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.

This is a big move for the Jags. They’re constantly looking for that go-to receiver, and they may have found him. He’s a little older now, but I’ve been a fan of Torry Holt since his days at NC State, where he tore up a top ranked Seminole defense like they were standing still.

Holt has agreed to a 3 year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that could be worth up to as much as $20 million.

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]

If a guy can’t be publicly intoxicated and selling/snorting coke whenever he wants, what can he do? Contracts for NFL players these days — they’re just too damn strict.

[Just released from jail, Jones let go by Jaguars]

[ESPN]

The Falcons have lost both Michael Boley and Keith Brooking to free agency, so in an attempt to bulk up at a depleted linebacking position, they signed Mike Peterson, former linebacker of the Jags, to a two year deal.

Peterson will reunite with Mike Smith, who coached the Jags’ defense for five season.

Peterson was drafted in ‘99 by the Colts, and moved to Jacksonville after four years in the league. He got into it with head coach Jack Del Rio last year, and lost his starting position after week 10.

Maybe. That’s the speculation over at Pro Football Talk, who informs us that an Arkansas man that lives in Jacksonville that weighs 205 pounds that is 6′6″ and is white has been arrested.

All of these things could be merely a coincidence, or, more than likely, Matt Jones is in jail, and awaiting his suspension from the Commissioner, who isn’t known to take it lightly on repeat offenders.

Last year this guy was talked about as a bust. If this happens, we can slap the label on all we want with no doubt at all.

[PFT]

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

Last year it was mine. I drafted him thinking he might actually get some touchdowns, given the Jags were a trendy pick this year, and Taylor was a Pro Bowler the year before. Well, he’s been cut this year, which means he’ll be sure to land with an even trendier pick this year, and some sucker — namely me — will end up spending a sixth round pick on a guy that’s gonna get me 13 yards per game, a fumble and an injured thumb.

Here’s how I’m doing against Vegas this year. Sorry for the abbreviated run down again this week, but I’ve got a real time crunch with work and Christmas coming up. Enjoy the picks.

Last Week: 7-6
On the Season: 115-100
Locks of the Week: 14-6

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+6)
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys (-4)
Pittsburgh Steelers (-2) @ Tennessee Titans
Miami Dolphins (-4) @ KC Chiefs
Arizona Cardinals @ New England Patriots (-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (+3) @ Cleveland Browns
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins (+5)
SF 49′ers @ St. Louis Rams (+5.5)
Atlanta Falcons (+3) @ Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints (-7) @ Detroit Lions
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants (-3)
New York Jets (-4) @ Seattle Seahawks
Houston Texans (-7) @ Oakland Raiders
Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos (-6.5)
San Diego Chargers @ Tampa Bay Bucs (-3)
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears (-4)