Titans head coach Jeff Fisher (right) is rolling the dice that Vince Young is the real thing. NEIL BRAKE/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

Radio City reaches: Wager on fool's gold?

STEVE DeSHAZO:

Date published: 4/30/2006

ON THE FIELD, NFL teams do everything possible to reduce risk. They run "West Coast" offenses with short, high-percentage passes. They keep in six or seven blockers to protect the quarterback. They use zone defenses to avoid giving up long pass plays.

Off the field, it's another story. The Dallas Cowboys were the first team to roll the dice with their off-season acquisition of that model citizen Terrell Owens.

But for real risk-reward, you couldn't beat yesterday's NFL draft. A bunch of sub-.500 teams gambled their futures--and millions of dollars--on players whose production will be heavily scrutinized.

It doesn't get any more dicey than in Houston, where Charley Casserly risked his neck (and his job) by making Mario Williams, not Reggie Bush, the first pick. As much as he insisted that Williams was "a better fit," part of the decision had to be that Bush would have cost more and was more likely to hold out.

I don't disagree with choosing Williams. The Texans already have a quality running back in Domanick Davis, and Bush could be a star--or the next Ki-Jana Carter. If Williams truly is the next Julius Peppers, he's worthy of being No. 1.

With all that said, the Texans should have been able to trade down a spot or two and still get Williams. Unlike his namesake in the White House, this Bush's approval ratings were through the roof. Several teams wanted to move up and draft Bush--and would have paid handsomely to do so.

Apparently, Casserly didn't think he could move down without losing his shot at Williams. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt--except that Casserly drafted Heath Shuler and Michael Westbrook in consecutive years for the Redskins. Those two names make D.C. residents cringe more than the thought of $4 gas.

If Williams turns out to be the next Steve Emtman--and Bush is the next Walter Payton--you'll see Casserly on next year's draft coverage. Working in the studio.

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Date published: 4/30/2006