Finally Someone completely agrees with me

[Sgt. Ryan]

By Skip Bayless

Page 2

 

 

Houston, you have a prob- … yeah, you know where I'm going.

 

 

Seriously though. Your Texans have looked a gift horse in the mouth -- a Pegasus who could take them over the rainbow -- and said, "Yeah, but … "

 

 

 

Vince Young's delivery may be a little funky -- but that won't stop him from becoming a huge star.Apparently, your Texans have been working extremely hard talking themselves out of taking Vince Young -- who hails from Houston, of all places -- with the draft's No. 1 pick. Your only consolation? It sounds as if your Texans aren't alone. Many more teams seem to be preparing to make the same mistake.

 

 

Heck, the way the NFL works on draft day -- monkey see, monkey don't -- Young could slide the way Aaron Rodgers did last year. Once the 49ers, picking first, considered Rodgers but opted for Alex Smith, team after team had a building excuse to pass on Rodgers … who finally went 24th to Green Bay.

 

 

Then again, comparing Vince Young with Aaron Rodgers is like putting Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf in the same sentence.

 

 

Young will turn out to be by far the most valuable player -- and leader -- in this draft. (For the record, I wrote a year ago that Cadillac Williams would be the best player in the draft, and Tampa Bay stole him with the fifth pick.) If Texans owner Bob McNair doesn't overrule his football decision-makers and insist on taking Young, this franchise will regret it for a long, long time.

 

 

Here lie the Texans, who passed on hometown product and Hall of Famer Vince Young.

 

 

Houston, your football team's front office is looking like the dumbest bunch of Texans this side of a Bush skit on "Saturday Night Live." And I don't mean the Bush the Texans probably will take: USC's Reggie.

 

 

Several league sources say general manager Charley Casserly will be fired after the draft for all the poor decisions he made in building this expansion team. Texans sources say Casserly has threatened to quit -- as if he doesn't deserve to be doubted after a 2-14 season. Yet Casserly remains in charge of making what could be the most crucial decision in team history!

 

 

Well, at least new coach Gary Kubiak probably wants the media to believe Casserly has final say. That way, Kubiak can blame a long-gone Casserly if Young turns out to be much better than the player the Texans take. Kubiak has told sources around the league that he's a "Vince guy," but Casserly has been a "Reggie guy" from the start.

 

 

For sure, that's what Casserly has been telling media members since the Texans "won" the first pick. And every move Casserly and Kubiak have made through the offseason has all but screamed, "We're taking Reggie!"

 

 

They exercised the $8 million option to keep former No. 1 pick David Carr from becoming a free agent. That could have allowed them to trade Carr, who has the tools and potential to perhaps have brought a first-round pick in return. Instead, the Texans dedicated themselves to making Carr a success by giving him the weapons and blockers he hasn't had.

 

 

They acquired receiver Eric Moulds, which was a very good move, and tight end Jeb Putzier, which wasn't bad. Now Carr will have three receiving options beyond developing stud Andre Johnson. If he's doubled, Carr can look for Moulds or Putzier … or Reggie Bush.

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- Bush will be a Pro Bowl back. But Vince Young will be an MVP -- especially if he's allowed to strap his hometown team on his back and carry it into the playoffs.

 

 

Carr isn't anywhere near a bust, but he doesn't belong in the same breath with Young. He isn't a leader, a winner, a franchise changer. So it's amusing to hear the Texans (and other teams) say, "We already have a quarterback." Yes -- but you don't have Young.

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Einsel/AP Photo

Teams shouldn't be all that worried about Vince's extracurricular activities.Sure, if Casserly is allowed to make -- or at least influence -- this monumental decision, he'll push to build around the quarterback he staked his reputation on in Houston. He'll reach for every excuse not to take Young -- and there are many. Many teams have Matt Leinart rated above Young, which is absurd.

 

 

Leinart -- not Jay Cutler -- is this draft's most overrated quarterback. More on that next week.

 

 

But here's the punch line in Houston: The Texans have worked so hard to talk themselves out of Young that they're now talking themselves into North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams. Huh?

 

 

No doubt this could be a negotiating ploy. The Texans didn't have a visit scheduled with Williams until after their first sit-down with Bush's agent, Joel Segal, who obviously expressed some jaw-dropping contractual wishes. Still, the Texans aren't the only team falling head-over-better-judgment in love with the 6-foot-7, 295-pound Williams.

 

 

Baaa! go the NFL sheep. If one team expresses awe over a player, others begin to see greatness that simply isn't there.

 

 

In all my years following NFL drafts, I cannot remember a player rising so far so fast so late. Several sources say the Texans' fascination with Williams goes beyond merely threatening to take him if Segal won't ease off his demands. The Texans are genuinely considering him.

 

 

Mario Williams doesn't belong in the same paragraph with Vince Young.

 

 

The best thing Williams has going for him is that Julius Peppers played down Tobacco Road at North Carolina, and Williams and Peppers have one thing in common. They're both basketball tall. That's about it.

 

 

Otherwise, Williams doesn't belong in the same zip code with Peppers. When I watched Peppers in college, he jumped off my screen. When I watched Williams' 7-5 NC State team, he didn't once catch my eye.

 

 

An independent NFL scout who was assigned to three NC State games told me: "If they hadn't told me to watch Williams, I wouldn't have noticed him."

 

 

This new emperor doesn't have nearly enough clothes to go in the first five picks, let alone No. 1.

 

 

But no doubt the Texans have comforted themselves with the growing dirty laundry list of Young's negatives. He had a poor initial score on the NFL's intelligence test. He's represented by a Houston lawyer who's a family friend with only one previous NFL client. He could be distracted by too many family members and friends if he played in Houston.

 

 

Word is that Young has already bought four cars, and that he has already started charging for his autograph. He wore jeans when his national champ Texas Longhorns visited the White House. He has gone a little too Hollywood, making appearances at Houston's NBA All-Star Game, the Astros' opener and with Andy Roddick at a tennis exhibition.

 

 

He has an unorthodox below-the-ear flip of a delivery. He played almost exclusively in a shotgun offense at Texas. I could go on, but not one of these knocks scares me about a player who obviously scares old-guard NFL executives and coaches to death.

 

 

They don't know quite what to make of Young because, quite simply, there's never been anyone quite like him. He's not Randall Cunningham, or Doug Williams, Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb.

 

 

He's simply Jordanesque.

 

 

Conventional NFL evaluators should quit thinking of him as a quarterback and just consider him a playmaker. An igniter. A moneyback, with a guarantee.

 

 

A coach (and former NFL player) whose team is picking in the middle of the first round attended Young's pro day workout and looked past the delivery to the intangibles.

 

 

He said: "You can see why other players will follow this kid. He has this undeniable presence, this incredible confidence, this swagger.

 

 

"You can't call him Michael Jordan, but he's made of the same stuff. Jordan came into the league without a picture-perfect jump shot, so he said, 'Watch this,' and he taught himself to shoot. You can tell this kid will do whatever it takes to prove everyone who doubted him wrong."

 

 

Jordan, remember, went third in the draft.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...ht&lid=tab4pos2

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Young takes off in the open field, there's no one like him.Now all the Texans need to do is block out everything and look at the tapes. They do not lie.

 

 

Look at the last two Rose Bowls, and last season's Texas at Ohio State game. At 6-5 and nearly 240 pounds, Young is so big, so strong, so durable and so much quicker than he appears to be that even Ohio State's defense, which will have four first-round picks, couldn't keep him from buying time and picking them apart with every kind of pass he needed to throw.

 

 

They don't look pretty leaving his hand. But focus on the results. They spiral. They have zip and they have touch. They're virtually always aimed at the most open receiver, and invariably they're on target.

 

 

Most importantly, Young is a pass-first quarterback. He takes off only when his receivers are covered -- as he did on the 8-yard touchdown bolt that beat USC in the national championship game.

 

 

Young outgunned a USC offense that could have five first-round picks this draft. Young ran championship rings around the best defensive coach in college football, Pete Carroll, who had almost six weeks to prepare.

 

 

Two years ago, Young told Texas coach Mack Brown, a perennial big-game loser, to just let Young be himself and everything would be OK. And Young took Brown on a magic carpet ride that saved and made the coach's career. That's what he'll do for some lucky NFL coach.

 

 

If New Orleans passes on Young, that will be a huge mistake. Ditto for the team that once lived in Houston -- the Titans -- if they let offensive coordinator Norm Chow talk them into the quarterback he coached at USC: Leinart. And for the Jets and Packers and 49ers and Raiders.

 

 

Several mock drafts have Young going seventh to Oakland. But don't count on that.

 

 

The Texans will make the dumbest mistake. But other lemmings will follow them over the draft-day cliff.

 

 

And Vince Young will haunt them all for years to come.

 

 

Skip Bayless can be seen Monday through Friday on "Cold Pizza," ESPN2's morning show, and at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN's "1st & 10." His column appears twice a week on Page 2. You can e-mail Skip here.

[revhookem]

I hate to agree with a Sooner... but in this case, I have to!

I'm obviously biased, but I believe VY will be an OUTSTANDING pro, given that he's put in an offense that allows him to use his Jordanesque abilities. I'm not sure that should be Houston, unless they traded down... but the Titans would be making an enormous mistake if they passed on him, I think. Likewise, I really think New Orleans made a mistake by grabbing another Texan (by birth), Austin's Drew Brees, instead of drafting Vince at #2 after Bush is taken at #1.

 

If Young falls to the Raiders at #7, it will be a steal. If he goes later than that, it will be a crime.

[Brentastic]

That's funny because I've always viewed Skip Bayless as a big moran. I can't think of one time that I've agreed with him. Now about VY, I'm not sure how he will turn out but I am anxious to watch and find out.

[piratesownninjas]

You have a problem if you agree with Skip on anything...

[kpholmes]

If Young falls to the Raiders at #7, it will be a steal.  If he goes later than that, it will be a crime.

 

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Young will fall granted Titans go with Cutler/Leinart

 

Young + Lamont + Moss + Porter = Lethal

 

Moss stretches the defenders deep to give VY some running room, and if they play up to contain the run, he hits Moss deep or Lamont in the flat.

 

You have no idea how much I'm praying...

[revhookem]

Having said how much I agree with his column on this ONE occasion, I must also admit... Skip Bayless is absolutely a moron! I used to listen to him drone on daily on Dallas sports radio. He was an idiot then, and he's gotten worse since.

 

But Vince is my man!

[Perchoutofwater]

All I can say is I hope that he falls all the way to the Cowboys, or that Jerry some how can move up far enough to get him. VY has proven all he really needs is a good O-line and a TE to be very productive.

[Sgt. Ryan]

All I can say is I hope that he falls all the way to the Cowboys, or that Jerry some how can move up far enough to get him.  VY has proven all he really needs is a good O-line and a TE to be very productive.

 

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Amen, Man we can dream.

[Sgt. Ryan]

And Yes, Skip is an lying idiot, but he must be getting better info these days, or someone else wrote the article for him, and he took the credit. As I cant find one fault with his article.

 

 

Dude told me on the radio back in 95 or 96, that SD was a joke and wouldnt make the playoffs. Somehow that joke made it to the SB. Lets just say when I called back to talk to him about that, he denied saying it. Then another caller, must have heard my conversation months back, because they called him a liar on the radio, and said he too heard him speak SD woudlnt even make the post season. Guess the joke was on Skipless.

[piratesownninjas]

All I can say is I hope that he falls all the way to the Cowboys, or that Jerry some how can move up far enough to get him.  VY has proven all he really needs is a good O-line and a TE to be very productive.

 

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and a qb option draw as an offensive philosophy... Look at what he's done under center... Nothing...

[pedroz13]

Not many gave Texas a shot at beating USC, Vince Young made that happen basically on his own. Seems he has doubters everywhere, and I'd hate to be one of the teams that passes on him. At least my Vikings don't have a shot at him.

[Swiss Cheezhead]

If I ever thought Young was going to be great, I'm now convinced he will be a bust. Such are the odds of Skip Bayless ever being right.

 

P.S. That also means owners of Cadillac Williams should be soliciting trade offers.

[spain]

Skip Bayless is a turd and argueably the dumbest voice in sports. He is basically unlistenable. But I agree with him on VY though. Young is special and will be a franchise QB for the lucky team that drafts him. I believe that team will be the Titans. I realize that its 1 week before the draft and that is the time when all the dis-information campaigns really start cranking up. And Floyd Reese lies so much about this sort of thing that he makes Mike Shannahan seem like a choir boy. But everything coming out of Baptist Sports Park indicates that Tennessee will take Young. "The word" is that they have him rated ALOT higher than Leinart and Cutler, with Cutler being a very distant 3rd.

 

My scenario for the Titans is that the they take Young at 1.3. Then they cut McNair and let Volek play this season as the starter. Allow Young to sit, watch, and learn for at least a year before he starts taking real bullets. Then next year he will be ready to take over the reins for the Titans for the next 12 seasons or so. I can really see this happening...

[Randall]

I realize that its 1 week before the draft and that is the time when all the dis-information campaigns really start cranking up.  And Floyd Reese lies so much about this sort of thing that he makes Mike Shannahan seem like a choir boy.  But everything coming out of Baptist Sports Park indicates that Tennessee will take Young.  "The word" is that they have him rated ALOT higher than Leinart and Cutler, with Cutler being a very distant 3rd. 

 

My scenario for the Titans is that the they take Young at 1.3.  Then they cut McNair and let Volek play this season as the starter.  Allow Young to sit, watch, and learn for at least a year before he starts taking real bullets.  Then next year he will be ready to take over the reins for the Titans for the next 12 seasons or so.  I can really see this happening...

 

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Absolutely, on political double talk this week and Volek easing the new QB in. How is Bennett? He and Volek had a good thing going a while back.

[Ursa Majoris]

Skip Bayless is a turd and argueably the dumbest voice in sports.  He is basically unlistenable.  But I agree with him on VY though.  Young is special and will be a franchise QB for the lucky team that drafts him.  I believe that team will be the Titans.  I realize that its 1 week before the draft and that is the time when all the dis-information campaigns really start cranking up.  And Floyd Reese lies so much about this sort of thing that he makes Mike Shannahan seem like a choir boy.  But everything coming out of Baptist Sports Park indicates that Tennessee will take Young.  "The word" is that they have him rated ALOT higher than Leinart and Cutler, with Cutler being a very distant 3rd. 

 

My scenario for the Titans is that the they take Young at 1.3.  Then they cut McNair and let Volek play this season as the starter.  Allow Young to sit, watch, and learn for at least a year before he starts taking real bullets.  Then next year he will be ready to take over the reins for the Titans for the next 12 seasons or so.  I can really see this happening...

 

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Weren't you saying Cutler was a lock for the Titans a few weeks back?

 

I'm glad the Bears aren't involved in any of this Bush - Young - Leinart - Cutler shenanigans. This is a good year to have a lower draft pick.

[Skilly]

I think the thing to consider here is the VALUE of the pick in relation to where Young falls. Personally, I think any team in the top 10 is taking a risk by drafting him----there is no way you can label Young a "can't miss" prospect, taking into consideration the offense he ran at Texas and his mechanics.

 

There are chances you take, but if you have a top 10 pick, that player better play for you for 10 years. Make your call now here at the huddle:

Leinart or Young?

 

I'll take Leinart.

[spain]

Weren't you saying Cutler was a lock for the Titans a few weeks back? 

 

I'm glad the Bears aren't involved in any of this Bush - Young - Leinart - Cutler shenanigans.  This is a good year to have a lower draft pick.

 

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Uh, no I wasnt. As a matter of fact, I made a bet with SwissCheese a couple months ago that the Titans would take Vince Young at 1.3. I was the first on the Cutler bandwagon and said he could be the best QB in this draft. But he wont be the 1st QB drafted.

[Ursa Majoris]

Uh, no I wasnt.  As a matter of fact, I made a bet with SwissCheese a couple months ago that the Titans would take Vince Young at 1.3.  I was the first on the Cutler bandwagon and said he could be the best QB in this draft.  But he wont be the 1st QB drafted.

 

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Mistaken identity, then. Sorry. I'm sure someone here was saying the Titans were sure to go for Cutler......

[Sgt. Ryan]

Weren't you saying Cutler was a lock for the Titans a few weeks back? 

 

I'm glad the Bears aren't involved in any of this Bush - Young - Leinart - Cutler shenanigans.  This is a good year to have a lower draft pick.

 

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I think what you meant to say was, Im glad my Bears dont get the chance to heck up early in the draft this yr.

 

 

LMAO, they were 1.4 last yr and passed on Cadillac for Benson.

 

The Bears should be picking in the top 10 again next season. Quite simply the defense isnt good enough to continue to bail them out time and time again.

[Ursa Majoris]

I think what you meant to say was, Im glad my Bears dont get the chance to heck up early in the draft this yr.

LMAO,  they were 1.4 last yr and passed on Cadillac for Benson.

 

The Bears should be picking in the top 10 again next season.  Quite simply the defense isnt good enough to continue to bail them out time and time again.

 

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I was as annoyed as anyone when the Bears took Benson and I am well aware their front office blows. But I seriously doubt they'll be a top-10 pick in 2007, unless there's a horrendous run of injuries. Given halfway decent management, there's no reason the Bears shouldn't dominate the NFC North for three or four years yet.

[spain]

I was as annoyed as anyone when the Bears took Benson and I am well aware their front office blows.  But I seriously doubt they'll be a top-10 pick in 2007, unless there's a horrendous run of injuries.  Given halfway decent management, there's no reason the Bears shouldn't dominate the NFC North for three or four years yet.

 

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Well, that division absolutely blows. The Packers are in deep deep trouble for at least 2 or 3 years. I believe the Packers are argueably the worst team in the league coming into this season with the exception of the 49ers. The Lions are well, they are the Lions. I expect Detroit to win their typical 4 or 5 games again this year and next. The Vikes just had a regime change and will take awhile to right the ship. This division is abysmal, so maybe the Bears will have some success...

[Ursa Majoris]

Well, that division absolutely blows.  The Packers are in deep deep trouble for at least 2 or 3 years.  I believe the Packers are argueably the worst team in the league coming into this season with the exception of the 49ers.  The Lions are well, they are the Lions.  I expect Detroit to win their typical 4 or 5 games again this year and next.  The Vikes just had a regime change and will take awhile to right the ship.  This division is abysmal, so maybe the Bears will have some success...

 

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Exactly.

[Goopster24]

I think what you meant to say was, Im glad my Bears dont get the chance to heck up early in the draft this yr.

LMAO,  they were 1.4 last yr and passed on Cadillac for Benson.

 

The Bears should be picking in the top 10 again next season.  Quite simply the defense isnt good enough to continue to bail them out time and time again.

 

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Skip Bayless is a moron. Anyone who thinks otherwise hasn't read enough of his stuff or see the moron talk in person.

[Sgt. Ryan]

I dont think anyone is doubting Skipless is a moron. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

[Goopster24]

And also, to talk about someone who hasn't even played a down in the NFL in the terms of "Jordanesque" is idiotic.