With the 183rd overall pick and the 18th pick in the sixth round, the Cincinnati Bengals select Sam Cavalieri, quarterback from Penn State.
Because of a stay issued by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruling a lower court's decision, the prior statement has a better chance of being said during Saturday's NFL Draft than Maurice Clarett or Mike Williams' name being called by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
It's sad that somebody who didn't play football collegiately or even in high school has a better chance of being drafted than Clarett or Williams. That is unless United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lifts that stay and allows them to enter the draft.
Ginsburg needs to overrule the appellate court and allow these young men their right to enter the draft. Why should some 5-foot-10 kid who moves with the speed of tectonic plates have an opportunity to work in a field in which he isn't qualified? Better yet, why should two men -- not boys, but men -- who are qualified be denied that opportunity?
Some have argued that you need to be three years out of high school to be able to withstand the rigors of the NFL.
They say that these kids are going to get hurt.
Those arguments are as illogical as an NFL team actually taking me in any round, although they all have the opportunity.
These kids aren't demanding to be drafted, they just want the chance to be drafted.
Do you honestly think that NFL teams would draft these guys if they didn't think the duo could play in the league?
If these two kids do get drafted and, when they get to camp, can't play worth a lick or aren't strong enough to take a hit, it's simple -- they won't play.
NFL teams don't just throw players on the field who are going to get killed when they take one hit.
If Williams and Clarett aren't ready for the NFL, why did representatives from NFL teams line up when these guys worked out?
In fact, when Williams worked out on April 8 at the University of South Florida, every team with a pick in the top 10 was represented.
Others say this will start a pipeline of high school kids declaring early and ruining their lives.
There are about seven or so kids that declared for the draft coming out of high school. None of them are considered prospects and they have about the same chance as I do of being drafted.
Once these high schoolers aren't drafted, the only kids that will declare out of high school will be those looking for publicity or those with phenomenal talents, similar to LeBron James.
Neither Williams nor Clarett is going to be the LeBron James of football, but each can certainly play. Williams torched defenses as a freshman and sophomore, and brings the size that makes scouts drool.
When Clarett was in the Buckeyes' lineup he showed the skills that make both him and NFL scouts believe he is good enough to turn pro.
Williams is looking at an enormous payday, while Clarett would land a contract big enough to change his life. Who in his right mind wouldn't take the money and run?For the past two years, Williams has been busting his hump for the University of Southern California.
Clarett did the same two years ago with Ohio State and for what? No monetary gain, that's for sure. Assuming both universities are on the up-and-up, neither player has seen a dime for his efforts.
Meanwhile, both schools have won a national championship and have made millions, and the NCAA has made hundreds of millions promoting these guys.
The only thing they have received is a free education, which is almost worthless to athletes of their caliber.
They have been doing it for free on Saturdays and risking career-ending injuries.They now deserve the payday to do the same thing on Sundays.
NFL spokespeople say, "You can't be successful at such a young age, especially at a position like running back."
False.
The NFL needs to wake up and realize that young kids can play ball. This whole three-years-after-graduating-from-high-school thing is ridiculous. Clinton Portis and Edgerrin James had just turned 21 when they were starting at running back. Clarett will turn 21 about one month into the NFL season, while Williams will be 20 years and 8 months old come September. That doesn't seem like too much of a difference to me.
Then again, what do I know? The Bengals drafted me.
Upset of the Week
My final prediction will be for the next big sporting event -- The Kentucky Derby. The 130th Run for the Roses takes place next Saturday with post time scheduled for 6:04 p.m. The Derby really grew in popularity last year with Funny Cide sweeping the nation.
The New-York-bred horse became a hero in New York and across the nation. This year the "Cinderella" horse looks to be Smarty Jones, a Pennsylvania bred.
He started his career at Philadelphia Park and will now be running on racing's most historic stage, Churchill Downs.
He is unbeaten in six races and would become only the second PA-bred horse to win the Derby.
With all that being said, I am picking him third.
Here are my picks, with projected odds in parenthesis:
Win: Minister Eric (20-1)
Place: The Cliff's Edge (5-1)
Show: Smarty Jones (6-1)
4th: Tapit (8-1)
