Have you ever noticed how after the NFL Draft we have the sports writers "grading" the draft?

What they seem to do is decide what teams "shoulda-woulda-coulda " done, and then base their whole grade on whether the teams did that...or not.  I will admit, some of that may be valid. But entirely so? I don't think so. For instance:

49ers: 

General Manager for the 49ers, Scot McCloughan, explained what he thought the 49ers had accomplished with the draft after Day #1. He stated, very candidly, that the team isn't "good enough" to have "dealt" a draft pick for position. So they had their draft board set up with the list of the best 10-15 players in the draft for the positions they were looking to fill, and they simply waited their turn and drafted according to the best player that was left at the top of their draft research when their turn came around. They were thrilled to get Balmer when they did, because they figured he'd go much earlier, but as it turned out, he was still sitting there for them when their turn came. Now that makes sense to me for the 49ers. They were realistic and focused on what needed to be done to build their team from the inside-out. Some day, maybe they'll be at the point where they can afford to "deal" for a better spot on the draft. I wouldn't give them an "A" - since there were no "Wow" factor drafts - but certainly they deserve a solid "B", in My opinion.

After the draft, the Yahoo sports writer "expert" gave them a "C". Well with memories of that old song, I give him a "D".

Seahawks:

Same with the Seahawks. He gave them a "C" because they drafted off the USC line. That is a pretty incredible statement. I don't think I'd want to argue that Mike Holmgren can't recognize what talent fits his team. Again - I give Mike Holmgren a solid "B" and the Yahoo Sports guy a "D"

Cowboys:

Regarding the Dallas Cowboys, Yahoo gave them a "B+". They were graded down for taking Felix Jones over Rashard Mendenhall and he dismissed as not being valid that Jones had played in a two back system. Well, let's see ... Dallas plays a two back system. Barber is outstanding, but he does not play a whole game. Mendenhall is great also, but very similiar to Barber in style. Felix Jones brings speed and the willingness to play in a two back system, and has already shown his value as the fast back for those types of situation. And the Cowboys get down-graded for this reasoning? So the 49ers got graded down for taking the "best player" at the spot approach, and now apparently the Cowboys get graded down by the same writer for drafting for position and type of play the the player plays best. Go figure. Well, no doubt you'd be surprised to know that I give the Cowboys a solid "A" and the Yahoo guy a "D". I think the Cowboys did very well. I am very happy with their choices.

Atlanta:

I also congratulate Atlanta for making the choice to go in a different direction. Hopefully for them, their QB pick's style of not scrambling won't be an issue. In any event, I wish them the best as they try to recover from the Michael Vick fiasco.

Oakland:

And for my friends who are Raiders fans, it looks like good choices here also. If they can only get their offensive line in order, they could well be on the road to repeating some of their past success. I wish them well (well, within limits).

So, remember this post?  The part where it isn't safe to leave some kinds of cookies unattended in the pantry?  Yeah. 

Well...it seems the lad finds it amusing to bring home two packages of cookies, set them in the pantry, and leave them unopened for days. 

The peanut butter ones are Dad's favorite.  We hear it frequently:  If Dad had to pick a favorite of this particular brand of cookie - it's the PB Gauchos.  I'm not sure why that is...I personally find them a decent PB cookie, but oh my we have heard praises sung regarding them from Dad. 

So, the lad swings by the store one day and brings home these two bags of cookies.  He shows us his purchase, explains how they were on sale so he got a good "2-fer" deal on them, then proceeds to put them in the pantry, and then leave them there for something like three or four days. 

See - the unspoken "rule" regarding stash thievery is that you can only swipe it if the container is already open.  Not sure why that is, but, well, there you have it. 

We pondered whether or not this boy was really some kind of alien.  I mean really - who DOES that???  Buy cookies and then don't EAT them?  Then, I figured, he was just jerking his dad around a bit.  We finally asked him "what's the stinkin' deal?" - and he had his laugh, assured us that it wasn't any of the above - and then proceeded to open the bag of PB cookies and share them with his dad.  Yeah right.  Hey, you gotta love a sense of humor.

Well, I got my wish. Different choices than I had in mind, but a running back with big play potential first pick, a corner back 2nd pick who looked really good on the films ... and as a bonus, the third pick a big tight end. The Cowboys did good. I think real good. It will be interesting tomorrow to see where they go with their next picks. 

The Chiefs probably did the best of all teams and I think Atlanta did real well. Oakland got their go to running back, and of course, they got their future QB last year ... so if they can protect them, they could be back on the upstream.

Wasn't real happy that the Eaglets got a wide out, but it was a good pick for them. 

Miami also did real well, I expect that they will improve measurably this year. If they keep taking from the Cowboys, we may need to put a Cowboy hat on their mascot.

 Michael

ETA (Means "edited to add"):  

The Female Perspective

It's kind of fun watching the NFL draft.  It reminds me of when we were kids choosing teams for a game of something. Seven USC players went on the first day, the 49ers got one of them.  I'm thinking the popularity of the USC players could very well have something to do with the fact that the Coach they'd had for the past few years has a good idea of what's expected from an NFL player.  Likely, he coaches his kids accordingly.  

According to 49ers coach, Mike Nolan, the two picks they got from day 1 of this year's draft are expected to "have an impact on our roster this year."  The kid from USC was only a Junior, so the coach sees a little bit of a possible issue with his maturity, but they seem pretty pleased with their picks...and even a little surprised that Kentwan Balmer (the DT from North Carolina) was still availble at pick #29. Both kids seem happy with who drafted them, so that's nice.  We shall see what Day #2 holds - I guess they're still shopping for another inside linebacker, a corner and maybe even a wide receiver, but aren't necessarily pinning all those hopes on the draft.

We'll see if Sunday's results fill any of those spots.

Any educated guesses as to who goes where?  We once got a good one in the 10th round ... so maybe this isn't as dismal as it appears on the surface.  I will see if I can twist Michael's arm into writing his thoughts/observations on the draft after it has been all said and done...he is likely to have an opinion.  Ya think?

 ETA:  I am hoping that the Cowboys take a Running Back and a Cornerback in the first round. And in that order, if possible. It will, or course, depend on who is available, but the expected signing of the Pacman does not keep them from having a need at cornerback. And with the exit of Jones, and the uncertainty on Barber ... getting a running back here will be a good pick. - Michael

Perhaps you have to be "old" like we are or a "retro" Carpenters fan to get the reference in that title.  It's a song lyric.  "It seemes like rainy days and Mondays always get me down".  

The Monday reference - well yeah.  The weekend is over, your unfinished weekend projects are still calling to you but you need to switch gears and dig in to work.  

Likely, though it is a perspective thing.

If you don't have a job (and need one) just about ANY day could get you down for all the worry and stress that comes with being out of work. If you are retired - or for the rare soul out there who does not need to be part of the weekly work force - just about any day can be Monday for you.  Good, bad or otherwise.  Mondays at work though mean that you HAVE a job, and you are paying the bills.  Without the job - all those fun things are no longer "fun" if you're worrying about paying your bills.

See.  Perspective.  That's all.

Same with rainy days.

If your projects or hobbies are the out of doors kind, then they could get postponed for rain.  On the other hand, rain fills up the reservoirs (for you to ski or go fishing in this summer - and drink from all year), waters the lawn for you, and cleans the air.  Spring rains seem to help with the pollen allergy issues too. Rain also means it's not going to freeze, because as we know, freezing rain is more along the lines of ice, snow or hail. Your seedlings in the garden are getting watered (hopefully not flooded as in the case with a whole BUNCH of rain at a whack) and the countryside comes alive with wildflowers.

Have you ever been home on a rainy day and the power goes out, and you think to yourself -' hmmmm....leeme think....what can I do now that the power's out and I can't watch TV?  I know, I'll vacuum!  Oops...need power for that too.  OK...how about if I sew?'  Unless you're in to treadles and hand-cranks or hand sewing, or knitting - that one is not going to work either.  

This Spring, the rains brought lovely tender green leaves to the crepe myrtle. 

It was such a pleasing sight to watch the hummingbirds flit through it as each day the dried sticks of the crepe myrtle came a little more alive with tender green leaves.  Notice, I said WAS a pleasing sight?

Ah...April. 

April has traditionally been a month where, at least in the places I've lived in California, we got one week of each season.  This month, we had Spring week and Summer week the first couple of weeks, and the crepe myrtles got fooled into thinking it was safe to sprout leaves. 

Then Winter week happened

Apparently, last week was "Winter" week...and now...those pretty green leaves are just dry black things dangling there all morose.

This week

I guess is "Fall week" because we've had rain, brisk cool days, and a bit of wind.  The hummingbirds care little for what season it is - so long as they have full feeders.  They are fine with black or green leaves on the crepe myrtle too.

So, here's hoping your rainy days and Mondays are all good.  If if they do get you down occasionally, just hang in there.

They have their purpose, and usually there's a benefit just around the corner.

Meanwhile...