Random NFL offseason takes

By David Martin Sports Central Columnist

Normally, I approach these articles in a slightly more methodical, more column-style fashion. However, I am having a little trouble focusing on a single NFL topic, and besides, I have opinions on topics that I wouldn't mind being known, so, here he goes. By the way, where opinion is considered, it is always fairly flexible, but never humble.

* My disappointment in Emmitt Smith in taking the money instead of seeking a contender is great. I would have preferred to see him run as a backup somewhere to being a starter for a moribund franchise.

* Arizona, with this offseason, inclusive of free agency and the draft, will complete the transformation of Arizona as the third- or fourth-worst team to the absolute worst team, hands-down. And this starts at the top. Bill Bidwell is the NFL's worst owner, even with the Brown family still tops in Cincinnati. The NFL and ESPN need to perform the same "shame game" with Bidwell and Arizona this season as they did with Brown and the Bengals last year.

* Why did Pittsburgh and Philadelphia trade up from No. 27 and No. 30, respectively, to apparently reach on their first-round picks? The only thing that makes sense to me, despite the fact that there was no real indication this is the case, is that they were afraid that Arizona would grab the guys they wanted, who had picks at No. 17 and No. 18 after trading down from the No. 6 pick. Also, allow that neither team believed they could drastically improve with more picks in the draft, and you have at least something of an explanation. Moving up for the sake of it angers me, so I'm going with my theory.

* Cincinnati has had more wins than losses this offseason, but their losses have been on mildly big side. They needed LB Takeo Spikes on the inside. Kevin Hardy will not do, and they did little to address the situation in the draft. They did draft a fullback, a position at which they found themselves incredibly thin at when both free agent fullbacks hit the road for hopefully greener pastures. I like the 2003 edition of the Bengals, and expect them to overtake Cleveland for the AFC North third-spot.

* I hope Dennis Erickson and the San Francisco 49ers go winless until the team is sold. I won't bother to explain why.

* Despite having two first-round picks, the Oakland Raiders did little in the way of fun with their picks. They could have traded up for Willis McGahee, Byron Leftwich, or Kyle Boller, but instead, picked for need and concern. And appear to have reached wildly on both. Weird.

* I realize that Mel Kiper has given some sort of credence and fashion-sense to the idea of being a draftnik, but can we stop revering him, please? His mock drafts are as useless as the next guy's. He promotes only the big six conference players and when pressed to know anything about most guys from smaller schools, sounds like he's reading someone else's scouting reports. There's a reason for that -- he is, because he doesn't attend or pay attention to smaller college games.

* Watching the Raiders' Bill Romanowski during ESPN's draft coverage made me want to vomit. He had this ever-present smile/sneer on his face that instilled the desire to do violent things to him in my head. I've never been a Romo fan, and now I'm afraid he's going to end up on television when he's convinced to retire. He's a dirty player, and he's going to be revered as one of the league's best-ever linebackers. Ugh. I have to throw up now.

* The Buffalo Bills and GM Tom Donahoe have been the butt of many a critics jabs since they drafted Miami star running back-turned-injured-star running back Willis McGahee in the draft. I think it's a good move for the following reasons: Travis Henry has fumbling problems. Travis Henry is smallish for an NFL running back. Olandis Gary hasn't been the same since his one good year in Denver, and shouldn't be expected to be the answer, should Henry go down. McGahee doesn't have to play this coming season because the Bills have Henry and Gary.

* While running backs are always question marks coming out of college, the determination and toughness McGahee exhibited during the season and since the injury make him an NFL commodity. The Bills had no crying needs when the draft came around. They made great boosts to their defensive personnel, and while most believe that they needed a No. 2 receiver, the team officials clearly disagree, having yet to sign anyone to take over for the now-Atlanta Falcon, Peerless Price.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.