Mruczkowski Drafted by Chargers

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:43 pm

Kaczur is really that good. He was projected lower than 3rd round for some strange reason on most recent boards. The fact that he went to NE should clue you in. They don't screw up too often.

He's a guy who could likely start at OG right away, and they got him late in the 3rd round.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:56 pm

hammb wrote:The fact that he went to NE should clue you in. They don't screw up too often.

And for some reason no one questions anything they do now. Mankins, according all draft "experts" was a round 2 pick at best. But when the Gods that be the Patriots picked him in the first, all the "experts" decided they themselves must be wrong because the Gods of football (Patriots) picked him in the first. It is like the get a free pass on on personnel moves. C'mon Mel. Make some insults about the Patriots being idiots. That is what makes the draft fun to watch. Quit giving them a free pass because they have won a couple of Super Bowls.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:02 pm

Warthog wrote:
hammb wrote:The fact that he went to NE should clue you in. They don't screw up too often.
And for some reason no one questions anything they do now. Mankins, according all draft "experts" was a round 2 pick at best. But when the Gods that be the Patriots picked him in the first, all the "experts" decided they themselves must be wrong because the Gods of football (Patriots) picked him in the first. It is like the get a free pass on on personnel moves. C'mon Mel. Make some insults about the Patriots being idiots. That is what makes the draft fun to watch. Quit giving them a free pass because they have won a couple of Super Bowls.

Look, if guys like Mel Kiper were any good at what they do they'd be working for an NFL team. Sure they're fun to listen to argue, and draft news is fun any time of the year, but c'mon. I think you know they really suck.

Mike Williams the best player in this draft? Possibly, but I'd be surprised if he's the best WR in this draft.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:15 pm

I agree that Kiper can be full of crap, but that is why you watch. He stuck by his rankings and repeatedly said Mike Williams was the best. Fine, so be it. But when the Gods of Football (Patriots) pick a guy way down his list, he gives them a pass because they are, afterall, the Patriots. If that is your job, stick to your guns and give them crap for screwing up the pick. Otherwise, admit the you are full of sh!t and can't believe how much you get paid for making this stuff up.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:21 pm

OK. I'll say it. I love Mel Kiper. I love the hair, yes, but I absolutely love that he took a hobby and rode the wave to becoming something of an institution. I marvel at it every year. Especially the way he has absolutely no accountability. I mean, when is the last time you remember someone pulling out his rankings over the past 10 years and pegging them to how the players performed. Better yet, compare his first-round mock drafts to what actually happened.

It's incredible and I love it. I absolutely love it! He took something as benign as the NFL Draft, made it sound quite complicated and anointed himself the omnipotent source of information and insulated himself from backlash in the process.

Only in America!

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:51 pm

1987alum wrote:OK. I'll say it. I love Mel Kiper. I love the hair, yes, but I absolutely love that he took a hobby and rode the wave to becoming something of an institution. I marvel at it every year. Especially the way he has absolutely no accountability. I mean, when is the last time you remember someone pulling out his rankings over the past 10 years and pegging them to how the players performed. Better yet, compare his first-round mock drafts to what actually happened.

He does do this himself occasionally. Sometimes Mel is right on, sometimes he's way off base, but even he's willing to acknowledge most of his gaffs. You have to admire that about the guy.

When revisiting past drafts he said, "I criticized the Colts for drafting Trev Alberts fifth overall in 1994. Colts GM Bill Tobin responded by saying, "Who the hell is Mel Kiper? My mailman knows more about the draft than he does."

"I'm always willing to go over my picks. I had Jeff George ranked 84th the year he went No. 1 overall. I had Rick Mirer at 30 when he went No. 2. That did not please Lou Holtz at all. But it comes with the territory. I can live with both of those calls."

"I missed on Andre Ware, however. I thought he'd be a great pro. And I underrated Chris Spielman."

http://espn.go.com/melkiper/s/2001/0417/1174424.html

Germainfitch1 · Post by **Germainfitch1** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:09 pm

hammb wrote:
Warthog wrote:
hammb wrote:The fact that he went to NE should clue you in. They don't screw up too often.
And for some reason no one questions anything they do now. Mankins, according all draft "experts" was a round 2 pick at best. But when the Gods that be the Patriots picked him in the first, all the "experts" decided they themselves must be wrong because the Gods of football (Patriots) picked him in the first. It is like the get a free pass on on personnel moves. C'mon Mel. Make some insults about the Patriots being idiots. That is what makes the draft fun to watch. Quit giving them a free pass because they have won a couple of Super Bowls.
Look, if guys like Mel Kiper were any good at what they do they'd be working for an NFL team. Sure they're fun to listen to argue, and draft news is fun any time of the year, but c'mon. I think you know they really suck.

Mike Williams the best player in this draft? Possibly, but I'd be surprised if he's the best WR in this draft.

Do you really think Mel Kiper would make more money working for team or what he is currently doing?

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:19 am

I don't know what he's making now, although I'm sure its a good chunk of change. An NFL GM job is a multi-million dollar a year job that also comes with a LOT of status, privilege, and respect. I don't know if he cares about this sort of thing but as it is he has none of the respect of NFL front office people.

Kiper's got a good job, but if I'm into scouting the draft, etc, I would vastly prefer to actually be working for an NFL team than his current gig.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:19 am

hammb wrote:I don't know what he's making now, although I'm sure its a good chunk of change. An NFL GM job is a multi-million dollar a year job that also comes with a LOT of status, privilege, and respect. I don't know if he cares about this sort of thing but as it is he has none of the respect of NFL front office people.

Kiper's got a good job, but if I'm into scouting the draft, etc, I would vastly prefer to actually be working for an NFL team than his current gig.

hammb:

Interesting perspective. In Kiper's case, I wonder if ego isn't more of a motivator. In his current gig, there's little pressure to "succeed." If he makes a "bad pick," nobody really suffers. Obviously that's not the case if he's a GM.

So in his current situation, he gets an immense amount of attention, dominating the NFL spotlight for a month or so every year, with incredible job security since there's so little accountability.

Some people are motivated by the competition. That's why I think guys like Phil Savage and Ozzie Newsome do what they do. They want to beat the other guys. Some folks just want attention. Kiper probably falls in the latter category.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:40 am

1987alum wrote:
hammb wrote:I don't know what he's making now, although I'm sure its a good chunk of change. An NFL GM job is a multi-million dollar a year job that also comes with a LOT of status, privilege, and respect. I don't know if he cares about this sort of thing but as it is he has none of the respect of NFL front office people.

Kiper's got a good job, but if I'm into scouting the draft, etc, I would vastly prefer to actually be working for an NFL team than his current gig.
hammb:

Interesting perspective. In Kiper's case, I wonder if ego isn't more of a motivator. In his current gig, there's little pressure to "succeed." If he makes a "bad pick," nobody really suffers. Obviously that's not the case if he's a GM.

So in his current situation, he gets an immense amount of attention, dominating the NFL spotlight for a month or so every year, with incredible job security since there's so little accountability.

Some people are motivated by the competition. That's why I think guys like Phil Savage and Ozzie Newsome do what they do. They want to beat the other guys. Some folks just want attention. Kiper probably falls in the latter category.

You could be onto something there '87. In my mind I'd be all for the competition, and desire to beat the other guys. Hence I'd rather be the real GM. In Kiper's job you don't ever have to be right, just sound like you are. Perhaps he is a little nancy boy who is best served in that role.

Who knows, I never really looked at it that way. To me it was always that Kiper is at BEST the 33rd best NFL talent evaluator in the world. But it could be that he just likes the no pressure job and likes to hear himself talk