Two players on my watch list I think will make it big in NFL by Mark Mayer of Tha Gaming Today

It’s 2:48 p.m., Monday at the time of this writing, much later than is the norm for this column. I did this on purpose to see what the other columnists were focusing on.

I could have chosen Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary, which included the 9-0 choke job by the Sox against the “Evil Empire.” I could have bad mouthed Ron Artist, whose elbow declared War instead of World Peace on the face of Oklahoma City’s James Harden.

I could even have gloated about being on the winning side of Utah-Orlando a few nights back when the Jazz somehow managed to cover as a 9-point favorite after trailing big most of the game, sending it to overtime and somehow pulling out the victory by 10.

And, I could have waxed elegant on the Stanley Cup playoffs where Vancouver again proved to chokers, the New York Rangers about to be against Vancouver and the Philly-Pittsburgh scorefest/UFC bout rating big on the Artest meter.

Instead, I chose the NFL Draft, not for who will be shown constantly on my TV screen but for the ones who won’t. I side with those guys.

There are two on my watch list who I think will make it big in the NFL. First is Russell Wilson, the QB out of NC State and then transferring to Wisconsin with similar excellent results.

Wilson is the poor man’s Robert Griffin III. No Heisman for Wilson, just a big arm, speed, intelligence and character. Griffin is a big bargain for whoever decides to take him.

The other prospect is Boise State RB Doug Martin. Being in Vegas, we’re lucky to see a lot of Broncos games on the tube, especially with the Blue Carpet part of the Mountain West this past season.

Martin could be the second RB chosen in the draft behind Trent Richardson of Alabama. Richardson is a beast and if the Cleveland Browns have any brains, they will choose him with their first pick.

The only time Cleveland football is relevant is when they have a legit running back like Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Greg Pruitt, Marion Motley.

Heck, the Browns have not had a consistent runner since Earnest Byner some three decades ago. If Richardson isn’t picked, Martin should be. I would love to see the Jets take him.

Enjoy the draft starting this Thursday. That’s my hype and I’m sticking to it.

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