Draft doctors

So the NFL draft has been and gone...and are you happy?

I know I am - my New York Jets took defensive end Vernon Gholston with the 6th pick overall. Then they landed tight-end Dustin Keller with the 30th pick via a deal with the Packers. That's "quality" as my good friend Marc from Jersey always says. Gholston is the prototype pass-rusher, the experts say, and Keller has great speed and athleticism. What more could you want?

I find it interesting, however, that no matter who the pick, everyone has a unwavering opinion of draft selections. There are more differing points of view on draft day than in a global warming summit or a presidential campaign. Everyone's an expert. Everyone's a scout. And just about everyone - except you and me of course - becomes nonsensical in their assessment of these young athletes.

I mean, sure, make a judgment - predict the board - but let's do away with the 'that guy will never amount to anything' talk. Seriously. The number of times I've read in the mainstream media over the last few days that certain players don't have heart or are not ready for the mental side of the NFL is just ludicrous. Who can really make this type of prediction accurately? Suddenly all sports writers are Dr. Phil with their psycho-babble.

Half the hot air lost over the draft is about players that should never have been picked. So-called experts are always clamouring on about how "needs" weren't fulfilled - that players should be drafted to challenge those current roster players who are suspect. Come on. If you're the Kansas City Chiefs and you have a decent QB in Brodie Croyle or you're the 49ers and think Alex Smith still deserves a shot with some decent blockers in front of him, why would you draft a 50-50 QB? Other than Matt Ryan, the QBs available didn't exactly light my fire, and I'm certain some of the early drafters weren't overly-impressed either. So in these instances you really have to say, "screw needs, we need a good player!"

The same goes for the Jets, who grabbed Gholston as the next best player on the board. All this jibberish about the kid not having heart is going to come back and haunt the doubters. You can just feel it. I can't wait for the season to start.