The NFL Draft is finally here and it is here a little earlier than expected. Each NFL team is represented below, marked by a not-so-subtle nod to the general managers we focus so much of our site's attention towards and our namesake. NFC The Ted Thompson ? ABC Green Bay: "Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson hopes to avoid having to deal with any character issues in the coming years. that's why the Packers and other NFL teams spend plenty of time doing background checks on draft prospects. "We do a lot of work on these guys. I don't know how many we look into very strongly, but we do a lot of work there," Thompson affirmed. "But you're still dealing with young men that are still learning their way in life, so there's always some question marks about how things are going to go, or there's also question marks about how things have gone. Did someone make a mistake as a teenager or young man in college that is really out of character and shouldn't really be a factor going forward, or is it something else? We spend an extraordinary amount of time working on that, and it's not an easy call." " The Jerry Angelo ? Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald: "Lacking first- and second-round draft picks, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has lowered his expectations this year but he still believes he can get three players who contribute immediately. "What I feel is a realistic goal is that we'd like to come out of this draft with (three) players that make it to Sunday, meaning that they dress," Angelo said. "If we can get that accomplished, we feel that will be a win for us." The top two priorities for the Bears are free safety and offensive line and they are almost certain to address each of those positions with their third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks, which are 75th, 109th and 141st overall. Angelo says the Bears have identified several players they believe will be available with each of their first three choices. He didn't seem keen to the idea of trading up from No. 75 and giving up a fourth- or fifth-rounder this year." The Martin Mayhew ? Sean Yullie of Pride Of Detroit: "The nice thing about having a competent general manager is that the NFL Draft has quickly gone from an event where I expect mistakes and am critical of every move to something where I will enjoy watching just to see how the Lions' plan is going to play out.? Actually, this is really only the first year I am going to get to experience that feeling with the Lions.? Although many of you were more than ready to put your faith behind Martin Mayhew and company a year ago, I needed to see his genius in action before letting out a sigh of relief and putting my trust in him.?After a wildly successful 2009 draft and many impressive moves since then, I am more than ready to hear the picks and instead of immediately yelling "WTF" at my TV just out of reflex, I will enjoy thinking about how the selections fit into the Lions' plans in the grand scheme of things.?" The Rick Spielman ? Mark Craig of the Star Tribune: " "To me, the room should be like a sideline on game day," said Rick Spielman, who has eight picks as the Vikings' vice president of player personnel. "You've done your planning. You've had all your discussions. You want there to be as little distraction as possible when you get to game day." Not counting what Spielman calls "the worker bees," the Vikings will have 16 people in their draft room. That includes owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, coach Brad Childress, coordinators Darrell Bevell and Leslie Frazier, seven from the scouting department including director Scott Studwell, a team doctor, vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, director of player personnel George Paton and Spielman. The Jerry Jones ? Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram: "The Dallas Cowboys have only three current starters from the past three draft classes. That total could go up in the 2010 season with Felix Jones and Doug Free expected to claim starting jobs. The two stars of the group are cornerback Mike Jenkins and linebacker Anthony Spencer. Jenkins, a 2008 first-round pick, led the team in interceptions in 2009 and was a Pro Bowl selection. Spencer, a 2007 first-round pick, should have been a Pro Bowler because he was the team's best defender at the end of the season." The Jerry Reese ? Phil Vacchiano of the New York Daily News: "C.J. Spiller hadn't heard a word from the Giants throughout the pre-draft process. No workouts, no visits, no indication that they liked him at all. Until they called him a few days ago to make sure they had the right cell-phone number in case they need to reach him Thursday night. And they might because, according to multiple team sources, the Giants are enchanted with the Clemson running back whom many scouts believe is the most dynamic offensive player in this year's draft. He likely won't be there when the Giants make the 15th pick of the first round. But those sources said the Giants could consider trading up to get him if he escapes the Top 10 and if the price is right." The Howie Roseman ? Brad Wilson of the Express-Times: "General manager Howie Roseman reiterated in a pre-draft meeting with reporters that the Eagles will take the best player available, not draft for ?perceived needs.? What Roseman means there, by the way, is needs others perceive the Eagles have. You might think they need a safety, I might think they need a safety, everybody this side of the Susquehanna River might think they need a safety, and they actually might need a safety, but if the Eagles don?t think so, well, they?re not picking one. This philosophy makes calling what the Eagles will do almost impossible unless a) you can predict what every other team that drafts ahead of them does; b) have Andy Reid tell you; or and c) get a look at their draft list.. But combine Reid?s past drafts, his obdurate, unchanging football philosophy and what is available in the draft and it?s possible to paint a picture of what this weekend may look like." The Bruce Allen ? Jason Reid of the Washington Post: "A surprising April 4 trade brought Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb to Washington from NFC East rival Philadelphia. With an elite player and proven winner at the position for the first time during owner Daniel Snyder's 11-year tenure, many analysts expect Shanahan to shift his focus to the offensive line -- the Redskins' weakest unit since the middle of the 2008 season. Tackles Trent Williams of Oklahoma and Russell Okung of Oklahoma State are potential first-year impact players who might be available when the Redskins pick early in the opening round of the three-day draft that begins Thursday in New York City, so help could arrive soon. "I think I'm ready to come in and play for anyone who wants to draft me," Williams said in a phone interview late last week. "I know what I can do and how to play this game. I guess you could say I'm very instinctive. I've just got a feel for football. I know football, so that's what a team gets if they draft me." In an e-mail response to a reporter's question about the possibility of him joining the Redskins, Okung wrote: "They have a great tradition for O line. And with Coach Shanahan added to the mix the tradition should continue. It would be an honor playing for the Redskins and Coach Shanahan." Despite holding only four picks (including the fourth overall) and having many needs, the Redskins finally appear poised to begin a long-overdue line overhaul, beginning at tackle. Williams (6 feet 4, 315 pounds) and Okung (6-5, 307) are widely considered the best at their position in this class. "They'll be the first two [tackles] taken," said a longtime AFC offensive line coach, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss his draft evaluations publicly. "It'll be one and then the other, whatever the order is." Although the retirement of Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels in March opened a hole at the most important position along the line, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on Sunday said he was "real excited about our offensive line." Players, however, would welcome reinforcements." The Jed York ? Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat: "The 49ers do not need to take a running back, wide receiver or quarterback in the first round as a way of giving immediate help to a team that should be set up to win the NFC West. But can the 49ers pass up the value that they'd receive with Spiller, Bryant or Clausen? ..And then there's Clausen. The 49ers are not going to trade up for him. And I'm not sure they'd take him at No. 13. But at No. 17 there would be serious discussion about adding him to the mix. Alex Smith is the 49ers' quarterback this season. The 49ers would like to think Smith will have a good season, re-sign and be the quarterback well into the future. But if he falls on his face this season, the team would probably have to start from scratch in 2011." The John Schneider ? John Morgan of Field Gulls: "Seattle needs a safety and (Eric) Berry is so good, he could seduce Carroll outside of his scheme. Ok, maybe not. Unless the cupboard is bare, offensive tackle seems like the more likely pick, but let's entertain this route. Berry can play in the box and received rave reviews from Monte Kiffin. I like everything about Berry, from his frame to his athleticism to his performance to his projection to his intelligence." The Billy Devaney ? Stacey Dales of the NFL Network: "Rams general manager Billy Devaney told NFL Network?s Stacey Dales on Wednesday that he met with his staff for three hours and there was almost a consensus on who the team should take at No. 1. Devaney stopped short of telling Dales who that player was, although most people believe it will be Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. Dales also said Devaney gave her no indication that the team plans on dealing the pick." The Rod Graves ? Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic: "The schedule change might result in more trades. With nearly a full day between Rounds 1 and 2, there will be more conversations among teams. Whenever there is more conversation, there are more trade proposals. "The format will allow us opportunities to reassess where are from the day to day," said Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves, "and to talk about, not only our draft board and remaining needs, but more of an opportunity to discuss movement with other teams." The second day of the draft "is almost going to be like starting over again," Whisenhunt said. "You'll have time to talk about where you think teams are going to go. When you get into the draft, the way it's been going, you were not really concerned about what other teams are looking at. "Now, you will be able to think about, 'OK, they took this guy in the first round. Their needs are this.' It may give you a better idea of who will be there (for) your second-round picks." As one of the final eight teams in last year's playoffs, the Cardinals have late selections through the three days. Two third-round picks, however, gives them four of the top 89 selections. Whisenhunt and Graves won't admit it, but the Cardinals are expected to concentrate on shoring up the defense. They could use an inside linebacker, a nose tackle, an outside linebacker and a team never can have too many quality cornerbacks. Offensively, tight end and quarterback are positions the team might address." The Mickey Loomis ? Michael DeMocker of the Times-Picayune: "The New Orleans Saints have had the 32nd pick in the draft just twice in their history, and so far they're batting .500. Running back Tony Galbreath was a hit in 1976,?and center Lee Gross was a miss in 1975. But the Saints, who will own the 32nd pick again when the draft kicks off Thursday night, know better than any team in the league that it's quite possible to knock one out of the park from that spot. Exactly nine years ago today, the San Diego Chargers used the 32nd pick to land an undersized quarterback out of Purdue by the name of Drew Brees. He was the first pick in Round 2 that year, when there were still only 31 teams in the NFL. "Absolutely, there's some talent available there," Saints Coach Sean Payton said when reminded of the irony that the player most responsible for landing them in the 32nd pick this year was once drafted in that same position. General Manager Mickey Loomis said the Saints have gone back and looked at the No. 32 pick in each of the last 10 drafts - something they do with all of their draft spots every year." The Thomas Dimitroff ? Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "When (Thomas) Dimitroff says he?s open to both offense and defense, we should take him at his word. He could be content with either a pass rusher or some sort of an offensive lineman. (The belief here is that the Falcons would take a skill player ? Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas, say ? in Round 1 only if preferred options have been rendered inoperative.) Just guessing, I?d say the need for an DE/OLB still ranks 1A to the 1B of an O-lineman in Dimitroff?s fertile mind. But that?s only a guess, and it?s very close. Like 51-49." The Marty Hurney ? Darin Gantt of the Herald: "The annual obfuscation-fest that is Panthers GM Marty Hurney's pre-draft press conference has come and gone. Mostly, he talked about the fact the Panthers couldn't get locked into specific needs this weekend, because that's how teams can skew their draft boards and reach for players. They've done a good job of that in the past, landing cornerstones such as LB Jon Beason and C Ryan Kalil when viable veterans were in place. So even though they need WR/DE/QB/etc., they're not so zoomed in on those spots they're going to ignore others." The Mark Dominik ? Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune: "On Thursday night, the Rams would choose Sam Bradford and the Lions would bypass Ndamukong Suh to select either OT Russell Okung or DT Gerald McCoy. In that scenario, Tampa Bay would have Suh?s name on its draft card within seconds of Commissioner Roger Goodell?s announcement of the No. 2 pick. When the second round begins Friday evening, the Bucs would be thrilled if Notre Dame WR Golden Tate is still available." AFC The Al Davis ? Monte Poole of the Mercury News: "The idea was sound ? adding two skill-position players (Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey to reload the offense behind JaMarcus Russell, the quarterback taken No. 1 in 2007, and Robert Gallery, the lineman taken No. 2 in 2004 ? but the performance has been disastrous. As young as these players are, it's already evident none is anywhere close to receiving a Pro Bowl invitation. Far worse, there's no sign any will be centerpieces in a productive NFL offense." The A.J. Smith ? Kevin Acee of the Union Tribune: "The Chargers? regular-season success has again stuck them near the bottom of the first round on Thursday, where they will pick 28th for the second time in six Aprils and 27th or lower for the fourth time in the seven first-round picks they?ve exercised since 2005. But this time they get to pick again just 12 spots later. The Chargers haven?t even had a second-round pick since 2007, having traded their ?08 selection to Miami for Chris Chambers and their ?09 second-round spot to New England for the right to move up to select Jacob Hester. For this year?s draft, which several league observers and personnel people say has ?first-round talent? well beyond the first round, the trade opened up several possibilities for the Chargers. There are running backs that will be available at 40 that would not be at 60. There are nose tackles and safeties, too, that likely won?t be sticking around the extra 20 spots." The Scott Pioli ? Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star: "If there?s a lesson to be learned about Scott Pioli from last year?s draft, his first as general manager of the Chiefs, it?s that he?s not going to gamble with Clark Hunt?s money. Top five draft picks will command in excess of $20 million in guarantees on their initial contracts, and Pioli isn?t about to throw that kind of cash at someone with a reasonable chance of going bust. No, Pioli is determined to get something for that chunk of Hunt?s change. He may get someone who will never play in a Pro Bowl, like perhaps Tyson Jackson, but it?s going to be someone with a low probability of complete failure. ?By nature, I?m not much of a risk-taker,?? Pioli said recently in providing rare insight into his draft strategy. ?There have been people who have been very successful being risk-takers. That?s not my make-up. I?m not crazy about the boom or bust concept. There have been times in the past where I?ve done that or been a part of it, but not generally in a place where you?re going to expose your club or the entire organization to something that has the potential to be too much of a bust.?? That?s something to remember Thursday when the Chiefs make their first draft pick, which is fifth overall. The Chiefs may pass on a player with greater potential for one they believe will be in their lineup for many years." The Brian Xanders ? Frank Schwab of the Colorado Springs Gazette: "The team has picks Nos. 11, 43 and 45 in the first two rounds to address a bunch of needs. When Sports Illustrated picked a top-10 list of people feeling the most pressure during this draft, McDaniels was No. 2. McDaniels said he thinks this year?s draft will be smoother than that of last year, when he was hired near the end of January and quickly had to install his system of evaluating prospects. ?Our system leading up to this is really something that takes time, and our guys have really done a lot of work to get on the same page in terms of the evaluation,? said McDaniels, who makes the draft decisions along with general manager Brian Xanders. Although McDaniels hasn?t said he is disappointed with the 2009 draft, there are plenty of reasons to be critical. Denver had five picks in the first two rounds and not one made a huge impact. Running back Knowshon Moreno had 247 carries last year but averaged 3.7 yards and didn?t post a 100-yard game. Linebacker Robert Ayers didn?t record a sack. Cornerback Alphonso Smith and tight end Richard Quinn contributed almost nothing. Safety Darcel McBath had some success but didn?t started any games. The Broncos need more production from this year?s class, especially after trades of receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler provided extra draft picks." The Mike Tannenbaum ? Greg Bishop of the New York Times: "Holding the 29th pick in the draft, (Mike) Tannenbaum has a wide range of options. For an aging defensive line, he could add defensive end Jared Odrick of Penn State or nose tackle Terrence Cody of Alabama. Because Coach Rex Ryan seemingly loves cornerbacks nearly as much as he loves his wife, the Jets could draft someone like Rutgers?s Devin McCourty. For a pass rush best described as mediocre, linebacker Jerry Hughes of Texas Christian appears an ideal fit. In the past three drafts, Tannenbaum traded up for five players ? cornerback Darrelle Revis, linebacker David Harris, tight end Dustin Keller, quarterback Mark Sanchez and running back Shonn Greene ? and all are projected starters next season. In this draft, the Jets are just as likely to trade down, stockpiling more picks than the five they have. At their predraft news conference, the senior personnel executive Terry Bradway labeled the available crop of players as ?decent? in the top of the first round. The Jets need to address their lack of depth on both lines, in particular. This seems like the perfect draft for that. ?From the bottom of the first round into the fourth round, maybe even the fifth round, there are going to be a lot of good football players,? he said. ?You?ll be able to steal some players.? Of course, those players will be funneled into the Jets? grand chemistry experiment, with its players and their baggage added into what last season ranked among the most harmonious of locker rooms. Tannenbaum can trade and sign away, but chemistry is built, not purchased." The Bill Belichick ? Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald: "There is no doubt the Patriots need help in pressuring the passer after a 2009 in which they collected just 31 sacks (23rd in the NFL). Analyst Matt Williamson of Scouts, Inc., labeled it the top issue facing the team. The Patriots did re-sign Tully Banta-Cain (10 sacks), a necessary step. They likely will cut outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, who never thrived, opening up a spot. But complicating matters is that more than 10 teams play the 3-4 defense, meaning opponents also are scouring the draft boards for long, athletic outside linebackers with the skills to penetrate a backfield but with the athleticism to turn their hips and cover. ?It kind of limits your opportunities,? Pats director of player personnel Nick Caserio said, ?because you realize you?re really competing with the rest of the league on that front.? All of which makes it more likely the Patriots swipe an elite player at the position when they have the chance." The Buddy Nix ? Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings: "(The Bills are) one of only two NFL teams - the venerable Detroit Lions being the other - that have not made the playoffs in a decade. Buffalo's needs extend far beyond simple positions on a football field. Take the already-established list of needs with you into draft weekend, but understand that Buffalo's real needs list is as follows: Franchise Quarterback, Physicality on the offensive line, size to defend the run, some semblance of a pass rush, speed at the offensive skill positions, guys to turn the ball over defensively, production from the tight end." The Jeff Ireland ? Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald: "Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland draft with the expectation that their high-round draft picks will become starters. The idea in 2008 was to have first-rounder Jake Long, and second-rounders Chad Henne and Phillip Merling become starters. Long and Henne are there. The idea last season was to have first-rounder Vontae Davis and second-rounder Sean Smith become starters. Both are there. (Forgive me for overlooking the Pat White second-round selection. This isn't the day to be critical of him or that pick.) So it isn't far-fetched for the Dolphins and us to think they will add starting-caliber players early on. And the more picks Miami has early in the draft, the more starters the team will be adding. All this says a great deal of the confidence the Dolphins have in their own ability to identify extra-base hits in a draft filled with swings-and-misses." The Ozzie Newsome ? Kevin Van Valkenburg of the Baltimore Sun: "When do you decide to draft Ray Lewis' successor? Making the transition away from an aging certain Hall of Famer who has been the face of your franchise for more than a decade is a prickly endeavor, and history has shown it can divide the fan base as well as the locker room. It happens most frequently with quarterbacks -- as was the case in San Francisco with Joe Montana and Green Bay with Brett Favre -- but in the Ravens' case, Lewis has been more important than any Baltimore quarterback since John Unitas. Even though he was a Pro Bowl selection for the 11th time in 2009, Lewis clearly isn't quite the sideline-to-sideline tornado he was in his younger days. That doesn't mean he's no longer effective, but it does mean there are a limited number of miles left on his odometer. Eventually, as difficult as it might be, the Ravens are going to have to replace him. And while Dannell Ellerbee turned out to have been a tremendous signing as an undrafted rookie last year, it's unlikely he or Tavares Gooden would be considered a worthy replacement for Lewis. The top-rated middle linebacker in the draft, Rolando McClain of Alabama, has been compared favorably to Lewis in the past year. McClain, like Lewis, is a film junkie and on-field leader who led his team to a national championship. He also has deceptive speed. His time in the 40-yard dash (4.74 seconds) wasn't particularly impressive, but neither was Lewis' coming out of college, which is why a number of teams passed on him." The Kevin Colbert ? John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Off the field, Taylor Mays' story sounds too good to be true. On the field, his college resume should ensure he's a first-round pick in the NFL Draft ? and the main target of the Steelers. Mays chose not to leave early and played his senior year at Southern Cal, bypassing an eight-figure contract as a likely top-10 selection. "I came back to become a better football player, and I feel like I did that," said Mays, a three-time All-American who wanted to provide leadership for his younger teammates. "It wasn't about coming out for the money or the fame. It was more about coming back to be the best safety I could be." If that selfless depiction of Mays doesn't convince the Steelers to grab him Thursday night with their first-round pick, here's another reason. Mays play a position the Steelers need to replenish ? what with Troy Polamalu coming off a torn posterior cruciate knee ligament, Ryan Mundy recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and Ryan Clark's health issues resulting from him having a rare form of the sickle-cell trait." The Tom Heckert ? Tom Grossi of the Plain Dealer: "As of Wednesday evening, no team had contacted the Browns about the possibility of trading for their pick. So the Browns are prepared to use the No. 7 pick rather than trading down and adding to their stockpile of 10 draft choices. And because some in the organization doubt that (Eric) Berry will be there for them, the Browns have been weighing several options on what to do in the first of the three days of the draft. Option 1: Move up slightly in a trade to guarantee they come away with Berry. Option 2: The Browns could wave goodbye to Berry and take the next best safety, Earl Thomas of Texas. He's a little smaller, reputedly more instinctive and better in coverage. Some teams may have Thomas ranked higher, but the Browns are not believed to be one of them. Option 3: With Berry gone, the Browns could go against the grain and select another defensive player they have rated higher than Thomas. Candidates in this group may include Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle, Penn State defensive end Jared Odrick and Tennessee nose tackle Dan Williams. Option 4: They could choose the highest-rated offensive player left on their board. The Mike Brown ? Chick Ludwig of the Cincinnati Enquirer: "(Mike Brown) gets input from head coach Marvin Lewis; senior VP of player personnel Pete Brown; VP of player personnel Paul H. Brown; director of football operations Jim Lippincott; director of player personnel Duke Tobin; scout Greg Seamon; scouting consultants Bill Tobin and John Cooper; and the assistant coaches. The goal is to reach a consensus, but Mike Brown holds all the tiebreakers. The process has been in place since 1992, the first draft after the Aug. 5, 1991, death of team founder and Pro Football Hall of Fame legend Paul Brown." The Chris Polian ? Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star: "While fans and the media generally focus on the first-round of the draft, the Colts have a broader view. ?Every pick counts,?? (Bill) Polian said. ?We want them all to hopefully make a contribution to the squad. ?It?s about the entire process, not just the first round.?? When asked about what areas might be addressed in the draft, Polian said it was unlikely the Colts would have an interest in a running back, wide receiver or tight end in the first round unless a great player happened to fall to them at No. 31. And while starters return at every position on defense, Polian stressed the need for depth. ?You can never have enough defensive depth,?? he said." The Gene Smith ? Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union: "The Jaguars are going to draft a quarterback one of these years. The odds are that this won't turn out to be one of those years. The Jaguars, who haven't drafted a quarterback since Byron Leftwich in 2003, are likely to bypass the quarterback position in this year's draft for the seventh year in a row. The fact they've gone six years in a row without drafting one is unusual. The team did draft Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones in 2005, but the Jaguars played him almost exclusively at wide receiver. "I think every team every year is looking for a young 21-, 22-year-old guy to develop to eventually become the guy," Jaguars player personnel director Terry McDonough said. "That's no reflection on David [Garrard]. It's just the nature of the beast. We have a lot of faith in David, but he's in his 30s and eventually, like all of us, there's going to be another quarterback on this team." " The Mike Reinfeldt ? Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean: "(Vince) Young said when it comes to the draft, he drops some hints with Titans' brass. ?I threw a couple of names out there. ? I?d like to see the Texas guys (WR Jordan Shipley and DE Sergio Kindle), but there are some other guys I think can really help us. I like (Oklahoma State?s) Dez Bryant as a receiver and think he could do some things if we have the opportunity to get him. I like (Jason) Pierre-Paul at South Florida. I feel like he could be a great part of the team at defensive end. There are a lot of talented guys on the board who could help us out a whole lot. But mainly I just want somebody who?s ready to come in and work and play. I leave it to the guys upstairs, and the leaders downstairs will take care of the?rest.?? " The Rick Smith ? Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle: "The Texans have evolved nicely over the last four years, from a 2-14 mess to 8-8 respectable to, finally, a 9-7 winner. Now they need to make another difficult step. They need to be able to close the deal, to play with one heartbeat, to make The Play that frequently is the difference between winning and losing. They're oh-so-close to being really, really good. They lost games by 3, 3, 5, 7, 7 and 8 points last season. One more play at the right time would have put them in the playoffs. A handful of plays would have made them an elite team. They also won games by 3, 3, 3 and 7 points. That's 9 of 16 games decided by 7 points or less. The NFL is a high-wire act of 100-hour work weeks many times coming down to a single play on Sunday. What a way to live. No wonder coaches burn out. The Texans are on the verge, and in a lot of the ESPN draft coverage, there have been words like toughness used. I guess finishing a game is all about mental toughness, perhaps more about mental toughness than anything physical."