Countdown to the Draft

With day one of the NFL Draft just ten days away, speculation runs rampant as analysts everywhere try to predict what will happen. Mock drafts are being conducted on websites everywhere, but picking players in an accurate order is more difficult than a perfect bracket for March Madness. Even reviewing draft publications, each magazine sees team needs differently. Today San Francisco acquired an additional first round pick, Denver's # 22, in exchange for a second and third rounder. They are a team with many needs, but could this be a move to maybe land the number one? With the sixth overall pick they are close enough to the top to be appealing, and an additional first rounder is tempting. If they could reunite former high school teammates Reggie Bush and Alex Smith in the backfield of their home state, it could be a fantastic marketing move. Granted it would be better if they were closer to their Helix High stomping grounds near San Diego, but remaining in state seems good enough. The odds of this happening are slim to none, but could be an interesting storyline if it developed. For Denver, they still hold on to the 15th pick where they could address their glaring WR need with Santonio Holmes or Chad Jackson. They must feel confident that a solid running back will slip early in to the second round because it appeared they were poised to take DeAngelo Williams if they stayed at twenty two. However, he should be off the board by the time they pick in the second round.

In the NBA, the dreadful Knicks went out on a high note, defeating the New Jersey Nets reserves in a meaningless last game. However, the win did prevent them from dropping sixty games in this horribly embarassing campaign. Hopefully they will clean house (including management) and being to rebuild the franchise. Heading in to the playoffs, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs look to be the team to beat in the West. Their top competition should come from Dallas who finished with the second best record, but will be the fourth seed. In the Eastern Conference, it should be a three team competition between the Nets, Pistons, and Heat.