Rookie Value

My thought of the day is how is it possible to value rookies. There is almost no situation in which we are able to compare the value of a completely unproven rookie and a veteran. Its one thing to look at it in terms of an elite prospect like Andrew Luck, but when we are looking more carefully at some of the lower down players like late first round like an Alshon Jeffery. Compare someone like him with a player like Devon Bess. Clearly Jeffery has much much more upside than Bess, but you at least know what you are getting with Bess. Whereas Jeffery could be a stud outside receiver or as Dan says "eat himself out of the league."

I guess my take is that I am very willing to take risks on young players when they have really high upside. I am greatly biased towards upside though. I love the risk that comes with it, could be bad, but on the other side could turn out to be the steal of the draft. What do other people think? I feel like more conservative drafters would never take a rookie.

Where do you rank Trent Richardson among RBs?

How about Blackmon among wideouts?

Why I didn't pick Vegas

So after picking SF due to a number factors (great city, need of a new stadium, Silicon Valley $$, my birthplace, etc.) I was having some second thoughts. I began researching some out-of-the-box locations, as clearly many of you have been doing. I began thinking about Vegas, a large city in terms of residents, but huge when you factor in tourists and the rapid turnover of visitors. Could an NFL franchise do what an XFL team failed to do and titillate Vegas residents and visitors? Having never been, I booked my flight to go investigate.

I will save you all from my personal "Hangover" story - Vegas is a beautiful and disgusting city. If there is anything it doesn't have it is a lack of things to do. There are enormous casinos, bars, clubs, strip clubs, shows of all kinds, fights, sports bars to gamble at, this list could get really long so I am going to stop. Most visitors are only in town for the weekend and Sunday is an afterthought. I don't believe that people are going to go to a place as overstimulating as Vegas and watch a football game all the way through. Plus, how quickly is your average loaded NFL player going to be arrested in Vegas for gambling, fighting, drugs, another list that could go on a while.

In summary, thanks Vegas but I will be avoiding you until I am forced back for a bachelor party or a  friend guilt trips me again and when I return there is no way I will be attending a football game.

--Owner/GM of the San Francisco Prospectors

Los Angeles

The Los Angeles ____ are planning on opening their franchise in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the US.  A city which has been starved for an NFL team since Al Davis moved the Raiders to Oakland.  This team will open its doors to Hollywood's Elite, as well as the every day man.  Still working on a good name for the franchise.  Any ideas out there?