NFL Draft

By Dan Rodgers

This will be a quickie considering there is less than ten minutes until the Panthers should be on the clock (8 p.m. on ESPN).

I have been hearing time after time that this draft class is overrated at the quarterback position, and I couldn't agree more with that statement. First of all, there is no consensus No. 1 overall pick, not to mention a lack of elite talent.

According to Mel Kiper, Patrick Peterson, LSU CB, is the best player in the draft. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he will be the No. 1 overall pick (no CB has ever gone No. 1). I expect, because NFL franchises are often stupid, the No. 1 pick to be Cam Newton.

If I'm running the Panthers I easily look for the player I think is the most talented and draft BPA (Best Player Available, which is everyone). Carolina will most likely be the worst team in the league next year and will have the No. 1 pick again. Andrew Luck will be coming out of Stanford and be available to draft. This way, Carolina can get their franchise QB next year, and a highly talented player at a position of need this year.

Cam Newton is a high-risk high-reward player. He is obviously talented, but will those talents transfer to the NFL level? I won't be the guy that says no and have Newton become the next Donovan McNabb, or say yes and have him become the next Akili Smith.

As far as everyone else...I'm not as well versed this year compared to last year. I don't know why, maybe it's the lack of talent this year. Expect a lack of excitement as well because players cannot be traded, only picks for picks.

However, I do expect a lot of moving around, particularly because there are teams that will look to move up from early second round to late first round.

I'll come back after the draft and talk about any surprises. Enjoy!

Rodgers That

Auburn slips by Oregon

By Dan Rodgers

Well, the much anticipated BCS National Championship is over. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Oregon Ducks 22-19 with a last second field goal. The game wasn't the shootout that some people were expecting, and both defenses showed up.

Both teams were averaging over 30 points per game coming into the game, but turnovers played a large factor in the low-scoring game. Cam Newton threw one interception and lost a fumble, and Darron Thomas threw two interceptions.

However, a huge point in the game was when Auburn was stopped at the one yard line in the second quarter. LaMichael James was then tackled in the endzone for a safety, and Auburn scored a touchdown on their next drive for a 16-11 lead.

After an Auburn field goal, an Oregon touchdown and two-point conversion the game was tied. The very next drive is when Auburn kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired, but the pivotal play on the drive was a 37-yard run by RB Michael Dyer. He was tackled on top of a player and was never down, so he got up and scampered to the Oregon 23. The field goal was a chip-shot 19 yarder.

A fun fact about the game is that it is the first NCAAF National Championship game between two teams that weren't ranked in the top 10 to start the season.

Rodgers That

Carolina not so LUCKy

By Dan Rodgers

Stanford QB Andrew Luck has declared that he will be returning to school for his senior season. This decision is said not to change after Luck learned that his coach, Jim Harbaugh, signed a contract to be the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Harbaugh signed a five year deal on Friday, worth approximately $25 million. It was speculated, especially by me, that he would choose San Fran because of the proximity to Stanford.

Back to Luck, who was said by many to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers have that pick and it was widely speculated that they wanted to take Luck even though they drafted Jimmy Clawful in the second round of last year's draft.

Carolina will now have to completely rethink their draft strategy because the other QBs available (Mallet, Newton, Locker, etc) aren't considered to be No. 1 status.

I respect Luck for his decision while other people have been ripping him a new one for it. One guy called in on 105.7 The Fan and said he would tell his son to go pro and get the money while he could.

I guess I understand why it would make sense to go pro. If Luck tears his ACL his draft stock will plummet. However, even a bad season could hurt him since he is already the consensus No. 1 pick there is nowhere to go but down. However, you have to respect a kid who knows he will probably be the first overall pick and is staying in school even though his coach has already left as well.

Good luck Luck...

Rodgers That