2011 NFL DRAFT: NY JETS overview

The NFL lockout was temporarily halted for a short period of time and players were allowed back into team training facilities early last week. By the weekend however, the ruling was appealed and the lockout continued. Despite the uncertainty of if there will be a 2011 NFL season, the NFL draft went on as scheduled. Here is a list of the Jets picks and an analysis of the pick:

Muhammad Wilkerson

1st round: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple University 
This defensive end was thought by many experts to be drafted in the top 10 of this years draft. He had a very successful season at Temple University and  slipped to the Jets at the 30th pick. He will be very useful teaming up with veteran Kris Jenkins on the defensive line.

3rd round: Kenrick Ellis, NT, Hampton University
The Jets traded away their second round pick last year so their second pick came in the third round when they picked nose tackle Kenrick Ellis. This 6-5 346 pound monster was number 35 of the jets scouting report so when he fell to pick 94 in the draft they swooped in and drafted him to help clog up the middle and stop the run. He has had multiple off the field issues in college but if he can stay out of trouble he should be a great fit in NY. 

4th round: Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville
The Jets already have two young backs in Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight as well as future hall of famer LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield so drafting another running back was a questionable move for the Jets because they will probably only be able to keep three on roster. Powell is a one-cut runner who can grow in time as a Thomas Jones type back

5th round: Jeremy Kerley, WR, TCU
This versatile receiver was a big part in the Horned Frogs offense last season. He is an elusive runner who can also line up in the backfield and even throw the ball. He will be very useful for the Jets as a slot receiver and can fill in for Brad Smith who is a free agent.

7th round: Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama
McElroy had a pretty successful career leading the Crimson Tide at quarterback. He is a very smart and talented quarterback who will look to take the number 2 quarterback position from long time backup Kellen Clemens.

7th round: Scottie McKnight, WR, Colorado

Scottie McKnight

The Jets used their last pick on undersized wide receiver Scottie McKnight. He is the all time leading receiver for Colorado however he was not projected to be selected in the draft. What makes this pick special is McKnight is best friends with Jets QB Mark Sanchez. The two have been friends since they were 8 years old and Sanchez threw to McKnight at his pro day. Sanchez and his family were with McKnight as his family at McKnight's home when the Jets announced the pick.

Knicks Down 2-0

On Tuesday night, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony displayed one of the most dominant playoff performances in history. With starting pointgaurd Chancey Billups already sidelined with a knee injury and the loss of Amare Stoudemire in the first half of last nights game, coach Mike D'Antoni told Anthony that he was going to have to put the team on his back. Stoudemire left the game with four points due to back spasms that began while he was warming up on Tuesday. Anthony posted a staggering 42 point, 17 rebound performance but the Knicks were not able to pull out a victory in Boston. Tuesday night's game was another great game that came down to the final seconds. The Knicks were unfortunatly not able to catch up in time and lost the game 96-93. The Knicks look to even up the series as they and Celtics travel to Madison Square Garden for the next three games, given that there is a game five. 

Knicks go down 0-1

Ray Allen - Boston Celtics

On Sunday night the Knicks and the Celtics started the first of their seven game series in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Knicks had a comfortable 51-39 lead at halftime but then my fellow Knicks fans and I watched something all too familiar happen. The Knicks had the lead all the way down to 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Ray Allen sunk a three to put the Celtics ahead 87-85. Carmelo Anthony attempted a game winning three pointer as time expired but it fell short and the Celtics won the game and took a one game lead in the series.

Yankees in First

Last night the Yankees took sole possession of first place in the AL East. The Yankees were down by five for most of the game but was able to come from behind to beat the Baltimore Orioles in a 6-5 extra inning game. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was credited with the win. Starter Phil Hughes who has started the season with two poor performances was on the mound again, looking for his first stellar performance. Thursday did not prove to be the day for Hughes, who has let up five or more runs and has pitched fewer than five innings in all of his first three starts this year. The last Yankee pitcher to start a season this poor was Chien Ming Wang in 2009 and he is no longer with the Yankees.

LT Sentenced

Once one of the most dominant line backers in all of football, Lawrence Taylor has been in the news recently for the wrong reasons. Lawrence Taylor played line backer for the New York Giants from 1981-1993 and earned himself his way into the NFL Hall of Fame. In recent years however, Taylor has found himself on the wrong side of the law, most recently he was arrested for rape of a 16 year old prostitute. One of the original charges against him was statutory rape, which would have held a four year prison sentence. He pleaded guilty in january of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute. He was sentenced today to six years probation.  

Yankees Starting Strong

The Major League Baseball regular season is underway and the Yankees have gotten off to a strong start posting a 4-2 record as they wrap up their home series'. The Yankees started the season beating the Detroit Tigers in the first two games of their three game series and then won two of three in a series against the Minnesota Twins. Tomorrow the Yankees will go to Fenway Park to face their bitter rival Boston Red Sox. I have been to Fenway for a Yankee-Red Sox game and it is not a nice place for someone decked out in Yankee gear. The Red Sox have started the season with a record of 0-6 and are looking to bounce back this weekend. With Sebathia, Hughes, and Nova set to pitch this weekend, I am pretty excited to see the Red Sox move to 0-9.

Knicks Clinch Playoff Spot

For the first time in seven years, the New York Knicks were able to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Knicks have been playing great basketball as of late, beating the Philadelphia Seventy-sixers on Wednesday night to move from seventh to sixth in the playoff race and ensuring their spot to compete for a championship. The Knicks, led by Carmelo Anthony are on a five game winning streak with five games left in the regular season and will play either the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.