I think we can all agree that to date Justin has been a bust. Where many of us part company is in the assignment of blame. It seems to me that many that do not like Ted Thompson for a variety of reasons use this selection as part of the rationale for their dislike. The current mantra runs along the lines of, "Justin has been hurt since high school, yada, yada yada."

I'm of the opinion that they are ALL a bit of a crapshoot, and further understood the pick AT THE TIME, and that is a critical distinction, imo. I still say it is unfair hindsight to "blame" anyone for that selection, especially in light of my opinion that it is extremely difficult to get an impact player at that position, regardless of how he looked in college.

So, welcome to the 2009 version of the annual crapshoot. Some examples of the variables introduced in the past few days.

Michael Crabtree has a foot stress fracture, and he still plans to run on his pro day, possibly jeopardizing further injury. He was arguably the best player in this draft.

Andre Smith suffers a mental moment and stands the NFL up. If you didn't have Crabtree as your numero uno fellow, perhaps you had him. Now what?

Brian Orakpo limped off the field after hearing a pop in his hamstring.

Maclin hyper-extended his knee.

Rey Maualuga injured his hamstring also.

So, taking the logic that many have employed, every one of these individuals are a) off the board for consideration, or b) fodder for an argument if taken in the teeth of evidence of "injury-prone", after all, these guys weren't even playing the game and got hurt, right?

This is of course excepting Smith, who now has "character issues"...that he was going to "cure" by his combine...

My point being, sure things are tougher to come by in advance as contrasted to in hindsight.

I haven't yet written Harrell off. He has this season to turn things around. He better be working hard to get back to the team healthy and able to perform this year.

I don't want Crabtree even if he is the best player. The difference between the best player and the 2nd best or 9th best is minimal. The difference in the teams need between OL, DL, LB and WR is huge. So that puts Macklin in the same category.

Smith is not on my list either, IMO he is not a good fit for the ZBS, so unless McCarthy has changed his mind in blocking schemes, I will take a pass on Smith.

Maualuga, wouldn't be the worst pick, my concern is how to play 3 1st round picks in only 2 positions.

Orakpo. Originally I did not like him for the team, but the switch to 3-4 has forced a change of heart. He would probable be a good fit in the team.

---

The guys your mentioned getting hurt at the combine is a bit different then Justin Harrell's situation in my opinion. Harrell was injured a bit in high school if I remember correctly, and suffered the torn bicep in college, along with other back problems and such. I'm not sure if all the guys you mentioned getting hurt at the combine have had significant college injuries, have they?

In my opinion, tweaking something at the combine certainly doesn't make these players "injury prone." It's a stretch to compare those situations to Justin Harrell.

ya true - need to take their injuries with a grain of salt.

Curry sure looked impressive but he may be too light for our OLB position.

I saw some clips of raji and he looked good but thats college and people are bigger in the NFL I dont think he will get that good pushback of the blocker as he did in college.

If you determine that "bust" means that the 1st round pick doesn't come into a situation and play at at least a competent level from the start - and many people do - then Harrell is a bust. Whether or not you generally see any DL achieve that is another matter - you can make the argument that most top-round DL are busts if viewed with the above lens.

He certainly has not come in and lit things up - from that perspective he's been a disappointment. If, however, he can get his stuff together (Haynesworth and Harrison are both excellent examples that it can and does happen), we could all feel very differently about the pick in a season or two.

But man, he needs to get healthy. For real.

As for this draft, I think I'd most like to see... you know, I don't know what I want to see, and I won't until we get through FA. I'm not saying I expect Thompson to go crazy in FA, but I do think we'll see an influx of players (2, 3?) and that's going to clarify things a lot in the draft. At this point I'd be happy with OLine, DLine or OLB - once we've gone through FA I expect my wish list will be more specific.

---

Free agency is going to change many teams draft boards.

With that in mind, and the Packers picking 9th they only have 8 teams above them that may change their draft board and pick something other than is being projected now.

Things will get interesting once the second round starts, and T.T. has proven he is very good in the later rounds of the draft.

I think it is all good, and going to be a great draft.

R.P.

---

In Order of want

Curry
Smith - Justin
Raji
Orakapo
Monroe
Trade down

How about trading down with Philly? they may want Crabtree if he is still there. They have 2 #1's I believe.

How about our #1 and #2 for their 2 #1's, their 2nd, and Lito Shepherd? Probably not, but a thought.

I'm sorry folks but some of you have me laughing hard here. How could you honestly sit there and say you wouldn't want Crabtree if he was there? I mean when Fitzgerald was asked about Crabtree being compared to him and he said he wish he had the skills that Crabtree has when he came out of college. If we pass on him we might as well take an over hyped o-lineman so we can go back to the days of taking Tony over Barry.


But as far as Dfoster was saying there is a huge difference with Harrell he was injured on every level of football he played and i don't think he should have been drafted that high.

Is he a bust? Hell Ya look at the money he got for sitting at him eating his ribs and chicken?


[img_l]http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/25/1211648/Justin.jpg[/img_l]

---

That's why we're picking Malcolm Jenkins.

---

When you're right, you're right. Imagine what we could have done with Moss, had we drafted him instead of Vonnie Holliday. I see nothging wrong with drafting Crabtree if he is there.

---