E-Boland & Gang Green

How big is the Delgado story? So big our NFL columnist Rapid Robert Glauber weighed in.

Oh, yes, the draft and Mel Kiper. The public relations staff at ESPN, perhaps seeing my post yesterday regarding the, well let's just say it, absurdity of the concept of draft grades before anyone takes the field, this afternoon sent me...draft grades from Kiper. Naturally, I read it. I don't think much of grading these things hours after the fact, but Kiper's always a good read. For those not wanting to read about every team, here's what he said about the Jets:

"New York Jets: GRADE: B-Lining up opposite Calvin Pace, OLB Vernon Gholston has a chance to get a lot of sacks in his rookie season. Tight end Dustin Keller can be used in a lot of different ways and will give the passing game some much-needed juice. Dwight Lowery had a great junior season at corner for San Jose state, but his grade tailed off as a senior. Erik Ainge does not have that wow factor you like to see in a quarterback, but he has great pocket awareness. And he has the ability to make throws when he's outside the pocket. Ainge has a little bit of that "it" factor. Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry does not have a lot of speed and doesn't separate well, but he caught the ball very effectively. I liked the Jets' picks, but I thought they would have taken wide receiver a bit earlier in the draft."

Grades must have been submitted before the seventh round because Kiper left out the Jets seventh round pick, Arkansas tackle Nate Garner. No respect for those guys.

Speaking of Keller, just finished a conversation with Purdue coach Joe Tiller. He was pretty candid about some things, like Keller's blocking. More in a bit.