Monthly Archives: April 2022

The Cold War is over. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, or Soviet Union) is no more. The Berlin Wall has been dismantled. East and West Germany are united. Yugoslavia is now the independent republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. Czechoslovakia is now the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. The communist dictator of Romania was overthrown and executed along with his wife. The Warsaw Pact has been dissolved.

Yet, after listening to what is being said about Ukraine, it seems as though some Democratic and Republican politicians, pundits, and think tanks want to return to the dark days before any of these things took place.

The country of Ukraine was dominated by foreign powers for hundreds of years. After World War I, the eastern part of Ukraine was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union. All of Ukraine was united in 1939, only to remain under the control of the Soviet Union after World War II behind the Iron Curtain. In 1954, the Soviet Union transferred Crimea to Ukraine, which regained its independence in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Crimea is a peninsula surrounded by the Black Sea to the south of Ukraine. It was here at Yalta that a conference was held during World War II between President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain, and General Secretary Joseph Stalin of the USSR. After being controlled by the Mongols and the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years, Crimea was conquered by Russia in 1783 under Catherine the Great. The Crimean War (18531856) was fought between Russia and an alliance consisting of Great Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire.

In 2014, Crimea, which is over 50 percent ethnic Russian, voted to secede from Ukraine, and Russia annexed it. To the chagrin of neoconservatives, former Republican member of Congress and presidential candidate Ron Paul observed: Why does the U.S. care which flag will be hoisted on a small piece of land thousands of miles away? He was right.

The government of the United States may care, but the people of the United States do not care in the least about what happens in this part of the world unless it affects them in some way. The American people dont lose any sleep over whether Ukraine is autonomous or dominated by Russia. The American people dont care about the territorial integrity of Ukraine any more than they care about the territorial integrity of Malawi. And most Americans could not locate either country on a map unless they were labeled with big, black letters.

Whether they know it or not, most Americans are Jeffersonians when it comes to foreign policy. They would prefer that the United States remain neutral, not intervene in the affairs of other countries, and not send its soldiers to fight except in the defense of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson put it well:

Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations entangling alliances with none.

We wish not to meddle with the internal affairs of any country, nor with the general affairs of Europe.

I am for free commerce with all nations, political connection with none, and little or no diplomatic establishment.

We ask for peace and justice from all nations; and we will remain uprightly neutral in fact.

Even if every bad thing that is being said about Russia and its intentions for Ukraine is true, and every good thing that is being said about Ukraine is also true, it still wouldnt change anything. The United States does not have a divine mission to police the world.

Ron Paul was not only right about Ukraine in 2014, he is still right about it today. As Dr. Paul said recently:

The philosophy of non-interventionism is one very good piece of insurance protecting us from needless war. If you dont meddle in the affairs of foreign countries, there is less chance of being dragged into an unnecessary war.

Ukraine is a great example of why non-interventionism is the only pro-America foreign policy. We are risking nuclear war with Russia over what? Ukraines borders? Surely most Americans see how idiotic this is.

This is not our fight.

Non-interventionism is not isolationism. As Dr. Paul said the last time he ran for president:

Under a Paul administration, the United States would trade freely with any nation that seeks to engage with us. American citizens would be encouraged to visit other countries and interact with other peoples rather than be told by their own government that certain countries are off-limits to them.

A Paul administration would see Americans engaged overseas like never before, in business and cultural activities.

Non-interventionism is practical, sane, moral, just, and right. It is the foreign policy of the Founding Fathers and Ron Paul.

Continue reading here:
Ron Paul Was Right about Ukraine The Future of Freedom ...

DetailsBy Levi RickertApril 20, 2022

ANAHEIM, Calif. The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians NativeWahl will take center stage at the National Indian Gaming Association 2022 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in Anaheim, Calif. on Thursday with celebrity Chef Paul Wahlberg.

Last year, NativeWahl launched its franchise arrangement with Wahlburgers Franchising at NIGAs 2021 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention. The partnership provides NativeWahl the rights to develop Wahlburgers franchises at tribally owned locations at Indian casinos and resorts or non-gaming locations.

This year, NativeWahl will announce its working arrangement with two tribal business entities, Seven Generations A + E and Greenfire Management Services, that can assist tribes develop Wahlburgers across Indian Country.

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Eugene Magnuson is one of the co-founders of Wahlberg and general manager of Little River Holdings. He told Native News Online that the timing is right to reach out to tribal casinos now because some tribes chose not to reopen buffets after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic.

At NativeWahl, we are focused on bringing Wahlburgers franchising opportunities to the tribal space. As tribes continue their shift away from buffets in the wake of the COVID-19 era, we are excited to offer a franchise option that will not only draw customers in with its infamous name but will keep customers continually coming back for so much more, Magnuson said.

According to Magnuson, the demographics of a typical Walhburger restaurant aligns with the type of customer a casino draws.

We would love to discuss all that this brand has to offer with interested Native parties. If you are looking to incorporate a restaurant concept into your casino, hotel, or property for economic development, Wahlburgers may be just what you are looking for. The family atmosphere, exceptional dining experience, and delicious food are second to none in the industry, Magnuson said.

NativeWahls first Walhburgers will open this June on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico.

Do you appreciate a Native perspective on the news?

For the past decade-plus, weve covered the important Indigenous stories that are often overlooked by other media. From the protests at Standing Rock and the toppling of colonizer statues during the racial equity protests,to the ongoing epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the past-due reckoning related to assimilation, cultural genocide and Indian Boarding Schools, we have been there to provide a Native perspective and elevate Native voices.

Our news is free for everyone to read, but it is not free to produce. Thats why were asking you to make a donation this month to help support our efforts. Any contribution big or small helps us remain a force for change in Indian Country and continue telling the stories that are so often ignored, erased or overlooked.

Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you.

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Chef Paul Wahlberg to Take Center Stage at NIGA's 2022 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention - Native News Online

(Damon Winter | The New York Times)An attendee wears a pin supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 25, 2022. "While I'm quite willing to believe, for example, that Ron DeSantis would be Florida's Orban if he could, state governors don't have as much repressive power as rulers of sovereign nations," writes New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

By Paul Krugman | The New York Times

| April 18, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

I recently wrote about how international trade has made some Western nations Germany in particular unwilling to confront autocracy. Germany hasnt just been weak-kneed in its response to Vladimir Putin; it and other European nations have stood by and even continued to provide economic aid to Hungary while Viktor Orban dismantles democracy.

In response, I received mail from Europeans to the effect that American democracy is also under threat and that some of our right-wing politicians are every bit as bad as Orban. Agreed! But that wasnt the point of my argument. And while Im quite willing to believe, for example, that Ron DeSantis would be Floridas Orban if he could, state governors dont have as much repressive power as rulers of sovereign nations.

Still, the comparison of European and U.S. ethnonationalists raises some interesting questions. In particular, as the GOP has become a full-on anti-democratic party, why has it also remained the party of plutocrats and the enemy of any policy that might help its many working-class supporters?

To understand the puzzle, consider the policy positions of Marine Le Pen, who has a serious chance of becoming Frances next president. Her party, National Rally previously called the National Front is often described as right-wing. And on social issues it is; in particular, the party is largely defined by its hostility to immigrants and the alleged threat they pose to Frances national identity. On economic policy, however, Le Pen is if anything to the left of President Emmanuel Macron.

Now, its important to understand the context. France provides social benefits on a scale beyond the wildest dreams of U.S. progressives: universal health care, huge family benefits and more. Macron isnt challenging the fundamentals of that system. He is, however, trying to trim some benefits, notably by raising the retirement age. Le Pen, by contrast, actually wants to reduce the retirement age for some workers.

I am not making a case for Le Pen. If she wins, the consequences for France, Europe and the world will be terrifying. But there is some genuine populism advocacy of policies that might actually help workers in her platform.

Compare that with the positions taken by prominent U.S. Republicans. I cant tell you what the official Republican economic program is, because the party doesnt have one in fact, it has made a point of not saying what it will do if it regains power.

We do, however, know what the party did when it was last in power: It gave huge tax cuts to the wealthy, while almost succeeding in repealing the Affordable Care Act, which would have caused tens of millions of Americans to lose health insurance. Theres no reason to believe it wont once again pursue anti-worker, pro-plutocrat policies if it regains control.

At the state level, the debacle in Kansas has apparently done nothing to shake Republicans faith in the magical power of tax cuts for the affluent. Mississippi Americas poorest state, with the lowest life expectancy and facing a collapse of its rural hospitals is slashing income taxes.

And recently Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who heads the Republican senatorial campaign, released a Rescue America plan that called for tax increases on the half of Americans whose incomes are low enough that they dont pay income taxes (even though they pay payroll taxes, sales taxes and so on). He also warned, falsely, that Social Security and Medicare are headed for bankruptcy, without offering any suggestions about how to preserve them.

Senior Republicans have said that they dont support Scotts agenda but havent explained what their actual agenda is and have left Scott in his key campaign position, suggesting that his views have wide support within the party.

So everything suggests that the Republican Party is as pro-wealthy, anti-worker as ever. Unlike right-wing European parties, it hasnt made any gestures toward actual populism. Why?

The answer, presumably, is that the GOP caters to plutocrats, even as it attacks elites, because it thinks it can. After all, being nice to plutocrats and crony capitalists can yield tangible rewards, not just in the form of campaign contributions but also in the form of personal enrichment.

And the Republican Party doesnt believe that it will pay any price for pursuing these rewards. It believes that its supporters will focus on denunciations of critical race theory and buy into conspiracy theories almost half of Republicans agree that top Democrats are involved in child sex-trafficking while not even being aware of what the party is doing for the very rich. After the Times revealed Jared Kushners highly questionable $2 billion deal with the Saudis, Fox News simply ignored the report, while harping endlessly on Hunter Biden.

I wish I could say with any confidence that this cynicism will backfire. But I cant. In particular, Democrats who want to campaign on bread-and-butter issues are assuming that voters will understand whos actually buttering their bread. And that doesnt look at all like a safe assumption.

Paul Krugman | The New York Times(CREDIT: Fred R. Conrad)

Paul Krugman, winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science, is a columnist for The New York Times.

The rest is here:
Republicans seek the votes of working Americans while doing nothing to help them. - Salt Lake Tribune

Prices for gas, food and housing have skyrocketed in the last year. Less noticeable, to some, is the rising cost of health care.

Medicare, the U.S. government's national health insurance program for Americans age 65 and over, imposed a 14.5% increase in premiums for Part B (outpatient care coverage) for 2022, a record high and nearly double the March reading of the annual U.S. rate for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Rising health-care inflation can have major consequences for current and future retirees, as medical expenses are expected to take up an ever greater share of retirees' income. "When you have to prioritize your living expenses versus health care, that's a major problem," said Kathy Martin, a 50-year-old resident of New York state, when asked what worries her most about health-care costs.

Kathy Martin prioritizes her health care by taking time to exercise.

Martin works out a few times a week with seniors who are part of the Silver Sneakers fitness program at her local gym in Somers, New York. Her classmate Laura Rodriguez, 67, shares her concern. "What's going to happen when I get older, you know?" she said. "How am I going to be able to pay for the care that I need?"

Studies illustrate how increasing medical expenses can add up. If health-care costs grow at 2% above consumer inflation for the next two years, a healthy 55-year-old couple could face $267,000 in additional medical costs when they retire at age 65, according to an analysis by HealthView Services.

That same couple could expect to spend more than $1 million on health-care expenses in their lifetime, nearly the same amount as they could expect to collect in Social Security benefits.

Here's a look at more stories on how to manage, grow and protect your money for the years ahead.

"Whether you're affluent or you're the average person when you look at your Social Security check, you're paying for health care," said HealthView Services CEO Ron Mastrogiovanni.

After paying the premiums, Medicare covers about two-thirds of the cost of health-care services, with out-of-pocket spending making up about 12%, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

"Other than housing, food and transportation, [health care is] probably the most expensive item we're going to face in retirement," Mastrogiovanni said."Know what it is; be prepared."

The most important thing is that you start saving and you start saving early.

Paul Fronstin

director of health benefits research at EBRI

HealthView Services estimates that a 55-year-old couple would need to invest an additional $53,000 to cover the $267,000 in added costs from inflation.

Increasing savings now can add to security later.Experts say consider adding more money to your 401(k) plan or a Roth individual retirement account, if you qualify. "The most important thing is that you start saving and you start saving early; the earlier you do, the better prepared you're going to be," said Paul Fronstin, director of health benefits research at EBRI.

Health savings accounts are another tool to save for future health-care costs, but they require a high-deductible health-care plan and have annual contribution limits. For 2022, the HSA contribution limit is $3,650 for single-insured and $7,300 for families. For people over 55 years old, each of those limits increases by $1,000, via "catch-up" contributions.

There was a time when employers offered health benefits to retirees, but EBRI found only about 4% of companies have those benefits, down from about 45% before an accounting rule change in the late 1980s required firms to put the liability on their balance sheets.

"When they had to do that, it just didn't look good on the balance sheet, so they started cutting back on the benefit to the point where very few workers are going to be eligible for this kind of benefit in the future," Fronstin said.

Meanwhile, Silver Sneakers fitness instructor Melanie Scala, who turns 59 next month, said "I definitely feel like I'm heading people in the right direction to cut down on their health costs."

Yet, while physical fitness may help control some health-care costs, experts say planning ahead for medical expenses over a longer life should also be factored into the equation.

Read more here:
Inflation is impacting health-care costs in retirement. Here's how to fight it - CNBC

A former Barnstable County Commissioner said hefiled a complaint alleging the current commissioners violated the state's open-meeting laws in relation to determining how $41.3 million received from the American Rescue Plan Act will be spent.

An advisory committee appointed by the commissioners to study the spending of the ARPA funds met for the first time on April 7.

My feeling is Im going to have to file and open-meeting law complaint, Ron Beaty of Barnstable said.It doesnt look like they posted a public notice (for the meeting). It has to be done 48 hours in advance. "

Beaty, a county commissioner from 2017-2021, lost his seat to Sheila Lyons and Mark Forest in 2020. Helearned of the meeting froma press release announcing the meeting had happened.

An agendawas posted, but it was difficult to locate on the website and it appears a notice for the meeting was posted on March 31, which would meet thetime requirement.

In an email early Tuesday morning to the three county commissioners and administrator, Beatyrequested a copy of a notice to theAttorney General's Officeinforming them of where the meeting notice would be posted.

On April 16, Beaty filed an open-meeting law complaint against thecounty commissioners, who created theAdvisory Committee. The complaint relatesto theApril 6, meetingin whichthe commissioner's voted to rescind a March 30 vote to award $10 million in ARPA funds to the Cape's 15 towns.

Beaty said the vote and discussion was not on the agenda. It was, in fact, conducted under new business, and Beaty argued that it wasn't an unanticipated topic.

"There's a lot money and the public wants to know where the funds go," he said.

The advisory committee did meetand, according to the agenda, received background information on how ARPA funds can be spent and on what citizens, town officials and stakeholders would likedone with the money.

Barnstable county received the first $20.68 million in May 2021 with the rest due to arrive in June. All 15 towns received individual allotments of ARPA money. The funds need to be designated for use by theend of 2024 and spent by theend of 2026.

In November, the commissioners asked County Administrator Beth Albert to create theadvisory committee to recommend how the $41.3 million could be spent. The committee will recommend priorities and regional projects that could utilize the funds. The suggestions are to be driven by data and align with regional priorities.

There are some restrictions, but the money can be spent on water, sewers, broadband, public health costs associated with COVID-19 or other public health investments, services for disproportionally impacted communities, small businesses, housing and education, nonprofits and to replace lost public sector revenue.

On March 16, the board appointed Paul Niedzwiecki, executive director of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, as the (non-voting) chair of the Advisory Committee, which first met April 7 at the Chamber of Commerce in Centerville.

County staff had conducted a detailed survey of 6,000 Cape residents, all 15 towns and a long list of stakeholders to determine their priorities.

The toppriority was infrastructure (61% of the votes) followed by affordable housing (45%), public health (34%), early education and childcare (31%). The lowest priority was replacing lost revenue for local governments (5%).

However, nineof the 15 towns, themajority on theAssembly of Delegates, advocated for direct cash paymentswhile six townsproposed the fundsbe spent on regional projects.

The staff that conducted the survey recommended that a portion of the funds be given directly to the towns. The commissioners voted to distribute $10 millionon March 30,and then rescinded the decision thefollowing week.

The Advisory Committee is scheduled to present its recommendations by September.

Read more:
Committee advisory board meets and is challenged on open meeting law - Wicked Local

The future of Dallas basketball is in good hands.

Four Dallas-area freshmen highlight ESPNs top 25 boys boys basketball recruits list for the class of 2025, which was unveiled on Thursday. Only the state of Florida which boasts the nations top recruit, power forward Cameron Boozer of Christopher Columbus high has as many top 25 recruits as the Dallas area.

Denton Guyer freshman Jermiah Green, a 6-1 point guard, is the areas highest-ranked recruit at No. 12. The District 5-6A Newcomer of the Year is rated a five-star recruit, the states top freshman prospect and the second-ranked point guard. He averaged 12.2 points, 3.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds for Guyer. Both Oklahoma State and Kansas State have already offered scholarships, per 247.

Francis Chukwudebelu, a center at The Greenhill School, is ranked 16th. The 6-8 four-star recruit averaged 5.8 points and 6.5 rebounds as a freshman for the SPC championship finalists. Expect his role to expand in his sophomore season following the graduations of Noah Shelby and Lee Dort, both of whom are four-star recruits signed to Vanderbilt.

Waxahachie freshman center Parker Jefferson The Dallas Morning News Newcomer of the Year this past season is ranked 17th. A 6-8 four-star recruit, Jefferson averaged 14.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, a block and a steal for Waxahachie, which went 15-11 and finished second in its district. He was named District 11-6A Newcomer of the Year, and to the all-district first team. His five scholarship offers, per 247, include Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and TCU.

Lake Highlands freshman B.J. Davis-Ray, a 6-5 small forward, is ranked 18th. Davis-Ray was a first-team all District 7-6A selection and has received offers from Illinois and Texas in the last week.

2024 is loaded, too: ESPN released an updated top 60 recruits list for the class of 2024 on Thursday as well. Lake Highlands forward Tre Johnson, a first-team all area honoree this past season, is the Dallas-areas top recruit at No. 4. The five-star recruit averaged 23.7 points and 5.7 rebounds for Lake Highlands, and holds offers from the two previous national champions, Kansas and Baylor.

John Paul II sophomore five-star wing Liam McNeeley is ranked sixth. The 6-8 forward averaged 16.8 points and nine rebounds per game for the TAPPS 6A state champions, and holds offers from Illinois, Oklahoma and Iowa among others.

Frisco Lone Star four-star small forward Jalen Shelley (No. 36), The Greenhill School four-star small forward Micah Robinson (No. 47) and Faith Family four-star center Doryan Onwuchekwa (No. 51), a 4A state champion in 2022, round out the rankings.

Duncanville and McKinney lead the class of 2023: In ESPNs first-ever top 100 for the class of 2023, the last two teams standing in 6A this past season Duncanville and McKinney are represented.

Duncanville five-star forward Ron Holland is listed as the nations fourth-ranked recruit. Holland led Duncanville to its third-straight state championship this March, and was a first-team all-area honoree after averaging 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Memphis, UCLA and Kansas are among the schools that have offered him.

Hollands opponent in the state championship game five-star McKinney guard JaKobe Walter is ranked 17th in the class of 2023, according to ESPN. Walter led McKinney to its first-ever state title game, and averaged 23.7 points and 7.6 rebounds. His offers include Auburn, Alabama and Baylor.

John Paul II four-star junior guard R.J. Jones is ranked 38th. Jones, who transferred to the Plano-based private school last year after playing his sophomore season at Denton Braswell, averaged 19.7 points per game and was named the District 6A-2 MVP. His offers include Texas A&M, Cal and Illinois.

***

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Four Dallas-area freshmen highlight ESPN top 25 boys basketball recruits list for the class of 2025 - The Dallas Morning News

Ranking the greatest NFL Draft classes originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Its deal-making season for NFL general managers and the draft is just the next thing on their laundry list.

Not a single selection has been made in the 2022 NFL Draft, but opinions are already being formed as each team looks to secure the necessary pieces to contend for a Super Bowl. Depending on the strength of the group, teams will gamble everything to score a shot at the cream of the crop.

Just like choosing an exceptional first-round draft pick, determining the quality of a draft class is up for debate, with some showing preference to star power while others give weight to the overall depth of a class.

Only time can tell how a draft class will truly age, but that wont keep fans and pundits alike from weighing in with early evaluations on where a class ranks in NFL history.

Tune in to the NFL draft on April 28 to see how the 2022 class measures up.

Super Bowl MVPs: none

Hall of Famers: 5 - O.J. Simpson, Joe Greene, Ted Hendricks, Charlie Joiner and Roger Wehrli

Super Bowl MVPs: none

Hall of Famers: 5 - Bruce Smith, Jerry Rice, Chris Doleman, Andre Reed and Kevin Greene

Super Bowl MVPs: 2 - Patrick Mahomes, Cooper Kupp

Hall of Famers: not eligible (must be retired for at least five years)

Super Bowl MVPs: 3 - Ottis Anderson, Joe Montana and Phil Simms

Hall of Famers: 4 - Kellen Winslow, Joe Montana, Dan Hampton and Bill Cowher

Super Bowl MVPs: 2 - Hines Ward and Peyton Manning

Hall of Famers: 4 - Randy Moss, Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Alan Faneca

Super Bowl MVPs: 1 - Eli Manning - Super Bowl XLVI and XLII

Hall of Famers: none

Im hesitant to start this list out with a draft class north of 2000, but the name recognition among this group simply cant be ignored.

This was the year of the quarterback Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger all gone by the 11th pick. The first round also included Larry Fitzgerald and the late Sean Taylor. But talent wasnt exclusive to the top of the draft. The 2004 class featured an impressive group of undrafted players such as Wes Welker and Jason Peters, both of whom were named to the Pro Bowl multiple times.

Super Bowl MVPs: 2 - Malcolm Smith - Super Bowl XLVIII, Von Miller - Super Bowl L

Hall of Famers: none

Recency bias aside, the 2011 NFL Draft is generally considered to be the best of the last two decades. Cam Newton coming off a Heisman victory at Auburn headlined this group as the No. 1 overall pick, but the accolades didnt stop there.

Von Miller, the No. 2 pick, has two Super Bowl rings and was named MVP for his effort with the Broncos in Super Bowl L. A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson and Julio Jones -- selected fourth through sixth -- have earned Pro Bowl honors a combined 22 times. For perspective, three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt didnt even crack the top-10 in this class.

Super Bowl MVPs: 1 - Larry Csonka - Super Bowl VIII

Hall of Famers: 8 - Larry Csonka, Art Shell, Ron Yary, Elvin Bethea, Charlie Sanders, Curley Culp, Claude Humphrey, Ken Stabler

The 1968 NFL Draft was the second joint draft between the NFL and AFL and it certainly helped establish a tradition of excellence between the two leagues. It featured eight Hall of Famers -- all taken in the first three rounds -- and a host of athletes that left their footprint on the league, including Curley Culp and Ron Yary.

Super Bowl MVPs: 2 - John Riggins - Super Bowl XVII, Jim Plunkett - Super Bowl XV

Hall of Famers: 5 - Jack Ham, John Riggins, Dan Dierdorf, Jack Youngblood and Harold Carmichael

1971 was the original Year of the Quarterback, but few could predict how the legacy of this draft class would play out.

The draft opened with three-straight quarterback selections: Two-time Super Bowl champion Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning whose surname needs no explanation -- and Dan Pastorini. Later in the fourth round, the Miami Dolphins took Joe Theismann off the board. All experienced varying degrees of success in the league, but none of them are enshrined in Canton.

Despite that, this draft class still mounted an impressive resume on the field. Those four quarterbacks combined for 93,514 career passing yards and all recorded over 100 passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, John Riggins rushed for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns to earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame. On the defensive end, Jack Youngblood led the way, recording double-digit sacks in eight of his 14 seasons.

Super Bowl MVPs: 1 - Troy Aikman - Super Bowl XXVII

Hall of Famers: 5 - Barry Sanders, Troy Aikman, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders and Steve Atwater

What this class lacked in depth, it made up for in star power. Aikmans three Super Bowl rings and Barry Sanders five seasons with at least 1,500 rushing yards are just a few of the highlights that make this class so great.

This class makes a strong bid for the best first round in NFL history, with four of the top-five picks making it to the Hall of Fame. No. 2 overall pick Tony Mandarich is considered to be one of the biggest busts in draft history, in part because of the incredible careers that surrounded him on the list.

Super Bowl MVPs: none

Hall of Famers: 10 - Ken Houston, Willie Lanier, Gene Upshaw, Alan Page, Bob Griese, Jan Stenerud, Lem Barney, Larry Little, Rayfield Wright and Floyd Little

The 1967 draft was so dominated by Michigan State the NFL might as well have held it in East Lansing. The Spartans, coming off a No. 2 finish in the AP and coaches polls, accounted for four of the top-eight picks.

However, despite the impressive start for the Spartans, the real talent from this draft came elsewhere. The ten Hall of Famers this class produced trail only the 1964 draft and names such as Gene Upshaw and Bob Griese put this class in elite company.

The accomplishments of this class extended beyond the football field, stretching from the basketball court to the court house.

Hall-of-Famer Alan Page went on to earn his law degree and serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the last pick of the draft -- known as Mr. Irrelevant -- went to Jimmy Walker, a two-time All-Star who wrapped his NBA career with 11,655 points. One of the biggest surprises from this list is Pat Riley -- yes, the same Pat Riley who has 10 NBA titles to his name and currently serves as president of the Miami Heat. Neither Walker nor Riley ever competed in the NFL but both made their mark on the sports world.

Super Bowl MVPs: none

Hall of Famers: 8 - Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Howie Long, Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm, Kenny Easley and Sam Mills

The 1981 draft was the epitome of a stacked class from top to bottom. While the first round had no shortage of stars including Lawrence Taylor, Kenny Easley and Ronnie Lott, the real accomplishment of this class was the complete talent through all 12 rounds. Much like the 2004 group, the 1981 class saw a number of talented players going undrafted, including six-time Pro-Bowler Deron Cherry, three-time Super Bowl champion Joe Jacoby and Hall-of-Famer Sam Mills.

Super Bowl MVPs: 1 - Len Dawson - Super Bowl IV

Hall of Famers: 9 - Jim Brown, Jim Parker, Sonny Jurgensen, Paul Hornung, Len Dawson, Don Maynard, Henry Jordan, Tommy McDonald and Gene Hickerson

Offense was the name of the game in 1957.

Paul Hornung led the group as a fullback, halfback and quarterback combo out of Notre Dame.

No. 3 overall pick John Brodie and No. 43 overall pick Sonny Jurgensen have over 31,000 passing yards, putting both of them among the top 50 in NFL history. The fifth, sixth and eight picks -- quarterback Len Dawson, fullback Jim Brown and offensive tackle Jim Parker -- each have an NFL championship to their name and are all in the Hall of Fame. Thus, the legend of the 1957 class was born.

Super Bowl MVPs: 1 - Roger Staubach - Super Bowl VI

Hall of Famers: 11 - Bob Brown, Charley Taylor, Carl Eller, Paul Warfield, Mel Renfro, Paul Krause, Dave Wilcox, Bob Hayes, Leroy Kelly, Roger Staubach, Bill Parcells

Its hard to argue with the record-11 yellow jackets that belong to the 1964 class. They left an indelible mark on the league and were some the original architects responsible for propelling the NFL into the massive popularity it shares today.

Even more impressive are how many players probably could be in the Hall of Fame -- Dave Parks (5,619 receiving yards), Bill Munson (12,896 passing yards), Pete Beathard (8,176 passing yards and 680 rushing yards) and Jack Concannon (6,270 passing yards) are just a few that come to mind.

Denying this group the top spot might ruffle some feathers among Hall-of-Fame hardliners, but that doesnt take away from their accomplishments.

Super Bowl MVPs: 2 - John Elway and Richard Dent

Hall of Famers: 8 - Eric Dickerson, Jim Kelly, John Elway, Dan Marino, Bruce Matthews, Darrell Green, Richard Dent and Jim Covert

The first-round haul of the 1983 draft puts this class in a league of its own.

The Baltimore Colts kicked things off by taking Stanford quarterback John Elway with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by five other first-round quarterback selections, including Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. In the record books, Elway and Marino sit 11th and seventh, respectively, in total career passing yards while Elway added 3,407 rushing yards throughout his career, good for 10th among quarterbacks.

Just behind Elway was Eric Dickerson, the six-time Pro-Bowler who led the league in rushing yards for four seasons. Rounding out the first round was an unstoppable secondary unit featuring Terry Kinard, Joey Browner, Gill Byrd and Hall-of-Famer Darrell Green.

This class had every dimension of success -- depth, star power, record and rings.

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Ranking the Greatest NFL Draft Classes of All Time - NBC4 Washington