4. Colt Brennan, quarterback, Washington -- Put it this way, he was drafted.
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5. Mike Hart, running back, Indianapolis -- He was drafted, too, but by the Colts. Nobody knows running backs better than Colts president Bill Polian. I don't care that Hart is short or that his 40s were slow. He's productive. The Colts will find a way to make him into an impact player.
6. Caleb Campbell, defensive back, Detroit -- An hour before the West Point star was chosen in the seventh round, he was cheered by fans as he was interviewed on ESPN. The guy's a class act and deserves a shot. The Lions will give it to him, and, just a hunch, but I think they had inside info on Campbell. Matt Millen's son played for the Cadets.
7. Jerry Jones, owner, Dallas Cowboys -- He found his "Wow Factor" with Pacman Jones but wisely brought a safety net along just in case. That would be Mike Jenkins, the cornerback who shouldn't have been there at the 25th position but was, taken by the Cowboys when they traded to get him.
8. Jerod Mayo, linebacker, New England -- Talk about an ideal spot. He can play inside. He can play out. He can learn from experienced and outstanding veterans. In short, he could be this year's Patrick Willis. "It's like a dream come true," Mayo said. No kidding. All I know about Mayo is: the closer we got to the draft, the higher this guy moved on the board. One question: If he's ever listed as inactive, could the Patriots please tell us to "hold the Mayo?" Thanks.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers -- They make no moves, yet have Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed fall to them on the first day. Beautiful. Then they choose Dennis Dixon in the fifth round? Wow. That wasn't luck. The Steelers decided to act before someone else did, and they might have something special.
10. Kevin O'Connell, quarterback, New England -- So he won't play for the next three years. He gets to study under Tom Brady and draw playoff checks for the experience.
Ten biggest losers
1. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Green Bay -- Good news: Brett Favre is gone. The team is yours. Bad news: The Pack spent its second choice on Brian Brohm and a seventh-rounder on Matt Flynn. Better check the rear-view mirror, Aaron.
2. Jeremy Shockey, tight end, N.Y. Giants -- He hasn't left, and neither has Tom Coughlin's offense.
3. John Beck, quarterback, Miami -- The Dolphins made Beck their second-round pick a year ago. Then The Tuna hit town and made Chad Henne his second-round choice. Say goodnight, John.
4. Michael Vick, quarterback, Big House -- Your return ticket to Atlanta just got canceled. Matt Ryan is the polar opposite of Vick. He has a decent arm. He stays out of trouble. And he likes dogs. In case you missed it, Michael, this was Arthur Blank's way of saying, "You're fired!"
5. LaMont Jordan, running back, Oakland -- With the addition of Darren McFadden, Jordan and his $4.7 million salary are expendable. Time to contact the realtor, LaMont.
6. Jason Taylor, defensive end, Miami -- Another day of being held hostage. This guy deserves better.
7. Jared Lorenzen, quarterback, New York Giants -- Andre Woodson makes one too many Kentucky quarterbacks in Giants Stadium.
8. University of Alabama -- Two days and no draft picks. Bentley College had someone chosen. So did Washburn, Gardner-Webb and St. Augustine. The University of Buffalo had two, for crying out loud. But 'Bama? Uh-uh. Make it oh-for-252. I guess this is what's known as Low Tide.
9. Tampa Bay quarterbacks -- Do the math, people. Josh Johnson makes it six at one position, and I'm not counting Jake Plummer (of course, neither are the Bucs). Unless Jon Gruden plans on running a basketball team, someone has to go.
10. Lito Sheppard, cornerback, Philadelphia -- Doesn't anyone want this guy?
Five second-day picks I like
1. Jack Ikegwuonu, cornerback, Philadelphia -- He has first-round ability, but he also has torn knee ligaments. Ikegwuonu hurt himself while working out for the combine and swore he would be ready for the season. Maybe. All I know is that if Ikegwuonu recovers -- as he should -- the Eagles have a fourth-round steal. He was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten pick and has the size and strength to handle tall receivers.
2. Jacob Hester, fullback, San Diego -- A high-effort guy with bullet-proof character and someone who can gain the tough yards inside. So he's something of a tweener. Big deal. He does almost everything well, include play special teams. Plus, he never drops the ball. In his collegiate career, he fumbled once. This is an investment in LaDainian Tomlinson as much as anything, especially with Michael Turner gone.
3. Kevin Smith, running back, Detroit -- No wonder the Lions were so eager to trade into the first spot of the third round. They have no running backs of consequence on their roster, and Smith was sitting there. All he did was run for more than 2,500 yards last season, finishing 61 short of Barry Sanders' NCAA record. Wait a minute, Barry Sanders? That will get your attention in Detroit.
4. Dan Connor, linebacker, Carolina -- The Panthers lose Dan Morgan, so they choose the most productive linebacker in the draft. Connor set a school record at Linebacker U with 419 career tackles, including 136 last year, and he won the Bednarik Award winner -- given annually to the nation's top defensive player. "You work him out," one scout told me about Connor, "and there's nothing that jumps out at you. Then you roll the tape, and all he does is make plays."









