Earlier this week, we went through the top half of the first round of the 2005 draft and declared whether each player was a bust or not a bust.  The full list, including the back half, appears below.  

1.  Alex Smith, quarterback, 49ers:  When the first overall pick is competing three years later with Shaun Hill and J.T. O’Sullivan for the starting job, that’s by definition a BUST.

2.  Ronnie Brown, running back, Dolphins:  After a so-so first year, Brown has been solid.  A torn ACL derailed his opportunity to have a strong third year.  Though he hasn’t lived up to the billing of the No. 2 overall pick, we’re not yet ready to call him a bust.  (But we could be after 2008.)

3.  Braylon Edwards, receiver, Browns:  Edward is becoming one of the best receivers in the league.  Clearly, not a bust.

4.  Cedric Benson, running back, Bears:  He’s been a disappointment on the field, and his arrest conjures memories of past incidents in college.  Without question, he’s a BUST.

5.  Cadillac Williams, running back, Buccaneers:  Williams made a huge splash as a rookie, but can’t stay healthy.  After rupturing a patellar tendon in 2007, he might not play again.  If he does, he might never be the same.  Based on his top-five selection, he’s a BUST.

6.  Pacman Jones, cornerback, Titans:  Do we even have to type the word?

7.  Troy Williamson, receiver, Vikings:  We once tried to throw Williamson a compliment, but he dropped that, too.  BUST.

8.  Antrel Rolle, cornerback, Cardinals:  When a cornerback might be shifted to safety at only age 25, it’s not because he’s a great cornerback.  BUST.

9.  Carlos Rogers, cornerback, Redskins:  He’s on the path to being declared a bust.  We’ll give him one more year.

10.  Mike Williams, receiver, Lions:  Maybe he wouldn’t have been a BUST if the Lions had made him an offensive lineman.

11.  DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, Cowboys:  A 2006 Pro Bowl + a 2007 Pro Bowl = not a bust.

12.  Shawne Merriman, linebacker, Chargers:  He could still be a bust if he gets suspended again for steroids (or blown up on a regular basis by a pint-sized running back); for now, though, Merriman is clearly not a bust.

13.  Jammal Brown, tackle, Saints:  The Pro Bowler in 2006 slipped a bit last year, and the Saints were rumored to be shopping him.  Still, he’s not a bust.

14.  Thomas Davis, safety/linebacker, Panthers:  He’s not spectacular, but he started 16 games in 2007.  Not a bust.

15.  Derrick Johnson, linebacker, Chiefs:  Johnson made a splash as a rookie and hasn’t taken it quite to the next level in two years since, but he’s not a bust.

16.  Travis Johnson, defensive tackle, Texans:  When the biggest hit of your career is one that you unknowingly put on a quarterback’s head with your knee, you might be a redneck.  And a BUST.

17.  David Pollack, linebacker, Bengals:  Though he was on his way to becoming a great player, a neck injury ended his career early in his second season.  Unfortunately, he must be declared a BUST.

18.  Erasmus James, defensive end, Vikings:  Knee problems have slowed his development, but barring injury to Jared Allen and Ray Edwards (and maybe Brian Robison), James won’t be a starter in his fourth season.  BUST.

19.  Alex Barron, offensive tackle, Rams:  The Rams wouldn’t have been dreaming of Jake Long sliding to No. 2 if they thought that Barron was the long-term solution on the left side, or the right.  BUST.

20.  Marcus Spears, defensive end, Cowboys:  Yeah, he has been a three-year starter.  But he was rumored to be on the trading block earlier this year, and his impact hasn’t reflected his stature as one of the top 20 players in the draft.  BUST.

21.  Matt Jones, receiver, Jaguars:  This much-hyped quarterback-turned-receiver isn’t very good, and doesn’t seem to care.  The Jags would have been wise to let him play quarterback — for another team.  BUST.

22.  Mark Clayton, receiver, Ravens:  The thinking in NFL circles is that a player destined to be a high-end receiver performs like one by his third NFL season.  For his third season, Clayton had 49 catches for 531 yards, and no touchdowns.  BUST.

23.  Fabian Washington, cornerback, Raiders:  Being traded for a fourth-round pick after only three seasons automatically qualifies him for BUST status. 

24.  Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers:  He has looked good when he’s gotten a chance to play, but the jury is out on whether he’s a bust.  Get back to us in a year.

25.  Jason Campbell, quarterback, Redskins:  Campbell is on his way to becoming a solid starter, and could evolve into one of the better signal-callers in the conference.  Not a bust.

26.  Chris Spencer, center, Seahawks:  If he’d been taken higher, Spencer might qualify for strong consideration as a bust.  But he started every game in 2007, and the Seahawks have gotten decent value out of him.  Close, but not a bust.

27.  Roddy White, receiver, Falcons:  White was on his way to being a bust after his first two years.  He broke out in 2007, which coincidentally was his first season without catching one-hoppers from Mike Vick.  Not a bust.

28.   Luis Castillo, defensive tackle, Chargers:  Solid defensive linemen despite some injuries.  Not a bust.

29.   Marlin Jackson, defensive back, Colts:  Steady but unspectacular Tampa Two corner.  He might be another Jason David in a defense that requires him to cover wideouts down the field.  But his performance allowed the Colts let guys like David walk away.  Not a bust.

30.  Heath Miller, tight end, Virginia:  The Steelers arguably reached on a guy who wasn’t healthy in the months leading up to the draft.  They ended up with a solid tight end.  Not a bust.

31.  Mike Patterson, defensive tackle, Eagles:  The Philly chapter of PFT Planet will revolt if we were to call Patterson a bust.  Not a bust.

32.  Logan Mankins, offensive lineman, Patriots:  Solid contributor on the offensive line.  Besides, we can’t call anyone who paid $7,500 for the privilege of punching a guy in the crotch a bust.

This is the spot where the PFT Mock Draft Live Blog will convene at 3:00 p.m. EDT.  So scroll down and enjoy.

As a result of a Live Blog that had more than 2,000 visitors, more than 3,000 replays, and more than 5,000 user-submitted messages, we’ve got a PFT Planet Consensus Mock Draft for round one.

Here’s who you think will be drafted, and when.  After No. 1, of course.

2.  St. Louis Rams:  Glenn Dorsey, defensive tackle, LSU.

3.   Atlanta Falcons:  Matt Ryan, quarterback, Boston College.

4.  Oakland Raiders:  Chris Long, defensive end, Virginia.

5.  Kansas City Chiefs:  Vernon Gholston, linebacker/defensive end, Ohio State.

6.  New York Jets:  Darren McFadden, running back, Arkansas.

7.  New England Patriots:  Leodis McKelvin, cornerback, Troy.

8.  Baltimore Ravens:  Ryan Clady, offensive tackle, Boise State.

9.  Cincinnati Bengals:  Sedrick Ellis, defensive tackle, USC.

10.  New Orleans Saints:  Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback, Tennessee State.

11.  Buggalo Bills:  Devin Thomas, receiver, Michigan State.

12.  Denver Broncos:  Branden Albert, offensive lineman, Virginia.

13.  Carolina Panthers:  Derrick Harvey, defensive end, Florida.

14.  Chicago Bears:  Rashard Mendenhall, running back, Illinois.

15.  Detroit Lions:  Jonathan Stewart, running back, Oregon.

16.  Arizona Cardinals:  Mike Jenkins, cornerback, South Florida.

17.  Kansas City:  Jeff Otah, offensive tackle, Pitt.

18.  Houston Texans, Chris Williams, offensive tackle, Vanderbilt.

19.  Philadelphia Eagles:  Limas Sweed, receiver, Texas.

20.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Keith Rivers, linebacker, USC.

21.  Washington Redskins:  Phillip Merling, defensive end, Clemson.

22.  Dallas Cowboys:  Aqib Talib, cornerback, Kansas.

23.  Pittsburgh Steelers:  Gosder Cherilus, offensive tackle, Boston College.

24.  Tennessee Titans:  Malcolm Kelly, receiver, Oklahoma.

25.  Seattle Seahawks:  Felix Jones, running back, Arkansas.

26.  Jacksonville Jaguars:  Kentwan Balmer, defensive tackle, North Carolina.

27.  San Diego Chargers:  Jerod Mayo, linebacker, Tennessee.

28.  Dallas Cowboys:  DeSean Jackson, receiver, California.

29.  San Francisco 49ers:  Quentin Groves, linebacker/defensive end, Auburn.

30.  Green Bay Packers:  Antoine Cason, cornerback, Arizona.

31.  New England Patriots:  Forfeited.

32.  New York Giants:  Kenny Phillips, safety, Miami.

9.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the San Francisco 49ers, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.     

Wide Receiver:  The addition of Issac Bruce and Bryant Johnson will help, but this passing game needs more than just a little spark.  They ranked dead last in nearly every statistical category last season —  yards (2,685), sacks allowed (55), and yards per attempt (4.08).  A quarterback controversy is in full bloom.  Regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job, the team needs more playmakers on offense.

Tailback Frank Gore could use some pressure from the passing game to keep defenses from sneaking up to the line of scrimmage.  At No. 29 in round one, they should be able to get a guy who can upgrade the wideout position.Defensive end:  The two starting defensive ends from a year ago are gone.  Marcus Douglas, who led the NFL in tackles for losses last season left for Tampa and Bryant Young, the last remaining piece of their era of dominance, retired. 

The acquisition of Justin Smith will give the 49ers one starter at defensive end, but he is an underachiever who plays the run better than the pass, and behind whom there is little experience.  The 49ers could look for a starting defensive end as early as round one, and it would be a surprise if they didn’t have one by the end of the third round.

Strong safety:  The 49ers desperately need to remake their safety position.  The pass defense last season was almost as bad as their passing offense.   Opposing quarterbacks had an astonishingly good 89.9 passer rating against them (fifth-worst in the league), and they intercepted only half as many passes as they allowed touchdowns (14 to 28). 

It wasn’t supposed to be that way, given the addition via free agency of safety Michael Lewis and cornerback Nate Clements.  Clements is a legitimate top-ten corner in the league, but Lewis looked a little slow last season, and he seems like a different player than the guy who went to the Pro Bowl in 2006.

Dashon Goldson was pressed into action as a rookie in 2007, and he played pretty well.  He should compete for the starting free safety job. The 49ers are thought to be interested in UCLA strong safety Chris Horton and Miami free safety Kenny Phillips.  Horton would probably need a year or two to develop, but Phillips would be able to start from the first day, and possibly help Mike Nolan’s defense start to turn the corner.

Guard:  The 49ers suffered from a lack of depth on the offensive line, and those pains were only compounded by the loss of starting right guard Justin Smiley to free agency, and starting left guard Larry Allen to retirement.  David Baas replaced Justin Smiley for eight games after he was injured in 2007, and the former second-round pick should have no trouble filling that spot.  Backup tackle Adam Snyder has filled in for Larry Allen, but since left tackle (who likely will end up at right tackle) Jonas Jennings has missed 14 games in the past two seasons due to injury, Snyder’s value is more as a backup to Jennings.

Regardless, going into this season, the 49ers have no reliable depth for their line. They’ll need to address the line at least once in the draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them pick multiple linemen.  A better offensive line is a necessity in the Martz passing attack, as the QB has to hold the ball longer to wait for deep routes to open up.

Outside linebacker:  Tully Banta-Cain was a big disappointment in 2007 after showing promise as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in New England the prior year.  Although Patrick Willis pretty much made up for the deficiencies of this group all by himself, the 49ers linebacking corps was less than stellar last season.  With Willis patrolling the middle, the 49ers will need to turn their attention to the outside.

A pass-rushing specialist to pair opposite Manny Lawson (as he comes back from injury) would be vital to the team’s success next season.  G.M. Scot McCloughan attended Auburn Quentin Grove’s Pro Day personally; Groves could excel in the defense and instantly beef up the pass rush.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the New York Giants, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.    

Safety:  Despite being a defending Super Bowl champion, the Giants have a few questions about their roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  The Giants lost stud safety Gibril Wilson to the Raiders in free agency because he was looking for the kind of money that a team like the Raiders was going to give him.  To counter the departure, the Giants brought in strong safety Sammy Knight from the Jaguars so that – it appears – they can move last year’s starting strong safety James Butler to compete at free safety with Michael Johnson.  Johnson showed a lot of potential last year, but he also blew some key assignments.  The Giants could look for either a strong safety or a free safety (or both) in this draft.At the end of round one, the Giants could have a chance at Miami’s Kenny Phillips, who is the top safety on most draft boards.  They could go any number of directions with this pick, though.  If they choose to add a safety later rather than sooner, they have shown interest in DaJuan Morgan (N.C. State) and Chris Horton (UCLA).Outside linebacker:  This is another tricky position for the Giants because they have a lot of versatile players here, given that they have stockpiled hybrids in the last few drafts.  However, they lost two key defenders in Kawika Mitchell to the Bills and Reggie Torbor to the Dolphins.  The other question here is, if Michael Strahan retires, will they move Mathias Kiwanuka back from strong side linebacker to defensive end?  If they do, they’ll be forced to start free-agent acquisition Danny Clark on the strong side, but he’s not the answer there.

They could go after a player like Auburn’s Quentin Groves at the end of round one, and they also have shown interest in a few pure linebackers later in the draft in LSU’s Ali Highsmith and Georgia Tech’s Philip Wheeler.

Wide Receiver:  Although the emergence of Steve Smith in the playoffs last season gives the Giants some breathing room here, the age of their two top targets still makes this position a concern.  Plaxico Burress – who, if you’ve been living in a cave, caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII – will be 31 when the season starts, and number two wideout Amani Toomer will be 34 in early September.  These two should give the Giants another couple of good years each in production, but it’s never too early to start stacking up some replacements.  Super Bowl hero David Tyree should also compete for some playing time, but they lack a deep threat opposite Burress.

The Giants have spent back-to-back second-round picks on wide receivers (Sinorice Moss in 2006 and Smith last year), and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them do it again.  That being said, they’ll most likely wait until day two to address this position.  The Giants could be the team to stop the Mario Maninngham free fall.

Cornerback:  Last year’s top pick, Aaron Ross, looks like the real deal at corner but Sam Madison, the other starter, is now 3, and that’s a dangerous age for corners. Behind him, R.W. McQuarter’s is a good dime back and a decent nickel, but he will also be in his 30s and shouldn’t be counted upon to come in and start more than three or four games.  Corey Webster, a former second-round pick, has shown some flashes, and the Giants are probably hoping that he will turn the corner and steal a starting job this season.  Because the Giants’ defensive line can put a high degree of pressure on the quarterback, this position isn’t as big of a need as some might believe it to be.

Regardless, the Giants need to make plans for football after Sam Madison and bring in a player who can compete for playing time this season.  Although they’ll certainly look for a corner earlier than when they would pick him, we’ve been hearing Kent State’s Jack Williams as a name connected with the Giants.

Offensive line:  After releasing injured left tackle Luke Petitgout last season, the Giants had some serious questions at the position, but David Dhiel answered them.  Although he struggled at times early in the season, he became a solid left tackle  as the year progressed, and into the playoffs.  Eli Manning remaining on his feet was a big reason for the Giants’ historic run.  However, behind Diehl and right tackle Kareem McKenzie there is very little depth (although judging by the rest of Jerry Reese’s 2007 draft class, Adam Koets will probably be better than anyone expects).  Most of the depth is needed on the interior of the line.

If you have a G.M. with a good eye for talent, like Jerry Reese, offensive guard is a position that can be filled well into day two.  A couple of players that the Giants have been looking at deep in the draft at guard are Mackenzy Bernadea (Bentley College) and Kerry Brown (Appalachian State).

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Green Bay Packers, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.   

Cornerback:  It’s a general consensus that this is the top need of the Packers, despite the fact that they have one of the best cornerback tandems in the league with Al Harris and Charles Woodson.  The problem is that Harris (33) and Woodson (31) will start to slow down before too long, and the Packers need to get their replacements lined up sooner rather than later.  The problem is this:  Al Harris was consistently beaten by top wide receivers this season, especially during the postseason.  The Packers have a few young corners on their roster as well, including former undrafted players Tramon Williams and Jarrett Bush (the nickel corner), and third-year player Will Blackmon.  Williams and Blackmon are especially valuable because they can return punts, a job that Woodson holds now but likely will be stripped of him as he gets older.Although the Packers reportedly would like to trade out of pick No. 30, they would be tempted to remain if a top corner is still on the board at this point.  Jim Thorpe Award winner Antoine Cason has garnered a lot of attention from the Packers, and he would be an excellent value at this point in the draft.  Although he didn’t show top-end speed at the Combine, he has showed it on the game field. Offensive tackle:  This position of need is very similar to the cornerback position.  Left tackle Chad Clifton (31) and right tackle Mark Tauscher (30) have been the bookends on this line since they were drafted together in 2000, but both of them are getting up there in age, and the depth here isn’t anything to write home about.  The Packers are very young behind their offensive line, with first-year starter Aaron Rodgers taking over at quarterback and a running back rotation that will feature two players (Ryant Grant and Brandon Jackson) in just their second year with the team.  The Packers need their line to protect Rodgers and open up lanes for their running backs now more than ever.

The Packers don’t have a lot of glaring weaknesses, so it would be a surprise to see them not draft an offensive tackle with one of their two second-round picks.  If USC OT Sam Baker falls this fall, it’s highly unlikely that the Packers pass on him. Another option would be Anthony Collins (Kansas), a good developmental prospect who likely could be had with their second-rounder from Cleveland.

Tight end:  The Packers parted ways with Bubba Franks — whose production had been slipping since 2004 – in the offseason.  It was a good move to get rid of a guy on the decline, especially when they have a bright young prospect in Donald Lee.  A former fifth-round pick of the Dolphins, Lee exploded last season with 48 catches for 575 yards and six touchdowns.  His presence creates mismatches for defenses who already have to account for the Packers’ three wide-receiver sets.  Beyond Lee, however, the Packers only have Ryan Krause and Tory Humphrey.  Humphrey, predominantly a special-teamer, has never even caught a pass in the NFL.

Because the top tight ends will mostly still be available in the back half of round two, the Packers could also fill a need here with tremendous pick value.  USC’s Fred Davis or Notre Dame’s John Carlson would be excellent picks here, and either would give the Packers more flexibility on offense.

Quarterback:  Aaron Rodgers looks like he has all the tools and the poise to be an NFL quarterback, but two concerns exist.  First, how will he deal with the pressure of following a future Hall of Famer who is a deity to his fan base?  Second, can he stay on the field for a full season?  In regards to the first question, many outlets are pointing to the fact that when Rodgers entered the game against the Cowboys, he immediately sparked the offense. I n that game, however, he didn’t have the shadow of Favre lingering over him.  Constantly.  Secondly, it’s hard to say for sure if he’ll be able to handle the full sixteen-game schedule at quarterback because he has been injured as a backup in each of the past two seasons.

The Packers will be looking for a late-round developmental prospect, who could either eventually be the starter if Rodgers doesn’t work out, or who could develop into a tradeable backup (i.e., Matt Schaub).  John David Booty (USC) is a name to watch.

Safety:  The safeties in the back of the Packers defense are all very talented but unproven.  Nick Collins has been a roller coaster in his three seasons in Green Bay, and they drafted Aaron Rouse to compete with him last year.  He did, and although he also flashed some vast potential, neither has proven that he can do it consistently.  First-year starter Atari Bigby made a name for himself in the playoffs last season with his big hits, and he figures to maintain the starting strong safety job, but there is little in the way of depth behind him.

Kenny Phillips, the top safety on most boards, could be available at the end of round one, and the Packers should at least think about selecting him.  Later in the draft they could target a player like Thomas DeCoud (California).

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Indianapolis Colts, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.  

Running back:  Due to a recent arrest, Kenton Keith has proved unreliable this offseason, and may not make it to camp.   The team wants a big back who can be a runner, blocker, and receiver.  Matt Forte’ of Tulane fits the mold.  He could be had with the Colts first pick, at No. 59.

Wide receiver:  When Marvin Harrison went down last year, the offense had to rely more on Dallas Clark and the running game.  Harrison is aging and finally starting to show the signs of it.  Anthony Gonzalez is a good option at No. 2, but this offense works best with three receivers on the field.  The Colts like Donnie Avery of Houston, a third-round prospect, and Eddie Royal of Virginia Tech. 

Defensive tackle:  Ed Johnson is quietly turning in a solid career, but he’s not the penetrator that a Cover Two team prefers.  The Colts might look to add a quicker tackle, who can shoot the gaps, possibly as early as round two.  The Colts have the best defense under Tony Dungy that we’ve seen from them, but getting deeper at tackle would be wise.

Tight end:  The Colts’ roster has so few holes that late in the draft they will be grabbing the best player on their board. At some point the team should add depth at tight end.  The injury to Harrison showed how much they depend on Clark, a player with little receiving talent behind him.

Quarterback:  Peyton Manning is Mr. Durability (and Mr. Potato Head), but Jim Sorgi is a scary alternative.  The Colts would be wise to use a mid-round selection on a quarterback to groom behind Peyton for the next three or four years. Manning is 32, and there is no guarantee that he will hold up into the next decade.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the San Diego Chargers, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com. 

Inside linebacker:  Stephen Cooper has not had a good offseason, and will miss the first four games of the 2008 season after failing a drug test for ephedra.  Matt Wilhelm is capable, but not spectacular.  Branden Siler has amazing potential, but has yet to put it all together.  The team wants to get better here, and they have not been shy about their hope to grab a starter at inside linebacker early in the draft.

Right Tackle:  Jeromy Clary replaced Shane Olivea at right tackle, but the team wants more.  Gosder Cherilus has been seen in the San Diego area, and his huge frame would go nicely on a mammoth Charger offensive line.  The team wants to continue to run the football, adding a big right tackle will only aid in this goal.

Running back:  With no second-round pick, the Chargers will be adding depth later than most teams.  Michael Turner’s departure leaves a void behind LaDainian Tomlinson, who is coming off his first major injury.  The team loved the one-two punch of L.T. and Turner, and their preference would be to add another strong, quick back to replace Turner.

Nose tackle:  Jamal Williams is a three-time Pro Bowl selection, but at 31 he is nearing the end of his career.  And 3-4 defenses can never have enough depth at nose tackle, so adding a back up would only prolong the brilliant career of Williams.

Safety:  Eric Weddle should move into a starting role at free safety this season, with Clinton Hart remaining the strong safety.  Losing Marlon McCree hurts, but it also forces Weddle into the starting lineup.  The team lacks depth here and prefers to fill their special teams with linebackers and safeties.  Adding late round depth is a smart move.

This is the place where we’ll be holding our first (and most likely last) PFT Planet Consensus Mock Draft.  We’ll be posting each projected pick based on what the readers have to say about who the next pick will be.

We might use the poll feature, even though it crashed the official PFT Commodore 64 when we used it during the playoffs.  (The Cover It Live guys always enjoy it when we say nice things about their product.)  And we’ll be posting any and all humorous comments that you submit.  Or the comments from Taco Bill. 

Who knows?  Maybe there will even be a Dante sighting.

The experiment gets underway on Friday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.  And it’ll unfold in that Cover It Live box thing down there.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Jacksonville Jaguars, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.  

Defensive end:  There is a wide-spread rumor that the team will try to dangle a third- and fifth-round pick in order to move up in the first round for Florida’s Derrick Harvey.  It’s no secret they love Chris Long, but getting him may be a huge stretch unless he falls past Atlanta.  Jacksonville wants a hard-charging end who can make plays every down.  The team would love to find an Osi Umenyiora type.

Defensive tackle:  Marcus Stroud being traded to Buffalo wasn’t the mega-deal that most fans thought, as Stroud is past his prime.  Rob Meier can step in admirably, but he is not a starting-caliber player.  The team likes Treveor Laws and Kentwan Balmer; both should be available late in round one and would complement John Henderson quite well.

Wide receiver:  Matt Jones may very well be traded this weekend, cementing another first-round bust at receiver for Jacksonville.  The team has added a lot in free agency with Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson, but both players have been wildly inconsistent at times.  Adding depth, and a return man, is a need for the team should Maurice Jones-Drew continue to see more carries.

Running Back:  Speaking of Jones-Drew, the team would love to add depth in advance of the eventual Fred Taylor retirement.  Jones-Drew hasn’t shown he can be an every down back, or even a starter, so adding a bigger back like Matt Forte’ of Tulane is a great plan for the third round.  Jacksonville will want to add a bruiser with some speed and blocking ability to balance out Jones-Drew’s traits.

Offensive line:  Jacksonville has few remaining needs after smart drafting the last few seasons.  It’ll be important to add depth to the offensive line, especially right guard and right tackle.  Look for Jacksonville to be active on draft weekend, with extra picks and players to package.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Tennessee Titans, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.     

Wide receiver:  Vince Young’s failure to progress as a passer can’t all be linked to the lack of talent at receiver, but some of it can.  (And the Titans are sure to blame the lack of good receivers instead of blaming Young, since that strategy worked so well for the Falcons and Mike Vick.)  The team sorely lacks a playmaker at the position and must address it soon.  The roster is full of big-name college receivers, but few have produced in the NFL.  Mike and Paul Williams are both former Pac-10 studs, but neither have produced yet due to injuries or just laziness.  Roydell Williams looks to be a solid player, but he’s not a #1 receiver.  Tennessee has looked at Limas Sweed and Devin Thomas, and could take Sweed in round one, since Thomas will likely be long gone by the time the Texans pick.

Middle linebacker:  Stephen Tulloch is a good player, but not a starter.  He’s routinely pulled in third-down situations. Tennessee has been linked to local college product Jerod Mayo, and also Dan Connor.  Both are athletic enough to stay on the field  forall three downs, and their presence would move Tulloch back to a depth role.

Defensive end:  Losing Travis LaBoy and Antwon Odom put a huge hole in the defense.  Jevon Kearse is back after a four-year Philly respite, but what can be provide at this point in his career?  Tennessee could pick up an end as early as round one, and they’ve been linked to Derrick Harvey of Florida.  The team is more likely to add an end in rounds two through four, and again late in the draft.

Guard:  The loss of Benji Olson and Jacob Bell to free agency hurts.  Jake Scott was brought in, but the team wants to move LeRoy Harris to center.  Drafting for a starter may not be an immediate need, but the team must add depth and a player who can become a starter in the next two seasons.

Cornerback:  The trade of Pacman Jones to Dallas further confirms the team’s need for a cornerback.  Michael Griffin has a long future at safety, eliminating the slim chance he could be moved to corner.  Tennessee lacks talent at the position, and has made little effort to bring in free agents who can make an impact.  The team could try to trade for Lito Sheppard, but drafting is the smart move.  Tennessee must hit on their pick here after recent failures Andre Woolfork, and now Jones.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.     

Offensive guard:  Losing Alan Faneca hurts, even though everyone knew it was coming.  The team needs a replacement.  Branden Albert would be their preference, but he doesn’t expect to stay on the board until pick No. 23.  Pittsburgh could look at Roy Schuening, a big mauler from Oregon State, in round two.  The team is also rumored to like Chilo Rachal of USC.

Offensive tackle:  Max Starks finally signed his transition tag, but how long will he be in Pittsburgh?  Starks is under contract for only one year, but also lost his starting job last season to Willie Colon.  Pittsburgh could look to add a dominant right tackle, such as Gosder Cherilus of Boston College, in the first round.  The team has also take long looks at local prospect Jeff Otah, of Pitt.

Inside linebacker:  James Farrior is finally slowing down after a very good career.  Besides, in the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme, the team can never have enough linebackers.  Larry Foote has been a good starter, but he is nothing amazing, especially against the run.  The Steelers can load up this year with linebackers on the inside and out, but the focus should be on replacing Farrior.  Pittsburgh has been linked to Dan Connor of Penn State. The team has also looked at Curtis Lofton of Oklahoma, who could be had in round two.  Philip Wheeler is another player whom the team likes.  The Georgia Tech star is a third round prospect.

Outside linebacker:  The 2007 draft saw Pittsburgh spend their first two picks on pass rushers Lawrence Timmons and Lamarr Woodley.  Timmons was unspectacular, making only two tackles on the season.  Loodley played well, logging four sacks in spot duty, and could take over for Clark Haggans, who signed with the Cardinals.  Pittsburgh would like to add a true pass rusher via the draft.  The team has looked at Quentin Groves of Auburn and Curtis Gatewood of Vanderbilt.  Thomas Howard of Georgia is another player to watch.

Wide receiver:   Ben Roethlisberger wants a big receiver.  The team also lacks talent behind starters Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.  Pittsburgh brought in Mario Urrutia for a visit, the 6′6″ threat from Louisville.  He’s a mid-round prospect.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Seattle Seahawks, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.    

Tight end:  Marcus Pollard has bolted for New England after spending weeks on the free-agency shelf.  That leaves the Seahawks with four tight ends on their depth chart; three came into the league as undrafted free agents and one (Jeb Putzier) was a sixth-round pick. Will Heller figures to be the starter here, but he has been nothing more than a red zone tight end in his career.  Backup Jeb Putzier, who was picked up in free agency, enjoyed some good seasons in Denver but was a bust in his last two years in Houston.The Seahawks need a tight end who can open up the seams and be a safety valve for Matt Hasselbeck.  The position is especially important in a Mike Holmgren offense because of the imbalance toward passing.

The Seahawks are in a good position because their top two needs are not highly regarded positions, meaning that they have a lot of flexibility with their first-round pick.  It is likely that the first round will come and go without a single tight end having been selected.  This should definitely be their second-round selection, though.  They are rumored to like Texas A&M’s Martellus Bennett, but they really should be able to pick from most – if not all – of the tight ends here.

Guard:  The blame for the Seahawks’ struggles can’t completely fall on Shaun Alexander.  Since this line lost Steve Hutchinson at left guard, it hasn’t been the same.  Right guard Chris Gray will probably not be with the team too much longer either; he’ll be 38 when the season starts.  Rob Sims has been decent at left guard position, but you definitely won’t confuse him with Hutchinson.  The Seahawks have invested some picks at the position, including back-to-back fourth-round picks in 2006-07 in Sims and Mansfield Wrotto.  They also brought in Mike Wahle to compete for a guard position, but he isn’t the long-term answer.

The Seahawks would be wise to invest a high-round pick in a strong run blocker to pave the way for their two new running backs, Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett.  Shannon Tevaga (UCLA) would be a good first pick on day two.  They could also look for Robert Felton or Arkansas,who is considered the best run blocker in this draft class, in the middle rounds.

Wide receiver:  Although they have three very good wide receivers in Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and Bobby Engram, questions surround this group.  Deion Branch has struggled with injuries since being acquired in a trade from New England, and he needs to prove that he can stay on the field this season.  Bobby Engram is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, but there are concerns about how much longer the 35-year-old receiver can keep up that pace.  Burleson could still develop into a sold number two wideout, but the Seahawks should bring in someone to compete in this group who can eventually take over Engram’s spot.

Because of the flexibility the Seahawks have with their draft plans, they could end up using their first-round pick at this position.  If they choose to, they could select a number of players, including DeSean Jackson (California), Limas Sweed (Texas), or James Hardy (Indiana).  If they choose to wait until later in the draft to address this need, they could go after a player like Eddie Royal (Virginia Tech), who could be a great slot receiver, or Mario Manningham (Michigan), who could develop into an excellent deep threat and number two wide receiver.

Running back:  With the signing of both Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, there isn’t a glaring need at the position.  Maurice Morris took some of the load from the now-released Shaun Alexander last season, and Morris impressed to the tune of 628 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Julius Jones has been trashed for one bad year in Dallas.  In three years before that, however, he had rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns.  Jones should be able at the very least to handle 10-15 carries a game.  Duckett should also contribute the way he did in Detroit, with a high average on 5-10 carries a game.

Cornerback:  Marcus Trufant was tremendous last season, and he signed a long-term deal after being franchised this offseason.  The other starter, Kelly Jennings, is a bit of a mystery.  After being selected in the first round of the 2006 draft, Jennings played mostly in the nickel that season.  He impressed the coaches enough to warrant a starting job in 2007, but he underwhelmed.  Last year’s top pick Josh Wilson also impressed coaches this season, and he should compete with Jennings for the starting job opposite Trufant.  However, outside of these two, the Seahawks don’t have much quality depth.  They have shown some interest in Indiana’s Charles Godfrey, who would be an intriguing late-round pick.

AGREEMENT

This Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of April 23, 2008 (the "Effective Date"), by and between the National Football League, an unincorporated not-for-profit association with its principal place of business in New York, New York, acting on behalf of itself and the NFL’s 32 member clubs, including the New England Patriots (collectively, the "NFL"), and Matthew Walsh, an individual residing in Lahaina, Hawaii ("Walsh"). The NFL and Walsh are each sometimes referred to individually as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties."

WHEREAS, Walsh previously performed work as an employee of the New England Patriots (hereafter, the "Club") and currently may have certain tangible property in his possession or under his control that may have been obtained by him during the time of, in connection with or following such employment and which property may be deemed to belong to the Club;

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to provide for the return of all such property;

WHEREAS, the NFL is interested in securing from Walsh certain information and items that he may have that are the subject of an NFL investigation;

WHEREAS, the NFL desires to provide certain assurances to Walsh in order to assuage concerns that Walsh may have about responding to the NFL’s inquiries and to encourage Walsh to disclose fully and truthfully to the NFL any such items or information that he may have.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the Parties acknowledge, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, covenant and agree as follows:

1. Return of Tangible Property; Access to Tangible Property.

(a) Walsh hereby agrees that he shall, (X) within 11 business days following the Effective Date (or sooner if reasonably practicable given the logistical difficulties that Walsh may encounter in gathering the following items, wherever located), deliver or cause to be delivered to a designated representative of the NFL all of the Documents (as defined below) that relate to allegations of videotaping of Club opponents (the "Videotaping Documents"), and (y) as soon as is reasonably practicable following the Effective Date (giving due consideration to the logistical difficulties that Walsh may encounter in gathering the following items, wherever located), deliver or cause to be delivered to a designated representative of the NFL all of the other Tangible Property (as defined below). As used herein "Tangible Property" shall mean all of the tangible property that (i) is in Walsh’s possession or otherwise under his control (and, in the case of the Videotaping Documents, that was either (X) at any time following the termination of Walsh’s employment by the Club in Walsh’s possession or otherwise under his control, even if that is not the case as of the Effective Date, or (y) provided by Walsh during his employment by the Club to any person not then employed by the Club), (ii) was obtained by Walsh during the time of, in connection with, or following, his employment by the Club and (iii) may be deemed to belong to the Club, regardless of the manner in which it was obtained by Walsh and regardless of the format or medium in which it is currently found or exists, and including without limitation any and all items of recorded information (including without limitation any writing or recording, such as documents, tapes (including audiotapes and videotapes), disks and other electronic media and copies of same) that otherwise constitute Tangible Property (any such items of written or recorded information regardless of format or medium, "Documents"). Walsh shall, upon delivery of the Videotaping Documents and again after delivery of all of the remaining Tangible Property to the NFL, certify in writing to the NFL his good faith belief that, to the best of his knowledge, (x) all Videotaping Documents or remaining Tangible Property, as applicable, have been delivered to the NFL and (y) Walsh does not retain in his possession or under his control any such Videotaping Documents or Tangible Property, as applicable (including any copies thereof other than as permitted by Section l(b) below).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a reasonable period of time following the Effective Date, Walsh’s counsel may retain one copy of each Document (the "Counsel Copies"). Further, upon reasonable request, the NFL shall make any Tangible Property that has been returned by Walsh available to Walsh or his counsel, including (to the extent reasonably requested) possession thereof. However: (i) in no event shall any Tangible Property (or copy thereof) in the possession or control of Walsh or such counsel be used for any commercial purposes or in any manner that could reasonably be expected to be disparaging to the NFL (including the Club) or the NFL’s or the Club’s current and former owners or employees (provided that such owners or employees are known by Walsh to own (or have owned), or be employed by (or to have been employed by), the NFL or the Club) (the "Prohibited Uses"); (ii) in no event shall any copies of any Documents in the possession or control of Walsh or his counsel be further copied without the NFL’s prior written consent, in each and every case, not to be unreasonably withheld (other than in respect of Prohibited Uses, as to which the NFL may withhold its consent in its sole discretion); and (iii) in no event shall Walsh or his counsel make any Document copies or other Tangible Property available to any third party without the NFL’s prior written consent, in each and every case, not to be unreasonably withheld (other than in respect of Prohibited Uses, as to which the NFL may withhold its consent in its sole discretion). The restrictions in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the preceding sentence will not apply to the extent that any Document or Tangible Property or a copy thereof becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of copying by or availability provided by Walsh or his counsel in breach of Walsh’s obligations in this Agreement (provided that such restrictions shall, for the avoidance of doubt, continue to apply to any portion of, and to any content contained in, any Document or Tangible Property (or copy thereof) that does not so become generally available to the public, and that Walsh or his counsel shall, prior to any such copying or disclosure, use commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the NFL’s counsel as to the extent, if any, to which such content has become generally available to the public), and nothing in such clauses (ii) and (iii) shall prohibit (x) any copying or availability as may be required by law or by lawful regulatory inquiry, judicial process or judicial or regulatory order, provided that Walsh shall give prompt written notice to the NFL of any such required copying or availability, shall make no more copies and provide no more availability than is required, and shall cooperate with any attempts by the NFL to obtain a protective order or similar treatment, or (y) copying by or availability provided by Walsh as reasonably necessary to enforce his rights and remedies hereunder or defending any Claims (as defined below) relating to this Agreement (including without limitation any third party Claims). Further, all of the restrictions in the second preceding sentence will apply only to Document copies and other items of Tangible Property themselves, and Walsh remains free to discuss and disclose the contents of the Documents and other Tangible Property subject to the other provisions of this Agreement. All Tangible Property (or copies thereof, as applicable) in the possession of Walsh or his counsel (other than the Counsel Copies) will be returned to the NFL upon reasonable request by the NFL, provided that Walsh and his counsel thereafter from time to time may again obtain access to (including possession of) any returned Tangible Property in the manner contemplated by (and subject to the terms of) this Section l(b), including without limitation in each case return thereof upon reasonable request by the NFL. Walsh or his counsel, and counsel for the NFL, shall consult no less frequently than quarterly to address whether the access and retention obligations imposed by this paragraph (b) with respect to Counsel Copies and other Tangible Property may come to an end.

2. Discussion with NFL. Walsh agrees that promptly (taking into account logistical difficulties that may be encountered, including those related to Walsh’s location, work and family obligations) following the delivery to the NFL of the Videotaping Documents pursuant to Section l(a) above, he will make himself reasonably available to the NFL and/or its counsel, agents, attorneys and investigators for a discussion of (i) the contents of those Videotaping Documents and any information within his knowledge, possession or control related to the Videotaping Documents, (ii) any other information within his knowledge, possession or control related in a material respect to allegations that have been made with respect to videotaping of Club opponents (including, without limitation, all Covered Videotaping Actions, as defined below), and (iii) any other violations, of which he has personal knowledge, by the Club or any Club employee of NFL rules, prior to meeting or otherwise conducting a similar substantive interview with any third party inquirer (unless he is otherwise compelled by law or by lawful regulatory inquiry, judicial process or judicial or regulatory order or legal process), and shall, in that discussion, provide to the NFL full, complete and accurate information, in good faith and to the best of his knowledge, in response to such questions and inquiries as may be made of him regarding such matters (the date that Walsh first makes himself reasonably available for such a discussion, the "Availability Date" and the actual date of such discussion, the "Interview Date").

3. Indemnification; Release.

(a) Effective from and after the first to occur of the Interview Date and the seventh day after the Availability Date (the "1ndemnification Commencement Date"), the NFL will indemnify, defend and hold Walsh harmless from and against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs (including reasonable travel costs), fines, expenses, deficiencies, taxes, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and reasonable lost wages (collectively, "Losses”), which are incurred on or after the Effective Date and which arise out of, relate to, or are otherwise in connection with (i) (A) actions taken by Walsh within the scope of his employment by the Club, (B) Walsh’s acquisition, possession or return of the Tangible Property, (C) any alleged audiotaping by Walsh of any of his superiors while employed by the Club, or (D) any disclosure by Walsh of any information within his possession or control regarding the matters described in clauses (A) through (C), including any alleged untruthfulness in such disclosure, absent intentional untruthfulness on the part of Walsh (but excluding any Losses that arise out of, relate to, or are otherwise in connection with any breach by Walsh of this Agreement or any use of Documents (or copies thereof) or other Tangible Property in violation of the restrictions in Section l(b) above) (all the items set forth in this clause (i) (other than those excluded from such clause), collectively, "Covered Matters"); or (ii) in enforcing his rights under this Agreement or in successfully defending an allegation that he has breached his obligations under this Agreement. The Covered Matters shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any legally required interviews of Walsh by any government representative with regard to any of the matters described in Section 2 or in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 3(a), the first such interview with any government representative that is not legally required, and any subsequent such interview with any government representative that is not legally required but for which the NFL has approved indemnification in writing (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld in circumstances where the interview is reasonably requested by law enforcement authorities), as well as any claim, investigation, inquiry, Congressional hearing, prosecution or other proceeding (a "Proceeding") that Mr. Walsh is required to attend with regard to any of such matters, any discussion with the NFL contemplated by Section 2 above, and any cooperation with the NFL or the Club contemplated by Section 3(c) below. For purposes of this Agreement, all videotaping (including videotaping of opposing coaches’ signals) during Club games, Club practices, Club drills, Club workouts and Club tryouts, setting up videotaping and related equipment in preparation therefore, and editing, copying and distribution to the Club and its agents of the results of the foregoing (such actions, "Covered Videotaping Actions”), shall be deemed to have been within the scope of Walsh’s employment by the Club. In connection with any Losses for which indemnification may be sought under clause (i)(A) of the first sentence of this Section 3(a), if the NFL disputes that any actions other than Covered Videotaping Actions were within the scope of Walsh’s employment by the Club (i.e., duties and responsibilities assigned to Walsh by superiors or performed by Walsh at the direction of superiors during the time of his employment by the Club or otherwise reasonably expected to be performed in the ordinary course by a person with his responsibilities), Walsh shall bear the burden of proof on this issue by a preponderance of the evidence. In respect of Losses relating to any private civil claim for monetary damages made, brought, instigated or conducted by a third party against Walsh, the NFL may timely assume the defense of the matter and select counsel for Walsh, subject to approval by Walsh, not to be unreasonably withheld. Regardless of whether the NFL or Walsh selects counsel in any such matter, additional counsel engaged by and at the expense of the other (such expenses not to be indemnifiable hereunder) shall be entitled to participate in the matter, subject to the reasonable direction of the selecting party’s counsel. With regard to any other Proceedings or other matters, Walsh shall have the right to engage counsel of his choice.

(b) Effective from and after the Indemnification Commencement Date, the NFL, on its own behalf and on behalf of its member clubs (including the Club) and on behalf of their officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, predecessors, attorneys, agents, representatives, successors and assigns, hereby releases, discharges, and forever waives and relinquishes any and all claims, demands, obligations, liabilities, defenses, affirmative defenses, set-offs, counterclaims, actions and causes of actions of whatever kind or nature, including derivative claims, whether known or unknown, which any of them has, may have, might have, or may assert now or in the future (collectively, "Claims”), directly or indirectly, against Walsh arising out of or based upon any Covered Matters; provided, that the foregoing shall not extend to Claims for breach by Walsh of the terms of this Agreement. The NFL is aware that, under the law of certain jurisdictions, a release may not extend to certain claims that a person does not know or suspect exist at the time when the release is executed. To the greatest extent permissible, the NFL expressly waives the benefit of those laws and acknowledges that it intends this release to extend to the full extent described.

(c) Walsh covenants and agrees that he shall reasonably cooperate with the defense of any Proceeding that may be brought against the NFL by a third party in connection with the Covered Matters, whether or not Walsh is named as a co-defendant in any such Proceeding. The NFL covenants and agrees that it shall reasonably cooperate with the defense of any Proceeding that may be brought against Walsh by a third party in connection with the Covered Matters, whether or not the NFL is named as a co-defendant in any such Proceeding.

(d) Effective from and after the Indemnification Commencement Date, the NFL will not initiate, institute, assist, further, maintain, prosecute, or authorize to be commenced any Proceeding asserting any Claim against Walsh arising out of or based upon any Covered Matters, either in law or equity, provided, that the foregoing shall not extend to Claims for breach by Walsh of the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The NFL shall not be required to advance any funds to Walsh in respect of its indemnification obligations hereunder, provided that (i) if travel expenses by Walsh are indemnifiable hereunder, the NFL will, at its election, either provide Walsh with prepaid travel arrangements or advance funds to Walsh to cover such expenses, and (ii) the NFL will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Walsh’s counsel directly to such counsel within a commercially reasonable time following receipt by the NFL’s counsel of invoices reasonably describing (with due regard for privilege concerns) the services provided by such counsel, provided that (x) such fees and expenses are otherwise subject to the indemnity obligations of the NFL hereunder and (y) Walsh covenants and agrees that he shall promptly repay any such fees and expenses to the NFL in the event that he is ultimately determined not to have been entitled to such indemnification hereunder. All travel arrangements, including air travel and lodging, will be of reasonable business travel standards. Further, air travel will be via the most reasonably direct means, taking into account Walsh’s reasonable preferences as well as the cost thereof

4. Commercial Advantage; Reputational Repair.

(a) Until such time as he has satisfied his obligations under paragraphs l(a) and 2, above, Walsh shall refrain from seeking any commercial advantage from the Tangible Property, the Covered Matters, or his undertakings in this Agreement. During the subsequent five years, in the event that Walsh obtains or has obtained any cash or other property ("Commercial Advantage Proceeds") in exchange for his disclosure (in compliance with the terms hereof) of information about the Tangible Property, the Covered Matters or his undertakings in this Agreement, Walsh shall (subject to the proviso to this sentence) donate to a charity selected by the NFL and approved by Walsh (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), promptly after each periodic determination thereof, the net proceeds to Walsh resulting from his receipt of Commercial Advantage Proceeds, provided that (i) with respect to any date, Walsh need not donate any amounts to the extent that such donation would cause the Donated Commercial Advantage Proceeds (as defined below) as of such date to exceed the amounts previously paid to (or, in the case of travel arrangements, prepaid for) Walsh or his counsel by the NFL pursuant to the indemnification obligations set forth in Sections 3(a) and 3(e) above (the "lndemnified Amounts”) and (ii) until such time as the Commercial Advantage Proceeds exceed the lndemnified Amounts, and thereafter upon any increase in the lndemnified Amounts causing the Indemnified Amounts to again exceed the Commercial Advantage Proceeds until the Commercial Advantage Proceeds next exceed the lndemnified Amounts, Walsh shall account to the NFL for all Commercial Advantage Proceeds and shall make reasonably available to the NFL all applicable books and records relating thereto for purposes of confirming such amounts.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict either Party from undertaking reasonable efforts to repair damages to their respective reputations.

5. Specific Performance. It is understood and agreed that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by the Parties and that each of the Parties shall be entitled to equitable relief including injunction and specific performance, as a remedy for any such breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed to be the exclusive remedies for a breach by a Party of this Agreement, but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity to the Party.

6. Due Authorization; Enforceability; Affiliate Claims. Each Party represents and warrants that such Party has the full authority and is duly authorized and empowered to execute this Agreement (including, with respect to the NFL, on behalf of itself and its member clubs, including the Club) and that this Agreement is binding upon and enforceable against each such Party (including, with respect to the NFL, itself and its member clubs, including the Club) in accordance with its terms. The NFL represents and warrants that (aside from the Club) it is not aware of any member club, or of any affiliate of the NFL, the Club or any other member club, that may have a valid claim, or the standing to bring such a claim, against Walsh in relation to the Covered Matters.

7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without respect to any otherwise applicable conflicts of law provisions.

8. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed without the written approval of each of the Parties. The failure of any Party to this Agreement at any time or times to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect its right at a later time to enforce such provision, as long as its rights have not expired under the terms of this Agreement.

9. Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement are intended for reference purposes only and shall not affect the interpretation of the Agreement.

10. Notice. All notices shall be in writing and shall be given by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid), overnight delivery service, facsimile (with a confirmation copy sent by regular mail) or hand delivery. Notices shall be sent to the respective addresses known to the Parties as of the date hereof in the locations forth above in the preamble to this Agreement, or to such other address as either Party to this Agreement may subsequently notify the other. Notices shall be deemed received upon actual receipt. To be sufficient, any notice to Walsh must be copied in the same manner to his counsel, Michael N. Levy, Esq., whose address is McKee Nelson LLP, 1919 M St., N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036 (or such other counsel as may be notified to the NFL by Walsh in writing), and any notice to the NFL must be copied in the same manner to its counsel, Gregg Levy, Esq., whose address is Covington & Burling, LLP, 6 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004 (or such other counsel as may be notified to Walsh by the NFL in writing).

11. Severability; Construction. Each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted so as to be effective and valid under applicable law. If any provision shall be declared void or unenforceable, in whole or in part, by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and the remaining parts thereof, shall remain fully effective. This Agreement has been negotiated by the Parties and their respective counsel and shall be interpreted fairly in accordance with its terms and without any strict construction in favor of or against any Party.

12. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and may not be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party.

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral.

14. Jurisdiction. Any action or proceeding brought by either Party against the other arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be brought in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction located in New York, New York, and each party hereby submits to the personal jurisdiction of any such courts for purposes of any such action or proceeding.

15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

16. Remedies Cumulative. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to any Party at law, in equity or otherwise.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Washington Redskins, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.   

Defensive End:  Andre Carter improved last season, for his best sack output since 2002 when he was with the 49ers.  Carter and his backup, Chris Wilson, were the only two reliable pass rushers that the Redskins had in 2007.  Phillip Daniels leads the left side, but he is aging quickly.  There isn’t anyone on the roster who is ready to replace him, either.  The Redskins clearly need more production out of their ends, as they finished middle-of-the-pack in sacks last year, despite good play from their back seven.

Safety:  The Redskins addressed the safety position with their first pick last year, selecting LSU safety Laron Landry, but the tragic and untimely death of Sean Taylor has created a void at safety.  Although they drafted Landry as a strong safety, he switched to free safety last season in the absence of Taylor, with Reed Doughty at strong safety.  Doughtry played admirably in the spot, but an upgrade at the position would be a good move for the Redskins.  Because Landry plays his best football close to the line of scrimmage, the Redskins need to add a safety who excels in pass coverage.

In the second round, the Redskins could grab Reggie Smith of Oklahoma, whose specialty is pass defense.  The Redskins have also shown interest in Marcus Griffin (Texas) if they decide to plug this hole later in the draft.

Offensive line:  All of the starters on this offensive line are 30 or older.  There are needs at both guard and tackle, it’s just a question of which is the most pressing.  Chris Samuels is a Pro Bowl left tackle, and he is one of the most respected men in the league.  He should be able to man the left side for another few years at least.

There is not that much stability on the right side, however, where three different players started games last year.  Veteran Jon Jansen missed all but one game last season with an ankle injury.  Todd Wade replaced him in the starting lineup, but he was then replaced by undrafted rookie Stephon Heyer.  Heyer showed enough ability to be a valuable backup, but he doesn’t look like the answer.  The Redskins could opt to use their first pick here, but it seems more likely that with this deep class of tackles, they will wait until later.  Early in day two, they like Nebraska tackle Carl Nicks.

They also have a pressing need at guard.  Randy Thomas has struggled with injuries over the past three seasons, and Pete Kendall will be 35 before the season begins.  Backup Jason Fabini resigned with the team, but he is not the long-term answer.  The team could address this need late in the draft, where they could get a player like Robert Felton who paved the way for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in Arkansas.

Cornerback:  It’s hard to imagine a team whose depth chart reads Carlos Rogers, Fred Smoot, and Shawn Springs at corner having a need at the position, but a lot of questions surround this group.  Springs is on the downside of his career and could be cut at some point.  On the other side, Carlos Rogers is coming off a knee injury that will sideline him for much of training camp and possibly into the regular season.  Smoot, the nickel back, has some flaws in his game (including in run support), and the Redskins would like to keep him in his current role.

This isn’t the Redskin’s top need, but they could end up using a high draft pick at the position. If the defensive end or offensive linemen they desire in round one aren’t available, they could take a look at the top corners.  They will likely not take that route, however.  They have shown considerable interest in DeJuan Tribble (Boston College) and could use a day-two pick on him to play dime this year and hopefully grab a starting spot in a couple of years.

Wide receiver:  Santana Moss is one of the best wide receivers in the league when healthy, but he hasn’t played in all sixteen games in either of the last two seasons.  Antwaan Randle El is also a talented receiver, but he is a better fit for the slot, not the No. 2 position.  Outside of those two, the Redskins have players like James Thrash, Anthony Mix, Jerome Mathis, and Billy McMullen.  It’s safe to say that defensive coordinators aren’t losing sleep trying to game plan against those guys.  Talented tight end Chris Cooley has helped to mask some of the deficiencies of this group, but the Redskins definitely need an upgrade.

They may also use a high draft pick here, but it’s not their top need.  This draft class is deep, if not spectacular, and the Redskins will be looking for a big target who can make a play after the catch. Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly would fit that bill perfectly in the second round; later in the draft they could target a player like Alabama’s D.J. Hall.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Dallas Cowboys, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.  

Running back:  Julius Jones is now in Seattle, where he’ll be a part of a larger rotation of running backs. That’s what Dallas would also like to have.  Marion Barber has never been a featured back since high school, despite his Pro Bowl appearance in 2007.  He is best used as part of a combination.  Adding a scatback like Felix Jones or Jamaal Charles would pair well with the bruising, goal-line style of Barber.  The Cowboys have shown legit interest in both players, as well as Eastern Carolina’s Chris Johnson.  This need will be addressed by Dallas early in the draft, with the team having three picks in the first two rounds.

Cornerback:  The team is happy with Terence Newman and Anthony Henry as their starters.  Both are in the middle of their careers, though, and there is little depth behind them. There is also talk of moving Henry to free safety as he gets older, a move that would make sense on third downs, given the poor coverage skills of Roy Williams. With the 28th pick in round one, Dallas could target physical corners, such as Antoine Cason or Brandon Flowers.  Both players are big, strong corners who like to jam at the line of scrimmage.  With Dallas employing a blitzing 3-4 defense, it’s important to have corners who can handle man-to-man coverage.

Even if the team lands Pacman Jones in a trade, this is still a need at this position.  Jones can’t be relied upon yet to be a consistent player and model citizen.  If ever.

Wide receiver:  This could be a greater need, given that Terrell Owens is 35 and Terry Glenn is constantly battling injuries in this twilight of his career.  People in Dallas really like the potential of Sam Hurd and Patrick Crayton, and both are expected to be starters in the next year or two.  Behind them, there isn’t much.

The Cowboys could also benefit from adding a receiver who can return kicks.  Donnie Avery of Houston fits the bill here.  He’s an explosive slot receiver who will also double as a return man.  The Cowboys have been looking at small receivers who will play best in the slot.  Eddie Royal, Avery, Dexter Jackson, and Anthony Aldridge would be of interest to the Cowboys.

Quarterback:  Tony Romo is the franchise quarterback for whom the Cowboys have been searching ever since Troy Aikman called it quits.  Behind him, however, there isn’t much.  Dallas could add a quarterback anywhere after round three as a backup to Romo, who seems and plays younger than his 28 years.  The team has shown interest in Andre Woodson of Kentucky and Chad Henne of Michigan, but Henne has moved himself into the end of round one.

Offensive line:  There is good youth at tackle, but guard and center are lacking in depth.  The Cowboys should consider spending a pick on each position late in the draft.  The Cowboys are in a great position to draft the best players available in rounds four through seven.  Here they should grab some depth on the interior line.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.  

Wide Receiver:  The Buccaneers have benefited from the blazing speed of Joey Galloway for the past three seasons, but he finished last year with a shoulder injury and will be 37 in the fall.  The Bucs need to find a young and extremely quick wide receiver to replace Galloway, who constantly draws double teams, opening up receiving lanes underneath.  Last year’s number two wideout, Ike Hilliard, is also getting up there in age and seems to be slowing down faster than Galloway.

They do have two younger players in Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall, but Clayton has been a complete bust after his phenomenal rookie season, and Stovall has been unable to win the starting job despite every intention of Jon Gruden to hand it to him.  Last season, he stood out far more on special teams than he did at wide receiver.  The only move they made in the offseason at the position was to acquire Antonio Bryant.  He has a lot of talent, but he was out of football last season.  The Bucs don’t exactly have a lot of success in those kind of projects (e.g., David Boston).

It’s very possible that the Bucs would target a wide receiver at pick No. 20, and it could be that every receiver other than Devin Thomas is still on the board at that point.  However, the Bucs don’t appear to believe that this is as big of a need as everyone else does.  It could be stubbornness or arrogance, or it could just be a big smokescreen.  If they opt to wait until later in the draft, they have shown interest in Dexter Jackson (Appalachian St.) and Jordy Nelson (Kansas St.).  

Cornerback:  Brian Kelly was so unhappy with his situation in Tampa, that he paid the Bucs the buyout option of his contract (a sum of $453,000) in order to become a free agent.  He had been relegated to the role of nickel corner behind Phillip Buchanon after Kelly’s injury troubles from 2006 followed him into 2007.  Philip Buchanon has been a complete reclamation project for the Bucs, and looks again like the talented corner from Miami on whom the Oakland Raiders used a first-round pick.  Ronde Barber (32) remains one of the top Cover Two corners in the league and probably still has a few good years left in him.  This seemed like the Bucs’ top need going into the draft until reports surfaced that free-agent acquisition Eugene Wilson, who played safety for the Patriots, impressed secondary coach Raheem Morris so much that he may even force Buchanon back to the nickel role. If that were the case, this would be a position of some strength for the Buccaneers, but cornerbacks are at a premium now more than ever.  With Barber in the slot corner position on most third-down situations, the Bucs need to make sure that they have two solid starters on the outside.  They also need to look ahead to life after Ronde Barber.  This seems to be where the Bucs are most likely to go in the first round, as most outlets have them selecting USF’s Mike Jenkins with their first-round pick.  Jenkins, who played his college ball in Raymond James Stadium, played mostly man-to-man in college, but is a smart player who could also fit into a zone scheme.  The Bucs also like Arizona’s Antoine Cason; the draft’s top Cover Two corner, he would be a perfect fit in the defense.Defensive tackle:  The Bucs will have a pretty good defensive end rotation this fall, with last year’s first-round pick Gaines Adams and last year’s sack leader Greg White on the right side and veterans Kevin Carter, Marques Douglas, and Jimmy Wilkerson on the left.  In Monte Kiffin’s defense, though, there needs to be a significant amount of pressure on the quarterback from the defensive tackle position.  Warren Sapp and Booger McFarland made a dream team of under tackle and nose tackle, respectively, in the early 2000s, but the Bucs haven’t been able to replace them. Nose tackle Chris Hovan has been a standout player since coming over from Minnesota, and first-year starter Jovan Haye recorded six sacks last season and has a lot of upside.  However, the Bucs need a stronger rotation on the inside, where they tended to wear down a bit at the end of games and struggled to create a sufficient pass rush in third-down situations, possibly because of a lack of depth.

The Bucs will be looking for a good, young player at nose tackle (they already used a pick last year on promising young under tackle, Greg Peterson).  They like Red Bryant (Texas A&M), but he’s a second-third round ‘tweener whom they would have to either reach for in the second, or hope falls to them in the third.  If they do get him, he should be a factor in the rotation almost immediately.

Quarterback:  Insert your joke here about how many quarterbacks the Bucs have on the roster (six, if you count Jake Plummer), but they still don’t seem to have a quarterback of the future. Jeff Garcia went to the Pro Bowl last year as an alternate, and Brian Griese is a reliable veteran backup who has experience in the system. 

Beyond them, question marks surround all of their young quarterbacks.  Luke McCown, who started three games in place of Garcia last season, is the most promising of the group.  He posted a 91.7 passer rating in relief duty last season, showing off some athleticism (which Gruden desires greatly in quarterbacks) and a cannon for an arm.  Bruce Gradkowski still is too hesitant in his decision-making and suffers from a weak arm.  The last guy on the roster is Chris Simms.  He gave his spleen for the team, was forced onto IR last season, and is now hoping to be traded or released.  The Bucs really need to part ways with him. Although the Bucs only have five picks in this year’s draft and needs elsewhere, they’re a fair bet to take a quarterback after round two.  They brought in Chad Henne and Josh Johnson for private meetings, but Henne will likely come at too steep of a price.  Johnson, on the other hand, is an intriguing Seneca Wallace-type prospect who is athletic enough to play wide receiver, but who could develop into a perfect fit in Gruden’s West Coast Offense.  The Bucs could definitely justify using a fourth-round pick on him.Running back:  It seemed like the sky was falling to Tampa coaches last season when they lost starting running back Cadillac Williams and then his backup, Michael Pittman, in consecutive weeks.  Then they turned to Earnest Graham, a fourth-year player who had been dubbed “Mr. August” due to his preseason performances.  He took the starting job and ran with it, to the tune of 898 yards (4.0 ypc) and ten touchdowns, fumbling only once along the way.  The Bucs also resigned Michael Bennett, for whom they traded last season, and added free agent Warrick Dunn, who was a Buc for the first five years of his career before spending six seasons in Atlanta.  It wouldn’t be a bad situation if it weren’t for the mystery surrounding Cadillac William’s knee injury.  Although he seems confident that he will be ready in time for the regular-season opener, the Bucs do not.  A speedy back like Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice would be an excellent fit as a day-two pick.

Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Houston Texans, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.

Offensive tackle: The Texans have needed a quality left tackle from the moment they came into the league as an expansion team in 2002. Tony Boselli was supposed to be the guy, but shoulder problems kept him from ever taking a snap. Since signing as a free agent in 2006, Ephraim Salaam (31) has had more of a prominent role than expected because of the career-threatening injury to Charles Spencer, but Salaam is not anywhere close to being a top left tackle. The Texans need them both in reserve roles this season. With so many picks and so much cash invested into quarterback Matt Schaub, and with the development of Andre Johnson into one of the league’s premier wide receivers, the Texans need to bring in a stud at this position.

And so the Texans are on the lookout for a game-ready offensive tackle. They’ve shown a lot of interest in Vandy left tackle Chris Williams, and are probably praying that he’ll fall to them. It could happen, but if it doesn’t they’ll need to have a backup plan. Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) is another player to look out for in round one, and they like John Greco (Toledo) later in the draft.

Cornerback: Although the Texans’ secondary was solid early last year, Dunta Robinson’s knee injury in Week Nine really slowed them down. He might miss most of 2008, which will put a crimp in this year’s plans, too. The Texans signed Jacques Reeves away from the Cowboys in free agency; he started 13 games in Dallas last season, but is better suited to play nickel. Last year’s fourth-round pick, Fred Bennett impressed as a rookie, leading the team with three interceptions. He should improve again this year and is the team’s only guaranteed starter.

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