A few Sunday draft notes: The Saints continued their defensive makeover with two more defensive selections with their two picks today so far. That makes at least 5 defensive acquisitions this offseason and I expect a good many of their rookie free agents will be from that side of the ball, too. From this, we can acknowledge the Saints at least recognize their deficiencies. To be fair, they have for the last three offseasons. The players they acquired just didn't work out with the notable exception of linebacker Jonathan Vilma.
About overall top pick Matthew Stafford: I've seen him play a few times at Georgia. In no way did I ever envision him as an overall number one. I hope it works out for the Lions but I'm not seeing it right now.
About Vikings first round selection Percy Harvin: Having seen him play at Florida many, many times, I can attest with no equivocation whatsoever that the guy has skills. He ate LSU's lunch more than once. He tested positive for marijuana at the recent scouting combine and many are attributing that to youthful indiscretion. I hope that to be true. If he was just coming out of college as a non-athlete, no one would ever know this about him unless he is someday caught by the police and he'd have chances to grow out of it in relative anonymity. That is not the case in his chosen profession. He'll have constant scrutiny and he'll be tested frequently. The Vikes will keep tabs on him as best they can during the season but it's easier then. It's more difficult during the offseason, when these guys have lots of time on their hands and their days are mostly filled with taking out the garbage, playing video games, and going to the mall, that the impulse to do something a little more exciting comes up and these guys have a lot of money to salve that impulse. Some unsolicited, unwanted advice from CrabAppleLane for Percy Harvin and others like him: Your hard work and ability have gotten you this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and people are rooting for you to succeed. If you squander it, you'll regret it your entire life but no one else will care. Many guys have done it and there's nothing good or original about it. Don't be one of those guys.
About Raiders first round selection Darrius Heyward-Bey: Looks like Al Davis wants to go back to old Raider football. He's got a burner now at wide receiver to go along with the big arm of Jamarcus Russell. Dumb. The guy's hands are suspect. The first priority of a wide receiver is to "receive". He might make a few plays for the Raiders but that philosophy of "run and throw deep" just doesn't work any more.
I offer one from the back deck today before we go off to do some furniture shopping. This lizard below was fighting with a smaller one when I came out earlier this morning. At first, I thought maybe it was a mating ritual but it was pretty violent so I'm guessing it was a territorial dispute. When I came out to finish whatever coffee I had left, he also came out and spent the next half-hour racing up and down the deck, probably in a territorial dispute with me. I've got news for him. The deck belongs to me ... but he can hang out here if he wants.
CrabAppleLane lizard on deck - April 26, 2009
About the QOTD: My 4yr old nephew caught a nice size fish. The name of the fish is pronounced "Shoe Pick" and my friend, Dave, has some competition. :)
137 days until football season ...
Quote of the Day
The fish is called a "choupique"- which is actually the Cajun name for it.
Angela, My sister
Blog of the day here.
Quote from said blog: "The new app would be installed by the deadline, but on a single pc at each store and the stores would not get a choice as to which one. Cue the general pissing and moaning from the stores..."
Hey, nice fish. I had never heard of choupique, but I looked it up and apparently that's a local name for bowfin, which I have heard of but have never seen in person. Maybe your nephew can teach me about the local waters some day.
I'm not sure what to think about Harvin. I'm a little surprised that the pot issue didn't scare the Vikes away. But, maybe they are more scared about having another year with a crummy passing game.
Fishing holes in Louisiana are handed down by family and are closely-guarded secrets, Dave, but I'm sure I could get you in. :)
Harvin is an exciting football player, Dave. If he doesn't have any other trouble, he has a bright future with the Vikes.