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Jason Carmel Davis is a copy editor/page designer with the Oakland Press and Heritage Newspapers. Davis has also written a number of offbeat sports columns for other publications, as he has an unhealthy obsession with all things athletics. It's so unhealthy that he has planned the births of his (future) children around Bowl Season, the Super Bowl, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and the NBA and NFL drafts.

Friday, April 23, 2010

History not on Bradford's side

It's common knowledge that winning the Heisman Trophy, first awarded in 1935, is a gift and a curse for college football players.

It's a gift because you're acknowledged as the best at what you do. And it's a curse because most Heisman winners bomb in the NFL. Kind of like if Jennifer Lopez starred in a film that won at Cannes before starring in "big budget" films.

New St. Louis Ram Sam Bradford is a member of that fraternity. The winner of the 2008 Heisman, Bradford Thursday night became the 17th Heisman winner to be tapped at No. 1 in the NFL Draft and the seventh quarterback.

Bradford seems like a good guy. But if history is any indication, Bradford's career could resemble that of Macauley Culkin's.

Of the 75 Heisman winners, 17 have been chosen No. 1 in the NFL Draft. Of those 17, only three are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame - Earl Campbell, Paul Hornung and O.J. Simpson.

Seven of those 17 are quarterbacks. Hornung is the only one of those gunslingers to have been enshrined in Canton, Ohio. It remains to be seen if Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer - No. 1 in 2003 and still active - will have a Hall of Fame career.

Of the 75 total Heisman winners, only eight had Hall of Fame careers - Doak Walker, Hornung, Roger Staubach, Simpson, Tony Dorsett, Campbell, Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders.

Who ever would have thought winning such a prestigious award would mean so little for long-term prospects?

Hopefully, for Bradford's sake, he's able to buck a trend.

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Quick-hit Mock NFL Draft (1st Round)

First three picks pretty much set in stone. After that, look for a number of trades to take place.

1. St. Louis-Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
2. Detroit-Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay-Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma
4. Washington-Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma*
5. Kansas City-Eric Berry, S Tennessee*
6. Seattle-Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State
7. Cleveland-Dan Williams, DT Tennessee*
8. Oakland-Derrick Morgan, DE Georgia Tech
9. Buffalo-Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame*
10. Jacksonville-Jason Pierre Paul, DE South Florida*
11. Denver-Rolando McClain, LB Alabama*
12. Miami-Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida
13. San Francisco-Sergio Kindle, LB Texas
14. Seattle-C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson
15. New York Giants-Earl Thomas, S Texas*
16. Tennessee-Dez Bryant-Oklahoma State
17. San Francisco-Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa*
18. Pittsburgh-Maurkice Pouncey, C Florida*
19. Atlanta-Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers
20. Houston-Joe Haden, CB Florida
21. Cincinnati-Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
22. New England-Brandon Graham, LB Michigan*
23. Green Bay-Jerry Hughes, LB TCU
24. Philadelphia-Kareem Jackson, CB Alabama
25. Baltimore-Mike Iupati, OG Idaho
26. Arizona-Sean Witherspoon, LB Missouri
27. Dallas-Everson Griffen, DE USC
28. San Diego-Darryl Washington, LB TCU
29. New York Jets-Eric Norwood, LB South Carolina
30. Minnesota-Terrence Cody, DT Alabama*
31. Indianapolis-Jared Odrick, DT Penn State
32. New Orleans-Brandon Spikes, LB Florida

*Indicates strong potential for a trade

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