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Following TE Dennis Pitta's selection by Baltimore in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, three BYU Cougars did free agent deals.
Pitta's tight end mate Andrew George is headed to Carolina, FB Manase Tonga is off to Oakland, and QB Max Hall is going home to Arizona.
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Here's what Pitta said about dropping to the fourth round, as quoted in the Baltimore Sun:
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"I definitely think I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder because I have high expectations for myself and I'm confident in my abilities," Pitta said. "When you see guys get picked before you, you always want to measure yourself to them. And I feel like some teams missed out on a great opportunity to draft me. But I think the Ravens made a smart move, and I'm excited to be in Baltimore and compete for the job."
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It's the third consecutive year that the first BYU player picked in the draft went in the fourth round; Pitta follows Austin Collie to the Colts in 2009, and Bryan Kehl to the Giants in 2008.
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This is not a place for NBA stuff, but just a thought for the heck of it: I believe the Jazz could win the Western Conference title. I think the Nuggets are knuckleheads; they're mentally frazzled and miss the leadership and steadying influence of George Karl. Jazz win in five or six.
I don't think the troubled Lakers get out of the first round, but if they do, they likely can't get enough out of a messed-up Kobe to beat the physical Jazz in a best-of-seven. I am aware of the Jazz' historical problems with the Lakers, but that team just doesn't look right.
Of course, if the Thunder do end up upsetting L.A., let's remember they were 3-1 against the Jazz, and should have swept Utah, but for the no-call on C.J. Miles. Maybe the Thunder will be like the Warriors in 2007; good enough to stage the 8 v. 1 upset in the first round--not enough left in the tank to win the next series. Or maybe the Thunder are young and fresh enough to make some serious noise in these playoffs...
Until Portland stunned the Suns yesterday, I figured that Phoenix was probably the best bet in the West, but now I'm not so sure. PHX should still win that series, probably in six.
If the Spurs can manage to upset Dallas, don't be surprised if they end up getting to the conference finals. I just have a feeling about the wily veterans this postseason.
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Certainly, the West is wide open. Coming into Sunday, the favored seeds led all four Eastern Conference first round series. In the Western Conference, the favored seeds didn't lead a single series.
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