I was fortunate enough to sit down for a few minutes with former All-Pro defensive end and future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan last weekend while covering the Palisades High homecoming football game. Strahan visited the team to give them an inspirational pre-game speech prior to their game against Hamilton High. The best moment came when Strahan pulled out his Super Bowl ring and passed it around the room. Now an analyst for Fox Sports’ NFL pre-game show and still one of the game’s most recognizable faces, Strahan reflected back on his stellar career, which spanned 15 seasons with the New York Giants and was capped by one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. Like legends John Elway and Jerome Bettis before him, Strahan was able to ride off into the sunset the way most players only dream of.

 

DA:            Do you still think about Super Bowl XLII every day?

MS:            I don’t think about it every day. At some point in your career if you play long enough – I played 14 years without winning one, went and lost one to the Baltimore Ravens – you start to say to yourself, ‘I had a great career, it doesn’t matter’. But when you win it, you’re like, ‘Oh, forget that, it matters. This is great! This is phenomenal!’ So I am so appreciative of winning a ring and of all the guys that helped me get to that point and just help me be able to end my career like that. You definitely don’t do it by yourself. A lot of great players never won a ring, you can go through a lot of Hall of Famers. And then a lot of great players that I played with that never had a chance to win a ring, which makes me look back and go, ‘Why was I the one who was so fortunate to last long enough to win one with the Giants?’

 

DA:            How much sweeter was winning a ring after having had so much personal success without having had the ultimate team success?

MS:            I learned early on, I would go to Pro Bowls and do this and that, but when the guys who would win the Super Bowl would show up, you just sit there like, ‘Man, that’s the ultimate’. It’s not just about getting here and playing in an all-star game. There’s no fulfillment. So to win the ring gave me the ultimate fulfillment. When you look at it you go, everything happens for a reason.

 

DA:            Looking back, do you think you were simply more motivated by not having won the big one? And how driven were you by some of the tough playoff losses you had prior to winning a championship?

MS:            Would I have continued to play 15 years? I don’t know. I mean, I think I would’ve quit a lot of earlier, but I think it was in my cards that I just had to keep going. [The San Francisco playoff meltdown loss in 2002] bugs me more than anything. There are certain games that bug me more than anything. And you definitely think about the losses. You think about the things that you should’ve done that you didn’t. There’s still plays in the Super Bowl that we won where I’m going, ‘Why didn’t I do that?’ It still bugs me to this day.”

Gerald Seff, a lifelong Orioles fan, examines the downfall of the Baltimore Orioles after decades of prominence, and how the team can return to its glorious roots in the upcoming MLB Draft.

The Once-Proud Baltimore Orioles Franchise

By Gerald Seff
 

If this reporter had a dollar for every time he read “the once proud Baltimore Orioles franchise”, he could almost buy the team. For years that intolerable phrase has haunted the Orioles. This article seeks to provide some answers to the question: What happened to the Baltimore Orioles?

First, let me establish my credentials as a die-hard, committed and even impassioned follower of the Baltimore Orioles. My love affair (figuratively, of course) began in 1953 when, as a 10 year old, I attended my first game. The Orioles were then in the International League as the Triple A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The game I attended was at the old and long-departed Municipal Stadium which was in a state of rehabilitation. For years this monstrosity had served as the home of the minor league Orioles whose earlier park, known appropriately as Oriole Park, burned down in 1944. The International League Orioles had actually won the Little World Series (a name that survives to this day) in 1944. Not surprisingly any vestige of the old Oriole Park when up in flames. For the next 10 years the Orioles toiled in obscurity as a minor league affiliate.

Then in the fall of 1953 the owner of the St. Louis Browns, Bill Veeck, in dire financial straits decided to sell this now defunct team to Baltimore. The transfer of the St. Louis Browns marked the rebirth of the Major League Orioles. The last time Baltimore had a franchise in the Major Leagues was in 1901 when the team moved to New York to become the Highlanders. The latter eventually became known as a team, you might have heard of, the New York Yankees.

The return of Baltimore as an American League franchise was indeed a red letter day for Charm City. On April 15, 1954 the new Orioles were feted with a downtown parade, and the players and their manager, Jimmy Dykes, were cheered as they rode through a cold and persistent drizzle. The atmosphere was indeed electric, and it was followed by a successful Opening Day that could not be dampened by the weather. The O's won 3-1 behind the solid pitching of “Bullet” Bob Turley, and solo home runs by Clint Courtney and Vern Stephens. This reporter attended that memorable game with his father and younger brother. This experience reinforced my undying affection for the Orioles. That year the O's went on to a record of 54-100. Who cared? Baltimore was back in the majors.

The next five years were permeated with one losing season after another. The luster of returning to the American League was beginning to dissipate, but then a sudden change (after 5 years of repeated losing) occurred, beginning with the infusion of new and exciting players. The decade of the 1960's and 1970's were the crowning years of the Baltimore Orioles as Hall of Famers punctuated the roster beginning with the incomparable Brooks Robinson followed by the wondrous Jim Palmer, the Cincinnati transplant but true Oriole Frank Robinson, the feisty bantam roster manager Earl Weaver, and in the 1970's and 1980's switch-hitting first baseman Eddie Murray and the incomparable “Iron Man” Cal Ripken, Jr. Over these decades the Orioles won three World Series, and played in the Fall Classic a total of six times.

The comparative weakness of the Orioles in the vital areas of scouting and player development was enhanced by their unwillingness to hire personnel to man these departments. Recent statistics show that the Toronto Blue Jays, an AL East competitor, have at least twice as many scouts in the United States as the Orioles. The other teams in the East have considerably more scouts then the O's, and this doesn’t even count the international market. The Orioles have only recently begun to recognize these hard facts, and have started to hire a handful of scouts. Again, reactive and not proactive, and the results have been painfully obvious not only at the Major League level, but throughout the entire farm system.

The 2011 Draft will be held in early June. How do the Orioles reverse their established pattern of failure from top to bottom in their farm system? It seems, from the perspective of an outsider, that the old baseball bromide voiced on numerous occasions by Andy MacPhail is that you develop the arms and buy the bats. Certainly in this offseason the Orioles have taken this into account when they traded for Mark Reynolds and signed Vladimir Guerrero, J. J. Hardy and Derek Lee. There were a few moves for pitching, namely relievers and one gamble on a starting pitcher with two hip surgeries.

Taking into account the above, what I would do is to draft pitcher after pitcher followed by more pitchers. Right-handed, left-handed, ambidextrous, you name it. For the O's it makes sense for Joe Jordan, the team's farm director, to take college pitchers before high school pitchers unless the latter is an up-and-coming Jim Palmer. College pitchers are generally more polished, experienced and closer to the majors. In this draft the Orioles will have an opportunity to select college flame-throwers Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, both right-handers from UCLA. Also available will be Taylor Jungmann from the University of Texas and Daniel Huizen from the University of Virginia, a right-hander and left-hander, respectively. Draft-eligible high school hurlers include Dylan Bundy, whose brother Bobby is currently pitching in the Oriole farm system. Daniel Norris, a high school product from Tennessee, is a lefty with excellent stuff.

As for hitters, Anthony Rendon, third baseman for Rice University, is considered the best everyday prospect available for the draft. Other hitters including Bubba Starling and George Springer will be available when the O’s draft at No. 4. The O's, as noted,have a long history of failure in the draft, but in particular in choosing hitters.

Andy, follow your own guidelines: draft pitchers and sign free-agent hitters. For a team such as the O's, with their inherent disadvantages in scouting and player development, go for the arms. After all, look at the O's current rotation: A potential ace in Zach Britton, the team's top prospect who had an excellent Major League debut; Brian Matusz, on the DL for the next two weeks but considered one of the more talented young southpaws in the AL; flame-throwing Jake Arrieta, the team's home opener starter; and Brad Bergesen. All share one thing in common: they were drafted by the Orioles.

The great Oriole teams of the 1960's and 70’s had considerable fire power, but it was their pitching and defense that proved to be the cornerstone of their success. Just look at the current starting pitchers at the <ajor League level. Regardless, win or lose, the Orioles will always be first in my heart – even if they remain last in the AL East.

It's generally known that it isn't fair to judge a draft class for at least three seasons, so examining the 2007 haul seems appropriate now. The first round was one of the less impressive ones in recent years, with the most notable disappointment being first overall pick JaMarcus Russell, now completely out of football. Here is a graded analysis of that particular Draft:

*-Denotes Pro Bowl selection

No. Player  Team Pos. School

1 JaMarcus Russell Oakland Raiders QB LSU

Analysis: Russell's biggest fan may now be Ryan Leaf, because the former Raiders' signal-caller may now be considered the biggest bust in league history. Russell, the 2006-07 Sugar Bowl MVP, was a gifted physical athlete, but his mental game never cut it in the NFL. The once-celebrated LSU star ended up starting just 31 games in three seasons in Oakland, and his numbers were awful across the board. Most porous was his final campaign in 2009, when he completed a paltry 48.8 percent of his passes for just 1,287 yards with just three TD passes and 11 interceptions. His 50.0 rating was enough to usher him out of town, where he promptly got into legal trouble for possessing codeine syrup without a prescription. He also recently was reported to be in danger of having his Oakland mansion foreclosed on for failing to make his mortgage payments. He has still yet to catch on with any other professional football teams in any capacity. Grade: F

2 Calvin Johnson* Detroit Lions WR Georgia Tech

Analysis: Another Matt Millen pick at receiver likely had long-suffering Lions fans cringing on Draft Day, but for a change this one worked out well. Johnson, known as “Megatron”, is a physical specimen who has more than lived up to his billing despite significant quarterback instability during his time in the Motor City. He has compiled 270 catches for 4,191 yards and 33 touchdowns, although his 2010 season may best be remembered for the one touchdown that was taken away from him on opening day. The only thing that keeps this from a complete A – and admittedly we're nitpicking here – is the fact that he has had minor durability issues, only playing in all 16 games once in four years (2008). Grade: A-

3 Joe Thomas* Cleveland Browns OT Wisconsin

Analysis: A rare stud in the Browns' recent decade of draft blunders, Thomas has been a model of consistency since day one. He has played in all 64 games and has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons, even though the Browns continue to shuffle quarterbacks and struggle offensively. However, 2007 was an exception, as Thomas played every offensive snap and Cleveland put up 402 points in nearly reaching the postseason. Perhaps even more impressively, Thomas helped Derek Anderson – yes, Derek Anderson – reach the Pro Bowl. Grade: A

4 Gaines Adams Tampa Bay Bucs DE Clemson

Analysis: Giving Adams any kind of negative grade is difficult given his untimely death. The young defensive end showed promise in his first two years with the Buccaneers, starting all 16 games in 2008 and tallying 6.5 sacks with a pair of interceptions and a touchdown. But his production drastically dipped in 2009 and after he fell out of favor with newcomer head coach Raheem Morris, Adams was shipped to Chicago. He ended that season with just one sack, but the Bears had hopes he would ultimately find his college form. Unfortunately, Adams passed away very early in 2010 from cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart. He was remembered fondly by his former teammates and coaches as a good teammate and humble person, and football fans will be left wondering what could have been. Adams was just 26 at the time of his death. Grade: D+

5 Levi Brown Arizona Cardinals OT Penn State

Analysis: Brown, named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2009, has started all 32 games the past two seasons for Arizona and was a big part of an offense that became potent under a rejuvenated Kurt Warner. Arizona has struggled running the ball during Brown's tenure with him on the right side, and the offense took a major step back last year, but Brown has been able to be productive and, more importantly, stay on the field. Grade: B+

6 LaRon Landry Washington Redskins S LSU

Analysis: The downtrodden Redskins can't blame their recent struggles on their defense. Landry, though he missed seven games last season, has been a force in the secondary since he arrived in DC. He started 47 of 48 possible games his first three seasons and for his career has tallied four interceptions, five forced fumbles, 31 passes defensed, four sacks, and has averaged 84 tackles a year. His grade is a little lower because he has been susceptible to giving up big plays in the passing game, but he has proven himself to be a durable, hard-hitting safety. Grade: B

7 Adrian Peterson* Minnesota Vikings RB Oklahoma

Analysis: The Vikings desperately needed a quarterback when they arrived in this spot in 2007, but opted to go with the oft-injured yet immensely talented Peterson. Not only did they make the right move, but Peterson paid immediate dividends in taking a Tarvaris Jackson-led team to the cusp of the playoffs with 1,341 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns while garnering Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In just four years, he has amassed four Pro Bowl berths (not to mention the game's MVP award in his rookie campaign), 5,782 yards, 52 touchdowns, and has missed just three games. Grade: A

8 Jamaal Anderson Atlanta Falcons DE Arkansas

Analysis: One would assume Atlanta fans would be happy to hear the name Jamaal Anderson around town again, but it quickly became evident this underachieving defensive end was nowhere near as popular as his former running back namesake. Amazingly Anderson is still on the Falcons' roster, and even more jaw-dropping is that he played in all 16 games a year ago, starting three. However, 4.5 sacks in four seasons despite playing in 60 games is not getting it done. In 2007 and 2009 he combined for one half-sack, and has forced just two fumbles in four seasons. The grade is not an F because Anderson is still with the team. Grade: D

9 Ted Ginn Jr. Miami Dolphins WR Ohio St.

Analysis: Ginn never quite made the cut as a wide receiver, though he did provide some excitement as a kick returner in his three seasons with the Dolphins. Miami traded him to San Francisco prior to the 2010 season after he was durable enough to appear in all 48 games in his first three years (35 starts), catching 128 passes for 1,664 yards and 5 TDs with the Fins. However, he never provided the consistent deep threat at receiver and seemed to fall out of favor with the coaching staff, making his expendable. The jury is still out whether he can be a go-to receiver with the 49ers. Grade: C

10 Amobi Okoye Houston Texans DT Louisville

Analysis: To saw Okoye was a raw talent when Houston selected him is an understatement. At 19, he was the youngest player ever drafted in the first round. Despite four unspectacular seasons in Houston, he remains with the club having tallied 11 sacks while missing just two games. He is surrounded by a stalwart defensive end in Mario Williams and another solid end in Antonio Smith, but hasn't fortified the interior rush the way the team had hoped. He had 5.5 sacks his rookie year, but just as many in the last three combined. He did start all 16 games a year ago, so the team obviously feels he still has good value even if he hasn't quite lived up to his potential. Grade: C+

11 Patrick Willis* San Francisco 49ers LB Ole Miss

Analysis: The 49ers have had their fair share of draft misses lately, but Willis isn't one of them. In fact, he has established himself as the best inside linebacker in the game in just four seasons in the Bay Area. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Willis has averaged nearly 150 tackles per season while racking up eight forced fumbles, 28 passes defensed, and four interceptions with a pair of TDs. Willis is as fast and instinctive as any player in the game and is always around the ball. He has helped keep the 49ers competitive despite an anemic offense and constant coaching turmoil, a testament to his leadership in addition to his unbelievable skill set. Grade: A

12 Marshawn Lynch* Buffalo Bills RB California

Analysis: The enigmatic Lynch showed his potential plenty in Buffalo, earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2008. But his constant off-the-field issues eventually got him ushered out of town and all the way to Seattle, where he captivated the nation with his unbelievable game-clinching 67-yard touchdown run in the team's improbable playoff win against New Orleans this past January. In three-plus seasons with the Bills, Lynch missed just seven games but lost his starting job to Fred Jackson the past two years. He racked up over 1,000 yards in his first two campaigns in Western New York before a dismal 2009 campaign, and his fate was essentially sealed when the team selected C.J. Spiller in the first round of the 2010 Draft. However, Lynch always ran hard for consistently bad Bills teams, and had he stayed out of trouble likely would still be the number one back in Buffalo. Grade: B-

13 Adam Carriker St. Louis Rams DT Nebraska

Analysis: Like Lynch, Carriker probably had too much of an unfair burden in being asked to make an impact on a chronically bad team. In two seasons with the Rams, who went a combined 5-27 during that span, Carriker started 25 games yet notched just two sacks before missing all of 2009 due to injury. St. Louis eventually gave up on him and shipped him to Washington, where he fared marginally better in 2010 with 1.5 sacks in starting all 16 games. Grade: D

14 Darrelle Revis* New York Jets CB Pittsburgh

Analysis: You know a team has made a good pick in a cornerback when he earns the nickname “Revis Island”. The former Pitt star has emerged as perhaps the league's only true shutdown corner, and has been a model of consistency in playing in and starting 61 of the team's 64 games in his four seasons. During that span, he has garnered three Pro Bowl selections while tallying 14 interceptions and defensing 74 passes. He was held without a pick in 2010 due in part to missing three games with injury, a lengthy training camp holdout over a contract dispute, and the fact that teams have far too much respect for him to consistently throw in his direction. Grade: A

15 Lawrence Timmons Pittsburgh Steelers LB FSU

Analysis: Timmons has begun to emerge as a legitimate star after two moderately productive seasons to begin his Pittsburgh tenure. He has started 28 games the past two seasons while notching 10 sacks, two interceptions, and six forced fumbles as the Steelers defense has remained among the league's elite in leading the club to two AFC championships the past three years. Timmons doesn't quite get the pub some of his fellow defensive mates do, which bodes well for him and poorly for opposing offensive coordinators. A prototypical Steelers hard-nosed outside linebacker with great pass rushing abilities, Timmons figures to continue to thrive in Pittsburgh's star-studded defense. Grade: B+

16 Justin Harrell Green Bay Packers DT      Tennessee

Analysis: Hard to give an F to a player who is still with the team, but Harrell has been so non-existent he might as well not be there at all. Injuries have limited him to just 14 games and two starts in four seasons, and he has not recorded a single sack or forced fumble when he has seen the field. He saw limited action in the 2010 opener then was gone again as B.J. Raji emerged as a star on the defensive line for the Super Bowl champs. It's hard to imagine Harrell ever getting a chance to succeed in a Packers uniform at this point. Grade: F

17 Jarvis Moss Denver Broncos DE Florida

Analysis: Moss is yet another oft-injured, underachieving player from this year's draft. In three-and-a-half unproductive seasons with the Broncos, he played just 34 games while registering a paltry 3.5 sacks. Oakland scooped him up, but he was no better there with just one sack in five games. He still has a chance to redeem himself there, but to date he's been nothing short of a bust. Grade: F

18 Leon Hall Cincinnati Bengals CB Michigan

Analysis: Hall has been one of the more unheralded corners in the league on a team that hasn't won much since he's been there. He has played in every game and started all but six in his four years in Cincinnati, and his numbers have been very solid: 18 interceptions, five forced fumbles, and 71 passes defensed. Even more to his credit is the fact that Cincinnati has continued to struggle with its pass rush, leaving Hall more vulnerable to giving up big plays. He hasn't come up with as many as some fans would like, but his solid and consistent production should be dually noted. Grade: B+

19 Michael Griffin* Tennessee Titans S Texas

Analysis: Like Hall, Griffin has yet to miss a game in the NFL, and almost eerily similar in that he has started all but seven of those games. Griffin has been the one constant on a young and ever-changing Tennessee defense, providing big plays and big hits year-in and year-out. He has averaged 79 tackles per season, collected 15 interceptions (one TD), and forced six fumbles from his safety position. Even more impressive, he has created a feared presence for receivers coming across the middle. Save for his occasional tendency to gamble for the big hit or big play and miss a tackle, the two-time Pro Bowler has been nothing short of outstanding. Grade: A-

20 Aaron Ross New York Giants CB Texas

Analysis: Ross' career got off to a hot start, when he sealed a Giants win over the cross-town rival Jets with a pick-six in just his fifth game. His first two seasons saw him play in 30 games (24 starts) with six interceptions and 17 passes defensed, but he has gone downhill since. Ross missed ¾ of the 2009 season due to injury and started just one of the 15 games he played in last year. In that span he has failed to record an interception. He has world-class speed, but his days in the Big Apple could be numbered if he can't stay healthy. Grade: C

21 Reggie Nelson Jacksonville Jaguars S Florida

Analysis: Missing games wasn't an issue for Nelson, rather it was his missing big plays and even tackles that led to his departure from Jacksonville. Now with Cincinnati, Nelson is trying to reinvent himself. He played in all 16 games in 2010 with six starts after a sub par three-year career in Jacksonville in which his play declined in a major way after his rookie year. In 2007 Nelson recorded five picks, but just two the next two years combined. He seemed to fall out of favor with Jack Del Rio and also seemed to be caught out of position too frequently. Though his 2007 season showed his promise, he has yet to recapture that magic. Grade: C-

22 Brady Quinn Cleveland Browns QB Notre Dame

Analysis: Maybe it should have been a telling sign when Quinn slipped from possibly the top pick all the way to 22. He never lived up to his billing in Cleveland, even though most quarterbacks have seen their careers die there. He rode the bench virtually all of 2007 before earning three starts in 2008, but that was cut short due to injury. He started nine games in 2009 before the injury bug bit again, but by then it was evident he wasn't the player the Browns envisioned. His 66.8 rating in three years wasn't helped by his lack of a big-play wide receiver, and management decided it wasn't in their best interest to keep him in their future plans. Quinn is currently the third-string quarterback in Denver behind Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, which probably tells you everything you need to know about his career to this point. Grade: D

23 Dwayne Bowe* Kansas City Chiefs WR LSU

Analysis: Give Bowe a lot of credit, because his career was headed down the prototypical bust path until his unbelievable 2010 campaign. He had a terrific 2008 season despite the Chiefs going 2-14, but was suspended for violated the league's substance abuse policy to start 2009 and was not only unproductive but also unfit. Facing a critical offseason, Bowe got himself back into game shape and mended any broken fences with head coach Todd Haley to put up colossal numbers. He set a franchise record with 15 touchdown catches, with an astonishing 14 through 12 games, to go along with 72 catches for 1,162 yards. He appears ready to be the team's go-to receiver for years to come, but falls short of an A because of his down 2009 year and off-the-field issues. Grade: B+

24 Brandon Meriweather* New England Patriots S Miami

Analysis: Meriweather has played in all 64 games and cracked the starting lineup in his second season, but at times has been a bit of an enigma. He has been in the news recently for his alleged involvement in a Florida shooting, and drew negative publicity for a viciously dirty hit on Todd Heap in October. On the positive side for the Patriots, his numbers have been solid if not spectacular, as he has tallied 12 interceptions and five forced fumbles while defensing 27 passes. Whether or not he will be disciplined for his off-field actions remains to be seen, but to date he has been a steady force in New England's secondary and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2009 and 2010. Grade: B

25 Jon Beason* Carolina Panthers LB Miami

Analysis: Beason has done it all in his time with Carolina. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, he doesn't gain the notoriety of Patrick Willis or Ray Lewis, but he can hold his own with anyone at the position. Beason has averaged 135 tackles while starting every game over four seasons, while notching eight interceptions, three forced fumbles, 29 passes defensed, and four sacks. He is a playmaker who is always around the ball and has been a mainstay through what has turned into a couple of lean years in Charlotte. With great instincts and awareness, he will continue to be a building block for Ron Rivera's defense for years to come. Grade: A

26 Anthony Spencer Dallas Cowboys LB Purdue

Analysis: Spencer has emerged as one of the most underrated ends in the league. The versatile outside linebacker/defensive end had an off year in 2008, but he has averaged 50 tackles in his four years while adding 15.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, nine passes defensed, and an interception. He gets neglected sometimes because of the dominance on the defensive line of DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff, which he has taken advantage of. He hasn't quite emerged into a dominant force but rather a consistent and steady one, starting all 32 games the past two seasons. Grade: B+

27 Robert Meachem New Orleans Saints WR Tennessee

Analysis: The paradox, if you will, of the Saints receiving corps is that a first-round pick in Meachem has been outshined by seventh-rounder Marques Colston and undrafted Lance Moore. Yet Meachem has held his own after he sat out his rookie year with a knee injury, catching 101 passes for 1,649 yards and 17 touchdowns in his Saints career. He has shown a knack for the big play and has played in all but two games since the start of 2008, yet has only started 17 of those games. Though he isn't Drew Brees' top target, he has at least proven to be a dependable one with playmaking ability. Saints fans will always remember his efforts against the Washington Redskins during the team's 2009 Super Bowl season, when he not only stripped Washington defensive back Kareem Moore and took it in for a touchdown but then caught the game-tying 53-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to force overtime in a game the Saints ultimately won to remain undefeated. Grade: B

28 Joe Staley San Francisco 49ers OT Central Michigan

Analysis: The Patriots did their usual business of manipulating another team into trading up (San Francisco gave up their first-rounder in 2008, which ended up being 7^th overall), although Staley has proved his worth for the most part. He has missed last seven games in 2009 and 2010 but started the first 32 of his career. The 49ers offense has been porous at times, even though the team has had a revolving door at quarterback. Frank Gore's numbers have also been somewhat pedestrian, but given the state of the 49ers offense Staley's presence has been more of a plus than a minus. Grade: C+

29 Ben Grubbs Baltimore Ravens OG Auburn

Analysis: Grubbs has played in all 64 games, starting 60, as the Ravens offense has emerged into a much more respectable one with Joe Flacco at quarterback. Grubbs has been disciplined and effective, though he failed to start all 16 games for the first time in his career last season. Grade: B+

30 Craig “Buster” Davis San Diego Chargers WR LSU

Analysis: It's amazing that Davis is still on the team, although “Buster” is appropriate, because bust is exactly what he's been. Rarely seeing the field due to injury and ineffectiveness, he actually set career highs in 2010 with 21 catches for 259 yards and a touchdown, but only playing 12 games with one start the past three years isn't making the cut. On a team still in need of a big-play wide receiver, Davis hasn't lived up to his billing, and likely won't be back in San Diego next season. Grade: D-

31 Greg Olsen Chicago Bears TE Miami

Analysis: Olsen managed to be a big factor in the Mike Martz offense last year as the Bears reached the NFC Championship Game after it appeared he'd be on his way out. He has missed just two games in his career, and while his production dipped last year from 2009, he seems to have developed a rapport with Jay Cutler. Olsen's career numbers read 194 catches for 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns, though his blocking hasn't exactly set the world on fire as Chicago continues to search for a consistent run game. Olsen is big and athletic and most importantly has stayed healthy, and his numbers should continue to be solid if not spectacular. Grade: B

32 Anthony Gonzalez Indianapolis Colts WR Ohio State

Analysis: Gonzalez was supposed to fill the void left in the slot by Brandon Stokley, but in addition to not fitting the bill of slot receiver, Gonzalez has also found it difficult to stay on the field. He has ended the past two years on injured reserve, a span in which he has seen the field just three times with five catches for 67 yards. He showed some promise in 2007-08, combining for 94 catches for 1,240 yards and seven scores, but with the emergence of Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon, Gonzalez's days in Indianapolis could be numbered. Grade: D-