Quick! We need more buildup to the NFL Draft! The top prospects do not have enough pressure on them. Will they bust or become perennial Pro Bowlers? Matt Sussman and Tuffy examine both sides of each coin, writing articles from the year 2011 "looking back" on the top 2007 draft picks. Just another reason to own a flux capacitor.
Calvin Johnson as a Star
NAPA VALLEY, CA - One week before the 2007 draft, anything was possible for Calvin Johnson. Not surprisingly, Johnson was the unanimous best player in the draft. However, it was widely believed the Raiders (holders of the first pick) would draft the perennial quarterback of the future, JaMarcus Russell. Al Davis had suffered too many fools in the quarterback position for too many years prior to that draft and, as 40 years of NFL and AFL participants could attest to, Al Davis did not suffer fools gladly.
It was what Al Davis suffered next that changed Calvin Johnson's life and the shape of the NFL forever. On April 25th, 2007, Al Davis suffered a mild stroke. The Man in Black was suddenly faced with his mortality, a notion that both Davis and all that knew him could hardly believe. "The good die young," snorted one AFC GM, "so I expect Al Davis to outlive us all."
Davis forced his way out of the hospital by Friday. His employees encouraged him to convalesce, but Davis' stubborn streak won out as always.
Davis laid down an ultimatum: the draft plan had changed. "We were taking Russell," Lombardi confirmed. "We knew how much work had to be done to rebuild and we were willing to wait for JaMarcus to learn the ropes." All of that went out the window when Davis faced his Maker and, against all Davis' expectations, his Maker didn't flinch. The team philosophy sharpened: "Just win now, baby."
An unlikely series of events spun into motion. Phone calls went out to Mike Sullivan, David Carr's agent, to bring in a quarterback that wouldn't require time. Randy Moss was gone in 24 hours, getting more offensive line help in return.
"I didn't know what to think," Johnson said. "I thought the Raiders might trade out to get another veteran or... [heck], I don't know." On draft day, Johnson smiled, waved to his mom, and donned the silver-and-black baseball cap.
Only two weeks after shaking Johnson's hand at the Raiders' press conference, Davis was back in the hospital with pneumonia. A week later, the creator of the American Football League and progenitor of the Super Bowl was dead at 77.
Article comments
1 - pst78
This seemed to be way more about Al Davis than Calvin Johnson, maybe it should be retitled as AL Davis's eulogy.