How Jake Long to the Dolphins impacts the Ravens

If you're a Matt Ryan fan, smile and be happy that Jake Long is off the board. That increases the likelihood that DT Glenn Dorsey will be available at #3 for the Atlanta Falcons, which in turn increases the likelihood that Matt Ryan will not be headed to the Dirty Dirty. The Kansas City Chiefs (#5) also may want a QB, but the situation is less dire than it is in Atlanta.

If you're not a Matt Ryan fan, prepare to get used to him. It's looking increasingly likely that he may slip to Baltimore at #8. Another option would be the Chicago Bears trading up from #14 to select Ryan as the eventual successor to Rex Grossman and Kyle "Neck Beard" Orton.

In other news, Ozzie Newsome's mock draft is already 0-1.

Byron Leftwich is an embarrassment to himself, others

Remember when Ozzie Newsome tried to engineer a draft-day trade so that Baltimore could sneak up in the first round and select Marshall QB Byron Leftwich? The league's phone lines were busy so the Ravens were unable to complete the trade in time. You know what happened next: The Ravens ended up with Terrell Suggs and Kyle Boller instead.

Side note: How the F does the NFL not have call waiting?

Somehow Kyle Boller still has a job. Today Leftwich was cut. Again. This time by the Atlanta Falcons, only a year after getting cut by the Jags in favor of David Garrard, who whaddyaknow actually turned out to be pretty damn good. If it weren't for the Cheatriots Patriots, Garrard and the Jags may have battled it out with Plaxico Fantastico and Escape-artist Eli for a chance to wear gaudy jewelery.

Anyway, back to my man Byron Leftwich. Here is what Atlanta's GM had to say after today's cuts, which included seven players: “This is a difficult day for the entire organization. A number of these players have contributed to this organization on and off the field at a high level."

Clearly he wasn't talking about Leftwich, who during his one year in the Dirty Dirty couldn't stay healthy, throw touchdowns or even complete very many passes (32 in three games total). What's this dude's problem? Too many cheeseburgers? Too many late nights at the strip club? Competition too tough? That last one has gotta be it. Joey Harrington and Chris Redman. Also known as The Intimidators. Redman, by the way, wasn't even good enough to play QB in Baltimore, where they'll give anyone a shot.

Stoney Case!

In all fairness, Redman did make it a few seasons in Baltimore, but I'm convinced that was only because he went to same college as Johnny Unitas (Louisville) and because he also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Baltimore loves it some Johnny U. I hope that Redman's Golden Arm is proudly displayed on the mantle of a rented apartment in some crappy suburb somewhere. That right there is the highlight of your career, buddy.

It's time to write the epilogue on Byron Leftwich's football career.

Byron Leftwich: This guy was a pretty good football player in college because he was really tall and strong and played against weak competition and one time his teammates carried him down the field after he broke his leg and it was really dramatic but I'm pretty sure they still lost that game anyway and then he went to the NFL and was a complete bust and even Baltimore wouldn't take him these days and that's saying a lot because Baltimore's quarterbacks have always sucked except Steve McNair for about five minutes and Vinny Testaverde for one season way back in the 19-motherfuckin'-90s.

Atlanta Falcons: QB Michael Vick backs the NFL into a corner

Someone dropped a dime on Michael Vick. At least that's the way it looks to me. ESPN cites a "confidential source," who has tagged Vick as one of the "big boys" in illegal dogfighting. He tells of a time years ago when his pit bull bested Vick's pit bull, a fight on which the quarterback placed a large number of bets. Vick allegedly fanned cash at the crowd in a high-profile orgy of ego and adrenaline.

The confidential source claims to have been in dogfighting for more than 30 years. During that time he says he's trained and fought 2,000 dogs. And also worked with law enforcement by providing information on dogfighters that led to felony arrests. Now he's worried about Vick dropping the dime on everyone else: "Everybody in the dog world is worried about Michael Vick talking. Michael Vick is making large money... and if he has to tell on some people, I think he would tell."

Tough to feel sorry for the snitch when he's doing the same thing.

I don't know much about dog fighting but it strikes me as pretty cruel. Plus I think it's scary in general just to have pit bulls around, bred to fight or not. I get the appeal of gambling. And I understand that unlike the rest of the country Vick can't gamble on the NFL. But why not fly to Vegas and play craps? Get a massage, chill out by the pool? Maybe see a show? Then play some more craps. Why dogfight?

If Vick is plausibly implicated, the NFL is screwed. They'll have to suspend Vick. They'll have no choice. The league has spent the entire offseason reminding everyone how they're amped up to crack down on both criminal and unsightly behavior by its players. If the NFL gives Michael Vick a long suspension, it will experience a financial punch in the gut. Nothing that'll have permanent impact but certainly it will hurt. If they give him a short suspension, the loss will be mitigated but they'll catch flak for going easy on a huge draw. And if they end of somewhere in the middle, well, they'll still probably catch heat.

Prediction: Falcons QB Michael Vick will receive a four-game suspension. Long enough for the league to pretend like they care about more than just their image, but not long enough to financially cripple Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who must be having nightmares over having traded backup QB Matt Schaub to the Houston Texans.

Around the league: New England Patriots; Ricky Williams; Michael Vick; Steve McNair

New England Patriots: I was in Vegas this past week, where the Pats are 3-1 favorites to win the Super Bowl. Before acquiring Randy Moss, the line was at least 10-1. So basically Vegas is saying that the Pats are at least three times more likely to win the Super Bowl thanks solely to Randy Moss (and, I guess, their draft). The Patriots are a good team. A very good team. But they're not (and never have been) as good as everyone thinks they are.

Sure they've won three Super Bowls, but they won each of them by a field goal, and with a gust of wind here and there they could easily be the modern-day Buffalo Bills. And let's not forget the Colts. It's not like they slacked off this offseason, either. In the first two rounds of the draft, they grabbed another receiver for Peyton Manning and shored up the offensive line, too. But the defense is suspect and Tom Brady will eat them alive in the playoffs. Maybe, but what happens if they face Baltimore instead, a team who last year in the playoffs put the brakes on the Colts' offense, which, let's face it, Randy or no Randy, is better than the Patriots offense. The Patriots will be very strong contenders to win the Super Bowl next year, but they shouldn't be the overwhelming favorite that everyone thinks they are. They do have the advantage of playing in the weak AFC East, though.

Ricky Williams: Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. Another failed drug test. And another round of choruses criticizing Williams for passing up the golden privilege that is playing in the NFL. But Williams may be doing himself a favor. He's spent the last few years studying restorative medicine and yoga. And of course violating the NFL's drug policy along the way. Does the latter guarantee that he'll never play in the NFL again? Probably. But it also increases the likelihood that he won't be forced into more serious drug addictions. Consider former Ravens star Michael McCrary, whose "knees ache with pain so intense he says he is unable to stand for more than a few minutes." McCrary's post-NFL career injuries, which are hardly an exception, are so intense that he's "been on Percocet, Percodan, Oxycontin, Oxycodeine, three different psychiatric medicines," he said. "I had a fentanyl patch; that's like heroin. I'm on methadone now." In this context, Ricky's choice might be the lesser of two evils.

So for those of who you think Ricky's throwing his life away, look at the bigger picture. Playing in the NFL is an extremely dangerous career choice (certainly more so than teaching yoga). Especially if you don't walk away early enough. It's why Tiki Barber walked away, and it was disgusting that so many criticized him for walking away in his prime despite never having won a Super Bowl ring. Without your health, you can't be happy, no matter how big the ring is.

Michael Vick: I think the criticism that Michael Vick is inaccurate and isn't a great franchise quarterback is silly. He may not have the best completion percentage, but his wideouts drop a ton of balls. Besides Alge Crumpler, he's got nothing. Michael Vick is a great quarterback, but he also is starting to show the signs of a downward spiral. If the allegations of illegal dogfighting are true, owner Arthur Blank should cut his losses and move on. If it turns out that it was Vick's relative, and not Vick directly, leave him alone. At that point, it's a moot issue. Buying a house for someone is not a crime. Regardless, I bet Blank is regretting trading backup QB Matt Schaub this offseason.

Steve McNair: So let me get this straight? Steve McNair was arrested for driving under the influence, despite the fact that he was neither driving nor under the influence? Makes sense to me. Should it be a crime to let an intoxicated person drive your car? Sure, it's a dangerous move and it puts others at risk. But at least take five minutes to come up with an accurate name for the crime. Because being sober and riding shotgun certainly does not qualify as driving under the influence. That's just ridiculous.

2007 NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons (1.8)

Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson. I get nervous when I hear the word upside. With the exception of quarterback, why draft a guy who won't blossom for a few years? He'll underperform until the rookie contract is up, and then you have to break the bank to make good on your draft-day investment. Anderson has been known to take off plays, and not give his full effort. The Falcons need a wide receiver, someone with great hands to compliment TE Alge Crumpler, who right now is Michael Vick's number-one target.