Rumors, lies, and first round picksGreg Gabriel National Football Post April 14, 2015 
Mariota and WinstonIt seems as if a day can’t go by without some new rumor about a certain team wanting a certain player. Don’t believe 90% of what you read or see on television. Most of the “rumors” are planted by teams to throw off what they really want to do. You don’t honestly think that a team is going to publicly let everyone know what their plans are, do you? That would be absurd and invite a team to move up in front of them to select that player.I got involved in scouting in 1981 and the only person I know off who told the truth about who he wanted to take was the late John Butler when he was the general manager of the Buffalo Bills. When he held his pre-draft press conference, he would literally name the player he wanted to select. Of course, no one believed him, and then come draft day, he would select that player.Back in the early 1980’s, when ESPN starting telecasting the draft, one of the analysts, along with Mel Kiper, was Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman. Several times during the first round of the draft, he would relay a story telling viewers that the team on the clock would select a certain player. He said he knew this because he had a phone conversation with the GM in the days leading up to the draft. When that team didn’t select that player, Zimmerman would look confused and say, “they lied to me”. Of course they lied. The last person a GM is going to tell the truth to, is a member of the media.This year the name tossed around in many of the pre-draft rumors is Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Except for Jacksonville, the Giants, Atlanta and Oakland, the rest of the teams drafting in the top 10 have been linked to Mariota. There are also some clubs drafting out of the top 10 that have been linked to him (Philadelphia, Cleveland).While some of these clubs may have a legitimate interest, most don’t. By leaking rumors or by having a private workout or visit they are trying to create a market for the player. There are teams who aren’t drafting in the top five praying that both Mariota and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston get drafted within the top few picks. If that happens, that leaves more “position players” for them to choose from.The one thing we can feel certain about is Tampa Bay, who picks first, will select a quarterback. While the basic assumption is it’s going to be Jameis Winston, we won’t know that for sure until draft day. That leaves Tennessee in position to take the quarterback who wasn’t selected by Tampa or trade down to a club that does.If the Titans don’t want to select the quarterback left, then they have their choice of either trading down a few slots and picking up several more draft picks or taking the player they covet the most. If they are set on one certain player, they really can’t afford to trade down, as that player may not be available to them later. If there are three or four players they would be happy with, then a trade is more likely.The same holds true for Jacksonville who picks third. They can select the player they covet or trade down if the other quarterback is still on the board. With only two legitimate first round quarterbacks in this draft, teams that want to get one of them are going to have to pay a handsome price.
