Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages…Welcome to the official start of the 2011-2012 NFL football season! It was looking rather bleak there for awhile, with that dark, looming lockout milling about. But we’ve hit the ground running, punched through the line, and are working our way towards the big dance – Super Bowl XLVI. So, let’s get things started!

Last season I chimed in with the experts (and robots) over at ESPN to bring you, our readers, a personalized perspective on football forecasting. This season, we jump in right where we left off. The panelists at ESPN have their picks in for this week and the general consensus looks favorable on the Big Blue Wrecking Crew. My picks are burning a virtual hole on the next page and the ratio clock starts now! Did I wax my crystal ball up more so than the other guys during the offseason? Turn the page and keep score!
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Is Washington now a player in the NFC East?
Yes and no. The hiring of Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen, if nothing else, bring competency to the Redskins front office (something that could not be said during the Vinny “puppet” Cerrato days where the Skins seem to be playing with monopoly money in the free agent market; the team also viewed the draft as something less than a place to obtain and groom young talent, hence, the Redskins have been stuck in neutral for the better part of the past five years). Add McNabb to the Redskins and how many more wins do you give this team?
Coming off of a 4-12 season, there is a lot to fix; the offensive line is in desperate need of young talent, particularly with the departure of Chris Samuels, and if anyone watched Stephen Heyer in 2009, I am not sure how you can reasonably believe that he is the answer at the right tackle spot, where he is slated to start. Plug in McNabb, not as mobile as he once was, 33 years of age, and the Skins have less talent on offense than the Iggles. Write it down now: McNabb will not start 16 games for the Skins in 2010.
And while the Skins played reasonably well on defense in 2010, an unhappy, contract rich Albert Haynesworth has not been shy (Albert is only shy when stomping the head of opponents, ask Cowboys center Andre Gurode on that one) letting all those within earshotknow that he is not thrilled with the Skins change to a 3-4 defense. This is going to get a whole lot more interesting as we move towards the 2010 season, Haynesworth’s “pain in the ass potential” far exceeds anything Jerry Reese will have to handle with Osi Umeniyora.

Thinking about the NFC East offseason should make Giants fans smile. All of the attention is on Kolb and the Iggles, McNabb and the Skins, and the Boys minus Flozell “leg whip” Adams, placing the G-men in a nice “under the radar” position. If you remember, the last time Eli and the Giants were under the radar, the G-men hoisted the Lombardi trophy. Combine this with St. Sanchez and Rexy’s Jets and Tom Coughlin should have this group motivated if nothing else.
Giants fans have spent the 2010 off-season worrying about fixing a defense that needs it, but a healthy Tuck and a motivated Osi should help, a big step up from Clint Sintim on the strong side would be welcome, and a little return on the Giants investment with Chris Canty and Michael Boley will pay huge dividends. Remember, Eli and this offense are close to becoming an elite unit; bolster the offensive line, further development from Hakeem Nicks in year two and Mario Manningham (please work on your route running) in year 3 are expected. The sky is not falling here, Reese needs to use the midas touch to tweak and motivate this roster, here we are reporting that Giants confidence should be high in 2010.
Stay blue!

1. St. Louis (1-15): QB Sam Bradford: QB is a huge need, the Rams are stuck in re-building mode, and the defensive tackle position can be fortified later in the draft. If Bradford’s should checks out, as anticipated, he will be a Ram.
2. Detroit (2-14): DT Ndamukong Suh: Boy do the Lions have options (and needs). Jim Schwartz would love to upgrade the defensive line, Suh or McCoy fit the bill here. I am going with Suh.
3. Tampa Bay (3-13): DT Gerald McCoy: Can you names the Bucs starting defensive tackles? That is why McCoy comes off the board here.
4. Washington (4-12): QB Jimmy Clausen: Shanahan had a great 1st round pick with Ryan Clady, so Okung could be the pick here, but my bet is Shanny can’t resist a young quarterback who comes with a mixed bag of expert opinions, similar to Jake Cutler.
5. Kansas City (4-12): OT Russell Okung: The Chiefs could fall in love with Rolando McClain, but this is probably a bit high (just like last year’s pick out of LSU, Tyson Jackson. The keep Cassell alive campaign starts in 2010 with the addition of Okung.
6. Seattle (5-11): DE Derrick Morgan: Seattle is a wildcard, owning pick 6 and pick 14 in the draft. Before the trade for Charlie Whithurst, Jimmy Clausen might have been the target. Now, I see Seattle going either offensive line (Bryan Buluga) or DE Derrick Morgan, defense prevails, DE Derrick Morgan is the pick.
7. Cleveland (5-11): S Eric Berry: The Browns could look at CB Joe Haden, but with Eric Wright already locking down one corner spot, the Browns select the play-making safety out of Tennessee.
8. Oakland (5-11): OT Bruce Campbell: The Raiders love workout warriors so Pierre-Paul is a possibility, but Campbell showed incredible combine numbers, Al Davis ignores the tape on Campbell and makes another pick based on measurables. Caveat: No one knows what Al Davis might to after the Heyward-Bey pick last year.
9. Buffalo (6-10): OT Trent Williams: The Bills need a stud tackle in the worst way, with both top quarterbacks off the board, Buddy Nix finally pays attention to the tackle position.
10. Jacksonville (7-9): DE Jason Pierre-Paul: Even with the singing of Aaron Kampman, the Jags still need help with their pass rush, they take a flier on this one year wonder whose physical skills impress.
11. Denver (CHI): WR Dez Bryant: Assuming the Broncos find a home for Brandon Marshall, Bryant comes in and immediately fills the “pain in the ass” role left vacant be Marshall.
12. Miami (7-9): DT Dan Williams: Parcells adds a true nose tackle to anchor the Dolphins defense, Williams is a 3 down defender who plays right away.
13. San Francisco (8-8): CB Joe Haden: Haden was projected higher before the combine, he is the most-ready corner-back in the draft and the 49ers are happy he falls to them at no. 13.
14. Seattle (DEN): RB C.J. Spiller: Carroll adds the do-it-all running back/special teams stud from Clemson, Seattle needs play-makers on the offensive side of the ball and Spiller is a play-maker.
15. New York Giants (8-8): LB Rolando McClain: The Giants stay put and add a hammer to their defense, McClain immediately comes and makes an impact in the middle for big blue.
16. Tennessee (8-8): DT Jared Odrick: Tennessee adds the versatile, active defensive tackle in Odrick who can also play on the edge in run situations, Jeff Fisher will be happy to have a high energy guys here.
17. San Francisco (CAR): G Mike Iupati: The 49ers solidify the offensive line by adding Iupati, who dominated at the senior bowl and immediately plays on the inside and may be able to stretch out to right tackle. Mean and nasty, Mike Singletary smiles.
18. Pittsburgh (9-7): DE Brandon Graham: The Steelers may have other needs in the secondary, but Graham is too good to pass up here.
19. Atlanta (9-7): LB Sean Weatherspoon: Atlanta feels pretty good about adding a versatile outside linebacker who plays sideline to sideline to flank Curtis Lofton in the middle.
20. Houston (9-7): RB Ryan Matthews: Houston adds a between the tackle runner in Matthews, who will be a nice complement to an already explosive offense.
21. Cincinnati (10-6): S Earl Thomas: Marvin Lewis adds a ball-hawking safety to his up and coming defense, Thomas could also play corner in a pinch, or if asked to.
22. New England (10-6): TE Jermaine Gresham: The Pats give Brady a legitimate pass catcher at the tight end position, with the loss of Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker, tight end is a need for the Pats.
23. Green Bay (11-5): CB Kyle Wilson: Wilson is rising up draft boards fast, good speed, makes plays on the ball and is versatile. Wilson will learn from the best in Charles Woodson.
24. Philadelphia (11-5): Taylor Mays: The Iggles bolster their secondary with the physical specimen out of USC.
25. Baltimore (9-7): WR Demaryius Thomas: Forget the trade for Anquan Boldin, the Ravens could still use a big deep threat to help Joe Flacco, broken foot or not, Thomas has a ton of raw ability.
26. Arizona (10-6): OT Charles Brown: Brown is a good value pick for the Cards who could also look to bolster the second level of their defense.
27. Dallas (11-5): OT Anthony Davis: Jerry Jones is looking to replace Flozell Adams at some point, Davis is huge, has weight issues, and has issues with penalties, sounds like a fine replacement.
28. San Diego (13-3): DT Mount Cody: Losing Jamal Williams to injury at the beginning of last year killed the Bolts run defense, GM A.J. Smith takes a chance on Cody.
29. New York Jets (9-7): WR Arrelious Benn: Benn is versatile and fast, a nice complement to deep threat Braylon Edwards, who is out to prove he is worth a big money contract.
30. Minnesota (12-4): DT Brian Price: The Williams wall can’t last forever, though Pat Williams might hunt me down for saying so, the Vikes go with true value adding a disruptive DT in Price.
31. Indianapolis (14-2): C/G Maurkice Pouncey: Polian was critical of the offensive line after losing the SuperBowl, Pouncey is versatile and can play center, guard, or even right tackle. Have to protect the franchise.
32. New Orleans (13-3): DE Everson Griffin: The Superbowl champs add a nice DE with huge upside in Griffin, who could see playing time right away.

For the Giants, my current first round wish list is for the first round means coming away with either McClain or Spiller at no. 15 or a trade down a few spots and grabbing Weatherspoon, a DT like Brian Price, or an offensive lineman like Pouncey or Anthony Davis. We’ll see.

Mike Garafalo of nj.com is reporting that the Giants and long-time punter Jeff Feagles are engaged in a bit of a contract standoff. Feagles, through his agent, has said that he definitely plans on returning for another season (Feagles is 44 years of age and showed a signs of decline towards the end of last year), and all indications are that the Giants want to bring Feagles back. Feagles is still probably the best directional punter in the league (though I can no escape the haunting memory of the Iggles DeSean Jackson returning a Feagles punt for a touchdown in Week 14 of the 2009 season). The hold-up is about money and neither side is talking much, to each other, or to anyone else. My guess is that the Giants bring Feagles back and work this out, but the situation bears watching (and for those of you who care, I am planning on reaching out to Jerry Reese for a little punting audition, I am in process of compiling my U-tube videos as we speak).

On another front, inside middle linebacker prospect Brandon Spikes (thought to be a sure fire mid first round pick before the 2009 season) continued his descend down draft boards after an ugly showing at the Florida Pro Day yesterday. Spikes has been associated with the Giants because of the G-men’s glaring need at middle linebacker, but it is looking more and more likely that Spikes stock is falling and he is almost certain not to come off the board in round one, let alone to the G-men that early. ESPN’s Todd McShay expects Florida ILB Brandon Spikes to fall to the third round after running in the 5.0 range at Wednesday’s Pro Day. With news that the Giants attended both Rolando McClain’s Pro Day and Spikes Pro Day yesterday, at least the Giants are doing their due diligence to fill the biggest void in their defense. Something tells me the Giants will not be targeting Spikes in the first two rounds of the draft.

I think the Giants are in love with McClain and Jerry Reese would do jumping jacks (and Tom Coughlin might do without the off-season activities, just to bring McClain in; ok, Coughlin isn’t doing away with OTA(s), I am just making the point that the Giants love McClain and he might just be sitting there at number 15 in round one).

On a final note, how nice it is to see the Redskins bring in Rex Grossman to backup Jason Campbell, guessing that Shanahan really does intend to have Campbell play out the year because the prospect of having Grossman under center for any significant period of time only will put Washington into a high draft position in 2011. I still think that despite the glaring need for a left tackle (especially with the retirement of long-time left tackle Chris Samuels), Shanahan will either move up and grab Sam Bradford (unlikely thought because the Rams probably don’t let that happen) or Shanahan will pull the trigger on Notre Dame’s finest, Jimmy Clausen. Either way, Rex Grossman gives me confidence that the Redskins will once again be the little brother of the NFC East in 2010, smile Giants fans, Grossman is in the house! Stay blue!

Does Woody have a legitimate beef with the coin flip? Maybe, deciding which organization was going to open up the new Meadowlands Stadium for the 2010 season via a coin flip is a little bit strange and somewhat archaic, but when we consider the fact that the NFL uses coin flips at the start of games to determine which team kicks off and which team receives the football first (not to mention the overtime coin flip), it is not all that surprising. Many of you have chastised Woody and the Jets for making such a big stink and rightfully so, at the end of the day, does it really matter?

No one is going to care, whether it be the Giants or Jets or fans of each, who opened the new stadium come December when the playoffs approach, it is much ado about nothing (similar to most comments from gang green’s big mouth coach Rexy). Win and all is forgiven (note to Tom Coughlin, this applies to you, steer this team back into a defensive powerhouse and NFC East stalwart, and no one will be talking about the abomination which is the latter part of the Giants’ 2009 season). Superbowls are not won on the first days of free agency (though most of you know I fully approve of the Antrel Rolle signing and I expect him to perform well and add much needed pass coverage skills and play-making skills to the giants secondary), but more work is to be done.

For the G-men, resolving themselves as to Rolando McClain’s fit into the 4-3 defense is key (as well as deciding on whether Brandon Spikes is the answer in Round 2 or if he will even be on the board when the Giants pick at no. 45) are both more important than coin flips and Osi Umeniyora’s attendance or non-attendance at the voluntary off-season workouts (again, note to Giants players, Tom’s definition of voluntary may not exactly align with the rest of the breathing world’s definition of voluntary). Giants fans, don’t get too high and don’t get too low, it is a long off-season, more moves to be made, players to be released and added, in Reese we trust (though Jerry’s seat is a bit warmer this year than in year’s past, that we know), stay blue!

Reese is feeling the heat and Coughlin is being treated for third degree burns after the 2009 season. Mara and Giants brass will have this team, and specifically Coughlin and Reese, on a short leash, playoffs or bust. Remember, Coughlin’s hires (other than the soon to be canonized Steve Spagnuolo) have been questionable at best, from John Hufnagel (now that name inspires confidence) to Bill Sheridan (a name now infamous for all of the wrong reasons), so Perry Fewell better right the ship and Reese better give Fewell and Coughlin the players to do it.

Reese has proven to be very astute in the draft and another good Giants draft will keep him in good standing (even with a collapse in 2010, Reese probably gets another shot to right the ship, Coughlin, not so much). The Rolle signing was huge, but there are still holes to fill on both sides of the ball, especially if Kenny Philips is no longer Kenny Philips (the trouble with that one is no one will know how Kenny’s knee has progressed until well after the draft), so don’t rule out a safety in the early rounds just yet.

Expect Reese to exercise patience in thie draft, a good talent will be there at No. 15, whether it is a stud offensive linemane (Bulaga or Trent Williams), a big body DT (Dant Williams or Brina Price) or a rare talent (C.J. Spiller). Sure, no mention of McClain but I first want to see his Pro Day and I still think he won’t last until the middle of the first round. No mention of Brandon Spikes because the 15th pick will be too high for a guy falling in some circles (not saying he won’t be a very good footbal player, I think the Giants will have other players rated higher).

Mock Draft 2.0 coming soon, stay blue!

I don’t think anyone will dispute that the G-men have a huge need for faster, more athletic guys on the second level of the defense (middle linebacker, the obvious one, and also I think the Giants will try to bring in another WLB even with last year’s signing of Michael Boley, whose difficulties in stopping the run might give him a short stint in blue).

While we never know quite how the front end of the first round is going to shape up (as we see experts with their annual list of “risers and fallers” start to come out of the woodwork right about now), it is possible that the Giants might find themselves looking at LB Rolando McClain, S Earl Thomas, S Eric Berry, and stud DT Brian Price (not to mention a DE like Derrick Morgan who may get lost in the man-love given to Pierre-Paul).

How high are the Giants on Rolando McClain? (After a brilliant junior year at Alabama, McClain now faces whispers about Nick Saban’s defense covering some of his deficiencies and direct questions about his straight line speed). Complicating things further, McClain backed out of combine drills due to a hamstring issue (yes, the dreaded hammy shows itself again), but he is expected to show his skills at the Alabama Pro Day scheduled for March 10, 2010). One more problem, does McClain really fit the bill as true 4-3 middle linebacker?

Don’t get me wrong, McClain will likely be a fine pro, if not a true play-maker. Also, I still think that Jerry Reese could surprise and go in on a stud offensive lineman (think Mike Iupati, OT Bryan Bulaga, or OT Trent Williams etc…), though I would hope Jerry makes a trade down and adds more picks if he does not go defense first.

I happen to still have a little love for McClain, though is Prod Day looms large. I also think the Giants would be in fine shape with Earl Thomas or Eric Berry. And yes, of course, I want more picks for the Giants in this draft. Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin have both given strong indications that competition for jobs will be fierce this year, let’s bring in the young talent to up the ante. Go Blue!

Stay tuned for Mock Draft 2.0, there will be quite a few changes and surprises!

Dan Williams, about 330lbs, is a real force against the rush, consistently occupies blockers while pushing the pocket; Jared Odrick out of Penn State is relentless, and Geno Atkins showed a quick burst off the snap (other defensive tackles who impressed include Lamar Houston out of Texas, Tyson Alualu from Cal, and Mike Neal from Purdue).

For all of the Giants fans thinking that LB Rolando McClain would look great in
blue, prepare to be disappointed because, absent an unexpected poor showing at the combine, I don’t seeing McClain still on the board for the G-men at pick 15. But, that might not be a bad thing; Daryl Washington from TCU could be around in round two and he showed great instincts and has sideline to sideline speed; either he or Sean Weatherspoon could potentially occupy the middle of Perry Fewell’s new defense. They are fast, athletic, and fly to the football. With the addition of a stout defensive tackle, either of these gentleman could crush for big blue in 2010.

Other Draft Thoughts:

Yes, Mike Iupati from Idaho (yes, from Idaho, and yes, his measurable are “off the chart”), is a physical, punch you in the mouth presence on the interior of the line. He reminds me of the Leonard Davis story (great, dominant guard, bad, slow-footed tackle; top five draft bust in Phoenix, pro bowler in Dallas).

And yes, it is still way too early in the process for us to declare Tim Tebow a bust before the draft actually occurs in April. At the Senior Bowl, he was slow to get rid of the football, he looked uncomfortable under center, and he had trouble with going through his progressions and making solid throws. Tim Tebow as an NFL quarterback is going to take some time, but he is no sure thing.

For a great mock draft database, go here: http://nflmocks.com/nfl-mock-draft-database.

Pro Bowl Thoughts:

I love football but I do not appreciate being taken advantage of; this message is for the National Football League: I am not going to watch the Pro Bowl just because you moved it up so it takes place one week for before the Super Bowl (sure, I get the play for ratings, it makes sense, but the game is still not appealing to football fans, it just isn’t). Players who perform exceptionally deserve to be honored on a national stage, NFL fans, who are arguably the most dedicated sports fans, deserve some type of all-star event. But, the Pro Bowl, in its current form, is not something I run to set on my DVR.