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I’ll start out agreeing with Jim McCurdy.  This mock draft is a boat load of fun.  And I’m glad to be part of the mock representing the Houston Texans Nation.

If you looked at the photo, you’ll know who I selected for the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.  But before we talk about that selection, let’s briefly touch on some other players who I also considered.

Already off the board in this mock was Mike Iupati, the mauling guard from Idaho.  Sure, Idaho isn’t exactly a bustling football factory, but a massive and mean guard to shore up the interior of the offensive line and the running game is just what the doctor ordered. 

Iupati would have been a great selection, but he was drafted by the Steelers in this mock.  Sigh.

I don’t really think there is another interior lineman worth taking at pick No. 20.  I briefly considered Maurkice Pouncey out of Florida, but I think 20 is a bit high for him. 

Sure, he’s a winner and a good football player, but rare is the guard worth taking at No. 20.  That should tell you how highly I think of Iupati.

In addition to the offensive line, the Texans could use a talent infusion in the backfield.  Specifically, the Texans need a bigger back to split carries with Steve Slaton. 

We won’t know what Slaton can do till next season, but assuming he returns to form somewhere between his remarkable rookie season and his slumping second season, the Texans should have a player who excels on the boundaries and in space.  Which also means the team needs a bell cow to plow between the tackles. 

With backs like Stanford’s Toby Gerhart (too slow, too upright a runner for the NFL) and CJ Spiller (already taken), the Texans could go in those directions in the first round.  But I don’t see that happening, do you?

Another position of need is the defensive backfield.  Too bad top-notch safety prospects like Earl Thomas and Eric Berry are long gone. 

And I don’t see Taylor Mays as a star in the NFL.  Sure, he can run and hit, but he can’t play centerfield.  He can’t cover in the passing game. 

The Texans have a guy who can run and hit in Bernard Pollard and need a running mate for the big hitting strong safety.  Mays is quite an athlete, but I’m not sold on him as a football player.

Finally, let’s not ignore the obvious.  Sam Bradford has slid all the way down this first round mock draft. 

In this mock and in this mock only (as I can’t imagine a Brady Quinn-esque slide for Bradford) why wouldn’t the Texans auction this pick off for a major ransom?  It would be bad business to ignore trading this pick if Bradford is still there.

All of which brings us back to Kyle Wilson.  Wilson might not be the biggest player in the draft, but at 5′10″ and 190 lbs., he’s still a good sized prospect. 

Plus, Wilson is fast, quick, and can flat out cover.  He has high awareness and intelligence and should be rising up draft boards quickly.

Adding a corner back with Wilson’s skill would help the Texans in a division that plays home to Peyton Manning and the pass happy Colts. 

To win the division and make the playoffs, the Texans must be able to beat Indianapolis.  And making the playoffs must be the Texans’ goal in 2010.

By now we’ve all heard about the injury to Joe Nathan, which has the potential to end his 2010 campaign before it even begins.  According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minnesota Star-Tribune (click here for the full article):

“While surgery certainly looks to be imminent, Nathan will take two weeks to let the swelling in the area subside. He’ll work with the trainers to strengthen the muscles around the elbow. And then he will try to pitch. He’s prepared to pitch in pain—given the huge expectations placed on the 2010 Twins—and is prepared to tests the limits of his tolerance level.”

Only then will we know for sure that he’s going to miss the entire year due to Tommy John Surgery.  At this point, if you are drafting over the next two weeks, you have to ask yourself if you are willing to take the gamble on Nathan (who was previously the second ranked closer on my rankings) and if he’s going to pitch.

Let’s first take a look at how this news shuffles the rankings:

1. Jonathan Broxton—Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Mariano Rivera—New York Yankees
3. Joakim Soria—Kansas City Royals
4. Jonathan Papelbon—Boston Red Sox
5. Francisco Rodriguez—New York Mets
6. Heath Bell—San Diego Padres
7. Brian Wilson—San Francisco Giants
8. Jose Valverde—Detroit Tigers
9. Billy Wagner—Atlanta Braves
10. Huston Street—Colorado Rockies
11. Andrew Bailey—Oakland Athletics
12. Frank Francisco—Texas Rangers
13. Trevor Hoffman—Milwaukee Brewers
14. Rafael Soriano—Tampa Bay Rays
15. Francisco Cordero—Cincinnati Reds

Nathan is just too good of a pitcher to completely ignore at this point.  With the potential for him to still pitch, even at 70 percent, he’s still worth taking the flyer on in all formats in the last few rounds of your draft.  Unfortunately, that’s not enough to keep him in the Top 15.

I certainly wouldn’t ignore him, however, until the news breaks that he is officially out for the entire 2010 season.  According to Mock Draft Central, there are 21 relief pitchers with ADPs in the first 200.  After that, why not take the gamble on Nathan, backing him up with Jon Rauch or Matt Guerrier?  When you are drafting guys at that point, you are concerned about them losing their job anyway, right?

What are your thoughts?  Would you take the gamble on Nathan?  What are the chances he actually pitches?

If you would like to see a free preview of the Rotoprofessor 2010 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide (available for just $5) now including a Top 50 Prospects for 2010 List, click here .

Make sure to check out our 2010 yearly league rankings:

• Catchers
• First Basemen
• Second Basemen
• Third Basemen
• Shortstops
• Outfielders
• Designated Hitters
• Starting Pitchers

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

With grim predictability, injury has brought a premature end to Michael Owen’s season.

The former England striker scored United’s opening goal in the League Cup final victory over Aston Villa, only to succumb to a hamstring complaint that required his substitution.

Owen has now been told that he must undergo surgery.

The striker said: “I have loved every minute of my first campaign with Manchester United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments. I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition.”

The manager put on the bravest of faces too when asked for his thoughts on Owen’s latest injury blow.

“Unfortunately, it’s more serious than we thought,” Ferguson said. “It’s a terrible blow for the lad and disappointing news for us, too. He has never missed a training session all season. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley on Sunday made some contribution to it but really it is just bad luck.”

Really?

While the Wembley pitch might be a bog fit only for the sowing of potatoes, it is also true that Owen has suffered terrible misfortune yet again and it is poor form to kick a man when he faces an operation and weeks of therapy and rehabilitation.

But, with some justification, there will be a chorus of “I told you so” should United stumble this season due to a lack of goals, especially with the club’s former striker Carlos Tevez on a hot streak at Manchester City.

Owen’s latest trouble is but a new chapter in a familiar story of physical failing and disappointment which have dogged the player for years. The former European Footballer Of The Year may protest, but his pleas will fall on deaf ears when made from a hospital bed.

Like Liverpool’s signing of Aquilani, United were forewarned that Owen’s physical condition posed a risk to effective team planning.

Wigan Athletic’s chairman, Dave Whelan, knifed the ex-England international when he announced early last summer that Owen’s injury record made his transfer too great a risk.

Nevertheless, Sir Alex hoped he could defy the odds and brought the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Newcastle player to Old Trafford.

Until then, it had been thought that Owen would wind down his career at the likes of Hull or Stoke.

The manager appeared to have been swayed by Owen’s considerable track record as a goal sniffer and by the salutes to his robust constitution contained in the “come and get me” dossier which Owen published upon his departure from Tyneside.

There were jokes then about the dangers of Fergie’s “catalogue shopping.”
 
Now the injured Owen is no laughing matter.

Wayne Rooney, who has carried United’s hopes this season, is suffering with his knee. Rest, probably the best cure, is unlikely given the unavailability through injury of Owen and the reserve Macheda.

The manager can no longer call upon Danny Wellbeck this term. The youngster, once tipped by Sir Alex to force his way into the England World Cup party, is now on loan at Preston, his star fading after a string of clueless performances when played out of position in the United first team.

Mame Diouf, a new recruit from the Norwegian club Molde, is likely to get more game time. But against the Wolves last weekend, he looked at best inexperienced and at worst, a clumsy innocent with an alarming potential to be United’s Benjani.

That leaves Sir Alex sweating on the form and attitude Dimitar Berbatov, another striker suffering with a knee knack.

No one doubts the Bulgarian’s technical ability. Rather, it is the striker’s application and end product that raise concerns.

Berbatov has scored only nine goals this season. Worse, he appears to be something of a flat track bully, producing his most lethal displays against weaker teams. The Bulgarian failed to trouble the statisticians in the three Champions League games in which he was selected but did score against Everton, Wigan, Stoke, Sunderland, Blackburn, Hull, Burnley, and Portsmouth.

This is not the form to frighten United’s future domestic opponents—Chelsea, Liverpool Manchester City and Spurs—nor is likely to worry the remaining European teams in this year’s Champions League tournament, should AC Milan be overcome.

No one can blame Owen for the difficulties that might await United. For that, the finger should be pointed at those who created the circumstances which left Sir Alex ready to gamble on a player who rightly or wrongly, has become better known for his injuries than his goals.

The manager has admitted that he found it hard to field Rooney and Owen together, given their similarities in stature and the way each likes to play. This is a failure of planning and a tactical mistake that any number of videos would have exposed.

It is hard for United to dodge the accusation that Owen was signed because he was the cheapest option available. All he costs the club is wages and bonuses.

With some £720 million debt to concentrate minds, United did not want to spend £50 million in fees and salaries to keep Tevez and plumped for Owen as a player with the profile to placate the media and one who might get the club out of a hole.

Despite Owen’s winner against City and the hatrick against Wolfsburg, the plan can hardly be deemed a success.

United’s debt chickens could come home to roost if the team, struggling for fit and in form strikers, runs out of goals as it plays for honours at home and abroad.

Last July, Owen bristled with barely concealed fury as he fielded questions from the press about his injury record.

“If there is one thing that has angered me a bit it is this thing that I am ‘injury-prone,’” Owen said. “You constantly read ‘he’s been plagued with injuries’ and things like that but the facts just don’t support it.”

What do you say now, Michael?

The madness has officially begun.

As of 12:01 AM Friday, NFL free agency is underway and the league is in the throws of an uncapped year. While many think that will lead to erratic spending patterns—especially if your name is, say, Dan Snyder—what it did lead to was 212 players ostensibly getting screwed by restrictions.

Counting the two players they released on Friday, the Eagles had 16 players from the 2009 squad eligible for the various levels of free agency. However, only four were unrestricted, and none of them were really worth getting one of the franchise or transition tags the Birds had at their disposal.

That doesn’t mean they weren’t valuable in their own ways, though. Many or even all of them could be brought back, and one already has.

For the unrestricted and released, I’ll look at whether they should be brought back or forgotten; for the restricted, however, it will be whether or not they should be retained if someone offers on them.

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On Tuesday, March 9, the Big East Tournament will tip off at noon at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

The Big East Tournament is a collection of all the teams in the best conference going hard for 15 games in a single elimination format.

For five, action-packed days, anything is possible.

Even teams like DePaul or Rutgers have to go in with their heads held high because, although they may have had down years in conference, they are just four wins away from the big dance.

The first matchups, which take place on Tuesday will be South Florida vs. DePaul, Seton Hall vs. Providence, Cincinnati vs. Rutgers, and Connecticut vs. St. John’s. 

South Florida vs. Depaul

In the first game, South Florida vs. DePaul, most people would pick the Bulls in a blowout.

However, it might be a little bit more complicated than that.

DePaul may only be 1-17, but they have kept teams close all season. They have good wins against Northern Iowa and Marquette and nearly beat this same South Florida team just a few days ago.

Also, after going 0-18 in conference action last year, they ended up winning their first-round game and nearly stealing the second-round matchup as well.

If Will Walker and Mac Koshwal are able to make shots and free throws, they can pull out a win. Keep in mind that they shoot just 58% from the charity stripe.

Prediction: South Florida 59-DePaul 56

Seton Hall vs. Providence

Seton Hall is coming off a road win against Providence on Saturday, and it really wasn’t that hard.

Seton Hall is one of the best mid-level teams in this conference and have an uncanny ability to score the basketball. They have put up 134 points in a single game this year (against VMI) and have even come back from a 10 point margin with less than 50 seconds in a game this year against West Virginia.

If Jeremy Hazzel and Herb Pope can score the ball, this game won’t even be close.

Seton Hall 74-Providence 59

Cincinnati vs. Rutgers

This is a pretty dull matchup in most respects.

Rutgers is doing better than expected and Cincy is doing worse than expected.

Although the crowd should heavily favor the Knights, I would like to favor the Bearcats, who could have had an amazing year if they were able to win key games down the stretch. The team is led by freshman Lance Stephenson who is coming back to his hometown for the tournament.

This shouldn’t be too much of a problem for Cincy if they are prepared. Preparation is key, as Rutgers does have the ability to win games if you give them the chance.

St. John’s vs. Connecticut

This is the popcorn matchup of the first round.

St. John’s has the home-court advantage, but a lot of the Huskie faithful will be in attendance with a campus just a few hours away.

Both of these teams had the potential to be good this season, but they couldn’t pick up those big wins. UConn is 1-2 at the Garden this year with losses to Duke and Kentucky. St. John’s is a good team all around, and Anthony Mason Junior is starting to pick things up for the Red Storm, who are coming off a 3OT win against DePaul.

Neither team has that much momentum coming in, but I like the Huskies in this game. They have the overall talent to beat a team like St. John’s in desperation mode as they need two or three wins to be considered on selection Sunday.

Connecticut 74-St. John’s 67

Check back for second-round predictions on Wednesday morning. 

The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly agreed to a six-year deal with free agent cornerback Dunta Robinson , formerly of the Houston Texans. Terms were not immediately disclosed.

Robinson did not receive a franchise tag by Houston, making him a free agent. He was immediately contacted by Atlanta, which has been looking for a star cornerback ever since their fall-out with DeAngelo Hall.

Robinson brings excellent speed, range, and cover skills to an Atlanta defense that is focused on becoming an elite group. More importantly, Robinson will add an immediate upgrade at corner (becoming their best cover-man), aiding their weak pass defense.

Despite the Texans not franchising Robinson this year, it’s obvious they thought highly of him, as they had placed a one-year tag on him in 2009, giving him nearly $10 million for the season.

As everyone in the NFC tries to get better via free agency, the Falcons are trying to keep pace, as they’ve solidified one of their corner spots, and look to be on the verge of turning their average defense around.

For updates and breaking news on the NFL Free Agency period, visit NFL Soup.

In my last article, I looked at the Mariners bullpen candidates.

Continuing my tour of the AL West bullpens, here’s a look at the following nine A’s bullpen possibilities:

Andrew Bailey
Joey Devine
Brad Ziegler
Brad Kilby
Jerry Blevins
Jon Meloan
Michael Wuertz
Bobby Cassevah
Craig Breslow

Let’s have a look!

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Cracks are beginning to appear in the Chelsea squad and at the wrong time. With only a couple of months of the season remaining and The Blues still challenging on three fronts they need something to pick them up and quickly.

The John Terry saga looks like it may now be at the end of the cycle. But how long will it take for him to recover mentally?

Then there is left-back problem. With Ashley Cole out until May who will fill the gap. Florent Malouda has been filling in but he is to attack minded. So will it be Ivanovic switching flanks?

But there is a silver lining to this catastrophic month. The return of Michael Essien. The Ghanaian power house is returning after a knee injury.

The team looks so much stronger when he is in the team. He brings a balance that is missing when he is absent.

Jon Obi Mikel is a good young player but he has neither the experience or the ability to fill the gaps left by Frank Lampard’s and Michael Ballack’s surging forward runs.

With Essien due back this month it gives Chelsea the option to be that bit more attacking as he patrols the midfield area. Will his return coincide with an up turn in fortunes? Who knows but it gives them a better chance of a first title in three years.

With him back in the squad it will let the likes of Belletti and Mikel to be used more sparingly in games that they should be expected to win. I know this sounds harsh on these decent players, but if Chelsea want to win a trophy this season they need the likes of Essien, Lampard and Ballack performing in the middle of the park.

The return of Essien will make or break Chelsea’s season. If he’s fit unlock the trophy cabinet. If not then keep the keys in your pocket for another year.

Now that Johnny Damon is a Tiger, every major free agent in the majors has been inked to a deal.

There was much activity this offseason: Roy Halladay became a Philly, Cliff Lee a Mariner, Jason Bay a Met, and Matt Holliday was given a deal that will haunt the Cardinals for years to come. 

All eyes are now on spring training and the 2010 MLB season, which promises to be a wild ride.

But let’s take a look into the crystal ball for a moment, let’s take a look at next year’s offseason.

Matt Holliday was the biggest name last year, but there are players who are much better and will command even more than Holliday’s $120 million next season.

Here are three bold and no doubt controversial predictions for next season:

1. Joe Mauer signs a 9 year $200 million deal with the New York Yankees. Derek Jeter resigned for 5 years $90 million, Mariano Rivera resigned for 2 years $24 million

Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will be hastily resigned, allowing the richest team to go for the richest haul.

I’m sorry Twin fans, but for all the talk about the hometown boy taking a hometown discount, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will get into a bidding war that will be too lucrative for Mauer to resist.

Regardless of the economy, Joe Mauer has everything going for him. He’s young, he plays the toughest position, he plays gold glove defense, he gets on base, he has pop. When talent like this comes along, you pay.

Come on Twin fans, you know why the Yankees didn’t spend big bucks this offseason, instead opting mostly for one year commitments. So they could go for the big prize next year while retaining Jeter and Rivera.

By the way, I don’t expect the Yankees to get Cliff Lee, unless the price goes down to about 15 million. He’s good but he’s not in Roy Halladay’s league.

2. Josh Beckett gets resigned by the Red Sox for 4 years $55 million, Victor Martinez resigned by the Red Sox for 3 years $39 million, Adrian Gonzalez is already on the team

I initially thought that the Red Sox would let Beckett go having signed John Lackey to a big deal this year. Beckett is injury prone and on the wrong side of 30, and the Red Sox already possess a great deal of pitching depth.

But when I thought about it, I realized that Clay Buchholz will probably have been traded along with Jacoby Ellsbury and other prospects for San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

The Red Sox have amped up the defense this offseason but face it, they need a power bat who can add 40 homeruns and 100 RBI’s in the middle of their lineup. The Padres need to get as much young talent for Gonzalez as possible while they still can. Gonzalez will be part of “The Nation” by the trade deadline.

3. Cliff Lee signs a 3 year $57 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals

But they’re saving their money to resign Albert Pujols, right?

Wrong. It’s a bold prediction but I think it can happen.

I don’t think Albert Pujols will be a Cardinal in 2012. Don’t believe the talk about wanting to stay, Pujols is even more likely than Mauer to take a huge free agent contract. When I say huge, I mean A-Rod money. Possibly even more. I’m not sure where Pujols will go, maybe I’m wrong about Gonzalez and Pujols joins the Red Sox, but he will not remain a Cardinal.

Cliff Lee is a good fit here. I expect either Adam Wainwright or Chris Carpenter to regress, so if Pujols hasn’t signed an extension by next year, the Cardinals will look to improve their team with more Cy Young caliber pitching.

The Mariners are a small market team who will gladly take the Cardinals’ draft picks to replenish their farm system.

The Cardinals will use the rest of their Pujols money to address other needs in the organization.

Here at B/R we are lucky enough to have a community of fans who take pride in their teams and the players they draft.

With all the mock drafts that are popping up, why not have a mock that lets the fans choose who their team should pick?

Here’s the list of the selections so far.

1.      Rams take QB Jimmy Clausen

2.      Lions take DT Ndamukong Suh

3.      Buccaneers take DT Gerald McCoy

4.      Redskins take OT Russell Okung

5.      Chiefs take S Eric Berry

6.      Seahawks take OT Bruce Campbell

7.      Browns take CB Joe Haden

8.      Raiders take OT Anthony Davis

9.      Bills take OT Bryan Bulaga

10.    Jaguars take QB Tim Tebow

11.    Broncos take ILB Rolando McClain

12.    Dolphins take WR Dez Bryant

13.   49er’s take RB CJ Spiller

14.   Seahawks take OG Mike Iupati

15.   Giants take DT Brian Price

16.   Titans take DE Derrick Morgan

17.   49er’s take S Taylor Mays

18.   Steelers take S Earl Thomas

19.   Falcons take DE Jason Pierre-Paul

20.   Texans take WR Golden Tate

21.   Bengals take TE Jermaine Gresham

22.   Patriots take OLB Sergio Kindle

23.   Packers take OLB Jerry Hughes

24.   Eagles take OLB Sean Weatherspoon

25.   Ravens take WR Arrelious Benn

26.   Cardinals take OT Trent Williams

OK Cowboy fans, you’re on the clock.

Tony Romo finally proved he could win at least one playoff game, but now they just need that extra step to get to the Super Bowl.

Wide receiver, and both defensive, and offensive tackle could be potential picks here for America’s team.

Wonder what Jerry Jones will do…I guess we’ll have to wait awhile more to find that out.

For now, let’s just focus on what’s really important; what the fans want.

Make your picks Dallas

Polls will close in 24 hours.

The Rules: Each day for the next 30 days we’ll post a continuation of this article at 6 p.m. Eastern time where the fans can comment, discuss, and decide who their team will pick.

At 5 p.m. Eastern the following day, we’ll look at the best comments and opinions and announce the selection your team has made, along with the next team who will pick at 6 p.m.  A list of previous selections will be included and fans will not be allowed to vote for players who are already off the board.

Note: you do not have to use the player’s full name in voting for your vote to count, if there is a tie at the 5 p.m. cut-off, whichever player is ranked as the higher pick on CBS sports’ “overall player ranking” will be the selection.

Example: If the Bills have six votes for Ndamukong Suh and six votes for Gerald McCoy, then Suh, who is ranked No.1 overall, would be the selection over McCoy who is ranked No. 3.