GMs, Sun staff gone wild

Talk about it

The NFL’s version of GM’s gone wild — let’s hope they keep their tops on — gets underway at 3 p.m. today.

That, of course, is when free agency begins. When non-household names like Carl Nicks (G, New Orleans Saints), Carlos Rogers (CB, San Francisco 49ers), Cortland Finnegan (CB, Tennessee Titans), Mario Williams (DE, Houston Texans) and many, many others will score massive contracts from needy and wealthy teams.

NFL free agency is different than most other pro sports. Billionaire owners tell their coaches and GMs to fix their teams quick, so the players reap the benefits often-times getting more money than they are worth as teams shoot their cash wads quick before all the top players are gobbled up.

It has an element of fantasy football to it, but the money is very real.

In that spirit, we decided to do a little fantasy football of our own.

Mike, Griz, Ben and I held a 5- round draft of all available players. We had to have a 3-2 offense to defense split, or vice-versa, and only 1 position could be selected per round. That is, only 1 quarterback could go in the first round, 1 running back or wide receiver could go in rounds 2 and 3 and so on. Other than that, it was carte blanche and here’s what we got.

Round 1:

1-Dave Selvig.: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

2-Michael Savaloja: Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

3-Ben Rodgers: Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions

4-David Griswold: Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets

Round 2:

1-Selvig: Jake Long, LT, Dolphins

2-Savaloja: Andrew Luck, QB, Rookie

3-Rodgers: Patrick Willis, LB, 49ers

4-Griswold: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars

Round 3:

1-Selvig: Andre Johnson, WR, Texans

2-Savaloja: Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints

3-Rodgers: Drew Brees, QB, Saints

4-Griswold: Brian Cushing, LB, Texans

Round 4:

1-Selvig: Jared Allen, DE, Vikings

2-Savaloja: Patrick Peterson, CB, Cardinals

3-Rodgers: Joe Thomas, LT, Browns

4-Griswold: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals

Round 5:

1-Selvig: DeMarcus Ware, LB, Cowboys

2-Savaloja: Quinton Coples, DE, Rookie

3-Rodgers: Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Eagles

4-Griswold: Robert Griffin III, Rookie

Of the 20 players we selected, 13 were named to the All-Pro team last month. Three are yet to be drafted and two (Long and Johnson) are perennial All-Pro players, but battled injuries last season.

What that means? Who knows?

It’s local NFL copy on a slow night in March, which is not easy to do, and we did it fully clothed.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com

Tags: opinion corner, sports