Every summer, I start to think about NCAA two-zero-fill-in-the-blank, and Madden two-zero-fill-in-the-blank. This year will be NCAA 2010, and Madden 2010, and given that both of my teams should be good (Georgia Tech and the Falcons), I feel a little more excited than most.

[Falcons Message Board]

I’m not somebody that really cares about draft grades the day after a draft — how many times have these so-called “experts” been wrong in the past? — but since NFL is officially over, and since we’re stuck with a few boring NBA series right now and 145 more MLB games, I figure I may as well milk this post for what it’s worth.

It’s the last time we’ll be discussing the NFL until a Bengals player gets arrested in the offseason.

How’d your team do over the weekend? I’ve got lots of different opinions from lots of different people. Click here and you can see how Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline rates the picks; click here to see how Larry Weisman, writer for USA Today, breaks down all seven rounds. Clifton Brown, writer for Sporting News Today, has his take here; for Yahoo! Sports, go here.

I’d give you Todd McShay or Mel Kiper, Jr., but they’re douche bags and charge you $39.95 a year for their services — if I could charge everyone $39.95 to be completely wrong about how a player will turn out, I would. McShay isn’t that bad, but Kiper’s looked like a weatherman with some of his recent predictions.

Enjoy the grades. They mean nothing. At the end of the day, Calvin Johnson has to catch Matthew Stafford’s passes, and DHB wasn’t a stretch by Oakland until he officially busts in Oakland. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I’m counting down to September. Fall, you couldn’t get here soon enough.

Via The Big Lead, we dive in and take a look back at 2003, where all of Mel Kiper’s projections for greatness went way wrong. It should be noted that Charles Rodgers was in that draft, and is no longer in the league, but for all intents and purposes, we’ll glance at just the QB’s. Here they are:

1.) Carson Palmer: Good record. Hurt last year. Was a Pro Bowler. Really hasn’t been the same since he was knocked out of the playoff game against Pittsburgh.
7.) Byron Leftwich: He backed up Joey Harrington last year. I think that’s enough said.
19.) Kyle Boller: A kid I felt bad for. I always thought he’d be better, but the people in Baltimore expected him to be Joe Montana immediately. He got a tough break going to a team with very little offense.
22.) Rex Grossman: He went to a Super Bowl. Still…. he played behind Kyle Orton last year, and has been subject of many “benching” talks throughout the years.
88.) Dave Ragone: Who? The Big Lead says he’s doing a radio show with Scott Padgett now.
97.) Chris Simms: He’s probably got a good chance of being the starter this year in Denver. That said, his competition isn’t much.
110.) Senaca Wallace: He got some playing time last year with Hasselbeck hurt, but hasn’t done much through his career.

[The Big Lead]
[Six Years Later, The QB Class of 2003 Is Still Dreadful]

ESPN has a nice little piece on each team’s strength of schedule for 2009. It also notes that if you went from worst to first in the NFC South, then you’re pretty much screwed (see: Falcons, who have the fourth hardest schedule this year, with opponents’ records being a combined 150-105).

An interesting note: The Cardinals, who made the Super Bowl, have the 27th hardest schedule, or sixth easiest next year; the Minnesota Vikings, who won their division and played a first round playoff game at home, have the second easiest schedule. The Patriots, who missed the playoffs, have the third easiest schedule.

You can see all teams here. With the addition of Jay Cutler, and with the easiest schedule in the NFL, it looks as if the Bears might have an easy ride to the playoffs next year.

[ESPN]

It was thought that Lewis wasn’t going to play for the Ravens again, but the rumors that he refused on ever playing in a Baltimore jersey are false, according to Rod Woodson, who spoke with Lewis. Also false are the rumors that he’s always dreamed to play in Dallas, which is what DeMarcus Ware had told reporters.

The Ravens lost Bart Scott to the Jets today, which would mean signing Lewis is likely high on their priority list.

I’ve noted many times that the NFL Combine is the most overrated event in sports when it comes to gauging talent, yet every year I get caught up in what a guy runs or what a guy jumps or what a guy throws (combine studs that probably went a bit high: JaMarcus Russell, Donte Stallworth, and just last year, Vernon Gholston).

That said, via The Big Lead, here’s some guys that impressed, and some guys that didn’t. A couple of notables on my end, from what I’ve seen on NFL Network:

Pat White, QB/WR: He ran an unofficial time of 4.49 in the 40, and then it was adjusted to a 4.55. He also jumped a solid nine feet in the broad jump, which is real important once you’re actually in the game. I know I often see guys stand in place, squat, and leap as far forward as possible. Like I said: Great gauge at talent.

Darius Heyward-Bey, WR: This guy was being talked about as a second rounder, but after running a 4.3 flat, he’s probably going to end up cracking the top 15. Michael Crabtree is still “the guy” when it comes to receivers, but Heyward-Bey is sure creeping up.

Derrick Anderson, WR: This is the guy that I think will be a solid NFL player — probably a good number two receiver — but his 4.58 40 will have schools not paying attention to whether or not he can run a route and catch the ball, and just say he’s too slow to play.

Beanie Wells, RB: I can’t tell if a 4.59 40 is good or bad for him. On one side, it’s slower than most strong safeties. But he’s 235 pounds, and at that size, how fast do you want him to run?

[The Big Lead]
Getting Listy With The Combine

Reports are that Mcgahee is fine and will make a full recovery. But man: That was some hit.

For those that don’t remember, here’s the much disputed play a few weeks ago, and what will surely be the topic of discussion for the ESPN heads over the next week. Was it touchdown? Was it not a touchdown? Does anyone really care?

Anyway, enjoy the clip. One thing that won’t be lacking this week is trash talking back and forth between Heinz Ward and every other Baltimore defensive player.

They’re not set-set, as there’s still some time in the Chargers/Steelers game, but up three scores with under a couple of minutes to play, we’ll go ahead and assume Pittsburgh takes this one home.

So there it is: Next week Baltimore will play at Pittsburgh for their third and final grudge match of the season. In the first game, Ravens players accused Heinz Ward of being dirty, and also ended the season of Rashad Mendenhall. In their second contest, there was the very disputed call when Ben Roethlisberger completed a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes that didn’t quite look like a touchdown (certainly not something that was indisputable).

And on the NFC side? Well, not as much fun. It’ll feature a game in Arizona where the Cardinals — maybe the flattest team coming into the playoffs — will host the Eagles, a team whose fanbase was screaming that Andy Reed and Donnovan McNabb should both be doing their thing elsewhere.

I’ll admit: Philadelphia/Pittsburgh or Philadelphia/Baltimore has a decent ring to it. But Arizona playing one of those teams? Would they really stand a chance against that defense. I know they tore apart Carolina, but I feel most of that was contributed to really, really bad quarterback play. I’m not sure that’d be the case if they played Baltimore (who runs and relies on its defense) or Pittsburgh, who does much of the same.

Games are next Saturday and Sunday. Should be fun. No Peyton, no Tom, no Eli, no LT, but we do get an old QB, two great defenses, and a team that doesn’t believe in running the ball (what’s the over/under on passes thrown in that Philly/Arizona game?). I’m looking forward to it.

So much for Arizona and San Diego being home underdogs. Both took care of business on Saturday, with Arizona jumping offsides on every snap (yes, I’m a Falcons fan), beating the Falcons 30-24, and the Chargers took care of business in San Diego, eliminating the Colts for the second consecutive year on a day no one could stop Lil’ Darren Sproles.

This isn’t my place to vent about the Falcons and how they got screwed, because to be honest, they were simply outplayed. Matt Ryan finally looked like a rookie, though his offensive line, receivers, the ref’s inability to call an offsides, and his defense didn’t do much to help him out.

Darren Sproles, on the other hand, single-handedly beat Indianapolis, going for 328 all-purpose yards and the final touchdown to end the game in overtime.

Meanwhile, in Miami today, the Dolphins didn’t show up. Chad Pennington, who threw only seven interceptions all year, threw four today, one that was picked by Ed Reed for six.

Minnesota is currently trailing the Eagles at home 16-7, but are driving and look as though they’ll at least get a field goal before the half expires. If Minnesota wins, they’ll face the Panthers next week and the Cardinals will get the Giants (update: Minnesota just scored; 16-14, Eagles). If the Eagles win, they’ll go up to the Meadowlands to face off with New York, and Arizona will play the Panthers in Carolina.

The Ravens will face the Titans next week, and San Diego will head to the Steel City to take on the No. 1 ranked defense of the Steelers. Should be fun to watch. Enjoy the rest of today’s games. Go Vikings; although I’ve got no reason to want them to win, I just think they’re a more balanced team to make a run.