Ask Jeff Risdon a question thread

[asdf1223]

Ic,
Is the reports that Marcus Cannon is suffering from Testicular Cancer true?

It got confirmed this morning from his training facility. Terrible news for him, but apparently they caught it early and he has a very strong chance of full recovery. He's in very good physical condition (he squatted 940 last month) and that should really help. Hard to say what it does for his draft status but it's gotta be dropping. You can't really work out while undergoing treatment. Maybe 5th-6th round? I had him late 2nd/early 3rd.

Lance Armstrong came back just fine. I played vball in college with a guy who lost a testicle to cancer. He missed a season and came back actually better because he was more dedicated to being in optimum shape, which apparently happens with cancer survivors quite a bit. I hope that's the case for Cannon.

Now Tony Pauline is saying its not true and TCU will issue a statement. But Evan Silva of PFT confirms that Cannon has had 0 pre draft visits. If he's healthy to go why has he had 0 visits? They should do a medical and be done with it. Cancer is no joke. Like you said there's a good chance he has a productive football career if he can recover from it.

[Icness]

Just heard a radio interview with Cannon himself and he laughed when it was brought up. Laughed, end of story. Not sure what is going on with his training facility talking, I can't find their statement anymore. Can someone with Twitter look that up, if they can delete posts or something like that

FWIW he also said he's been to at least 6 team sites for visits and met two other teams at his home with his mother. There seems to be a lot of misinformation out there on Mr. Cannon.

[Roger Murdock]

Even if he has testicular cancer I still wouldn't hesitate to draft the guy. Hes a great talent and if hes there in the 4th or 5th why not take him. A 5th round tackle wont help you the first year anyways. If the cancer is caught early he will be fine.

[Bucksfans1and2]

Apparently he had a benign tumor.

I can only guess but I imagine it was something like:

Reporter: There's a rumor that Cannon had a tumor at the combine

Training Staff: Yeah he had a benign tumor. A couple of teams are concerned because it might become an issue sometime in the future.

Headline: Cannon has caner!

[Bucksfans1and2]

On the other hand:

32: Carimi
64: Nevis
96: Moch
129: Cannon
131: Moffit

:drool:

[Icness]

Apparently he had a benign tumor.

I can only guess but I imagine it was something like:

Reporter: There's a rumor that Cannon had a tumor at the combine

Training Staff: Yeah he had a benign tumor. A couple of teams are concerned because it might become an issue sometime in the future.

Headline: Cannon has caner!

That is my favorite post in a long time

[BearTooth]

Jeff, couple questions:

1. I've never been able to figure out why Kaepernick isn't rated higher. But I was in a chat yesterday with Dave Te Thomas. He has Kaepernick ranked as the TOP QB, ahead of everyone. First, what do you think of that? Second, what do you think of Dave Te Thomas? Seems like he was THE guy 10 years ago, but haven't heard much from him lately.

2. I'm looking for a player who can immediately backup at every line position—be a solid, reliable left or right tackle, but whose brightest long term future is probably at guard. I've identified James Carpenter as that guy. Do you agree. Anyone else in the 2nd or 3rd round with that kind of versatility?

3. Any more scout conversations coming?

[Icness]

Jeff, couple questions:

1. I've never been able to figure out why Kaepernick isn't rated higher. But I was in a chat yesterday with Dave Te Thomas. He has Kaepernick ranked as the TOP QB, ahead of everyone. First, what do you think of that? Second, what do you think of Dave Te Thomas? Seems like he was THE guy 10 years ago, but haven't heard much from him lately.

2. I'm looking for a player who can immediately backup at every line position—be a solid, reliable left or right tackle, but whose brightest long term future is probably at guard. I've identified James Carpenter as that guy. Do you agree. Anyone else in the 2nd or 3rd round with that kind of versatility?

3. Any more scout conversations coming?

Check this for my thoughts on Kaepernick: http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=1105769
He's my #3 but that comes with the caution that he absolutely is not ready to play in 2011, and if he's rushed it will not end well.

As for utility linemen, I like Clint Boling and Jason Pinkston in the middle rounds. IMO Carpenter is going to be a starting tackle but he could buy a year or two as a swingman. Going deeper I like Ray Dominguez and Andrew Jackson as late-round reserve linemen. Jackson is more of a G/C, Dominguez is a guard or right tackle.

I have nothing in the works with any scouts as far as an extended conversation. Pro days are over and those guys are pretty much locked into draft rooms for the next few days. I'll get quick hits here and there but nothing in depth, much of it engineered to send a message.

[midranger]

Any chance Lee Smith, TE Marshall could bulk up to play LT?

[Bucksfans1and2]

Will you help us in our NFL Forum Mock Draft? I'm really not prepared to be making informed picks for 10+ teams.

[Bucksfans1and2]

What's the deal with Taylor's foot?

[Icness]

What's the deal with Taylor's foot?

Much ado about nothing. Actually it's more of, one team that wants him but doesn't think he'll fall that far leaks out stuff like this to try and get his value to drop enough that he falls to them. That's not isolated to Taylor, happens all the time.

The Bowers knee stuff is legit though. I know personally of three teams that removed him from their draft boards, wouldn't take him in the 7th round if he's there.

[TSE]

That's crazy to not spend a 7th on him, I'd like to put those GMs up to a lie detector test and see if they are telling the truth. And if I was the owner of the team I would be pretty upset if they were going to take some ridiculous longshot instead of a guy that has a lot of potential if he can end up staying healthy. Even if he isn't going to hold up for a whole career, there's always a shot he starts off hot and you can sell him for a lot more than a 7th. Those GMs are liars or idiots imo. Although that's the case for virtually every GM in the league. The people that run these teams are absolutely atrocious at their jobs, and extremely poor thinkers with bad logic.

[RiotPunch]

wouldn't take him in the 7th round if he's there.

[Roger Murdock]

If DaQuon Bowers is there in the 7th round its because 32 teams agree that his knees are ****, so I wouldnt draft him with a 7th rounder.

[SpeedyG]

If DaQuon Bowers is there in the 7th round its because 32 teams agree that his knees are ****, so I wouldnt draft him with a 7th rounder.

It's not the perfect analogy (not sure how similar or different the injuries were), and it's two different sports...but every team passed up on DeJuan Blair because he doesn't have any ACLs. He's certainly been worth the late 2nd rounder the Spurs used on him.

If it's the 6th or 7th round and I am drafting for a team that needs some pass-rush, I would easily take a risk on someone like Bowers.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Icness,

If you had to predict a potential surprise pick, or at least one that would be surprising to general public, a la Darius Heyward-Bey or Tyson Alualu, which team or player could you see filling that role this year?

[Icness]

Icness,

If you had to predict a potential surprise pick, or at least one that would be surprising to general public, a la Darius Heyward-Bey or Tyson Alualu, which team or player could you see filling that role this year?

I think Mike Pouncey is going in the teens, either to Miami or JAX. I think Andy Dalton could go as high as about 22. I really don't see anyone sneaking into the top 10 though. I think the top 8 are:
Cam Newton
Blaine Gabbert
Marcel Dareus
Von Miller
AJ Green
Patrick Peterson
Robert Quinn
Julio Jones
not necessarily in that order, but I would be pretty surprised if anyone else gets ahead of any of those guys.

Dallas at #9 is a wild card and that could lead to something unexpected. I could see JJ Watt or Tyron Smith or Prince Amukamara, which I guess isn't as stunning as those you mention. Now if someone really wants a QB, then that would be the spot for a splashy taking of Ryan Mallett or Jake Locker. Or Jimmy Smith--he's a guy that some hold very highly in spite of his rather significant off-field issues. Let's say the Bengals trade back from #4, he could very well be the guy they take at #9 or #11.

[takeit2dahouse00]

- One assistant coach of a team picking in the teens told me earlier this week that the two players they really want at their spot are players they did not bring in for official visits. On the flip side, they brought one player many suspect they are heavily interested in multiple times, but they have no intention of taking him whatsoever. I guessed one of the non-visit players off the top of my head: Mike Pouncey, who stands a very good chance to be drafted higher than his brother, who went 18th overall a year ago. Mike should send some of his signing bonus to his brother, because he is not on Maurkice's level in my opinion and would be a 2nd rounder if his twin wasn't so darn awesome last year.

I am pretty sure and horrified about the fact that this is about Miami. I am also willing to bet that the player they have brought in 'multiple times' is Ryan Mallet. I was really hoping we'd take him at 15. Pouncey will be a good one, but I think there is better value at 15.

Out of curiosity, who was the other player that they are interested in but didn't bring in? Leshoure? Locker? Carimi?

[catalyst]

Icness,

If you had to predict a potential surprise pick, or at least one that would be surprising to general public, a la Darius Heyward-Bey or Tyson Alualu, which team or player could you see filling that role this year?

I think Mike Pouncey is going in the teens, either to Miami or JAX. I think Andy Dalton could go as high as about 22. I really don't see anyone sneaking into the top 10 though. I think the top 8 are:
Cam Newton
Blaine Gabbert
Marcel Dareus
Von Miller
AJ Green
Patrick Peterson
Robert Quinn
Julio Jones
not necessarily in that order, but I would be pretty surprised if anyone else gets ahead of any of those guys.

Dallas at #9 is a wild card and that could lead to something unexpected. I could see JJ Watt or Tyron Smith or Prince Amukamara, which I guess isn't as stunning as those you mention. Now if someone really wants a QB, then that would be the spot for a splashy taking of Ryan Mallett or Jake Locker. Or Jimmy Smith--he's a guy that some hold very highly in spite of his rather significant off-field issues. Let's say the Bengals trade back from #4, he could very well be the guy they take at #9 or #11.

Peter King going with local boy Dalton at 15 to Miami. I guess just kicking up dust to create a story. Dalton came into the year as a 3rd at best, and now a top half of first projected?

I love the draft and the drama, and will be listening to Norm Hitzges call the entire draft on 1310 The Ticket in Dallas. Norm does like to see the upside of every pick, and rarely criticizes picks. He seems to have something on every player available. He is an OurLads follower, but also has many other sources.