Except for NFL scouts and personnel
directors, there aren't many individuals who make a livelihood out of analyzing football
players. Joel Buchsbaum is one of the few exceptions.
Buchsbaum has been plying his trade since the 1970's. Since the late
'70's, he's been going out on a limb on the pages of Pro Football Weekly, which has
published his draft rankings each year.
For more than 20 years, Buchsbaum, in conjunction with PFW, has authored
an annual book containing scouting reports, player ratings, a mock draft, NFL team needs
and an analysis of each team's draft choices from the previous year. The 1999 Draft
Preview book, from which the scouting reports were taken for this Web site, contains
reports on approximately 600 draft-eligible players, along with ratings of nearly 800
prospects.
Although he calls himself an information gatherer rather than a scout,
Buchsbaum is widely regarded as the nation's most respected independent analyst of
football talent. His typical day is spent pouring over media guides, watching game tapes
and working the phones with his numerous football contacts, so as to get the best possible
read on each player.
In addition to evaluating college players, the Brooklyn-based Buchsbaum
applies the same skills to NFL players. In Pro Football Weekly's Preview '99 annual
magazine, Buchsbaum will provide in-depth scouting reports on each NFL team, position by
position, and he'll rank approximately 300 NFL players.
With his finger on the pulse of the NFL, Buchsbaum will author midweek
draft updates for the three weeks leading up to the draft by way of PFW's e-mail/fax service.
In short, if you really want to know what's going on and what's about to
happen in the draft, you'll want to read Buchsbaum.
You'll find all of Joel's analysis and predictions in the print edition of Pro
Football Weekly's 1999 Draft Preview book. It's available at bookstores and newsstands
across the country or you can call 1-800-FOOTBALL (1-800-366-8225) to order a copy. |
