Who says you have to use big salmon flies to piss off Atlantic salmon so they will strike your fly. I have caught many Atlantic salmon on the fly using the same trout flies I use on small streams and they do the trick as often as those bigger salmon flies do. Well most of the time anyways.

We can’t go fly fishing for salmon just yet, a few more weeks to go, so I was watching fly fishing videos on Youtube while having a nice hot coffee and just kinda day dreaming a bit.

I saw the salmon boil a couple of times and almost jumped out of my chair. Man, I gotta go fishing. Well, instead of just telling you about the video I guess I should just let you see it for yourself.

He talks about giving the salmon in a run or a pool the opportunity to settle down after you have let your fly drift through the run a few times. I remember my brother-in-law Joe would fish for a while and then sit on the bank or a rock, have a coffee and just let the pool settle a bit. The action always increased again after 10 or 15 minutes of doing nothing.

This video is of fly fishing salmon in Newfoundland but the principle are the same. Some day I will get a fly fishing trip to Newfoundland or Labrador. I had the opportunity while I was in Bible College but of course all my money was needed to pay for college.

After all the hype yesterday about the Eagles being offered the Rams second round pick (33rd overall), it turns out that head coach Andy Reid finds that pick to be very valuable. Big Red said:

I'd love to have that first pick of the second day. Where you can sleep on it, regather your thoughts, which you normally don't get to do. I don't think (the new format) is a bad thing.

Now this quote was came from Reid being asked about the new draft format, but he might have used his answer as bait for the Rams to make an offer since they are the ones who own that pick. There is a lot of power in that pick. With the new format, this will actually be the first pick on Friday when the draft resumes. Teams could definitely look to trade up if someone they had a close eye on failed to get taken in the first round. Also, if the Eagles have this pick and choose to use it, they have A LOT of time to decide who they want to take with the pick. There's also the possibility that they could package it with their first round pick (24th overall) to move up somewhere into the middle of the first round. That seems less likely but it's a possibility.

Of course, we don't know who to believe after all the hype yesterday. However, we do know that the first pick of the second round seems to hold more value than it did in previous years.

Joe Reedy of Cincinnati.com reports that the Bengals are one of three teams still looking at DB Pacman Jones:

Ray Savage told The Associated Press on Friday that the Lions, Bengals and 49ers have "great interest". Jones began his comeback tour in Cincinnati on Feb. 11 but the general reviews were that he wasn't prepared.

Said Jones' other agent, Tom Hunter: "The workout in Cincinnati went well and it shows they have an interest. The teams know he is an extremely talented athlete in condition and ready to play. He can get on the field and start immediately."

Pacman tried out with the team back in February the same day the team looked at WR Matt Jones.  Though insiders reported neither player looked particularly good, the team signed Matt and apparently may still get Pacman too.

Is it just me or does it seem odd that while many traditionally  "big spending" teams are sitting out this free agency period, the notoriously frugal Bengals continue shopping?  I take this as a sign that Mike Brown is ceding control to Marvin Lewis. The Bengals of 2002 would have NEVER done this much.

With respect to Pacman the player, the official Bengals Gab position on the matter is "Make it Rain!" At this point, the roster is fairly deep in most areas, and the locker room is peopled with strong, professional personalities that won't let bad apples spoil a season. Mike Brown loves his reclamation projects, and after years of being dogged for it the team is starting to get deserved props for resurrecting the careers of troubled guys like Cedric Benson, Tank Johnson, and  Pacman's college teammate, the late Chris Henry.

On the field, Jones could be a solid, shut-down quality corner and a dynamic return man.

Now that I've said this, I'll expect him to sign with the Lions.

Strangely, a report has emerged that Donovan McNabb has the Vikings as his top choice of teams he'd like to be traded to.

This comes one day after rumors swirled about McNabb possibly being traded to Buffalo, Oakland, or St. Louis.  The Eagles are reportedly entertaining offers for all three of their quarterbacks, and have demanded a "top 42" draft pick for McNabb… of which the Vikings have one.

The casual NFL observer may wonder why McNabb's top choice has any bearing on the situation of a trade.  Can't the Eagles trade him wherever they want?

Technically, yes.  However, McNabb holds a fair number of cards in this one as he is entering the last season of his current contract.  In order for a trade to be completed, his new team would likely require him to sign a new, long-term contract prior to the trade being finalized.

So, in theory, McNabb could try to drag his feet on agreeing to a new contract in hopes of Brett Favre retiring sooner-than-later (or ever) which could then prompt the Vikings to jump into the race.

Also, in theory, the Vikings could simply trade for McNabb right now and carry both him and Favre on the roster heading into to 2010 and possibly beyond.  This type of move would be somewhat unprecedented, but with the uncapped year in full swing, unprecedented in a word that will pop up a lot.

Or, even more theoretically, the Vikings could trade for McNabb and cut Brett Favre loose, not giving him the chance toy around with retirement on their watch.

The question remains, however, even if Favre was not a factor would the Vikings benefit from acquiring McNabb, especially if they gave up a first rounder in exchange?

On the surface, it makes sense.  McNabb knows Childress and his offense, he'd be a veteran leader on a very talented team, and he'd be living closer to his original home of Chicago.

The 33 year old could hardly be considered a long-term solution for the Vikings, however.   With a list of medical issues of his own, an aging body which makes him less effective when running, a tendency to run his mouth, and a whole new set of overtime rules to confuse him one can't help but wonder if trading for McNabb isn't such a surefire way to improve a roster.

My vote is for the Rams or Raiders to take that risk, and that the Vikings should just focus on the upcoming draft.

Cliff Livingston, 79, an NFL linebacker who played the first eight seasons of his 12-year pro football career for the New York Giants before ending it with the Los Angeles Rams, died recently at his home in Las Vegas from complications of Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease and congestive heart failure.

Livingston, who played defensive end at UCLA under Coach Red Sanders in 1950 and '51, became a linebacker and special teams player in New York from 1954 through the 1961 season.

During his time with the Giants, the team won the NFL championship game in 1956 over the Chicago Bears and appeared in three more title games, losing to the Baltimore Colts in 1958 (often called "the greatest game ever played") and 1959 and to the Green Bay Packers in 1961.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Livingston was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1962 and he retired after one year there. He came back to play for the Rams the next season, when his former Giants teammate Harlan Svare became the Rams' coach. After three seasons, Livingston retired for good.

Born July 2, 1930, in Compton, Livingston served in the Army between his time at UCLA and with the Giants. His older brother Howie also played in the NFL.

When Livingston's football career ended, he capitalized on his rugged good looks by landing minor acting roles in TV shows and commercials.

From a fans perspective, the April draft comes with a great deal of excitement and numerous expectations. Many are looking at the stock pile of picks the team possesses and hope that in one fell swoop the organization can turn this thing around. Especially considering the depth of this year’s pool of players.

With an average of two picks per round, the Browns can upgrade numerous areas on offense, defense and special teams as long as everyone within the organization from Holmgren down to the scouting staff understand what the goals are with each pick and where this team wants to be at drafts end.

It is no big secret though that Cleveland needs a safety and a right tackle that can quickly start playing and be productive members of this organization for the next ten years. A linebacker with the same potential would be nice too. From how this draft is shaping up, finding players to fit those molds shouldn’t be a stretch. The question is with the late round picks. Can we find value when the 5th and 6th rounds come calling?

What really intrigues me though, is the question surrounding the quarterback position. Holmgren seems to like Bradford, although I hope he wouldn’t mortgage our chance at quality depth for a chance to pick him by moving up in the draft. What I would be more excited about is the prospect of taking Tim Tebow with a 2nd round pick. I think he has too much upside to leave him on the board if he was available. Especially with Jack now in Cleveland as a mentor and legitimate starter going into 2010.

The impressive thing about Tebow is his drive to win. He wants to be the best he can be and he wants to be part of a team. There is no doubt he is an emotional and inspirational leader. There is no doubt that he has an incredible work ethic. His recent work with a new throwing motion is a testament to that. Overall, he may never live up to the legend he created in Florida, but the pick would never be a waste.

The important thing though is to stay the course. Running down rabbit trails hoping to find the next big thing is not the way to go. Eric Mangini had it right last year. Pick intelligent, hard working football players who are equipped to develop into consistent playmakers. It is imperative with this draft that we find players like that. Another botched draft would put this team so far back in terms of competing, that by the time they could right the ship, there might not be any fans left to care.

Brad Briggs at the Tribune reported this morning that the Bears are shopping defensive end Alex Brown. If the Bears can’t find a sucker to take on his contract – he’s due $5 million this year and next – they will release him, leaving him free to sign with any team he chooses.

In addition to his large salary, the justification is that with Julius Peppers, Mark Anderson and Israel Idonije there aren’t enough snaps to be had for four DEs.

While I’ve stood by Jerry Angelo for some of his moves (okay, maybe ‘a very select few’ is more appropriate) this one seems down right idiotic.  If any of the current DEs should be traded or flat out released, it should be Anderson.  But the Bears slapped a 2nd round tender on him and it’s doubtful any team would give up a #2 pick for a dude who’s 3-year sack total is in the single digits (9.5).  You’d think the Bears have learned their lesson in trying to get by without Brown — remember the glorious 2007 season when he was ‘benched’ in favor of Anderson? (Neither do I.)

First the Bears showed money didn’t matter by acquiring Peppers.  Now they’re going to cry “it’s a numbers game” because they don’t want to shell out a few million for a proven performer, locker room leader and by all accounts classy guy? I was excited about the prospects for Brown after the Peppers signing.  With JP attracting a lot of attention on one side and Tommie Harris (hopefully) regaining his old form in the middle, Brown was poised for a big year.  But it looks like we’ll never get the chance to see opposing QBs as the meat in a Brown-Peppers sandwich.

This one just doesn’t make sense to me.  But if it goes down, I’m sure a lot of Bears fans will continue to follow Brown closely.  If I were him, I’d look at signing with the Lions or Vikings so I could get 2 shots at harassing Jay Cutler…and Bears management.