Frankly, the various items we posted in the weeks before the draft regarding the guys who were drawing interest kind of blurred together on us, and we (I) can’t remember without checking the search box the specific guys who were mentioned.
As it turns out, we had a blurb on April 14 regarding Ohio safety Michael Mitchell, whose selection in round two prompted grunts, harumphs, and audible flatus from the so-called experts.
Mitchell was on that day visiting the Browns and the Bengals, and the next day the Raiders were bringing him to town.
He visited four other teams; as mentioned earlier today, the Bears had told Mitchell at the outset of round two that they’d take him with the 49th overall selection. The Raiders blocked that by picking Mitchell at No. 47.
So, in hindsight, it really shouldn’t have been a shock.
And we only wish we’d remembered to search the guy’s name at our own site on Saturday, when the grunting, harumphing, and flatusing were occuring.
More On Michael Mitchell
Posted by Mike Florio on April 26, 2009, 12:13 PM EST
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27 Comments 
Latest Stories in: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Rumor Mill, Top Stories
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Latest Stories in: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Rumor Mill, Top Stories
27 Responses to “More On Michael Mitchell”
The Bears told Mitchell he’d be taken at 49? Hmmm, I wonder who tipped off the Raiders…
If there’s one thing we can learn from this draft, it’s that coaches need to not be telling potential draft picks things like, “We signed this veteran QB as a smokescreen,” or, “Hey, I know we’re 17 picks and potentially two hours from taking you, but you’re our guy at 49 overall. That’s 49th overall. Don’t have your agent call other teams about trading up, ok?”
Al Davis is a genius!!!
He looks like a great pick by the Raiders, coming from this Miami fan.
He is BIG and fast, and if you youtube his highlights…
nearly everything he touches got BLOWN UP
Seriously, if you question this pick, go youtube him. You quickly realize why other teams were ready to pick him up, the kid idolizes Jack Tatum and it shows in his play.
Media hate and bias. Why bother doing research? I read the friggin PAPER and knew at least that this kid had risen in the recent weeks. I then did a search last night and found the Chicago article about Mitchell saying that the Bears had told him he was going 49th or whatever. You guys couldn’t ignore that, oooops.
Marshall Faulk got all defensive on NFLN about this oversight not happening “because it was the Raiders” BS, Marshall. You and all the mouthbreathing fools couldn’t wait to hate. Grow up America and quit hating an old man (who happens to still know his shiite) and some laundry.
Good pick by the Raiders.
Kiper as a draft analyst who knows very little about a guy who’s getting visits with teams and gets drafted in the 2nd round is a joke.
Look back on Kiper’s history with draft picks, you’ll find all kinds of players you couldn’t pass on who turn out to be busts.
It’s the Raiders, so it’s always easy to say “Here’s Al Davis just doing crazy again,” but check out the video on this kid. He hits like a truck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8KF2-_OXoA
The Raiders might have found a real player here. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.
Bears love those unknowns, as far as NFL.com is concerned Henry Melton doesn’t exsist, much like this guy
WOW MIKE! You’re so smart! The way you regurgitate news is superior to all others! And you hit on one! HOLY SHIT!
I just watched some video and I would say (from what a person can tell from 6min of video) he looks like a fit for the Raiders. Flashy and fast with some pretty exciting moments but little technique or substance.
And for you apologists, just because his stock rose from non-draftable to late rounder/free agent in the last couple of weeks does not mean the 2nd round is good value. And the fact the Bears overvalued him too doesn’t excuse the pick. Still a shitty pick that early. It’s about VALUE.
It is about fitting needs and production = value.
Apologist hater dork.
xgbx,
Technique or Substance? WTF is substance? I have never heard of that term in football speak ever, unless it was about a player’s arrest….. Style and Substance yes, when they are comparing certain attributes of players, but Substance by itself, only when it’s illegal within the reach of an arrested player….. Go back to your basement and study some film of players that have Technique and Substance…..
Just because you got a draft guide, and subscribe to ESPN insider doesn’t make you a professional talent evaluator…. Jackass…..
I love the pick! I originally had though we could get him in the third and hopefully select Brace in the second. But we traded down with the Patriots who then took Brace and we still got Mitchell either way.
Guy is a hitter and with his speed can still cover. Will be best safety from this class in the NFL for sure.
i give props where they are due. and u didnt just criticize like everybody else. thanks for doing your research and getting it right. good job florio.
I know he played in the Mac, but this kid looks like a beast. He also called out Kiper and said he’ll be playing with a huge chip on his shoulder. Watch out.
FookFlorio,
You’re right. I should stop basing my opinions on info in draft guides and ESPN. I should pay more attention to the Raiders’ record of success in recent drafts and all the Super Bowls they’ve won in the last twenty-five years. And I should have qualified my statement by mentioning I had just seen “6min of video”.
I’m not saying I don’t think the guy is no good. I just think the 2nd round was too high and the Raiders have a history of just drafting the fastest guy on the board. I think he’ll be fun to watch and will knock the shit out of some people, though.
You are also right that I am not a professional talent evaluator. I clearly have no right to jeopardize the integrity of the internet by posting a poorly worded message. Sorry about that, internet.
I should take these posts more seriously and try being more insulting. Thank you for putting me in my place. I clearly had it coming.
After watching the local news, and reading the paper, I was prepared to come on here and wonder aloud what’s wrong with my Raiders. But after reading this thread, maybe they (he) finally got something right…
if you like a player, you take him when you feel like it. All that other bullshit is for the birds.
The Raiders liked Antonio Cromarti and had they taken him in ’06 at 7, that would have been a “reach,” too.
How many of those teams in front of SD and Dallas passed on Merriman and Ware in ’05. Do you think they’d like a do over instead of taking the “highest” rated players on the board?
well I know people were still shocked. I damn near cried again after the DHB pick @ 7. Did the research on the kid and can say he seems like a good player. Two teams wanted him in the top 50 is one more team than enougn to merrit his selection.
Al davis gets too much blame and credit. The man can barely walk. He has a whole staff of player personnel people and they along with the coaches are apart of developing the Raiders draft board. The Raiders and the Bears respectively thought this kid was a hell of a player. Keep thinking you know more than the people that get paid to do this for living.
Props to florio for being objective and diligent.
You can’t help it Mike. It’s the media gene which dictates that if Al Davis or the Raiders do something… anything… it must be criticized quickly before analysis.
Frankly, all facts considered, even as a Raider fan I find myself critical of the Mitchell pick too – so, ultimately I agree with your harumphing, but it never ceases to tick me off when it’s reflexive instead of reflective.
That whole orginazition is a JOKE… from the owner to the fans!!!!!!! what a train wreck that is the raiders!
It’s Al Davis’ team not Mayock’s, Kiper’s, or Jamie Dukes (whatever his qualifications are).
If you hate Al’s picks then find another team…I looked at the Mitchell’s You Tube (thanks jaxxon) and looks like he has potential.
The Raiders have been SO BAD for SO LONG that you have to take chances…Safety was a HUGE need in a year where there was no Sean Taylor/LeRon Landry (or M. Huff for that matter…Which everyone liked and he may be a bust). You HAVE to pick players YOU think will fill a need…With Branch being hurt last year you can’t count on him quite yet…Mitchell looks like what the Raiders need if he can make the transition to the next level.
Time will tell, but I got faith.
I just hope that Cable input is valued by Al otherwise we become a poor man’s Dallas Cowboy team where the players realize that the coach has ZERO control and everything go South FAST (kind of like the Raiders since 2002).
crabtree said no comment about playing for the raiders but was all happy about possible playing for the browns (like playing for them is that much better, playing for a bum coach as well, also they got hosed on the jets deal and jets ended up with a better qb than what they have) so if crabtree doesn’t want to play for the raiders enjoy playing for the 49ers who have a less accomplish qb than jamarcus. I hope DHB proves people wrong, and Chris Carter talks alot for a person with a checkered past.
Thanks jpyetman for the props. I wasn’t sure who this kid was when they said his name. I was shocked. I was confused. Then I youtubed him and damn. This kid will be the next Jack Tatum. He hits everything like a semi truck and doesn’t think twice. With that speed, that physical play, with the right coaching, this kid will be a pro-bowler in 2-3 years.
It is good the thread is dead, as everything go South FAST. (smiley face). I liked Crabtree over Hayward-Bey over Maclin. And Percy may be better than the rest. Show some balls and make your picks. Here are mine, in order:
Crabtree
Harvin
Haywood-Bey
Maclin
Here are Florio’s:
Pat White
Pat White’s first born
Young women looking for older men
Want to go inside West Virginia?
Don’t believe me? Go to the Mountaineer website and see for yourself. In the meantime, pick your best wide receiver and write it down. Come back in three years and see how you did.
Well what’s even more funny is nobody had film on the guy, but I found it and brought up his name here Thursday. Found this through a team site. Enjoy Raiders fans here’s a hitter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8KF2-_OXoA
Here’s Mike Mayock’s on air appology to the Oakland Raiders, along with interesting comments about Al Davis from Marshall Faulk and Jon Gruden.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/04/26/bears-targeted-s-mitchell-before-raiders-nabbed-him/
don’t you think for just a slight second if any of these idiots on BSPN knew anything about football, they would have a job in football.
Would I have taken Crabtree, probably but what the hell do i know. The other 8 teams that passed on him as well must have known something as well…. Heck If you listen to BSPN NFL experts, what happen with their mock,,,they sucked!