.

On the flip side, we know a multitude of stories of players who find that spark inside themselves to play beyond what the best evaluations told us because they are out to prove every other team wrong in their assessments, and show everyone they were morons for letting them slide so far down in the draft. That chip on the shoulder has made some careers.

You can take a prospect and watch his game film, examine his combine performance, divine insights by pouring over his Wonderlic test and review every answer given during personal interviews and team visits. None of it really matters. You know what will matter? When you get the kid out into helmet and pads and see what he can do. Before that, it’s all a guessing game.

No one wants to hear that, especially scouts and bored sports writers, but it’s true. Sure, all that research and study and interviewing will assist in hedging your bets toward selecting the right type of player and man you want on your team. But it’s still a bet. Whether it’s a high percentage high return bet or a low percentage and potential for a jackpot reward makes no difference. You can rate, rank, judge, poke, prod and attempt to classify these prospects any way you want. At the end of the day, the truth is they’re all overrated and soon to be overpaid until they actually produce on the field.

As I mentioned last season, I’m like most fans. I’ll watch the first round closely, then tune in and out for the remainder of the draft, focusing mostly on Pittsburgh and maybe a few other key teams. And I did tune in for the first two rounds, and actually the last 5, although I only paid attention during Steeler picks. But I did pick up a few interesting things from my ultra lazy weekend.

I’m convinced we’re about a year or two away from fantasy draft leagues and office draft pools. Just watch. That it has not been done yet is stunning to me.

I know ESPN and the NFL Network do whatever they can to spice up the monotony of the event, but what was with ESPN’s Minority Report style opening and cutaways? It just made no sense. I think they were trying to show how high tech and advanced everything regarding the draft is, but it didn’t sell. All it made me think of was Tom Cruise, and that’s definitely nothing I want running through my mind when I’m trying to focus on football. Unless I’m watching All The Right Moves.

Trade trade trade. Did it feel like every other pick involved a trade? Because it almost was. There were more trades and picks changing hands in this draft than any before it. I’ve never seen such a high stakes game of hot potato. Some picks changed hands twice before a player was selected. You’d think those selections were tied into the CBA or something.

Hey, Roger got something right. The league’s new time restrictions in the first two rounds paid off. The first round just flew by, literally. Total 1st round time 3 ½ hours. Last year total 1st round time 6 ½ hours. Somehow in my memory it felt longer.

What really brought the proceedings to a screeching halt? Commercial interruption.

No receivers were taken in 1st round, the first time since 1990 this has happened. On the flip side, 8 offensive linemen were taken within the first 31 picks. Could some teams be learning the importance of having players that can protect the quarterback and clear lanes for the running back? Perish the thought!

Jet fans booed whomever the team selects and whomever else they felt like. It’s tradition at this point.

Matt Millen resisted his urges to screw up a draft yet again and take a wide receiver. My world crashed around me and nothing has made sense since.

Al Davis of course selected the flashiest player, not what he needs. More on this later…

I always feel bad for guys drafted in the top 10. They’ve worked so hard to be the best at what they do, and now they have to go suffer on the worst teams. It seems so unfair.

All the players invited to New York for the proceedings were taken in the first 6 picks. No uncomfortable shots of a future millionaire forced to stew for hours on end in an expensive suit waiting to find out where he’s moving. So I was disappointed. The conjecture and faux sympathy offered by the broadcast crews are fantastic for unintentional comedy. . Although for my money, nothing beats live shots of Chad Henne yawning on his couch waiting for a call.

Now, while all the players in the green room were gone early, they still had cameras around the nation focused in on certain big name college players. Once the draft dived into the second round, watching these guys sweat at their homes or parties had a very voyeuristic torture feel to it. They did not bother to keep the disappointment off their faces, because they weren’t in a public place or at the draft. It kind of doubled their torture and, oddly, my entertainment.

Having said all that, why don’t we actually get to the point and take a look and see who took who in their quest to find the missing piece toward a championship team, or that one piece toward respectability. And in the Raiders case, that one piece that will continue to confound the rest of the NFL and cause Raider fans to wonder, again, what they did to deserve this fate. We’ll just peak at the first round, as only college football-philes and Mel Kiper Jr. know the rest of those selected anyway. And as always, I’ll tear apart the Steelers’ entire draft. I’m nothing if not an obvious homer.


First Round

1 – Miami Dolphins – Jake Long - offensive tackle Michigan – This one was no surprise, as Parcells inked Long to a contract days before the draft. And on a team that needs, well, everything in spades, one good place to start is the offensive line. If you can keep defenders out of the backfield, even a serviceable quarterback can be successful. See the 2000 Baltimore Ravens as proof. Side note from this pick: Jets fans are twits. They root for that crappy team, so obviously they have only a tiny bit more going on in their lives than Raider fans. So for the draft, they decide to get hammered, put on their worn Joe Namath and Curtis Martin jerseys and then boo everyone in the draft. They booed Jake Long, presumably because he went to division rival Miami. Save it for the Pats you dolts.

2 – St. Louis Rams – Chris Long – defensive end – Virginia – Poor Howie’s son. ESPN flashed a list of sons of Hall of Famers that were drafted into the NFL. Chris is now the fifth such gentleman. Looking at the other four, I don’t feel good about his chances for success. Of course, just because it has not been done does not mean it cannot be done.

3 – Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan – quarterback – Boston College – the Vick era is officially over. Thank goodness.

4 – Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden – running back – Arkansas – Sooooo predictable. Apparently Al Davis wants to field 10 running backs and JaMarcus Russell on offense. Why cannot the commentators let it go about McFadden’s past and family? You have not heard nary a negative peep about any other player, but whenever they talk about McFadden, that’s ALL they talk about. You cannot talk about his skills without bringing up at some point about his crack addicted mom, or his gang banging brothers? Seriously, let it go. Obviously the kid’s had some trouble, but he seems to be working on making his life better. He’s moved past those who would bring him down, and, unlike others with a checkered past who shall remain nameless, is making the obvious strides and understands how he lives his life and whom he lets in it can affect how his life will turn out. He’s moving on, why can’t you? And I’m really looking at you Mike Tirico, who brought it up at least 3 times in the first hour I watched draft coverage.

5 – Kansas City Chiefs – Glenn Dorsey – defensive tackle – LSU – Now you see why the Chiefs had no problem dumping character problem and overpriced Jared Allen. I loved Dorsey’s post pick interview. I love when you see these big tough kids all giddy with emotion about getting an NFL job.

6 – Jets – Vernon Gholston – defensive end – Ohio State – Good pick to upgrade their defensive line. Still the idgits booed. Can’t you dopes wait and save your boos for the next pick?

7 – New England Patriots (from 2007 trade with the San Francisco 49ers) – TRADED pick to New Orleans for #10 pick and additional picks.

New Orleans Saints – Sedrick Ellis – defensive tackle – USC – Well, considering the sieve that was their defense, this makes sense. Not sure if it makes sense to make this trade, but someone needed to spice things up. Still need to address that Reggie Bush fear of contact issue, though.

8 – Baltimore Ravens – TRADED pick to Jacksonville for the #26 pick in 1st round and Jaguars two 3rd round picks and a 4th round pick – Really, considering how much the Ravens are falling apart this is a good idea? Ogden is done, Lewis is a shell of himself, the secondary is a mess, and they have no clear cut quarterback. Yeah, getting rid of a high draft pick, good call there! Meet the new coach, same as the old coach. I hope that bank they got for this pick yields some pro bowl players. Wait a minute, no I don’t. Good move!

Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Harvey – defensive end – Florida – Amazing, shows how dumb Jacksonville is, because amongst the dozen’s of mock drafts I’ve read, I don’t think I saw this guy in the first round once. You really think he would have been gone by the 26th pick? Here’s a question. If you make a trade to leap into the top 10 in the draft, obviously you know who you want. If you know that, why are you pissing around actually make the pick? Don’t piddle and let the clock run, just submit the pick and move on. Thank you Chris Mortensen for saying the same thing!

9 – Cincinnati Bungles – Keith Rivers – linebacker – USC – We knew this pick before they announced it. They showed Rivers wearing a Bungle hat on TV at his draft party and crying uncontrollably at how cruel fate can be. Ok, I made that last part up. Despite their obvious need at linebacker (see 2007 Monday night game where they ran out of linebackers) Bungle fans at their draft party seemed underwhelmed. Actually catatonic would have be more descriptive. I suppose that comes with the territory.

10 – New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints) – Jerod Mayo – linebacker – Tennessee - I was wrong; the Jet fans did save some booing for the Pats. Finally the New York fan arrogance is worth something. Good pick, they definitely need some defensive help, which seems odd to say since they went, wait for it, 18-1. They’ve had a major exodus on defense in free agency and Bruschi and Seau got pushed around in the Super Bowl. Hee hee. Oh, it’s just so much fun to remember.

11 – Buffalo Bills – Leodis McKelvin – cornerback – Troy – Another defensive pick. Bills are not as bad of a team as people think. They had so many players injured and out for the season last year, more than any other team. The team played tough and hard regardless and still managed to finish 7-9. A few breaks against Denver and Dallas, and it could have been 9-7. This year, they could be a big surprise. Their IR list will be clear and they added free agents Marcus Stroud and Kawika Mitchell. If McKelvin can contribute, perhaps they can win games like the Monday night heartbreaker against the Cowboys. With a few pushes, and they might have it, Bills could look like a playoff team. You watch.

12 – Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady – offensive tackle – Boise State – I was hoping the rush on linemen would continue to hold off. So much for that thought. My biggest worry is now a rush on offensive linemen will begin after this pick. Boomer mentioned the same thing. Damn it Berman, don’t put ideas into people’s heads, I’m trying to get a few good choices to fall to 23rd. Here’s a question, being as Clady played at Boise State, will he be able to translate his collegiate success to the pro level playing on a green field?

13 – Carolina Panthers – Jonathan Stewart – running back – Oregon – Obviously Carolina takes Stewart because they need help at running back, and they need someone since their backs have had injury trouble. But why take a running back that has an injury history?

14 – Chicago Bears – Chris Williams – offensive tackle – Vanderbilt – Not surprising, but annoying. Chris Mortensen harped on the idea that the Bears need to find a quarterback in draft. Why does everyone question the power of the neck beard? They have Kyle Orton, that’s all they’ll need, if only they realize it before it’s too late.

15 – Detroit Lions – TRADED pick to Kansas City Chiefs for 17th pick and additional picks.

Kansas City Chiefs – Branden Albert – guard – Virginia – Stupid Chiefs. You know, between taking a player I wanted and the length of hair issue they kicked up, I’m really getting annoyed with Herm Edwards and company.

16 – Arizona Cardinals – Dominique Rodgers–Cromartie – cornerback – Tennessee State – I figured with Whis and Grimm they’d beef up the O-Line, really get some road graters in there. Of course their defense sucks so any pick to upgrade either unit works. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

17 – Detroit Lions (from Kansas City Chiefs who had the pick from Vikings in Allen trade) – Gosder Cherilus – offensive tackle – Boston College – This is the one guy I thought Pittsburgh would get for sure. Well, hopefully he’ll suck and I can feel good about dodging a bullet. Why couldn’t stupid Millen just take a wide receiver like always?

Stupid ESPN cut away for commercial right when the draft ticker announced the pick was in. Come on guys, I know the sponsors need to be made happy, but I’ve already seen the Ironman trailer. Then the broadcast skipped right over to the Texans because, heaven forbid we break away from more ads to find out who took whom in the draft. Really guys, this is the first round for Pete’s sake. When we did get back to focusing on football, the ESPN crew analyzed the Lions needs but missed the obvious one. Their most pressing needs start at GM and work down from there.

18 – Houston Texans – TRADED pick to Baltimore for 26th pick additional picks.

Baltimore Ravens – Joe Flacco – quarterback – Delaware – So much for that Chad Henne talk. Not bad for Joe, now he can play close to home. They say he has a big arm, which could make him a superstar or maybe he’ll be another milquetoast pick like Boller. I guess we gotta see Flacco perform before I can write him off. Hey Baltimore, start him early. I wouldn’t mind seeing Woodley and Farrior pound on the rookie. Is it just me or does Flacco kind of look like Adam Carolla?

19 – Philadelphia Eagles – TRADED pick to Carolina for Panthers 2nd round pick, 4th round pick and 2009 1st round pick. The Eagles couldn’t find anyone in the first round? Two years in a row without a first round pick. I cannot imagine why their team is falling apart.

Carolina Panthers – Jeff Otah – offensive tackle – Pittsburgh – I’ll never forgive the Eagles for this. They allowed the last highly ranked offensive linemen to be taken away in the draft before the Steelers had an opportunity to select. Eagle fans, know this. We’re gonna kick your fanny this season.

20 – Buccaneers – Aqib Talib – cornerback – Kansas – Fine I guess. The Bucs continue to make strides on their defense in addition to their usual hobby of collecting quarterbacks. Except everyone and their mother knows the Bucs need wide receivers. None of whom have been taken yet. What is with Tirico? Is he the moral conscious for the draft, always reporting on the discretions of each player?

21 – Washington Redskins – TRADED pick to Atlanta Falcons. Wait, Dan Snyder gave up the opportunity to draft someone in the first round and ridiculously overpay him? Wow, he is maturing.

Falcons – Sam Baker – offensive tackle – USC – I really don’t even know what to say at this point. That’s seven offensive linemen. Are there even any left in the draft? Ok, I agree Baker may be a reach, but he still has talent and could be highly successful, even if it’s not deemed “first round” talent.

22 – Dallas Cowboys (from 2007 trade with Cleveland Browns) – Felix Jones – running back – Arkansas – Stunning, Jerry Jones took a speedster from Arkansas. Hey, they replaced one Jones with another. If Felix picks the same number Julius had, all they have to do is wash em real good before handing them over! Hmm, that is pretty savvy. Marion Barber should be happy now to have this cat with whom to partner. Glad the Giants fans had some animosity left after 2 ½ hours.

23 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Rashard Mendenhall – running back – Illinois – Oh come on! Throw a boy a bone! I know we need another RB, but in the first round? HOW ABOUT OFFENSIVE LINE HELP! I better see an OT in the second round, since all the first round talent is long gone. I guess I need to rethink this one. Everyone else seems really excited for Pittsburgh. Well, it is a good pick, not often you walk away with the second highest rated running back in the draft.

24 – Tennessee Titans – Chris Johnson – running back – East Carolina – Really, they need another running back? Johnson has skills, but not the kind the Titans need. Jeff two words, wide receiver. Might help out that highly paid guy you put behind center.

25 – Seattle Seahawks – TRADED pick to Cowboys for 28th pick and additional picks.

Dallas Cowboys – Mike Jenkins – defensive back – South Florida – I h ad no idea why the Cowboys moved up three spots, but then it became clear once this selection was announced. They need insurance for the Pacman situation and to screw San Diego and Houston. Well done.

26 – Houston Texans (from trade with Baltimore Ravens who had the pick in trade from Jacksonville. Anyone else confused?) – Duane Brown – offensive tackle – Virginia Tech – Once again we miss the pick live thanks to advertising, the third time this has happened so far. Strange not seeing Houston pick in the top five. Anyone but me thinking there might not be any tackles or offensive linemen left by the second round?

27 – San Diego Super Chargers – Antoine Cason – corner back – Arizona – A depth pick, as San Diego is well stocked across the roster. Shame they still have Norv Turner as their coach to blow it in the playoffs again.

28 – Seattle Seahawks (from trade with Dallas Cowboys) – Lawrence Jackson – defensive end – USC – The fourth Trojan drafted in 1st round. On talent or reputation, you decide.

29 – San Francisco 49ers – (from 2007 trade with Indianapolis Colts) – Kentwan Balmer – defensive tackle – North Carolina – Defensive help is needed by the Niners. And offensive help, back help, receiver help, quarterback help and probably some grounds crew help and concessions help. All comers apply within.

30 – Green Bay Packers – TRADED pick to Jets for 2nd round pick and 4th round pick. Seems like a waste to me since the Jets would have been up to bat in 6 picks anyway.

New York Jets – Dustin Keller – tight end – Purdue – Really, you traded two picks to get a tight end in the first round? Well, I suppose it was worth it since he is the first tight end taken today. Jets’ fans boo lustily, probably flashing back to the last time the Jets took a tight end in the first round. Kyle Brady, I’m looking in your general direction.

31 – New England Patriots – Pick forfeited because they’re a bunch of cheaters. Yeah, the ticker can say the 31st pick is the Giants and ignore the Patriot pick, but we all know why this pick is missing. Jerks.

32 – New York Giants – Kenny Phillips – safety – Miami (FL) – Goodell played to the Giants crowd by calling NY the Super Bowl Champion Giants announcing the pick. He even paused to smile at the crowd who went nuts at that. Oh, I know that feeling. It feels good! Pretty good pick, since they lost some defensive talent in the off season.


Steelers Picks

I sat watching first round filled with dread as offensive linemen were snatched up one after another. I found myself irrationally angry at the teams selecting linemen and the Steelers for sitting on their hands and watching all these people being drafted and doing absolutely nothing. All of our linemen, and their backups, are getting older. After this season they’ll all be over 30. You don’t play that much longer past that age at a high level. We need an infusion of youth and talent, and we need it fast. By pissing around and letting every one go, it makes me wonder their commitment.

But after a few breaths I realized a few things. The guys we do have are experienced and talented. Maybe not the best, but far from the worst. Plus, we did make a few upgrades in the O-line, and there are a few young guys still coming along, much like with the d-line. Plus our needs for this draft are offensive line, defensive line, running back, linebacker and cornerback. So the best move is to take the best player available no matter the position, as long as it’s one of those, then I should relax. Plus, if I really knew what I was doing, I’d be in my office at Heinz Field working with the Rooney’s and Tomlin on draft strategy.

1st round – Rashard Mendenhall – RB – Illinois – definitely the best running back available, and much better rating wise than the linemen available at this point. Especially considering the linemen still on the board probably will be there at the end of the 2nd round. Mendenhall should make a good inside punch to Parker’s speedy outside strikes and take some pressure off Fast Willie. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Of course, I could just be talking myself into the pick. If he breaks open through the middle for some TDs this season, then I’ll be on board.

2nd round – Limas Sweed – WR – Texas – Big Ben got his wish, as Sweed is a big receiver and a big target. Fell out of the first round due to the fact that he missed 7 games in 07 thanks to a broken wrist. With Sweed, Holmes, Ward and Washington, the receiving corps has unbelievable potential. And we’ll need it.

3rd round – Bruce Davis – DE/OLB – UCLA – a defensive end in college, but projected at linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He bolsters a unit that lost Clark Haggans to free agency in the off season.

4th round – Tony Hills – OT – Texas - Traded down with Giants to pick up another sixth round pick and still got a lineman. Finally they added some depth to the offensive line, of course 3 rounds after I wanted them to do it. Depending on his success, this could be another piece of evidence as to why I’m not a general manager. Hills was all Big 12 last year. Hopefully he will add some much needed depth and youth.

5th round – Dennis Dixon – QB – Oregon – Ok, I know Brian St. Pierre is not an answer, and Batch is getting up there. But really, we really needed a QB? Every year the Steelers make at least one pick where I shake my head wondering why. This is the pick this year.

6th round – Mike Humpal – LB – Iowa – He played outside linebacker in college but the Steelers will look to put him inside. Most likely a special teamer to start. You have to cut your teeth somewhere.

6th round – Ryan Mundy – FS – West Virginia – A smart player who should help in nickel and dime packages and adds secondary depth. It will be interesting to see how he is fit into the defensive schemes.

Free agent signings – I only caught a few of Pittsburgh’s work after the draft. But here are a few notable ones.

Doug Legursky – C – Marshall – O line depth, especially at the thin center position. Could move to guard.

Donovan Woods – LB – Oklahoma State – more depth for linebacking corps. Seems to be a switch to the 4-3 is still a few years off.

Micah Rucker – WR – Eastern Illinois – Wouldn’t be a bad idea to have another receiver pushing for a spot.


Wow, how exciting was that? I know, I lost consciousness too going through my notes. Oh well, maybe one of these guys will blow the doors off the place next season or flame out Ryan Leaf style to keep things interesting.


News Around the NFL World

In an effort to improve their screen door style defense, the Bungles drafted Fresno State defensive tackle Jason Shirley. Shirley is the same gentleman who was suspended from the team 3 times his senior year, and eventually kicked off the squad. This is a perfect example of how nature abhors a vacuum. The Bungles, in attempting to clean up their team, got rid of the oft-troubled Chris Henry. But the natural state of the Bungles is to be a mess. How is this corrected? By drafting the oft-troubled Jason Shirley! Just don’t call him Shirley.

The Colts resigned Dominic Rhodes after the running back stable in Oakland became too crowded. Rhodes should do public speaking now about the dangers of hubris and how the grass, or cash, is not always greener.

Cleveland linebacker Willie McGinest has stated 2008 will be his last season. I like McGinest and will miss him. Sure he tortured me for years with the Patriots, and now with the Browns. But he was always a good competitor, smart player and a classy guy. Considering the multitude of businesses he has operating outside of football, my guess is Willie will find himself quite busy once he hangs them up. Have a great last season Willie, but not too great.

Denver quarterback Jay Cutler revealed he has diabetes. He had attributed last season’s weight loss and fatigue to the grind of an NFL season, but after some tests doctors found the culprit to be something other. Cutler said this would not affect his ability to play, especially now that he knows and can properly manage the disease. We wish Jay good luck in overcoming this affliction and perhaps giving hope of living a normal life to the millions who suffer from this debilitating illness.

I read a recent article about Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. In the article Troy stated how he was going back to some of his older training regimens and working again with his old trainer, Marv Marinovich. Does anyone else find it disturbing Polamalu works out with Marv Marinovich?

Bears maligned running back Cedric Benson was arrested on charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. Benson has vowed to fight this, as he states he was not intoxicated nor did he resist. I’m not sure about the intoxication part, but I tend to believe him on the resisting charge. I’ve seen him play. He hates contact more than Reggie Bush.

Colts receiver Marvin Harrison is under investigation regarding a shooting incident outside of a bar he owns in Philadelphia. According to police, gunfire was exchanged during a fight between Harrison and a patron of the bar. The fight began inside the establishment and spilled out onto the streets where the shootings occurred. The bullets found at the scene match a custom made Belgian handgun owned by Harrison, but only the patron has identified Harrison as the shooter. Worse for Harrison is the fact that police have found inconsistencies in his story of the events and the evidence found and other interviews by the bar patron and witnesses. It just goes to show, no matter how much we look up to these individuals, we never really know them. Unfortunately, there will be more to come on this one.

In a strange story, Pittsburgh Steelers #1 draft pick Rashard Mendenhall was mugged at gunpoint at a Chicago lakefront. The robbers took Mendenhall’s wallet and cell phone before disappearing. Mendenhall was fine and unhurt, but I’m sure shaken up. I’m glad he did the smart thing and just giving them what they wanted. I’d bet the thieves recognized him from television coverage. Jeez, you see someone who gets a reward for hard work and then people just want to take from them. Sad.


Get Smart Starring Arlen Specter

Sure sounds like the sleeper summer hit to me. Matt Walsh finally showed his face in the mainland, meeting with Roger Goodell Tuesday and Arlen Specter Wednesday to dish everything he had on the dreaded Spygate. Guess what? He had nothing. Well, not exactly nothing, but nothing new. No smoking gun, no tape of the Rams walkthrough, which he insisted he never had but that sure was alluded to, no paper trail, nothing. All he had was the desire to be on the front page of every sports section around and he got it.

Goodell felt satisfied by the meeting, stating that no significant new information was revealed and the tapes in Walsh’s possession showed nothing of which the league had not been previously aware. He stated the information given to the league by Walsh is consistent with what their investigation last fall revealed. Goodell went a step further to make sure reporters interested could see the tapes in question, after the league’s destruction of the Patriot’s tapes last year brought on a maelstrom of criticism and allowed conspiracy theorists a reason to work overtime. While Goodell maintained he thought Belichick’s defense of the taping, that he misinterpreted the rules and guidelines put forth by the NFL, was complete BS, he did feel satisfied that this particularly seedy chapter in NFL history could be put to bed. Steelers chairman Dan Rooney and coach Mike Tomlin concurred with Goodell, which is surprising considering how prominently Pittsburgh appears in the tapes.

Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter disagrees with the league, Goodell, the Rooney’s and every other team that feels everything is kosher again. After speaking with Walsh, Specter now wants a Mitchell Report style independent investigation on Spygate. He has stated that the league needs to do this, or perhaps Congress will get involved. Specter also referenced Congress’ ability to do this, thanks to the sweet anti-trust legislation that has favored the league for years now. Goodell has disagreed with Specter’s analysis, but that alone will not placate Arlen. And you know he knows something about conspiracies and covering up evidence. Dig into history and look up his part in the Kennedy assassination investigation some day when you have time. It’ll open your eyes.

In all honesty, Specter needs to let this go. Look, I as much as anyone would love to see their arrogant hides nailed to the wall. But at this point that is highly unlikely. Unless some new mysterious person comes forth with a real smoking gun, figuratively speaking, nothing new will happen. Or unless longtime Belichick confidante Ernie Adams decides to turn states evidence, so to speak, we’ll never really know what went down. Well, never meaning in 10-15 years when someone from the inner sanctum wants to make a buck and writes the obligatory tell all book.

All a congressional investigation is going to do is stir the waters for no reason, making things even more cloudy than now, spending taxpayer money needlessly (after all this is about a game not national security) and take the government officials away from doing their jobs in order to do some televised grandstanding. And honestly, doesn’t the government have enough on their plate right now?

A congressional investigation would end up being as big of a sham as the steroids trial. One or two well meaning people hoping to find the truth and set a good example for our country, the myth of sport integrity and the next generations on the need for fair play, honesty and sportsmanship mixed in with a bunch of liars, cheaters, grandstanders, media whores and opportunists. And that’s just describing the congressional panel.

Look, if something does come out that really shows how deep the rabbit hole goes, fine I’ll dive right in. But until then I guess I’ll take the blue pill and go back to sleep. There’s too much to do in the world and in life in general than to waste my time on a bunch of cheating jerks. They got their punishment, and if we just keep that in mind, and remind them that their accomplishments are now tainted every time they crow about them, they’ll continue to be tortured by their hubris forever. That’s punishment enough for me.

So with Spygate still percolating, threats of congressional investigations hovering about, player misconduct seemingly on the rise despite a crack down, impending labor troubles and a soon to be voided CBA, a push in popularity from the NBA and always the dirty little issue of performance enhancing drugs within the ranks, Goodell has more on his plate keeping the league viable and popular than he ever thought. You think he would have taken the job if he would have known of all these headaches?

That being said, let’s end this on a really surreal note. I found, for your reading pleasure, a mock draft for 2009! I know, you’ve been looking ahead as well and wondering who will go where. Go ahead, click here and let curiosity get the best of you.

What sticks out the most? Yep, the presumption of the author that The Patriots will win the Super Bowl and pick 32nd next year before ONE GAME of the 2008-2009 season has even been played.

Ok, that’s about it for now. The Crystal Ball will be on NFL hiatus until training camp. This summer proves to be pretty big, and time will be at a premium. But if something big happens, of course we’ll find a way to squeeze it in. And yes, if the Penguins make it to the Cup, and cross my fingers win it all, that will constitute as big. No, HUGE. See you soon.