With the sixth pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select...

Photo credit: Game Face

After a seemingly endless off-season (o.k. maybe it wasn't that long), football becomes the center of all sports conversation for the next two days, as the 2008 NFL Draft comes at you live from Radio City Music Hall.

The draft has been held in New York since 1965, and has been held in a number of famous locations, including Madison Square Garden, the Javits Center, and at Radio City since 2006. If comments by Roger Goodell, featured in this article are any indication, the draft may be leaving New York after this year.

This is a bit of a shame for New Yorkers, who have grown accustomed to attending the draft every year. The Jets fans, often furious with the terrible pick their team has made (and who wouldn't be? After starting off strong with Hall of Famers Joe Namath and John Riggins, the Jets have drafted such stalwarts as Johnny Mitchell, Blair Thomas, and Kyle Brady over Warren Sapp). The Giants fans, mercilessly taunting the Jets fans.

Anyway, enough of the sad news. Here's a quick mock draft, for those of you out there who haven't quite seen enough of them, of the top ten picks plus the Giants' selection to end the round.

1) Miami Dolphins:Jake Long, OT, Michigan

The Dolphins have already signed the first Long to go in this draft to a contract, and he'll help to sure up their unsteady o-line. The first on a laundry list of issues starts is achieved, but it's a long road back for the Fish.

2) St. Louis Rams: Chris Long, DE, Virginia

Despite the shortening of first round selections to 10 minutes this year, the Rams will give the fans a Long experience to make them feel right at home. (insert laugh track here)

3) Atlanta Falcons: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

The need to sure up the defensive line and take a sure-thing will outweigh the desire to select a franchise quarterback and a face of the organization.

4) Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

Oakland continues to stockpile running backs. Maybe Al Davis is trying to attract Matt Millen to help him run the Raiders.

5) Kansas City Chiefs: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State

They traded Jared Allen, and Herm Edwards is on a campaign to do anything and everything to make sure his running backs don't have long careers, which seems to go against drafting an O-lineman.

6) New York Jets: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

Yes, the Jets drafted a QB in the second round just two years ago. Yes, they have a serviceable veteran who can still grit his way through a majority of games in any given season. Gang Green will shop Matt Ryan, and realize teams like the Ravens 'loved him, but weren't in love with him', leaving the Jets with three quarterbacks, a whole lot of holes in their roster, and one more reason for the Jets faithful to boo the hell out of the commissioner.

7) New England Patriots:

Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

Belichick continues his trend of picking tough guys with a lot of grit, and the Pats will go for the solid guy over the flash. Matt Light isn't getting any younger, and Nick Kaczur doesn't strike fear into the heart of any D-Linemen.

8) Baltimore Ravens: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

The Ravens will hope that Ryan falls to them here, but shrug their shoulders and get themselves some much-needed help for their secondary

9) Cincinnatti Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DE, USC

Despite crossing their fingers and hoping that McFadden would fall to them, assuring them of maintaining their 'gangsta' image, the Bengals go value here and get a very solid value with this d-lineman.

10) New Orleans Saints: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State

The Saints shore up their shaky D by strengthening their secondary. McKelvin also has some return skills

31) New England Patriots: No One. They lost this pick for spying on the Jets.

Who knows how bad it could get if the Matt Walsh situation leads to anything.

32) New York Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami

Since their likely going to lose Jeremy Shockey, they have to keep up their Hurricane quota, and they'll improve their secondary in the process.

-- Tim Fiorvanti

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