Chip Off The New Block

Joe (#99) and Dave (#44) Kruger

Joe Kruger was a 7th round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. Utah hasn't played Oregon yet in the new PAC-12, but new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly must have seen enough of Kruger to give him a shot. Kruger was selected #212 overall, almost exactly where WalterFootball predicted. Joe left Utah before exhausting his eligibility so he would have an opportunity to join his brothers Paul and Dave at the next level.

Dave is joining Paul in Cleveland's camp after signing as an undrafted free agent. Other players receiving tryouts include: Reggie Dunn (Pittsburgh), Ryan Lacy (New Orleans), David Rolf (San Diego), Tevita Stevens and DeVonte Christopher (Washington), Sam Brenner (Miami), Sean Sellwood (Atlanta), Moe Lee (Baltimore), and Reggie Topps (Arizona).

Ziggy Stardust

Star Lotulelei was selected at #14 by the Carolina Panthers! He joins Steve Smith and Jordan Gross as ProUtes on the Panthers roster. Star was deserving of a top ten pick, but this is a great fit for a tremendous player. Michael Schottey of Bleacher Report deemed it the best pick of the first round to that point.

He wasn't the first defensive tackle drafted (Missouri's Sheldon Richardson went one pick earlier to the Jets) in this line-heavy first round, nor was he the first defensive lineman from a Utah school to be picked; that distinction went to the school down south's Ziggy Ansah. Ziggy didn't even start the full season in college, but his athleticism and his potential propelled him into the first round. And, because pass rushers are considered more valuable than run stoppers, Ziggy was taken before Star (#5 by the Detroit Lions).

I must admit I wanted to see Star's production to go ahead of Ziggy's potential, but I wouldn't want them to trade places. I'm pumped to see Star go to Carolina, my second favorite NFL team. I wanted him to go #10 to Tennessee, but I can understand why they picked an offensive lineman instead.

According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, new Panthers general manager David Gettleman wasted no time in turning in the draft card with Star's name on it. Gettleman got his man!

What Will He Do Next?

On Saturday Andre Miller hit the first game-winning shot of his long career! The cagey veteran point guard poured in 18 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, capped off by a deft maneuver to get by Draymond Green for a layup with 1.3 seconds left to beat Golden State, 97-95, in the first game of the playoffs. Miller hasn't missed many games in his 13 seasons in the NBA, but this was the first time he personally put in the game-winner. Maybe this will be the year when he finally advances to the second round!

The flipside of his success is that it comes at the expense of Andrew Bogut. He's been slowed by a bone bruise in his surgically-repaired ankle, but he put up a big effort in the absence of David Lee (out with a hip flexor). Bogut had 9 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists, and a steal for the Warriors. Game two is Tuesday night.