Rider Drafts (plural) and notes:

Article in the Leader-Post today about the affects of the dispersal draft will have on the upcoming college draft. For example the Bombers picked up two Canadian lineman so they most likely won’t be picking a lineman. Let me rant because I can, the best teams always get the best player no matter what. Look at Edmonton, they continue to stockpile quarterbacks (Khari Jones agreed to terms yesterday) this is part of the reason they are so successful. If they have a surplus they can trade for a quality proven guy rather than gambling on a draft pick. This story irks me because it is again thinking small, if the best player available for the Riders is at a position we are already set pick him anyway things will work out. Look at the Pats, they did not really need an offensive lineman in last years draft but they picked up two and both played significantly. The Riders need to pick the best players rather than filling a need because this is the only way we will get better. Besides we freakin' picked a guy in the dispersal draft who has been retired for two years. So we should just keep it simple and pick the best available.

This is a quote from Bill Belichick (taken from Mike Reiss' boston.com blog) with regards to picking the best player:
"...I go back to when I was with the Giants and we had [linebackers] Lawrence Taylor and Brad Van Pelt, and took [linebacker] Carl Banks. Nobody liked that pick. 'That was a pretty stupid pick, why would you take Banks when you have Van Pelt and Taylor?' It turned out to be probably one of the best picks with the Giants. I think you have to take guys that you think are good football players. Putting the team together, that’s certainly a process you have to go through. You can't try to manufacture someone -- 'we need this position' -- and take a guy. If he isn't able to do the job, then you still need that position."

I know a long quote but it illustrates the point very clearly.

Kerry Joseph is scheduled to attend the Riders annual meeting Saturday 10 am at Queensbury center. The Riders have also released the ever frustrating Corey Grant although he will probably be re-signed, yee-haw.

Trevis Smith was due to resume his trial today (see the front page story in the Leader-Post) however contrary to this apparently Smith's lawyers have resigned citing irreconcilable differences with their client. A big oops for the Leader-Post, and wow is this thing weird.