You know what is often boring? For the most part, boring is the public comments made by public figures when asked a question. You know, when they want to “tow the company line”, or avoid controversy. Like when a big-name athlete speaks in the same old tired cliches like, “We’re just here to work hard, and play our best.” When you know they are not saying what they really think. Like when Tom Osborne won’t admit that he wished every single dollar of Texas’s Big 12 contract could be shoved up Bill Powers’ ass. Utterly disappointing.

The media asks the juicy questions. The public figures give us the “politically correct” answers. The media springs the trap, but the big-name doesn’t take the bait. That is the never-ending cycle.

Former Domer, and Denver Bronco Brady Quinn took part in this cycle recently when asked about new teammate Tim Tebow. (Or, they guy trying to take the job Brady’s job, probably ensuring that Quinn will never be a starter in the NFL.)

When asked about Tebow, Quinn said:

“I think there are a lot of schools of thought on what will end up happening with him, moving forward in his NFL career. But he’s a good, quality, character guy, and those are the type of guys you want on your team.” …

Nice, but I’m sure that’s not want Brady really thinks, or what he wanted to say. If you could get the truth about what Brady really thinks when he hears the name “Tebow”, perhaps it would go something like this:

“We all know Tim is a good Christian, but if Jesus loves everyone so much, why didn’t he give Tim a release like a real NFL quarterback?”

“Tim has the best arm of any fullback I ever saw.”

“NFL quarterback? What about presidential speech-writer?”

Yeah, that sounds more like it.

On Thurs, April 2nd, the NFL Draft begins in prime time. Mel Kiper’s (Rogaine, why have you not signed this guy up as your pitchman yet? You two fit together like Jimmy Buffet and Margaritas.) big day just keeps getting bigger every year, due to the ever-increasing NFL popularity, and now year-round interest in every aspect of the league. Every fan is excited for the future of their team, and every fan has an opinion on which college stud(s) should be wearing their team’s colors.

Perhaps no player causes more opinions to be formed than Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen. Many are of the negative (as in “Jimmy Clausen will be an NFL failure”) variety. Maybe it’s because some people just like to hate on those who are the big names in a given industry. Maybe it’s because Jimmy was the face of college football’s most visible program, and people were just over-saturated with Clausen. Maybe it’s because people feel Clausen was born with a silver spoon in hand, given opportunities most would kill for from the time he was fourteen years old. Maybe it’s because people didn’t like his coach, or that his coach’s other prized-pupil hasn’t cut it in the NFL. Underlying thoughts and resentments like those mentioned, are the ammo that people are using to claim Clausen will bust, even when that opinion has to be contrary to the information (film, and validations from teammates) we have been given to see.

Face it, Clausen is a guy that people love to hate, and they are taking shots at any given opportunity.

From reputable college football writer Stewart Mandel:

“I can understand why scouts prefer the taller, more prototypically-sized Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen (cough, bust, cough), but there’s very little discrepancy in terms of McCoy’s actual passing ability.”

From an NFL executive type (who was actually backing Clausen’s playing ability):

“He can throw the ball downfield. He’s the perfect Raiders quarterback, what Al [Davis] has been dreaming about for years. I don’t want to like him, but I do. I mean, just look at him – when you see that guy, you just want to punch him.” Keep in mind this is a comment from a mature, successful business man. This is the type of ire that Clausen draws.

From scout Todd McShay (in general):

“Not a leader. not a good teammate.”

There are countless others that will bust on Jimmy Clausen, given the chance. (The aforementioned Kiper won’t, he actually likes Clausen.) The next few years will tell if they are doing it because they actually see a questionable skill set, or if they just wanted to bring down a “golden boy” from Notre Dame.

The NFL draft is nearing. This means that the weak teams in the NFL are about to pay a Dr.Evil-type sum of money (and I don’t mean what he was asking for right out of cryogenic freezing, I’m talking the exorbitant variety) for a quarterback savior.

The savior business is the heaviest of responsibilities. Not many have the shoulders to bear it. However, there are some big names in this year’s draft that would have you believe they are ready to bear that responsibility.

Sam Bradford.
Colt McCoy.
Tim Tebow.
Jimmy Clausen.

Who is the right pick?

The first three are among the winningest college quarterbacks of all time. The fourth played at the highest-pressure school in the country. Bradford and Tebow have Heismans. McCoy has left the field with the higher score more often than any other. Clausen was once called “the Lebron James” of high school football. All were college golden boys.

Still after saying all that, there is really only one choice.

You can throw out Tebow, because you probably want a guy that will actually stay at quarterback. (He is more fit to be a preacher than NFL quarterback.) He doesn’t have the release, arm strength, or the skills to read NFL defenses. He doesn’t even have the all-around game of former Urban Meyer prodigy Alex Smith, and Smith hasn’t been able to cut it in the NFL.

You can throw out Colt McCoy, unless you want a nice backup quarterback with your first round pick. Great kid, great leader in college, can make it happen on the college football field. However, he racked up great completion percentages because he spent most of his time throwing 5 yard passes, and won because he was surrounded by phenomenal talent. When the talent is equal, McCoy is not good enough to be the difference.

That leaves Bradford and Clausen.

Most thing Bradford is the pick. Why? He has more “upside”. ESPN personality Colin Cowherd reiterated these thoughts on his show. Though Cowherd does think Clausen will start faster due to his upbringing in Charlie Weis’s Pro-Style offense. (What this means is, Clausen understands protection schemes, what to do against “odd”, and even” defensive fronts, where the “mike” linebacker (key to the defensive scheme) is, and where secondary receivers will be. No other college quarterback can boast this.)

So, Clausen is ahead now, but what about the upside issue? Or Clausen’s maturity issue that many talk about?

I can tell you now, I’ve seen both play, and I don’t see anything that Bradford has over Jimmy. Bradford played with more overall talent (by far), a better offensive line, and a defense that allowed him to play without the predictability of pass on every play. Clausen had none of this. Plus, Jimmy played on a toe that was found to have torn ligaments-he had trouble throwing off his foot all year (and still threw 28 tds to 4 picks). Both are deadly accurate, though Clausen’s passes have a slight edge, they can find their target like Tiger finds hookers. Jimmy also has the bigger arm-he can make every NFL throw. Both are smart enough to handle the pro game.

As far as Clausen’s maturity, he can be a leader. Her may or may not be an arrogant jerk off the field, but he produces on the field. That is all your teammates need to see in the NFL to gain respect.

So, in other words, I won’t hate on a team for picking Bradford, he may become very good. However, Jimmy Clausen is the best quarterback in the draft. Period.