#3 Goes Third! Four In First Round!

UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA running back TRENT RICHARDSON was selected as the number three overall pick in last night's NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland landed a STUD.
Safety MARK BARRON was selected a few picks later at number seven by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With the seventeenth pick, the Cincinnati Bengals nabbed cornerback DRE KIRKPATRICK.
The New England Patriots moved up to 25th and chose linebacker DONT'A HIGHTOWER.

Surprisingly-- to ME, at least-- COURTNEY UPSHAW wasn't selected until the second round, taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the 35th overall pick. I was ecstatic until I discovered he would replace the recently-departed JARRETT JOHNSON, another standout former TIDER who signed with the Chargers. (Just THINK of a D stacked with Ray Lewis, JOHNSON, TERRENCE CODY, & back-up CHAVIS WILLIAMS!)

NFL Draft Brimming With TIDERS

The National Football League holds their annual draft starting tonight, and it looks like THE University of ALABAMA could have up to FIVE players taken in the first round. Four, at the very least.

Fresh off yet ANOTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, The TIDE should represent pretty well in tonight's festivities. Running Back TRENT RICHARDSON is expected to be a Top-5 selection, with Safety MARK BARRON surprisingly seeing his stock rise as of late, and looking to be in the Top15.

Defensive Back DRE KIRKPATRICK --who has seen his stock rise with good workouts but fall after an arrest incident-- is probably next out of the gate from BAMA's stable of studs. 

Linebacker/Defensive End  COURTNEY UPSHAW is seemingly an enigma to NFL teams, who are not quite sure how he will fit into their schemes. He is WAY too talented to not be selected, CERTAINLY a safe bet, and it would be hard to find a more disruptive force in ANY position.

Linebacker DONTE HIGHTOWER is going to be an asset in somebody's defense. Look for him to just CRUSH people.

ROLL TIDE!

Ingram Works With Saints Players Despite Lockout

Former UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA Heisman Trophy-winning running back MARK INGRAM is in New Orleans and working out with his new teammates, despite the owners' NFL lockout. Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees initiated these practices to help better prepare the Saints for the upcoming season, to acclimate the newcomers (like INGRAM) and refresh the veterans.

The prima-donna Reggie Bush has yet to make an appearance, further signalling that the bitter over-paid underachiever is on the way out. The hard-working, energetic and enthusiastic Ingram is destined to become the refreshing new face of the New Orleans squad, joining the dedicated and inspirational Brees.

GO SAINTS!

Julio Jones Wows 'Em at NFL Combine

Wide Receiver JULIO JONES from THE University of Alabama ran faster, jumped higher AND further than highly-touted Georgia receiver A.J. Green while participating in the NFL Combine for players selected for evaluation before the NFL Draft.
Roll Tide.

SAINTS Belly-Up....?? To SEAHAWKS...??

Good Lord!
The New Orleans Saints really stunk it up yesterday, losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard Game. The Seahawks won their lowly division with a losing record. EVERYONE picked the Saints to crush them, as they had earlier in the regular season. I guess that the one great year was last year, and that things are getting back to normal. I certainly hope not.

I really hope that they draft the departing-early Mark Ingram, Julio Jones AND Marcel Darius...!
I know it's not very likely, but I can dream, can't I....??

In the meantime, we bring back the Saints' perennial slogan: "Wait 'til Next Year...!"