Before breaking down the can't miss events of the weekend, including the NFL Combine and a massive ACC hoops battle...

At the end of the college football season, Ohio State RB Chris Wells was projected to be a top-10 pick by many a pundit following his back-to-back 1000+ yards campaigns and 30 career touchdowns with the Buckeyes. Yet, with the NFL combine upon us - and the draft just two months away – Wells is now being projected into the bottom half of the round and based on team needs and other projected moves, could the bruising back slip completely out of the first round?

Calm down Buckeye Nation, hear me out before hyperventilating (besides, he is not the only Buckeye dropping on draft boards. In addition and for the record, I did not attend Michigan, though I did stay at an Ann Arbor Holiday Inn once). “Beanie” is still rated as no less than the second running back on most boards, behind Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno and ahead of Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy and Iowa’s Shonn Greene, among others and there a many factors that could keep Wells among the top-32 selected.

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To: Jerry Jones, Owner and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys

Re: Terrell Eldorado Owens

Mr. Jones,

I read the reports from your recent press conference in which you scolded the media for their insatiable need to get an update on whether Terrell Owens will remain on the Cowboys roster for the 2009 season. On the heels of that, the chattering class is now of the belief that you will keep the statistically viable receiver, despite his combustible, controversial ways, that have been discussed ad nausea since late in the season. Many folks will tell you to cut ties with the former Niners and Eagles star, whose tenure in those cities ended with all the warmth of prisoner exchange, before the vibe in Valley Ranch grows more poisonous.

My advice: Keep TO.

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Delving a little deeper into the draft today, using my updated mock draft as a jumping off point. In addition to focusing on the top eight picks (along with any additional early selections for those teams) and spouting out ideas and nuggets I learned in my draft theory courses (I aced the Matt Millen part of the class - the answer to every question was always "wide receiver"),  I'll be asking for the take from you, our faithful readers, on those teams you love or simply love to hate. Without further adieu…

Detroit Lions:

1st round (1): Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
1st round (20): James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
2nd round (33): Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

My football philosophy: put resources into both lines and then even the ordinary talents lined up behind them will appear better. This is my general argument with why I think the Lions should take an offensive lineman over a quarterback. Taking Matthew Stafford is the obvious choice and the one the chattering class is talking up. The best argument I see for taking the strong-armed but inconsistent thrower is that this year’s free agent class is so weak, there is barely a decent placeholder available, let alone a viable starting NFL signal caller. However, I think the Lions overall needs are so considerable that the foundation needs to be built first, from the bottom up. Sign a Byron Leftwich or trade for a Derek Anderson, maybe even give Dan Orlovsky another shot and them let them get beat up while the rebuilding continues. Stock pile young arms and find your way.

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