The NFL draft is like an oasis in the desert for American football fans. After the Super Bowl we spend months dissecting the star college players that our team may select. It is the one day all teams are even. It is the day you pray your team does not select a player who turns out to be a bust.
In 1998, the San Diego Chargers took Ryan Leaf, the quarterback, with the second overall selection. Leaf was signed to a multi-million dollar contract and proceeded to play absolutely awful during his two short seasons as a Charger. Leaf has become the poster boy for the NFL draft bust. By the way, the player drafted ahead of Leaf in 1998 was Peyton Manning.
With the 2010 draft upon us, we should define what makes an NFL draft bust. Here are the top three criteria:
* You must be taken in the first round. First-round picks get most of the media attention and get paid the most. If you are taken in Round 2 and beyond, you can be a disappointment if your NFL career does not work out, but that is not bust-worthy. For example, Tim Tebow, the Florida quarterback is expected to be drafted in Round 2. If he somehow gets selected in Round 1, he will be judged on a different level as a professional.
* You cannot fail with one team and then go on to succeed with another. The New England Patriots drafted Jim Plunkett, the Stanford quarterback, No 1 overall in the 1971 draft. Plunkett flamed out after five sub-par years in New England, but became a very good player with the Oakland Raiders later in his career, even winning two Super Bowls. He was on his way to being a huge bust, but he worked his way out of it.
* You must miss many games because of injury. I feel bad when players get injured, but as fans we still declare them a bust. My Chicago Bears drafted Curtis Enis, a running back, No 5 overall in 1998 and he was out of football because of an injury just two years later.
After this weekend, the sports media will jump on the winners and losers of the 2010 NFL draft. Even though none of the draftees have taken a snap, some will grade which teams got it right and which teams messed it up. Better slow down, folks, because we will not know the answer to that for quite a while - and I don't mean a few games into this coming season, I mean a few years into this decade.
The NFL draft must be given time to see how it develops. Look at the 2007 draft for instance. The first pick was Jamarcus Russell, the quarterback, which seemed like a good choice then. Now you have to think the Raiders wish they went with running back Adrian Peterson or defensive back Darrelle Revis.
Eli Manning was flirting with being a draft bust after being picked first overall in 2004, now he is a Super Bowl MVP winner after a stunning upset of the perfect Patriots.
History makes it very clear; a rush to judgement right after the NFL draft will not render an accurate ruling. Just like playing quarterback, it is all about patience in the pocket.
sports@thenational.ae
St Louis Rams
Sam Bradford, quarterback, Oklahoma. Missed most of last year with a shoulder injury, but showcased his passing skills enough as a junior.
Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle, Nebraska. May be the most dominant defensive lineman in a generation.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle, Oklahoma. More speed than Suh, but not as powerful.
Washington Redskins
Eric Berry, defensive back, Tennessee. The complete package - the speed to cover and the size to tackle.
Kansas City Chiefs
Russell Okung, offensive tackle, Oklahoma State. Needed protection for QB Matt Cassell.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Kanye%20West
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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The%20specs
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
