Read this with extra napkins

I'm going to drop some knowledge on you...what's the most important attribute for a wide receiver to have? Don't answer that. I don't want Braylon Edwards to get mad at you...I'll take the abuse. The answer is: the ability to catch the football. It baffles me how scouts haven't realized that. I mean, can I be a scout please? Must be pretty easy picking your receivers based on the sweetness of their tattoos. "This guy must be for real, he's got dreads." And if he has a random syllable in front of his first name...championship! "We don't need to work him out, didn't you hear what I just said? He's got gold teeth! We can't lose!"

Similarly, isn't accuracy the most important part of a quarterback's game? Maybe we should whisper just in case Michael Vick or Jason Campbell is listening...This has to be common sense, right? The reason accuracy is overlooked (that just sounds ridiculous every time I read it) is because it's difficult to quantify. GMs and coaches pressure their scouts to track down the best talent in the country...but they need proof. Documented, quantifiable evidence that their recruits won't Ryan Leaf their organization.

In a combine setting, vertical jumps, 40 times, amount of dope smoked...all measurable statistics. Easy to look at, judge as good, bad, or marginal. On the other hand, throwing a 30 yard out route to the outside shoulder on a rope...completely different story. Scouts actually have to work to judge this one. They have to report on what they see, which becomes very subjective. And based on some of the QBs in the league, I think the scouts skipped the entire combine and asked the players to rate themselves.

"Which phrase best describes you?"
a.) Pocket passer
b.) Ham sandwich

With all that being said, let me drop some more knowledge...be careful it might spill on your lap...Jimmy Clausen will be the most productive quarterback to come out of the draft this year. What makes him so special? He can actually throw a football...what a concept! What he lacks in athletic ability, he makes up for it by being able to play the position. Think about how many teams could use a passing quarterback. With the WR position getting taller and longer every year, how dangerous would these guys be if they had a quarterback who could get them the ball? Ever heard the phrase "he just threw the ball up for grabs and let his receiver go up and get it"? I'm pretty sure this would never happen if you had an accurate passer under center. This type of play/mentality is designed to reward mediocre passers by showcasing talent at the receiver position. If you have talent on both ends of the pass, the possibilities are mind boggling. Montana-Rice, Brady-Moss, Bradshaw-Swann...

Let me ask you this, how does Clausen-Crabtree or Clausen-Houshmandzadeh sound? I'm not sayin...I'm just sayin. Bradford is sweet and all, but he takes one hit and he's done for the season? Jimmy was playing 3 vs 11 all year long, the majority of his season was spent peeling himself off the turf, and still he threw for 3700 yards and 28 touchdowns. And the Redskins want Bradford? I invite you to reread this post 3 years from now and remind yourself how right I was way back in 2010.