....certainly hard to argue with the chiefs ability to source RB talent.Also, by the by, how about Kansas City's RBs, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson & Sam Gado. Yeah, I know they had to drop Gado but that is some crazy good evaluation of talent.
we're george & omar related?You guys are such homers, the Chiefs are not great at evaulating RB talent just look at all the busts C. Peterson has drafted:
G. Hill 1st round 1997?
F. Moreau 4th round 2000?
M. Cloud 2nd round 1999?
Omar Easy 4th Round 2003?
George Easy 4th round 2001?
Maybe i'm just a gambler, but my money is on that he is a Bengal fanI believe the reference is to a FULLBACK George Layne from TCU I think.
We had our share of misses, but the guy calling people KC homers must be a DEN or OAK homer lol![]()
LAUNCHHow long did it take you to pull out all those quotes? Man Love?Well this what you had to say about Gado after the Steelers gameI'm just trying to be realistic on Gado instead of drooling over him after only two games in the NFL.Gado=One Hit WonderHave you not seen the manlove for Gado by some people here?I'm a proud member of the Anti-Gado Man-Love Club.
please don't tell me you are one of those Gado man-lovers?Considering all that spew on Gado after the Steelers game, the BEST spew you could come up with this week isEveryone wants to think they found a diamond in the rough with Gado but he will be just another Rondell Mealey.I honestly expected much better anti Gado comments from you than that weak crap. :X But you're still a funny guy Fla\/\/ed. Keep it upGado almost went to goat last week with his two fumbles.![]()

reaching for the clouds trying to look good if a miracle happens. Brown and Orton are pedigree and easy choices over Gado.Monday Night Football this week, another big game out of Gado in front of a national audience and this kid could be the front-runner for Rookie of the year.
Gado won the Rookie of the Week Award last week.
Also, by the by, how about Kansas City's RBs, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson & Sam Gado. Yeah, I know they had to drop Gado but that is some crazy good evaluation of talent.
Ronnie Brown 675 Yards 3 TDs total
Cadillac Williams 516 yards 2TDs total
Sam Gado 173 yards 4TDs total
It honestly didn't take long. Fla\/\/ed was on a such anti Gado roll in that thread, that he firing his negative Gado posts like a machine gun.How long did it take you to pull out all those quotes? Man Love?Well this what you had to say about Gado after the Steelers gameI'm just trying to be realistic on Gado instead of drooling over him after only two games in the NFL.Gado=One Hit WonderHave you not seen the manlove for Gado by some people here?I'm a proud member of the Anti-Gado Man-Love Club.
please don't tell me you are one of those Gado man-lovers?Considering all that spew on Gado after the Steelers game, the BEST spew you could come up with this week isEveryone wants to think they found a diamond in the rough with Gado but he will be just another Rondell Mealey.I honestly expected much better anti Gado comments from you than that weak crap. :X But you're still a funny guy Fla\/\/ed. Keep it upGado almost went to goat last week with his two fumbles.![]()
![]()
gado great play this week. faces the vikings, who have a worse run defense than atlanta.monday night gado!Brown wins no question. Also, everyone has film on Gado now, his numbers will not increase as time goes on. Plus Fisher is back and will get some touches.
Holy cow, it's like I wrote it myself.BY BOB MCGINN
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Edgar Bennett in the fourth round. Dorsey Levens in the fifth round. Ahman Green in a trade for Fred Vinson.
Those three players cost the Green Bay Packers next to nothing and were their leading rushers in 10 of the past 11 seasons. Now Samkon Gado, who didn't cost them anything at all, has come out of nowhere to become the bereft Packers' featured back now and perhaps into the future.
"It'd be nice if we could add Gado to it," said Ron Wolf, the retired general manager who drafted one running back (LeShon Johnson) in the third round but never had to take any in the first or second rounds because Bennett, Levens and Green were exceeding every expectation.
Depending on what happens with the junior class, running back could be the strength of the 2006 draft. It's a position the Packers will have to consider heavily with their first selection.
But look at their roster. This is a team with many major needs, including pass rusher, defensive tackle, linebacker, safety and guard, just to name a few.
Just imagine how ecstatic general manager Ted Thompson would be in April if he felt so good about Gado that he didn't feel compelled to draft a running back with his top pick. Then maybe he could select that immensely talented defensive lineman the Packers desperately need.
Shortly after Gado's 103-yard game in Atlanta last Sunday, Thompson conceded that Gado was playing like a legitimate starter.
Is he good enough to be a long-term starter?
"Looks like it," Thompson replied. "Time will tell."
As astonishing as that might sound, it is possible because Gado has so much potential. If he had bad hands, couldn't run, wasn't tough, possessed a long injury history or was dumb, you'd feel comfortable relegating him with the other one 100-yard game backs in Packers' history. That list includes Ed Cody (1947), Larry Coutre (`50), Will Harrell (`76), Steve Atkins (`79), Nate Simpson (`79) and De'Mond Parker (`99).
But Gado has above average hands, has run an exceptional 40-yard dash, has run hard so far, has never had a major injury, is highly intelligent and, despite two fumbles last week, said he could count on one hand his number of fumbles in 325 touches at Liberty University. What makes him fascinating as a prospect is the fact there is no glaring hole in his game.
"Hey, I don't know if he's going to bang away 100 yards every week," Minnesota Vikings pro personnel consultant Paul Wiggin said last week. "But he has vision. He has strength. Yeah, this guy's legit. This happens every once in a while. Somebody comes out of the woodwork."
A personnel man who watched Gado against both Pittsburgh and Atlanta had one overriding thought.
"Can he create?" the scout said. "I don't think so. But I'm not sure yet."
Wolf and Ken Herock, a former personnel director for the Packers and general manager for the Atlanta Falcons, said running back was an easy position for most scouts to evaluate. The great backs are the ones that have God-given ability to cut on a dime, string moves together, make people miss and run to daylight.
"It's a sense and an instinct that you have as a runner that you go, `Wow, what a move,' " Herock said last week. "When I watched this guy I didn't say, `Wow, what a move.' I don't think you can teach the natural instinct to make all these quick moves and cuts, the ability to go somewhere where somebody isn't."
Even to be discussing Gado's ability in such context is almost beyond comprehension.
Born in Nigeria, Gado came to the U.S. at age 9 and started playing football in seventh grade. Coming out of a high school of 400 students in Columbia, S.C., Gado had one offer from a Division I-A school (Troy State) before selecting Liberty, a Division I-AA program.
Gado was one of four good running backs that started at Liberty in 2001. Two of them, Dre Barnes and Eugene Goodman, were scatback types and played ahead of Gado their first three seasons.
Coach Ken Karcher's plan was to redshirt Gado in `04 so he'd be the man in `05. But when Barnes was injured in Week 1 and had to sit out five games, and Goodman blew out his ankle in Week 5, Karcher had to give the ball to Gado and forget about `05. Partially as a result, Karcher was fired Thursday with his team at 1-9.
After gaining 257, 136 and 337 yards in his first three years, Gado improved to 901 as a senior. In all, he rushed for 1,631 yards (6.0-yard average) and caught 38 passes for clubs that finished 17-28. He also served as special-teams captain all four years.
"I knew that I needed to put up a lot bigger numbers to even get looked at," Gado said. "They'd be decent numbers if they were in the SEC. But this was in the Big South."
Only one team, New England, attended Liberty's pro day in March. It was the only time Gado worked out for a National Football League team. He was timed in 4.47 seconds at 225 pounds, the same weight he's playing at now.
Shortly after the draft, Karcher called Al Saunders, Kansas City's offensive coordinator and an old friend, and told him Gado was too good not to sign. Based on that single phone call, the Chiefs called Gado's agent and offered his client a $3,500 signing bonus. "It was the most money I had seen in my life," Gado said. "There was no negotiating at all."
Gado impressed the Chiefs during the off-season and in the first week of training camp. Then he suffered a pair of blows to the neck that were diagnosed as stingers. He was forced to miss 16 days, never played a down in an exhibition game and was released Aug. 30 on the cut to 65.
"The first snap I took in an NFL game was in Cincinnati (Oct. 30)," Gado said. "The Chiefs had no scrimmage. There was no film. I did nothing in college to even merit being looked at. There was nothing but hearsay. You see what I mean when I say this is an act of God."
The Chiefs re-signed Gado and another free-agent back to their practice squad. When injuries hit, one had to go. After intense debate, they kept McKenzie Smith and cut Gado on Oct. 4.
Gado's only tryout was in Green Bay on Oct. 17. Running on a strip of artificial turf in the Hutson Center, Gado was clocked in 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The Packers signed him later that day to the practice squad and moved him to the 53-man roster 12 days after that.
Gado, who measures 5 feet 10 inches on the nose, has a vertical jump of 36 inches, a broad jump of 9-10 and says he has bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times.
After examining the athletic-testing numbers of players entering the last 12 drafts that were of comparable size to Gado, suffice it to say that his numbers are extremely impressive. For example, Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson (5-9 1/2, 227), who has turned into one of the NFL's most productive backs, ran 4.74 in 2001. Miami's Ricky Williams (5-10 1/2, 224) ran 4.60 in `99.
A scout for the Chiefs said Gado was a natural receiver, a good pass blocker, a quick learner and a great kid to have around.
"He's very powerful and runs with good pad level," the scout said. "He's a guy that builds speed. He's going to be a Duce Staley type, a guy who will break tackles because of his power. He's not going to be a guy that starts and stops and changes directions and makes you miss. He will run over you rather than try to run around you."
In fact, Gado's position coach at Liberty in `04, Frank Hickson, coached Staley (5-11, 220, 4.65) in 1994-`95 at South Carolina. Listed now at 242, Staley was a terrific receiver and a very shifty runner for the Gamecocks.
"Coach Hickson told me that I was better than Duce Staley," Gado said. "I didn't believe him at first. To be honest with you, sir, I never believed I was anything special."
Of the NFL's 50 all-time leading rushers entering 2005, 37 were drafted in the first two rounds and only two were free agents: Kansas City's Priest Holmes, a backup at Texas behind Williams, and Joe "The Jet" Perry, a Hall of Famer. Gado said he discussed his humble roots extensively with Holmes.
Ranking 23rd on that list was Earnest Byner (5-10, 218), a 10th-round pick in 1984. "Byner was built a lot like this kid," Herock said. "But I don't think this kid is any Earnest Byner. Remember something. Earnest Byner was a heck of a player at East Carolina. When somebody doesn't have a track record, I can't go out and predict he will be anything great."
No one can say for certain where this will lead. Gado has benefited from having fresh legs. He has never played a game in freezing weather. Brutally physical encounters await, including two against the Bears' top-ranked defense. Maybe he is a fumbler. Maybe the game will prove to be too big for him.
But let me say this. Gado is quicker, more sudden and just plain better than the oft-injured, overrated Najeh Davenport. Unless Green wakes up to the realities of the industry, which he probably will next spring, Gado is the Packers' best hope at running back.
Is it a long shot? Sure, but not as long as you might think.
Nice writeup.I think Gado will be another one of those guys who gets decent fantasy numbers because of opportunity, then never is heard from again.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him. He runs with decent power. He needs to take care of the ball a little better. He supposedly runs a sub 4.5 forty. Not a ton of wiggle but seems to fight for yardage.
Now in scoutspeak:
Has good mass. Compact, runs low to the ground. Does not have the prototypical body for a big back. Has good instincts inside and runs with authority between the tackles. Needs to work on ball security. Was clocked at 4.47 depending on which watch you look at. Has good range but lacks initial quicks. Not elusive, but runs with desire. Dad was a former Nigerian discus champion in the 1980 summer games (or some other useless factoid).
very goodHe's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him. He runs with decent power. He needs to take care of the ball a little better. He supposedly runs a sub 4.5 forty. Not a ton of wiggle but seems to fight for yardage.
Now in scoutspeak:
Has good mass. Compact, runs low to the ground. Does not have the prototypical body for a big back. Has good instincts inside and runs with authority between the tackles. Needs to work on ball security. Was clocked at 4.47 depending on which watch you look at. Has good range but lacks initial quicks. Not elusive, but runs with desire. Dad was a former Nigerian discus champion in the 1980 summer games (or some other useless factoid).
You missed:Needs to cover the ball better in traffic.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him. He runs with decent power. He needs to take care of the ball a little better. He supposedly runs a sub 4.5 forty. Not a ton of wiggle but seems to fight for yardage. Now in scoutspeak:Has good mass. Compact, runs low to the ground. Does not have the prototypical body for a big back. Has good instincts inside and runs with authority between the tackles. Needs to work on ball security. Was clocked at 4.47 depending on which watch you look at. Has good range but lacks initial quicks. Not elusive, but runs with desire. Dad was a former Nigerian discus champion in the 1980 summer games (or some other useless factoid).
a poor man's rudi with an extra gear would be one heck of a player! I can't wait until tonight so i can evaluateat best, a poor man's rudi with an extra gear.
at worst, dee brown.
this guy for myself. Should be funI'm glad you didn't mention his bubble and tight calves.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him. He runs with decent power. He needs to take care of the ball a little better. He supposedly runs a sub 4.5 forty. Not a ton of wiggle but seems to fight for yardage.
Now in scoutspeak:
Has good mass. Compact, runs low to the ground. Does not have the prototypical body for a big back. Has good instincts inside and runs with authority between the tackles. Needs to work on ball security. Was clocked at 4.47 depending on which watch you look at. Has good range but lacks initial quicks. Not elusive, but runs with desire. Dad was a former Nigerian discus champion in the 1980 summer games (or some other useless factoid).
Belly? I saw an interview with him on Total Access last week. I immediately noticed that his upper body was LARGE. Bigger than the prototypical RB. He had a sweatshirt on, but it looked like he was built like a sprinter (i.e. Ben Johnson or Maurice Green). That's not to say that he has world class speed...just that I really don't think this guy has a gut or any excessive adipose tissue for that matter.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him.
He was accurate with his statement about the belly. I saw it pooching out as well.Belly? I saw an interview with him on Total Access last week. I immediately noticed that his upper body was LARGE. Bigger than the prototypical RB. He had a sweatshirt on, but it looked like he was built like a sprinter (i.e. Ben Johnson or Maurice Green). That's not to say that he has world class speed...just that I really don't think this guy has a gut or any excessive adipose tissue for that matter.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him.
Really? I guess with the sweatshirt on it was hard to tell. Okay, I anxiously await tonight. I'm just happy there's reason for excitement with a relatively meaningless game (standings wise).He was accurate with his statement about the belly. I saw it pooching out as well.Belly? I saw an interview with him on Total Access last week. I immediately noticed that his upper body was LARGE. Bigger than the prototypical RB. He had a sweatshirt on, but it looked like he was built like a sprinter (i.e. Ben Johnson or Maurice Green). That's not to say that he has world class speed...just that I really don't think this guy has a gut or any excessive adipose tissue for that matter.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him.
That's what's great about FF!Really? I guess with the sweatshirt on it was hard to tell. Okay, I anxiously await tonight. I'm just happy there's reason for excitement with a relatively meaningless game (standings wise).He was accurate with his statement about the belly. I saw it pooching out as well.Belly? I saw an interview with him on Total Access last week. I immediately noticed that his upper body was LARGE. Bigger than the prototypical RB. He had a sweatshirt on, but it looked like he was built like a sprinter (i.e. Ben Johnson or Maurice Green). That's not to say that he has world class speed...just that I really don't think this guy has a gut or any excessive adipose tissue for that matter.He's pretty big. Not real tall. Almost seems like he has a little belly on him.
Looks like Fisher is taking most of the carries - passing situation, or Gado just not getting it done?Early in the second quarter, he's not doing a whole lot to stand out....I'm hoping he can pick it up
Someone likes the kool aid.I played Gado over Anderson![]()
![]()
But I still won![]()
Gado has got to lay off the greasy chicken, that's 3 fumbles in 1.5 games. Now Ahman Green looks really good now...Someone likes the kool aid.I played Gado over Anderson![]()
![]()
But I still won![]()
agree. if you fumble alot in the NFL you will not be in the NFL. quick party is OVER.It was nice while it lasted but the Gado reign appears to be over. It sucks too, i was hoping he could be an average #2 back for the rest of the year..oh well.
huh, you serious? these guys have people really doing crazy insane things. Moves like this will not get you very far in this hobby.I played Gado over Anderson![]()
![]()
But I still won![]()