Top 10 NFL Draft Picks 2006

1 Houston Williams, Mario DE 6-7, 294, North Carolina State
2 New Orleans Bush, Reggie RB 5-11, 200, Southern California
3 Tennessee Young, Vince QB 6-5, 228, Texas
4 N.Y. Jets Ferguson, D'Brickashaw OT 6-6, 313, Virginia
5 Green Bay Hawk, A.J. OLB 6-1, 247, Ohio State
6 San Francisco Davis, Vernon TE 6-3, 256, Maryland
7 Oakland Huff, Michael SS 6-0, 203, Texas
8 Buffalo Whitner, Donte SS 5-10, 203, Ohio State
9 Detroit Sims, Ernie OLB 5-11, 232, Florida State
10 Arizona Leinart, Matt QB 6-5, 224, Southern California

Texan's Want Bush To Run In 2006/2007

Sorry about the headline, I couldn't help myself...

The AP is reporting that the Houston Texans will take Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush or North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams with the first pick in Saturday's draft. The source of the information is reported to be general manager Charley Casserly.

The news flys in the face of University of Texas fans who have been clamoring for the team to pick Vince Young, a Houston native who led the Longhorns to a Rose Bowl win and the national championship over Bush and USC.

"We came to the conclusion that to draft a quarterback, whether it be Vince Young, Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler, was not the best thing for this football team," Casserly said. "The best thing for this football team was to use the first pick in this draft to add a premier player at another position."

Fantasy Football Impact: Looks like Carr gets one more lap!

We have our winners.

We have ended the first free membership giveaway of the year. The task?, guess within + or - 2,500 miles the total mileage (as shown on the odometer) of the world famous StatLeader.com van. The correct answer? 279,238.6.

Props to our winners (we set the final number at 6). Joining Larry S. of Shelbyville, Indiana (278,566 mi.) and Sam B. of Kaohsiung, Taiwan (280,800) are:

Martin L. of Lubbock, Texas (280,000)

Don M. of Austin, Minnesota (279,115)

Greg B. of Soldotna, Alaska (279,000)

Adam Z of Austin, Texas (278,000)

For those of you that fell a little short (or perhaps a long way short) don't fret, there will be a few more membership giveaways before the season starts. Keep checking back.

2 Winners, BUT....

We have our two winners in the "Guess the mileage of the World Famous StatLeader.com van" contest. Congratulations to Larry S. of Shelbyville, Indiana and Sam B of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. (Interesting note from Sam is that his brother-in-law plays in the NFL, cool!)

And now, the BUT... A lot of you have gone through significant effort to guess the correct mileage (+ or = 2,500 miles) so, tell you what, I'll keep the game going a little longer, say, two or three more memberships.

Once again, these are free 1-year full memberships complete with access to the entire draft package, regular season stat analysis, and league specific point projections (a $29.99 value).

Also, this year we plan to totally redesign the site. Not only will you have the same great information, but some majorly cool new features and capabilities.

To enter, send me (Doc) an email with your guess. Be sure to put "Free Membership" as your subject. Good Luck.

Moe Williams Guilty in Party Boat Case

Former Vikings running back Moe Williams was found guilty of disorderly conduct Thursday.

A jury found him not guilty of two other misdemeanors -- indecent conduct and lewd or lascivious behavior. Williams was accused of touching the breasts of a dancer in a public space during the boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka.

"I never intended to do anything that would basically make anybody feel uncomfortable," Williams said after the verdict.

Hennepin County District Judge Kevin Burke fined Williams $300 and ordered him to complete 30 hours of community service that benefits women or children. The exact program was not immediately determined.

In finding Williams guilty of just one charge, the jury determined he touched the woman in view of other people or where other people could see but that he hadn't intended to be lewd or indecent.

Afterward, Williams complained about being treated unfairly, saying he wondered why the captain of the cruise, who is white, wasn't charged despite evidence that he kissed a dancer's breast. Prosecutor Steve Tallen denied that race was a factor in his decision about filing charges, and he has said the case against the captain was shaky.

One Down, One To Go

We have our first winner in the free membership giveaway. That leaves one more to go. We'll announce both winners, their guesses, and the actual mileage as soon as we get #2.

Remember, you must be within + or - 2,500 miles from the actual mileage at the start of the giveaway. Email me (Doc) you guesses at the address shown at the bottom of the page. Be sure to put "Free Membership" in the subject.

49ers Trade with Denver for Another 1st Round Pick

The San Francisco 49ers announced Wednesday that they have moved up in the 2006 draft by trading a second and third round pick for the Denver Broncos first round selection (22nd overall).

As a result of the trade the 49ers will now have two first round picks in the 2006 draft. This is the first time San Francisco has had two first-round selections since 2000.

"We took advantage of a great opportunity to acquire a second first-round draft pick today after working out a trade with the Denver Broncos," head coach Mike Nolan said. "We feel like we acquired more value by making the trade for this pick. I am looking forward to improving our team with all ten draft picks, including the two first-round picks."

San Francisco has 10 draft picks in 2006: two first-round draft picks, a third round pick from a trade with Washington, an extra sixth-round pick from a trade with Tampa Bay and an additional seventh-round selection from a trade with Jacksonville along with a compensatory pick in the seventh round. The 49ers open the 2006 draft with the sixth and twenty second overall selection in the first round, third (84), fourth (100), the fifth (140), two in the sixth (175) and (192) and three in the seventh (213), (236) and (254) rounds.

Still No Winners

We still haven't had a winner in the Guess the StatLeader.com Van's Mileage" contest. So, I guess it's time to help you out a bit.

1. The StatLeader van is a Ford Aerostar. She was purchased in April 1995.
2. Now, I know some of you don't think a Ford product will make it over 100,000 miles. However, the StatLeader.com van has more than twice that many.

No one has guessed over 150,000 mi. so far, so raise those numbers up and win one of the two free memberships still waiting out there.

Again, email me (Doc) at the address given at the bottom of this page with the subject "Free Membership". If you can't find the address, well then you probably shouldn't be entering anyway.

You'll get a one-year membership to StatLeader (a $29.99 value) and includes our pre-season draft package and regular season league specific point projections and statistical analysis.

No Winners Yet

We have received lots of guesses as to the total mileage on the world famous StatLeader.com van, but none have been within the +/- 2,500 mile range needed to win our first giveaway of the season.

As announced yesterday, the first two people to email me with the correct answer will win a free one-year membership to Statleader. This includes our 2006 Draft Package (updated regularly through the start of the season) and full access to our league specific stats and fantasy point projections (a $29.99 value)

Now let's see, what hints can I give you? Well, the StatLeader.com van is a Ford. (Don't know if that will actually help or hinder you).

To find out the model (and thus a hint to its age) tune in tomorrow OR if you don't want to wait that long, check the "Archives" from last year at this time.

Remember, email me (Doc) and me alone at the address given at the bottom of our home page (the one you are looking at right now) with "FREE MEMBERSHIP" as the subject. Sending it to Mister2, Johnny Wishbone, Smoove, Rocketman, Crew Chief, or Silvertip will only cause it to disappear into some type of void.

So keep sending in those guesses, the contest stays open until we have two winners.

It Happens Every Spring - Fortunately

In contrast to the unfortunate tradition we commented on yesterday (the one seemingly established by a few NFLers), there are many great springtime traditions that exist. Perhaps the best of these (ok, maybe second or third best) was one we started last year, that of giving out some free memberships.

So with the middle of April here, and the anniversary of the famed StatLeader.com van's cross -country trip, it's time for our first membership giveaway of the season.

I'll give away free one-year memberships to the first two people that email me with a correct guess of the StatLeader.com van's total mileage, as it reads today, to within plus or minus 2,500 miles. (In other words if the actual mileage is 17,432, any guess between 14,932 and 19,932 is a winner.)

The free memberships will run for a full year and will include the 2006 draft package as well as full access to all season statistics and our proprietary customized league point projections. (a $29.99 value)

For now you will only have the information listed above to get you started. If no winning messages have been received by mid-week, I'll give you some additional help.

To enter, just send me (Doc) an email with with your mileage guess to the address listed at the bottom of our home page. Be sure to put "Free Membership" as your subject so I don't accidentally overlook your message among all the others I receive.

Good luck.

It Happens Every Spring - Unfortunately

There is a wonderful old baseball movie called "It Happens Every Spring". Released in 1949 it tells the story of a college chemistry professor (Ray Milland) who is the ultimate St. Louis fan. In the course of the movie he accidentally develops a formula that make anything (including baseballs) be repelled by wood.

Needing money to marry his sweetheart (Jean Peters) and wanting the Cardinals to win the World Series, he sets off to become their new star pitcher. He uses his formula to win 20+ and in doing so, leads the Cards to the last game of the Series. As with most movies of the genre, the ultimate victory must be won honestly, using his own natural abilities. And so it is in this one, although he suffers a career ending injury in the process.

With a championship for his favorite team and the money from pitching, he is able to happily return to his life as a college professor and marry his sweetheart. It's a fun, feel good movie.

Unfortunately, the NFL has their version of "It Happens Every Spring" and this one isn't a "fun , feel good" experience. Yep, it seems some of those big hulking millionaires just can't seem to get the need to rough someone up out of their system during the off-season. The latest accused? Chargers LB Shaun Phillips.

Phillips was booked San Diego County Jail for resisting arrest after struggling with a policeman who was checking on a woman Phillips was with. You see, the 6 ft 3 in, 262 pound Phillips allegedly had the woman in a headlock (a headlock?). She reportedly appeared to be "in distress" (really?).

We cited numerous examples during last year's off-season of these hulking giants roughing up a member of the fairer sex (or even a smaller older person of the same sex). We realize that the vast majority of NFL players are good, honest, decent men. However, the NFL seems to turn a blind eye to those that are not, especially if they are on the two deeps. It also seems that once training camps start, all those nasty little off-season antics (antics?) are quickly forgotten.

To the good guys of the NFL, you need to start policing your own. These other guys may be small in number, but they cast a big shadow on all of you.

As for those of you that feel you have the need for some springtime physical activity, why not try an off-season hobby like, perhaps the WWF. Not only will you have the chance to work off some of that "pesky" little aggression thing, you may be lucky enough to feel the "distress" of being put in a "headlock" by someone significantly larger than you. Now that would be a "fun, feel good" experience, at least for the rest of us.

Fantasy Football - Moulds A Texan?

"Yeah, it's done," said Greg Johnson, Moulds' personal adviser. It appears that Moulds agreed to a contract with Houston on Tuesday and said the Texans have worked out a trade to acquire him from the Buffalo Bills.

"I'm ecstatic. I'm relieved, happy and thankful that all parties came to an agreement." Johnson said.

It is reported that Moulds agreed to a four-year, $14 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus. It's believed that the Texans sent Buffalo a fourth- or fifth-round pick in this month's draft.

The Texans declined to confirm the deal for the wide receiver and the Bills position is "There is nothing official to report."

Culpepper Cleared Of Party-Boat Charges

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper was cleared Tuesday of misdemeanor charges relating to the boat-party sex scandal.

A judge ruled there wasn't probable cause to determine a crime was committed by Culpepper. Culpepper was one of four Minnesota Vikings accused of misdemeanor lewd conduct during the lake-cruise last fall.

The Judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against running back Moe Williams. His trial is scheduled for mid-April.

The other two players charged weren't part of Tuesday's ruling.

Culpepper's attorney, Earl Gray, said, "I'm happy about it. I'm sure Culpepper is, and his family. It vindicates him from being involved in any sexual misconduct on the boat."

Culpepper has since been traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Sam Adams - Beer or Bengal?

Both!

The Bengals signed defensive tackle Sam Adams to a three-year contract Monday.

Adams earned three Pro Bowl selections in the last six years. He was the eigth pick in the 1994 draft (Seattle,) and played six seasons before going to Baltimore in 2000.

Adams earned his first Pro Bowl berth while starting for the Super Bowl champion Ravens. He played one more season in Baltimore before going to Oakland for the 2002 season. He spent the last three seasons in Buffalo.

Nate Burleson Joins Seahawks

"This is a dream come true for Nate," his agent, Ken Sarnoff, said. "That seven years after being named the Seattle High School athlete of the year, he now plays for the Seahawks."

Nate signed an offer sheet last week for a seven-year contract worth up to $49 million, including $5.25 million guaranteed.

The Seahawks owe the Vikings a third-round pick, based on Burleson's draft position in 2003. Minnesota now has two third-rounders and two second-rounders.