FOXBORO, Mass. -- Mea culpa, mea culpa. I have said on talk shows from Amarillo to Zanzibar that I couldn't see the Cowboys taking Terence Newman. Not a physical cornerback. Bill Parcells and his new defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, are both big fans of physical corners, and I heard Zimmer last year in the Dallas war room talk about how he wanted Quentin Jammer last year because of his ability to suppport the run so well. And now here comes a 5-10ish, slim corner who has been been bothered by a shoulder impingement, and he's going to a team that likes to have the corner sometimes come down near the box to press the run.

Sorry. I don't get it.

On with my thoughts of the first hour of the draft:

1. I think I would like to say this to the Saints: Huh? You target corners, target corners, then target some more corners, and then trade both of your ones for a defensive tackle? Help me on this one, Jim Haslett.

2. I think the Texans are making a calculated gamble with the pick of Andre Johnson. I love that kid. He's a slightly smaller version of David Boston, and I think he'll be a better pro than Charles Rogers. But, and this is a big but, I want to bring you the words of a pro scout I respect from this morning: "You give up 76 sacks last year, and you're pretty sure Tony Boselli's not coming back, and you're passing on [Utah tackle] Jordan Gross? I know you need a weapon for David Carr, but will he still be standing after another year of getting hit like that?"

3. I think I absolutely, categorically agree with Dennis Green, who says on ESPN about Terrell Suggs: "Don't get swayed by these three months! Twenty-four sacks! What more do you want out of a player?" He's right. Suggs was the best pass-rusher in college football last year, bar none, and because he runs a pedestrian 40-yard dash time in postseason workouts, he starts sinking on a bunch of draft boards. This is the pass rusher Dave McGinnis has been seeking for so long, and I think the Cardinals should have grabbed him at six.

4. I think the EA Sports commericals with Ray Lewis and all the rookies should win some sort of award. Boy, are they good. Ray, you've got a future in this business when you're finished with your own football business.

5. I think the only problem I have with Charles Rogers is not the positive test for whatever it was he tested positive for. It's a combination of his college drops and his thinness. There is no question he is a wonderful talent with terrific speed and play-making ability. I want to know what will give when he's doing a deep post and the ball and Chicago safety Mike Brown arrive at the same time. Will he stand up to the physical style of that division?

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and will check in throughout the day with his thoughts and observations on the 2003 NFL Draft.

 

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