The Senator

Never give up, Charlie Brown... Bulaga.

Well, this one looks like he's maybe 17 or 18... Jimmy and his H.S. pals ...so I'll guess the one of him & his boyfriends in speedos was taken later, maybe on Spring Break?

Oh, I never meant to imply that Jimmy doesn't help out those less fortunate than he. Ask and you shall receive - here's Jimmy serving beverages to the less fortunate... Jimmy Serves ...and here he is teaching the fine art of sailing to the less fortunate... Jimmy Teaches ...while displaying his magnificent bejeweled hand for the unwashed... Jimmy's Munificence An underage college kid - and starting QB at ND - not merely drinking, but providing alcohol to other underage kids. Clausen, along with teammates Brian Smith and James Aldridge, got himself in some 'hot water' for the 'Beer Olympics' pics, certainly demonstrating a disregard for team rules as well as a lack of good judgment. College kids will drink, but a high profile college athlete like Clausen - much like Michael Phelps and his bong - should try not to pose for the cameras as he imbibes while serving underage co-eds. At the very least, this demonstrates a Matt-Leinert like stupidity that I'd prefer to see on an NFL roster other than Buffalo's. Jimmy Clausen = Matt Leinart Wannabe In fact, Clausen's NFL career will likely turn out as mediocre as Leinart's, so just say 'NO' to... Jimmy 'The Emu' Clausen

If Bulaga's there at #9, the Bills should grab him. Then grab Brandon Carter in round 6. Take Adam Ulatoski with our 2nd round 7 pick (#216). If Wood comes back healthy and Levitre develops like we think he will, the Bills will soon have one of the meanest, nastiest, toughest, and most talented O-lines in the NFL - and our QB's jersey should stay clean for the next 10 years or so.

Don't know how this turned into a Clausen thread - other than the title "most overrated prospect in the draft" - but I do like to explore the personality and character strength of a #1 pick who's gonna cost a fortune but will hopefully be well-worth it for the next 10 years or so. One way is to take a look at how they spend their time off the field... Bryan Bulaga - loading sandbags/aiding flood victims Jimmy Clausen - setting his own fine example Am confused at comments that Bulaga's a RT, since he played LT at Iowa and most project he can start at LT in the NFL or, at the least, successfully move there very quickly... Bulaga has prototypical size to play either tackle position but it’s his intangibles that make him an elite prospect and not project. Playing in the lunch pail, grind it out style of the Big Ten he’s a heady, driven, full of piss and vinegar type of bookend that will keep his quarterbacks’ jersey clean for 10 years. (link) Also don't know how the nonsense started that his 'arms are too short'... Bulaga brings great size to the position standing six feet six inches and weighing 312 pounds. This is the kind of size in an offensive tackle that NFL scouts love. While some players that size are not stellar athletes, Bulaga is indeed a solid athlete and is one of the better athletes at the offensive tackle position in this year’s draft. Bulaga is able to get off of the line quickly and engage the defender right where it counts and keep contact with the defender until the play is finished. Bulaga’s hand work is very good as well and he places his hands well and keeps them on the defender. Bulaga is also a long strider who gets from one point to another very quickly. Even though he is tall (his legs are very long) Bulaga has a lower center of gravity than most offensive tackles built like him which is a plus. Bulaga also has a huge wingspan and his long arms help keep defenders away from his body (which he does very well) and allows him to control defenders at the point of attack. While there is some room for Bulaga to get stronger he is still one of the strongest offensive tackles available and should be able to outmuscle many NFL defenders with the strength that he has. Bulaga quietly makes big plays in all phases of the game and is a strong asset in the red zone especially at the goal line. He would make a great lineman to run behind when trying to get the ball in the end zone from short distances. He moves his feet very well also and can move from side to side effectively keeping contact with the defenders. With his long reach, he is able to keep his hands on defenders and move them the way that he wants (re-direct). Bulaga has a big time mean streak which is essential for any NFL left tackle. He is also very strong and won’t be outrushed by most defenders in the NFL providing he can work on his technique and continue to improve. Bulaga is also good at picking up defenders on blitzes. Overall, his pass protection is solid and he doesn’t struggle there. He is sound fundamentally run blocking but could use some work there. Finally, Bulaga does very well at finishing his blocks and blocks until the whistle blows. He is a smart player who learns quickly and is a true leader. (link) Bulaga is widely considered the second or third best tackle prospect in this year's draft behind Russell Okung of Oklahoma State. After a 2009 junior campaign in which he was named a first team All American and was recognized as the Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, Bulaga decided that he likes his chances in this year's draft and walked away from the college game a year early. Bulaga is 6'3, 315 pounds and demonstrates good technique. Bulaga is a heady player with a great understanding of how to play his position that comes from playing under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Ferentz was Iowa's offensive line coach in the 80's and held the same position in the NFL for six years before taking the head coaching job at Iowa in 1999. (Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is widely respected in the NFL for how he coaches his linemen. He was an offensive line coach from the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens from 1993-98 and is known to be relentless on his Iowa linemen.) Bulaga isn't the fastest lineman in this year's draft, but he'll give 100% of himself on every play and is quick and mobile enough to keep up with speed rushers... Bulaga does a great job recognizing blitzes, stunts and other defensive schemes. He's great in both pass and run protection and will make that second block up field on running plays. Bulaga also takes angles well and rarely lets a defender get an angle or leverage on him. There are those who consider his 33.25" arms too short, but Bulaga isn't concerned. "I've never really had a problem with my short arms, I guess," he said according to the Des Moines Register. "I never really got myself in a position where I thought, 'Gosh, I wish my arms were longer.'" (link) If he's still there for the taking at #9 when our turn comes, put me down for Bulaga.

With the 216th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Taro Tsujimoto of the Japanese Football League's Tokyo Tsunami. 19 and 0 baby!!! GO BILLSSS!!!! REVERSE THE CURSE!!!!!

Well they* are loaded with 2nd round and compensatory picks, but isn't their* M.O. to trade down and get even more picks? 2010 NE* Draft Picks: 1st Round (22nd Overall) 2nd Round (44th Overall - JAX) 2nd Round (47th Overall - TEN) 2nd Round (53rd Overall) 4th Round (119th Overall) 6th Round 6th Round (Comp - Jabar Gaffney) 7th Round (PHI - Greg Lewis) 7th Round (DEN - Russ Hochstein) 7th Round (Comp - Heath Evans) 7th Round (Comp - Lamont Jordan) 7th Round (Comp - Lonnie Paxton)

Yep, Fanning-Fan looks just fine - still able to pucker up and smooch his HC's ass with the best of 'em!

Time to go egg his house, I guess.

Yep, looks like Fanning-Fan is already gettin' his nose nice and brown.

In other words, he's an aging, fat, lazy, injury-prone slob who wins the ProBowl popularity contest every year because a lot of players who don't play against him and a lot more who are in NO position to grade offensive tackles (i.e., safeties, corners, etc.) remember his name and that he was real good a few years ago. (I'm surprised he actually showed up at the Pro Bowl this year - first time, no?)

I didn't watch the Pro Bowl - how many sacks did he allow?

Yeah, I know, BeerSphere - but have we ever known Tony Dungy to also be a recidivist liar??? Link - Tony Dungy: Tim Tebow is a first-round draft pick in the NFL I just have this sinking feeling that, if the Bills don't grab Tebow with their #41 pick, the Patsies* will use one of their* three 2nd round picks on him - especially now that they've* solved their* tight end problem... Link - The Patriots* have officially signed TE Alge Crumpler EDIT - I know anything Belicheat* says should be taken with a 'grain of salt', but here's 2 more guys that we don't deem deliberately deceitful... Link - John Fox: Tim Tebow has a 'very, very good workout' for NFL scouts (some pretty nice praise from Mike Holmgren in there, too) Link - Sam Wyche: 'Somebody is going to be called a genius for taking' Tim Tebow in NFL draft Buddy Nix = Genius???? We'll see.

Quite to the contrary - another guy who doesn't think TT's such a "huge risk" is our nemesis Bill Belicheat*, who happens to have three 2nd-round picks, including Jacksonville's #12 spot (#44 overall). Would he* use one of those to draft Tom Brady's* eventual replacement? Belicheat* certainly has the luxury of 2-3 more years of starting Brady* while developing Tebow and, being a very close friend of Urban Meyer, has visited the Gators camp many times and already developed something of a relationship with Tebow... Link - Belicheat* calls Tebow ‘great’ BB* doesn't seem all that concerned about TT's 'mechanics, either... Patriots coach Bill Belicheat* said last week at the owners meetings that he* wasn’t concerned about Tebow having to work on his throwing motion. “Tiger Woods has rebuilt his golf swing twice. Every quarterback I’ve* ever had or coached has worked on his mechanics and improved them. Phil Simms, certainly {Jeff] Hostetler, [Tom] Brady*. I* can’t think of many that haven’t. It’s part of a player’s development,” Belicheat* said. (Link - Tim Tebow opens up tight-lipped coach) Interestingly enough, some have suggested Tebow might be better suited or at least initially moved to Tight End, and the Cheatriettes* just happen to need one... There’s been plenty of talk about Tebow possibly switching to another position in the pros. Belicheat* believes Tebow’s willingness will serve him well at the next level. “My* sense of Tim Tebow is that if you asked him to play nose, he’d play nose. I* think he’s that kind of kid. Whatever you ask him to do, I* think he’d do,” Belicheat* told reporters. (Link - Patriots'* Bill Belicheat* offers glowing praise of Tim Tebow) As SI's Tim Layden wrote... Link - The Tebow experiment is inevitable So the question is, are the Bills going to be the trailblazers? Is Tebow going to usher in the next Bills dynasty and take us from cellar-dweller to Superbowl contender? Or, 3 years from now, will the Cheatriettes* still own us, and will we be moaning, "Crap, why can't the Bills get players like Tim Tebow?"

Or, he could land in Buffalo and start win the starting job immediately. Not sayin' it'll happen, but with our depth chart (Fanning-Fan, Fitzpatrick, Brohm), it's not that far-fetched to think Tebow could emerge as #1 in an open competition - especially if Gailey decides to install a spread/spread-option offense.

And Jim Kelly cried when the Bills drafted him. Chances that Bradford won't be playing in St. Louis anyway - at least, not for long - if the Rams take him... Link - Why Rams may leave St. Louis

Yet CA & NY, the nation's two most populous states, are both nearly bankrupt. Give the Golden State some credit here - this is a non-invasive tax and a grass-roots movement (no pun intended), far superior to the mentally-challenged NY Gov. David Patterson proposal to tax me a penny every time I take a sip of Diet Slice... Why the Soda Tax May Drive Some to Drink

The solution? Grow your own. If you perused the linked sites, the proposed legislation states that the legal amount would be 1 ounce for personal possession, with cultivation allowed in a space no larger than 5 feet by 5 feet. Start saving those seeds.

Forget what I drive - Lynch still drives the Porsche Cayenne, and a lime-green Chevy low-rider and, in violation of the neighborhood assn bylaws and much to the ire of his neighbors, frequently parks them on the front lawn.

link One way to solve CA's budget crisis, I suppose... Tax Cannabis 2010

My question is, would Jim be willing to get involved in Tebow's development - maybe as Quarterbacks Coach or 'QB Consultant' - or would we be be better off bringing in a spread offense & QB guru like, oh, say... Mike Leach

Interesting - some similarities w/my latest 'cept, as JR pointed out, you shortchanged us 2 picks... 1- Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa 2- Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee/Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama/Ricky Sapp, OLB, Clemson 3- Tim Tebow, QB, Florida 4- Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina/Jason Worilds, OLB, Virginia Tech 5- Riley Cooper, WR, Florida 6a-Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech 6b-Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri 7a-Josh Hull, ILB, Penn State 7b-Adam Ulatoski, OT, Texas I am afraid NE* will use on of their three 2nd round picks on Tebow, but they* also have huge WR needs given the Welker and Moss situations, so he may be there for us in round 3.

What else??? No freakin headset!!!

Lynch lives 6 miles from the stadium. I saw him in his driveway last week. He'll be there.

The actual NFL deadline to change uniform schemes for the 2010 season was last November - let's keep our fingers crossed and keep pushing Russ/Ralph/Buddy et al for a new scheme by this November for the 2011 season (if there is one).