FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Another April has come and gone, and with it, the remnants of the 2008 NFL Draft.  For the most part, it was good theatre (And faster this year) and it gives football fans a chance to see some of the upcoming stars of the future.  Unfortunately, rumblings have already occurred among some fans disgruntled with their team's drafts.  Why didn't the Bears or Chiefs draft a QB?  Why did the Packers draft two?  And why did the Titans draft a running back so early?  Again!!

As we all know, the answer to how these teams drafted this year won't be answered for awhile.  Drafting, for all its art and science , remains a crapshoot.  Injuries are one reason.  Who knows, if he hadn't been injured, the Bengals might be ready to hoist their championship banner at their stadium on Ki-jana Carter Blvd.  The other reason is that we just don't know how young men in their twenties will adjust to the pro level.  Most people familiar with Michigan football in the late 90's thought Drew Henson, and not Tom Brady, was the better pro prospect.  The fact is, these football players are human beings, and their teams are run by human beings who make mistakes like the rest of us.

Which is what we need to remember when we look at draft analysis done by the experts.  Look, I read Peter King, Don Banks, Bucky Brooks, and Dr Z's articles all the time.  I think they're entertaining and provide a lot of insight, and know more about sports than I do.  Easily.  But they are not God.  They've been wrong before and they'll be wrong again.  The best example of this is Jeff Lageman.  He was drafted in 1989 by the Jets at #15 out of Virginia.  Needless to say, the analysts thought he was drafted a little too high.  It sparked the now famous comment by Mel Kiper, when he stated, "The Jets don't have a clue to what the draft is all about!"  To hear the experts tell it, Lageman would be starting his career at McDonald's by September.

And you know what?  Lageman lasted 10 years, had 49 career sacks, and was one of the anchors for the Jaguars defense during their surprise run to the 1996 AFC title game.  Will he be enshrined in the hall of Fame?  No, he will not be remebered like Troy Aikman or Barry Sanders are.  But he lasted a lot longer than Tony Mandarich, drafted #2 by the Packers that year, and most players would probably envy a career like his.

Kiper and the others were wrong about Lageman.  And you know what?  That's OK.  They're human.  I only hope people remember that the next time they think people are dissing the Lions picks or they think the Redskins should be ahead of the Seahawks in the Week 10 Power Rankings.