2008 NFL Draft Thoughts

So, the NFL draft weekend is finally over. It was a rather uneventful draft, the top picks went as predicted and all six players in the green room were drafted as planned, 1-6. For the first time in quite a while, fans did not have the pleasure of seeing a top rated player squirm, a la Brady Quinn in 2007, as he slips further and further into the first round. Here are some points of note from the 2008 draft:

In the third round, the Giants selected Mario Mannigham out of Michigan, a talented wide receiver with big play ability and a Pacmanesque knack for getting into trouble. GM Jerry Reese worked wonders in last year's draft, selecting players like Ahmad Bradshaw, Kevin Boss, Aaron Ross, Steve Smith, and Jay Alford, all who contributed to the Giants championship run. So, Giants fans have to trust that Reese did his homework with Manningham, who many feel may be the biggest steal in the draft.

Rutgers RB Ray Rice, a New Rochelle guy, was selected in the second round by the Ravens. This was much higher than most expected, but I think he and Willis McGahee will combine for a pretty formidable RB tandem, which most teams in the NFL are implementing nowadays. As far as rookies go, RBs tend to make the biggest, most immediate impact on their team. Just look at Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson last season. I think Rice will put up solid numbers.

Perhaps the most intriguing story of the draft came late in day two during the seventh round. The Detroit Lions drafted Caleb Campbell, a safety from Army.

Campbell is attempting to become the first football player to take advantage of a recently implemented rule by the US Military Academy that allows athletes to play professional sports immediately upon graduation.

On his off day, typically Tuesday's, Campbell would be required to speak to local high schools about opportunities in the army.

The new rule has been received with mixed feelings. Some people feel it is great that cadets
graduating from Army are able to pursue a pro sports career immediately. These people also believe their required duty to recruit while playing the sport will have a great influence on high school kids, who would see the army as a legitimate opportunity to make it in the world.

Others, however, believe Campbell is doing a great disservice to his country and fellow graduates and classmates, especially those who are sent into combat. Critics contend that Campbell, who trained to be an officer, has an obligation to his Army comrades first and foremost, and is abandoning them during a time of need.

In my opinion, this is a big deal over nothing. For all we know, Campbell might not even be on the Lion's roster come the start of the season, after all, he is a seventh round pick. Plus, not all cadets necessarily go into combat after graduating from the academy. Army grads go on to serve in the military in a myriad of ways. They become engineers, consultants, doctors, and so on. Campbell is simply choosing a different path, one that still allows him to serve his country in the form of recruiting.

In the end, let's face it, the bigger story here is that Matt Millen didn't draft a WR with his first pick. Way to go, Matt.