BAP
*warning* this is a little bit of a sports tirade.. not to that degree.. but.. well.. you’ve been warned…
so i was sitting at my desk this morning checking up on the latest jaguars news on jaguars.com. i wanted to see if the contract numbers had been released yet on maurice jones-drew’s new deal bc you know.. that shit innerests me. BACK OFF. so i get to watching the press conference vid to see if the there’s any nice tit-bits in thurr. [aside: every MJD presser or interview is enjoyable. i feel like that guy could be my friend.. ] so anyway, they open it up for questions and the very first question succeeds in ruining what would have otherwise been a nice morning..
“is it safe to assume you won’t be going after a running back in the first round?”
srsly? why would that be safe to assume? why not take a running back? c’mon. this shit has been swirling around all off-season (as it does every off-season). who will the jags draft? who SHOULD the jags draft? why won’t they tell me? who the fuck do the jags think they are? if i see jack del rio at mark’s tonight, imma straight “jack” that n*gga right in his fucking eye socket.. and so on and so forth…
the problem is not in the curiosity itself.. by all means be curious. the problem is in the pointless debate, the rumor mills, the baseless predictions and advice.. and of course, confusing the purpose of the draft as a place to “fill holes”.. instead of a place to “collect talent”.
for those of you unaware, the personnel situation at “the jack” is a simple one for the first time in years. gene smith is “the guy”.. and he’s said it and re-said it that he’s a “best available player” guy. meaning.. prior to the draft, he’ll create a board where he’ll rate every player in the draft. with the highest rated player being at the top.. as players are drafted, he’ll cross their names off the list. then when it’s his turn to draft.. and this is the mind-fuck where people get lost.. he’ll take who? that’s right. the best availabe player. regardless of position. running back? sure. quarterback? definitely. it doesn’t matter. and why should it? why would you be content with your roster and assume all your current players will play through the season un-injured? why would you leave a player you knew to be better, availabe for your competition to draft just bc “oh we have one of those”?
case and point: the 2004 draft. the previous year the jaguars selected QB byron leftwich with their #1 pick. so in 2004 they had no immediate need for a QB right? so what did they do? they passed on the best available player and drafted a wide receiver named reggie williams. and just who was the best available player at the time the jags were on the clock? uhh… nobody good i guess…
i rest my case.. so stop asking who the jags will draft. rest-assured that the personnel department knows more than you. and they’ll draft.. someone. the best guy available probably. shit. for a team that literally needs EVERY position, what more could you ask for?
UPDATE: MJD’s new deal gives him $17.5 million gar-ON-teeeeed…
