Malletting us Down

Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett canceled a pre-draft meeting with the Carolina Panthers on April 9 apparently after too much partying the night before. Brad Briggs of the National Football Post reported that Mallett was “out on the town late” the night before. This story has been supported by multiple sources. J.R. Carroll, Mallett’s agent, contends that Mallett was genuinely sick and that “Ryan was in his hotel room by about 10 o’clock”. Carroll also said that Mallett did have a meeting in the morning of the 9th but then had to cancel the rest of the day’s planned activities because of his illness.

Regardless of the reason behind Mallett’s decision to cancel it was a bad decision. Who cancels a job interview when there are millions of dollars to be made or lost? Especially when his job is supposed to be one of, if not the most, mentally and physically demanding positions in professional sports. Although he seemed to overcome setbacks by his admitted past drug use and his 2009 arrest for public intoxication, he may have slid back dramatically personally and in the draft. Teams will not want to invest substantial amounts of money in a kid that can’t make the right decisions.

Despite being one of the most talented quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Mallett’s most recent poor decision may have dropped him from being the third for fourth to the fifth or even sixth quarterback taken in the draft.

2011 NFL Mock Draft

With the 2011 NFL draft being only weeks away there have been many speculations about who will go where and in what round. Although there are already thousands of mock drafts out there, how about one more. Step aside Kiper and McShay!

Carolina: Blaine Gabbert,QB, Missouri
Denver: Marcell Dareus,DT, Alabama
Buffalo: Von Miller,OLB, Texas A&M
Cincinnati: Cam Newton,QB, Auburn
Arizona: Jake Locker,QB, Washington
Cleveland: A.J. Green,WR, Georgia
San Francisco: Patrick Peterson,CB, LSU
Tennessee: Nick Fairley,DT, Auburn
Dallas: Tyron Smith,OT, USC
Washington: Julio Jones,WR, Alabama
Houston: Prince Amukamara,CB, Nebraska
Minnesota: Da’Quan Bowers,DE, Clemson
Detroit: Anthony Castonzo,OT, Boston College
St. Louis: J.J. Watt,DE, Wisconsin
Miami: Mark Ingram,RB, Alabama
Jacksonville: Ryan Kerrigan,DE, Purdue
New England (from Oakland): Corey Liuget,DT, Illinois
San Diego: Muhammad Wilkerson,DL, Temple
NYG: Mike Pouncey,OG, Florida
Tampa Bay: Cameron Jordan,DE, California
Kansas City: Akeem Ayres,OLB, UCLA
Indianapolis: Gabe Carimi,OT, Wisconsin
Philadelphia: Nate Solder,OT, Colorado
New Orleans: Marvin Austin,DT, North Carolina
Seattle: Ryan Mallett,QB, Arkansas
Baltimore: Aaron Williams,CB, Texas
Atlanta: Cameron Hayward,DE, Ohio State
New England: Derek Sherrod,OT, Mississippi State
Chicago: Torrey Smith,WR, Maryland
NYJ: Phil Taylor,DT, Baylor
Pittsburg: Jimmy Smith,CB, Colorado
Green Bay: Brooks Reed,DL, Arizona

Playing Hard Ball

In another desperate attempt to stick it to the NFL, the players’ union has been putting pressure on potential first round picks not to attend the draft in April. The NFLPA (Players Association) apparently has contacted the 17 top prospects likely to be invited by the league and have recommended they not attend.

This is an immature and shameful attempt by the players’ association. They are trying to pressure and influence guys who are not part of the union yet. They are trying to take away a once in a lifetime experience that these players have rightfully earned through their years of hard work. But don’t worry, one source told ESPN analyst Adam Schefter that they plan to give the prospects the "same experience down the street." What is this, high school? They’re going to throw their own party down the street from the cool kids and have a super duper fun time by themselves with no jersey or cap to receive after walking to the podium in front of the nation to kick off their professional careers. Yeah, great trade.

For a group of guys who have tried to make themselves out to be the victims, the NFLPA has turned from the oppressed to the oppressor. If they think they will be able to scare the owners with this rinky-dink tactic, I’m afraid they’re mistaken. If 16 days of mediation didn’t work, I doubt this will have a significant impact. Players present or not, the draft will still sell out and have millions of television viewers. It’s time for the players association to put their toys away and act like adults. Man’s game!