TheSplog! Archives 2005 NFL Draft

With the NFL Draft taking place this weekend, we decided to go back to thesplog.com archives and print a running diary we ran back in April 2005. More on the 2007 NFL draft later today.

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April 23, 2005

Oh no, I’m addicted to draftahol.

Hi, my name is Kent and I’m a draftaholic.

Yes, I am addicted to the NFL draft. It’s been at least 10 years and I don’t see the problem going away any time soon. The beauty of the draft is you just never know what you are going to get. One of the best parts of the day is the pimped-out suit and tie combinations from the draftees and the 8-person entourages of the players.

Coming in a close second is the awkward handshake and fake smile from the commissioner as the player and the exec get their photo snapped.

It’s by far the best non-sporting sporting event of the year. The Vikings had two picks in the first round and we put together a quick draft-day diary for our loyal readers. Since time is valuable, we will keep it to the first 10 picks. But trust me, I stayed with this thing through the Vikes pick at 17.

Much like the draft itself, this diary has its strengths and its weaknesses. It has lots of upside and should be a contender to start immediately if given the chance. It’s quick off the ball and has a great motor.

9:55 a.m. We are coming to you live! from thesplog.com southern MN offices. The laptop is on, the live web-feed from Winter Park is sort of working, and ESPN is locked and loaded. Now all I need is some coffee and we are good to go.

10:04 a.m.Every year I find it curious that Mel Kiper Jr. has turned this thing into a full-time job. He’s the Dick Vitale of the NFL draft. You fully expect to see him on TV, he is always over-hyping players from elite school programs, and his on-the-air style always seems to rub his broadcasting mates the wrong way. We are five minutes into this thing and I keep expecting to see Mort, Boomer, or this year’s “token athlete or coach on the broadcast team” Torry Holt take a swing at him. It's going to be a long 6-8 hours for this group. By the way, has anyone filled the role of “token athlete or coach on the broadcast team” better than Denny Green in 2003? I wish I had TiVo back then, because Denny was full of energy. He chuckled, he told stories, and he had everyone in stitches throughout the day. Just Denny being Denny, always on the high road.

10:15 a.m.Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (who we will now refer to as just Tags, I think he’s earned it) just glided to the stage and welcomed us to the 2005 NFL College Draft. Thanks Tags, I feel welcomed. San Francisco is now on the clock and has been since last November. A week ago I thought there was no better fit for them than Aaron Rodgers. Hometown boy, easy to sign, etc. Now it sounds like Alex Smith is the guy. Shows you what I know.

10:30 a.m.Alex Smith is your #1 pick in the 2005 draft. Interesting note about this 20-year-old kid, he lost just two football games in his high school and college playing career. That’s not a bad stat. I get the feeling he will probably quadruple that number of losses as a first year starter for the 49er’s next year.

10:33 a.m.One thing I love about cable television is the fact that depending on your market, you get to see both local and national commercials. Whoever is doing the cable TV advertising sales in Rochester, MN, is definitely doing his or her job. I think every local hardware store, jewelry store and restaurant has found its way onto local cable TV. I know I personally can’t get enough of the Rochester Lapidary Jewelers jingle, but that’s just me.

10:45 am. The end of the Ricky Williams era is here in Miami as the Dolphins just took running back Ronnie Brown. The Vikings had talked about perhaps moving up to get this kid and I would have been okay with that. At this point I am still hoping Mike Williams is there for us at 7 but I just received a very disturbing call from my buddy Dion who told me to be prepared for them to take Troy Williamson at 7 instead. Ugh.

10:51a.m. All of the talk on KFAN.com is about Troy Williamson and how the Vikings staff loves the kid and will take him with the 7th pick even if Mike Williams is still there. Are they insane? Haven’t the coaches talked incessantly since the Randy Moss trade that speed isn’t that big of a concern – they want football players. Mike Williams is a football player. Check the stats. Who is Troy Williamson?

11:00 a.m. The Browns just did the predictable and smart thing by taking a very productive college receiver in Braylan Edwards. Smart pick. The Vikings better do the same.

11:15 a.m.Cedric Benson goes to Chicago. Strange moment here – right after his name was called, Benson started crying and took his sweet-ass time getting up to the podium. Those are some tears, he is either really happy to be drafted or really sad that he is going to play for one of the worst franchises in the NFL. Didn’t the Bears have a more pressing need at receiver or even cornerback than at running back? Somebody get Cedric a tissue. Tags isn't sure if he should shake his hand or give him a hug.

11:26 a.m.This portion of the draft brought to you by Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper and Old Dutch mini pretzel rods. Thesplog.com southern Minnesota office has apparently hit hard times and we are on a tight budget.

11:30 a.m.Okay, now I am really confused. Don’t the Bucs need a QB? Is Aaron Rodgers this year’s Randy Moss and Warren Sapp rolled into one over-confident package? Tampa just took Carnell “Cadillac” Williams who immediately moves into the Top Ten greatest nicknames of current NFL players.

11:32 a.m.We are now two picks away from the Vikings spot at 7 and there is little doubt that they will indeed either trade down or take Troy Williamson with the pick. The rubes on the KFAN chat line are pissed, nobody likes the idea of taking him. At the same time, nobody has seen him play and none of us really have a clue how good this kid is going to be. Still, if Mike Williams is there how do you pass him up?

11:45 a.m.Pac Man! Adam Jones, the first defensive player chosen in the draft, is headed to the Titans where he can waste away in mediocrity as Steve McNair plays just half the games again next year and the team struggles to the .500 mark. Mr. Jones is not at the draft, he is apparently at his parole hearing with his family and friends. The Pac Man diamond studded medallion he is wearing, if it is real, is worth no less than $100,000. He gots the bling bling and it is off the hizzy fo shizzy.

12:00 p.m. High noon... Ladies and gentlemen…. We got him. If by "him" you mean Troy Williamson, then yes – we got him. I can’t bleeping believe they drafted him and Mike Williams is on the board. Amazing. I am speechless.

12:11 p.m.Denny Green gets his pick in early and takes Antrel Rolle. Young Denny can’t believe his guy fell to him again. I am telling you, we never should have let that man leave the state. I wish I could buy stock in things like “Denny Green will stop talking to the Arizona media by August 2005.”

12:20 p.m. I am bitter right now – I am really not understanding this pick. I need to calm down, its just a draft. These guys do this for a living, they know how good Troy Williamson is and how good he will be in the future. Ugh, Mike Williams should be on this team.

12:24 p.m.I think somebody named Carlos Rogers was just drafted. Yeah, the Redskins just took him. I am so distracted by the Mike Tice news conference on the radio that I am having trouble watching the TV. The boo birds are out for Mike Tice, not many people liked the Williamson pick. His rationale for making the pick? He said “we were right about Kevin Williams two years ago, trust us on this one.” Um, it doesn’t really work that way does it? At least we aren’t Redskins fans. Mike Williams and Aaron Rodgers are staring them in the face and they went with defense. Idiots.

12:45 p.m.I can’t take much more of this, thank God I am only going ten picks with the diary. The Lions just took Mike Williams. That makes them three-deep at wide receiver with nobody to throw the ball to them and nobody to play defense. I swear the core group could run an NFL franchise better than half the teams in the league. Westy could be the head coach, Dion could be the GM, Chuck runs the salary cap and I will handle the scouting. We could turn this into a reality show, I swear it would work.

1:15 p.m. That's it for me -- the top ten picks are on the board, no trades were made and it definitely did not turn out the way I thought it would for the Vikings. Williamson over Williams. Talk about over-thinking a situation. I hope I am wrong, but I think Williams will be a much better pro. We might not see it for a couple of years since Joey Harrington is running the offense in Detroit, but its just a matter of time.

That's it, that's all, that's all there is.